[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 49 (Monday, March 14, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13444-13449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05579]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


FY 2016 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Public Transportation on 
Indian Reservations Program; Tribal Transit Program

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and Request for Proposals 
(RFP).

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the 
availability of approximately $5 million in funding provided by the 
Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program (Tribal Transit 
Program (TTP)), as authorized by 49 U.S.C. 5311(j), as amended by the 
Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST), Public Law 114-94 
(December 4, 2015). This notice is a national solicitation for project 
proposals and includes the selection criteria and program eligibility 
information for Fiscal Year 2016 projects. FTA may choose to fund the 
program for more or less than the announcement amount, including 
applying other funding toward projects proposed in response to this 
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
    This announcement is available on the FTA Web site at: http://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/15926_3553.html. Additionally, 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.

DATES: Complete proposals for the Tribal Transit Program announced in 
this Notice must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EDT on May 13, 2016. All 
proposals must be submitted electronically through the GRANTS.GOV APPLY 
function. Any tribe intending to apply should initiate the process of 
registering on the GRANTS.GOV site immediately to ensure completion of 
registration before the submission deadline. Instructions for applying 
can be found on FTA's Web site at http://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/15926_3553.html and in the ``FIND'' module of GRANTS.GOV.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact the appropriate FTA Regional 
Office at http://www.fta.dot.gov for proposal-specific information and 
issues. For general program information, contact [Eacute]lan Flippin, 
Office of Program Management, (202) 366-3800, email: 
[email protected]. A TDD is available at 1-800-877-8339 (TDD/FIRS).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

A. Program Description
B. Federal Award Information
C. Eligibility Information
D. Application and Submission Information
E. Application Review
F. Federal Award Administration
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
    Appendix A: Registering in SAM and Grants.gov

A. Program Description

    The Tribal Transit Program was established by the Safe, 
Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy 
for Users (SAFETEA-LU) as a competitive program from FY 2006-FY2012. 
The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) Act modified 
the program to include a $25 million formula component and a $5 million 
competitive program, totaling $30 million. The FAST Act increased the 
Tribal Transit formula program to $30 million and continued the $5 
million competitive program. The 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 
Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program, 49 U.S.C. 5311. The program

[[Page 13445]]

can be located in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under 
20.509.
    The primary purpose of these competitively selected grants is to 
support planning, capital, and, in limited circumstances, operating 
assistance for tribal public transit services. Funds distributed to 
Indian tribes under the TTP should NOT replace or reduce funds that 
Indian tribes receive from States through FTA's Formula Grants for 
Rural Areas Program. Specific project eligibility under this 
competitive allocation is described in Section C below. Priority 
consideration will be given to eligible projects that support one or 
more of the following elements of the Secretary of Transportation's 
Ladders of Opportunity initiative:
     Enhancing access to work for tribal members lacking ready 
access to transportation, especially in low-income communities;
     Supporting economic opportunities by offering transit 
access to employment centers, educational and training opportunities, 
and other basic needs; and
     Supporting partnerships and coordinated planning that link 
tribal communities to other governmental, health, medical, education, 
social, human service, and transportation providers to improve 
coordinated planning and delivery of workforce development, training, 
and basic services that enhance employment outcomes.

B. Federal Award Information

    The FAST makes approximately $5 million available for the Tribal 
Transit competitive allocation in FY 2016 to projects selected pursuant 
to the process described in the following sections.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants include federally recognized Indian tribes or 
Alaska Native villages, groups, or communities as identified by the 
U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). As 
evidence of Federal recognition, an Indian tribe may submit a copy of 
the most up-to-date Federal Register Notice published by BIA: Entities 
Recognized and Eligible to Receive Service from the United States 
Bureau of Indian Affairs (81 FR 5019, January 29, 2016). To be an 
eligible recipient, an Indian tribe must have the requisite legal, 
financial and technical capabilities to receive and administer Federal 
funds under this program. Applicants must be registered in the System 
for Award Management (SAM) database and maintain an active SAM 
registration with current information at all times during which it has 
an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration 
by FTA.

2. Eligible Projects

    Eligible projects include public transportation planning, capital 
and operating projects, in limited circumstances. Public transportation 
includes regular, continuing shared-ride surface transportation 
services open to the public or open to a segment of the public defined 
by age, disability, or low income. FTA will award grants to eligible 
Indian tribes located in rural areas. Specific types of projects 
include: capital projects for start-ups, replacement or expansion 
needs; operating assistance for start-ups; and planning projects up to 
$25,000. Indian tribes applying for capital replacement or expansion 
needs must demonstrate a sustainable source of operating funds for 
existing or expanded services. In FY 2016, FTA will only consider 
operating assistance requests from tribes without existing transit 
service, or those tribes who received a TTP formula allocation of less 
than $20,000.

3. Cost Sharing or Matching

    There is a 90 percent federal share for projects selected under the 
TTP competitive program, unless the Indian tribe can demonstrate a 
financial hardship in its application. FTA is interested in the Indian 
tribe's financial commitment to the proposed project, thus the proposal 
should include a description of the Indian tribe's financial 
commitment.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

    A complete proposal submission will consist of at least two files: 
(1) The SF 424 Mandatory form (downloaded from GRANTS.GOV) and (2) the 
Tribal Transit supplemental form found on the FTA Web site at http://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/15926_3553.html. The Tribal Transit supplemental 
form provides guidance and a consistent format for applicants to 
respond to the criteria outlined in this NOFO.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

(i) Proposal Submission
    A complete proposal submission will consist of at least two files: 
(1) The SF 424 Mandatory form (downloaded from GRANTS.GOV) and (2) the 
Tribal Transit supplemental form. The applicant must place the 
supplemental form in the attachments section of the SF-424 Mandatory 
form. Applicants must use the supplemental form designated for TTP and 
attach the form to their submission in GRANTS.GOV to complete the 
application process. A proposal submission may contain additional 
supporting documentation as attachments.
    Within 24-48 hours after submitting an electronic application, the 
applicant should receive three email messages from GRANTS.GOV: (1) 
Confirmation of successful transmission to GRANTS.GOV; (2) confirmation 
of successful validation by GRANTS.GOV; and (3) confirmation of 
successful validation by FTA. If the applicant does not receive 
confirmations of successful validation and instead receives a notice of 
failed validation or incomplete materials, the applicant must address 
the reason for the failed validation or incomplete materials, as 
described in the notice, and resubmit the proposal before the 
submission deadline. If making a resubmission for any reason, the 
applicant must include all original attachments regardless of which 
attachments are updated and check the box on the supplemental form 
indicating this is a resubmission. Complete instructions on the 
application process can be found at http://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/15926_3553.html.
    Important: FTA urges applicants to submit their project proposals 
at least 72 hours prior to the due date to allow time to receive the 
validation message and to correct any problems that may have caused a 
rejection notification. FTA will not accept submissions after the 
stated submission deadline. GRANTS.GOV scheduled maintenance and outage 
times are announced on the GRANTS.GOV Web site http://www.GRANTS.GOV. 
The deadline will not be extended due to scheduled maintenance or 
outages.
    Applicants may submit one proposal for each project or one proposal 
containing multiple projects. Applicants submitting multiple projects 
in one proposal must be sure to clearly define each project by 
completing a supplemental form for each project. Additional 
supplemental forms must be added within the proposal by clicking the 
``add project'' button in Section II of the supplemental form.
    Information such as applicant name, Federal amount requested, 
description of areas served, and other information may be requested in 
varying degrees of detail on both the SF 424 form and supplemental 
form. Applicants must fill in all fields unless stated otherwise on

[[Page 13446]]

the forms. Applicants should use both the ``Check Package for Errors'' 
and the ``Validate Form'' validation buttons on both forms to check all 
required fields on the forms, and ensure that the Federal and local 
amounts specified are consistent.
(ii). Application Content
    The SF424 Mandatory Form and the Supplemental Form will prompt 
applicants for the required information, including:
    a. Name of federally recognized tribe and, if appropriate, the 
specific tribal agency submitting the application.
    b. 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).
    c. Contact information including: Contact name, title, address, fax 
and phone number, email address if available.
    d. Description of public transportation services including areas 
currently served by the tribe, if any.
    e. Name of person(s) authorized to apply on behalf of the tribe 
(attach a signed transmittal letter) must accompany the proposal.
    f. Project Description. Indicate the category for which funding is 
requested; i.e., project type: capital, operating or planning, and then 
indicate the project purpose; i.e., start-up, expansion or replacement. 
Describe the proposed project and what it will accomplish (e.g., number 
and type of vehicles, routes, service area, schedules, type of 
services, fixed route or demand responsive, safety aspects), route 
miles (if fixed route), ridership numbers expected (actual if an 
existing system, estimated if a new system), major origins and 
destinations, population served, and whether the tribe provides the 
service directly, contracts for services, and note vehicle maintenance 
plans.
    g. Project Timeline. Include significant milestones such as date of 
contract for purchase of vehicle(s), actual or expected delivery date 
of vehicles; facility project phases (e.g. NEPA compliance, design, 
construction); or dates for completion of planning studies. If applying 
for operational funding for new services, indicate the period of time 
funds are used to operate the system (e.g. one year). This section 
should also include any needed timelines for tribal council project 
approvals, if applicable.
    h. Budget. Provide a detailed budget for each proposed purpose 
noting the federal amount requested and any additional funds that will 
be used. An Indian tribe may use up to fifteen percent of a grant award 
for capital projects for specific project-related planning and 
administration, and the indirect costs rate may not exceed ten percent 
(if necessary add as an attachment) of the total amount requested/
awarded. Indian tribes should also provide their annual operating 
budget as an attachment or under the Financial Commitment and Operating 
Capacity of the supplemental form.
    i. Technical, Legal, Financial Capacity. Indian tribes must be able 
to demonstrate adequate technical, legal and financial capacity to be 
considered for funding. Every proposal MUST describe this capacity to 
implement the proposed project.
    1. Technical Capacity: Provide examples of the Indian tribe's 
management of other Federal projects, including previously funded FTA 
projects and/or similar types of projects for which funding is being 
requested. Describe the resources the Indian tribe has to implement the 
proposed transit project.
    2. Legal Capacity: Provide documentation or other evidence to show 
that the applicant is a federally recognized Indian tribe and has an 
authorized representative to execute legal agreements with FTA on 
behalf of the Indian tribe. If applying for capital or operating funds, 
identify whether the Indian tribe has appropriate Federal or State 
operating authority.
    3. Financial Capacity: Provide documentation or other evidence to 
show that the Indian tribe has adequate financial systems in place to 
receive and manage a Federal grant. Describe the Indian tribe's 
financial systems and controls. Describe other sources of funds the 
Indian tribe manages and describe the long-term financial capacity to 
maintain the proposed or existing transit services.

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

    Registration takes approximately 3-5 business days, please allow 4 
weeks for completion of all steps. FTA recommends allowing ample time, 
up to several weeks, for completion of all steps.
STEP 1: Obtain DUNS Number
    Same day. If requested by phone (1-866-705-5711) DUNS is provided 
immediately. If your organization does not have one, you will need to 
go to the Dun & Bradstreet Web site at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform to 
obtain the number.
STEP 2: Register with SAM
    Three to five business days or up to two weeks. If you already have 
a TIN, your SAM registration will take 3-5 business days to process. If 
you are applying for an EIN please allow up to 2 weeks. Ensure that 
your organization is registered with the System for Award Management 
(SAM) at System for Award Management (SAM). If your organization is 
not, an authorizing official of your organization must register.
STEP 3: Establish an Account in Grants.gov--Username & Password
    Same day. Complete your AOR (Authorized Organization 
Representative) profile on Grants.gov and create your username and 
password. You will need to use your organization's DUNS Number to 
complete this step. https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/OrcRegister.
STEP 4: Grants.gov--AOR Authorization
    * Same day. The E-Business Point of Contact (E-Biz POC) at your 
organization must login to Grants.gov to confirm you as an Authorized 
Organization Representative (AOR). Please note that there can be more 
than one AOR for your organization. In some cases the E-Biz POC is also 
the AOR for an organization. *Time depends on responsiveness of your E-
Biz POC.
STEP 5: TRACK AOR STATUS
    At any time, you can track your AOR status by logging in with your 
username and password. Login as an Applicant (enter your username & 
password you obtained in Step 3) using the following link: 
applicant_profile.jsp.

4. Submission Dates and Times

    Project proposals must be submitted electronically through 
GRANTS.GOV by May 13, 2016. Mail and fax submissions will not be 
accepted.

5. Funding Restrictions

    Funds must be used only for the specific purposes requested in the 
Indian tribe's application. Funds under this NOFO cannot be used to 
reimburse projects for otherwise eligible expenses incurred prior to 
FTA award.

6. Other Submission Requirements

    FTA requires that all project proposals be submitted electronically 
through http://www.GRANTS.GOV by 11:59 p.m. EDT on May 13, 2016. Mail 
and fax submissions will not be accepted.

[[Page 13447]]

E. Application Review

1. Selection Criteria

    The FTA will use the following primary selection criteria when 
evaluating competing capital and operating assistance projects eligible 
under this program:
i. Planning and Local/Regional Prioritization
    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 the applicant is ready to implement the project if 
funded. Information may vary depending upon how the planning process 
for the project was conducted and what is being requested. Planning and 
local/regional prioritization should consider and address the following 
areas:
    a. Describe the planning document and/or the planning process 
conducted to identify the proposed project.
    b. Provide a detailed project description including the proposed 
service, vehicle and facility needs, and other pertinent 
characteristics of the proposed or existing service implementation.
    c. Identify existing transportation services in and near the 
proposed service area and document in detail, 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.
    d. Discuss the level of support by the community and/or tribal 
government for the proposed project.
    e. Describe how the mobility and client-access needs of tribal 
human service agencies were considered in the planning process.
    f. 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.
    g. Describe how the proposed service complements rather than 
duplicates any currently available services.
    h. Describe the implementation schedule for the proposed project, 
including time period, staffing, and procurement.
    i. Describe any other planning or coordination efforts not 
mentioned above.
ii. Project Readiness
    In this section, the applicant should describe readiness to 
implement the project. This involves assessing whether:
    a. Project is a Categorical Exclusion (CE) or the required 
environmental work has been initiated or completed for construction 
projects requiring an Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) under, among others, the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, as amended.
    b. Project implementation plans are complete, including initial 
design of facilities projects.
    c. Project funds can be obligated and the project can be 
implemented quickly, if selected.
    d. Applicant demonstrates the ability to carry out the proposed 
project successfully.
iii. Demonstration of Need
    FTA will evaluate each project to determine the need for resources. 
In addition to the project-specific criteria, this will include 
evaluating the project's impact on service delivery and whether the 
project represents a one-time or periodic need that cannot reasonably 
be funded from the FTA program formula allocations or State and/or 
local resources. In this section, the proposal should demonstrate the 
transit needs of the Indian tribe and discuss how the proposed transit 
improvements or the new service will address the identified transit 
needs. Proposals should include information such as destinations and 
services not currently accessible by transit, needs for access to jobs 
or health care, safety enhancements or special needs of elders, 
individuals with disabilities, behavioral health care needs of youth, 
income-based community needs, or other mobility needs. If an applicant 
received a planning grant in previous fiscal years, it should indicate 
the status of the planning study and how the proposed project relates 
to that study.
    Capital expansion or replacement projects should also address the 
following in the proposal. If the proposal is for capital funding 
associated with an expansion or expanded service, the applicant should 
describe how current or growing demand for the service necessitates the 
expansion (and therefore, more capital) and/or the degree to how the 
project is addressing a current capacity constraint. Capital 
replacement projects should include information about the age, 
condition, and performance of the asset to be replaced by the proposed 
project and/or how the replacement may be necessary to maintain the 
transit system in a state of good repair.
iv. Demonstration of Benefits
    In this section, proposals should identify expected or, in the case 
of existing service, achieved, project benefits. FTA is particularly 
interested in how these investments will improve the quality of life 
for the tribe and surrounding communities in which it is located. 
Applicants should describe how the transportation service or capital 
investment will provide greater access to employment opportunities, 
educational centers, healthcare, or other needs that profoundly impact 
the quality of life for the community, as described in the program 
purpose above. Possible examples include increased or sustained 
ridership and daily trips, improved service, elimination of gaps in 
service, improved operations and coordination, increased reliability, 
health care, education, 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 proposed transit 
service will provide or the actual number of individual riders served. 
Applicants are encouraged to consider qualitative and quantitative 
benefits to the Indian tribe and to the surrounding communities that 
are meaningful to them.
    Based on the information provided under the demonstration of 
benefits, proposals will be rated based on four factors:
    a. Will the project improve transit efficiency or increase 
ridership?
    b. Will the project improve or maintain mobility, or eliminate gaps 
in service for the Indian tribe?
    c. Will the project improve or maintain access to important 
destinations and services?
    d. Are there other qualitative benefits, such as greater access to 
jobs, education and health care?
v. Financial Commitment and Operating Capacity
    In this section, the proposal should identify the source of local 
match (10 percent is required for all operating and capital projects), 
and any other funding sources used by the Indian tribe to support 
proposed transit services, including human service transportation 
funding, FHWA's Tribal Transportation Program funding, or other FTA 
programs. If requesting that FTA waive the local match based on 
financial hardship, the applicant must submit

[[Page 13448]]

budgets and sources of other revenue to demonstrate hardship. FTA will 
review this information and notify tribes at the time of award if the 
waiver is approved. If applicable, the applicant also should describe 
how prior year TTP funds were spent to date to support the service. 
Additionally, Indian tribes applying for operating of new services 
should provide a sustainable funding plan that demonstrates how it 
intends to maintain operations.
    The proposal should describe any other resources the Indian 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. Based 
upon the information provided, the proposals will be rated on the 
extent to which the proposal demonstrates that:
    a. TTP Funding does not replace existing funding;
    b. The Indian tribe will provide non-financial support to the 
project;
    c. The Indian tribe is able to demonstrate a sustainable funding 
plan; and
    d. Project funds are used in coordination with other services for 
efficient utilization of funds.
vi. Evaluation Criteria for Planning Proposals
    For planning grants, the proposal should describe, in no more than 
three pages, the need for and a general scope of the proposed study. 
The proposal should also address the following:
    1. What is the tribes' long-term commitment to transit?
    2. How will the proposed study be implemented and/or further tribal 
transit.

2. Review and Selection Process

    A technical evaluation committee will review proposals under the 
project evaluation criteria. Members of the technical evaluation 
committee and other involved FTA staff reserve the right to screen, 
rate the applications, and seek clarification about any statement in an 
application. After consideration of the findings of the technical 
evaluation committee, the FTA Acting Administrator will determine the 
final selection and amount of funding for each project. Geographic 
diversity and the applicant's receipt and management of other federal 
transit funds may be considered in FTA's award decisions. FTA expects 
to announce the selected projects and notify successful applicants in 
the early summer of 2016.

F. Federal Award Administration

1. Federal Award Notice

    Subsequent to an announcement by the FTA Administrator of the final 
project selections posted on the FTA Web site, FTA will publish a list 
of the selected projects, including Federal dollar amounts and 
recipients in the Federal Register. Project recipients should contact 
their FTA Regional Offices and tribal liaison for information about 
setting up grants in FTA's Transit Award Management System (TrAMS).

2. Award Administration

    Successful proposals will be awarded through TrAMS as Grant 
Agreements. The appropriate FTA Regional Office and tribal liaison will 
manage project agreements.

3. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    Except as otherwise provided in this NOFO, TTP grants are subject 
to the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5311(j) as described in the latest FTA 
Circular 9040.1G for the Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program.

4. Reporting

    The post award reporting requirements include submission of the 
Federal Financial Report (FFR) and Milestone Progress Report in TrAMs, 
and National Transit Database (NTD) reporting as appropriate (see FTA 
Circular 9040.1G).

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

    For further information concerning this notice, please contact 
[Eacute]lan Flippin, Office of Program Management, (202) 366-3800, 
email: [email protected]. A TDD is available at 1-800-877-8339 (TDD/
FIRS).This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372,

H. Other 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 C-2. Due to funding limitations, applicants 
that are selected for funding may receive less than the amount 
requested.
    Additionally, to assist tribes with understanding requirements 
under the TTP, FTA has conducted approximately nine Tribal Transit 
Technical Assistance Workshops, and expects to offer a workshop in 
FY2016. FTA also has expanded its technical assistance to tribes 
receiving funds under this program. In FY15, FTA implemented the Tribal 
Transit Technical Assistance Assessments initiative. Through these 
assessments, FTA collaborates with tribal transit leaders to review 
processes and identify areas in need of improvement and then assist 
with solutions to address these needs--all in a supportive and mutually 
beneficial and technical assistance manner. FTA completed fifteen 
assessments in FY15, and expects to do a similar number in FY16. These 
assessments include discussions of compliance areas pursuant to the 
Master Agreement, a site visit, promising practices reviews, and 
technical assistance from FTA and its contractors. These workshops and 
assessments received exemplary feedback from Tribal Transit Leaders, 
and provided FTA with invaluable opportunities to learn more about 
tribal transit leaders' perspectives, and honor the sovereignty of 
tribal nations.
    FTA will post information about upcoming workshops to its Web site 
and will disseminate information about the assessments through its 
Regional offices. Contact information for FTA's regional offices can be 
found on FTA's Web site at www.fta.dot.gov. Applicants may also receive 
technical assistance by contacting their FTA regional tribal liaison. A 
list of Tribal Liaisons is available on FTA's Web site at http://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/15926_3553.html. Contact information for FTA's 
regional offices can be found on FTA's Web site at www.fta.dot.gov.

Therese W. McMillan,
Acting Administrator.

Appendix A

Registering in SAM and Grants.gov

    Registration in Brief:
    Registration takes approximately 3-5 business days, please allow 
4 weeks for completion of all steps.
    In order to apply for a grant, you and/or your organization must 
first complete the registration process in Grants.gov. The 
registration process for an Organization or an Individual can take 
between three to five business days or as long as four weeks if all 
steps are not completed in a timely manner. So please register in 
Grants.gov early.
    The Grants.gov registration process ensures that applicants for 
Federal Funds have the basic prerequisites to apply for and to 
receive federal funds. Applicants for FTA competitive funds must:

 Have a valid DUNS number
 Have a current registration in SAM (formerly CCR)
 Register and apply in Grants.gov

    The required registration steps are described in greater detail 
on Grants.gov Web site. The following is a link to a helpful 
checklist and explanations published by

[[Page 13449]]

Grants.gov to assist applicants: Organization Registration 
Checklist. If you have not recently applied for federal funds, we 
recommend that you initiate your search, registration, and 
application process with Grants.gov. Visiting the Grants.gov site 
will inform you of how to apply for grant opportunities, as well as 
assist you in linking to the other required registrations, i.e., Dun 
& Bradstreet to obtain a DUNS Number, and System for Award 
Management (SAM).
    Summary of steps (these steps are available in Grants.gov during 
registration):

Step 1: Obtain DUNS Number

    Same day. If requested by phone (1-866-705-5711) DUNS is 
provided immediately. If your organization does not have one, you 
will need to go to the Dun & Bradstreet Web site at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform to obtain the number.

Step 2: Register With SAM

    Three to five business days or up to two weeks. If you already 
have a TIN, your SAM registration will take 3-5 business days to 
process. If you are applying for an EIN please allow up to 2 weeks. 
Ensure that your organization is registered with the System for 
Award Management (SAM) at System for Award Management (SAM). If your 
organization is not, an authorizing official of your organization 
must register.

Step 3: Establish an Account in Grants.gov--Username & Password

    Same day. Complete your AOR (Authorized Organization 
Representative) profile on Grants.gov and create your username and 
password. You will need to use your organization's DUNS Number to 
complete this step. https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/OrcRegister.

Step 4: Grants.gov--AOR Authorization

    *Same day. The E-Business Point of Contact (E-Biz POC) at your 
organization must login to Grants.gov to confirm you as an 
Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). Please note that there 
can be more than one AOR for your organization. In some cases the E-
Biz POC is also the AOR for an organization. *Time depends on 
responsiveness of your E-Biz POC.
    *Please Note: Grants.gov gives you the option of registering as 
an ``individual'' or as an ``organization.'' If you register in 
Grants.gov as an as an ``Individual,'' your ``Organization'' will 
not be allowed to use the Grants.gov username and password. To apply 
for grants as an Organization you must register as an Organization 
and use that specific username and password issued during the 
``organization'' registration process.
[FR Doc. 2016-05579 Filed 3-11-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P