[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 24 (Friday, February 5, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5854-5859]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2827]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration


Cooperative Agreements With National Organizations To Support the 
Buckle Up America Campaign

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Announcement of discretionary cooperative agreement program in 
conjunction with the Buckle Up America Campaign.

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SUMMARY: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 
announces a discretionary cooperative agreement program to solicit 
highly visible support for mobilizing America to buckle up children 
during special emphasis periods of the Buckle Up America Campaign. The 
Campaign is a nationwide call to action in response to the Presidential 
Initiative to Increase Seat Belt Use Nationwide. High priority is given 
to education and enforcement efforts to buckle up children.
    NHTSA seeks the participation and support of national organizations 
and their state and local affiliates to take a leadership role in the 
Campaign by speaking out in support of the Campaign initiatives, and 
mobilizing community level activity. This notice solicits applications 
from for-profit or not-for-profit national organizations. In addition, 
NHTSA is particularly interested in gaining the interest and 
involvement of organizations that represent constituencies who are hard 
to reach through mainstream delivery channels and/or have low seat belt 
use rates. Only applications submitted by the national office 
representing the organization will be considered.

DATES: Applications must be received at the office designated below on 
or before March 26, 1999, at 2:00 P.M., Eastern Standard Time.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted to the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Contracts and Procurement 
(NAD-30), ATTN: Rose Watson, 400 7th Street, S.W., Room 5301, 
Washington, D.C. 20590. All applications submitted must include a 
reference to NHTSA Program No. NTS-01-9-05068.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General administrative questions may 
be directed to Rose Watson, Office of Contracts and Procurement at 
(202-366-9557). Programmatic questions relating to this grant program 
should be directed to Ann Mitchell, National Outreach Division (NTS-
22), NHTSA, 400 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590 by e-mail at 
[email protected] or by phone (202-366-2690). Interested 
applicants are advised that no separate application package exists 
beyond the contents of this announcement.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    For the last three years, seat belt use has leveled off in the 
upper 60's percentile. According to state-reported observational 
surveys, seat belt use moved from 68 percent in 1995-96 to 69 percent 
as of the end of 1997. In 1996, the President directed the Secretary of 
the U.S. Department of Transportation to prepare a plan to increase the 
use of seat belts nationwide. In response, the Presidential Initiative 
to Increase Seat Belt Use Nationwide was issued and the Buckle Up 
America Campaign set into action.
    The Buckle Up America Campaign places high priority on the need to 
buckle up children. Our children are America's most valuable 
investment, therefore it is every American's responsibility to protect 
them. Unbuckled drivers endanger kids by setting bad examples for them 
to follow. When a driver is unbuckled, 70 percent of the time children 
riding in that vehicle are also unbuckled. We all have a stake in this 
problem and we are all part of the solution. We must all buckle 
ourselves, buckle our children and call upon others to do the same.
    The goals of NHTSA's Buckle Up America Campaign are to increase 
seat belt use to 85 percent by the year 2000 and 90 percent by 2005; 
and to reduce child occupant fatalities (0-4 years) by 15 percent in 
2000 and by 25 percent in

[[Page 5855]]

2005. These aggressive goals can have tremendous payoffs, if achieved.
    To achieve these goals will require an increase in visible support 
coming from the community for buckling up and the need to enforce 
occupant protection laws before social change can occur. This will take 
the collective efforts of many people and organizations speaking out 
from various sectors in the community in a unified voice to help create 
a public attitude that ``unbelted is unacceptable'' in our society.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN05FE99.032

    The Presidential Initiative to Increase Seat Belt Use Nationwide 
calls on all Americans to take an active role--It's everyone's problem 
and everyone is a part of the solution. Individuals must take 
responsibility for themselves and for their child passengers by making 
certain everyone in the vehicle is properly buckled up--every time and 
on every trip. This is the bottom line.
    The President's Initiative focuses on a strategy composed of four 
elements proven to be effective in increasing seat belt use. These are: 
(1) Building public-private partnerships of organizations and 
individuals committed to taking action, (2) enacting strong legislation 
including primary/standard enforcement provisions for seat belt laws 
and ``closing the gaps'' in child passenger safety laws, (3) embracing 
active, high visibility law enforcement, and (4) conducting well-
coordinated, effective public education. These strategies work and 
NHTSA's Buckle Up America Campaign is committed to and focused on 
activities that support these proven strategies.
    Buckle Up America proposes to harness the efforts of the public, 
private, cultural, and ethnic sectors to reach into each State, 
community, and household, and to touch each individual. Every new 
person buckling up is an important step towards reaching our goal. It 
takes approximately two million new users to raise the national average 
one percentage point.
    Now, the task becomes persuading groups with lower seat belt and 
child safety seat usage rates to buckle up. Since teens, young males, 
pickup truck drivers, rural residents, low income populations, 
Hispanics, African Americans, and Native Americans could protect 
themselves and their families better, efforts need to be targeted to 
these groups to persuade them to develop a simple habit for life. The 
needs and safety of our children are not to be ignored. Although child 
safety seat use for infants and toddlers is high overall, low income 
populations still have very low use use rates. Misuse of these devices 
is a huge problem as well, and use rates drop sharply as children get 
older. Many people are unaware that when children outgrow their toddler 
seat, they should be riding a booster seat if they are between 40-80 
lbs. and under 4'9'' tall. Many are either prematurely using an adult 
seat belt or not buckled up at all.
    Messages and programs designed for ``mainstream America'' often are 
not effective for those populations most at risk or hardest to reach. 
Language, cultural, and other barriers need to be considered if we are 
to make a significant impact in increasing usage among low use groups 
through the development of targeted messages and alternate delivery 
channels. This will require the support and cooperation of 
organizations that represent these populations to influence their 
members and constituencies to buckle up.

Buckle Up America Campaign

    The Buckle Up America Campaign is designed to energize, mobilize, 
and recognize active participants in the effort to increase seat belt 
use nationwide. First, we need to energize ourselves and everyone else 
to embrace three simple concepts: (1) this is a problem that touches 
the lives of every American, because we all pay the enormous health 
care and other societal costs of transportation deaths and injuries; 
(2) we all can be part of the solution because we touch the lives of so 
many fellow Americans, and we can reach out to energize them, too; and, 
(3) in America, we need to change the social norm to make riding 
unbuckled socially unacceptable. Next, we need to mobilize ourselves 
and everyone else, by informing other Americans of the risks they run 
by not buckling up, and also by lending our strong support for more 
effective seat belt and child passenger safety laws and aggressive 
enforcement. And finally, we have to recognize the good work that 
others are doing to increase seat belt use and publicly praise that 
good so others will emulate it.
    In view of these concepts, Buckle Up America participants are asked 
to establish programs and conduct activities that fulfill these needs. 
Many public and private sector organizations and agencies have signed 
on to the campaign both formally and informally and are already busy 
conducting various types of activities. However, much of the activity 
to date has centered on isolated public information and education 
efforts that have little potential for increasing seat belt usage. 
Organizations respected and influential in specific cultures are needed 
to take an active role in supporting the campaign and directing 
activity towards the hard-to-reach populations and targeting those who 
are not buckling up.
    To heighten visibility of all the activities associated with the 
Buckle Up America Campaign, NHTSA has identified four quarterly 
emphasis periods to mobilize coordinated, concentrated activity 
synchronized nationwide. Based on the tremendous success of highly 
visible enforcement programs conducted during 1998 to increase seat 
belt use, two of these emphasis periods will include

[[Page 5856]]

enforcement mobilization efforts (Operation ABC: America Buckles Up 
Children) and concentrated Buckle Up America Campaign support by 
participating organizations. The critical activity needed from 
organizations during these two periods is ``endorsement for 
enforcement'' to create public awareness and support for the 
enforcement efforts which will be conducted nationwide. The two 
alternate emphasis periods are more focused on high visibility public 
awareness/education activity throughout the quarter, with concentration 
on the specific issue/age groups identified for that particular period. 
The four Buckle Up America emphasis periods are:
    Buckle Up America (April, May, June) focuses on getting everyone to 
wear their seat belt. It peaks with National Buckle Up America! Week, 
May 24-31, 1999, and puts an emphasis on enforcement of all occupant 
protection laws. (The first of the two Operation ABC enforcement 
mobilization periods.)
    School Days (July, August, September) targets school aged children 
from kindergarten through college. For them, this is the beginning of a 
new year and programs are designed to encourage their use of seat belts 
and to become advocates for seat belt use. Let's help them graduate 
safely by making sure they are always buckled up.
    Safe Holiday Travel (October, November, December) concentrates on 
the time of year when so many Americans travel to spend time with 
family and friends. Enforcement efforts to see that all children are 
buckled up will be conducted nationwide. (Operation ABC mobilization 
takes place during Thanksgiving Holiday Week, November 22-28, 1999.)
    Child Passenger Safety (January, February, March) centers on the 
needs of children, ages 0-12 and peaks with National Child Passenger 
Safety Week, February 14-20, 1999. Special emphasis will be given to 
education about the need to use booster seats for children 50 to 80 
lbs. and under 4'9'' tall. These children often ride either 
unrestrained because they are no longer covered under the state's child 
passenger safety law, or they are placed in an adult seat belt, which 
could cause injuries because of improper fit.
    As noted above, two of the emphasis periods focus on the Operation 
ABC Mobilization America Buckles Up Children--which is organized by the 
Air Bag and Seat Belt Safety Campaign in partnership with NHTSA. In 
addition to participation by law enforcement agencies, we hope to 
engage at least 1,000 organizations across the country to extend their 
``endorsement for enforcement'' during these mobilization periods. 
High-visibility enforcement occurs during designated periods of time 
(waves), and combines intensive enforcement with aggressive publicity 
and media outreach efforts. This combination allows law enforcement to 
notify the community that officers are stepping up enforcement of the 
state's laws and will be issuing tickets to everyone who doesn't 
comply: no exceptions, no excuses.
    High-visibility enforcement has been used successfully in Canada, 
in states like North Carolina, Georgia, Maryland, and Washington, and 
in numerous communities throughout the country. Publicizing community 
support for the enforcement effort through earned media activities 
(i.e., news stories) builds momentum and a sense of urgency among the 
community, the media, opinion leaders and policy makers. The effects of 
high-visibility campaigns are not short-lived. This proven formula of 
highly publicized, aggressive enforcement backed by visible community 
support produces higher seat belt and child seat use by the motoring 
public. Each mobilization gives law enforcement a better base upon 
which to build the next time the model is implemented--and decreases 
the overall number of part-time users and non-users of seat belts. The 
1998 May mobilization is testament that this approach can be effective 
in moving the needle on a national scale. In May 1998, more than 4,200 
law enforcement agencies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia 
united in a week-long, high visibility enforcement drive to buckle up 
children. The combined nationwide media outreach efforts of law 
enforcement agencies, organizations and the national Campaign produced 
tremendous results and reached an estimated audience of more than 200 
million people throughout the week. In one week, these efforts 
increased seat belt use by three percentage points nationwide and moved 
six million additional drivers to buckle up. Such an increase will 
translate into an annual savings of more than 600 lives, both children 
and adults. These gains did not dissipate after the mobilization. By 
Thanksgiving, national usage had increased by another five percentage 
points.
    Operation ABC Mobilization is the only nationally coordinated 
effort by law enforcement to conduct high-visibility enforcement of 
child passenger safety and seat belt use laws. The effort continues to 
grow bigger and more effective with each wave. Coordination among 
partners is key to this success. Prior to the 1998 May mobilization, 
NHTSA's Regional Offices conducted law enforcement summits to solicit 
their support and participation in the mobilization. This resulted in 
2,700 more law enforcement agencies signing on to participate in 1998 
compared to the first mobilization in 1997. Preceding the November 1998 
mobilization, NHTSA Regional Offices again held a series of partnership 
summits in 23 States. These summits were expanded to include not only 
high-ranking law enforcement executives but also business and industry 
leaders, local and state government officials, safety advocates, 
educators, media spokespersons, state affiliates of national 
organizations, prominent members of the clergy and other influential 
community leaders. Two national Buckle Up America leadership 
conferences were held in Washington, DC as well, where national 
organizations were encouraged to lend their support for law enforcement 
during the mobilization periods. As a result of these and other efforts 
to gain new partners in the Campaign, more than 1,000 organizations 
submitted endorsements supporting the 1998 Thanksgiving Week 
Mobilization. Similar partnership summits and leadership conferences 
will be held for upcoming mobilizations. Grantees and their 
participating state and local representatives are encouraged to attend 
these regional and national meetings and to work with their State 
Highway Safety Offices to coordinate their activities with other groups 
in their state supporting the Buckle Up America Campaign.
    The goal of this cooperative agreement program is to further expand 
participation in and media exposure of the next series of mobilizations 
and educational emphasis periods. We are seeking organizations that 
will take a leadership role in mobilizing their members and 
constituency to provide visible support for law enforcement and to 
conduct media outreach activities. The two educational emphasis periods 
in between the enforcement mobilizations will help keep the issue in 
the forefront of the American public as a reminder and reinforcement of 
the importance of buckling up.

Purpose

    The primary purpose of this cooperative agreement program is to 
generate highly visible support for the Buckle Up America Campaign from 
national organizations and their local affiliates in conjunction with 
quarterly emphasis periods. The program is designed to generate 
specific support for

[[Page 5857]]

Buckle Up America Campaign initiatives, primarily for law enforcement 
efforts during the two Operation ABC mobilizations and/or media and 
educational initiatives during the Campaign's Child Passenger Safety 
and School Days emphasis periods. The objective of this initiative is 
to organize and deliver public statements of support from national and 
local leaders of respected organizations and community sector 
representatives that will provide the support needed by law enforcement 
and elected officials and other local leaders to aggressively enforce 
occupant protection laws. Concentrated activity in the six identified 
opportunity states is encouraged.
    One way to stimulate support for efforts to increase seat belt and 
child safety seat usage is to stimulate the development of sustained 
traffic safety efforts at the local level. For the past three years, 
NHTSA has been promoting a community-based motor vehicle injury 
prevention program known as Safe Communities. This model encourages 
communities to analyze data, consult with citizens and collaborate with 
a multi-disciplinary set of partners to prioritize problems and 
identify solutions. Applicants are encouraged to coordinate any 
proposed Buckle Up America efforts with any existing Safe Communities 
programs and use this as the basis for long-term involvement. In those 
locations where no Safe Communities exist, applicants are encouraged to 
participate in the Buckle Up America program and its enforcement 
efforts as an initial activity in the formation of a sustained Safe 
Communities program.

Eligibility Requirements

    Applications may be submitted by public and private, non-profit and 
for-profit organizations. An eligible organization must be national in 
scope and have established and effective affiliate relationships at the 
state and local level capable of carrying out the effort. Organizations 
can satisfy this criterion by showing that they will work through their 
own state and local affiliates (i.e., units or chapters specifically 
organized to carry out the organization's mission) and/or with other 
affiliates participating the Buckle Up America Campaign (i.e. State 
Highway Safety Agencies, other national organization(s), law 
enforcement associations, etc.), NHTSA is particularly interested in 
engaging organizations that represent target populations who have 
typically lower seat belt use and/or special needs relative to message 
delivery, cultural issues, or other factors. Organizations that assume 
a leadership and respected role by hard-to-reach, high risk, and 
predominately low belt use constituencies are sought to participate in 
this effort. Target organization applications will be competed separate 
from other national organization applications. In essence, the 
applications will be divided into two categories--(1) target population 
and (2) all others, and will be evaluated within the appropriate 
category. Therefore, it is important that organizations identify the 
category for which they are to be considered on their application. 
Interested applicants are advised that no fee or profit will be allowed 
under this cooperative agreement program.
    Eligible projects will also be limited to specific activity areas 
outlined below. The grantee shall design and implement specific 
activities throughout its national and affiliate chapters to gain 
public awareness of, publicize support for, and generate participation 
in 2-4 of the Buckle Up America emphasis periods during 1999, described 
in the Buckle Up America section of this Notice, above. Specifically, 
the activity shall focus on four key elements:
    1. Public statements of support for Operation ABC enforcement 
efforts and/or the child passenger safety and school days emphasis 
periods. This can include, but is not limited to: writing letters in 
support of enforcement and/or educational emphasis efforts to elected 
officials, such as, Governors, mayors, and other local leaders, and 
heads of law enforcement; publishing editorials and articles in 
newspapers, newsletters, and other publications; issuing resolutions 
and proclamations in support of Operation ABC and Buckle Up America 
Campaign, participating in meetings and conferences on mobilization 
efforts. It can also include efforts to make the public aware of 
planned enforcement efforts and the rationale for them. This may be 
particularly appropriate for target groups whose constituency may be 
sensitive to enforcement-related issues.
    2. Media Outreach. This can include, but is not limited to: 
distribution of sample news releases regarding mobilization/emphasis 
period efforts, letters to the Editor/Op Ed pieces, talking points, 
etc. to national and local representatives and encouraging their use to 
gain national and local media attention and public awareness for the 
issues involved.
    3. Community action activities and events by local representatives. 
This can include, but is not limited to: support to local chapters to 
conduct local dialogues or to organize/participate in media events with 
law enforcement representatives and/or other community leaders; 
conducting/participating in educational initiatives to complement 
enforcement efforts, such as participating in checkpoints, conducting/
participating in community educational activities, posting information, 
etc.; taking a leadership role in gathering community support and 
partners, attending and/or sponsoring meetings to organize 
mobilization/emphasis activity.
    4. Project Evaluation. The grantee shall also evaluate the quantity 
and quality/scope of participation of the national organization and 
local affiliates, including: national outreach/support initiatives, 
number of editorials and opinion/editorial features published, 
information/materials developed/distributed; number of local affiliates 
participating and activities conducted in the three areas listed above; 
and participation in and promotion of the Safe Communities Program in 
conjunction with this effort.

Additional Resources

    The following is a list of resources for information on the Buckle 
Up America Campaign. All items may be ordered either directly from the 
NHTSA web site at: www.nhtsa.dot.gov by E-Mail to Webmaster (see bottom 
of home page) or by sending a fax request to: Media and Marketing 
Division at 202-493-6062. All requests should include the name, 
address, and telephone number of the person to receive the materials.
    1. Item # 1P1049 Presidential Initiative to Increase Seat Belt Use 
Nationwide, Recommendations from the Secretary of Transportation.* 
NHTSA. April 1997. DOT HS 808 576. The Secretary's plan for 
implementing President Clinton's directive and attaining seat belt and 
child safety seat use goals for years 2000 and 2005.
    2. Item # 1P1084 Buckle Up America, The Presidential Initiative for 
Increasing Seat Belt Use Nationwide, First Report to Congress. NHTSA. 
January 1998. DOT HS 808 667. First Biannual Report to the House and 
Senate Appropriations Committees on the progress of the activities 
which have been conducted in pursuit of the national goals outlined in 
the Presidential Initiative to Increase Seat Belt Use Nationwide.
    3. Item # 1P1063 Buckle Up America Campaign Action Kit.* NHTSA. 
September 1997. DOT HS 808 628. Information and resource portfolio to 
solicit participation in the Buckle Up America Campaign.
    4. Item # 1P0837 Operation ABC Mobilization Organizational Action 
Kit

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(OAK)*. NHTSA. September 1998. Information, resources, and sample 
materials for organizations participating in and supporting November 
23-29, 1998, Operation ABC Mobilization: America Buckles Up Children.
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    *These items may be found directly on NHTSA's web site at: 
www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
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    5. Safe Communities Service Center, c/o NHTSA Region VI, 819 Taylor 
Street, Room 8A38, Fort Worth, Texas 76102, Phone: 817-978-3633, Fax: 
817-978-8339, or E-Mail: [email protected]. Also visit 
the Safe Communities web site on the Internet (http://
www.nhtsa.dot.gov/safecommunities). These resources provide information 
on best practices, Safe Communities and traffic safety materials, and 
access to technical assistance sources.
    6. Item # 5P0026 Safe Communities folio package. NHTSA. 1997. DOT 
HS 808 578. Contains technical assistance materials on various topics 
including getting started, coalition building, partnering with traffic 
safety specialists and evaluation and monitoring tips.

Application Procedures

    Each applicant must submit one original and two copies of the 
application package to: NHTSA, Office of Contracts and Procurement 
(NAD-30), ATTN: Rose Watson, 400 7th Street, S.W., Room 5301, 
Washington, DC 20590. An additional three copies will facilitate the 
review process, but are not required. Applications must be typed on one 
side of the page only. Applications must include a reference to NHTSA 
Program #NTS-01-9-05068, and identify if you are applying as a general 
or target population applicant.
    Only complete packages received on or before March 26, 1999 at 2:00 
P.M. Eastern Standard Time will be considered.

Application Contents

    1. The application package must be submitted with OMB Standard Form 
424 (Rev. 4-88), Application for Federal Assistance, including 424A, 
Budget Information--Nonconstruction Programs, and 424B, Assurances--
Nonconstruction Programs with the required information filled in and 
the certified assurances included. The OMB Standard Forms SF-424, SF-
424A, and SF-424B may be downloaded directly from the OMB Internet web 
site, http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/EOP/OMB/Grants/. While the Form 424-
A deals with budget information, and section B identifies Budget 
Categories, the available space does not permit a level of detail which 
is sufficient to provide for a meaningful evaluation of the proposed 
costs. A supplemental sheet should be provided which presents a 
detailed, itemized breakdown by cost category (such as hourly rates, 
unit purchase costs, overhead rates, etc.) of the proposed costs, as 
well as any costs which the applicant proposes to contribute in support 
of this effort.
    2. Applications shall include a program narrative statement which:
    A. Identifies the organizational membership, purpose, and 
structure; defines the constituency the organization represents and 
services; demonstrates the organization's commitment to supporting the 
initiatives of the Buckle Up America Campaign, provides examples of how 
the organization is involved community outreach activities, and states 
how this assistance will enable the organization to augment state and 
local affiliate involvement in this effort. Supporting documentation 
from concerned interests, partner organizations, and/or affiliates can 
be used to show level of commitment and interest.
    B. Outlines a plan of action pertaining to the scope and detail on 
how the proposed work will be accomplished, noting how many and which 
emphasis periods will be targeted, strategies for marketing to state 
and local affiliates, seeking participation, and gaining high 
visibility public awareness of the effort. The Action Plan should 
include a time line of projected activity and milestones including 
dissemination of information, product development, targeted event 
schedules, reporting dates, and/or other major tasks associated with 
the project.
    C. Specifies deliverables and due dates including products and 
reports. The organization should also identify any specific NHTSA 
materials and quantities which will be requested to support the project 
and how these will be used and distributed.
    D. Describes an Evaluation Plan for determining and documenting 
activity conducted. This should include a system or mechanism for 
obtaining timely feedback from participating affiliates on their 
activities conducted and media coverage obtained during the emphasis 
period(s).

Project Review Procedures and Criteria

    Upon receipt, applications will be screened to ensure that they 
meet the eligibility requirements. Applications meeting the 
requirements will be reviewed by a panel using the criteria outlined 
below. In preparing the application package, applicants should organize 
the package to follow the outline provided by the review criteria.

Application Review Process and Evaluation Factors

    Each application package will initially be reviewed to confirm that 
the applicant is an eligible recipient and that the application 
contains all of the items specified in the Application Contents section 
of this announcement. Each complete application from an eligible 
recipient will then be evaluated by an evaluation committee. The 
applications will be evaluated using the following criteria:
    1. Understanding of the Buckle Up America Campaign and the role of 
the organization as a partner in the Campaign (20 %)
    The degree to which the applicant has demonstrated an understanding 
of the Buckle Up America campaign and has described its role as a 
partner in the campaign.
    2. The organization's ability to disseminate the Campaign 
nationwide and influence participation of its membership (20%)
    The status of the applicant as a national organization with a 
regional, state and/or local chapter structure that covers the nation; 
the degree to which the proposed effort is designed to actively engage 
regional, state and/or local chapters of the organization in the 
proposed effort.
    3. Commitment to support the four Buckle Up America emphasis 
periods (35%)
    The degree to which the proposal describes activities by the 
national organization and its field structure for at least two and up 
to four emphasis periods that focus on the following key elements:
     Public statements of support for Operation ABC 
mobilization efforts and/or the child passenger safety and school days 
emphasis periods;
     Media outreach in support of the mobilizations and the 
child passenger safety and school days emphasis periods;
     Community action activities and events by local 
representatives designed to support and complement law enforcement 
efforts, and draw attention to the child passenger safety and school 
days emphasis periods.
    4. Documentation and Process Evaluation (15%)
    The proposal includes a process evaluation design and plans for how 
the effort will be documented to facilitate NHTSA efforts to provide 
information to other organizations interested in replicating the 
proposed activity and to compile Buckle Up America Campaign activity 
for required Reports to Congress and the President.

[[Page 5859]]

    5. Safe Communities (10%)
    The degree to which this project promotes the Safe Communities 
model to members of the national organization and encourages them to 
utilize this effort as an opportunity to join existing Safe Communities 
program, integrate this effort into an existing program, or build a new 
Safe Communities program.

Availability of Funds and Period of Support

    Contingent on the availability of funds and satisfactory 
performance, cooperative agreements will be awarded for a project 
period of 12 to 15 months. A total of $590,000 is anticipated to be 
awarded. It is anticipated that individual award amounts, based upon 
demonstrated need, may range between $10,000 and $50,000. This stated 
range does not establish minimum or maximum funding levels.
    In each project, some portion of the funding requested must be 
dedicated to evaluation activities. Given the amount of funds available 
for this effort, applicants are strongly encouraged to seek other 
funding opportunities to supplement the federal funds. Preference will 
be given to applicants with cost-sharing proposals from within or 
outside their organization.

NHTSA Involvement

    NHTSA will be involved in all activities undertaken as part of the 
cooperative agreement program and will:
    1. Provide a Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) 
to participate in the planning and management of this Cooperative 
Agreement and to coordinate activities between the Grantee and NHTSA.
    2. Provide information and technical assistance from government 
sources within available resources and as determined appropriate by the 
COTR.
    3. Serve as a liaison between NHTSA Headquarters, Regional Offices 
and others (Federal, state and local) interested in Buckle Up America 
Campaign and the activities of the grantee as appropriate.
    4. Stimulate the transfer of information among Cooperative 
Agreement recipients and others engaged in Buckle Up America 
activities.
    5. Provide campaign information and materials to support 
activities.

Special Award Selection Factors

    While not a requirement of this announcement, applicants are 
strongly urged to seek funds from other federal, state, local and 
private sources to augment those available under this announcement. For 
those applications that are evaluated as meritorious for consideration 
for award, preference may be given to those that have proposed cost-
sharing strategies and/or have other proposed funding sources in 
addition to those in this announcement. In-kind services provided by 
the applicant organization may be included as a contribution.

Terms and Conditions of Award

    1. Prior to award, each grantee must comply with the certification 
requirements of 49 CFR part 20, Department of Transportation New 
Restrictions on Lobbying, and 49 CFR part 29, Department of 
Transportation government-wide Debarment and Suspension (Non-
procurement) and Government-wide Requirements for Drug Free Workplace 
(Grants).
    2. Reporting Requirements and Deliverables:
    A. Quarterly Progress Reports should include a summary of the 
previous quarter's activities and accomplishments, as well as the 
proposed activities for the upcoming quarter. Any decisions and actions 
required in the upcoming quarter should be included in the report. The 
grantee shall supply the progress report to the Contracting Officer's 
Technical Representative (COTR) every ninety (90) days following date 
of award.
    B. Program Implementation and Evaluation Plan: The grantee shall 
submit a revised program implementation and evaluation plan, 
incorporating comments received from the NHTSA COTR, no more than 1 
month after award of this agreement. The NHTSA COTR will review and 
comment, if necessary.
    C. Draft Final Report: The grantee shall prepare a Draft Final 
Report that includes a description of the project, media outreach 
initiatives, and local affiliate participation and activity, results 
and findings from the program evaluation. In terms of information 
transfer, it is important to know what worked and did not work, under 
what circumstances, and what can be done to avoid potential problems in 
future projects. The grantee shall submit the Draft Final Report to the 
COTR 60 days prior to the end of the performance period. The COTR will 
review the draft report and provide comments to the grantee within 30 
days of receipt of the document.
    D. Final Report: The grantee shall revise the Draft Final Report to 
reflect the COTR's comments. The revised final report shall be 
delivered to the COTR 15 days before the end of the performance period. 
The grantee shall supply the COTR:

--Four hard copies of the final document.

    E. A Briefing to NHTSA and a presentation to at least one national 
meeting (e.g., Lifesavers * * *).
    F. Preparation and submission of a paper for publication in a 
professional journal. This paper will be submitted to NHTSA initially 
in draft format and will be circulated for review and comment to NHTSA 
and others, as appropriate.
    3. During the effective performance period of cooperative 
agreements awarded as a result of this announcement, the agreement as 
applicable to the grantee, shall be subject to the NHTSA's General 
Provisions for Assistance Agreements, dated July 1995.

    Issued on: February 2, 1999.
Rose A. McMurray,
Associate Administrator for Traffic Safety Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-2827 Filed 2-4-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P