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FY 2022 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) for Transit Buses Demonstration and Automated Transit Bus Maintenance and Yard Operations Demonstration Publication: Federal Register Agency: Federal Transit Administration Byline: Nuria I. Fernandez Date: 22 September 2022 Subjects: American Government  , Autonomous Vehicles, Buses
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 183 (Thursday, September 22, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57971-57977]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-20511]
[[Page 57971]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
FY 2022 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Advanced Driver
Assistance Systems (ADAS) for Transit Buses Demonstration and Automated
Transit Bus Maintenance and Yard Operations Demonstration
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the
opportunity to apply for funding for transit bus automation
demonstration projects under the Public Transportation Innovation
Program. FTA is exploring the use of driving automation technologies in
bus transit operations as described in the Strategic Transit Automation
Research (STAR) Plan. As part of this research agenda, FTA is funding a
number of demonstrations in real-world settings. These projects will
create a testbed for study of technical issues, user acceptance,
operational and maintenance costs, workforce training and transition,
and institutional issues, and will further assess the needs for
standards development.
DATES: Complete applications must be submitted electronically through
the GRANTS.GOV ``APPLY'' function by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on
November 21, 2022.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Mortensen, Senior ITS Engineer,
202-493-0459, or transitautomation@dot.gov.
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
H. Other Information
A. Program Description
This Notice (Federal Assistance Listing: 20.530) seeks to fund
demonstrations in two areas under the Public Transportation Innovation
Program (49 U.S.C. 5312): (1) Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS)
for Transit Buses and (2) Automated Transit Bus Maintenance and Yard
Operations--identified as demonstrations #1 and #3 respectively in the
STAR Plan (available at https://www.transit.dot.gov/research-innovation/strategic-transit-automation-research-plan). These
demonstrations address one of the primary goals of the STAR Plan, which
is to demonstrate transit bus automation technologies in real-world
settings. The demonstrations will help establish the feasibility of
ADAS and Automated Transit Bus Maintenance and Yard Operations use
cases and improve understanding of the impacts. A total of up to $6.5
million is available for demonstration projects:
1. $5 million for ADAS for Transit Buses; and
2. $1.5 million for an initial phase of Automated Transit Bus
Maintenance and Yard Operations and, subject to availability,
additional funding may be provided to implement a second phase of the
Automated Transit Bus Maintenance and Yard Operations Demonstration.
1. Program Overview
Automation capabilities have grown rapidly in recent years and have
changed the dialogue around all aspects of the surface transportation
system. Transit bus automation could deliver many potential benefits,
but transit agencies need additional research and practical information
to make informed deployment decisions. To support the development and
deployment of automated bus transit services and to advance transit
readiness for automation and help move the transit industry forward,
FTA developed the STAR Plan to outline FTA's research agenda on transit
bus automation technologies. FTA's efforts aim to help determine the
potential benefits and costs of transit bus automation, and to provide
transit agencies with the resources, guidance, and tools they need to
make informed deployment decisions. See FTA's Transit Automation
Research website for more information (https://www.transit.dot.gov/automation-research).
The demonstrations align with the Department's Innovation
Principles and Strategic Goals: Safety, Economic Strength and Global
Competitiveness, Equity, Climate and Sustainability, Transformation,
and Organizational Excellence. ADAS has the potential to increase
safety, provide a more accessible service, and/or improve driving and
operational performance in terms of fuel economy, network efficiency,
or other metrics. Automated maintenance and yard operations have the
potential to increase efficiency in transit agency facilities and
improve safety of operations within the yard for the transit agency
workforce.
ADAS can assist bus operators, reduce collisions, and increase
safety, including safety for vulnerable road users, and has the
potential to provide a more accessible service (e.g., precision
docking) and improve driving and operational performance in terms of
fuel economy and network efficiency (e.g., smooth acceleration and
deceleration, platooning, narrow lane/shoulder operations). Automated
maintenance and yard operations can increase efficiency in transit
agency maintenance and yard facilities (e.g., precision movement of
fueling, service bays, and bus washing; automated parking and recall)
and improve safety of operations within these facilities for the
transit agency workforce (e.g., bus disinfection, injury reduction).
2. Research Scope
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) for Transit Buses
Demonstration: FTA is seeking innovative projects to demonstrate
market-ready or near market-ready ADAS technologies for use in revenue
service to assess technology readiness and effectiveness, address
technical issues, identify benefits and costs, and measure impacts.
Demonstrations should be conducted with technologies and vehicles that
are currently on the market and can be adapted or retrofitted to the
purpose relatively quickly. Use cases may include smooth acceleration
and deceleration; automatic emergency braking and pedestrian collision
avoidance; curb avoidance; precision docking; narrow lane/shoulder
operations; and platooning. Eligible activities include applicable
systems engineering activities leading to the demonstration of ADAS use
cases, such as requirements, architecture, and design development;
equipment installation and integration; and pre-demonstration testing.
Workforce engagement, training, and skills development activities
related to the demonstration are also eligible. Projects will consist
of a minimum 12-month operational demonstration in revenue service.
Eligible projects must propose to demonstrate at least one ADAS use
case.
Automation for Maintenance and Yard Operations Demonstration: FTA
is seeking innovative projects to execute the first phase and, if
funding becomes available, the second phase of Automation for
Maintenance and Yard Operations demonstrations. Demonstrations should
be conducted with vehicles that are broadly representative of those
currently comprising the agency's fleet in terms of size and passenger
capacity. Use cases
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may include precision movement for fueling/recharging, maintenance,
disinfection, and/or bus wash; and automated parking and recall.
Eligible activities include applicable systems engineering activities
leading to the proof-of-concept demonstration, such as requirements,
architecture, and design development; equipment installation and
integration; and testing. Workforce engagement, training, and skills
development activities related to the demonstration are also eligible.
Phase 1 will result in one or more concepts of operations and
limited proof of concept demonstrations, which must be conducted within
12 months of project award. Phase 2 is envisioned to result in a
longer-term (12-24 month) operational demonstration on a transit
property and additional functionality (for example, expanding the
number of equipped vehicles, locations within the yard, or expanded
automation of functions). Applicants should identify the proposed
location and duration of the Phase 1 proof-of-concept test, noting that
an active bus yard is preferred, but offsite facilities and test tracks
will be considered. Phase 2, if funded, should be located in an active
bus yard. The Automation for Maintenance and Yard Operations
Demonstration will assist the transit industry in assessing technology
readiness and effectiveness, addressing technical issues, identifying
benefits and costs, and measuring impacts of automated operations in
transit agency bus yards and maintenance facilities.
Details of the demonstrations will vary according to the applicants
and projects selected, but all proposed projects should address a broad
range of factors related to transit, such as:
System performance, capabilities, limitations, and
effectiveness
Transit operations and maintenance
Service quality
Safety and security, including cybersecurity
Human factors, including operator training and human-machine
interface
Transit agency staff experience and acceptance
Passenger experience, comfort, acceptance, and willingness to
use, including passengers with disabilities
Perceptions and acceptance by other road users, such as
bicyclists and pedestrians
Communication and equipment needs and costs
Overall cost-effectiveness
Transferability
Accessibility
Input from labor
Applicants are encouraged to elaborate on these factors and to
identify and discuss any additional factors as appropriate in their
application under this NOFO.
The awardees of both demonstrations will be required to produce a
report for publication at the end of the project, documenting the
project approach, results, lessons learned, conclusions and potential
next steps, and include training materials produced by the project. The
awardees of both demonstrations will also be required to work with an
FTA-selected independent evaluator to evaluate the respective projects.
3. Alignment With Policy Priorities
These demonstrations are closely aligned with US DOT's Strategic
Goals and Innovation Principles. Examples include the following:
Improve Safety--ADAS technologies can include lane-
keeping, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian avoidance systems, and
other collision avoidance capabilities; and automated maintenance and
yard operations could reduce the number of conflicts between vehicles
and maintenance staff, pedestrians, fixed objects, or other vehicles.
Both demonstrations will help show the possible safety implications of
these technologies.
Serve Equity--ADAS includes precision docking
technologies, which can make boarding and alighting easier and faster
for all passengers, but particularly those with mobility challenges.
Additionally, other ADAS technologies can help increase throughput,
resulting in faster trips and improved reliability--generally,
improvements in transit service have positive implications for equity
outcomes.
Reduce Climate Impacts--Certain automated vehicle
technologies may have the potential to improve efficiency in ways that
reduce overall fuel consumption, which accordingly result in a
reduction in emissions. These demonstrations can provide valuable data
to help quantify the possible fuel savings and emission reduction.
Promote American Competitiveness and Economic
Development--The transit industry benefits from Federal investment in
new technologies, supporting domestic manufacturing as well as economic
development through improvements to safety and mobility.
Support Workers and Workforce--Safety improvements from
ADAS could enhance operator safety. Automation of maintenance and yard
operations can streamline the start and end of operator shifts,
increasing safety and reducing the workload on operators. The
participation of labor representatives in project design and
implementation will enhance project learning with respect to safety and
workforce impacts.
B. Federal Award Information
Federal public transportation law (49 U.S.C. 5312) authorizes FTA's
Public Transportation Innovation Program. Through this program, FTA may
support research, development, demonstration, and deployment projects,
and evaluation of research and technology of national significance to
public transportation that the Secretary determines will improve public
transportation service. FTA anticipates competitively selecting up to
three projects for each demonstration for a total of up to $6.5 million
of FTA Public Transportation Innovation Program demonstration funds.
An applicant whose proposal is selected for funding will receive a
cooperative agreement with FTA. FTA will have substantial involvement
in the administration of the cooperative agreement. FTA's role includes
the right to participate in decisions to redirect and reprioritize
project activities, goals, and deliverables.
FTA may, at its discretion, provide additional funds for selections
made under this announcement or for additional meritorious
applications. FTA may cap the amount a single recipient or State may
receive as part of the selection process. Due to funding limitations,
applicants that are selected for funding may receive less than the
amount requested. Only applications from eligible recipients for
eligible activities will be considered for funding.
Projects under this competition are for demonstration projects,
including documentation and evaluation efforts and, as such, FTA
Circular 6100.1E, ``Research, Technical Assistance and Training Program
Guidance'' (available at https://www.fta.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/fta-circulars/research-technical-assistance-and-training-program), guidance will apply in administering the program.
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants under this Notice include the following:
Public transit agencies;
State/local government entities;
Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs);
Federally recognized Indian tribes; and
Institutions of higher education, particularly those with
Minority Serving Institution status.
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Applications must clearly identify the eligible applicant and all
project partners on the project team. Eligible project partners under
this program may include, but are not limited to:
Bus manufacturers;
Technology system suppliers, developers, and integrators;
Operators of transportation services, such as employee
shuttle services, airport connector services, university transportation
systems, or parking and tolling authorities;
State or local government entities;
Labor unions and other workforce representatives; and
Other organizations, including consultants, research
consortia, and not-for-profit industry organizations.
In the application, eligible applicants are encouraged to identify
one or more project partners with a substantial interest and
involvement in the project activities or objectives to participate in
the implementation of the project.
If an application that involves such a partnership is selected for
funding, the competitive selection process will be deemed to satisfy
the requirement for a competitive procurement under 49 U.S.C. 5325(a)
for the named entities. Applicants are advised that any changes from
the proposed partnership after selection will require FTA's written
approval, must be consistent with the scope of the approved project,
and may require competitive procurement unless an exception applies.
To be considered eligible, applicants must be able to demonstrate
the requisite legal, financial, and technical capabilities to receive
and administer Federal funds under this program.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
The maximum Federal share of project costs under this program is
limited to 80 percent. Applicants may seek a lower Federal
contribution. The applicant must provide the non-Federal share of the
net project cost in cash, or in-kind, and must document in its
application the source of the non-Federal match. Eligible sources of
non-Federal match are detailed in FTA Circular 6100.1E.
3. Eligible Projects
Eligible activities for the ADAS for Transit Buses Demonstration
include applicable systems engineering activities leading to the
demonstration of ADAS use cases, such as requirements, architecture,
and design development; equipment installation and integration; and
pre-demonstration testing. Workforce engagement, training, and skills
development activities related to the demonstration are also eligible.
Projects will consist of a minimum 12-month operational demonstration
in revenue service. Eligible projects must propose to demonstrate at
least one ADAS use case.
Eligible activities for the Automation for Maintenance and Yard
Operations Demonstration include applicable systems engineering
activities leading to the proof-of-concept demonstration, such as
requirements, architecture, and design development; equipment
installation and integration; and testing. Workforce engagement,
training, and skills development activities related to the
demonstration are also eligible.
Projects will not include the demonstration, deployment, or
evaluation of a vehicle that is in revenue service unless the project
makes significant technological advancements in the vehicle.
D. Application and Submission Information
1. Address To Request Application
Applications must be submitted electronically through GRANTS.GOV.
General information for submitting applications through GRANTS.GOV can
be found at http://www.transit.dot.gov/howtoapply along with specific
instructions for the forms and attachments required for submission. A
complete proposal submission consists of two forms and an attachment.
Forms are a standard form 424 (SF-424), ``Application for Federal
Assistance,'' which can be downloaded from GRANTS.GOV and the
supplemental form for the FY22 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems
(ADAS) for Transit Buses Demonstration and Automated Transit Bus
Maintenance and Yard Operations Demonstration, which can be downloaded
from the FTA website at https://www.transit.dot.gov/notices-funding/fiscal-year-2022-advanced-driver-assistance-systems-adas-transit-buses.
The funding opportunity ID is FTA-2022-015-TRI-STAR. The attachment
shall provide the project approach and proposed scope of work.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
A completed application consists of the SF-424, the supplemental
form, and the project approach and proposed scope of work attachment.
The application must include responses to all sections of the SF-424
Application for Federal Assistance and the supplemental form, unless
indicated as optional. The supplemental form and required project
approach and proposed scope of work attachment must be added to the
``Attachments'' section of the SF-424. The project approach and
proposed scope of work attachment, limited to 15 pages, should be a
short project proposal that describes the following:
Project background;
Technical information including proposed impact and
outcomes;
Project approach including major tasks and milestones/
deliverables, overall workflow and timeline, roles and
responsibilities, anticipated project risks and mitigation strategies,
knowledge transfer activities, and proposed costs/budget; and the
Team organizational capacity and staff experience.
FTA will accept only one supplemental form and project approach and
proposed scope of work attachment per SF-424 submission. Applicants may
also attach additional supporting information and other materials or
information relevant to the demonstration such as letters of support
from key stakeholders, which are not subject to the 15-page limit of
the project approach and proposed scope of work attachment.
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. The information on the supplemental form
will be used to determine applicant and project eligibility for the
program.
Information such as applicant name, Federal amount requested, and
local match amount may be requested on both the SF-424 and supplemental
form. Applicants 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. Applicants 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.
The SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance and the supplemental
form will prompt applicants for the required information, including:
1. Applicant name.
2. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number.
3. Key contact information (including name, address, email address,
and phone).
4. Congressional district(s) where project will take place.
5. Project information (including title, and an executive summary).
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6. A description of the project and how it will (a) design, test,
and evaluate the relevant technologies and their practical application;
and (b) document results and share lessons learned in a format suitable
for publication.
7. Information on any project partners, their role, and anticipated
contributions.
8. A description of the technical, legal, and financial capacity of
the applicant and partners.
9. A detailed project budget, specifying Federal and local share
when applicable.
10. A detailed project timeline.
Refer to Section E.1 for information on the application review
criteria.
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 an active Federal award or an application or plan under
consideration by FTA. 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. These requirements do not apply if the applicant has an
exception approved by FTA or the U.S. Office of Management and Budget
under 2 CFR 25.110(c) or (d). SAM registration takes approximately 3-5
business days, but 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 https://www.sam.gov/.
4. Submission Dates and Times
Project applications must be submitted electronically through
GRANTS.GOV by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on November 21, 2022. GRANTS.GOV
attaches a time stamp to each application at the time of submission.
Applications submitted after the deadline will only be considered if
lateness was due to extraordinary circumstances not under the
applicant's control. Mail and fax submissions will not be accepted.
FTA urges applicants 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 website. Deadlines will not be extended due to scheduled
website maintenance.
Within 48 hours after submitting an electronic application, the
applicant should receive an email message from GRANTS.GOV with
confirmation of successful transmission to GRANTS.GOV. If 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.
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 take steps to keep their registration up to
date before submissions can be made successfully: (1) registration in
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 submission.
5. Funding Restrictions
Refer to Section C.3., Eligible Projects, for information on
activities that are allowable. Allowable direct and indirect expenses
must be consistent with the Governmentwide Uniform Administrative
Requirements and Cost Principles (2 CFR part 200) and FTA Circular
5010.1E.
Funds available under this NOFO cannot be used to reimburse
applicants for otherwise eligible expenses incurred prior to FTA
issuing pre-award authority for selected projects.
6. Other Submission Requirements
Applicants are encouraged to identify scaled funding options in
case funding is not 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 regardless of whether a
scalable option is provided.
All applications must be submitted via the GRANTS.GOV website. FTA
does not accept applications on paper, by fax machine, email, or other
means. For information on application submission requirements, please
see Section D.1., Address to Request Application.
E. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
Projects will be evaluated on the project approach and proposed
scope of work attachment and 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 applications based on the
criteria described below.
a. Project Impact and Outcomes
FTA seeks projects that increase the transit community's knowledge
about the feasibility, effectiveness, benefits, and costs of driving
automation technologies for transit buses. Strong applications will
present a clear plan for how these factors will be identified and
measured. Under this criterion, FTA will prioritize projects that
demonstrate a clear understanding and presentation of the technology to
be demonstrated, its maturity today, the expected maturity at the
conclusion of the project, and potential impacts on the workforce as a
result of technology implementation. Projects that address transit
applications that are generalizable across agencies and geographies and
that are scalable to wider and expanded use will be given priority for
funding. This includes an emphasis on commonly available commercial
products rather than custom-built solutions, wherever possible, as well
as consideration of the project's applicability to other locations and
types of transit buses and service models.
b. Project Approach
Applications should present a realistic and detailed description of
the overall project workflow and the content of each task or step
mentioned in the workflow, including any major dependencies and
milestones/deliverables. Applicants should clearly
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describe how they plan to engage the workforce, develop and administer
needed training, and assess the effectiveness of that training. They
should clearly delineate project roles and responsibilities and present
information on potential project risks and how the risks will be
mitigated. Applicants should include a proposed list of milestones and/
or deliverables and timelines and describe how these deliverables will
be shared with peers and the public. At a minimum, the final report
will be published and posted on the FTA website, but applicants are
encouraged to identify potential conferences, journals, etc. which may
be appropriate. The project budget should be supported by documentation
that allows FTA to assess the source and credibility of the estimates.
The source of local matching funds should be clearly identified and any
potential restrictions or limitations of those funds should be
discussed. FTA may consider projects that will provide more than the
minimum 20 percent local match more favorably, as this allows FTA to
leverage its limited funding to support a greater number of projects.
c. Organizational Capacity and Staff Experience
The applicant should discuss successful completion of similar or
relevant projects. Additionally, the application should note the staff
who will be involved in the project, their qualifications, and how the
applicant will ensure they will have enough time to devote to the
project.
d. Technical, Legal, and Financial Capacity
Applicant must demonstrate the financial and organizational
capacity and managerial experience to successfully oversee and
implement this project. FTA may 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. Applicants with outstanding legal,
technical, or financial compliance issues from an FTA compliance review
or Federal Transit Administration grant-related Single Audit finding
must explain how corrective actions will mitigate negative impacts on
the proposed project.
For applications that include named project partners, FTA will also
consider the technical, legal, and financial capacity of the proposed
partners.
2. Review and Selection Process
A technical evaluation committee will evaluate applications based
on the evaluation criteria. Members of the technical evaluation
committee may request additional information from applicants, if
necessary. Based on the review of the technical evaluation committee,
the FTA Administrator will determine the final selection for program
funding.
After applying the evaluation criteria, in support of the
President's January 20, 2021, Executive Order 13900 on Protecting
Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the
Climate Crisis, the selecting official will consider applications that
may provide other air quality benefits as part of the application
review. Applicants should identify any nonattainment or maintenance
areas under the Clean Air Act in the proposed service area.
Nonattainment or maintenance areas should be limited to the following
applicable National Ambient Air Quality Standards criteria pollutants:
carbon monoxide, ozone, and particulate matter 2.5 and 10. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's Green Book (available at https://www.epa.gov/green-book) is a publicly available resource for
nonattainment and maintenance area data. This consideration will
further the goals of the Executive Order, including the goal to
prioritize environment justice (EJ), and historically disadvantaged
communities.
In support of Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at
Home and Abroad, FTA will give priority consideration to applications
that create significant community benefits relating to the environment,
including those projects that address greenhouse gas emissions and
climate change impacts. FTA encourages applicants to demonstrate
whether they have considered climate change and environmental justice
in terms of the transportation planning process or anticipated design
components with outcomes that address climate change (e.g., resilience
or adaptation measures). The application should describe what specific
climate change or environmental justice activities have been
incorporated, including whether a project supports a Climate Action
Plan, whether an equitable development plan has been prepared, and
whether tools such as EPA's EJSCREEN have been applied in project
planning. The application should also describe specific and direct ways
the project will mitigate or reduce climate change impacts including
any components that reduce emissions, promote energy efficiency,
incorporate electrification or low emission or zero emission vehicle
infrastructure, increase resiliency, or recycle or redevelop existing
infrastructure.
In addition, FTA will consider benefits to EJ communities when
reviewing applications received under this program. Applicants should
identify any EJ populations located within the proposed service area
and describe anticipated benefits to that population(s) should the
applicant receive a grant under this program. A formal EJ analysis that
is typically included in transportation planning or environmental
reviews is not requested. Among the factors, in determining the
allocation of program funds FTA may consider geographic diversity,
diversity in the size of the grantees receiving funding, or the
applicant's receipt of other competitive awards. Respectively, FTA will
evaluate the proposals to determine the extent that the proposed
project will address affordable housing needs, provide equitable
housing choices for environmental justice populations, and avoid
displacement of low-income households.
In support of Executive Order 14008, and consistent with OMB's
Interim Guidance for the Justice40 Initiative, Historically
Disadvantaged Communities include (a) certain qualifying census tracts,
(b) any Tribal land, or (c) any territory or possession of the United
States. DOT is providing a mapping tool to assist applicants in
identifying whether a project is located in a Historically
Disadvantaged Community: (https://usdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/d6f90dfcc8b44525b04c7ce748a3674a). Use of this map tool is
optional; applicants may provide an image of the map tool outputs, or
alternatively, consistent with OMB's Interim Guidance, applicants can
supply quantitative, demographic data of their ridership demonstrating
the percentage of their ridership that meets the criteria described in
Executive Order 14008 for disadvantage. Examples of Disadvantaged
Communities that an applicant could address using geographic or
demographic information include low income, high and/or persistent
poverty, high unemployment and underemployment, racial and ethnic
residential segregation, linguistic isolation, or high housing cost
burden and substandard housing. Additionally, in support of the
Justice40 Initiative, the applicant also should provide evidence of
strategies that the applicant has used in the planning process to seek
out and
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consider the needs of those traditionally disadvantaged and underserved
by existing transportation systems. For technical assistance using the
mapping tool, please contact GMO@dot.gov.
3. Integrity and Performance Review
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 any information
about itself that a Federal awarding agency previously entered. FTA
will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the other
information in the designated integrity and performance system, in
making a judgment about the applicant's and proposed partners'
integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal
awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as
described in the Office of Management and Budget's Uniform Requirements
for Federal Awards (2 CFR 200.206).
F. Federal Award Administration Information
1. Federal Award Notices
FTA will announce the final project selections on the FTA website.
Due to funding limitations, applicants 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.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
a. Pre-Award Authority
At the time the project selections are announced, FTA may extend
pre-award authority for the selected projects. There is no blanket pre-
award authority for these projects before announcement. 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 most recent Apportionments, Allocations and Program Information
Notice at https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations/federal-register-documents/2022-09143.
Pre-award authority is subject to FTA approval and is only
available for costs incurred after the announcement of project
selections on FTA's website. A request for pre-award authority must be
submitted to FTA and approved in writing in advance of any costs being
incurred.
b. Cooperative Agreement Requirements
If selected, awardees will apply for a cooperative agreement
through TrAMS and adhere to the customary FTA grant requirements of 49
U.S.C. 5312, Public Transportation Innovation, including those of FTA
Circular 6100.1E. Successful applicants must be prepared to submit a
complete statement of work and application in TrAMS within 45 days of
notification of award, and should include any goals, targets, and
indicators in the TrAMS application Executive Summary. Technical
assistance regarding these requirements will be available from the
appointed FTA project manager who will be identified upon project
selection.
c. Safety Requirements
Applicants must comply with applicable safety requirements,
including those administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
(FMCSA). Specifically, the proposed project must comply with applicable
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). If the vehicles do not comply, the
application should either (1) show that the vehicles and their proposed
operations are within the scope of an exemption or waiver that has
already been granted by NHTSA, FMCSA, or both agencies, or (2) directly
address whether the project will require exemptions or waivers from the
FMVSS, FMCSR, or any other regulation and, if the project will require
exemptions or waivers, present a plan for obtaining them.
d. Made in America
All capital procurements must meet FTA's Buy America requirements
(49 U.S.C. 5323(j) and 49 CFR part 661) and the Build America, Buy
America Act's domestic preference requirements for infrastructure
projects (Sec. Sec. 70901-70927 of the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act, Pub. L. 117-58), which together require that all iron, steel,
manufactured goods, and construction materials be produced in the
United States, and set minimum domestic content and final assembly
requirements for rolling stock. The U.S. Department of Transportation
issued a temporary public interest waiver for construction materials
for a period of 180 days beginning on May 14, 2022 and expiring on
November 10, 2022.
Any proposal that will require a waiver of any domestic preference
standard 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.
e. Disadvantaged Business Enterprises
Recipients receiving planning, capital, or operating assistance
that will award prime contracts exceeding $250,000 in FTA funds in a
Federal fiscal year must comply with the U.S. Department of
Transportation's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program
regulations (49 CFR part 26). Applicants should expect to include any
funds awarded, excluding those to be used for vehicle procurements, in
setting their overall DBE goal.
f. Standard Assurances
If an applicant receives an award, the applicant must assure 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 award. The applicant acknowledges that it will be under a
continuing obligation to comply with the terms and conditions of the
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 most recent Federal requirements will apply to the
project unless FTA issues a written determination otherwise. The
applicant must submit the most recent FTA Certifications and Assurances
before receiving an award if it does not have current certifications on
file.
g. External Communications
Recipients must communicate with their FTA project manager prior to
engaging in any external communications regarding their project. This
includes any work developing news or magazine stories with media
organizations, including print, video, online, or otherwise.
Additionally, the FTA project manager must be notified if project
information, including results and metrics, will be shared during a
webinar or other presentation open to the public produced either by the
recipient itself or another organization. Recipients should consult
with their FTA project manager at the beginning of their agreement to
discuss and plan any
[[Page 57977]]
external communications about their project.
h. Data Access and Data Sharing
FTA seeks to improve public transportation for America's
communities by sharing digital data or source code collected or
developed through its research with the public. This allows research
organizations, transit agencies, and other stakeholders to learn from
and expand upon the insights developed from FTA-funded research. An
award made pursuant to this NOFO will be subject to the latest version
of FTA's Master Agreement (available at https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grantee-resources/sample-fta-agreements/fta-grant-agreements),
including Section 17 Patent Rights and Section 18 Rights in Data and
Copyrights.
All work conducted under this award must follow the Department data
policies outlined in the DOT Public Access Plan at: https://ntl.bts.gov/public-access/how-comply, including the development and
approval of a Data Management Plan (DMP). Recipients are required to
include these obligations in any sub-awards or other related funding
agreements.
A DMP is a document that describes how recipients plan to handle
digital datasets, software, or code generated over the course of a
research project pursuant to Federal and Departmental requirements. A
DMP must be provided as a condition of receiving FTA funds under the
Section 5312 Research Program and should adequately identify: (1) the
data to be collected, (2) how the data will further the goals of this
effort, (3) how the data will be made accessible, and (4) how the data
will be stored. DMPs can be updated over time if the scope of the
project or the type of data that will be collected changes. FTA staff
is available to assist recipients with complying with public data
access requirements.
FTA expects recipients to remove confidential business information
(CBI) and Personally Identifiable Information (PII) before providing
public access to project data. Recipients must ensure the appropriate
data are accessible to FTA or the public for a minimum of five years
after the award period of performance expires.
Recipients must make available to the Department copies of all work
developed in performance of a project funded under this announcement,
including but not limited to software and data. Data rights shall be in
accordance with 2 CFR 200.315, Intangible property.
i. Independent Evaluation
Projects funded under this announcement will be subject to
evaluation by an independent evaluator selected by FTA. Recipients will
be required to coordinate with the independent evaluator to assist in
developing an evaluation plan and collecting, storing and managing data
required to fulfill that evaluation plan.
j. Software Provisions
Any standards, guidance, tools or software developed as a part of
this solicitation will be subject to provisions of FTA's Master
Agreement and evaluated for the potential to be shared for use by
public transportation agencies.
3. Reporting
Post-award reporting requirements include the electronic submission
of Federal Financial Reports and Milestone Progress Reports in TrAMS.
Documentation is required for payment. Additional progress reporting to
the FTA project manager may be required. The recipient may be expected
to participate in events or peer networks related to the goals and
objectives of the program.
The Federal Financial Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA)
requires data entry at the FFATA Sub Award Reporting System (http://www.FSRS.gov) for all sub-awards and sub-contracts issued for $30,000
or more, as well as addressing executive compensation for both award
recipients and sub-award organizations.
As part of completing the annual certifications and assurances
required of FTA grant recipients, a successful applicant must report on
the suspension or debarment status of itself and its principals.
If the award recipient's active grants, cooperative agreements, and
procurement contracts from all Federal awarding agencies exceeds
$10,000,000 for any period of time during the period of performance of
an award made pursuant to this Notice, the recipient must comply with
the Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters reporting requirements
described in Appendix XII to 2 CFR part 200.
Note that vehicle demonstration projects are not considered regular
and continuing, and so data on ridership and vehicle operations for
demonstration projects are not reported to the National Transit
Database (NTD). The cost of the project may be reportable as a
reconciling item by full reporters. Recipients should consult their NTD
Validation Analyst on proper reporting of demonstration projects.
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
For further information concerning this notice, please contact
Steve Mortensen in the FTA Office of Research, Demonstration and
Innovation, by phone at 202-493-0459, or by email at
transitautomation@dot.gov. 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 website
at https://www.transit.dot.gov/grant-programs/advanced-driver-assistance-systems-adas-transit-buses-demonstration-and-automated. To
ensure applicants receive accurate information about eligibility,
applicants are encouraged to contact FTA directly, rather than through
intermediaries or third parties, with questions. FTA staff may also
conduct briefings on the competitive grants selection and award process
upon request.
For issues with GRANTS.GOV, please contact GRANTS.GOV by phone at
1-800-518-4726 or by email at support@grants.gov.
H. Other Information
This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372,
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
Nuria I. Fernandez,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2022-20511 Filed 9-21-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P