Notice of Funding Availability for Accelerated Innovation Deployment Demonstration |
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Gregory G. Nadeau
Federal Highway Administration
February 19, 2014
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 19, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9580-9585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-03452]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
[Docket No. FHWA-2013-0048]
Notice of Funding Availability for Accelerated Innovation
Deployment Demonstration
AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of funding availability.
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SUMMARY: This final notice announces the availability of funding and
requests grant applications for FHWA's Accelerated Innovation
Deployment (AID) Demonstration authorized within the Technology and
Innovation Deployment Program (TIDP) under the Moving Ahead for
Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). In addition, this final
notice addresses comments received on the interim notice of funding
availability (Docket No. FHWA-2013-0048), announces selection criteria,
application requirements, and technical assistance during the grant
solicitation period for the AID Demonstration. The FHWA's response to
the comments and revisions made in this final notice are described
below in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
DATES: Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov. Applicants
are encouraged to submit applications as soon as the eligible project
is within six months of being initiated. Completed applications will be
evaluated and award determinations made on a rolling basis until the
program ends or funding is no longer available. Information will be
updated on FHWA's Web site at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/accelerating/grants to notify applicants of the status of the program and
availability of funding. The FHWA plans to conduct outreach regarding
the AID Demonstration in the form of a Webinar within 2 weeks of this
notice being issued. Participants can pre-register online at: https://connectdot.connectsolutions.com/aiddemo/event/event_info.html.
Information on the Webinar date and time will be emailed to registered
participants. The Webinar will be recorded and posted on FHWA's Web
site at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/accelerating/grants.
ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted electronically through
Grants.gov. The FHWA will not accept applications that are sent
directly to FHWA outside of the Grants.gov process. Instructions for
submitting through Grants.gov are included in Section VI (E) of this
final notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Ewa Flom, Program Manager, Center
for Accelerating Innovation, Federal Highway Administration, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, (202) 366-2169; or Ms. Seetha
Srinivasan, Office of the Chief Counsel, Federal Highway
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, (202)
366-4099. Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Eastern
Standard Time Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. A TDD is
available for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing at (202) 366-
3993.
In addition, the FHWA will regularly post answers to questions and
requests for clarifications on FHWA's Web site at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/accelerating/grants. Applicants are encouraged to
contact FHWA directly to receive information about AID Demonstration.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 1, 2013, the FHWA published an
interim notice of funding availability (NOFA) for the AID Demonstration
Program (Docket No. FHWA-2013-0048). The interim notice requested
comments on the proposed selection criteria, evaluation criteria, and
evaluation requirements for AID Demonstration funding. The FHWA
considered comments that were received from seven commenters, including
two anonymous, two private citizens, one not-for-profit research
organization, one State DOT, and one municipal government. The FHWA
revised elements of the notice as described below. There was an
editorial error made in the Table of Contents by listing a subsection
heading of ``Protection of Confidential Business Information'' under
Section VI (Application Process). There was no information provided and
no need for this subsection. As a result, the subsection heading has
been deleted.
Response to Comments
1. The FHWA received a question from an anonymous commenter in
reference to whether AID Demonstration funds can be used to do research
and conduct full-scale crash testing of products. AID Demonstration
funds are intended to accelerate the implementation and adoption of
innovation in highway transportation. The funds are to be used for
deployment, not for research or testing, of proven innovative practices
or technologies.
2. The FHWA received a comment from a private citizen requesting
consideration of applications from consortiums, including State DOTs,
universities and industry, on novel materials, methods, and
technologies to be considered through a phased product development
program. The FHWA believes that this is not within the scope or intent
of the AID Demonstration program. The use of AID Demonstration funds is
for deployment of proven innovative practices or technologies. There
are other programs, such as the Transportation Pooled Fund program,
that may be better suited for a product development approach. However,
the FHWA encourages applicants to cooperate and coordinate with other
entities as needed. The narrative application includes identification
of the applicant, subrecipient, and a description of cooperation with
any other entity involved in the project.
3. The FHWA received questions from an anonymous commenter in
reference to the eligibility of technologies that focus on the
operation of highway transportation commercial vehicle programs and
technology innovations that are added to existing infrastructure. As
described in Section III (Eligibility), AID Demonstration funds are
available for any project eligible for assistance under title 23,
United States Code. Eligible projects may involve any aspect of highway
transportation including planning, financing, operation, structures,
materials, pavements, environment, and construction that address the
TIDP goals mentioned in Section I (Background).
4. The FHWA received a comment from a not-for-profit research
organization requesting that we add language under Selection Criteria
(or other appropriate section) to give priority funding consideration
to projects that ``leverage funding through participation in the
Transportation Pooled Fund Program.'' The AID
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Demonstration funding is intended to be used by an applicant on a
project within their highway transportation program. The FHWA does not
believe that this change is necessary because applicants have broad
flexibility to select and leverage funding sources to advance projects.
5. The FHWA received a question from the Idaho DOT in reference to
the Federal fund match requirements. To clarify, the AID Demonstration
fund award is based on the cost of the innovation in a project, not the
total project cost. The FHWA also encourages States to use Section 1304
of MAP-21 (23 U.S.C. 120(c)(3)) ``Innovative Project Delivery Methods''
on projects that may qualify to increase the Federal share by up to 5
percent. The awarded AID Demonstration funds would be used in place of
other Federal program funds and do not otherwise modify the Federal
fund match requirements. This clarification will be included in program
guidance; however, no change is necessary to the NOFA.
6. The Idaho DOT also expressed concern that the rolling submittal
process would not allow for FHWA to compare all of the applications
submitted and would favor the first projects submitted, which may not
necessarily be the best projects. The FHWA realizes that a rolling
submittal may seem atypical for DOT grants and FHWA has considered
setting specific and regular application due dates. Although the FHWA
understands the perspective of the commenter, this program is intended
to accelerate innovation deployment and we believe a rolling
solicitation will award funds to projects that are ready to implement
innovations immediately, such as the Every Day Counts initiatives. The
FHWA believes that comparison of projects may not be relevant due to
the broad range of eligible projects involving any aspect of highway
transportation. As a result, no change is necessary to the NOFA.
7. The FHWA received a comment from the Boston, Massachusetts
municipal government requesting that cities and local agencies be
allowed to apply directly for AID Demonstration funds. The commenter
was also concerned that the limitation of one project per State DOT may
limit the opportunities for Metropolitan planning organizations and
local governments. Pursuant to 23 CFR 635.105, ``The STD has
responsibility for the construction of all Federal-aid projects, and is
not relieved of such responsibility by authorizing performance of the
work by a local public agency or other Federal agency.'' Metropolitan
planning organizations and local governments are not able to apply as a
direct recipient for AID Demonstration funding. However FHWA
understands the commenter's concern in reference to the limitation on
awards and State DOT project priorities. In the final NOFA, the
limitation of one project per applicant is revised so that one project
may be awarded to a State DOT and another project to a subrecipient.
The change is reflected in Section II (Program Funding and Award),
Section III (Eligibility), and Section IV (Selection Criteria).
8. The Boston, Massachusetts municipal government also suggested
that the NOFA should specifically authorize funding for staff to
implement the innovation being funded. In the narrative portion of the
application, the applicant must specify the funding request including
the basis for determining the cost of the innovation in the project.
The FHWA believes that if funding for staff is part of the innovation
cost for an eligible project, the applicant will need to include it in
the application for consideration.
9. The FHWA received comments from a private citizen suggesting
that the selection criteria be expanded to require applicants to
indicate a willingness to participate in specific technology transfer
as well as monitoring and assessment activities. The FHWA agrees that
the suggested examples could be of value for applicants to consider,
however due to the broad range of eligible projects, specifying
activities would be too limiting. Examples of activities will be
included in program guidance available on FHWA's Web site at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/accelerating/grants as reference information; however,
no change is necessary to the NOFA.
10. The same private citizen also suggested that the agency assign
more weight to proposals that: Include two or more EDC activities as a
package; include a team that incorporates a Professional Traffic
Operation Engineer; or generate more direct jobs to strengthen the
present and future transportation workforce. The FHWA encourages and
supports the use of AID Demonstration grants to accelerate the
deployment of EDC innovations and intends to give priority
consideration to applications that include EDC innovations. The broad
range of eligible projects does not lend itself to specifying team
composition as criteria. It is assumed that accelerating innovation
deployment and the variety of projects anticipated to receive funding
would generate jobs supporting the transportation workforce. However,
the FHWA believes the selection criteria must focus on the intent of
the program in terms of project eligibility and innovation deployment,
and therefore, no change is necessary.
This is the final NOFA; FHWA is no longer considering comments on
the proposed selection and evaluation criteria for AID Demonstration.
The selection and evaluation criteria, application requirements, and
technical assistance established in this final NOFA will govern the
program during the grant solicitation period.
Table of Contents
I. Background
II. Program Funding and Award
III. Eligibility
A. Entities Eligible To Apply for Funding
B. Eligible Uses of Funds
IV. Selection Criteria
V. Evaluation Process
VI. Application Process
A. Contents of Applications
B. Standard Form 424
C. Narrative
D. Contact Information
E. Additional Information on Applying Through Grants.gov
F. Experiencing Technical Issues With Grants.gov
VII. Performance Measurement
VIII. Questions and Clarifications
I. Background
On July 6, 2012, President Obama signed into law MAP-21 (Pub. L.
112-141), which amends 23 U.S.C. 503 for TIDP to implement accelerated
innovation deployment; future strategic highway research program
findings and results; and accelerated implementation and deployment of
pavement technologies. The TIDP relates to all aspects of highway
transportation including planning, financing, operation, structures,
materials, pavements, environment, and construction.
Section 503(c)(1) specifies the following TIDP goals: (A)
Significantly accelerate the adoption of innovative technologies by the
surface transportation community; (B) provide leadership and incentives
to demonstrate and promote state-of-the-art technologies, elevated
performance standards, and new business practices in highway
construction processes that result in improved safety, faster
construction, reduced congestion from construction, and improved
quality and user satisfaction; (C) construct longer-lasting highways
through the use of innovative technologies and practices that lead to
faster construction of efficient and safe highways and bridges; (D)
improve highway efficiency, safety, mobility, reliability, service
life, environmental protection, and sustainability; and (E) develop and
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deploy new tools, techniques, and practices to accelerate the adoption
of innovation in all aspects of highway transportation.
II. Program Funding and Award
Section 51001 of MAP-21 authorized $62,500,000 for the TIDP for
each of Fiscal Years (FY) 2013 and 2014. The funds are subject to
obligation limitation that is established in appropriations law. The
amount of TIDP budget authority available in a given year may be less
than the amount authorized for that fiscal year.
The AID Demonstration is one aspect of the multifaceted TIDP
approach. The FHWA expects approximately $15,000,000 to be made
available in each of FY 2013 and FY 2014 for AID Demonstration. The
FHWA will award AID Demonstration funds to multiple projects. The FHWA
has funding award goals of up to $14,000,000 available to State
departments of transportation (State DOT) and up to $1,000,000
available to Federal Land Management Agencies and tribal governments.
Awards are limited to up to two projects per State DOT applicant, with
up to one project award to a State DOT and up to one project award to a
subrecipient applying through the State DOT, and limited to one project
award per applicant for Federal Land Management Agencies and tribal
governments, subject to the number of eligible applications and the
availability of funds.
The amount of the award may be up to the full cost of the
innovation, but only to a maximum of $1,000,000. States are also
encouraged to use Section 1304 of MAP-21 ``Innovative Project Delivery
Methods'' (23 U.S.C. 120(c)(3)) to increase the Federal share on these
projects up to 5 percent. Information on the ``Innovative Project
Delivery Methods'' provision is available at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/map21/qandas/qaipd.cfm. These funding goals will be reviewed annually
and may be adjusted to reflect current priorities and needs.
The FHWA will use an open, rolling solicitation. Applicants are
encouraged to apply as soon as the eligible project is within 6 months
of being initiated. Funds will be allocated upon award selection. Award
recipients shall obligate the awarded funds to the project within 6
months of fund allocation.
Award recipients shall submit a final report to the FHWA within 6
months of project completion based on the plan described in Section VII
(Performance Measurement) that documents the process, benefits, and
lessons learned including development and/or refinement of guidance,
specifications or other tools and methods to support rapid adoption of
the innovation(s) as standard practice, as well as level of commitment
by recipient to deploy the innovation as standard practice.
III. Eligibility
A. Entities Eligible To Apply for Funding
The AID Demonstration provides incentive funding for eligible
entities to accelerate the implementation and adoption of innovation in
highway transportation. Section 502(b)(3) of title 23, U.S.C.,
authorizes the Secretary to award research grants to a wide range of
entities. The FHWA will provide AID Demonstration grants to eligible
State DOTs, Federal Land Management Agencies, and tribal governments.
We believe these entities are the most likely to fulfill the deployment
goals of the AID Demonstration program, since they are actively engaged
in the deployment of new technologies. Consistent with other FHWA
funding provided to tribes, federally recognized tribe identified on
the list of ``Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive
Services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs'' (published at 77 FR 47868)
is eligible to apply for AID Demonstration. Metropolitan planning
organizations and local governments may apply through State DOT as a
subrecipient. Applicants must submit applications electronically
through Grants.gov.
The FHWA has funding award goals of up to $14,000,000 available to
State DOTs and up to $1,000,000 available to Federal Land Management
Agencies and tribal governments. Awards are limited to up to two
projects per State DOT applicant, with up to one project award to a
State DOT and up to one project award to a subrecipient applying
through the State DOT, and limited to one project award per applicant
for Federal Land Management Agencies and tribal governments, subject to
the number of eligible applications and the availability of funds.
These funding goals will be reviewed annually and may be adjusted to
reflect current priorities and needs.
B. Eligible Uses of Funds
The AID Demonstration funds are available for any project eligible
for assistance under title 23, United States Code. Eligible projects
may involve any aspect of highway transportation including planning,
financing, operation, structures, materials, pavements, environment,
and construction that address the TIDP goals mentioned in Section I
(Background). Projects eligible for funding shall include proven
innovative practices or technologies, including infrastructure and non-
infrastructure strategies or activities, which the applicant or
subrecipient intends to implement and adopt as a significant
improvement from the applicant's or the subrecipient's conventional
practice.
The amount of the award may be up to the full cost of the
innovation in the project, but only to a maximum of $1,000,000. States
are also encouraged to use Section 1304 of MAP-21 (23 U.S.C. 120(c)(3))
``Innovative Project Delivery Methods'' on projects that may qualify to
increase the Federal share by up to 5 percent. Information on the
``Innovative Project Delivery Methods'' is available at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/map21/qandas/qaipd.cfm.
IV. Selection Criteria
The FHWA will award TIDP AID Demonstration funds to projects based
on the selection criteria outlined below.
The FHWA will use an open, rolling solicitation. Project readiness
will be treated as primary selection criteria in FHWA's evaluation
process. The project must be ready to be implemented within 6 months of
applying for AID Demonstration funding. An eligible project shall
include an innovation that aligns with the previously described TIDP
goals. The innovation must be proven in real-world application with
documented benefits (in a form that is publicly available or
verifiable), not routinely used by the applicant or the subrecipient,
and of significant improvement from the applicant's or the
subrecipient's conventional practice. The FHWA encourages the use of
innovations included in the Every Day Counts (EDC) initiative. Please
go to the following link to see examples and benefits of EDC
innovations: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/everydaycounts/.
Awards are limited to up to two projects per State DOT applicant,
with up to one project award to a State DOT and up to one project award
to a subrecipient applying through the State DOT, and limited to one
project award per applicant for Federal Land Management Agencies and
tribal governments, subject to the number of eligible applications and
the availability of funds. To ensure a wide variety of innovations and
project types, the FHWA will also initially limit awards to three
projects per innovation. If several applications submitted at the same
time are rated as ``Qualified'' and exceed the amount of available
funding, the FHWA intends to give priority funding consideration to
projects that (1) have
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not received TIDP funding, and (2) use an innovation that is included
in the EDC initiative.
In the application, the applicant or the subrecipient must indicate
willingness to: (1) Participate in monitoring and assessment activities
regarding the effectiveness of the innovation(s) and subsequent
technology transfer and information dissemination activities associated
with the project; (2) accept FHWA oversight of the project; and (3)
conduct a before and after customer satisfaction determination for
construction projects.
V. Evaluation Process
The FHWA will evaluate AID Demonstration applications in accordance
with the evaluation process discussed below.
The FHWA will establish an evaluation team of technical and
professional staff with relevant experience and/or expertise to review
each application received by FHWA through Grants.gov. The evaluation
team will be responsible for reviewing, evaluating, and rating the
applications as well as making funding recommendations to FHWA senior
leadership.
After reviewing the application, the evaluation team may contact
the applicant to discuss the application and confirm understanding of
the requirements for participation in AID Demonstration. Based on the
information collected, the evaluation team will prepare a summary
assessment rating the application along with the team's recommendation.
The summary assessment and recommendation will be presented to FHWA
senior leadership to make a final determination on the approval of the
award.
A. Selection Criteria
All applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis and be
assigned a rating of ``Qualified'' or ``Not Qualified.'' If several
applications submitted at the same time are rated as ``Qualified'', the
FHWA will give priority funding consideration to projects that (1) have
not received TIDP funding and (2) use an innovation that is included in
the EDC initiative.
The ratings are as follows:
1. Qualified:
Project ready to initiate within 6 months of applying for
AID Demonstration funding;
project innovation aligns with TIDP goals;
innovation is proven in real-world application with
documented benefits, and not routinely used by the applicant or the
subrecipient;
application describes the innovation's magnitude and scope
of impact on the applicant's or the subrecipient's conventional
practice;
data is included that directly supports the requested
funding amount;
information provided on performance goals and measures for
respective innovation demonstration and deployment activities;
application indicates the applicant's or subrecipient's
willingness to:
(1) Participate in monitoring and assessment activities regarding
the effectiveness of the innovation(s) and subsequent technology
transfer and information dissemination activities associated with the
project;
(2) accept FHWA oversight of the project; and
(3) conduct before and after customer satisfaction determinations
for construction projects.
2. Not Qualified:
Project does not meet the eligibility requirements;
application does not meet the ``Qualified'' rating;
application fails to address one or more of the
application requirements;
applicant received AID Demonstration funding within the
current fiscal year;
three projects with the innovation were already awarded
AID Demonstration funding.
VI. Application Process
A. Contents of Applications
The applicant shall include all of the information requested below
in their applications. The FHWA may request applicants to supplement
the data in the application, but encourages applicants to submit the
most relevant and complete information they can provide. The applicant
should, to the extent practicable, provide data and evidence of project
merits in a form that is publicly available or verifiable.
A complete application will consist of: (1) The Standard Form 424
(SF 424) available from Grants.gov, and (2) the narrative attachment to
the SF 424 as described below.
B. Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance
Applicants should see http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424_2_1-V2.1.pdf for instructions on completing the SF 424, which
is part of the standard Grants.gov submission.
C. Narrative (Attachment to SF 424)
The applicant or subrecipient shall include the supplemental
narrative in the attachments section of the SF 424 mandatory form in
Grants.gov to successfully complete the application process.
The applicant or subrecipient shall respond to the application
requirements described below. The supplemental narrative shall be
prepared with standard formatting (e.g. a single-spaced document, using
a standard 12-point font, such as Times New Roman, with 1-inch margins)
and should not exceed five pages.
An application shall include information needed to verify that the
project meets the statutory eligibility criteria as described in
Section III (Eligibility) as well as other information required for
FHWA to assess each of the criteria specified in Section IV (Selection
Criteria). The applicant or subrecipient is required to demonstrate the
responsiveness of the proposal to any pertinent selection criteria with
the most relevant information that applicants can provide, regardless
of whether such information is specifically requested or identified.
The applicant or subrecipient shall provide concrete evidence of
project milestones, financial capacity, and commitment in order to
support project readiness.
For ease of review, the narrative should generally adhere to the
following basic outline, and include relevant maps and graphics:
1. Project Abstract: Describe work that would be completed under
the project, whether the project is a complete project or part of a
larger project with prior investment, and the aspect of highway
transportation and the TIDP goals that the innovation would address
(maximum five sentences). The project abstract should succinctly
describe how this specific request for AID Demonstration funding would
be included in the project.
2. Project Description: Brief description of the project and
project objective(s), the innovation and related documented benefits,
the performance goals and measures for the innovation, current
organizational/institutional experience with the innovation, and the
significant improvement to conventional practice expected.
3. Innovation Performance: Brief description of how the innovation
will be monitored, assessed, and documented to determine if the
performance goals and measures are achieved, including a timeline of
demonstration, deployment,
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implementation, and/or adoption activities.
4. Applicant information and coordination with other entities:
Identification of applicant, and subrecipient if applicable;
description of cooperation with other entities; and information
regarding any other entities involved in the project.
5. Funding Request: Summary of the funding request including the
basis for determining the cost of the innovation in the project. The
applicant should also include the total project cost.
6. Eligibility and Selection Criteria: Brief description of how the
project meets the statutory eligibility criteria as described in
Section III (Eligibility) and the selection criteria identified in
Section IV (Selection Criteria).
D. Contact Information
The applicant or subrecipient should include contact information
requested as part of the SF-424. The FHWA will use this information to
contact applicants and to inform parties of FHWA's decision regarding
selection of projects. Contact information should be provided for a
direct employee of the applicant. Contact information for a contractor,
agent, or consultant of the lead applicant is insufficient for FHWA's
purposes.
E. Additional Information on Applying Through Grants.gov
Applications for AID Demonstration shall be submitted through
Grants.gov. To apply for funding through Grants.gov, applicants must be
properly registered. Complete instructions on how to register and apply
can be found at www.grants.gov. If interested parties experience
difficulties at any point during the registration or application
process, they should call the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 1-
800-518-4726, Monday-Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern
Standard Time.
Registering with Grants.gov is a one-time process, however,
processing delays may occur and it can take up to several weeks for
first-time registrants to receive confirmation and a user password.
Accordingly, FHWA highly recommends that potential applicants start the
registration process as early as possible. In order to apply for AID
Demonstration under this notice and to apply for funding through
Grants.gov, all applicants are required to complete the following:
1. Acquire a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number. A DUNS
number is required for Grants.gov registration. The Office of
Management and Budget requires that all applicants for Federal funds
include a DUNS number in their applications for a new award or renewal
of an existing award. A DUNS number is a unique nine-digit sequence
recognized as the universal standard for identifying and keeping track
of entities receiving Federal funds. The identifier is used for
tracking purposes and to validate address and point of contact
information for Federal assistance applicants, recipients, and
subrecipients. The DUNS number will be used throughout the grant life
cycle. Obtaining a DUNS number is a free, one-time activity that can be
completed by calling 1-866-705-5711 or by applying online at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.
2. Acquire or Renew Registration with the Central Contractor
Registration (CCR) Database. All applicants for Federal financial
assistance maintain current registrations in the CCR database. An
applicant must be registered in the CCR to successfully register in
Grants.gov. The CCR database is the repository for standard information
about Federal financial assistance applicants, recipients, and
subrecipients. Entities that have previously submitted applications via
Grants.gov are already registered with CCR, as it is a requirement for
Grants.gov registration. Please note, however, that applicants must
update or renew their CCR registration at least once per year to
maintain an active status, so it is critical to check registration
status well in advance of relevant application deadlines. Information
about CCR registration procedures can be accessed at: https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/.
3. Acquire an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) and a
Grants.gov Username and Password. Applicants will need to complete an
AOR profile on Grants.gov and create a username and password. The
assigned DUNS Number is required to complete this step. For more
information about the registration process, go to: www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp.
4. Acquire Authorization for the AOR from the E-Business Point of
Contact (E-Biz POC). The E-Biz POC for the applicant must log in to
Grants.gov to confirm the applicant as an AOR. Please note that there
can be more than one AOR for each applicant.
5. Search for the Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. Applicants can
use the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for this
solicitation, which is 20.200, titled Technology and Innovation
Development Program, when searching for the AID Demonstration
opportunity on Grants.gov.
6. Submit an Application Addressing All of the Requirements
Outlined in this Notice of Funding Availability. Within 24 to 48 hours
after submitting an electronic application, applicants should receive
an email validation message from Grants.gov. The validation message
will specify whether the application was received and validated or
rejected, with an explanation.
Note: When uploading attachments, applicants should use
generally accepted formats such as .pdf, .doc, and .xls. While
applicants may imbed picture files such as .jpg, .gif, .bmp, in your
files, they should not save and submit the attachment in these
formats. Additionally, the following formats will not be accepted:
.com, .bat, .exe, .vbs, .cfg, .dat, .db, .dbf, .dll, .ini, .log,
.ora, .sys, and .zip.
F. Experiencing Technical Issues With Grants.gov
If interested parties experience difficulties at any point during
the registration or application process, they should call the
Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 1-800-518-4726, Monday-Friday
from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
VII. Performance Measurement
Each applicant selected for AID Demonstration funding shall work
with FHWA on the development and implementation of a plan to collect
information and report on the project's performance with respect to the
relevant outcomes that are expected to be achieved through the
innovation in the project. Each recipient or subrecipient of AID
Demonstration funding shall report on specified performance indicators
for its project. Performance indicators will be identified for each
project, and will consider the individual project's stated goals as
well as resource constraints of the recipient or subrecipient.
Performance indicators will not include formal goals or targets, but
will include baseline measures as well as post-project outputs, and
will inform the AID Demonstration program in working toward best
practices, programmatic performance measures, and future decisionmaking
guidelines. The recipient or subrecipient shall submit a final report
to FHWA within 6 months of project completion which documents the
process, benefits, and lessons learned including development and/or
refinement of guidance, specifications or other tools and methods to
support rapid adoption of the innovation(s) as standard practice.
VIII. Questions and Clarifications
For further information concerning this final notice please contact
Ms. Ewa
[[Page 9585]]
Flom, Program Manager, Center for Accelerating Innovation, (202) 366-
2169, or Ms. Seetha Srinivasan, Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-
4099, Federal Highway Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., e.t.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. A TDD is available for
individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing at (202) 366-3993.
In addition, FHWA will post answers to questions and requests for
clarifications on FHWA's Web site at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/accelerating/grants. Applicants and subrecipients are encouraged to
contact FHWA directly to receive information about AID Demonstration.
Authority: Section 52003 of Pub. L. 112-141; 23 U.S.C. 503.
Issued on: January 24, 2014.
Gregory G. Nadeau,
Deputy Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2014-03452 Filed 2-18-14; 8:45 am]
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