[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 151 (Monday, August 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46797-46800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19109]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration


Notice of Fiscal Year 2013 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) 
2013 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 for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Public Law 
109-59, as amended by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century 
Act (MAP-21), Public Law 112-141, (2012). The Agency's safety grant 
programs in FY 2013 include the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program 
(MCSAP) Basic and 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. The Commercial 
Driver's License Information System (CDLIS) Modernization grants were 
not continued in the MAP-21 authorization and, therefore, FMCSA will 
not be soliciting applications for this grant program in FY 2013.

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--Jack Kostelnik, [email protected], 
202-366-5721.
New Entrant Safety Audits Grants--Jack Kostelnik, 
[email protected], 202-366-5721.
MCSAP High Priority Grants--Cim Weiss, [email protected], 202-366-0275.
CMV Operator Safety Training Grants--Crystal Polk, 
[email protected], 202-366-0734.
BEG--Jackie Cambridge, [email protected], 202-366-1351.
CDLPI Grants--James Ross, [email protected], 202-366-0133.
SaDIP Grants--Jackie Cambridge, [email protected], 202-366-1351.
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., Eastern 
Time, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Purpose

    For each grant program, FMCSA will post a notice of funding 
availability (NOFA) at www.grants.gov. The NOFA will provide specific 
information on the application process; national funding priorities for 
FY 2013; evaluation criteria; required documents and certifications; 
grantee matching share and maintenance of expenditure requirements; and 
additional information related to the availability of funds. General 
information is provided below for each individual grant program.
    To ensure the timely review and award of all grants, applications 
must be submitted in accordance with the instructions provided in each 
NOFA and contain all required information and attachments. FMCSA 
strongly encourages applicants to dedicate the resources necessary to 
submit timely and complete applications. Applications will be returned 
if required documents are missing or incomplete or additional 
information is needed.

MCSAP Basic and Incentive Grants

    The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity 
Act: A Legacy for Users, Public Law 109-59, Sec. Sec.  4101(a), 4106, 
119 Stat. 1144, 1714, 1717-19 (2005), as amended by Moving Ahead for 
Progress in the 21st Century Act, Public Law 112-141 Sec. Sec.  32601, 
32603(a), (2012) authorizes 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 grant 
programs, a State lead MCSAP agency, as designated by its Governor, is 
eligible to apply for MCSAP Basic and Incentive grant funding by 
submitting a commercial vehicle safety plan (CVSP). See 49 CFR 350.201, 
350.205, and 350.213. Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 31103 and 49 CFR 350.303, 
FMCSA will reimburse each lead State MCSAP agency no more than 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 (49 CFR 350.305). In accordance with 49 CFR 350.323, 
the MCSAP 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 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 MCSAP Incentive funds 
pursuant to 49 CFR 350.327(a) if the agency can demonstrate that the 
State's CMV safety program meets or exceeds 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;
    (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 are distributed in accordance with 49 CFR 
350.327(b).
    The FMCSA calculates the amount of Basic and Incentive funding each 
State is to receive. This information is provided to the States and is 
made available on the Agency's Web site. The projected FY 2013 
distribution is available at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety-security/safety-initiatives/mcsap/mcsapforms.htm. The amount indicated is based 
on FY 2012 estimated awards,

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pending final authorization, and does not include incentive funding 
that may be available to States. The MCSAP Basic and Incentive formula 
grants are awarded based on the State's submission of the CVSP, which 
FMCSA must approve prior to distribution of funds. Therefore, the 
evaluation factors for discretionary grant programs described in the 
section below titled ``Application Information for FY 2013 Grants'' are 
not applicable. MCSAP Basic and Incentive grant applications must be 
submitted electronically through grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov).

New Entrant Safety Audit Grants

    The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity 
Act: A Legacy for Users, Public Law 109-59, Sec.  4107(b), 119 Stat. 
1144, 1720 (2005), amended by SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections Act of 
2008, Public Law 110-244, Sec.  301(b), 122 Stat. 1572, 1616 (2008), as 
amended by Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, Public 
Law 112-141, Sec.  32603(e), (2012) authorizes grant funding to conduct 
interstate New Entrant safety audits consistent with 49 CFR Parts 
350.321 and 385.301. Eligible recipients are State and local 
governments. 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. Grantees 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. More information about the New Entrant Safety Assurance 
Program application and award process can be found at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/grants/New-Entrant/app-process.aspx. New 
Entrant grant applications must be submitted electronically through 
grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov).

MCSAP High Priority Grants

    The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity 
Act: A Legacy for Users, Public Law 109-59, Sec.  4107(a), 119 Stat. 
1144, 1719-20 (2005), as amended by SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections 
Act of 2008, Public Law 110-244, Sec.  4101(a), Sec.  4107, 122 Stat. 
1572, 1616, as amended by Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century 
Act, Public Law 112-141, Sec. Sec.  32603(a), 32603(d), (2012) 
authorizes grant funding for activities and projects that improve CMV 
safety and compliance with CMV regulations. The goal of the MCSAP High 
Priority grant program is to increase public awareness and education, 
demonstrate new technologies and reduce the number and rate of CMV 
crashes. Funding is also available for projects that are national in 
scope. 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. Participation of local law enforcement 
agencies is encouraged. Interested local law enforcement agencies 
should carefully review the NOFA when it is available on www.grants.gov 
for special considerations and application review processes. For grants 
awarded for public education and outreach 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 texting and hand-held 
cell phone prohibitions, 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/safety-security/tact/abouttact.htm. 
More information about the High Priority application and award process 
can be found at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/grants/MCSAP-High-Priority/index.aspx. High Priority grant applications must be submitted 
through grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov).

CMV Operator Safety Training Grants

    The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity 
Act: A Legacy for Users, Public Law 109-59, Sec.  4134, 119 Stat. 1144, 
1744-45 (2005), as amended by Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st 
Century Act, Public Law 112-141, Sec.  32603(g), (2012) authorizes 
grant funds 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 institutions serving economically distressed regions of the 
United States as demonstrated in the application. The Federal share of 
these funds will be 80 percent, and recipients will be required to 
provide a 20 percent match. More information about the CMV Operator 
Safety Training grant application and award process can be found at 
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/grants/CMV/app-process.aspx. CMV 
Operator Safety Training grant applications must be submitted 
electronically through grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov).

Border Enforcement Grants

    The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity 
Act: A Legacy for Users, Public Law 109-59, Sec. Sec.  4101(c)(2), 
4110, 119 Stat. 1144, 1715, 1721-22 (2005), as amended by Moving Ahead 
for Progress in the 21st Century Act, Public Law 112-141, Sec. Sec.  
32603(c) and 32603(h), (2012) authorizes grant funds to conduct CMV 
safety programs and related enforcement activities and projects near 
international borders or relating to international commerce. 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 to prevent redundancy. Applications must include a 
Border Enforcement Plan. As established by SAFETEA-LU, the Federal 
share of these funds will be 100 percent. More information about the 
BEG application and award process can be found at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/grants/beg/app-process.aspx. BEG grant 
applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov 
(http://www.grants.gov).

CDLPI Grants

    The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity 
Act: A Legacy for Users, Public Law 109-59, Sec. Sec.  4101(c)(1), 
4124, 119 Stat. 1144, 1715, 1736-37 (2005), as amended by Moving Ahead 
for Progress in the 21st Century Act, Public Law 112-141, Sec. Sec.  
32603(c), 32604, (2012) authorizes grant funds to improve States'

[[Page 46799]]

implementation of the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) program and 
ensure compliance with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 383 and 384. 
Eligible expenses include computer hardware and software, publications, 
testing, personnel, training, quality control, CDL program 
coordinators, and to implement or maintain an employer notification 
system for CDL suspension or revocation. 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 component of this 
grant. Priority will be given to proposals that help States comply with 
the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), with specific 
emphasis on correcting previously-identified areas of non-compliance. 
The Federal share of funds for projects awarded under this grant is 
established by SAFETEA-LU as 100 percent. Information for the CLDPI 
application and award process also can be found at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/grants/CDLPI/app-process.aspx. CLDPI grant 
applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov 
(http://www.grants.gov).

SaDIP Grants

    The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity 
Act: A Legacy for Users, Public Law 109-59, Sec. Sec.  4101(c)(5), 
4128, 119 Stat. 1144, 1715, 1742 (2005), as amended by Moving Ahead for 
Progress in the 21st Century Act, Public Law 112-141, Sec.  32603(c), 
(2012) authorizes grant funds for the Safety Data Improvement Program 
to support improving the overall quality of CMV data reported by a 
State. Specifically, the goal of this program is 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 USC 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 
using 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 applicant must certify that it has (1) conducted a comprehensive 
audit of its commercial motor vehicle safety data system within the 
preceding two years; (2) developed a plan that identifies and 
prioritizes its commercial motor vehicle safety data needs and goals; 
and (3) identified performance-based measures to determine progress 
toward those goals. The FMCSA will provide reimbursements for no more 
than 80 percent of all eligible costs; recipients are required to 
provide a 20 percent match. More information about the SaDIP 
application and award process can be found at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/grants/SaDIP/app-process.aspx. SaDIP grant applications must be 
submitted electronically through grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov).

PRISM Grants

    The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity 
Act: A Legacy for Users, Public Law 109-59, Sec. Sec.  4101(c)(3), 
4109, 119 Stat. 1144, 1715, 1720-21 (2005), as amended by Moving Ahead 
for Progress in the 21st Century Act, Public Law 112-141, Sec. Sec.  
32602, 32603(c), (2012) authorizes FMCSA to award grants 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 CMV and while the license or registration is in effect. The 
PRISM program directly benefits highway safety helping to remove unsafe 
motor carriers from the nation's highways through the potential and 
actual imposition of vehicle registration sanctions on motor carriers 
issued a Federal Out of Service order. No matching funds are required. 
More information about the PRISM program process can be found at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety-security/prism/prism-process.aspx. PRISM 
grant applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov 
(http://www.grants.gov).

CVISN Grants

    The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity 
Act: A Legacy for Users, Public Law 109-59, Sec. Sec.  4101(c)(4), 
4126, 119 Stat. 1144, 1715, 1738-41 (2005), as amended by Moving Ahead 
for Progress in the 21st Century Act, Public Law No.112-141, Sec. Sec.  
32603(c), 32605, (2012) authorizes FMCSA to award grant funds 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 establishes two types of CVISN projects: Core and 
Expanded. Core CVISN deployment project(s) eligibility includes the 
projects necessary to support the State's most current Core CVISN 
Program Plan and Top-Level Design (PP/TLD) approved by FMCSA. If a 
State does not have a Core CVISN PP/TLD, it may apply for up to 
$100,000 in funds to either create or update one. A State may also 
apply for funds to prepare an Expanded CVISN PP/TLD if FMCSA 
acknowledged the State as having completed Core CVISN deployment. 
Eligibility includes the projects necessary to support a State's 
Expanded CVISN deployment PP/TLD approved by FMCSA. If a State does not 
have an existing or up-to-date Expanded CVISN PP/TLD, it may apply for 
up to $100,000 in funds to either compile or update an Expanded CVISN 
Program Plan and Top-Level Design.
    FY 2013 CVISN grant emphasis areas include to increase the 
deployment of the Commercial Vehicle Information Exchange Window 
(CVIEW); improve the quality of data uploads; and improve the use of 
safety and productivity performance metrics. A State may receive no 
more than an aggregate total of $2.5M in CVISN Core funding. A State 
may receive no more than $1M in CVISN Expanded funding in any fiscal 
year. Awards for approved CVISN grant applications are made to all Core 
CVISN

[[Page 46800]]

applicants first and then to Expanded CVISN applicants. States must 
provide a match of 50 percent. CVISN grant applications must be 
submitted electronically through grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov).
    Application Information for FY 2013 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. Because 
the registration and certification process for grants.gov requires 
several steps, first-time applicants are strongly encouraged to begin 
the process well in advance of the application deadline.
    Evaluation Factors: The below evaluation factors will be used in 
reviewing the applications for all FMCSA discretionary grants. 
Additional factors may be included in each NOFA. These factors are:
    (1) Prior performance (completion of identified programs and goals 
per the project plan submitted under previous grants awarded to the 
applicant);
    (2) Effective Use of Prior Grants (timely use of available funds in 
previous awards);
    (3) Safety and Cost Effectiveness (expected impact on safety 
relative to the investment of grant funds; where appropriate, cost per 
unit was calculated and compared with national averages to determine 
effectiveness; in other areas, proposed costs are compared with 
historical information to confirm reasonableness);
    (4) Applicability to announced priorities (grant applications that 
specifically address these issues are 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; and
    (8) Other objective and performance-based criteria that FMCSA deems 
appropriate, such as consistency with national priorities, overall 
program balance, and geographic diversity.
    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, 2012.
Border Enforcement Grants--August 20, 2012.
New Entrant Safety Audit Grants--September 5, 2012.
MCSAP High Priority Grants--September 17, 2012.
CDLPI Grants--November 5, 2012.
SaDIP Grants--November 13, 2012.
CVISN Grants--November 19, 2012.
PRISM Grants--December 3, 2012.
CMV Operator Safety Training Grants--December 10, 2012.

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

    Issued on: July 27, 2012.
William A. Quade,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement and Program Delivery.
[FR Doc. 2012-19109 Filed 8-3-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P