[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 101 (Friday, May 26, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24445-24447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10927]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology; 
University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program, Competition for 
Regions 1, 2, and 3

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology 
(OST-R), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability.

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SUMMARY: The United States Department of Transportation (the 
Department) is publishing this notice to give eligible nonprofit 
institutions of higher learning in Standard Federal Regions 1, 2, and 3 
advance notice that they will have an opportunity to submit, through a 
re-competition, grant applications as a Regional Center, for Standard 
Federal Regions 1, 2 and 3, in the University Transportation Centers 
(UTCs) program (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number 20.701).
    Funds for this grant program were authorized beginning on October 
1, 2015. In the near future, the Department, via the Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R), will release a 
grant solicitation through Grants.gov, and the UTC Program's Web site, 
http://utc.dot.gov, describing the competition and deadlines for 
applications. Proposals will be evaluated through a competitive process 
on the basis of demonstrated ability, research, technology transfer and 
education resources, leadership, multimodal research capability, 
commitment to transportation workforce development programs, 
dissemination of results, and the use of peer review, cost 
effectiveness and partnerships to advance diversity.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Kevin Womack, Director, Office of 
Research, Development and Technology, mail code RDT-10, OST-R, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone Number (405) 954-
7312 or Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Background
II. Eligibility
III. Matching Requirements
IV. Application Process
V. Program Funding and Award
VI. Use of Grant Funds

I. Background

    The Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act; Pub. L. 
114-94, Sec. 6002(a)(5); December 4, 2015) authorizes $72.5 million for 
Federal fiscal year (FY) 2016, $75 million for FY 2017 and FY 2018, and 
$77.5 million for FY 2019 and FY 2020 for up to 35 competitive grants 
for UTCs. The FY 2016 through FY 2020 funds are subject to 
appropriations and to an annual obligation limitation. The amount of 
budget authority available in a given year may be less than the amount 
authorized for that fiscal year.
    The FAST Act authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make 
grants to eligible nonprofit institutions of higher education to 
establish and operate UTCs. Nonprofit institutions of higher education 
may include qualifying two-year institutions (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). OST-R 
will manage the UTC Program for the Department. The

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Department will solicit competitive grant applications for three 
Regional University Transportation Centers, one each in Standard 
Federal Regions 1, 2, and 3. Previously, the Department solicited 
competitive grant applications for these three regions; however, the 
Department did not select any of the submitted applications. UTCs will 
be selected by the Secretary, in consultation as appropriate with the 
Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, and the Administrator 
of the Federal Highway Administration and other modal administrators as 
appropriate. (49 U.S.C. 5505(b)(4)(B) as amended by Pub. L. 114-94, 
Sec. 6016).
    The Department plans to competitively select three Regional UTCs, 
one in each Standard Federal Regions 1, 2, and 3, with an initial 
annual award ofup to $2,570,600 each.
    The role of each UTC is to advance transportation expertise and 
technology in the varied disciplines that comprise the field of 
transportation through education, research, and technology transfer 
activities; to provide for a critical transportation knowledge base 
outside of the Department of Transportation; and to address critical 
workforce needs and educate the next generation of transportation 
leaders.

II. Eligibility

    A UTC must be located in the United States or territories. A change 
in the UTC Program from prior authorizations is that each UTC must be a 
consortium of two or more nonprofit institutions of higher learning (49 
U.S.C. 5505(b)(1) as amended by Public Law 114-94, Sec.  6016). A 
Regional UTC must be located in the region for which the grant is 
sought. (49 U.S.C. 5505(c)(3)(B)(ii) as amended by Pub. L. 114-94, 
Sec.  6016). All members of a Regional UTC consortium must be located 
in the region for which the grant is sought.
    For Region 1, the eligible states are: Connecticut, Maine, 
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. For Region 2, 
the eligible states/territories are: New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, 
and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For Region 3, the eligible states are: 
Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia 
and West Virginia.
    Institutions may collaborate with state and local departments of 
transportation, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, the private sector 
and non-governmental organizations; however, these organizations or 
others that are not U.S. nonprofit institutions of higher learning may 
not be considered members of a consortium. A change from previous UTC 
Program competitions is that two-year institutions may be members of a 
consortium if they meet the definition of ``institution of higher 
learning'' in 20 U.S.C. 1001(a). The grantee institution (lead 
institution of a consortium of institutions) will be the direct and 
primary recipient of UTC program funds. The grantee institution must 
perform a substantive role in carrying out UTC activities, and not 
serve merely as a conduit for awards to other parties.
    Applicants are reminded of the following restriction (49 U.S.C. 
5505(b)(2)(A) as amended by Public Law 114-94, Sec.  6016):
    A lead institution of a consortium of nonprofit institutions of 
higher education may only receive one grant per fiscal year for each 
type of Center. Thus, a lead institution may receive grants as a 
National Center, a Regional Center, and a Tier 1 Center, but not more 
than one grant in each category.

Ill. Matching Requirements

    Each UTC is required to obtain matching funds from non-federal 
sources. The amount of matching funds required for a Regional UTC is 
100 percent of the Federal award. The matching amounts may include the 
amounts made available to a grant recipient under 23 U.S.C. 504(b) or 
505.

IV. Application Process

    Full and Open Competition. The Department will conduct the UTC 
program selection based on principles of full and open competition. 
Three Regional Centers will be selected from the pool of applicants.
    Subject Matter Focus. A change to the UTC Program in this 
competition is that applicants must address the following selected 
research priorities taken from section 6503, Subtitle III of title 49 
as amended by Public Law 114-94, Sec.  6016:

    A. Improving mobility of people and goods; B. Reducing congestion;
    C. Promoting safety;
    D. Improving the durability and extending the life of 
transportation infrastructure; and
    E. Preserving the existing transportation system.

    The Secretary has selected nonexclusive candidate topic areas that 
will fall within these priority areas. Each UTC will be awarded a grant 
based on its ability to address one of the priorities and the topic 
areas that fall within the priority area selected.
    Regional UTCs: One UTC will be selected in each of Standard Federal 
Regions 1, 2, and 3. Regional UTCs are required to focus on 
transportation research and education (49 U.S.C. 5505(c)(3)(B) as 
amended by Pub. L. 114-94, Sec.  6016). Regional UTCs must be able to 
conduct research in an area of focus from among nonexclusive candidate 
topic areas established by the Secretary that address the research 
priorities identified in section 6503, Subtitle III of title 49 as 
amended by Public Law 114-94, Sec.  6016. An applicant for a Regional 
UTC must designate the region in which it is applying.
    Selection criteria. The Department will evaluate and select UTC 
applicants based on the nine selection criteria outlined in the FAST 
Act:

    ``(i) the demonstrated ability of the recipient to address each 
specific topic area described in the research and strategic plans of 
the recipient;
    ``(ii) the demonstrated research, technology transfer, and 
education resources available to the recipient to carry out this 
section;
    ``(iii) the ability of the recipient to provide leadership in 
solving immediate and long-range national and regional 
transportation problems;
    ``(iv) the ability of the recipient to carry out research, 
education, and technology transfer activities that are multimodal 
and multidisciplinary in scope;
    ``(v) the demonstrated commitment of the recipient to carry out 
transportation worliforce development programs through-
    ``(!) degree-granting programs or programs that provide other 
industry-recognized credentials; and
    ``(II) outreach activities to attract new entrants into the 
transportation field including women and underrepresented 
populations;
    ``(vi) the demonstrated ability of the recipient to disseminate 
results and spur the implementation of transportation research and 
education programs through national or statewide continuing 
education programs;
    ``(vii) the demonstrated commitment ofthe recipient to the use 
of peer review principles and other research best practices in the 
selection, management, and dissemination of research projects;
    ``(viii) the strategic plan submitted by the recipient 
describing the proposed research to be carried out by the recipient 
and the performance metrics to be used in assessing the performance 
of the recipient in meeting the stated research, technology 
transfer, education, and outreach goals; and
    ``(ix) the ability of the recipient to implement the proposed 
program in a cost-efficient manner, such as through cost sharing and 
overall reduced overhead, facilities, and administrative costs. ''

(49 U.S.C. 5505(b)(4)(B) as amended by Pub. L. 114-94, Sec.  6016).
    The following additional selection criteria also apply to Regional 
UTCs:
    Regional UTCs. The lead institution in a Regional consortium must 
have a well-established, nationally recognized program in research and 
education, as shown by:

    (i) recent expenditures by the institution in highway or public 
transportation research;

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    (ii) a historical track record of awarding graduate degrees in 
professional fields closely related to highways and public 
transportation; and
    (iii) an experienced faculty who specialize in professional 
fields closely related to highways and public transportation.

(49 U.S.C. 5505(c)(3)(B) (iii) as amended by Pub. L. 114-94, Sec.  
6016).
    Past Performance. The Department is required by 2 CFR part 200, 
Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit 
Requirements for Federal Awards, Section 205, to review risk posed by 
applicants. This may be done through such publicly available 
information collections as the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) 
and/or through specifically collected information about the applicant's 
record in managing Federal awards.
    External Stakeholders. The Department will consult with external 
stakeholders (including the Transportation Research Board ofthe 
National Academy of Sciences, among others), to the maximum extent 
practicable, to evaluate and review all proposals. (49 U.S.C. 
5505(b)(6) as amended by Pub. L. 114-94, Sec.  6016).

V. Program Funding and Award

    UTCs will be selected by the Secretary, in consultation as 
appropriate with the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, 
the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration and other modal 
administrators as appropriate. Awards will be made no later than 
December 4, 2017, with Federal FY 2016 funds awarded at that time. 
Subsequent Federal FY 2017-FY 2020 funding will be awarded 
approximately annually after that date, subject to availability of 
funds and grantee compliance with grant terms and conditions.

VI. Use of Grant Funds

    Grantees will have until September 30, 2023 to expend all funds, 
assuming availability of annual appropriations.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 23, 2017.
Elaine L. Chao,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-10927 Filed 5-25-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P