[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 156 (Friday, August 12, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50315-50318]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20557]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration


Notice of Fiscal Year 2012 Safety Grants and Solicitation for 
Applications

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice; change in application due dates.

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SUMMARY: This notice informs the public of FMCSA's Fiscal Year (FY) 
2012 safety grant opportunities and FMCSA's projected application due 
dates. FMCSA announces these grant opportunities based on authorities 
provided for in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy of Users. The Agency will inform 
applicants if new authorizing legislation changes its grant programs 
for FY 2012 through a Federal Register notice. The 10 safety grant 
programs include the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) 
Basic grants; MCSAP Incentive grants; New Entrant Safety Audit grants; 
MCSAP High Priority grants; Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Operator 
Safety Training grants; Border Enforcement grants (BEG); Commercial 
Driver's License Program Improvement (CDLPI) grants; Performance and 
Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM) grants; Safety Data 
Improvement Program (SaDIP) grants; and the Commercial Vehicle 
Information Systems and Networks (CVISN) grants. It should be noted 
that FMCSA does not expect the Commercial Driver's License Information 
System (CDLIS) Modernization grants to be continued in reauthorization, 
and, therefore, FMCSA will not be soliciting applications for this 
grant program in FY 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact the following FMCSA 
staff with questions or needed information on the Agency's grant 
programs:

MCSAP Basic/Incentive Grants--Suzanne Poole, [email protected], 
202-493-0804.
New Entrant Safety Audits Grants--Arthur Williams, 
[email protected], 202-366-3695.
Border Enforcement Grants--Carla Vagnini, [email protected], 202-
366-3771.
High Priority Grants--Cim Weiss, [email protected], 202-366-0275.
CMV Operator Safety Training Grants--Arthur Williams, 
[email protected], 202-366-0710.
CDLPI Grants--James Ross, [email protected], 202-366-0133.
SaDIP Grants--Cim Weiss, [email protected], 202-366-0275.
PRISM Grants--Julie Otto, [email protected], 202-366-0710.
CVISN Grants--Julie Otto, [email protected], 202-366-0710.
    All staff may be reached at FMCSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., E.S.T., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Purpose

    FMCSA recognizes that State and local governments and other 
grantees are dependent on the Agency's safety grants to develop and 
maintain important CMV safety programs. FMCSA further acknowledges that 
delays in awarding grant funds may have an adverse impact on these 
important safety programs. As a result, FMCSA completed a grants 
process review to identify ways to streamline the application, award, 
and grants management processes, and to award grant funds earlier each 
fiscal year. In addition, FMCSA made changes in the grants application, 
award and oversight processes to standardize application forms, 
increase the use of electronic documents, standardize quarterly 
reports, and reduce the number of needed grant amendments.
    FMCSA continues to enter into grant agreements beginning October 1 
or as soon thereafter as administratively practicable. FMCSA intends to 
begin awarding grants no later than 90 days from the date the 
application is due.
    FMCSA uses the standard grant application form and quarterly 
reporting process. FMCSA requires the Standard Form 424 (Application 
for Federal Assistance) and its attachments for all grant program 
applications. While each grant program may request different data in 
some of the data fields on the form, the use of the Standard Form 424 
is mandatory. FMCSA uses the Standard Form-Project Progress Report (SF-
PPR) as its required form for quarterly reporting. While each grant 
program may request that different data be submitted in some fields or 
boxes on the

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form, the use of the SF-PPR is mandatory.
    FMCSA uses the Standard Form-425 Federal Financial Report as its 
required form for quarterly financial reporting; use of this form is 
mandatory. Because FMCSA has implemented a new grants management 
information technology system, GrantSolutions, the Agency will provide 
all grant agreement documents electronically to its financial 
processing office. GrantSolutions is a comprehensive grants management 
system provided by the Grants Center of Excellence (COE). The Grants 
COE serves as one of three consortia leads under the Grants Management 
Line of Business E-Gov initiative offering government-wide grants 
management system support services. GrantSolutions provides 
standardized grant application, award, and management and oversight 
throughout the Agency's grant programs. Electronic signature of grant 
documents in GrantSolutions is the Agency's preferred method for 
executing grant agreements. FMCSA will provide more information on how 
to electronically sign documents to grantees after award decisions have 
been made. Grantees will, however, be required to submit the completed 
Automated Clearing House (ACH) Vendor Payment Form (SF-3881) directly 
to FMCSA's financial processing office by U.S. Postal Service, courier 
service, or secure fax. Additional information is provided below for 
each individual grant program.

MCSAP Basic and Incentive Grants

    Sections 4101 and 4106 of SAFETEA-LU authorize FMCSA's Motor 
Carrier Safety Grants. MCSAP Basic and Incentive formula grants are 
governed by 49 U.S.C. 31102-31104 and 49 CFR part 350. Under the Basic 
and Incentive grants programs, a State lead MCSAP agency, as designated 
by its Governor, is eligible to apply for Basic and Incentive grant 
funding by submitting a commercial vehicle safety plan (CVSP). See 49 
CFR 350.201 and 350.205. Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 31103 and 49 CFR 
350.303, FMCSA will reimburse each lead State MCSAP agency 80 percent 
of eligible costs incurred in a fiscal year. Each State will provide a 
20 percent match to qualify for the program. The FMCSA Administrator 
waives the requirement for matching funds for the Virgin Islands, 
American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands. See 49 CFR 350.305. In accordance with 49 CFR 350.323, the 
Basic grant funds will be distributed proportionally to each State's 
lead MCSAP agency using the following four, equally weighted (25 
percent) factors:
    (1) 1997 road miles (all highways) as defined by the FMCSA;
    (2) All vehicle miles traveled (VMT) as defined by the FMCSA;
    (3) Population--annual census estimates as issued by the U.S. 
Census Bureau; and
    (4) Special fuel consumption (net after reciprocity adjustment) as 
defined by the FMCSA.
    A State's lead MCSAP agency may qualify for Incentive funds 
pursuant to 49 CFR 350.207(a) if it can demonstrate that the State's 
CMV safety program has shown improvement in any or all of the following 
five categories:
    (1) Reduction in the number of large truck-involved fatal crashes;
    (2) Reduction in the rate of large-truck-involved fatal crashes or 
maintenance of a large-truck-involved fatal crash rate that is among 
the lowest 10 percent of such rates for MCSAP recipients and is not 
higher than the rate most recently achieved;
    (3) Upload of CMV crash reports in accordance with current FMCSA 
policy guidelines;
    (4) Verification of Commercial Driver's Licenses during all 
roadside inspections; and
    (5) Upload of CMV inspection data in accordance with current FMCSA 
policy guidelines.
    Incentive funds will be distributed in accordance with 49 CFR 
350.327(b). Prior to the start of each fiscal year, FMCSA calculates 
the amount of Basic and Incentive funding each State is expected to 
receive. This information is provided to the States and is made 
available on the Agency's Web site. The projected FY 2012 distribution 
is available at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety-security/safety-initiatives/mcsap/mcsapforms.htm. It should be noted that MCSAP Basic 
and Incentive formula grants are awarded based on the State's 
submission of the CVSP. The evaluation factors described in the section 
below titled ``Application Information for FY 2012 Grants'' will not be 
considered. MCSAP Basic and Incentive grant applications must be 
submitted electronically through grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov).

New Entrant Safety Audit Grants

    Sections 4101 and 4107 of SAFETEA-LU also authorize the Motor 
Carrier Safety Grants to enable grant recipients to conduct interstate 
New Entrant safety audits consistent with 49 CFR parts 350.321 and 
385.301. Eligible recipients are State agencies, local governments, and 
organizations representing government agencies that use and train 
qualified officers and employees in coordination with State motor 
vehicle safety agencies. The goal of the New Entrant Safety Assurance 
Program is to reduce CMV involved crashes, fatalities, and injuries 
through consistent, uniform, and effective safety programs. New Entrant 
grant funds will be awarded, at the discretion of the FMCSA to States 
to conduct safety audits on new interstate motor carriers. States may 
use these funds for salaries and related expenses of New Entrant 
auditors, including training and equipment, and to perform other 
eligible activities that are directly related to conducting safety 
audits. The FMCSA's share of these grant funds will be 100 percent 
pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 31144. New Entrant grant applications must be 
submitted electronically through grants.gov.

MCSAP High Priority Grants

    Section 4107 of SAFETEA-LU also authorizes the Motor Carrier Safety 
Grants to enable recipients to carry out activities and projects that 
improve CMV safety and compliance with CMV regulations. Funding is 
available for projects that are national in scope, increase public 
awareness and education, demonstrate new technologies and reduce the 
number and rate of CMV crashes. Eligible recipients are State agencies, 
local governments, and organizations representing government agencies 
that use and train qualified officers and employees in coordination 
with State motor vehicle safety agencies. For grants awarded for public 
education activities, the Federal share will be 100 percent. For all 
other High Priority grants, FMCSA will provide reimbursements for no 
more than 80 percent of all eligible costs, and recipients will be 
required to provide a 20 percent match. Examples of High Priority 
activities include innovative traffic enforcement projects, with 
particular emphasis on work zone enforcement, rural road safety, and 
innovative traffic enforcement initiatives such as Ticketing Aggressive 
Cars and Trucks (TACT). TACT provides a research-based safety model 
that can be replicated by States when conducting a high-visibility 
traffic enforcement program to promote safe driving behaviors among car 
and truck drivers. The objective of this program is to reduce the 
number of commercial truck and bus related crashes, fatalities and 
injuries resulting from improper operation of motor vehicles and 
aggressive driving behavior. More information regarding TACT can be 
found at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/

[[Page 50317]]

safety-security/tact/abouttact.htm. High Priority grant applications 
must be submitted through grants.gov.

CMV Operator Safety Training Grants

    Section 4134 of SAFETEA-LU established a grant program which 
enables recipients to train current and future drivers in the safe 
operation of CMVs, as defined in 49 U.S.C. 31301(4). Eligible awardees 
include State governments, local governments and accredited post-
secondary educational institutions (public or private) such as 
colleges, universities, vocational-technical schools and truck driver 
training schools. Funding priority for this discretionary grant program 
will be given to regional or multi-state educational or nonprofit 
associations serving economically distressed regions of the United 
States. The Federal share of these funds will be 80 percent, and 
recipients will be required to provide a 20 percent match. CMV Operator 
Safety Training grant applications must be submitted electronically 
through grants.gov.

Border Enforcement Grants (BEG)

    Section 4110 of SAFETEA-LU established the BEG program. The purpose 
of this discretionary program is to provide funding for border CMV 
safety programs and related enforcement activities and projects. 
Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 31107, eligible awardees include State 
governments that share a land border with Canada or Mexico, and any 
local government, or entities (i.e., accredited post-secondary public 
or private educational institutions such as universities) in that 
State. FMCSA encourages local agencies to coordinate their application 
with the State lead CMV inspection agency. Applications must include a 
Border Enforcement Plan and meet the required maintenance of 
expenditure requirement. BEG funding decisions take into consideration 
the State or entity's performance on previous BEG awards; the 
applicant's ability to expend the awarded funds with the BEG 
performance year; and activities meeting the BEG national criteria 
established by FMCSA. As established by SAFETEA-LU, the Federal share 
of these funds will be 100 percent. BEG grant applications must be 
submitted electronically through grants.gov.

CDLPI Grants

    Section 4124 of SAFETEA-LU established a discretionary grant 
program that provides funding for improving States' implementation of 
the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) program, including expenses for 
computer hardware and software, publications, testing, personnel, and 
training. Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 31313, funds may not be used to rent, 
lease, or buy land or buildings. The agency designated by each State as 
having the primary driver licensing responsibility, including 
development, implementation, and maintenance of the CDL program, is 
eligible to apply for basic grant funding. State agencies, local 
governments, and other entities that can support a State's effort to 
improve its CDL program or conduct projects on a national scale to 
improve the national CDL program may also apply for projects under the 
High Priority and Emerging Issues components. Grant proposals must 
include a detailed budget explaining how the funds will be used. The 
Federal share of funds for projects awarded under this grant is 
established by SAFETEA-LU as 100 percent. The funding opportunity 
announcement on grants.gov will provide more detailed information on 
the application process; national funding priorities for FY 2012; 
evaluation criteria; required documents and certifications; State 
maintenance of expenditure requirements; and additional information 
related to the availability of funds. CLDPI grant applications must be 
submitted electronically through grants.gov.

SaDIP Grants

    Section 4128 of SAFETEA-LU established the Safety Data Improvement 
Program grant opportunity to support State programs by improving the 
overall quality of CMV data and specifically to improve the timeliness, 
efficiency, accuracy and completeness of State processes and systems 
used to collect, analyze and report large truck and bus crash and 
inspection data, as described 49 U.S.C. 31102. Eligible recipients are 
State agencies, including the Territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, 
American Samoa, the Northern Marianas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and 
the District of Columbia. SaDIP applications must address the FMCSA 
State Safety Data Quality (SSDQ) map, which provides a color-coded, 
pictorial representation of the State's overall performance against the 
SSDQ methodology. This methodology was developed by FMCSA to evaluate 
the completeness, timeliness, accuracy, and consistency of the State-
reported CMV crash and inspection records in the Motor Carrier 
Management Information System (MCMIS). The SSDQ methodology is 
comprised of nine measures and one Overriding Indicator. Ratings are 
updated quarterly, and individual State performance is portrayed 
through the color-coded rating system: Green (good performance), Yellow 
(fair performance), and Red (poor performance). The color-coded rating 
system depicts each State's Overall Rating which considers all nine 
SSDQ measures, except those measures with a rating of ``Insufficient 
Data,'' plus the Overriding Indicator. Priority will be given to 
proposals received from States rated Yellow and Red on the SSDQ Map. 
The FMCSA will provide reimbursements for no more than 80 percent of 
all eligible costs; recipients are required to provide a 20 percent 
match. SaDIP grant applications must be submitted electronically 
through grants.gov.

PRISM Grants

    Section 4109 of SAFETEA-LU authorizes FMCSA to award financial 
assistance funds to States to implement the PRISM requirements that 
link Federal motor carrier safety information systems with State CMV 
registration and licensing systems. This program enables a State to 
determine the safety fitness of a motor carrier, a registrant, or both 
when licensing or registering and while the license or registration is 
in effect. No matching funds are required. PRISM grant applications 
must be submitted electronically through grants.gov.

CVISN Grants

    Section 4126 of SAFETEA-LU authorizes FMCSA to award financial 
assistance to States to deploy, operate, and maintain elements of their 
CVISN Program, including commercial vehicle, commercial driver, and 
carrier-specific information systems and networks. The agency in each 
State designated as responsible for the development, implementation, 
and maintenance of a CVISN-related system is eligible to apply for 
grant funding. Section 4126 of SAFETEA-LU distinguishes between two 
types of CVISN projects: Core and Expanded. To be eligible for funding 
of Core CVISN deployment project(s), a State must have its most current 
Core CVISN Program Plan and Top-Level Design approved by FMCSA and the 
proposed project(s) should be consistent with its approved Core CVISN 
Program Plan and Top-Level Design. If a State does not have a Core 
CVISN Program Plan and Top-Level Design, it may apply for up to 
$100,000 in funds to either compile or update a Core CVISN Program Plan 
and Top-Level Design. A State may also apply for funds to prepare an 
Expanded CVISN Program Plan and Top-Level Design if FMCSA acknowledged 
the State as having completed Core CVISN deployment. In

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order to be eligible for funding of any Expanded CVISN deployment 
project(s), a State must have its most current Expanded CVISN Program 
Plan and Top-Level Design approved by FMCSA and any proposed Expanded 
CVISN project(s) should be consistent with its Expanded CVISN Program 
Plan and Top-Level Design. If a State does not have an existing or up-
to-date Expanded CVISN Program Plan and Top-Level Design, it may apply 
for up to $100,000 in funds to either compile or update an Expanded 
CVISN Program Plan and Top-Level Design. CVISN grant applications must 
be submitted electronically through grants.gov. Awards for approved 
CVISN grant applications are made to all Core CVISN applicants first 
and then to Expanded CVISN applicants. States must provide a match of 
50 percent.

Application Information for FY 2012 Grants

    General information about the FMCSA grant programs is available in 
the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) which can be found on 
the Internet at http://www.cfda.gov. To apply for funding, applicants 
must register with grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp and submit an application in accordance with 
instructions provided.
    Evaluation Factors: The following evaluation factors will be used 
in reviewing the applications for all FMCSA discretionary grants:
    (1) Prior performance--Completion of identified programs and goals 
per the project plan.
    (2) Effective Use of Prior Grants--Demonstrated timely use and 
expensing of available funds.
    (3) Cost Effectiveness--Applications will be evaluated and 
prioritized on the basis of expected impact on safety relative to the 
investment of grant funds. Where appropriate, costs per unit will be 
calculated and compared with national averages to determine 
effectiveness. In other areas, proposed costs will be compared with 
historical information to confirm reasonableness.
    (4) Applicability to announced priorities--If national priorities 
are included in the grants.gov notice, those grants that specifically 
address these issues will be given priority consideration.
    (5) Ability of the applicant to support the strategies and 
activities in the proposal for the entire project period of 
performance.
    (6) Use of innovative approaches in executing a project plan to 
address identified safety issues.
    (7) Feasibility of overall program coordination and implementation 
based upon the project plan.
    (8) Any grant-specific evaluation factors, such as program balance 
or geographic diversity, will be included in the grants.gov application 
information.
    Estimated Application Due Dates: For the following grant programs, 
FMCSA will consider funding complete applications or plans submitted by 
the following anticipated dates (final due dates will be indicated in 
the grants.gov funding opportunity notice):

MCSAP Basic and Incentive Grants--August 1, 2011.
Border Enforcement Grants--September 12, 2011.
MCSAP High Priority Grants--October 17, 2011.
New Entrant Safety Audit Grants--October 17, 2011.
SaDIP Grants--October 31, 2011.
CDLPI Grants--November 14, 2011.
CMV Operator Safety Training Grants--December 5, 2011.
CVISN Grants--December 5, 2011.
PRISM Grants--December 12, 2012.

Applications submitted after due dates may be considered on a case-by-
case basis and are subject to availability of funds.

    Issued on: August 8, 2011.
Anna J. Amos,
Director, Office of Safety Programs.
[FR Doc. 2011-20557 Filed 8-11-11; 8:45 am]
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