[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 212 (Friday, October 31, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65029-65034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25630]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


National Technical Assistance Center for Parks and Public Lands

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice: Request for Proposals.

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SUMMARY: This solicitation is for proposals from organizations to 
implement a National Technical Assistance Center for Alternative 
Transportation in Public Lands. The Center is to assist the Federal 
Transit Administration (FTA) in the coordinated provision of technical 
assistance under the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program. The 
Center is to develop, administer, distribute, and oversee multiple 
technical assistance products to support land management agencies, 
States, and local and tribal governments in alternative transportation 
projects serving federally managed parks and public lands. 
Organizations that submit proposals should have technical assistance 
expertise and experience in transportation planning, coordination and 
operations on parks and public lands. FTA will award a cooperative 
agreement (one base year plus two option years) for an estimated amount 
of $4,500,000. The funding is authorized under section 3021(d)(1) of 
the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A 
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) and subsequently appropriated. For the 
first year of the project, $1,500,000 will be made available. Funding 
for subsequent years will be based on available annual appropriations 
as well as annual performance reviews.
    Use of Funds: The organization selected shall (1) provide on-demand 
and proactive technical assistance in alternative transportation 
project-level scoping, planning, and operations; (2) provide training 
and workshops; (3) perform outreach, communications, and coordination 
of services to support land management agencies in planning processes; 
(4) maintain a central repository of resources and disseminate 
resources; (5) support the project evaluation process; (6) convene and 
collaborate with an interagency peer review group; and (7) perform 
project administration and management.

DATES: Proposals must be submitted electronically by December 30, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Proposals shall be submitted electronically to http://www.grants.gov. Grants.Gov allows organizations to find and apply for 
funding opportunities electronically from all Federal grant-making 
agencies. Grants.Gov is the single access point for over 1,000 grant 
programs offered by the 26 Federal grant-making agencies.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Faulk, Office of Program 
Management, Federal Transit Administration, 202-366-1660; FAX 202-366-
7951; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3021 of SAFETEA-LU established a new 
program called the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program (49 U.S.C. 
5320). The purpose of this program is to enhance the protection of 
national parks and Federal lands, and increase the enjoyment of those 
visiting them. The program funds capital and planning expenses for 
alternative transportation systems such as buses and trams in 
federally-managed parks and public lands. The Paul S. Sarbanes Transit 
in Parks legislation further allows the FTA to spend program funds to 
carry out planning, research, and technical assistance activities. FTA 
oversees the funds allocated to technical assistance to support program 
participants in planning, implementing, and evaluating alternative 
transportation projects on parks and public lands. SAFETEA-LU 
authorizes $97 million in funding for the program for Fiscal Years (FY) 
2006 through 2009. Of this funding, no more than 10 percent of the 
amount made available for any given FY under section 49 U.S.C. 
5338(b)(2)(J) may be used to carry out planning, research, and 
technical assistance activities.

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    FTA is soliciting proposals for a cooperative agreement to develop 
and implement a program of technical assistance and training for 
Federal land management agencies that shall include on-demand and 
proactive technical assistance in project-level scoping and planning, a 
resource clearinghouse, training and workshops, publication of best 
practices, and preparation of technical manuals and other reference 
materials. The Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program would be well-
served through a coordinated and efficient use of its limited 
resources. A National Technical Assistance Center for alternative 
transportation on parks and public lands is intended to meet technical 
assistance needs among land management agencies and other eligible 
awardees and to achieve program and process consistencies, realize 
significant cost and time savings, and build cooperative relationships 
in support of the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program. Such 
technical assistance will allow Federal lands to serve the public more 
effectively through enhanced conservation of natural and cultural 
resources and by providing high quality experiences for visitors on 
public lands.
    The main goal of a National Technical Assistance Center for 
Alternative Transportation on Parks and Public Lands is to assist FTA 
in the timely, coordinated provision of technical assistance, case 
management, and program support elements of SAFETEA-LU, section 3021. 
To accomplish this goal the Center is to develop, administer, 
disseminate, and oversee multiple technical assistance products and 
services to support land management agencies and State, local, and 
tribal governments in alternative transportation projects serving 
federally managed parks and public lands. FTA will award a cooperative 
agreement (one base year with two option years) of $4.5 million from 
funding authorized in SAFETEA-LU and subsequently appropriated. The 
tasks of the Center include: (1) Project administration and management; 
(2) organization of and coordination with a peer review group; (3) 
technical assistance; (4) training and workshops; (5) development of 
outreach, communication and coordination in support of alternative 
transportation planning; and (6) knowledge management and information 
dissemination. A desirable organization will have demonstrated 
expertise in issues of transportation planning and operations on parks 
and public lands. Ideally, an organization will have experience in 
providing technical assistance to Federal land management agencies on 
issues related to water and land-based transportation, particularly in 
relation to the protection of natural and cultural resources.

Background

    Congestion in and around parks and public lands causes traffic 
delays and noise and air pollution that substantially detract from the 
visitor's experience and the protection of natural resources. In August 
2001, the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of the 
Interior (DOI) published a comprehensive study of alternative 
transportation needs in national parks and related federal lands. The 
study identified significant alternative transportation needs at sites

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managed by the National Park Service (NPS), the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM), and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service 
(FWS). Additionally, a supplement to this report identified United 
States Department of Agriculture Forest Service (FS) sites that would 
benefit from such services. Section 3021 of SAFETEA-LU (49 U.S.C. 5320) 
addresses these needs by establishing a new program called the Paul S. 
Sarbanes Transit in Parks program to fund alternative transportation 
projects in national parks and other federal lands. The goals of the 
program are to: (1) Conserve natural, historical, and cultural 
resources; (2) reduce congestion and pollution; (3) improve visitor 
mobility and accessibility; (4) enhance visitor experience; and (5) 
ensure access to all, including persons with disabilities.
    Eligible applicants to the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks 
program include: federal land management agencies, which are defined as 
federal agencies that manage an eligible area; and State, tribal, and 
local governments with jurisdiction over land in the vicinity of an 
eligible area, acting with the consent of a federal land management 
agency, alone or in partnership with a federal land management agency 
or other governmental or non-governmental participant. An eligible area 
is a federally owned or managed park, refuge, or recreational area that 
is open to the general public.
    A qualified alternative transportation project is a planning or 
capital project in or in the vicinity of a federally owned or managed 
park, refuge, or recreational area that is open to the general public 
and meets the goals of the program. SAFETEA-LU defines alternative 
transportation as ``transportation by bus, rail, or any other publicly 
or privately owned conveyance that provides to the public general or 
special service on a regular basis, including sightseeing service. The 
definition of alternative transportation also includes non-motorized 
transportation systems (including the provision of facilities for 
pedestrians, bicycles, and non-motorized watercraft)'' (49 U.S.C. 
5320(b)(3)).
    To formalize the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program 
management structure, section 3021 of SAFETEA-LU authorizes the 
establishment of interagency and multi-disciplinary teams to develop 
federal land management agency alternative transportation policy, 
procedure, and coordination; and the development of procedures and 
criteria for the planning, selection, funding, implementation and 
oversight of a program of projects. As a result, the Paul S. Sarbanes 
Transit in Parks Interagency Working Group was established and consists 
of representatives from FTA, DOI, NPS, BLM, FWS, and USFS, and meets 
regularly in order to coordinate program activities. Paul S. Sarbanes 
Transit in Parks program-related activities such as providing workshops 
and training, technical assistance in project-level scoping and 
planning, publication of best practices, and providing manuals and 
other reference materials are subject to advisement by the Interagency 
Working Group.
    To date, FTA has provided technical assistance products including a 
program manual and a ``webinar''-style workshop that supplies 
information on the program and guidance on applying for Paul S. 
Sarbanes Transit in Parks funding (available at http://www.fta.dot.gov/atppl). A limited number of transportation assistance group (TAG) 
visits have been made available to assist potential project sponsors in 
the initial stages of planning; several such visits have been completed 
and subsequent reports have been produced. A National Technical 
Assistance Center will allow the FTA to more efficiently support 
alternative transportation related activities in parks and public lands 
by providing a ``one-stop'', coordinated resource for future technical 
assistance activities and products.

Scope of Work

    This solicitation is for proposals from organizations to implement 
a National Technical Assistance Center for Alternative Transportation 
in Public Lands. The Center is to assist the Federal Transit 
Administration (FTA) in the coordinated provision of technical 
assistance under the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program. The 
Center is to develop, administer, distribute, and oversee multiple 
technical assistance products to support land management agencies, 
States, and local and tribal governments in alternative transportation 
projects serving federally managed parks and public lands. In the 
performance of this cooperative agreement, the awardee shall accomplish 
the following tasks:
Task 1--On-Demand and Proactive Technical Assistance in Alternative 
Transportation Project-level Scoping, Planning, and Operations
    A. The Center shall conduct a comprehensive assessment of technical 
assistance needs in the area of alternative transportation on federally 
managed lands and public parks. Based on this information the Center 
will formulate a technical assistance strategy and plan in coordination 
with FTA, Federal Lands Highway, DOI, NPS, FWS, BLM, and FS staff 
members of the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program Interagency 
Working Group.
    B. The Center shall respond to and pro-actively solicit project-
specific technical requests, including full-time Center staff answering 
questions and providing technical expert and advice by phone and email, 
with occasional site visits as needed and subject to funding 
availability. Center staff would also link outside technical 
specialists to requesters. The primary goal of this deliverable is to 
maintain access to a wide variety of technical expertise that could be 
made available on multiple topic areas through this centralized 
service. Examples of assistance that the awardee will provide include 
(but may not be limited to) assistance in project cost estimating; 
financial analysis/planning; carrying capacity; transit planning; 
vehicle specifications and procurement; transit operations; alternative 
fuels; congestion management; data collection and monitoring; 
contracting; safety; transportation and resource protection; and/or 
historic landscapes and/or transportation infrastructure. Technical 
expertise is often needed for matters of detailed study, and for 
periods of short duration (i.e. assistance to a park or public land in 
data collection or in facilitating a technical project review that can 
vary between a few days to a week). These types of requests are 
necessary to ensure that alternative transportation projects maintain a 
high degree of technical quality and that they continue to meet the 
objectives of the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program. Technical 
assistance is also needed on an ongoing basis to assist project 
sponsors over the period of months or years in the development and 
implementation of a project. It is important to have continuing, 
reliable support for project sponsors.
    C. The awardee shall develop and maintain a strategy and resources 
for on-demand project teams and consultants. In addition to responding 
to requests, the Center will be pro-active in soliciting requests, 
through advertising its services via electronic announcements or a 
newsletter, and contacting Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program 
awardees and potential applicants. The Center will develop 
relationships with Federal land managers, Tribal, State and 
metropolitan planning organizations and other Federal participants in 
transportation planning.

[[Page 65031]]

    D. The awardee shall track, measure and evaluate the performance of 
the Center in providing technical assistance, and monitor progress 
towards targeted goals and outcomes. This may include development of a 
unique identification classification system that allows for tracking 
and reporting on services provided to the requester by the Center.
Task 2--Providing Training and Workshops
    A. Curriculum development, design, and training shall be made 
available by the Center via various media to target specific topics 
related to alternative transportation in parks and public lands. 
Development of curriculum and training shall be done in coordination 
with the FTA project manager, and members of the Interagency Working 
Group. This includes training agencies that are targeted awardees of 
program assistance, as well as prospective partners of such agencies 
and corresponding transportation planning agencies that will need to 
reflect Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program initiatives in 
statewide and regional plans and programs.
    B. The awardee shall make 4-6 training sessions and/or workshops 
per year available via various media to target specific topics related 
to alternative transportation as it relates to the enhancement of 
visitor experience and natural resource protection across the range of 
land management areas. For instance, transit routing and scheduling for 
land management agencies, context sensitive transit solutions in 
federal lands, strategies to increase ridership among recreational 
visitors, partnership strategies between transit agencies, coordinating 
with local planning organizations, transit planning, vehicle 
procurement, and basics of transit operations. Training should be made 
available to Federal lands management agency staff, resource agencies, 
transit agencies, State departments of transportation, local 
governments, and State, regional and metropolitan planners. A technical 
assistance center Web site should provide the primary framework for 
organizing offerings of training and for communicating and/or 
disseminating materials.
    C. The awardee shall host at least two (2) regional forums in 
geographic areas where there are particularly good opportunities for 
partnerships between various types of entities. The awardee will 
convene federal lands managers, transit agencies, State departments of 
transportation, local officials, planners, and other stakeholders to 
discuss opportunities to include alternative transportation serving 
federal lands and the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program.
    D. The Center will facilitate details of meeting and possible 
related travel arrangements for transportation professionals to speak, 
facilitate, or lead a training opportunity offered as part of the 
Center's services. Travel expenses associated with the delivery of 
training services by the Center are subject to approval by the FTA 
project manager at least 120 days prior to scheduled training delivery 
date.
Task 3--Outreach, Communications, and Coordination of Services To 
Support Land Management Agencies in Planning Processes
    A. The Center will establish an Outreach and Communications 
Operations Strategy of the Center that addresses consistent partnership 
processes, policies and procedures in support of the facilitation and 
coordination of communication and interaction between Federal lands 
managers, metropolitan planning organization (MPOs), States, and other 
Federal participants in transportation planning. The strategy shall be 
accomplished via e-mail, phone, Web-based services and on-site 
opportunities. This deliverable would require that the Center support 
the facilitation of partnerships through convening conference calls and 
meetings, answering technical questions, referral of participants to 
publications and other experts in order to assist land management 
agency in developing partnerships, hiring planning firms, and 
contracting for transportation services.
    B. The Center shall advise and/or assist land management agencies 
in their participation in transportation planning processes. The goal 
of this deliverable is to address the needs of federal park and public 
lands managers to engage in and be consistent with the metropolitan and 
Statewide planning and public participation requirements found in 49 
U.S.C. 5303, 5304, and 5307(d). Federal lands, resource agencies, 
States and metropolitans alike need assistance to fulfill the 
consultation and participation requirements of the law. Statutory 
transportation planning requirements associated with U.S. DOT funding 
sources promote close coordination of transportation system plans, 
programs and projects between the federal lands agencies and 
corresponding state and regional transportation planning organizations. 
The Center shall assist in the successful development of alternative 
transportation planning processes consistent with federal land 
management agencies, State, regional, and metropolitan planning 
processes under Titles 23 and 49.
    C. The Center shall provide assistance to land management agency 
units for review of planning studies funded under the Paul S. Sarbanes 
Transit in Parks program in order to ensure their quality and efficacy 
before a participant moves towards implementation. The Center shall 
cooperate with land management staff in the development of plans that 
are consistent with the planning processes and requirements under 
Titles 23 and 49.
    D. The Center shall develop a total of four (4) partnering case 
studies (at least one per land management agency) plus a synthesis 
report that describes successful alternative transportation 
partnerships. Case studies would include examples of partnerships 
between federal lands agencies (other than NPS) and other entities that 
may include: Transit agencies that provide transit service to public 
lands; private companies such as ski resorts, bike rental companies, or 
other concessioners that fund transportation services on or to public 
lands; State governments providing grants; or private or public service 
providers. Case studies may also include successful examples of federal 
lands and others combining funding sources such as federal lands fees, 
state and local taxes, federal transportation grants, and private 
sources. Because most national parks and public land units view visitor 
transportation as necessary but not a primary mission, partnerships or 
contractual relationships are often sought to address visitor 
transportation needs in ways that minimize the cost to park and public 
lands agencies, both in terms of staff and financial resources 
required.
    E. The awardee shall develop and produce `best practices' manuals 
that would specifically focus on and discuss practices used in and 
aspects of the planning processes and implementation of successful 
alternative transportation systems in public lands. Generally, manuals 
would be available in electronic format and would address such issues 
as: How systems were developed; who the partners were and what each 
contributed; what service is provided; how the service is used; 
ridership; what benefits the system provides; cost information; how it 
is funded and who operates the system; what is the arrangement with the 
operator; how particular challenges were overcome, etc. Additionally, 
the awardee shall develop a manual that provides methodology for the 
evaluation of newly instituted and existing

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alternative transportation systems and services that would serve the 
purposes of making operational adjustments for greater efficiency and 
to inform management decisions about whether to sustain, expand, or 
curtail the service, as well as providing a rich source of lessons 
learned for reference by others seeking to plan and implement 
comparable alternative transportation services.
    F. The awardee shall coordinate all aspects of the management and 
implementation of the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Web site 
(http://www.fta.dot.gov/atppl), which includes (a) maintaining and 
updating all information for each section of the Web site using best 
available technologies on a regularly scheduled basis; (b) updating the 
front page once each month; (c) entering up to 5 useful practices in 
the database each month; (d) posting documents and/or announcements per 
month; (e) maintaining an active list serve and consistent distribution 
of real-time information using best available and searchable 
technology; (f) responding to submissions to the Paul S. Sarbanes 
Transit in Parks electronic mailbox within 3 business days; and (g) 
providing ongoing recommendations for improvement strategies as needed. 
All documents and information posted on the Web site must meet the 
requirements and compliance of section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. 
The awardee shall work with the Project Officer to establish a plan for 
approval of content for posting and disseminating information using 
these mechanisms.
    G. The awardee shall produce other technical assistance manuals as 
needed and determined through task 6.
    H. The awardee shall provide research-related technical assistance 
to project managers responsible for planning alternative transportation 
that provide access to or within Federal land management areas. This 
includes queries regarding specific information, publications, existing 
tools (such as trip planners or other mobility management tools), 
strategies and available data as requested.
    I. The Center will identify transit services that are operating 
near federal lands and work with the transit operator and federal land 
to advertise the transit option to federal land users. Where a transit 
option for accessing the federal land already exists the Center will 
assist, when requested, to coordinate service to make it more simple 
and convenient for the user.
    J. The Center will facilitate peer-to-peer learning by matching 
project sponsors with others who are in different stages of the 
process, convening conference calls, holding meetings, conducting 
outreach, and providing other opportunities for peer-to-peer learning.
    K. The Center will also facilitate details of travel arrangements 
for transportation professionals to federal land units. This may 
include paying salaries and direct expenses for transportation 
professionals working full time with a federal land unit on alternative 
transportation.
Task 4--Maintain Central Repository of Resources and Disseminate 
Resources
    A. The Center shall establish a central repository of resources, 
make them readily accessible, and disseminate them broadly. The 
repository will include technical manuals, best practices, studies, 
reports, guides, articles, videos, training manuals, on-line resources, 
etc. related to alternative transportation in parks and public lands. 
The five deliverables of this task are: (1) Complete an inventory of 
relevant materials produced to date; (2) publish this inventory on the 
web, providing up to date and user friendly access to the resources on-
line; (3) target and distribute resources to program beneficiaries; (4) 
maintain a list serve to distribute new resources that are developed; 
(5) determine which materials should be consolidated, updated, or 
otherwise built upon to increase the effectiveness of materials and 
consolidate, update, and build upon under tasks 5D and 5E; and (6) 
determine gaps in the literature that the Center should fill by 
producing a new report and produce this report under tasks 5D, E, and 
F. This deliverable includes compiling and assessing all previous 
relevant materials produced by DOI, NPS, FWS, BLM, FS, DOT, 
Transportation Research Board, Transit Cooperative Research Program, 
universities, associations, private companies, State and local 
governments and others and therefore requires a survey of existing 
literature and materials.
    B. The Center shall develop an interagency database concept and 
implementation strategy for alternative transportation system data 
collection and sharing. A key finding of earlier efforts is that 
alternative transportation system data is best captured from other 
existing data systems that are being given priority attention. Examples 
of existing data systems include Asset Management in DOI and 
corresponding efforts within the U.S. Forest Service.
    C. The awardee shall develop and maintain the Paul S. Sarbanes 
Transit in the Parks Technical Assistance Center Web site that provides 
the primary framework for organizing offerings of training and for 
communicating and/or disseminating training-related materials and 
details.
Task 5--Support the Project Evaluation Process
    The Center shall perform the following for 80-100 project proposals 
per year:
    A. Develop an electronic system (FTP/Web-based) for submission and 
organization of project proposals and supporting materials.
    B. Compile project proposals from the federal land management 
agencies (FLMA) and FTA.
    C. Organize project proposals in a logical, easy to find fashion, 
that can be sorted by the following measures: type of project (planning 
vs implementation); alphabetical by FLMA; alphabetical by state; 
funding requested (largest to smallest).
    D. Populate the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks database with 
data from the proposals submitted for the program. FTA will provide the 
database structure to the center.
    E. Develop an Excel spreadsheet of all proposals received with key 
summary information about the proposal (land unit, state, agency, type 
of project, one sentence project description, funding request, name of 
awardee of funds).
    F. Submit a summary report of proposals received such as aggregate 
dollar amount requested and breakdowns by types of project, land 
management agency, new system vs. existing system, etc.
    G. Distribute the organized proposals, database figures, summary 
spreadsheet, and summary report on a CD and in a three-ring binder 
(hard copy) to each member of the review committee.
    H. Compile evaluation rating forms from FTA for each member of the 
review committee, enter the ratings and comments into a database, 
organize this information, and report it to the review committee 
members.
    I. Coordinate continuously with FTA staff and respond to FTA 
requests for information. FTA will have access to the database, summary 
spreadsheet, list of projects and other deliverables at all times.
    J. Draft a ``lessons learned'' document, in coordination with FTA 
and FLMA staff, for consideration in managing the evaluation process 
for subsequent years.
Task 6--Convene and Collaborate With a Peer Review Group
    A. The awardee shall establish and coordinate with a Peer Review 
Group consisting of representatives from National Parks Conservation

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Association, Transportation Review Board (TRB) Transportation in Public 
Lands Committee, and other public land-related associations, transit 
general managers, managers of public lands that have or are planning 
alternative transportation systems, State and local DOT's, American 
Public Transportation Association (APTA), American Association of State 
Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), Association of Metropolitan 
Planning Organizations (AMPO), American Bus Association, and other 
applicable organizations. The Peer Review Group will identify and 
review materials for the development of a central repository of 
resources and information. The Group may offer advice on technical 
assistance coordination, and provide input regarding development of 
alternative transportation systems and infrastructure.
    B. The awardee, in coordination with the FTA Project Officer, may 
provide assistance to the Peer Review Group on a regular basis. This 
may include organizing conference calls as needed, attending relevant 
and value-added national meetings/conferences, providing input 
regarding the development of Peer Review Group activities related to 
alternative transportation project planning and implementation in 
Federal lands management areas, formulating agendas and identifying 
speakers for the Peer Review Group and their meetings.
    C. Assist Federal program staff to conduct at least one special 
interest meeting to be delivered via electronic, Web-based means each 
year. The initial meeting should detail the Center's central repository 
development, organization, and how to access information for land 
management field staffs. Subsequent annual meetings should be made 
accessible via electronic, Web-based delivery and focus on targeted 
topics selected in consultation with FTA, members of the Interagency 
Working Group, and members of the Peer Review Group. Special interest 
meetings should target topics to include stakeholders from National, 
State, regional and local levels that have expertise on the selected 
topic addressed at the meeting. For each workshop or meeting, 
participant lists and invitations for the meeting should be submitted 
to the Federal Project Officer for review at least 60 days prior to the 
targeted meeting date for approval. Briefing materials should be 
submitted to the Project Officer at least two weeks prior to the 
meeting for review and approval. The meeting should lead to the outcome 
of publications (e.g., strategy paper, tool, fact sheet, etc.) related 
to the topic discussed. In addition the awardee should submit a summary 
report of the meeting within 30 working days.
Task 7--Project Administration and Management
    A. The awardee shall meet with FTA point of contact within ten (10) 
working days after award to discuss the objectives of the cooperative 
agreement, roles and responsibilities, and any related projects.
    B. The awardee will hold monthly meetings with FTA point of contact 
to review the status of the project, with the option to have additional 
meetings as necessary. Areas of concern are: (1) Accomplishments to 
date, (2) reviewing progress on tasks, and (3) challenges or problems 
in addressing specific tasks or meeting targeted deliverable dates. The 
awardee shall provide minutes of the meeting to the Project Officer 
within five business days of the meeting.
    C. The awardee shall submit quarterly progress reports to the FTA 
point of contact. The reports shall include the following items and 
provide information relevant for the particular period:
     General assessment of the progress of the Center 
development and design.
     Significant accomplishments by objective and task.
     Summary of technical assistance services requested.
     Summary of technical assistance services provided.
     Project issues/concerns and recommended solutions.
     Updated project schedule.

--Status of current tasks
--List of completed tasks
--Percent complete by task
--If slips in the schedule occur, the awardee shall propose how to 
mitigate the schedule deviation(s)

     Total budget by task.

--Amount spent to date by task
--Amount remaining by task

     Travel expense report.
    D. The awardee will brief FTA and other stakeholders, such as the 
bureaus within the DOI and the United States Department of Agriculture 
Forest Service, semi-annually on their technical assistance findings, 
key themes and results. The awardee will produce a semi-annual report 
that shall include: (1) Up-to-date budget information; (2) status of 
accomplishments for each Task 1-6; and (3) deliverables for the 
subsequent reporting period (next 6 months) for each Task 1-6. The 
awardee will provide a copy of the report to members of the Interagency 
Working Group a week before a scheduled briefing to be accomplished 
either face-to-face or via conference call.

II. Award Information

    FTA will fund one cooperative agreement with one base year and two 
option years. Year one of the cooperative agreement is for one and one-
half million dollars ($1,500,000). The anticipated notification date is 
January 15, 2009, with an anticipated starting date for the successful 
applicant of March 3, 2009. Subsequent annual funding will be based on 
annual appropriations and annual performance evaluations by FTA. 
Awardees with existing FTA projects are eligible to compete for this 
cooperative agreement. FTA will participate in activities by attending 
review meetings, commenting on reports, maintaining frequent contact 
with the project manager and approving key decisions, including travel 
authorizations, and any redirecting of activities if needed.

III. Eligibility Information

    FTA is particularly interested in proposals for this cooperative 
agreement from organizations with demonstrated experience in land- and 
water-based transportation system planning and in working with Federal 
land management agencies or in the context of rural transportation. A 
strong applicant has the following characteristics:
     Experience working cooperatively and effectively on 
multidisciplinary teams in relationship to transportation issues within 
and/or near Federal land management units;
     Experience and demonstrated capacity for providing 
effective off-site technical assistance, including technical assistance 
by telephone and e-mail, topic-based conference calls, the Internet 
(including the development of Web content), etc.;
     Capacity for developing and managing a technical 
assistance network using multiple types of strategies (e.g., long 
distance, Web-based, peer-to-peer, communities of practice, etc.);
     Capacity for maintaining and managing information 
resources and related systems;
     Implementation of client-directed services;
     Capacity for successful outreach and communications 
strategies in advertising and solicitation of interest in services;
     Capacity and experience in building coordination and 
collaboration between public and private sector;
     Understanding the planning and implementation of a range 
of transportation system options on

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Federal lands, particularly within the context of resource protection 
and visitor experience concerns;
     Demonstrated capacity and experience in coordinating 
events;
     Demonstrated capacity and experience in developing and 
conducting Web-based and face-to-face training; and
     Ability to breathe new life into a program by creating 
something new or revamping an existing structure.
    Award of this cooperative agreement will be determined by the 
proposal that offers to provide the greatest value to the beneficiaries 
of the FTA National Technical Assistance Center for Parks and Public 
Lands in terms of performance rather than the proposal offering the 
lowest price. Applicants may propose to provide some or all of the 
services listed in the tasks described in the Scope of Work above. FTA 
reserves the right to award one or more cooperative awards.

IV. Proposal Content

    Proposals should be submitted in double-spaced format using Times 
New Roman 12 point font. The application must contain the following 
components:
    1. Cover sheet (1 Page): Includes entity submitting proposal, 
title, and contact information (e.g., address, phone, fax, and e-mail). 
Name and contact information for the entity's key point of contact for 
all cooperative activities (if different from entity submitting 
proposal) shall also be provided.
    2. Abstract (2 Pages): Abstract should include background, purpose, 
methodology, intended outcomes, and plan for evaluation.
    3. Detailed budget proposal and budget narrative.
    4. Project narrative (not to exceed 80 pages): Project narrative 
shall include the following information:
    a. Staff qualifications, experience in providing technical 
assistance and implementing the tasks outlined in the solicitation. The 
proposal shall also include the proposed staff members' knowledge of 
issues related to alternative transportation on federal lands. One page 
biographical sketches for staff members shall be included in the 
appendices section of the proposal;
    b. Existing and future capacity of organization to address the 
issues outlined in the proposal and ability to implement tasks 1-6 
outlined under section I in this solicitation;
    c. Methodology for addressing tasks 1-6 outlined under section I in 
this solicitation. The proposal shall also include objectives, 
activities, deliverables, milestones, timeline and intended outcomes 
for achieving the goals outlined in the scope for the first year;
    d. Plan to work with stakeholders and build partnerships at the 
national, state, and local levels;
    5. Project Management Plan that includes well-defined objectives, 
tasks, activities, timelines, deliverables, indicators, and outcomes.
    6. Plan for evaluation of the Center activities and data 
collection.
    7. Supplemental materials can be included in an appendices section 
that is beyond the 50 page limit. In addition to the full proposal, 
entities have the option to submit supplemental material such as: 
brochures, publications, products, etc. These materials shall be 
delivered electronically to Scott Faulk, Federal Transit 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., East Building, E44-417, 
Washington, DC 20590 or to [email protected].

V. Application Review Process and Evaluation Criteria

    An interdisciplinary review panel, including those external to FTA 
will be convened to review each proposal. Proposals will be evaluated 
based on the following criteria and scoring system:
    1. Staff qualifications, which includes experience in delivering 
technical assistance and training, knowledge of alternative 
transportation systems (particularly those on federal lands), 
demonstrated process skills in assessment, strategic planning, 
facilitation, and other key areas associated with identified tasks. The 
entity shall also address a plan for knowledge retention. (20%)
    2. Existing capacity of the organization, which includes 
clearinghouse functions, web development and maintenance, technical 
assistance, training, long distance and on-site assistance strategies, 
and other identified tasks. (15%)
    3. Understanding and reasonableness of proposed goals, objectives, 
methodologies, activities, timelines, deliverables, and budget. (40%)
    4. Plan to collaborate and implement outreach activities with 
stakeholders and establish effective partnerships for transportation 
planning activities. (15%)
    5. Plan for evaluation and data collection. (10%)
    6. FTA may elect to meet in person two or three of the most 
qualified applicants.
    This meeting will be held at the Department of Transportation in 
Washington, DC. The applicants will be notified of a date and time 
during which they will be asked to present their proposal to the FTA 
review panel. If an entity proposes to perform an individual task or 
tasks less than the full project, the proposal will be evaluated 
accordingly on its merits. If selected, the proposer may be asked to 
form a consortium with the applicant chosen to manage the larger 
project.

VI. Award Administration Information

    The anticipated notification date for the award of the cooperative 
agreement is the January 15, 2009, with an anticipated start date for 
the successful applicant by March 3, 2009. FTA will notify the 
successful entity. Following the receipt of the FTA Administrator's 
notification letter, the successful entity will be required to submit 
its proposal through the FTA Transportation Electronic Award Management 
(TEAM) system Web site. FTA will manage the cooperative agreement 
through the TEAM system Web site. Before FTA may award Federal 
financial assistance through a Federal cooperative agreement, the 
entity must submit all certifications and assurances pertaining to 
itself and its project as required by Federal laws and regulations. 
Since FY 1995, FTA has been consolidating the various certifications 
and assurances that may be required of its awardees and the projects 
into a single document published in the Federal Register. The FY 2008 
Annual List of Certifications and Assurances for FTA Cooperative 
Agreements and Guidelines has been published in the Federal Register 
and posted on the FTA Web site at http://www.fta.dot.gov.

    Issued in Washington, DC, this 17th day of October 2008.
James S. Simpson,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E8-25630 Filed 10-30-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P