[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 23, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40058-40063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17814]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


Federal Transit Administration

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): Solicitation of Project 
Proposals for the Passenger Ferry Grant Program

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the 
opportunity to apply for $30 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Section 
5307 Urbanized Area Formula Program funds (Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance #20.507) authorized for competitively selected passenger 
ferry projects. As required by Federal transit law and subject to 
funding availability, funds will be awarded competitively to designated 
recipients or eligible direct recipients of Section 5307 funds to 
assist in the financing of capital projects to support existing 
passenger ferry service, establish new ferry service, and to repair and 
modernize ferry boats, terminals, and related facilities and equipment. 
FTA may award additional funding made available to the program prior to 
the announcement of project selections.

DATES: Complete proposals must be submitted electronically through the 
GRANTS.GOV ``APPLY'' function by 11:59 p.m. EDT October 23, 2017. 
Prospective applicants should initiate the process by registering on 
the GRANTS.GOV Web site promptly to ensure completion of the 
application process before the submission deadline. Instructions for 
applying can be found on FTA's Web site at http://transit.dot.gov/howtoapply and in the ``FIND'' module of GRANTS.GOV. The funding 
opportunity ID is FTA-2017-005-TPM-PF. Mail and fax submissions will 
not be accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Vanessa Williams, FTA Office of 
Program Management, (202) 366-4818, or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

A. Program Description
B. Federal Award Information
C. Eligibility
D. Application and Submission Information
E. Application Review
F. Federal Award Administration
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)
H. Technical Assistance and Other Program Information
Appendix A: Frequently Asked Questions

A. Program Description

    Section 5307(h) of Title 49, United States Code, as amended by the 
Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST Act) (Pub. L. 114-94, 
Dec. 4, 2015), authorizes FTA to award funds through a competitive 
process, as described in this notice, for capital projects to improve 
the condition and quality of existing passenger ferry services, support 
the establishment of new passenger ferry services, and to repair and 
modernize ferry boats, terminals, and related facilities and equipment. 
FTA recognizes that passenger ferries provide critical and cost-
effective transportation links in urban areas throughout the United 
States but face a critical backlog of state of good repair and safety 
investments.

B. Federal Award Information 5307(h) Passenger Ferry Grant Program

    Federal transit law authorizes $30 million in FY 2017 for passenger 
ferry grants under 49 U.S.C. 5307(h) (Ferry program). FTA may 
supplement the total available with future appropriations. FTA will 
grant pre-award authority to incur costs for selected projects 
beginning on the date that project selections are announced. Funds are 
only available for projects that have not already incurred costs and 
will be available for obligation until September 30, 2022. In FY 2015 
and FY 2016, the program received 21 proposals from 10 states and the 
U.S. Virgin Islands requesting $98.1 million in Federal funds. Eighteen 
projects were funded at a total of $58.9 million.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants under this program must be designated 
recipients or eligible direct recipients of Section 5307 funds, which 
include public entities engaged in providing a public transportation 
passenger ferry service in urbanized areas. If the recipient is 
eligible to receive 5307 funds, but does not currently have an active 
grant with FTA, upon selection, the recipient will be required to work 
with the FTA regional office to establish its organization as an active 
grantee. This process may require additional documentation to support 
the organization's technical, financial, and legal capacity to receive 
and administer Federal funds under this program.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    Projects funded under the Section 5307(h) program are eligible for 
a maximum 80 percent Federal share, unless they qualify for one of the 
following exceptions:
    The Federal share is 85 percent for net project costs for acquiring 
vehicles (including Clean-fuel or alternative fuel) that are compliant 
with the Clean Air Act (CAA) or compliant with the Americans with 
Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.
    The Federal share is 90 percent for net project costs for vehicle-
related equipment or facilities (including clean-fuel or alternative-
fuel vehicle-related equipment or facilities) required by the Americans 
with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, or for purposes of complying with 
or maintaining compliance with the Clean Air Act.
    The FTA considers vehicle-related equipment to be equipment on or 
attached to the vehicle. The award recipient may itemize the cost of 
specific, discrete, vehicle-related

[[Page 40059]]

equipment being purchased to be in compliance with ADA or CAA.
    After the appropriate Federal share is established, the applicant 
must provide the local share of the net project cost and must document 
in its grant application the source of the local match. The local match 
may include:
    i. Cash from non-governmental sources other than revenues from 
providing public transportation services;
    ii. Non-farebox revenues from the operation of public 
transportation service, such as the sale of advertising and concession 
revenues. A voluntary or mandatory fee that a college, university, or 
similar institution imposes on all its students for free or discounted 
transit service that is not farebox revenue;
    iii. Monies received under a service agreement with a State or 
local social service agency or private social service organization;
    iv. Undistributed cash surpluses, replacement or depreciation cash 
funds, reserves available in cash, or new capital;
    v. Amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to a department 
or agency of the Government (other than the U.S. Department of 
Transportation);
    vi. In-kind contribution such as the market value of in-kind 
contributions integral to the project may be counted as a contribution 
toward local share;
    vii. Revenue bond proceeds for a capital project, with prior FTA 
approval; and
    viii. Transportation Development Credits (TDC) (formerly referred 
to as Toll Revenue Credits). Please refer to FTA Circular 9030 for more 
information regarding the use of TDCs.

    Note:  FTA will not retroactively approve TDCs as match if they 
are not included in the proposal submitted under this competition.

3. Eligible Projects

    Eligible projects are capital projects for the purchase, 
replacement, or rehabilitation of ferries, terminals, related 
infrastructure, related equipment (including fare equipment and 
communication devices) and expansion. Projects are required to support 
a passenger ferry service that operates within an urbanized area, as 
defined under Federal transit law, but may include services that 
operate between an urbanized area and non-urbanized areas. Ferry 
systems that accommodate cars must also accommodate walk-on passengers 
in order to be eligible for funding.
    Recipients are permitted to use up to 0.5 percent of their 
requested grant award for workforce development activities eligible 
under 49 U.S.C. 5314(b) and an additional 0.5 percent for costs 
associated with training at the National Transit Institute. Applicants 
must identify the proposed use of funds for these activities in the 
project proposal and identify them separately in the project budget.

C. Application and Submission Information

1. Address To Request Application Package

    Applications must be submitted electronically through GRANTS.GOV. 
General information for submitting applications through GRANTS.GOV can 
be found at www.fta.dot.gov/howtoapply along with specific instructions 
for the forms and attachments required for submission. Mail and fax 
submissions will not be accepted. A complete proposal submission 
consists of at least two forms: The SF424 Mandatory Form (downloaded 
from GRANTS.GOV) and the supplemental form for the FY 2017 Passenger 
Ferry Grant Program (downloaded from GRANTS.GOV or the FTA Web site at 
https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/passenger-ferry-grant-program-section-5307). Failure to submit the information as requested 
can delay review or disqualify the application.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

i. Proposal Submission
    A complete proposal submission consists of at least two forms: (1) 
The SF424 Mandatory Form; and (2) the supplemental form for the FY 2017 
Passenger Ferry Grant Program. The application must include responses 
to all sections of the SF424 Mandatory Form and the supplemental form, 
unless indicated as optional. The information on the supplemental form 
will be used to determine applicant and project eligibility for the 
program, and to evaluate the proposal against the selection criteria 
described in part E of this notice.
    An applicant may submit multiple project proposals in a single 
submission, but must include all project proposals on a single 
supplemental form. To add additional projects, select the ``add 
project'' button and complete a separate ``project detail'' section for 
each project. FTA will only accept one supplemental form per 
submission.
    The supplemental form must be submitted as an attachment to the 
SF424 Mandatory Form. All project proposals will be evaluated 
separately, regardless of whether they are submitted as a single 
submission.
    An applicant may submit additional supporting documentation for 
each project proposal as attachments. Any supporting documentation must 
be described and referenced by file name in the appropriate response 
section of the supplemental form, or it may not be reviewed.
    Information such as proposer name, Federal amount requested, local 
match amount, description of areas served, etc. may be requested in 
varying degrees of detail on both the SF424 form and Supplemental Form. 
Proposers must fill in all fields unless stated otherwise on the forms. 
If information is copied into the supplemental form from another 
source, applicants should verify that pasted text is fully captured on 
the supplemental form and has not been truncated by the character 
limits built into the form. Proposers 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. Applicant Name
b. Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) 
number
c. Key contact information (including contact name, address, email 
address, and phone)
d. Congressional district(s) where project will take place
e. Project Information (including title, an executive summary, and 
type)
f. A detailed description of the need for the project
g. A detailed description on how the project will support the Ferry 
program objectives
h. Evidence that the project is consistent with local and regional 
planning documents
i. Evidence that the applicant can provide the local cost share
j. A description of the technical, legal, and financial capacity of the 
applicant
k. A detailed project budget
l. An explanation of the scalability of the project
m. Details on the local matching funds
n. A detailed project timeline

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

    Each applicant is required to: (1) Be registered in SAM before 
submitting an

[[Page 40060]]

application; (2) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its 
application; and (3) continue to maintain an active SAM registration 
with current information at all times during which the applicant has an 
active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by 
FTA. These requirements do not apply if the applicant: (1) Is an 
individual; (2) is excepted from the requirements under 2 CFR 25.110(b) 
or (c); or (3) has an exception approved by FTA under 2 CFR 25.110(d). 
FTA may not make an award until the applicant has complied with all 
applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements. If an 
applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time FTA 
is ready to make an award, FTA may determine that the applicant is not 
qualified to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for 
making a Federal award to another applicant. All applicants must 
provide a unique entity identifier provided by SAM. Registration in SAM 
may take as little as 3-5 business days, but since there could be 
unexpected steps or delays (for example, if you need to obtain an 
Employer Identification Number), FTA recommends allowing ample time, up 
to several weeks, for completion of all steps. For additional 
information on obtaining a unique entity identifier, please visit 
www.sam.gov.

4. Submission Dates and Times

    Project proposals must be submitted electronically through 
GRANTS.GOV by 11:59 p.m. EDT on October 23, 2017. GRANTS.GOV attaches a 
time stamp to each application at the time of submission. Proposals 
submitted after the deadline will only be considered under 
extraordinary circumstances not under the applicant's control. Mail and 
fax submissions will not be accepted.
    Within 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 confirmations of successful validation 
are not received or a notice of failed validation or incomplete 
materials is received, the applicant must address the reason for the 
failed validation, as described in the email notice, and resubmit 
before the submission deadline. If making a resubmission for any 
reason, include all original attachments regardless of which 
attachments were updated and check the box on the supplemental form 
indicating this is a resubmission.
    FTA urges proposers to submit applications at least 72 hours prior 
to the due date to allow time to receive the validation messages and to 
correct any problems that may have caused a rejection notification. 
GRANTS.GOV scheduled maintenance and outage times are announced on the 
GRANTS.GOV Web site. Deadlines will not be extended due to scheduled 
Web site maintenance.
    Proposers are encouraged to begin the process of registration on 
the GRANTS.GOV site well in advance of the submission deadline. 
Registration is a multi-step process, which may take several weeks to 
complete before an application can be submitted. Registered proposers 
may still be required to take steps to keep their registration up to 
date before submissions can be made successfully: (1) Registration in 
the System for Award Management (SAM) is renewed annually; and, (2) 
persons making submissions on behalf of the Authorized Organization 
Representative (AOR) must be authorized in GRANTS.GOV by the AOR to 
make submissions.

5. Funding Restrictions

    Funds made available under the Ferry program may not be used to 
fund operating expenses, planning, or preventive maintenance.

6. Other Submission Requirements

    Applicants are encouraged to identify scaled funding options in 
case insufficient funding is available to fund a project at the full 
requested amount. If an applicant indicates that a project is scalable, 
the applicant must provide an appropriate minimum funding amount that 
will fund an eligible project that achieves the objectives of the 
program and meets all relevant program requirements. The applicant must 
provide a clear explanation of how the project budget would be affected 
by a reduced award. FTA may award a lesser amount whether or not a 
scalable option is provided.

E. Application Review Information

    i. Criteria: Projects will be evaluated primarily on the responses 
provided in the supplemental form. Additional information may be 
provided to support the responses; however, any additional 
documentation must be directly referenced on the supplemental form, 
including the file name where the additional information can be found. 
FTA will evaluate project proposals for competitive passenger ferry 
grants based on the criteria described in this notice.

1. Demonstration of Need

    Applications will be evaluated based on the quality and extent to 
which they demonstrate how the proposed project will address an unmet 
need for capital investment in passenger ferry vehicles, equipment, 
and/or facilities. FTA will also evaluate the project's impact on 
service delivery and whether the project represents a one-time or 
periodic need that cannot reasonably be funded from FTA formula program 
allocations or State and/or local resources. In evaluating 
applications, FTA will consider, among other factors, certain project-
specific criteria as outlined below:
    i. For vessel replacement or rehabilitation projects:
     The age of the asset to be replaced or rehabilitated by 
the proposed project, relative to its useful life.
     Condition and performance of the asset to be replaced by 
the proposed project, as ascertained through inspections or otherwise, 
if available.
    ii. For infrastructure (facility) improvements or related-equipment 
acquisitions:
     The age of the facility or equipment to be rehabilitated 
or replaced relative to its useful life.
     The degree to which the proposed project will enable the 
agency to improve the maintenance and condition of the agency's fleet 
and/or other related ferry assets.
    iii. For expansion or new service requests (vessel or facility-
related):
     The degree to which the proposed project addresses a 
current capacity constraint that is limiting the ability of the agency 
to provide reliable service, meet ridership demands, or maintain 
vessels and related-equipment.
     The degree the proposed new service is supported by 
ridership demand.
    iv. Additional consideration will be given to projects in which the 
beneficiary of the award contributes a greater share of the total 
project costs.

2. Demonstration of Benefits

    Applications will be evaluated based on how the ferry project will 
improve the safety and state of good repair of the system or provide 
additional transportation options to potential riders within the 
service area. FTA will consider potential benefits such as increased 
reliability of service, improved operations or maintenance 
capabilities, or expanded mobility options, intermodal connections, and 
economic benefits to the community.

[[Page 40061]]

3. Planning and Local/Regional Prioritization

    Applications will be evaluated based on whether the proposed 
project is consistent with local and regional planning documents and 
identified priorities. In particular, FTA will evaluate applications 
based on the quality and extent to which they assess whether the 
project is consistent with the transit priorities identified in the 
long-range transportation plan and/or the State and Metropolitan 
Transportation Improvement Program (STIP/TIP). Proposers should note if 
the project could not be included in the financially constrained STIP 
or TIP due to lack of funding; however, if selected, the project must 
be in the federally approved STIP before grant award.
    FTA encourages applicants to demonstrate local support by including 
letters of support from State Departments of Transportation, local 
transit agencies and other relevant stakeholders. In an area with both 
ferry and other public transit operators, FTA will evaluate whether 
project proposals demonstrate coordination with and support of other 
related projects within the proposer's Metropolitan Planning 
Organization (MPO) or the geographic region within which the proposed 
project will operate.

4. Project Readiness

    FTA will evaluate the extent to which the project is ready to be 
implemented. This will involve assessing whether the project is a 
Categorical Exclusion (CE) or if required environmental work has been 
initiated or completed for construction projects requiring an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
    FTA will consider whether project implementation plans are ready, 
including initial design of facility projects, the TIP/STIP can be 
amended (evidenced by MPO/State endorsement), whether local match is 
available, whether the project funds can be obligated within 12 months 
from time of selection, and whether the project will require a Buy 
America waiver.

5. Technical, Legal, and Financial Capacity

    Applicants must demonstrate that they have the technical, legal and 
financial capacity to undertake the project. FTA will review relevant 
oversight assessments and records to determine whether there are any 
outstanding legal, technical, or financial issues with the applicant 
that would affect the outcome of the proposed project.

6. Connectivity to Other Modes of Transportation

    FTA will evaluate the degree to which the ferry service to be 
supported by the proposed project provides service that is integrated 
with other regional modes of transportation, including but not limited 
to: Rail, bus, intercity bus, and private transportation providers. 
Supporting documentation should include data that demonstrates the 
number of trips (passengers and vehicles), the number of walk-on 
passengers, and the frequency of transfers to other modes (if 
applicable).
ii. Review and Selection Process
    In addition to other FTA staff that may review the proposals, a 
technical evaluation committee will evaluate proposals based on the 
published evaluation criteria. Members of the technical evaluation 
committee and other FTA staff may request additional information from 
applicants, if necessary. Based on the findings of the technical 
evaluation committee, the FTA Administrator will determine the final 
selection of projects for program funding. FTA may consider geographic 
diversity, diversity in the size of the transit systems receiving 
funding, and/or the applicant's receipt of other competitive awards in 
determining the allocation of program funds. FTA may give additional 
consideration to projects in which the beneficiary of the award 
contributes a greater share of the total project costs. FTA may 
consider capping the amount a single applicant may receive.

F. Federal Award Administration

1. Federal Award Notices

    Subsequent to an announcement by the FTA Administrator of the final 
project selections, which will be posted on the FTA Web site, FTA will 
publish a list of the selected projects, Federal award amounts, and 
recipients in the Federal Register. Project recipients should contact 
their FTA Regional Offices for additional information regarding 
allocations for projects under the Ferry program.
    At the time the project selections are announced, FTA will extend 
pre-award authority for the selected projects. There is no blanket pre-
award authority for these projects before announcement.

2. Award Administration

    Funds under the Ferry program are available to designated 
recipients or eligible direct recipients of Section 5307 funds. There 
is no minimum or maximum grant award amount; however, FTA intends to 
fund as many meritorious projects as possible. Only proposals from 
eligible recipients for eligible activities will be considered for 
funding. Due to funding limitations, proposers that are selected for 
funding may receive less than the amount originally requested. In those 
cases, applicants must be able to demonstrate that the proposed 
projects are still viable and can be completed with the amount awarded.

3. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

i. Pre-Award Authority
    FTA will issue specific guidance to recipients regarding pre-award 
authority at the time of selection. FTA does not provide pre-award 
authority for competitive funds until projects are selected and even 
then there are Federal requirements that must be met before costs are 
incurred. For more information about FTA's policy on pre-award 
authority, please see the FY 2017 Apportionment Notice published on 
January 19, 2017. https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2017-01-19/pdf/2017-01194.pdf.
ii. Grant Requirements
    If selected, awardees will apply for a grant through FTA's Transit 
Award Management System (TrAMS). All Ferry recipients are subject to 
the grant requirements of Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula Grant 
program, including those of FTA Circular 9030.1. All recipients must 
follow the Award Management Requirements Circular 5010.1E, and the 
labor protections of 49 U.S.C. 5333(b). All competitive grants, 
regardless of award amount, will be subject to the congressional 
notification and release process. Technical assistance regarding these 
requirements is available from each FTA regional office.
iii. Buy America
    FTA requires that all capital procurements meet FTA's Buy America 
requirements that require all iron, steel, or manufactured products be 
produced in the U.S., to help create and protect manufacturing jobs in 
the U.S. The Ferry program will have a significant economic impact 
toward meeting the objectives of the Buy America law. The FAST Act 
amended the Buy America requirements, 49 U.S.C. 5323(j), to provide for 
a phased increase in the domestic content for rolling stock. For FY 
2016 and FY 2017, the cost of components and subcomponents produced in 
the United States must be more than 60 percent of the cost of all 
components. For FY 2018 and FY 2019,

[[Page 40062]]

the cost of components and subcomponents produced in the United States 
must be more than 65 percent of the cost of all components. For FY 2020 
and beyond, the cost of components and subcomponents produced in the 
United States must be more than 70 percent of the cost of all 
components. There is no change to the requirement that final assembly 
of rolling stock must occur in the United States. The Buy America 
requirements can be found in 49 CFR part 661 and additional guidance on 
the implementation of the phased increase in domestic content can be 
found at 81 FR 60278 (Sept. 1, 2016). Any proposal that will require a 
waiver must identify the items for which a waiver will be sought in the 
application. Applicants should not proceed with the expectation that 
waivers will be granted.
iv. Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
    Projects that include ferry acquisitions are subject to the 
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program regulations at 49 CFR 
part 26 and ferry manufacturers must be certified Transit Vehicle 
Manufacturers (TVMs) to be eligible to bid on an FTA-assisted ferry 
procurement. The rule requires that, prior to bidding on any FTA-
assisted vehicle procurement, entities that manufacture ferries must 
submit a DBE Program plan and annual goal methodology to FTA. The FTA 
will then issue a TVM concurrence/certification letter. Grant 
recipients must verify each entity's compliance before accepting its 
bid. A list of certified TVMs is posted on FTA's Web page at http://www.fta.dot.gov/civilrights/12891.html. Recipients should contact FTA 
before accepting bids from entities not listed on this Web-posting. In 
lieu of using a certified TVM, recipients may also establish project 
specific DBE goals for ferry purchases. The FTA will provide additional 
guidance as grants are awarded. For more information on DBE 
requirements, please contact Janelle Hinton, Office of Civil Rights, 
202-366-9259, email: [email protected].
v. Planning
    FTA encourages proposers to notify the appropriate State 
Departments of Transportation and MPOs in areas likely to be served by 
the project funds made available under these initiatives and programs. 
Selected projects must be incorporated into the long-range plans and 
transportation improvement programs of States and metropolitan areas 
before they are eligible for FTA funding.
vi. Standard Assurances
    The applicant assures that it will comply with all applicable 
Federal statutes, regulations, executive orders, directives, FTA 
circulars, and other Federal administrative requirements in carrying 
out any project supported by the FTA grant. The applicant acknowledges 
that it is under a continuing obligation to comply with the terms and 
conditions of the grant agreement issued for its project with FTA. The 
applicant understands that Federal laws, regulations, policies, and 
administrative practices might be modified from time to time and may 
affect the implementation of the project. The applicant agrees that the 
most recent Federal requirements will apply to the project, unless FTA 
issues a written determination otherwise. The applicant must submit the 
Certifications and Assurances before receiving a grant if it does not 
have current certifications on file.

4. Reporting

    Post-award reporting requirements include the electronic submission 
of Federal Financial Reports and Milestone Progress Reports in FTA's 
electronic grants management system.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

    For further information concerning this notice, please contact the 
Ferry program manager Vanessa Williams by phone at 202-366-4818, or by 
email at [email protected]. A TDD is available for individuals 
who are deaf or hard of hearing at 800-877-8339. In addition, FTA will 
post answers to questions and requests for clarifications on FTA's Web 
site at https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/passenger-ferry-grant-program-section-5307. To ensure applicants receive accurate 
information about eligibility or the program, the applicant is 
encouraged to contact FTA directly, rather than through intermediaries 
or third parties. FTA staff may also conduct briefings on the FY 2017 
competitive grants selection and award process upon request.

H. Technical Assistance and Other Program 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. Complete applications must be submitted 
through GRANTS.GOV by 11:59 p.m. EDT on October 23, 2017. For issues 
with GRANTS.GOV please contact GRANTS.GOV by phone at 1-800-518-4726 or 
by email at [email protected].
    Contact information for FTA's regional offices can be found on 
FTA's Web site at www.fta.dot.gov.

Matthew J. Welbes,
Executive Director.

Appendix A

Ferry Program

Frequently Asked Questions

    1. What is a designated recipient?
    Answer: A designated recipient is an entity designated by the 
governor of a state, responsible local official, and publicly owned 
operators of public transportation to receive and apportion amounts 
under Section 5336 to urbanized areas of 200,000 or more in 
population, or a state or regional authority, if the authority is 
responsible under the laws of a state for a capital project and for 
financing and directly providing public transportation.
    2. What is a direct recipient?
    Answer: A direct recipient is an eligible entity authorized by a 
designated recipient or state to receive Urbanized Area Formula 
Program funds directly from FTA.
    3. Is there a list of designated recipients under Section 5307?
    Answer: Contact the FTA regional office for help with 
identifying the 5307 designated recipient in your area. The regional 
office contact information can be found at www.fta.dot.gov.
    4. How can an entity determine whether it operates within the 
area of a Census-designated urbanized area?
    Answer: Contact the FTA regional office to determine the 
designated urbanized area. The regional contact information can be 
found at www.fta.dot.gov.
    5. Can I apply if I am not currently a direct recipient?
    Answer: Yes, FTA will accept applications from entities in 
urbanized areas that are eligible to be direct recipients, even if 
they are currently not a direct recipient.
    6. How can I apply if I am not an eligible direct recipient or 
designated recipient?
    Answer: Coordinate the project with the designated or eligible 
direct recipient for that entity to apply on your behalf. However, 
if your project is selected for an award, the designated or eligible 
direct recipient would obligate the funds.
    7. Can State DOTs apply on behalf of public agencies within the 
state in which they administer FTA funds?
    Answer: Yes, as long as the service is within an urbanized area.
    8. If an agency previously received 5307 funds but now receives 
5311 funds, can they still apply?
    Answer: No, Section 5311 rural providers are not eligible to 
apply for the Passenger Ferry Grant Program. Applicants must be 
eligible designated or direct recipients of Section 5307.
    9. Is a new start eligible under the Ferry program?
    Answer: Capital for new systems is eligible if the project is 
not in the planning phase.

[[Page 40063]]

Planning activities are not eligible under this competition.
    10. Are public car-ferries eligible?
    Answer: Ferry systems that accommodate cars must also 
accommodate walk-on passengers in order to be eligible.
    11. Is the construction of a ferry maintenance facility an 
eligible capital project?
    Answer: Yes.
    12. Is a new vessel construction funded by FTA grants considered 
a public work or rolling stock and therefore subject to Davis Bacon?
    Answer: Yes, a new vessel construction is rolling stock. Davis 
Bacon applies to construction, alteration, or repairs of public 
buildings or public works, but it does not apply to rolling stock.
    13. Does the term ``terminals & related infrastructure'' 
projects include the floating docks and access ramps where the 
passengers board?
    Answer: Yes.
    14. Is there a difference between the FTA's Passenger Ferry 
Grant Program and FHWA's Ferry Boat Formula Grant Funding Program?
    Answer: There may be subtle differences between FTA's and FHWA's 
programs. However, FHWA no longer has a competitive program. It is 
now a formula program. Please refer to FHWA's page for more 
information: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/.
    15. What is the grant process after an entity is selected?
    Answer: An agency would work with the FTA regional office to 
apply for the funds in FTA's electronic management system. The 
Federal Register announcing selection will also provide grant-making 
instructions.

[FR Doc. 2017-17814 Filed 8-22-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P