Notice of Fiscal Year 2013 Safety Grants and Solicitation for Applications |
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William A. Quade
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
August 6, 2012
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 151 (Monday, August 6, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46797-46800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19109]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Notice of Fiscal Year 2013 Safety Grants and Solicitation for
Applications
AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice; change in application due dates.
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SUMMARY: This notice informs the public of FMCSA's Fiscal Year (FY)
2013 safety grant opportunities and FMCSA's projected application due
dates. FMCSA announces these grant opportunities based on authorities
provided for in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Public Law
109-59, as amended by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century
Act (MAP-21), Public Law 112-141, (2012). The Agency's safety grant
programs in FY 2013 include the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program
(MCSAP) Basic and Incentive grants; New Entrant Safety Audit grants;
MCSAP High Priority grants; Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Operator
Safety Training grants; Border Enforcement grants (BEG); Commercial
Driver's License Program Improvement (CDLPI) grants; Performance and
Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM) grants; Safety Data
Improvement Program (SaDIP) grants; and the Commercial Vehicle
Information Systems and Networks (CVISN) grants. The Commercial
Driver's License Information System (CDLIS) Modernization grants were
not continued in the MAP-21 authorization and, therefore, FMCSA will
not be soliciting applications for this grant program in FY 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact the following FMCSA
staff with questions or needed information on the Agency's grant
programs:
MCSAP Basic/Incentive Grants--Jack Kostelnik, jack.kostelnik@dot.gov,
202-366-5721.
New Entrant Safety Audits Grants--Jack Kostelnik,
jack.kostelnik@dot.gov, 202-366-5721.
MCSAP High Priority Grants--Cim Weiss, cim.weiss@dot.gov, 202-366-0275.
CMV Operator Safety Training Grants--Crystal Polk,
crystal.polk@dot.gov, 202-366-0734.
BEG--Jackie Cambridge, jackie.cambridge@dot.gov, 202-366-1351.
CDLPI Grants--James Ross, james.ross@dot.gov, 202-366-0133.
SaDIP Grants--Jackie Cambridge, jackie.cambridge@dot.gov, 202-366-1351.
PRISM Grants--Julie Otto, julie.otto@dot.gov, 202-366-0710.
CVISN Grants--Julie Otto, julie.otto@dot.gov, 202-366-0710.
All staff may be reached at FMCSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern
Time, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background and Purpose
For each grant program, FMCSA will post a notice of funding
availability (NOFA) at www.grants.gov. The NOFA will provide specific
information on the application process; national funding priorities for
FY 2013; evaluation criteria; required documents and certifications;
grantee matching share and maintenance of expenditure requirements; and
additional information related to the availability of funds. General
information is provided below for each individual grant program.
To ensure the timely review and award of all grants, applications
must be submitted in accordance with the instructions provided in each
NOFA and contain all required information and attachments. FMCSA
strongly encourages applicants to dedicate the resources necessary to
submit timely and complete applications. Applications will be returned
if required documents are missing or incomplete or additional
information is needed.
MCSAP Basic and Incentive Grants
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity
Act: A Legacy for Users, Public Law 109-59, Sec. Sec. 4101(a), 4106,
119 Stat. 1144, 1714, 1717-19 (2005), as amended by Moving Ahead for
Progress in the 21st Century Act, Public Law 112-141 Sec. Sec. 32601,
32603(a), (2012) authorizes FMCSA's Motor Carrier Safety Grants. MCSAP
Basic and Incentive formula grants are governed by 49 U.S.C. 31102-
31104 and 49 CFR Part 350. Under the Basic and Incentive grant
programs, a State lead MCSAP agency, as designated by its Governor, is
eligible to apply for MCSAP Basic and Incentive grant funding by
submitting a commercial vehicle safety plan (CVSP). See 49 CFR 350.201,
350.205, and 350.213. Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 31103 and 49 CFR 350.303,
FMCSA will reimburse each lead State MCSAP agency no more than 80
percent of eligible costs incurred in a fiscal year. Each State will
provide a 20 percent match to qualify for the program. The FMCSA
Administrator waives the requirement for matching funds for the Virgin
Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands (49 CFR 350.305). In accordance with 49 CFR 350.323,
the MCSAP Basic grant funds will be distributed proportionally to each
State's lead MCSAP agency using the following four, equally weighted
(25 percent) factors:
(1) 1997 road miles (all highways) as defined by the FMCSA;
(2) All vehicle miles traveled as defined by the FMCSA;
(3) Population--annual census estimates as issued by the U.S.
Census Bureau; and
(4) Special fuel consumption (net after reciprocity adjustment) as
defined by the FMCSA.
A State's lead MCSAP agency may qualify for MCSAP Incentive funds
pursuant to 49 CFR 350.327(a) if the agency can demonstrate that the
State's CMV safety program meets or exceeds any or all of the following
five categories:
(1) Reduction in the number of large truck-involved fatal crashes;
(2) Reduction in the rate of large-truck-involved fatal crashes or
maintenance of a large-truck-involved fatal crash rate that is among
the lowest 10 percent of such rates for MCSAP recipients;
(3) Upload of CMV crash reports in accordance with current FMCSA
policy guidelines;
(4) Verification of Commercial Driver's Licenses during all
roadside inspections; and
(5) Upload of CMV inspection data in accordance with current FMCSA
policy guidelines.
Incentive funds are distributed in accordance with 49 CFR
350.327(b).
The FMCSA calculates the amount of Basic and Incentive funding each
State is to receive. This information is provided to the States and is
made available on the Agency's Web site. The projected FY 2013
distribution is available at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety-security/safety-initiatives/mcsap/mcsapforms.htm. The amount indicated is based
on FY 2012 estimated awards,
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pending final authorization, and does not include incentive funding
that may be available to States. The MCSAP Basic and Incentive formula
grants are awarded based on the State's submission of the CVSP, which
FMCSA must approve prior to distribution of funds. Therefore, the
evaluation factors for discretionary grant programs described in the
section below titled ``Application Information for FY 2013 Grants'' are
not applicable. MCSAP Basic and Incentive grant applications must be
submitted electronically through grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov).
New Entrant Safety Audit Grants
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity
Act: A Legacy for Users, Public Law 109-59, Sec. 4107(b), 119 Stat.
1144, 1720 (2005), amended by SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections Act of
2008, Public Law 110-244, Sec. 301(b), 122 Stat. 1572, 1616 (2008), as
amended by Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, Public
Law 112-141, Sec. 32603(e), (2012) authorizes grant funding to conduct
interstate New Entrant safety audits consistent with 49 CFR Parts
350.321 and 385.301. Eligible recipients are State and local
governments. The goal of the New Entrant Safety Assurance Program is to
reduce CMV involved crashes, fatalities, and injuries through
consistent, uniform, and effective safety programs. Grantees may use
these funds for salaries and related expenses of New Entrant auditors,
including training and equipment, and to perform other eligible
activities that are directly related to conducting safety audits. The
FMCSA's share of these grant funds will be 100 percent pursuant to 49
U.S.C. 31144. More information about the New Entrant Safety Assurance
Program application and award process can be found at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/grants/New-Entrant/app-process.aspx. New
Entrant grant applications must be submitted electronically through
grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov).
MCSAP High Priority Grants
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity
Act: A Legacy for Users, Public Law 109-59, Sec. 4107(a), 119 Stat.
1144, 1719-20 (2005), as amended by SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections
Act of 2008, Public Law 110-244, Sec. 4101(a), Sec. 4107, 122 Stat.
1572, 1616, as amended by Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century
Act, Public Law 112-141, Sec. Sec. 32603(a), 32603(d), (2012)
authorizes grant funding for activities and projects that improve CMV
safety and compliance with CMV regulations. The goal of the MCSAP High
Priority grant program is to increase public awareness and education,
demonstrate new technologies and reduce the number and rate of CMV
crashes. Funding is also available for projects that are national in
scope. Eligible recipients are State agencies, local governments, and
organizations representing government agencies that use and train
qualified officers and employees in coordination with State motor
vehicle safety agencies. Participation of local law enforcement
agencies is encouraged. Interested local law enforcement agencies
should carefully review the NOFA when it is available on www.grants.gov
for special considerations and application review processes. For grants
awarded for public education and outreach activities, the Federal share
will be 100 percent. For all other High Priority grants, FMCSA will
provide reimbursements for no more than 80 percent of all eligible
costs, and recipients will be required to provide a 20 percent match.
Examples of High Priority activities include innovative traffic
enforcement projects, with particular emphasis on texting and hand-held
cell phone prohibitions, work zone enforcement, rural road safety, and
innovative traffic enforcement initiatives such as Ticketing Aggressive
Cars and Trucks (TACT). TACT provides a research-based safety model
that can be replicated by States when conducting a high-visibility
traffic enforcement program to promote safe driving behaviors among car
and truck drivers. The objective of this program is to reduce the
number of commercial truck and bus-related crashes, fatalities and
injuries resulting from improper operation of motor vehicles and
aggressive driving behavior. More information regarding TACT can be
found at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety-security/tact/abouttact.htm.
More information about the High Priority application and award process
can be found at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/grants/MCSAP-High-Priority/index.aspx. High Priority grant applications must be submitted
through grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov).
CMV Operator Safety Training Grants
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity
Act: A Legacy for Users, Public Law 109-59, Sec. 4134, 119 Stat. 1144,
1744-45 (2005), as amended by Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st
Century Act, Public Law 112-141, Sec. 32603(g), (2012) authorizes
grant funds to train current and future drivers in the safe operation
of CMVs, as defined in 49 U.S.C. 31301(4). Eligible awardees include
State governments, local governments and accredited post-secondary
educational institutions (public or private) such as colleges,
universities, vocational-technical schools and truck driver training
schools. Funding priority for this discretionary grant program will be
given to institutions serving economically distressed regions of the
United States as demonstrated in the application. The Federal share of
these funds will be 80 percent, and recipients will be required to
provide a 20 percent match. More information about the CMV Operator
Safety Training grant application and award process can be found at
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/grants/CMV/app-process.aspx. CMV
Operator Safety Training grant applications must be submitted
electronically through grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov).
Border Enforcement Grants
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity
Act: A Legacy for Users, Public Law 109-59, Sec. Sec. 4101(c)(2),
4110, 119 Stat. 1144, 1715, 1721-22 (2005), as amended by Moving Ahead
for Progress in the 21st Century Act, Public Law 112-141, Sec. Sec.
32603(c) and 32603(h), (2012) authorizes grant funds to conduct CMV
safety programs and related enforcement activities and projects near
international borders or relating to international commerce. Pursuant
to 49 U.S.C. 31107, eligible awardees include State governments that
share a land border with Canada or Mexico, and any local government, or
entities (i.e., accredited post-secondary public or private educational
institutions such as universities) in that State. FMCSA encourages
local agencies to coordinate their application with the State lead CMV
inspection agency to prevent redundancy. Applications must include a
Border Enforcement Plan. As established by SAFETEA-LU, the Federal
share of these funds will be 100 percent. More information about the
BEG application and award process can be found at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/grants/beg/app-process.aspx. BEG grant
applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov
(http://www.grants.gov).
CDLPI Grants
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity
Act: A Legacy for Users, Public Law 109-59, Sec. Sec. 4101(c)(1),
4124, 119 Stat. 1144, 1715, 1736-37 (2005), as amended by Moving Ahead
for Progress in the 21st Century Act, Public Law 112-141, Sec. Sec.
32603(c), 32604, (2012) authorizes grant funds to improve States'
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implementation of the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) program and
ensure compliance with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 383 and 384.
Eligible expenses include computer hardware and software, publications,
testing, personnel, training, quality control, CDL program
coordinators, and to implement or maintain an employer notification
system for CDL suspension or revocation. Pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 31313,
funds may not be used to rent, lease, or buy land or buildings. The
agency designated by each State as having the primary driver licensing
responsibility, including development, implementation, and maintenance
of the CDL program, is eligible to apply for basic grant funding. State
agencies, local governments, and other entities that can support a
State's effort to improve its CDL program, or conduct projects on a
national scale to improve the national CDL program, may also apply for
projects under the High Priority and Emerging Issues component of this
grant. Priority will be given to proposals that help States comply with
the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR), with specific
emphasis on correcting previously-identified areas of non-compliance.
The Federal share of funds for projects awarded under this grant is
established by SAFETEA-LU as 100 percent. Information for the CLDPI
application and award process also can be found at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/grants/CDLPI/app-process.aspx. CLDPI grant
applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov
(http://www.grants.gov).
SaDIP Grants
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity
Act: A Legacy for Users, Public Law 109-59, Sec. Sec. 4101(c)(5),
4128, 119 Stat. 1144, 1715, 1742 (2005), as amended by Moving Ahead for
Progress in the 21st Century Act, Public Law 112-141, Sec. 32603(c),
(2012) authorizes grant funds for the Safety Data Improvement Program
to support improving the overall quality of CMV data reported by a
State. Specifically, the goal of this program is to improve the
timeliness, efficiency, accuracy and completeness of State processes
and systems used to collect, analyze and report large truck and bus
crash and inspection data, as described 49 USC 31102. Eligible
recipients are State agencies, including the Territories of Puerto
Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Marianas, and the U.S. Virgin
Islands, and the District of Columbia. SaDIP applications must address
the FMCSA State Safety Data Quality (SSDQ) map, which provides a color-
coded, pictorial representation of the State's overall performance
using the SSDQ methodology. This methodology was developed by FMCSA to
evaluate the completeness, timeliness, accuracy, and consistency of the
State-reported CMV crash and inspection records in the Motor Carrier
Management Information System (MCMIS). The SSDQ methodology is
comprised of nine measures and one Overriding Indicator. Ratings are
updated quarterly, and individual State performance is portrayed
through the color-coded rating system: Green (good performance), Yellow
(fair performance), and Red (poor performance). The color-coded rating
system depicts each State's Overall Rating which considers all nine
SSDQ measures, except those measures with a rating of ``Insufficient
Data,'' plus the Overriding Indicator. Priority will be given to
proposals received from States rated Yellow and Red on the SSDQ Map.
The applicant must certify that it has (1) conducted a comprehensive
audit of its commercial motor vehicle safety data system within the
preceding two years; (2) developed a plan that identifies and
prioritizes its commercial motor vehicle safety data needs and goals;
and (3) identified performance-based measures to determine progress
toward those goals. The FMCSA will provide reimbursements for no more
than 80 percent of all eligible costs; recipients are required to
provide a 20 percent match. More information about the SaDIP
application and award process can be found at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/grants/SaDIP/app-process.aspx. SaDIP grant applications must be
submitted electronically through grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov).
PRISM Grants
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity
Act: A Legacy for Users, Public Law 109-59, Sec. Sec. 4101(c)(3),
4109, 119 Stat. 1144, 1715, 1720-21 (2005), as amended by Moving Ahead
for Progress in the 21st Century Act, Public Law 112-141, Sec. Sec.
32602, 32603(c), (2012) authorizes FMCSA to award grants funds to
States to implement the PRISM requirements that link Federal motor
carrier safety information systems with State CMV registration and
licensing systems. This program enables a State to determine the safety
fitness of a motor carrier, a registrant, or both, when licensing or
registering CMV and while the license or registration is in effect. The
PRISM program directly benefits highway safety helping to remove unsafe
motor carriers from the nation's highways through the potential and
actual imposition of vehicle registration sanctions on motor carriers
issued a Federal Out of Service order. No matching funds are required.
More information about the PRISM program process can be found at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety-security/prism/prism-process.aspx. PRISM
grant applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov
(http://www.grants.gov).
CVISN Grants
The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity
Act: A Legacy for Users, Public Law 109-59, Sec. Sec. 4101(c)(4),
4126, 119 Stat. 1144, 1715, 1738-41 (2005), as amended by Moving Ahead
for Progress in the 21st Century Act, Public Law No.112-141, Sec. Sec.
32603(c), 32605, (2012) authorizes FMCSA to award grant funds to States
to deploy, operate, and maintain elements of their CVISN Program,
including commercial vehicle, commercial driver, and carrier-specific
information systems and networks. The agency in each State designated
as responsible for the development, implementation, and maintenance of
a CVISN-related system is eligible to apply for grant funding. Section
4126 of SAFETEA-LU establishes two types of CVISN projects: Core and
Expanded. Core CVISN deployment project(s) eligibility includes the
projects necessary to support the State's most current Core CVISN
Program Plan and Top-Level Design (PP/TLD) approved by FMCSA. If a
State does not have a Core CVISN PP/TLD, it may apply for up to
$100,000 in funds to either create or update one. A State may also
apply for funds to prepare an Expanded CVISN PP/TLD if FMCSA
acknowledged the State as having completed Core CVISN deployment.
Eligibility includes the projects necessary to support a State's
Expanded CVISN deployment PP/TLD approved by FMCSA. If a State does not
have an existing or up-to-date Expanded CVISN PP/TLD, it may apply for
up to $100,000 in funds to either compile or update an Expanded CVISN
Program Plan and Top-Level Design.
FY 2013 CVISN grant emphasis areas include to increase the
deployment of the Commercial Vehicle Information Exchange Window
(CVIEW); improve the quality of data uploads; and improve the use of
safety and productivity performance metrics. A State may receive no
more than an aggregate total of $2.5M in CVISN Core funding. A State
may receive no more than $1M in CVISN Expanded funding in any fiscal
year. Awards for approved CVISN grant applications are made to all Core
CVISN
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applicants first and then to Expanded CVISN applicants. States must
provide a match of 50 percent. CVISN grant applications must be
submitted electronically through grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov).
Application Information for FY 2013 Grants: General information
about the FMCSA grant programs is available in the Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance (CFDA) which can be found on the internet at http://www.cfda.gov. To apply for funding, applicants must register with
grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp and
submit an application in accordance with instructions provided. Because
the registration and certification process for grants.gov requires
several steps, first-time applicants are strongly encouraged to begin
the process well in advance of the application deadline.
Evaluation Factors: The below evaluation factors will be used in
reviewing the applications for all FMCSA discretionary grants.
Additional factors may be included in each NOFA. These factors are:
(1) Prior performance (completion of identified programs and goals
per the project plan submitted under previous grants awarded to the
applicant);
(2) Effective Use of Prior Grants (timely use of available funds in
previous awards);
(3) Safety and Cost Effectiveness (expected impact on safety
relative to the investment of grant funds; where appropriate, cost per
unit was calculated and compared with national averages to determine
effectiveness; in other areas, proposed costs are compared with
historical information to confirm reasonableness);
(4) Applicability to announced priorities (grant applications that
specifically address these issues are given priority consideration);
(5) Ability of the applicant to support the strategies and
activities in the proposal for the entire project period of
performance;
(6) Use of innovative approaches in executing a project plan to
address identified safety issues;
(7) Feasibility of overall program coordination and implementation
based upon the project plan; and
(8) Other objective and performance-based criteria that FMCSA deems
appropriate, such as consistency with national priorities, overall
program balance, and geographic diversity.
Estimated Application Due Dates: For the following grant programs,
FMCSA will consider funding complete applications or plans submitted by
the following anticipated dates (final due dates will be indicated in
the grants.gov funding opportunity notice):
MCSAP Basic and Incentive Grants--August 1, 2012.
Border Enforcement Grants--August 20, 2012.
New Entrant Safety Audit Grants--September 5, 2012.
MCSAP High Priority Grants--September 17, 2012.
CDLPI Grants--November 5, 2012.
SaDIP Grants--November 13, 2012.
CVISN Grants--November 19, 2012.
PRISM Grants--December 3, 2012.
CMV Operator Safety Training Grants--December 10, 2012.
Applications submitted after due dates may be considered on a case-
by-case basis and are subject to availability of funds.
Issued on: July 27, 2012.
William A. Quade,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement and Program Delivery.
[FR Doc. 2012-19109 Filed 8-3-12; 8:45 am]
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