The Transportation for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities Grant Program is a federally funded program that provides financial assistance to public, private and nonprofit organizations to purchase vehicles and related equipment.

The objective of the program is to assist those organizations that are able to maximize the use of vehicles to provide needed service for the elderly and disabled. Since the inception of the program, the District of Columbia has provided more than 270 vehicles to 57 organizations that provide transportation services to elderly persons and persons with disabilities.

Organizations that wish to apply for this grant funding must demonstrate experience or thorough planning for providing transportation services to elderly persons and persons with disabilities. They must be able to provide at least 20 percent of the purchase price of service vehicles and/or related equipment to match funds provided by the grant. The grant provides up to 80 percent of the cost of the equipment purchased. The balance must be provided by the nonprofit organization from non-federal sources. The organizations must provide all tag and title fees which includes 7 percent of the actual vehicle purchase price in excise tax. The organization must also be able to assume full responsibility for the operation, maintenance and liability coverage the vehicle(s)/equipment requires.

DDOT will evaluate proposals for the urgency and relevance of the proposed service in needing local needs and extent that it interfaces with existing public and private transit and paratransit services.

THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING APPLICATION THIS YEAR IS APRIL 6, 2012.