SS4A grant agreements are directly between the applicant and USDOT. SS4A grant agreements are not with State DOTs, and eligible applicants cannot serve as a pass through for a State DOT to take full responsibility over the grant agreement. However, an applicant may choose to work with a State DOT and provide SS4A grant funding to State DOTs to assist in the execution of the grant activities separately from the grant agreement. But the SS4A grant recipient retains responsibility for ensuring completion of the grant activities and for compliance with the terms of the grant award and Federal requirements.