[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 14, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13819-13821]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6254]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Bureau of Transportation Statistics


Grant Program for Research and Development in the Field of 
Transportation Statistics

AGENCY: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, DOT.

ACTION: Announcement of grant program.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Transportation Statistics announces a new 
Transportation Statistics Research Grants program to support its goal 
of advancing the field of transportation statistics. This notice 
solicits applications for projects that (1) support the development of 
the field of transportation statistics; and/or (2) involve research or 
development in transportation statistics. It outlines the purpose, 
goals, and general procedures for application and award. For FY 2000, 
BTS will make available up to $500,000 in grant funds to eligible 
organizations.

DATES: For BTS to consider your application, we must either receive it 
by April 27, 2000, at 5:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time or it must be 
postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service by that date. Applications 
received or postmarked after April 27, 2000, will be processed at the 
next application date, which is anticipated to be every six to twelve 
months, unless you request in writing that your application be 
returned.

ADDRESSES: You must send six copies of the application package to the 
BTS Grants Program, K-20, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 
Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 
20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Banks, Office of Statistical 
Programs and Services, Bureau of

[[Page 13820]]

Transportation Statistics, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 
20590; (202) 366-0963; fax: (202) 366-3640; e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background--Advancing the Discipline of Transportation 
Statistics

    The purpose of this grant program is to provide financial 
assistance to eligible organizations to help advance the discipline of 
transportation statistics. These grants are authorized by section 5109 
of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) (Pub. L. 
105-178 (1998), codified at 49 U.S.C. 111(g)). BTS anticipates awarding 
up to $500,000 per year in grants for projects that (1) support 
development of the field of transportation statistics; and/or (2) 
advance research or development in transportation statistics.
    BTS is a separate operating administration within the Department of 
Transportation (DOT). Its mission is to lead in developing 
transportation data and information of high quality, and to advance 
their effective use in public and private transportation 
decisionmaking. In accomplishing this mission, BTS works to improve six 
key attributes of transportation data and analysis--quality, 
comparability, completeness, timeliness, relevance, and utility.
    Our ultimate goal is to make transportation better--to enhance 
safety, mobility, economic growth, the human and natural environment, 
and national security (the five strategic goals of the Department of 
Transportation). BTS's role in this goal is to put together data and 
information that others need to make decisions concerning 
transportation. We collect data and compile, analyze, and publish 
statistics. Many others, both within and outside DOT, are involved in 
building this knowledge base and BTS could not do it alone.
    While there are many excellent transportation data programs and 
many excellent statistics programs, few are devoted to the intersection 
of these two disciplines. Bringing a better understanding of statistics 
to transportation data will improve data quality, increase utility 
(e.g., by improving measures of travel), and reduce costs (e.g., by 
using techniques to make data collection, analysis, and dissemination 
more efficient). BTS wants to foster the transportation statistics 
discipline and increase its quality and usefulness to the 
transportation community. This grants program is one way BTS is working 
toward this goal.

II. Eligibility Requirements

What Organizations May Apply?

    BTS invites applications from public and private non-profit 
institutions of higher education. We strongly encourage Minority 
Serving Institutions, which have been traditionally under represented 
in transportation statistics, to submit applications. If organizations 
partner on a project, the participants should submit a single 
application. You may submit more than one application as long as the 
applications are for separate and distinct projects.

What Projects Are Eligible for Funding?

    Eligible projects must support the development of the field of 
transportation statistics and/or involve research or development in 
transportation statistics. Examples include, but are not limited to, 
research and development in the following areas:
    (1) Visualizing and mining transportation databases;
    (2) Aggregating and analyzing databases maintained by DOT agencies, 
especially where the research involves multiple modes of 
transportation;
    (3) Improving the quality and usability of federal transportation 
statistics;
    (4) Developing exposure measures (e.g., vehicle miles traveled) for 
use in risk analyses;
    (5) Improving the statistical use of geographic information systems 
to better understand and quantify travel behavior;
    (6) Developing performance measures for the transportation system;
    (7) Designing and analyzing transportation surveys; and
    (8) Improving data quality and data collection.

What Are the Cost Sharing Requirements?

    For awards of $100,000 or more, the recipient shall fund at least 
50 percent of the project's costs. The nonfederal match must come from 
sources other than the project sponsor, and must be cash contributions 
rather than in-kind contributions. In reviewing all applications, even 
those requesting less than $100,000, the degree of cost-sharing will be 
considered, with more weight given to cash contributions than in-kind 
services.

III. Application Contents

    For more information about sending your application, please refer 
to the ADDRESSES and DATES sections listed above. In order to be 
considered for funding under this program, your application package 
must include the following:
    (1) A Project Narrative. This must not exceed five letter-size 
pages, single-sided and double-spaced. Use at least 12 point type and 
one inch margins. In general, the information you provide should be in 
sufficient detail so BTS understands the proposed work and its 
anticipated benefits and to demonstrate that you have the necessary 
experience and resources to accomplish it. The narrative must identify 
the organization; how it meets the eligibility criteria; its experience 
and accomplishments in collecting, analyzing, and/or disseminating 
transportation data; and the qualifications of the principals proposed 
to conduct the activities. The narrative must also describe the 
proposed activity, including how you would accomplish it, a time line 
listing major milestones associated with the project, and a list of 
specific products and/or services with the dates they will be 
delivered.
    (2) An Application for Federal Assistance. Submit OMB SF-424 
(Application for Federal Assistance), which is the official form 
required for all federal grants. It requests basic information about 
the grantee and the proposed project. Under Part 10 of this form, use 
20.920 and Transportation Statistics Research Grants for the Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance Number and Title. Also submit OMB SF-424A 
(Budget Information--Nonconstruction Programs). You can download these 
forms from the OMB Internet site at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/
grants.
    (3) An Evaluation Plan. Include a brief description of how you will 
evaluate and measure the success of the project, including the 
anticipated benefits and challenges in completing it. This can be part 
of the Project Narrative.
    (4) Resumes. Include resumes from up to three key personnel who 
would be significantly involved in the project.
    (5) Letters of Commitment. If your proposal includes the 
significant involvement of other eligible organizations, your 
application must include letters of commitment from them.

IV. Application Review Process and Selection Criteria

    The Transportation Statistics Research Grants program uses a 
competitive process and applications will be evaluated based on the 
merit of the proposed project in relation to the other applications 
received. BTS anticipates making multiple awards based on this 
solicitation. While BTS will select the most meritorious proposals, we 
may choose to not award all available funds.

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    Upon receiving an application, BTS will conduct an initial review 
to determine if it meets the eligibility criteria and contains all of 
the items specified under the Application Contents section of this 
announcement. A BTS evaluation committee will then review each complete 
application from an eligible recipient using the evaluation criteria 
listed below (the order of criteria does not designate priority) and 
the BTS Director will select the final grants. The evaluation criteria 
are:
    (1) How well does the proposal support BTS?s strategic goals of 
improving the quality, comparability, completeness, timeliness, 
relevance, and utility of transportation data? How well does the 
proposal serve the broad transportation interests of the United States?
    (2) How innovative is the proposed activity? To what extent is the 
work being accomplished elsewhere?
    (3) How much experience has the applicant demonstrated in one or 
more of the following areas--collecting, analyzing, storing, or 
disseminating transportation data, particularly data collected or 
disseminated by BTS, and working with theoretical statistical issues 
concerning transportation data?
    (4) Does the applicant have the professional qualifications and 
team members necessary for satisfactory performance of the proposed 
activity?
    (5) How well does the technical approach and proposed costs reflect 
an understanding of the procedures necessary to complete the required 
tasks?
    (6) To what degree does the proposal include cost-sharing? More 
weight will be given to proposals with cash contributions than in-kind 
services. For awards of $100,000 or more, BTS requires cash 
contributions of 50 percent toward the total project's cost.

V. Amount of Funds Available and Period of Support

    We anticipate that approximately $500,000 per year will be 
designated to support grants over the next five years, subject to the 
availability of appropriated funds. This estimate does not bind BTS to 
a specific number of offers or awards, nor to a specific amount of 
funding support for particular awards or awards in aggregate. It is 
anticipated that individual awards amounts, based upon demonstrated 
needs, will likely range from $50,000 to $200,000, though BTS has not 
established minimum or maximum funding levels.
    Given the amount of funds available, 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 organizations.
    The period of time of awards will vary with the complexity of the 
project and it is possible that grants will be awarded for periods 
greater than one year.

VI. BTS Involvement

    BTS involvement, if any, will vary by award. If you anticipate BTS 
involvement, you must note this in your project narrative and any 
support BTS provides will be specified in the award agreement. BTS will 
assign a liaison to serve as the primary contact regarding the grant.

VII. Terms and Conditions of Award

    (1) Prior to award, each grantee will be required to complete 
additional government application forms, such as OMB SF-424B 
(Assurances--Nonconstruction Programs) and 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) Each grantee shall submit a program implementation plan no more 
than one month after award. The BTS liaison will review and comment, if 
necessary.
    (3) Each grantee shall submit quarterly progress reports, a draft 
final report, and a final report that reflects the BTS liaison's 
comments.
    Thank you for your interest in our Transportation Statistics 
Research Grants program.

Ashish Sen,
Director.
[FR Doc. 00-6254 Filed 3-13-00; 8:45 am]
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