[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]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P