[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 64 (Monday, April 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19236-19238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07634]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[167A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900 253G]


Grant Availability to Federally Recognized Indian Tribes To 
Implement Traffic Safety Programs and Projects on Indian Reservations

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice is intended to inform federally-recognized Indian 
Tribes of the application process and due date for the Indian Highway 
Safety Program for Fiscal Year 2017. In accordance with Federal law and 
as authorized by the Secretary of Transportation, the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, through its Indian Highway Safety Program (IHSP), will make 
funds available to federally recognized Indian Tribes on an annual 
basis for implementing traffic safety programs and projects that are 
designed to reduce the number of traffic crashes, death, injuries and 
property damage within Indian country. All project applications 
received on or before the deadline will be reviewed and selected on a 
competitive basis.

DATES: IHSP mailed application packets to all Tribal leaders by 
February 15, 2016. Applications for program and/or project funds must 
be received on or before May 2, 2016. Applications not received by the 
IHSP by close of business on May 2, 2016, will not be considered and 
will be returned unopened.

ADDRESSES: Each Tribe must submit their application to the Bureau of 
Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, Attention: Indian Highway 
Safety Program Director, 1001 Indian School NE., Suite 251, 
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tribes should direct questions or 
requests for copies of the application packet to: Kimberly Belone, 
Indian Highway Safety Program, 1001 Indian School NE., Suite 251, 
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104; telephone (505) 563-3900.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1973 (Pub. L. 93-87) provides for 
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) funding, through the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to assist Indian Tribes 
in implementing traffic safety projects. Any program or project request 
must be designed to reduce the number of motor vehicle traffic crashes 
and their resulting fatalities, injuries, and property damage on Indian 
reservations and within Indian communities. Motor vehicle crashes are 
the leading cause of death to American Indians/Alaska Natives for ages 
1 to 44. Nationwide, 511 American Indians/Alaska Natives were killed in 
motor vehicle crashes in 2013. Of this total, 180 died on reservations. 
For additional American Indians/Alaska Natives fatality data, you can 
access the NHTSA fatality Web site at: http://www-

[[Page 19237]]

nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/nrd-30/ncsa/STSI/NA_Report.htm.
    This notice solicits applications from federally recognized Indian 
Tribes eligible to receive this assistance. Grant funds awarded to 
Tribes as a result of this announcement are reimbursed for eligible 
costs incurred under the terms of 23 U.S.C. 402 and subsequent 
amendments.

Responsibilities

    For the purposes of application of this grant and the collection 
and distribution of the funds, Indian reservations are collectively 
considered a ``State'' and the Secretary of the Interior is considered 
the ``Governor of a State.'' The Secretary of the Interior delegated 
the authority to administer the programs for all the Indian Tribes in 
the United States to the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs. The 
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs further delegated the 
responsibility for administration of the Indian Highway Safety Program 
to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, located in 
Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Program Director of the IHSP has staff 
members available to provide program and technical assistance to Indian 
Tribes. The IHSP maintains contact with NHTSA with respect to program 
approval, funding, and technical assistance. NHTSA is responsible for 
ensuring that the IHSP is carried out in accordance with 23 CFR part 
1200 and other applicable Federal statutes and regulations.

National Priority Program Areas

    The following highway safety program areas have been identified as 
priority program areas eligible for funding under 23 CFR 1200.11 on 
Tribal lands:

a. Impaired driving
b. Occupant protection
c. Traffic records

    Other fundable program areas may be considered based upon well 
documented problem identification from the Tribes.

Indian Highway Safety Program Funding Areas

    Proposals are being solicited for the following program areas:
    1. Impaired Driving: Programs directed at reducing injuries and 
death attributed to impaired driving on the reservations such as: 
Selective traffic enforcement programs (STEP) to apprehend impaired 
drivers, specialized law enforcement training (such as standardized 
field sobriety testing), public information programs on alcohol/other 
drug use and driving, education programs for convicted DWI/DUI 
offenders, various youth alcohol education programs promoting traffic 
safety, DUI courts, and programs or projects directed toward judicial 
training. Proposals for projects that enhance the development and 
implementation of innovative programs to combat impaired driving are 
also solicited.
    2. Occupant Protection: Programs directed at decreasing injuries 
and deaths attributed to the lack of safety belt and child restraint 
usage such as: Surveys to determine usage rates and to identify high-
risk non-users, comprehensive programs to promote correct usage of 
child safety seats and other occupant restraints, enforcement of safety 
belt ordinances or laws, specialized training (e.g., Operation Kids, 
traffic occupant protection strategies (TOPS), Standardized Child 
Passenger Safety Technician Training), and evaluations.
    3. Traffic Records: Programs to help Tribes develop or update 
electronic traffic records systems which will assist with analysis of 
crash information, causational factors, and support joint efforts with 
other agencies to improve the Tribe's traffic records system.

Project Guidelines

    Each Tribe that would like to be considered for funding in FY 2017 
must fill out and submit the project application that was mailed to the 
Tribal leaders. Applications will adhere to the following guidelines:
    (1) Problem Identification. Highway traffic safety problems shall 
be based upon accurate Tribal data. Data should be complete and 
accurate and should show problems and/or trends. These data should be 
available in Tribal enforcement and traffic crash records.
    (2) Goals, Performance Measures and Strategies. Tribes must provide 
the overall goals of the project as well as a list of performance 
measures and strategies to be used to evaluate performance. All goals, 
performance measures and strategies must have base line numbers and 
will be expressed in clearly defined, time-framed, and measurable 
terms. (Example: To decrease alcohol related motor vehicle crashes by 
_% from the 2015 number of __ to __ by the end of FY17). Performance 
measures should be aggressive but attainable and based on available 
data and trends.
    (3) Training. Training identified in the application must relate 
directly to the project being proposed.
    (4) Equipment. Any equipment identified in the application must 
relate directly to the project being proposed.
    (5) Line Item Budget. The activities to be funded must be outlined 
in detail according to the following object groups: Personnel services; 
travel and training, operating costs and equipment. All Tribes applying 
for grants must attach a copy of the Tribe's indirect cost rate to the 
application.
    (6) Funding Requirements. With the enactment of the Fixing 
America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), the IHSP is required, 
in order to receive funds, to certify, on behalf of the Tribes, that 
the program will meet certain conditions and comply with all applicable 
rules and regulations for administering a highway safety program. In 
addition to program oversight and technical assistance, the BIA must 
certify that it will implement the following activities in support of 
national highway safety goals:
    a. Participate in the national law enforcement mobilizations;
    b. Encourage sustained enforcement of impaired driving, occupant 
protection and speeding;
    c. Conduct an annual safety belt survey in accordance with criteria 
established by the Secretary to measure safety belt usage rates; and
    d. Develop data systems to provide timely and effective data 
analysis to support allocation of highway traffic safety resources.
    (7) In order to comply with the provisions of the FAST Act and the 
State Certifications and Assurances, the IHSP will allocate funds on 
behalf of the Tribes to implement the provisions listed in (6) above. 
Copies of the State Certifications and Assurances are available upon 
request or at: http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&rgn=div5&view=text&node=23:1.0.2.13.1&idno=23#ap23.1.1200_162.a.
    (8) Funding Length. Traffic safety program funding is designed 
primarily as the source of invention and motivation. As a result, all 
projects are funded for a 12 month period of time. This program is not 
intended for long term financial support of continuing and on-going 
operations.
    (9) Project monitoring length may exceed the grant period in the 
cases where distribution of purchase equipment is necessary.

Certifications

    A list of certifications is attached to the grant application and 
must be initialed to show acceptance by the Tribe. These certifications 
are required by the either the funding agency and/or the IHSP and 
include: Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, 
Nondiscrimination, Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988, Equipment, Buy

[[Page 19238]]

America Act, Political Activity (Hatch Act), Federal Lobbying, 
Restriction of State Lobbying, Lower Tier Certification, and Policy to 
Ban Text Messaging While Driving.

Submission Deadline

    Each Tribe must send its funding request on the appropriate 
application form to the BIA IHSP office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, by 
the close of business May 2, 2016. Request can be received by U.S. Mail 
or via email to: [email protected].

Selection Criteria

    A selection committee will review and evaluate each application 
requesting funding. Each member of the selection committee, by 
assigning points to the following four criteria, will rank each of the 
proposals based on the following criteria:
    Criterion (1), the General Information section will include 
information on the type of grant, location, population and size of 
reservation, type of law enforcement and pertinent contact information. 
(10 points maximum).
    Criterion (2), the strength of the Problem Identification based on 
verifiable, current and applicable data to indicate the extent of the 
traffic safety problem. (45 points maximum).
    Criterion (3), the quality of the proposed solution plan based on 
aggressive but attainable Performance Measures and Strategies. (35 
points maximum).
    Criterion (4), details on necessity and reasonableness of the 
budget requested. (10 points maximum).

Notification of the Selection

    Once the selection committee concludes its evaluation, it will 
notify those Tribes it recommends for participation and funding by 
letter. Upon notification, each selected Tribe must provide a duly 
authorized Tribal resolution. The resolution must be on file before 
grants funds can be expended by or reimbursed to the Tribe.

Notification of Non-Selection

    The Program Director will notify each Tribe of non-selection.

Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grant-In-Aid

    Uniform grant administration procedures have been established on a 
national basis for all grant-in-aid programs by the Office of 
Management and Budget under 2 CFR part 200 ``Uniform Administrative 
Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal 
Awards'' and the DOT under 2 CFR part 1201. NHTSA has codified uniform 
procedures for State Highway Safety Programs in 23 CFR part 1200. 2 CFR 
part 200 and the ``Highway Safety Grant Funding Guidance for NHTSA 
Field Administered Grants are the established cost principles 
applicable to grants and contracts through BIA and with Tribal 
governments. A copy of the Grant Funding Policy document can be 
obtained from the BIA IHSP office or at http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Highway+Safety+Grant+Programs/HSGrantFunding_Guidance#_Toc363830148. The BIA IHSP office has been 
established and is designated to establish operating procedures 
consistent with the applicable provisions of these rules and any others 
that govern these grant funds.
    Auditing of Highway Safety Projects will be included in the Tribal 
A-133 single audit requirement. Copies of Tribal audits must be 
available for inspection by the highway safety program staff. Tribes 
must provide monthly program status reports and a corresponding 
reimbursement claim to the BIA Indian Highway Safety Program, 1001 
Indian School, Suite 251, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104, in order to be 
reimbursed for program costs. These are to be submitted no later than 
15 working days beyond the reporting month.

Project Monitoring

    During the program year, it is the responsibility of the BIA IHSP 
office to review the implementation of Tribal traffic safety plans and 
programs, monitor the progress of their activities and expenditures and 
provide technical assistance as needed. This assistance may be on-site, 
by telephone, and/or a review of monthly progress claims.

Project Evaluation

    Each project funded is required to submit an annual report that 
meets the minimum criteria as set forth in 23 CFR part 1200.35. This 
information will be contained in the annual report that is required to 
be submitted to NHTSA. The BIA IHSP will conduct an annual performance 
evaluation for each Highway Safety Project funded. Pursuant to 23 CFR 
part 1200.35, the evaluation will measure the actual accomplishments to 
the planned activity and how the project and activities funded 
contributed to the overall goal of the IHSP. Program staff will 
evaluate progress from baseline data as reported by the Tribe. BIA IHSP 
staff will evaluate the project on-site at the discretion of the IHSP 
Director.

    Dated: March 21, 2016.
Lawrence S. Roberts,
Acting Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2016-07634 Filed 4-1-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4337-15-P