[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 61 (Friday, March 29, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12021-12025]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-06071]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Competitive Funding Opportunity: Innovations in Transit Public
Safety
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is soliciting
proposals under the Department of Transportation's Public
Transportation Innovation Program to select an eligible project or
projects that will identify innovative solutions to reduce or eliminate
human trafficking occurring on transit systems, protect transit
operators from the risk of assault, and reduce crime on public transit
vehicles and in facilities. The awarded projects will be referred to as
the Innovations in Transit Public Safety projects, and the available
funding is $2,000,000 in research funds.
DATES: Applicants must submit completed proposals for funding
opportunity
FTA-2019-006-TSO through the GRANTS.GOV ``APPLY'' function by 11:59
p.m. Eastern Time on May 28, 2019. Prospective applicants should
register as soon as possible on the GRANTS.GOV website to ensure they
can complete the application process before the submission deadline.
Application instructions are available on FTA's website at http://transit.dot.gov/howtoapply and in the ``FIND'' module of GRANTS.GOV.
FTA will not accept mail and fax submissions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dakisha Spratling, FTA Office of
Transit Safety and Oversight; phone: (202) 366-2530; email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
A. Program Description
B. Federal Award Information
C. Eligibility Information
D. Application and Submission Information
E. Application Review Information
F. Federal Award Administration Information
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts Information
A. Program Description
The Innovations in Transit Public Safety projects are funded
through the Public Transportation Innovation Program (49 U.S.C. 5312),
with the goal of developing innovative projects that assist transit
agencies with identifying and adopting specific measures to address
public safety in transit systems, including crime prevention, human
trafficking, and operator assault.
Human Trafficking is a crime that involves exploiting a person for
labor, services, or commercial sex. Section 7102(9), of Title 22,
U.S.C., defines ``severe forms of trafficking in persons,'' as:
(a) Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by
force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform
such act has not attained 18 years of age; or
(b) The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or
obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of
force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to
involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.
The coercion can be subtle or overt, physical or psychological.
Exploitation of a minor for commercial sex is human trafficking,
regardless of whether any form of force, fraud, or coercion was
used. There is no single profile of a trafficking victim. Victims of
human trafficking can be anyone--regardless of race, color, national
origin, disability, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation,
gender identity, socioeconomic status, education level, or
citizenship status.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) combats human
trafficking by working with public and private sector stakeholders to
empower transportation employees and the traveling public to recognize
and report possible instances of human trafficking. The Innovations in
Transit Public Safety projects support the DOT's Transportation Leaders
Against Human Trafficking initiative, which has the following focus
areas: Leadership, training and education, policy development, public
awareness, and information sharing and analysis.
Eligible projects will identify innovative solutions to reduce or
eliminate human trafficking occurring on transit systems, protect
transit operators from the risk of assault, and reduce crime on public
transit vehicles and facilities. Specific project eligibility under
this competitive allocation is described in Section C of this notice.
B. Federal Award Information
The FTA makes available $2,000,000 under the Public Transportation
Innovation Program (49 U.S.C. 5312) to
[[Page 12022]]
finance projects that demonstrate innovative methods of addressing and
preventing human trafficking on transit, improving public safety in
transit, and reducing crime on transit, including operator assault.
The FTA will grant pre-award authority starting on the date of
project award announcements for selected projects. Funds are available
only for projects that have not incurred costs prior to the
announcement of project selections. The FTA may supplement the total
funds currently available with future appropriations.
C. Eligibility Information
(1) Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants for awards are limited to State and local
governmental entities; providers of public transportation; non-profit
organizations; or a consortium of entities, including a provider of
public transportation, that will share the costs, risks, and rewards of
early deployment and demonstration of innovation. Eligible applicants
are limited to FTA grantees who would be the primary beneficiaries of
the innovative products and services that are developed. Eligible
applicants may submit consolidated proposals for projects. Proposals
may contain projects the recipient or its subrecipients will implement.
Eligible subrecipients include public agencies, private nonprofit
organizations, and private providers engaged in public transportation.
(2) Cost Sharing or Matching
The maximum Federal share of project costs is 80 percent. The
applicant must document the source(s) of the local match in the grant
application. Eligible local match sources include the following:
[ssquf] Cash from non-Government sources other than revenues from
providing public transportation services;
[ssquf] revenues derived from the sale of advertising and
concessions;
[ssquf] revenues generated from value capture financing mechanisms;
[ssquf] funds from an undistributed cash surplus;
[ssquf] replacement or depreciation cash fund or reserve;
[ssquf] new capital; or
[ssquf] in-kind contributions.
The FTA may give additional consideration to applicants who propose
a local share that is greater than the minimum requirement of 20
percent, and may view these applicants as more competitive.
(3) Eligible Projects
Eligible projects include innovation and development projects that
advance the interests of public transportation, to include projects
that identify innovative solutions to:
[ssquf] Reduce or eliminate human trafficking occurring at transit
systems or through the use of transit systems,
[ssquf] protect transit operators from the risk of assault,
[ssquf] reduce crime on public transit vehicles and facilities, and
[ssquf] improve rider and public safety.
Key focus areas will be education and training, policy development,
public awareness and outreach, and information sharing and analysis.
Applicants may each submit one proposal.
D. Application and Submission Information
(1) Address To Request Application Package
Applications must be submitted through GRANTS.GOV. Applicants can
find general information for submitting applications through GRANTS.GOV
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.
(2) Content and Form of Application Submission
a. Proposal Submission
A complete proposal submission consists of at least two forms:
1. The SF-424 Mandatory Form (downloadable from GRANTS.GOV) and
2. the supplemental form for the FY 2018 Innovations in Transit
Public Safety Project (downloadable from GRANTS.GOV), which is
available on FTA's website at (placeholder for FTA Human Trafficking
Program website).
The application must include responses to all sections of the SF-
424 mandatory form and the supplemental form unless a section is
indicated as optional. FTA will use the information on the supplemental
form 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. The FTA will accept only one supplemental form
per SF-424 submission. The FTA encourages applicants to consider
submitting a single supplemental form that includes multiple activities
to be evaluated as a consolidated proposal.
Applicants may attach additional supporting information to the SF-
424 submission, including but not limited to letters of support,
project budgets, or excerpts from relevant planning documents.
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 applicant name, Federal amount requested, local
match amount, description of areas served, etc., 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 the
forms. If applicants copy information into the supplemental form from
another source, they should verify that the supplemental form has fully
captured pasted text and that it has not truncated the text due to
character limits built into the form. Applicants should use both the
``Check Package for Errors'' and the ``Validate Form'' validation
buttons on both forms to check all required fields. Applicants should
also ensure that the Federal and local amounts specified are
consistent.
b. Application Content
The SF-424 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 (contact name, address, email address, and
phone number)
d. Congressional district(s) where project will take place
e. Project Information (title, executive summary, and type)
f. A detailed description of the need for the project
g. A detailed description of how the project will support the
Innovations in Transit Public Safety objectives
h. Evidence that the applicant can provide the local cost share
i. A description of the technical, legal, and financial capacity of the
applicant
j. A detailed project budget
k. An explanation of the scalability of the project
l. Details on the local matching funds
m. 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 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
[[Page 12023]]
an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration
by FTA. These requirements do not apply if the applicant: (1) Is
excepted from the requirements under 2 CFR 25.110(b) or (c); or (2) has
an exception approved by FTA under 2 CFR 25.110(d). The 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 there can be unexpected steps or
delays. For example, the applicant may need to obtain an Employer
Identification Number. The FTA recommends allowing ample time, up to
several weeks, to complete 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. Eastern on May 28, 2019. Mail and fax
submissions will not be accepted.
The FTA urges applicants to submit applications at least 72 hours
prior to the due date to allow time to correct any problems that may
have caused either GRANTS.GOV or FTA systems to reject the submission.
Proposals submitted after the deadline will only be considered under
extraordinary circumstances not within the applicant's control.
Deadlines will not be extended due to scheduled website
maintenance. GRANTS.GOV scheduled maintenance and outage times are
announced on the GRANTS.GOV website.
Within 48 hours after submitting an electronic application, the
applicant should receive two email messages from GRANTS.GOV: (1)
Confirmation of successful transmission to GRANTS.GOV; and (2)
confirmation of successful validation by GRANTS.GOV. If the applicant
does not receive confirmation of successful validation or receives a
notice of failed validation or incomplete materials, 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, applicants must include all original
attachments regardless of which attachments were updated and check the
box on the supplemental form indicating this is a resubmission.
Applicants 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 applicants
may still be required to update their registration before submitting an
application. Registration in SAM is renewed annually and 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 may be used for expenditures only. Funds under this NOFO
cannot be used to reimburse projects for otherwise eligible expenses
incurred prior to the date of project award announcements.
(6) Other Submission Requirements
The FTA encourages applicants 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 a reduced award would affect the
project budget. The FTA may award a lesser amount whether or not the
applicant provides a scalable option.
E. Application Review Information
(1) Project Evaluation Criteria
Each application for Innovations in Transit Public Safety must
include a statement of purpose detailing: (1) The need being addressed;
(2) the short- and long-term goals of the project, including
opportunities for future innovation and development and benefits to
riders of public transportation; (3) how the project will improve
personal safety in public transit stations and vehicles; and (4) the
short- and long-term funding requirements to complete the project and
any future objectives of the project.
The FTA will evaluate proposals submitted according to the
following criteria: (a) Demonstration of need; (b) demonstration of
benefits; (c) coordination, planning and partnerships; (d) local
financial commitment; (e) project readiness; and (f) technical, legal
and financial capacity. The FTA encourages each applicant to
demonstrate how a project supports all criteria with the most relevant
information the applicant can provide, regardless of whether such
information has been specifically requested or identified in this
notice.
a. Demonstration of Need
The FTA will evaluate proposals based on how the proposed project
will address reducing crime and improving the safety of riders,
including preventing human trafficking; and operators, including
preventing operator assault. Proposals should clearly define the public
safety challenge(s) experienced by the transit agency and its
customers, and how the proposed project will improve transit public
safety.
b. Demonstration of Benefits
The FTA will evaluate proposals on the benefits provided by the
proposed project. The FTA is interested in how these investments will
improve the quality of transit public safety, and in particular, rider
safety and human trafficking awareness and prevention, as well as
prevention of operator assault. The Innovations in Transit Public
Safety projects provide an opportunity for communities to put into
practice new and innovative ideas, practices, and approaches that
reduce crime and address the personal safety of passengers and
operators. The FTA encourages applicants to consider qualitative and
quantitative benefits to transit systems, transit users, transit
employees, and the surrounding communities. The FTA will rate proposals
based on the quality and extent to which they discuss the following
five factors:
i. The project's ability to improve transit safety and operator
safety;
ii. The project's ability to provide quantitative data for expected
benefits and outputs associated with the project;
iii. The degree to which the project addresses human trafficking
prevention;
iv. Benefits such as increased educational opportunities; and
v. Outputs that promote collaboration between community
organizations, local government entities, state government entities,
and federal agencies.
Proposals must show that the applicant will be able to provide
impact data during and at the conclusion of the project. Successful
applicants will evaluate the performance of their project(s). At
various points in the deployment process and at the end of the pilot
project, the recipient will be
[[Page 12024]]
asked by FTA, or its designee, to provide performance measures required
to conduct this evaluation. The FTA requires each applicant to submit
the performance data on a quarterly basis. This data will be used by
FTA to produce the required Annual Report to Congress that contains a
detailed description of the activities carried out under the research
program, and an evaluation of the program, including an evaluation of
the performance measures described.
c. Demonstration of Coordination, Planning, and Partnerships
Applicants must describe the eligible project and outline project
partners (if any) and their specific role in the project. Applications
should also include the following:
i. Discuss the level of support by the community and other
organizations for the proposed project;
ii. Describe the opportunities for public participation that are or
will be provided by the project;
iii. Describe how the proposed project complements rather than
duplicates any current and similar innovations in transit public safety
projects;
iv. Describe the implementation schedule for the proposed project,
including time period, staffing, and procurement; and
v. Describe any other planning or coordination efforts not
mentioned above.
d. Local Financial Commitment
Applicants must identify the source of the local share and describe
whether such funds are currently available for the project or will need
to be secured if the project is selected for funding. The FTA will
consider the availability of the local share as evidence of local
financial commitment to the project. In addition, an applicant may
propose a local share that is greater than the minimum requirement or
provide documentation of previous local investment in similar projects
as evidence of local financial commitment. The FTA may give additional
consideration to applicants who propose a local share that is greater
than the minimum requirement of 20 percent, and may view these
applicants as more competitive.
e. Project Readiness
The FTA will evaluate the proposed schedule and the applicant's
ability to implement it. Applicants should indicate the short-term,
mid-range, and long-term goals for the project. The project readiness
factor involves assessing whether:
i. Project implementation plan documents are complete;
ii. Project funds can be obligated and the project can be
implemented quickly, if selected; and
iii. The applicant demonstrates the ability to carry out the
proposed project successfully.
f. Technical, Legal and Financial Capacity
The FTA will evaluate the capacity of the applicant and any
partners to successfully execute the research effort. There should be
no outstanding legal, technical, or financial issues with the applicant
that would make this a high-risk project. The FTA will evaluate each
proposal (including the business plan, financial projections, and other
relevant data) for feasibility and longer-term sustainability. It is
FTA's intent to select projects with a high likelihood of long-term
success, sustainability, and ability to be replicated in other
communities.
(2) Review and Selection Process
An FTA technical evaluation committee will evaluate proposals based
on the published project evaluation criteria. Members of the technical
evaluation committee and other involved FTA staff will rate the
applications, and may seek clarification about any statement in an
application. The FTA Administrator will determine the final selection
and amount of funding for each project after consideration of the
findings of the technical evaluation committee. Geographic diversity
and the applicant's receipt and management of other Federal transit
funds may be considered in FTA's award decisions. The FTA Administrator
will consider the following key DOT objectives:
a. Supporting economic vitality at the national and regional level;
b. Utilizing alternative funding sources and innovative financing
models to attract non-Federal sources of investment;
c. Whether the project is located in or supports public
transportation service in a qualified opportunity zone designated
pursuant to 26.U.S.C. 1400Z-1;
d. Using innovative approaches to improve safety and expedite
project delivery; and,
e. Holding grant recipients accountable for their performance and
achieving specific, measurable outcomes identified by grant applicants.
Prior to making an award, FTA is required to review and consider
any information about the applicant that is in the Federal Awardee
Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) accessible
through SAM. An applicant may review and comment on information about
itself that a Federal awarding agency previously entered.
The FTA will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to
the other information in FAPIIS, in making a judgment about the
applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under
Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants
as described in 2 CFR 200.205 Federal Awarding Agency Review of Risk
Posed by Applicants.
F. Federal Award Administration
(1) Federal Award Notice
The FTA will announce the final project selections on the FTA
website. Project recipients should contact their FTA Regional Office
for additional information regarding allocations for projects. At the
time 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.
[[Page 12025]]
(2) Award Administration
There is no minimum or maximum grant award amount; however, FTA
intends to fund as many meritorious projects as possible. The FTA will
only consider proposals from eligible recipients for eligible
activities. Due to funding limitations, projects 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
a. Pre-Award Authority
The FTA will issue specific guidance to recipients regarding pre-
award authority at the time of selection. The FTA does not provide pre-
award authority for competitive funds until projects are selected, and
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 2018 Apportionments Notice published on
July 16, 2018, at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR0-2018-07-16/pdf/2018-14989.pdf.
b. Grant Requirements
Selected applicants will submit a grant application through FTA's
electronic grant management system and adhere to the customary FTA
grant requirements. All competitive grants, regardless of award amount,
will be subject to the Congressional notification and release process.
The FTA emphasizes that third-party procurement applies to all funding
awards, as described in FTA Circular 4220.1F, ``Third Party Contracting
Guidance.'' However, FTA may approve applications that include a
specifically identified partnering organization(s) (2 CFR 200.302(f)).
When included, the application, budget, and budget narrative should
provide a clear understanding of how the selection of these
organizations is critical for the project and give sufficient detail
about the costs involved.
c. Planning
The FTA encourages applicants to engage the appropriate State
Departments of Transportation, Regional Transportation Planning
Organizations, or Metropolitan Planning Organizations in areas to be
served by the project funds available under this programs.
d. Standard Assurances
The applicant assures that it will comply with all applicable
Federal statutes, regulations, executive orders, 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
The post-award reporting requirements include submission of the
Federal Financial Report (FFR) and Milestone Progress Report in TrAMs.
An evaluation of the pilot program or research grant will occur at
various points in the deployment process and at the end of the project.
In addition, FTA is responsible for producing an Annual Report to
Congress that compiles evaluations of selected projects, including an
evaluation of the performance measures identified by the applicants.
All applicants must develop an evaluation plan to measure the success
or failure of their projects and to describe any plans for broad-based
implementation of successful projects. FTA may request data and reports
to support the evaluation and Annual Report.
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact
For questions about applying, please contact Dakisha Spratling, at
Federal Transit Administration, Office of Transit Safety and Oversight,
phone: (202) 366-2530, or email, [email protected]. A TDD is
available at 1-800-877-8339 (TDDFIRS). To ensure that applicants
receive accurate information about eligibility or the program,
applicants are encouraged to contact FTA directly with questions,
rather than through intermediaries or third parties. The FTA staff may
also conduct briefings on the competitive grants selection and award
process upon request.
K. Jane Williams,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2019-06071 Filed 3-28-19; 8:45 am]
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