[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 121 (Tuesday, June 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37606-37611]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15925]



[[Page 37606]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration


Discretionary Cooperative Agreement Program To Address Impaired 
Motorcycle Operation

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Announcement of a discretionary cooperative agreement program 
to address Impaired Motorcycle Operation.

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SUMMARY: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 
announces a discretionary cooperative agreement to provide funding to 
individuals and organizations to address impaired motorcycle operation. 
The National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety lists reducing impaired 
riding as an urgent recommendation. The National Agenda for Motorcycle 
Safety was developed by a diverse group of motorcycle advocates, injury 
prevention specialists, health care, insurance, and safety research 
representatives working together. Sponsored by NHTSA and the Motorcycle 
Safety Foundation, the National Agenda provides eighty-two (82) 
recommendations, five (5) of which address impaired driving. The five 
recommendations on impaired driving are: (1) Study how alcohol, drugs 
and other substances, including over-the-counter medications, can 
affect a motorcyclists operating skills; (2) Study the alcohol, drug 
and other substance use patterns of motorcyclist's; (3) continue to 
discourage mixing alcohol and other drugs with motorcycling; (4) 
educate law enforcement about unique alcohol-related behavior of 
motorcyclists; (5) encourage partnerships with groups already involved 
in alcohol/substance abuse issues related to motor vehicle crashes 
(e.g., Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Students Against Destructive 
Decisions).
    In February 2003, NHTSA published results of a focus group study 
that sought input from motorcyclists, those in leadership positions in 
motorcycling organizations and in traffic safety on what they perceived 
would be effective approaches in reducing impaired riding. The final 
report, Drinking, Riding, and Prevention: A Focus Group Study discusses 
the following approaches: (1) Peer to peer activities; (2) intervention 
techniques; and (3) social norms models; and (4) motorcycle 
impoundment.
    In addition to the guidance provided National Agenda and Drinking, 
Riding, and Prevention: A Focus Group Study, other possible approaches 
include law enforcement and prosecutor training and in the detection of 
impaired motorcyclists, educating judges in the efficient handling of 
impaired riding cases, and projects that may be implemented by State 
motorcycle training programs.
    These recommendations and approaches are designed to be a road map 
for interested motorcycle organizations or individuals as they develop 
programs to reduce impaired motorcycle operation.
    NHTSA anticipates funding approximately four competitive 
cooperative agreements for a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 3 
years. To this end, this cooperative agreement will develop programs 
and projects that foster implementation of the National Agenda for 
Motorcycle Safety and Drinking, Riding, and Prevention: A Focus Group 
Study.
    This notice solicits applications from public and private, non-
profit, not for-profit, and for-profit organizations, State and local 
governments and their agencies or a consortium of the above. Interested 
applicants must submit an application packet as further described in 
the application section of this notice. The application will be 
evaluated to determine the proposals that will receive funding under 
this announcement. Non-federal employees under contract to NHTSA may 
serve on an application review team that will evaluate the 
applications.

DATES: Applications must be received in the office designated below on 
or before 3 p.m. (EST), on July 22, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted to the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Contracts and Procurement 
(NPO-220), Attention: Ross S. Jeffries, Contract Specialist, 400 
Seventh Street SW., Room 5301, Washington, DC 20590. All applications 
submitted must include a reference to NHTSA Cooperative Agreement 
Program Number DTNH22-03-H-05133.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General administrative questions may 
be directed to Ross S. Jeffries, Office of Contracts and Procurement at 
(202) 366-6283, or by e-mail at [email protected]. Programmatic 
questions relating to this cooperative agreement program should be 
directed to Robert L. Hohn, Impaired Driving Division, NHTSA, 400 
Seventh Street, SW., (NTI-111), Washington, DC 20590, by e-mail at 
[email protected], or by phone at (202) 366-9712. Interested 
applicants are advised that no separate application package exists 
beyond the contents of this announcement.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Despite significant gains since the enactment of Federal motor 
vehicle and highway safety legislation in the mid 1960s, the annual 
toll of traffic crashes remains tragically high. In 2001, the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis 
Reporting System (FARS) and General Estimates System (GES) reported 
that approximately 42,116 people were killed and another 3.03 million 
were injured on our Nation's roadways. Traffic crashes continue to 
account for 95 percent of all transportation fatalities and 99 percent 
of injuries, and represent the leading cause of death for individuals 
ages 4 through 33. The large number of crashes has placed a 
considerable burden on our Nation's health care system affecting the 
economy--reaching $230.6 billion a year, or an average of $820 for 
every person living in the United States.
    Recent data indicate that injuries and deaths attributable to 
motorcycle crashes are becoming a larger portion of this grave public 
health problem. Motorcycle crash-related fatalities have been 
increasing since 1997, while injuries have been increasing since 1999. 
More than 100,000 motorcyclists have died in traffic crashes since the 
enactment of the Highway Safety Act and the National Traffic and Motor 
Vehicle Safety Act of 1966. Like other roadway users who are urged to 
protect themselves from injury or death by wearing safety belts, 
driving sober, and observing traffic rules, many motorcycle deaths 
could be prevented if motorcyclists would take responsibility for 
ensuring they have done everything possible to make the ride safe by 
taking operator training, becoming properly licensed, wearing 
protective gear, and riding sober.
    The effects of a crash involving a motorcycle can often be 
devastating. While 20 percent of passenger vehicle crashes result in 
injury or death, an astounding 80 percent of motorcycle crashes result 
in injury or death. According to NHTSA's data, while total traffic 
deaths increased by four tenths of a percent in 2001, motorcycle deaths 
were up by 10 percent, compared to 2000. Motorcyclist fatalities have 
increased each year since reaching an historic low of 2,116 fatalities 
in 1997. It is estimated in 2002, 3,216 motorcyclists were killed, an 
increase of almost 55 percent between 1997 and 2002. Without this 
substantial increase in motorcyclist fatalities between 1997

[[Page 37607]]

and 2001, overall highway fatalities would have experienced a marked 
reduction of about 2.5 percent over this same time period.
    The motorcycle community is experiencing astounding growth. New 
unit sales of on-highway motorcycles have increased approximately 91 
percent since 1997. The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) estimates 
that 471,000 new on-highway motorcycles were sold in the United States 
in 2000 alone compared to 379,000 in 1999. In 2001, motorcycles 
represented 2.2 percent of all registered vehicles in the United States 
and accounted for 0.34 percent of vehicle miles traveled, but crashes 
involving motorcycles accounted for 7.6 percent of total traffic 
fatalities on America's roadways. MIC expects motorcycle sales to 
continue to increase over the next 5 to 7 years--meaning more 
motorcycles on our Nation's roadways.
    Exposure, measured in terms of vehicle miles of travel (VMT) in 
2001, shows that motorcyclists were about 26 times as likely to die in 
a crash than someone riding in a passenger car, and are 5 times as 
likely to be injured. This is a steep increase from 1997, when 
motorcyclists were 14 times as likely to die in a crash than someone 
riding in a passenger car. Per registered vehicle, the fatality rate 
for motorcyclists in 2001 was 4.1 times the fatality rate for passenger 
car occupants. The injury rate for passenger car occupants per 
registered vehicle was 1.2 times the injury rate for motorcyclists.
    Like operators of other vehicles, motorcycle operator impairment, 
mainly from the use of alcohol, is a serious problem. In 2001, 
motorcycle operators in fatal crashes had higher intoxication rates 
than any other type of driver. Twenty-nine percent of fatally injured 
motorcycle operators were intoxicated at 0.08 g/dl or greater blood 
alcohol concentration (BAC), and another 7 percent were reported to be 
at BAC 0.01 to 0.07 g/dl. In single vehicle motorcycle crashes, 41 
percent of the fatally injured motorcyclists were intoxicated with a 
BAC =.08 g/dl.
    The risk entailed in drinking and then riding is exacerbated by 
other risk-taking behaviors, such as riding without the proper 
protective gear, including protective clothing and a motorcycle helmet. 
Data indicate that in 2001, only 40 percent of intoxicated motorcycle 
operators killed wore helmets, compared with 60 percent for those who 
were sober. The intoxication rate was highest for fatally injured 
operators between 40 to 44 years old (42 percent), followed by ages 35 
to 39 (40 percent) and ages 30 to 34 (35 percent). More than 5 percent 
of motorcycle operators in fatal crashes in 2001 had at least one prior 
conviction for driving while intoxicated on their driver records, 
compared to fewer than 4 percent of passenger vehicle drivers.
    The National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety reflects the thoughts and 
visions of the participants who developed recommendations that address 
motorcycle safety on a variety of fronts. The publication is used as a 
stepping-stone in the process of changing the motorcycling environment 
as it relates to motorcycle safety.
    The approaches outlined in the Drinking, Riding and Prevention: A 
Focus Group Study are considered, by the participants, to be those that 
will have the most impact on changing the behavior and attitude of 
motorcyclists regarding impaired riding. The recommended approaches 
are: (1) Peer to peer activities--the strong social fabric of 
motorcyclists and ongoing informal peer-based activities to reduce 
drinking riding suggests building upon this foundation to effectively 
reduce impaired riding. The goal is to encourage peers to promote 
personal responsibility safe drinking and riding practices (through 
drinking and riding awareness); (2) intervention techniques--many of 
the riders participating in the focus groups discussed the need for 
awareness training for servers and event staff for intervention with 
intoxicated riders. The riders stressed the importance of server 
expertise in responsible alcohol service and intervention strategies; 
(3) social norms models--social norms models may be effective because 
many riders report that their groups already discourage drinking and 
riding and that new and independent riders may harbor misconceptions of 
rider views toward drinking and riding. These models may serve to 
reinforce ongoing and future peer-based interventions; and (4) 
motorcycle impoundment--riders participating the focus groups suggested 
that impounding motorcycles might be an effective countermeasure to 
drinking and riding. Since motorcyclists prize their motorcycles, the 
possibility of losing motorcycles through impoundment for violating 
impaired driving laws could possibly deter irresponsible drinking.
    The challenge is to determine which approaches are most effective 
and have the most impact on reducing the incidence of impaired riding. 
To help facilitate this evaluation process, NHTSA proposes to support 
four (4) cooperative agreement programs aimed at implementing one or 
more of the approaches outlined in the National Agenda for Motorcycle 
Safety and Drinking, Riding, and Prevention: A Focus Group Study.
    Copies of the National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety and Drinking, 
Riding, and Prevention: A Focus Group Study are available on the NHTSA 
Web site at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/motorcycle/index.html.

Purpose

    The purpose of this cooperative agreement program is to support 
implementation of the approaches recommended in Drinking, Riding, and 
Prevention: A Focus Group Study. Approximately four projects will be 
supported. Applications based upon the recommendations of the National 
Agenda will be considered if they support the approaches discussed in 
Drinking, Riding, and Prevention: A Focus Group Study. Each cooperative 
agreement recipient will be expected to implement and evaluate an 
approach to determine the effectiveness of reducing the incidence of 
impaired riding. Project length will vary depending on the scope of the 
proposed effort. However, projects will be considered for a minimum of 
two years and a maximum of three years. Upon completion, the programs 
may be implemented in other areas for a more thorough evaluation.

Objective

    The objective of this cooperative agreement is to provide funds for 
implementing and evaluating one or more of the approaches outlined in 
Drinking, Riding, and Prevention: A Focus Group Study to determine the 
effectiveness in reducing impaired riding. Applications may address any 
one or more of the approaches. Applications based upon the 
recommendations of the National Agenda will be considered if they 
support the approaches discussed in Drinking, Riding, and Prevention: A 
Focus Group Study. Examples of possible projects include activities or 
program that:
    1. Enhance peer-to-peer activities relating to personal 
responsibility.
    2. Enhance social norms within groups to discourage drinking and 
riding.
    3. Focus on training servers and event staff in intervention with 
impaired riders.
    4. Effectively separate impaired riders from their motorcycle, 
while providing appropriate security for the motorcycle.
    5. Provide training to law enforcement personnel and prosecutors in 
the detection of impaired motorcyclists and conduct specialized 
enforcement

[[Page 37608]]

campaigns to reduce the incidence of impaired riding.
    6. Develop educational programs for judges to increase efficiency 
in handling impaired motorcyclist cases.
    7. Develop and evaluate projects to be implemented by State 
motorcycle training programs that will impact the impaired 
motorcyclist.
    Proposal seeking support for a public information and education 
campaign will not be considered. However, public information and 
education materials used to support an activity or programs are 
acceptable.

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 state and 
local government sources 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 reducing 
motorcycle-related injuries and fatalities and promoting the activities 
of the grantee.
    4. Review and provide comments on program content, reviews 
materials, and evaluation activities.
    5. Stimulate the transfer of information among grant recipients and 
others engaged in motorcycle safety activities.

Availability of Funds

    Approximately $400,000 is available to fund a number of projects. 
The total number of awards will depend on the nature of the projects 
submitted for consideration. Given the amount of funds available for 
this effort, applicants are strongly encouraged to seek other funding 
opportunities to supplement the Federal funds. At the discretion of the 
government, funds may be obligated fully at the time of award of the 
cooperative agreement or incrementally over the period of the 
cooperative agreement. Nothing in this solicitation should be 
constructed as committing NHTSA to make any award.

Period of Performance

    The period of performance for this cooperative agreement will be up 
to 3 years from the effective date of award. However, the actual period 
of performance will depend on the scope of work for the submitted 
project.

Eligibility Requirements

    Public and private, non-profit, not-for-profit, and for-profit 
organizations, and State and/or local governments and their agencies or 
a consortium of the above may submit applications. Thus, universities, 
colleges, research institutions, hospitals, other public and private 
organizations, and state and local governments are eligible to apply. 
Interested applicants are advised that no fee or profit will be allowed 
under this cooperative agreement program. Preference may be given to 
those applications that have proposed cost-sharing strategies and/or 
other proposed funding sources in addition to those in this 
announcement. Applications seeking support for only a public 
information and education campaign will not be considered.
    To be eligible to participate in this cooperative agreement, 
applicants must meet the following special competencies:
    1. Demonstrate expertise in traffic safety, program development and 
implementation, and knowledge and experience in motorcycle safety 
issues, especially related to the specific approaches addressed by 
applicant.
    2. Demonstrate capability of technical and management skills to 
successfully administer and complete projects in a timely manner. 
Include a narrative description of the documented experience, clearly 
indicating the relationship to this project and providing details such 
as project description and sponsoring agency. References to completed 
final project reports should include author's name.
    3. Demonstrate capacity to:
    a. Design, implement, and evaluate innovative approaches for 
addressing difficult problems related to issues associated with 
impaired motorcycle riding;
    b. Work successfully with motorcycle and other community groups;
    c. Collect and analyze both quantitative and qualitative data; and
    d. Synthesize, summarize, and report results, which are useable and 
decision-oriented.
    4. Demonstrate experience in working in partnership with others, 
for example, law enforcement, health care systems, government agencies, 
the media, etc.

Application Procedure

    Each applicant must submit one (1) original and five (5) copies of 
the application package to: NHTSA, Office of Contracts and Procurement 
(NPO-220), Attention: Ross S. Jeffries, Contract Specialist, 400 
Seventh Street SW., Room 5301, Washington, DC 20590. Applications must 
include a completed Application for Federal Assistance (Standard Form 
424--Revised 4/88).
    Only complete packages received on or before 3 p.m., July 22, 2003 
will be considered. No facsimile transmissions will be accepted. Due to 
the large number of actions being processed, applications must be typed 
on one side of the page only and contain a reference to NHTSA 
Cooperative Agreement Number DTNH22-03-H-05133. Unnecessarily elaborate 
applications beyond what is sufficient to present a complete and 
effective response to this invitation are not desired. Please direct 
application questions to Ross S. Jeffries, at (202) 366-6283 or by 
email at [email protected]. Programmatic questions should be 
directed to Robert L. Hohn, at (202) 366-9712 or by email at 
[email protected].

Application Procedure and Contents

    A. The application package must be submitted with OMB Standard Form 
424, (Rev 7-97 or 4-88, including 424A and 424B), Application for 
Federal Assistance, including 424A, Budget Information-Nonconstruction 
Program, and 424B, Assurances-Nonconstruction Programs, with the 
required information provided and the certified assurances included. 
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 breakout of the proposed costs 
(detail labor, including labor category, level of effort, and rate; 
direct materials, including itemized equipment; travel and 
transportation, including projected trips and number of people 
traveling; subcontractors/subgrants, with similar detail, if known; and 
overhead), as well as any costs the applicant proposes to contribute or 
obtain from other sources in support of the projects in the project 
plan.
    B. Funding sources other than the funds being provided through this 
cooperative agreement are encouraged. Since activities may be performed 
with a variety of financial resources, applicants need to fully 
identify all project costs and their funding sources in the proposed 
budget. The proposed budget must identify all funding sources in 
sufficient detail to demonstrate that the overall objectives of the 
project will be met.
    C. Program Narrative Statement: Proposal must fully describe the 
scope

[[Page 37609]]

of the project, detailing the activities and costs for which funding is 
being requested. Also, applications for this program must include the 
following information in the program narrative statement:
    1. A table of contents including page number references.
    2. A description of the community (if applicable to effort proposed 
by grantee) in which the grantee proposes to implement a motorcycle 
safety program effort in support of the selected approach identified in 
Drinking, Riding, and Prevention: A Focus Group Study or the National 
Agenda for Motorcycle Safety that support the approaches identified in 
the focus group study. For the purpose of this program a community 
includes a city, town or county, small metropolitan area or a group of 
cities, towns or counties in particular region. It should be large 
enough so that the program can have a demonstrable effect on 
motorcycling and motorcycle safety. The description of the community 
should include, at a minimum, community demographics including 
motorcycle population, the community's motorcycle impaired riding 
problems, data sources available, existing traffic safety programs, 
motorcycle education programs and community resources.
    3. A description of the project or program's goal and how the 
grantee plans to meet the goal. The grantee must be specific with 
respect to the particular approach being addressed and how the grantee 
will successfully address the issues addressed in the approach. For 
example, if the grantee is proposing to develop training for law 
enforcement personnel and prosecutors in the detection of impaired 
motorcyclists, how will the training program be selected? How will 
specialized enforcement be conducted? What partnerships may be 
necessary? What criteria will be used to evaluate the training? How 
will the results be reported?
    4. A description of the specific activity proposed by the grantee. 
What actions will be undertaken to support the proposed project? What 
partners need to be involved in the effort to ensure success? To what 
degree has the buy-in of these groups been secured? How does the 
proposed project contribute to reducing impaired motorcycle riding? 
What is ``success'' and how will it be determined?
    5. A description of the evaluation plan, including how information 
(data) will be obtained, compiled, analyzed, and reported.
    6. A description of how the proposed projects will be managed. The 
application shall identify the proposed project manager and other 
personnel considered critical to the successful accomplishment of the 
project, including a brief description of their qualifications and 
respective organizational responsibilities. The role and 
responsibilities of the grantee and any others included in the 
application package shall be specified. The proposed level of effort in 
performing the various activities shall also be identified.
    7. A detailed explanation of time schedules, milestones, and 
product deliverables, including monthly reports and draft and final 
reports. (See Terms and Conditions of Award.)
    8. A separately-labeled section with information demonstrating that 
the applicant meets all of the special requirements outlined in the 
Eligibility Requirements section of this announcement.
    D. Commitment and Support: When other sources and organizations are 
required to complete the proposed effort, the grantee shall provide 
proof of said organization's willingness to cooperate on the effort. 
Such proof can be a letter of support or buy-in indicating what the 
organization will supply to the grantee.

Application Review Process and Criteria

    Each application package will be reviewed initially to confirm that 
the applicant is an eligible recipient, meets applicant competency 
factors listed in the Eligibility Requirements section, and has 
included all of the items specified in the Application Procedures 
section of this announcement. An Evaluation Committee will then 
evaluate each complete application from an eligible recipient. Non-
federal employees under contract to NHTSA may serve on this Evaluation 
Committee.
    The applications will be evaluated using the following criteria:

A. Project Management and Staffing (30 percent)

    The extent to which the proposed staff are clearly described, 
appropriately assigned, and have adequate skills and experiences; the 
extent to which the applicant has the capacity and facilities to 
administer and execute the proposed project; the extent to which the 
applicant has the expertise in program development and evaluation and 
meets the special competency requirements; and to the extent to which 
the applicant has provided details regarding the level of effort and 
allocation of time for each staff position. The applicant must furnish 
an organizational chart and r[eacute]sum[eacute]s of each proposed 
staff member. Is the applicant's staffing plan reasonable for 
accomplishing the objectives of the project within the time frame set 
forth in the announcement? Is the timeline submitted by the grantee 
reasonable? Has the applicant's financial budget provided sufficient 
detail to allow NHTSA to determine that the estimated costs are 
reasonable and necessary to perform the proposed effort? Has financial 
or in-kind commitment of resources by the applicant's organization or 
other supporting organizations been clearly identified? Documented 
experience in developing, implementing and evaluating motorcycle safety 
or impaired driving programs.

B. Goals, Objectives, and Work Plan (25 percent)

    The extent to which the applicant's goals are clearly articulated 
and the objectives are time-phased, specific, action-oriented, 
measurable, and achievable. The extent to which the work plan will 
achieve an outcome-oriented result that ultimately will reduce the 
incidence of impaired motorcycle riding. The work plan must address 
what the applicant proposes to develop and implement; how this will be 
accomplished; and must include the major tasks/milestones necessary to 
complete the project. This involves identification of, and solutions 
to, potential technical problems and critical issues related to 
successful completion of the project. The work plan will be evaluated 
with respect to its feasibility, realism, and ability to achieve 
desired outcomes.

C. Evaluation Plan (20 percent)

    The extent to which the evaluation plan clearly articulates the 
project's potential to make a significant impact on reducing impaired 
motorcycle riding and the associated crashes, injuries and fatalities. 
This should be more than a process evaluation. The extent, to which the 
evaluation plan indicates how the information/data collected in the 
project will be compiled, analyzed, interpreted and reported. When 
information is qualitative, what criteria will be used to analyze it? 
Are there sufficient data/information sources and is access ensured 
from appropriate owners or collectors of data to obtain and 
appropriately analyze the quantitative and qualitative information 
needed on the proposed project?

D. Program Approach (15 percent)

    The extent to which the applicant is knowledgeable about impaired

[[Page 37610]]

motorcycle riding and programs. The extent to which the applicant 
clearly identifies and explains creative approaches to address reducing 
impaired motorcycle riding, based on the selection of one or more of 
the approaches previously listed. If building on an existing approach 
or program, what are the innovative, new, or creative features that 
make this project different from what has been tried in the past? Has 
the applicant identified potential barriers associated with developing 
and implementing the new, creative approach? Has the applicant offered 
solutions for addressing the barriers? Has the applicant demonstrated 
how the project maybe adaptable to other jurisdictions at a reasonable 
cost? Has the applicant identified partners and groups to work on the 
proposed project? Has the applicant specified who will be involved and 
what each will contribute to the project? What new or non-traditional 
partners has the applicant involved in the project?

E. Special Competencies (10 percent)

    The extent to which the applicant has met the special competencies 
(see Eligibility Requirements) including knowledge and familiarity with 
motorcycle impairment issues associated with the proposed intervention 
or effort; technical and management skills needed to successfully 
design, conduct, and evaluate the proposed effort; ability to work with 
various organizations and the motorcycle community to implement 
programs or compile data; ability to design and implement approaches 
for addressing motorcycle safety related problems; and experience in 
fostering new partnership with nontraditional partners.

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 
of award, preference may be given to those that have proposed cost-
sharing strategies and/or other proposed funding sources in addition to 
those in this announcement.

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 Requirement for Drug Free Work Place 
(Grants).
    2. Reporting Requirements and Deliverables: A. Monthly Progress 
Reports must include a summary of the previous month's activities and 
accomplishments, as well as the proposed activities for the upcoming 
month. Any decisions and actions required in the upcoming month should 
be included in the report. Any problems and issues that may arise and 
need the Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) or 
Contracting Officer (CO) attention should be clearly identified in the 
monthly report in a specific, identified section. The grantee shall 
supply the progress report to the COTR every thirty (30) days, 
following date of award.
    B. Initial and Subsequent Meetings with COTR: The grantee will meet 
with the COTR and appropriate NHTSA staff in Washington, DC at NHTSA's 
offices to discuss and refine the development, implementation, and 
evaluation of the project. The grantee will prepare a 20 to 30 minute 
presentation describing the project and will be prepared to answer 
questions from the COTR and others present at the briefing. After this 
initial meeting with the COTR, the grantee should meet at least once a 
year with the COTR in Washington, DC at NHTSA's offices to discuss the 
project's progress and results. These meetings will be a minimum of 4 
hours in length.
    C. Revised Project Plan: If needed, the grantee will submit a 
revised project plan incorporating verbal and written comments from the 
COTR. This revised plan is due no more than one (1) month from date of 
the initial meeting with COTR.
    D. Draft Final Report: The grantee will prepare a Draft Final 
Report that includes a description of the project, issue addressed, 
program implementation (if relevant), evaluation strategies, findings 
and recommendations. With regard to technology transfer, it is 
important to know what worked and what did not work, under what 
circumstances, what can be done to enhance replication in similar 
communities, and what can be done to avoid potential problems for 
future replication of the project. This is true even if the applicant 
reviewed and documented existing programs. The grantee will submit 
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.
    E. Final Report: The grantee will revise the Draft Final Report to 
reflect the COTR's comments. The revised final report will be delivered 
to the COTR 15 days before the end of the performance period.
    F. Requirements for Printed Material: The print materials shall be 
provided to NHTSA in both camera ready and appropriate media formats 
(disk, CD-ROM) with graphics and printing specifications to guide 
NHTSA's printing office and any outside organization implementing the 
program. Printing Specifications follow.
    1. Digital artwork for printing shall be provided to NHTSA on 
diskette (250 meg Zip disk or CD ROM). Files should be in current 
desktop design and publication programs, for example, Adobe 
Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe PageMaker, Macromedia Freehand, 
QuarkXPress. The contractor shall provide all supporting files and 
fonts (both screen and printers) needed for successful output, black 
and white laser separations of all pages, disk directory(s) with 
printing specifications provided to the Government Printing Office 
(GPO) on GPO Form 952 to guide NHTSA's printing office, GPO, and any 
outside organizations assisting with program production. The contractor 
shall confer with the COTR to verify all media format and language.
    2. Additionally, the program materials shall be submitted in the 
following format for placement on NHTSA's homepage of the World Wide 
Web.
    [sbull] Original application format, for example, *pm5; *.doc; 
*.ppt; etc.
    [sbull] HTML level 3.2 or later.
    [sbull] A PDF file for viewing with Adobe Acrobat.
    3. All HTML deliverables must be delivered on either a standard 
3.5'' floppy disk or on a Windows 95 compatible formatted Iomega zip 
disk and labeled with the following information:
    [sbull] Contractor name and phone number.
    [sbull] Names of relevant files.
    [sbull] Application program and version used to create the file(s).
    [sbull] If the files exceed the capacity of a high density floppy, 
a Windows 95 compatible formatted Iomega zip disk is acceptable
    4. Graphics must be saved in Graphic Interchange Format (GIF) or 
Joint Photographic Expert Group (JPEG). Graphics should be prepared in 
the smallest size possible, without reducing the usefulness or the 
readability of the figure on the screen. Use GIF for solid color or 
black and white images, such as bar charts, maps, or diagrams. Use JPEG 
(highest resolution and lowest

[[Page 37611]]

compression) for photographic images having a wider range of color or 
grayscale tones. When in doubt, try both formats and use the one that 
gives the best image quality for the smallest file size. Graphic files 
can be embedded in the body of the text or linked form the body text in 
their own files: the latter is preferable when a figure needs to be 
viewed full screen (640 X 480 pixels) to be readable.
    [sbull] Tabular data must be displayed in HTML table format.
    [sbull] List data must be displayed in HTML list format.
    [sbull] Pre-formatted text is not acceptable.
    [sbull] Currently, frames are not acceptable.
    [sbull] JAVA, if used, must not affect the readability or 
usefulness of the document, only enhance it.
    [sbull] Table background colors may be used, but must not be relied 
upon (for example, a white document background with a table with 
colored background may look nice with white text, but the colored 
background does not show up on the user's browser the text will be 
white against white and unreadable).
    [sbull] All HTML documents must be saved in PC format and tested on 
a PC before delivery.
    5. During all phases of program development, draft program content 
and materials shall be provided to the COTR, as appropriate, for 
approval and coordination within NHTSA. If applicable, draft materials 
shall also be used for program message testing (the method of testing 
chosen in consultation with and approved by the COTR) to ensure that 
the content and messages are clear, easily understood and produce the 
desired effect with intended audiences.
    6. All HTML deliverables rendered under this contract must comply 
with the accessibility standards at 36 CFR 1194.22 that implements 
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. This 
standard is available for viewing at the Access Board Web site at: 
http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/guide/1194.22.htm.
    Unless otherwise indicated, the contractor represents by signature 
of this contract that all deliverables comply with the Access Board 
standards.
    G. Final project briefing to NHTSA and a presentation to a national 
meeting: The grantee will deliver a briefing in Washington, DC at 
NHTSA's offices to the COTR and appropriate NHTSA staff to review the 
project implementation, evaluation, and results. This presentation 
shall last no less than 30 minutes and the grantee shall be prepared to 
answer questions from the briefing's attendees.
    In consultation with the COTR, the grantee will select a national 
meeting to deliver a presentation of the project and it effectiveness.
    H. An electronic Microsoft PowerPoint (2000) presentation that 
NHTSA staff shall be able to use to brief senior staff or motorcycle 
partners at various meetings and conference.
    3. During the effective performance period of the 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 
Agreement, dated July 1995.

    Issued on: July 22, 2003.
Marilena Amoni,
Associate Administrator for Program Development and Delivery.
[FR Doc. 03-15925 Filed 6-23-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P