The PRISM Program Process

Initial Briefing - At the State's request, an initial briefing of the PRISM program will be conducted for State officials by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) staff. This briefing is meant to give State officials an outline of the PRISM program and its benefits to the State's safety initiatives.

Grant Application - The State should include the identification of responsible parties, development of implementation timelines, cost estimates, etc. State staff involved in the application process should include IRP, Intelligent Transportation Systems/ Commercial Vehicle Operations (ITS/CVO), and enforcement personnel with the authority to make decisions for the State.

PRISM Implementation Plan - The plan must specify how the State will meet the program requirements, time frames for completion, and associated costs.

Finalize Plan - Once a State's implementation plan has been finalized by the State, it should be submitted to the FMCSA Division Administrator for review and then forwarded to the FMCSA Office of State Programs through Grants.gov.

Implement PRISM - Following the award of a PRISM grant, the State is responsible for ensuring the program is implemented in their State according to the procedures, time lines, and costs identified in their implementation plan. States will also be required to intermittently report their progress to FMCSA as specified in the terms and conditions of the grant agreement. Funds for PRISM grants are typically established for a three-year period.