[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 92 (Thursday, May 13, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27114-27118]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-11476]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program; Tribal
Transit Program
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability: Solicitation of Grant Proposals
for FY 2010 Tribal Transit Program Funds.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of $15,074,963 million
in funding provided by the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations
Program (Tribal Transit Program (TTP)), a program authorized by the
Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Section 3013(c). This notice is a
national solicitation for grant proposals and it includes the selection
criteria and program eligibility information for FY 2010 projects.
This announcement is available on the FTA Web site at: http://www.fta.dot.gov. FTA will announce final selections on the Web site and
in the Federal Register. A synopsis of the funding opportunity will be
posted in the FIND module of the government-wide electronic grants Web
site at http://www.grants.gov. Applicants proposing projects for
funding under TTP may apply through GRANTS.GOV or via e-mail at
[email protected]. Those who apply via GRANTS.GOV should
receive two confirmation e-mails. The first will confirm that the
application was received and a subsequent e-mail will be sent within
24-48 hours indicating whether the application was validated or
rejected by the system.
DATES: Complete proposals for the discretionary program announced in
this Notice must be submitted by June 28, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Proposals must be submitted electronically through the
GRANTS.GOV Web site. Anyone intending to apply electronically through
GRANTS.GOV should initiate the process of registering on the GRANTS.GOV
site immediately to ensure completion of registration before the
deadline for submission. Applicants applying for funding under the
Tribal Transit Program may apply through GRANTS.GOV or via e-mail at
[email protected].
To apply for funding through GRANTS.GOV, applicants must be
properly registered. Complete instructions on how to register and
submit applications can be found at http://www.grants.gov. If
interested parties experience difficulties at any point during the
registration or application process, please call the GRANTS.GOV
Customer Support Hotline at 1-800-518-4726, Monday-Friday from 7 a.m.
to 9 p.m. EST. Registering with GRANTS.GOV is a one-time process;
however, processing delays may occur and it can take up to several
weeks for first-time registrants to receive confirmation and a user
password. It is highly recommended that applicants start the
registration process as early as possible to prevent delays that may
preclude submitting an application by the deadlines specified.
Applications will not be accepted after the relevant due date; delayed
registration is not an acceptable reason for extensions. Accordingly,
you are urged to submit your application at least 72 hours prior to the
due date of the application to allow time to receive the validation
message and to correct any problems that may have caused a rejection
notification.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact the appropriate FTA Regional
Administrator (Appendix A) for proposal-specific information. For
general program information, contact Lorna Wilson, Tribal Transit
Program, (202) 366-0893, e-mail: [email protected]. A TDD is
available at 1-800-877-8339 (TDD/FIRS).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Overview
[[Page 27115]]
II. Program Purpose
III. Program Information
1. Eligible Applicants
2. Eligible Projects
3. Cost Sharing and Matching
4. Proposal Content
5. Evaluation Criteria
IV. Technical Assistance and Other Program Information
Appendix A FTA Regional Offices
Appendix B Tribal Transit Program Technical Assistance Contacts
I. Overview
Section 3013 of SAFETEA-LU, [Pub. L. 109-59 (August 10, 2005)]
amended 49 U.S.C. 5311(c) by establishing the Public Transportation on
Indian Reservations Program (Tribal Transit Program) (TTP). This
program authorizes direct grants ``under such terms and conditions as
may be established by the Secretary'' to Indian Tribes for any purpose
eligible under FTA's Nonurbanized Area Formula Program, 49 U.S.C. 5311
(Section 5311 program). A total of $15,074,963 million is currently
available for discretionary allocation.
II. Program Purpose
TTP funds are to be allocated for grants to Federally recognized
Indian Tribes for any purpose eligible under the Section 5311 program.
The Conference Report that accompanied SAFETEA-LU indicated that the
funds set aside for Indian Tribes in the TTP are not meant to replace
or reduce funds that Indian Tribes receive from States through FTA's
Section 5311 program. TTP funds are meant to complement any 5311 funds
that applicants may be receiving. These funds will be competitively
allocated to support planning, capital, and operating assistance for
Tribal public transit services. Geographic diversity will be considered
during the allocation of TTP funds.
III. Program Information
1. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants include Federally-recognized Indian Tribes or
Alaska Native villages, groups, or communities as identified by the
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) in the U.S. Department of the Interior
(DOI). To be an eligible recipient, a Tribe must have the requisite
legal, financial and technical capabilities to receive and administer
Federal funds under this program. To verify Federal recognition a Tribe
may submit a copy of the most up-to-date Federal Register notice
published by DOI, BIA: Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive
Service from the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs.
2. Eligible Projects
Grants can be awarded to recipients located in rural and small
urban areas with populations under 50,000 not identified as an
urbanized area by the Bureau of the Census and may be used for public
transportation capital projects, operating costs of equipment and
facilities for use in public transportation, planning, and the
acquisition of public transportation services, including service
agreements with private providers of public transportation services.
Under DOT Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) regulations,
public fixed route operators are required to provide ADA complementary
paratransit service to individuals who are unable to use fixed route
due to their disability or a fixed route being inaccessible.
Coordinated human service transportation that primarily serves elderly
persons and persons with disabilities, but that is not restricted from
carrying other members of the public, is considered available to the
general public if it is marketed as public transportation. Examples of
eligible TTP projects are start-up service, enhancement or expansions
of existing services, purchase of transit capital items including
vehicles, and planning or operational planning grants.
3. Cost Sharing and Matching
Projects selected for funding under the TTP can be funded up to 100
percent Federal share.
4. Proposal Content
The following information must accompany all requests for TTP
funding.
a. Proposal Information
(i) Name of Federally recognized Tribe and, if appropriate, the
specific Tribal agency submitting the application.
(ii) Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System
(DUNS) number if available. (Note: If selected, applicant will be
required to provide DUNS number prior to grant award).
(iii) Contact information including: Contact name, title, address,
congressional district, fax and phone number, and e-mail address if
available.
(iv) Description of public transportation services including areas
currently served by the Tribe, if any.
(v) Name of person(s) authorized to apply on behalf of the Tribe
(signed transmittal letter) must accompany the proposal.
b. Technical, Legal, and Financial Capacity To Implement the Proposed
Project
Tribes that cannot demonstrate adequate capacity in technical,
legal and financial areas will not be considered for funding. Every
proposal must describe the Tribe's technical, legal, and financial
capacity to implement the proposed project.
(i) Technical Capacity: Provide examples of the Tribe's management
of other Federal projects. What resources does the Tribe have to
implement a transit project?
(ii) Legal Capacity: Provide documentation or other evidence to
show that the applicant is a Federally recognized Tribe and an
authorized representative to execute legal agreements with FTA on
behalf of the Tribe. If applying for capital or operating funds, does
the Tribe have appropriate Federal or State operating authority?
(iii) Financial Capacity: Does the Tribe have adequate financial
systems in place to receive and manage a Federal grant? Describe the
Tribe's financial systems and controls.
c. Project Information
(i) Budget: Provide the Federal amount requested for each purpose
for which funds are sought and any funding from other sources that will
be provided. A Tribe may allow up to fifteen percent of the grant award
for planning and the indirect cost should be at a rate of ten percent.
(ii) Project Description: Indicate the category for which funding
is requested; i.e., start-ups, enhancements or replacements of existing
transit services or planning studies or operational planning grants.
Provide a summary description of the proposed project and how it will
be implemented (e.g., number and type of vehicles, service area,
schedules, type of services, fixed route or demand responsive), route
miles (if fixed route), major origins and destinations, population
served, and whether the Tribe provides the service directly or
contracts for services and how vehicles will be maintained.
(iii) Project Timeline: Include significant milestones such as date
of contract for purchase of vehicle(s), actual or expected delivery
date of vehicles, and service start-up dates.
5. Evaluation Criteria
FTA will divide proposals into three categories for evaluation. The
three evaluation categories are as follows:
Start-ups--Proposals for funding of new transit service
include capital, operating, administration, and planning.
[[Page 27116]]
Existing transit services--Proposals for funding of
enhancements or expansion of existing transit services include capital,
operating, administration, and planning.
Planning--Proposals for planning include funding of
transit planning studies and/or operational planning.
Applications will be grouped into their respective category for
review and scoring purposes.
a. Evaluation Criteria for Start-up and Existing Transit Service
Proposals
In this section, the applicant should describe how the proposed
project was developed and demonstrate that there is a sound basis for
the project and that it is ready to implement if funded. Proposals will
be rated whether there is a sound basis for the proposal and if it is
ready to implement. Information may vary depending upon whether a Tribe
has a formal plan that includes transit (as described in subsections
(i) and (ii) below).
(i) Project Planning and Coordination without a Formal Plan Should
Consider and Address the Following Areas:
(a) Provide a detailed project description including the proposed
service, vehicle and facility needs, and other pertinent
characteristics of the proposed service implementation.
(b) Identify existing transportation services available to the
Tribe and discuss whether the proposed project will provide
opportunities to coordinate service with existing transit services,
including human service agencies, intercity bus services, or other
public transit providers.
(c) Discuss the level of support either by the community and/or
Tribal government for the proposed project.
(d) Describe the implementation schedule for the proposed project,
such as time frame, staffing, and procurement.
ii. Project Planning and Coordination with a Formal Plan Should
Consider and Address the Following Areas:
(a) Describe the planning document and/or the planning process
conducted to identify the proposed project.
(b) Describe how the mobility and client-access needs of Tribal
human service agencies were considered in the planning process.
(c) Describe what opportunities for public participation were
provided in the planning process and how the proposed transit service
or existing service has been coordinated with transportation provided
for the clients of human service agencies, with intercity bus
transportation in the area, or with any other rural public transit
providers.
(d) Describe how the proposed service complements rather than
duplicates any currently available services.
(e) Describe the implementation schedule for the proposed project,
including time frame, staffing, procurement, etc.
(f) Describe any other planning or coordination efforts that were
not mentioned above.
(iii) Demonstration of Need:
In this section, the proposal should demonstrate the transit needs
of the Tribe and discuss how the proposed transit improvements will
address the identified transit needs. Proposals may include information
such as destinations and services not currently accessible by transit,
need for access to jobs or health care, special needs of the elderly
and individuals with disabilities, income-based community needs, or
other mobility needs.
Based on the information provided, the proposals will be rated on
whether there is a demonstrated need for the project and how well does
the project fulfill the need.
(iv) Benefits of Project:
In this section, proposals should identify expected project
benefits. Possible examples include increased ridership and daily
trips, improved service, improved operations and coordination, and
economic benefits to the community.
Benefits can be demonstrated by identifying the population of
Tribal members and non-Tribal members in the proposed project service
area and estimating the number of daily one-way trips the transit
service will provide and or the number of individual riders. There may
be many other, less quantifiable, benefits to the Tribe and surrounding
community from this project. Please document, explain or show the
benefits in whatever format is reasonable to present them.
Based on the information provided proposals will be rated based on
four factors:
a. Will the project improve transit efficiency or increase
ridership?
b. Will the project improve mobility for the Tribe?
c. Will the project improve access to important destinations and
services?
d. Are there other qualitative benefits?
(v) Financial Commitment and Operating Capacity:
In this section, the proposal should identify any other funding
sources used by the Tribe to support existing or proposed transit
services, including human service transportation funding, Indian
Reservation Roads, or other FTA programs such as Job Access and Reverse
Commute, New Freedom, section 5311, section 5310, or section 5309 Bus
and Bus Facilities.
For existing services, the proposal should show how TTP funding
will supplement (not duplicate or replace) current funding sources. If
the transit system was previously funded under section 5311 through the
State's apportionment, describe how requested TTP funding will expand
available services.
Describe any other resources the Tribe will contribute to the
project, including in-kind contributions, commitments of support from
local businesses, donations of land or equipment, and human resources,
and describe to what extent the new project or funding for existing
service leverages other funding.
The Tribe should show its ability to manage programs by
demonstrating the existing programs it administers in any area of
expertise such as human services. Based upon the information provided,
the proposals will be rated on the extent to which the proposal
demonstrates that:
a. This project provides new services or complements existing
service;
b. TTP funding does not replace existing funding;
c. The Tribe has or will provide non-financial support to project;
d. The Tribe has demonstrated ability to provide other services or
manage other programs; and
e. Project funds are used in coordination with other services for
efficient utilization of funds.
b. Evaluation Criteria for Planning Proposals
For planning grants, the application should describe, in no more
than three pages, the need for and a general scope of the proposed
study.
The application should address the following:
a. Is the Tribe committed to planning for transit?
b. Is the scope of the proposed study for Tribal transit?
c. Note on Continuation Projects
If an applicant is requesting FY 2010 funding to continue a project
funded previously with prior year resources, Tribes must demonstrate
that their project(s) are in an active status to receive additional
funding. Along with the criteria listed in Section 111.5.a, proposals
should state that the applicant is a current TTP grantee and provide
information on their transit project(s) status including services now
being provided and how the new funding will complement the existing
service. Please provide any data that would be helpful to project
evaluators, i.e., ridership,
[[Page 27117]]
increased service hours, extended service routes, stops, etc. If you
received a planning grant in previous fiscal years, please indicate the
status of your planning study and how this project relates to that
study.
IV. Technical Assistance and Other Program Information
This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372,
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.'' FTA will consider
applications for funding only from eligible recipients for eligible
projects listed in Section 3. Due to funding limitations, applicants
that are selected for funding may receive less than the amount
requested.
Complete applications must be submitted through GRANTS.GOV or via
e-mail at [email protected] by June 28, 2010. Applicants may
receive technical assistance for application development by contacting
their FTA regional Tribal liaison, or the National Rural Transportation
Assistance Program office. Contact information for technical assistance
can be found in Appendix B.
Issued in Washington, DC, on May 7, 2010.
Peter Rogoff,
Administrator.
Appendix A
FTA Regional and Metropolitan Offices
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Richard H. Doyle, Regional Robert C. Patrick, Regional
Administrator, Region 1-Boston, Administrator, Region 6-Ft. Worth,
Kendall Square, 55 Broadway, Suite 819 Taylor Street, Room 8A36, Ft.
920, Cambridge, MA 02142-1093, Worth, TX 76102, Tel. 817-978-
Tel. 617-494-2055. 0550.
States served: Connecticut, Maine, States served: Arkansas, Louisiana,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas.
Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Brigid Hynes-Cherin, Regional Mokhtee Ahmad, Regional
Administrator, Region 2-New York, Administrator, Region 7-Kansas
One Bowling Green, Room 429, New City, MO, 901 Locust Street, Room
York, NY 10004-1415, Tel. 212-668- 404, Kansas City, MO 64106, Tel.
2170. 816-329-3920.
States served: New Jersey, New States served: Iowa, Kansas,
York. Missouri, and Nebraska.
New York Metropolitan Office,
Region 2-New York, One Bowling
Green, Room 428, New York, NY
10004-1415, Tel. 212-668-2202.
Letitia Thompson, Regional Terry Rosapep, Regional
Administrator, Region 3- Administrator, Region 8-Denver,
Philadelphia, 1760 Market Street, 12300 West Dakota Ave., Suite 310,
Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA 19103- Lakewood, CO 80228-2583, Tel. 720-
4124, Tel. 215-656-7100. 963-3300.
States served: Delaware, Maryland, States served: Colorado, Montana,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, West North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah,
Virginia, and District of and, Wyoming.
Columbia.
Philadelphia Metropolitan Office,
Region 3-Philadelphia, 1760 Market
Street, Suite 500, Philadelphia,
PA 19103-4124, Tel. 215-656-7070.
Washington, DC Metropolitan Office,
1990 K Street, NW., Room 510,
Washington, DC 20006, Tel. 202-219-
3562.
Yvette Taylor, Regional Leslie T. Rogers, Regional
Administrator, Region 4-Atlanta, Administrator, Region 9-San
230 Peachtree Street, NW., Suite Francisco, 201 Mission Street,
800, Atlanta, GA 30303, Tel. 404- Room 1650, San Francisco, CA 94105-
865-5600. 1926, Tel. 415-744-3133.
States served: Alabama, Florida, States served: American Samoa,
Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii,
North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Nevada, and the Northern Mariana
Carolina, Tennessee, and Virgin Islands.
Islands.
Los Angeles Metropolitan Office,
Region 9-Los Angeles, 888 S.
Figueroa Street, Suite 1850, Los
Angeles, CA 90017-1850, Tel. 213-
202-3952.
Marisol Simon, Regional Rick Krochalis, Regional
Administrator, Region 5-Chicago, Administrator, Region 10-Seattle,
200 West Adams Street, Suite 320, Jackson Federal Building, 915
Chicago, IL 60606, Tel. 312-353- Second Avenue, Suite 3142,
2789. Seattle, WA 98174-1002, Tel. 206-
220-7954.
States served: Illinois, Indiana, States served: Alaska, Idaho,
Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Oregon, and Washington.
Wisconsin.
Chicago Metropolitan Office, Region
5-Chicago, 200 West Adams Street,
Suite 320, Chicago, IL 60606, Tel.
312-353-2789.
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Appendix B
Technical Assistance Contacts
Alaska Tribal Technical Assistance Program
Kim Williams, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, P.O. Box 756720,
Fairbanks, AK 99775-6720. (907) 842-2521. (907) 474-5208.
[email protected]. http://community.uaf.edu/~alaskattac. Service
area: Alaska.
National Indian Justice Center
Raquelle Myers, 5250 Aero Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95403. (707)
579-5507 or (800) 966-0662. (707) 579-9019. [email protected]. http://www.nijc.org/ttap.html. Service area: California, Nevada.
Tribal Technical Assistance Program at Colorado State University
Ronald Hall, Rockwell Hall, Room 321, Colorado State University,
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1276. (800) 262-7623. (970) 491-3502.
[email protected]. http://ttap.colostate.edu/. Service area:
Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah.
Tribal Technical Assistance Program (TTAP)
Bernie D. Alkire, 301-E Dillman Hall, Michigan Technological
University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931-1295. (888) 230-
0688. (906) 487-1834. [email protected]. http://www.ttap.mtu.edu/.
Service area: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida,
Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine,
Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio,
Pennsylvania.
Northern Plains Tribal Technical Assistance Program
Dennis Trusty, United Tribes Technical College, 3315 University
Drive, Bismarck, ND 58504. (701) 255-3285 ext. 1262. (701) 530-0635.
[email protected]. http://www.uttc.edu/forum/ttap/ttap.asp.
Service area: Montana (Eastern), Nebraska (Northern), North Dakota,
South Dakota, Wyoming.
Northwest Tribal Technical Assistance Program
Richard A. Rolland, Eastern Washington University, Department of
Urban Planning, Public & Health Administration, 216 Isle Hall,
Cheney, WA 99004. (800) 583-3187. (509) 359-7485. [email protected].
http://
[[Page 27118]]
www.ewu.edu/TTAP/. Service area: Idaho, Montana (Western), Oregon,
Washington.
Tribal Technical Assistance Program at Oklahoma State University:
James Self, Oklahoma State University, 5202 N. Richmond Hills
Road, Stillwater, OK 74078-0001. (405) 744-6049. (405) 744-7268.
[email protected]. http://ttap.okstate.edu/. Service area:
Kansas, Nebraska (Southern), Oklahoma, Texas.
Other Technical Assistance Resources
National RTAP (National Rural Transit Assistance Program)
Contact: Rob Tassinari, 709 Main Street, Waltham, MA 02451.
Telephone: (888) 589-6821. http://www.nationalrtap.org.
Community Transportation Association of America
The Resource Center--800-891-0590. http://www.ctaa.org/.
[FR Doc. 2010-11476 Filed 5-12-10; 8:45 am]
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