[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32977-32980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-15413]



[[Page 32977]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration


Discretionary Cooperative Agreements To Support the Demonstration 
of Effective Programs Using Methods or Technologies Targeted at 
Reducing Alcohol Impaired Driving by Individuals Age 21 Through 34

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.

ACTION: Announcement of discretionary cooperative agreements to support 
the demonstration of effective programs using inventive methods or 
technologies targeted at reducing alcohol impaired driving by 
individuals age 21 through 34.

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SUMMARY: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 
announces a discretionary cooperative agreement to solicit support for 
the demonstration of effective programs using inventive methods or 
technologies targeted at reducing alcohol impaired driving by 
individuals age 21 through 34.
    The goal of NHTSA's Impaired Driving program is to reduce alcohol-
related fatalities to no more than 11,000 by the year 2005. While 
progress has been made in reducing alcohol-related fatalities, 
successful inventive methods and collaborative partnering programs need 
to be demonstrated and made available for replication in order to 
achieve the national goal. This cooperative agreement project is to 
support the demonstration of inventive methods programs and new 
approaches that have demonstrated or have the potential to demonstrate 
reductions in alcohol-impaired fatalities and injuries by individuals 
age 21-34. NHTSA solicits applications from public and private, non-
profit, not-for-profit and commercial organizations, governments and 
their agencies, or a consortium of these organizations that demonstrate 
effective programs using inventive methods or technologies targeted at 
reducing alcohol impaired driving by individuals age 21 through 34.

DATES: Applications must be received no later than August 3, 2001, at 
3:00 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: Joseph A. Comella, 400 7th Street, SW., Room 5301, 
Washington, DC 20590. All applications submitted must include a 
reference to NHTSA Cooperative Agreement Program No. DTNH22-01-H-07010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General administrative questions may 
be directed to Joseph A. Comella, Office of Contracts and Procurement 
at (202) 366-9568 or by e-mail: [email protected]. Programmatic 
questions should be directed to J. De Carlo Ciccel, Impaired Driving 
Division, NTS-11, NHTSA, 400 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590 
(202) 366-1694, facsimile (202) 366-2766, or by e-mail: 
[email protected]. Interested applicants are advised that no 
separate application package exists beyond the contents of this 
announcement.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The goal of NHTSA's Impaired Driving program is to reduce alcohol-
related fatalities to no more than 11,000 by the year 2005. Modest 
progress has been made in reducing alcohol-related fatalities over the 
last ten years. As a percentage of all traffic fatalities, alcohol-
related fatalities dropped from 49 percent to 38 percent during the 
period 1989 to 1999. The 15,786 alcohol-related fatalities reported in 
1999 represent a 30 percent reduction from the 22,404 reported in 1989.
    From 1982 to 1999, the number of drivers involved in alcohol-
related fatal crashes decreased for drivers of all age groups, with the 
youngest and oldest drivers experiencing the largest percentage 
decrease. Drivers 65 and older, involved in alcohol-related fatal 
crashes, decreased 50 percent (from 14 percent in 1982 to 7 percent in 
1999); drivers 15 to 20 years of age, involved in alcohol-related fatal 
crashes, dropped 52 percent (from 43 percent in 1982 to 21 percent in 
1999); drivers age 35-64, involved in alcohol-related fatal crashes, 
decreased 33 percent (from 30 percent in 1982 to 20 percent in 1999); 
and drivers age 21-34, involved in alcohol-related fatal crashes, 
dropped 33 percent (from 47 percent in 1982 to 32 percent in 1999).
    The 1999 Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data indicates 
that 43 percent of all drivers involved fatal alcohol-related crashes 
were 21 to 34 years of age. In 1999, the highest percentages of drivers 
with blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) of 0.10
g/dl or greater in fatal crashes were drivers 21-24 years old (27 
percent) and 25-34 years old (24 percent). For drivers with high BACs, 
these age groups have shown essentially no change in percentages since 
1995.
    In addition, 45 percent of occupants killed in alcohol-related 
crashes did not use safety belts or other restraints. Of those 
unrestrained occupants killed in alcohol-related crashes, approximately 
80 percent were involved in a crash in which the driver had a BAC of 
0.10
g/dl or greater.
    Innovations in enforcement, public education, alcohol screening and 
treatment, prevention, technology, and the passage of legislation have 
all contributed to this decline. While some progress has been made in 
reducing alcohol-related fatalities, expanding beyond current 
technologies and program initiatives is imperative to significantly 
reduce the number of alcohol-related fatalities and achieve the 
national goal. Equally important is documenting and making available 
those programs that have demonstrated success in reducing alcohol-
related fatalities among individuals age 21-34.

Partners in Progress

    In 1995, NHTSA convened more than 100 people (Partners-in-Progress) 
to explore how to achieve this national goal. Then, in January 1996, 
NHTSA convened an Implementation Group to develop an action plan from 
the Partners in Progress recommended strategies in order to achieve the 
national goal. The Group drafted a ``Guide for Action'' addressing the 
following seven countermeasure areas:
    (1) Public education;
    (2) Individual responsibility;
    (3) Legislation;
    (4) Enforcement and adjudication;
    (5) Technology;
    (6) Health care community; and
    (7) Businesses and employers.
    Innovations in enforcement, alternative sanctions, public 
education, alcohol prevention, screening and treatment, technology, and 
the passage of tougher legislation have all contributed to the current 
decline. However, more needs to be done in order to continue making 
significant gains in reducing alcohol impaired driving. It will take 
new ideas, creative approaches, inventive programs, new partners, and 
new or improved technologies to significantly lower the number of 
alcohol-related deaths and, more importantly, to change the behavior of 
those who drive while impaired.
    This announcement solicits proposals for cooperative agreements to 
demonstrate successful inventive programs that reduce driving while 
under the influence by individuals age 21 through 34, based on the 
effective application of one or more of the seven (7) countermeasure 
areas listed above and described in the Partners in Progress: An 
Impaired Driving Guide for

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Action. In addition to countermeasure areas, inventive programs should 
include multifaceted elements of a community (i.e., faith community, 
advocacy groups, media, public works, entertainment, law enforcement, 
highway safety, and recreation). Proposals will receive preference that 
demonstrate geographic and demographic diversity, that address or 
desire to address multiple countermeasure areas, as well as, varying 
size of community(s) to be reached.

Objective

    The objective of this project is to demonstrate several 
comprehensive programs that have used or plan to use innovation and 
creativity, targeted at reducing alcohol impaired driving by 
individuals age 21 through 34. If an applicant has a new or an existing 
program targeted specifically at 21-34 year-olds that does not include 
one or more of the seven (7) countermeasure areas and/or multiple 
elements of the community as listed above, but proposes to use this 
project as an opportunity to implement those components in such a 
program, that proposal will receive consideration for award, if the 
implementation, evaluation, and documentation can be conducted during 
the time frame for this project.

Availability of Funds and Period of Support

    A total of $1,000,000 is available in Fiscal Year 2001 to fund the 
demonstration of up to twelve (12) comprehensive programs targeted at 
individuals age 21-34. Individual project awards may range from $50,000 
to $300,000. This stated range does not establish a minimum or maximum 
funding level. 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, matching funds, or in-kind commitment of 
resources.

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 each 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 alcohol programs 
to reduce driving while under the influence of alcohol by individuals 
age 21 through 34, and the activities of the grantee as appropriate.
    4. Stimulate the transfer of information among cooperative 
agreement recipients and others engaged in alcohol program activities, 
specifically designed to address individuals age 21 through 34.
    5. Review and approve draft and final versions of the deliverables.

Eligibility Requirements

    Applications may be submitted by public or private, non-profit, 
not-for-profit, commercial organizations, and governments and their 
agencies or a consortium of the above. Universities, colleges, research 
institutions, hospitals, other public and private organizations, and 
State and local governments are eligible to apply. Each application 
package must include a letter of acknowledgment or support for the 
proposed application from their Governor's Highway Safety 
Representative or Highway Safety Office to be deemed eligible. 
Interested applicants are advised that no fee or profit will be allowed 
under this cooperative agreement solicitation. Eligible programs will 
be limited to those that target individuals ages 21-34 and contain one 
or more of the seven (7) Partners in Progress countermeasure areas. 
Eligible programs will require collaboration among the various 
contributing partners, agencies, and organizations.

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: Joseph A. Comella, 400 7th Street, SW., Room 5301, 
Washington, DC 20590. Submission of three (3) additional copies will 
expedite processing, but is not required. The application may be single 
spaced, must be typed on one side of the page only, and must include a 
reference to NHTSA Cooperative Agreement No. DTNH22-01-H-07010. 
Unnecessarily elaborate applications beyond what is sufficient to 
present a complete and effective response to this invitation are not 
desired. Only complete application packages received on or before due 
date, (See DATES above) will be considered.


    Note: applicants interested in submitting more than one 
inventive project must prepare a separate application package for 
each project. In addition, programs with multiple partners must 
submit a single or collaborative application. Only one award will be 
awarded per eligible program.


Application Content

    1. The application package must be submitted with OMB Standard Form 
(SF) 424 (Rev. 4-88, including 424A and 424B), Application for Federal 
Assistance, with the requirement information filled in and certified 
assurances signed. OMB forms are available for download and printing on 
the Internet at www.whitehouse.gov/OMB/grants/index.html site. While 
the SF 424A deals with budget information, and Section B identifies 
Budget Categories, the available space does not permit a level of 
detail sufficient to provide meaningful evaluation of the proposed 
total costs. A supplemental sheet shall be provided which presents a 
detailed breakdown of the proposed costs, as well as any costs which 
the applicant indicates will be contributed locally in support of the 
demonstration project.
    2. The application shall include a program narrative statement 
which addresses the following information in separately labeled 
sections:
    a. A description of the community or communities in which the 
program is or will be administered. For the purposes of this project, a 
``community'' includes a state, city, town or county, small 
metropolitan area, a large neighborhood, even a workplace (i.e., it 
does not have to correspond with a political jurisdiction). It should 
be large enough so that program results are demonstrated. A description 
of an existing full working partnership or one that will be established 
to maintain or enhance the program. The application shall describe all 
the partners that will participate in this project (e.g., local 
government, law enforcement, health care providers, media, citizens, 
corporate, etc.) and the role of each partner.
    b. A description of the goals and objectives of the program. Goals 
should be clearly stated and the objectives time-phased with specific, 
measured, and achieved outcomes that demonstrate the reduction of 
impaired driving by individuals age 21-34.
    c. A Work Plan outline which will be the basis for developing the 
demonstration project. Applicants desiring to accomplish an inventive 
program targeted at reducing alcohol impaired driving by individuals 21 
through 34 using one or more of the

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seven (7) Partners in Progress countermeasure areas must address what 
they propose to develop, implement, evaluate, and document; how this 
will be accomplished, and include the major tasks/milestones necessary 
to complete this project. This involves identification and solution of 
potential technical problems and critical issues related to successful 
completion of this project. Briefly outline a specific work plan to 
document your program's history, how to implement a similar program, 
and a plan to evaluate the effectiveness of the program in reducing 
impaired driving to include lessons-learned, best practices, 
organizational support, outside agency support, and costs. This outline 
should identify specific tasks required to accomplish the goals and 
objectives of the project detailing how the program will be documented 
for replication by another agency, jurisdiction, or organization. The 
specific innovation, intervention, and/or activity must be included in 
the aforementioned work plan to include: What action will the community 
undertake to reach its objectives? How will the innovation, 
intervention, and/or activity be delivered and monitored? What are the 
expected results from the innovation, intervention, and/or activity?
    d. An Evaluation Plan (both qualitative and quantitative) that 
describes the kinds of questions that may be posed in replicating the 
selected programs. For existing programs and for those who propose to 
use this project to incorporate countermeasure areas or community 
elements, this Evaluation Plan will describe the kinds of questions to 
be addressed by the evaluation design, what the outcome measures are, 
how they were or will be measured, the methodology for collecting that 
data, how often data is or will be collected, and how the data is being 
or will be analyzed. For proposed programs, the Evaluation Plan shall 
indicate how the incorporation of countermeasure areas or the community 
element will enhance the desired outcome to reduce impaired driving by 
individual age 21-34.
    e. A description of how this project will be managed. The 
application shall identify the proposed project manager and any 
personnel considered critical to the successful documentation of the 
proposed program. The roles and responsibilities of the applicant and 
others included in the application package shall be specified. The 
proposed level of effort in performing various activities shall also be 
identified. A staffing plan and resume for all key project personnel 
shall be included in the application. Briefly outline the 
organizational resources the applicant will draw upon, and how the 
applicant will provide the program management capability and personnel 
expertise to successfully perform the activities states herein. Include 
staffing titles and a 1-2 sentence description of the position duties. 
The budget should segregate documentation project costs from 
implementation and evaluation costs that may be incurred if considering 
the use of the project to incorporate countermeasure area(s). For each 
of these activities, identify costs by direct labor with a breakdown of 
costs by proposed staffing; direct materials/equipment with a breakdown 
of major cost items; total travel costs with an explanation of the 
relationship to the project; implementation and evaluation costs; and 
overhead. Clearly identify any financial or in-kind commitment of 
resources by the applicant organization or other supporting 
organizations to support the project.

Program Review Procedures, Criteria and Evaluation Factors

    Upon receipt of the application package, each package will 
initially be reviewed to ensure eligibility and that the application 
contains all of the items specified in the Application Contents section 
of this announcement. Applications meeting the requirements will be 
reviewed by an Evaluation Committee using the criteria outlined below.

Application Review Criteria and Evaluation Factors

    The application package must concisely address the following 
criteria:
    1. Description of what the organization or existing program has 
accomplished or plans to accomplish which:
    (a) Clearly states the goals and objectives of the program;
    (b) Clearly articulates the significant contribution the program 
has made or plans to make in the reduction of impaired drivers by 
individuals age 21-34;
    (c) Explains the innovation and creative features of the program. 
If the program is more traditional, explain what makes or will make 
this program successful; and
    (d) Describes how the program incorporates at least one or more of 
the seven (7) Partners in Progress countermeasure areas including 
elements from the community. If none of the seven (7) Partners in 
Progress countermeasure areas and/or community elements have been used 
in an otherwise successful program, clearly identify the countermeasure 
area(s) that are being considered by this project.
    (e) Clearly articulates this project's impact on your program and 
the potential to make a significant contribution to the reduction of 
alcohol impaired driving by individuals age 21-34. (55 percent)


    Note: Please note that preference will be given to proposals 
that demonstrate geographic and demographic diversity, that address 
or desire to address multiple countermeasure areas, as well as, 
varying size of community(s) to be reached.


    2. The work plan will be evaluated with respect to its feasibility, 
realism, and ability to achieve the desired outcomes. The evaluation 
plan will be reviewed for qualitative and quantitative measures that 
are identified, the practicality of the proposed methodology, and the 
design. (30 percent)
    3. The project management and budget will be evaluated in terms a 
clarity of organization, sound management structure, delineation of the 
roles of the partners in the project. The project personnel will be 
reviewed in terms of qualifications and experience. The staffing of the 
project should be adequate to manage and implement the project. The 
budget should clearly identify estimated costs and provide sound 
rationale. In-kind contribution or financial contributions from 
partners or outside sources will be evaluated. (15 percent)
    Those applicants whose applications are not selected will be 
informed in writing. Those applicants whose applications are selected 
will also be notified in writing.

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

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Representative (COTR) every ninety (90) days following date of award.
    b. Program Work Plan, Implementation, and Evaluation Plan Review. 
The grantee shall submit a revised program work plan, implementation 
plan, and an 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 inventive project, partners, 
intervention strategies, program implementation, evaluation methodology 
and findings from the program evaluation shall be presented in the form 
of a process manual. 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 one camera ready version of the 
document, as printed and one copy, on appropriate media (diskette, 
Syquest disk, etc.) of the document in the original program format that 
was used for the printing process. Some documents require several 
different original program languages (e.g., PageMaker for the general 
layout and design, PowerPoint for charts, and another program for 
photographs, etc.). Each of these component parts should be available 
on disk, properly labeled with the program format and the file names. 
For example, PowerPoint files should be clearly identified by both a 
descriptive name and file name (e.g., 1999 Fatalities--chart1.ppt). A 
complete version of the assembled document shall be provided in 
portable document format (PDF) for placement of the report on the world 
wide web (WWW). This will be a file usually created with the Adobe 
Exchange program of the complete assembled document. The document must 
be completely assembled with all colors, charts, side bars, 
photographs, and graphics. This can be delivered to NHTSA on a standard 
1.44 floppy diskette (for small documents) or on any appropriate 
archival media (for larger documents) such as an CD ROM, TR-1 Mini 
cartridge, Syquest disk, etc. The grantee shall provide four additional 
hard copies of the final document.
    e. Briefings, Presentations, and Journal Paper. The Grantee shall 
make a briefing to NHTSA officials and other invited parties in 
Washington, DC at the completion of the project. The Grantee shall make 
a presentation concerning the project at a minimum of one national 
meeting (e.g., the National Commission Against Drunk Driving, the 
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions Leadership Forum, or Lifesavers, etc.). 
The Grantee shall prepare a paper and submit it for publication in a 
professional journal. An interim briefing approximately midway through 
the period of performance, in addition to a final briefing, may be 
required. All briefings, presentations, and papers will be submitted to 
NHTSA initially in draft format for review and comment. The Grantee 
shall submit drafts to the COTR 60 days before event date or 
publication submission date. The COTR will review the draft report and 
provide comments to the Grantee within 30 calendar days of receipt of 
the documents.
    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 National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration's General Provisions for Assistance 
Agreements, dated July 1995.

Rose A. McMurray,
Associate Administrator for Traffic Safety Programs.
[FR Doc. 01-15413 Filed 6-18-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-12-U