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U.S. DOT FY22 Safe Streets and Roads for All Funding Publication: Federal Register Agency: Office of the Secretary of Transportation Byline: Christopher Coes Date: 24 May 2022 Subjects: American Government  , Roads & Highways, Safety
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 24, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31606-31626]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-11113]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary of Transportation
[DOT-OST-2022-0056]
U.S. DOT FY22 Safe Streets and Roads for All Funding
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to solicit applications for the
Fiscal Year
[[Page 31607]]
2022 (FY22) NOFO for the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A)
discretionary grant program. SS4A funds will be awarded on a
competitive basis to support infrastructure, behavioral, and
operational initiatives that prevent death and serious injury on roads
and streets involving all roadway users, including: Pedestrians;
bicyclists; public transportation, personal conveyance, and
micromobility users; motorists; and commercial vehicle operators.
DATES: Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday,
September 15, 2022. Late applications will not be accepted.
ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted through www.Grants.gov. Only
applicants who comply with all submission requirements described in
this notice and submit applications through www.Grants.gov on or before
the application deadline will be eligible for award.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information regarding this
notice, please contact the Office of the Secretary via email at
SS4A@dot.gov, or call Paul Teicher at (202) 366-4114. A TDD is
available for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing at 202-366-
3993. In addition, DOT will periodically post answers to common
questions and requests for clarifications on the Department's website
at https://www.transportation.gov/SS4A.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Each section of this notice contains
information and instructions relevant to the application process for
SS4A grants, and all applicants should read this notice in its entirety
so that they have the information they need to submit eligible and
competitive applications.
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\1\ The definition is based on the ``Moving to a Complete
Streets Design Model: A Report to Congress on Opportunities and
Challenges,'' https://highways.dot.gov/newsroom/federal-highway-administration-details-efforts-advance-complete-streets-design-model.
\2\ Source: FHWA, Public Roads Magazine Spring 2021
``Micromobility: A Travel Innovation.'' Publication Number: FHWA-
HRT-21-003.
\3\ https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813251, see page 127 for the full definition as defined in the 2020
FARS/CRSS Coding and Validation Manual.
\4\ See: https://www.transportation.gov/NRSS/SafeSystem.
\5\ Safety culture can be defined as the shared values, actions,
and behaviors that demonstrate a commitment to safety over competing
goals and demands.
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Table of Contents
A. Program Description
1. Overview
2. Grant Types and Deliverables
3. SS4A Grant Priorities
B. Federal Award Information
1. Total Funding Available
2. Availability of Funds
3. Award Size and Anticipated Quantity
4. Start Dates and Period of Performance
5. Data Collection Requirements
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
3. Grant Eligibility Requirements
4. Eligible Activities and Costs
D. Application and Submission Information
1. Address To Request Application Package
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management
4. Submission Date and Time
5. Funding Restrictions
6. Other Submission Requirements
E. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria
2. Review and Selection Process
3. Additional Information
F. Federal Award Administration Information
1. Federal Award Notices
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
3. Reporting
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
H. Other Information
1. Publication of Application Information
2. Department Feedback on Applications
3. Rural Applicants
Definitions
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Term Definition
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Applicant's Jurisdiction(s)....... The U.S. Census tracts where the
applicant operates or performs
their safety responsibilities. If
an applicant is seeking funding for
multiple jurisdictions, all of the
relevant Census tracts for the
jurisdictions covered by the
application should be included.
Complete Streets.................. Standards or policies that ensure
the safe and adequate accommodation
of all users of the transportation
system, including pedestrians,
bicyclists, personal conveyance and
micromobility users, public
transportation users, children,
older individuals, individuals with
disabilities, motorists, and
freight vehicles.\1\
Comprehensive Safety Action Plan.. A comprehensive safety action plan
(referred to as Action Plan) is
aimed at preventing roadway
fatalities and serious injuries in
a locality, Tribe, or region. This
can either be a plan developed with
an Action Plan Grant, or a
previously developed plan that is
substantially similar and meets the
eligibility requirements (e.g., a
Vision Zero plan or similar plan).
Equity............................ The consistent and systematic fair,
just, and impartial treatment of
all individuals, including
individuals who belong to
underserved communities that have
been denied such treatment, such as
Black, Latino, Indigenous and
Native Americans, Asian Americans
and Pacific Islanders, and other
persons of color; members of
religious minorities; lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender, and queer
(LGBTQ+) persons; persons with
disabilities; persons who live in
rural areas; and persons otherwise
adversely affected by persistent
poverty or inequality.
High Injury Network............... Identifies the highest
concentrations of traffic crashes
resulting in serious injuries and
fatalities within a given roadway
network or jurisdiction.
Micromobility..................... Any small, low-speed, human- or
electric-powered transportation
device, including bicycles,
scooters, electric-assist bicycles,
electric scooters (e-scooters), and
other small, lightweight, wheeled
conveyances.\2\
Personal Conveyance............... A personal conveyance is a device,
other than a transport device, used
by a pedestrian for personal
mobility assistance or recreation.
These devices can be motorized or
human powered, but not propelled by
pedaling.\3\
Political Subdivision of a State.. A unit of government created under
the authority of State law. This
includes cities, towns, counties,
special districts, certain transit
agencies, and similar units of
local government. A transit
district, authority, or public
benefit corporation is eligible if
it was created under State law,
including transit authorities
operated by political subdivisions
of a State.
Rural............................. For the purposes of this NOFO,
jurisdictions outside an Urbanized
Area (UA) or located within
Urbanized Areas with populations
fewer than 200,000 will be
considered rural. Lists of UAs are
available on the U.S. Census Bureau
website at http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/UAUC_RefMap/ua/.
Safe System Approach.............. A guiding principle to address the
safety of all road users. It
involves a paradigm shift to
improve safety culture, increase
collaboration across all safety
stakeholders, and refocus
transportation system design and
operation on anticipating human
mistakes and lessening impact
forces to reduce crash severity and
save lives.\4\ \5\
[[Page 31608]]
Underserved Community............. An underserved community as defined
for this NOFO is consistent with
the Office of Management and
Budget's Interim Guidance for the
Justice40 Initiative and the
Historically Disadvantaged
Community designation, which
includes:
U.S. Census tracts
identified in this table: https://datahub.transportation.gov/stories/s/tsyd-k6ij;
Any Tribal land; or
Any territory or
possession of the United States.
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A. Program Description
1. Overview
Section 24112 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub.
L. 117-58, November 15, 2021; also referred to as the ``Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law'' or ``BIL'') authorized and appropriated $1 billion
to be awarded by the Department of Transportation for FY 2022 for the
SS4A grant program. This NOFO solicits applications for activities to
be funded under the SS4A grant program. The FY22 funding will be
implemented, as appropriate and consistent with law, in alignment with
the priorities in Executive Order 14052, Implementation of the
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (86 FR 64355).\6\
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\6\ The priorities of Executive Order 14052, Implementation of
the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act are: To invest
efficiently and equitably, promote the competitiveness of the U.S.
economy, improve job opportunities by focusing on high labor
standards and equal employment opportunity, strengthen
infrastructure resilience to hazards including climate change, and
to effectively coordinate with State, local, Tribal, and territorial
government partners.
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The purpose of SS4A grants is to improve roadway safety by
significantly reducing or eliminating roadway fatalities and serious
injuries through safety action plan development and implementation
focused on all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public
transportation users, motorists, personal conveyance and micromobility
users, and commercial vehicle operators. The program provides funding
to develop the tools to help strengthen a community's approach to
roadway safety and save lives and is designed to meet the needs of
diverse local, Tribal, and regional communities that differ
dramatically in size, location, and experience administering Federal
funding.
2. Grant Types and Deliverables
The SS4A program provides funding for two types of grants: Action
Plan Grants (for comprehensive safety action plans) and Implementation
Grants. Action Plan Grants are used to develop, complete, or supplement
a comprehensive safety action plan. To apply for an Implementation
Grant, an eligible applicant must have a qualifying Action Plan.
Implementation Grants are available to implement strategies or projects
that are consistent with an existing Action Plan. Applicants for
Implementation Grants can self-certify that they have in place one or
more plans that together are substantially similar to and meet the
eligibility requirements for an Action Plan.
i. Action Plan Grants
An Action Plan is the foundation of the SS4A grant program. Action
Plan Grants provide Federal funds to eligible applicants to develop or
complete an Action Plan. Action Plan Grants may also fund supplemental
Action Plan activities. The goal of an Action Plan is to develop a
holistic, well-defined strategy to prevent roadway fatalities and
serious injuries in a locality, Tribe, or region. Further information
on eligibility requirements is in Section C.
The primary deliverable for an Action Plan Grant is a publicly
available Action Plan. For the purposes of the SS4A grant program, an
Action Plan includes the components in Table 1. DOT considers the
process of developing an Action Plan to be critical for success, and
the components reflect a process-oriented set of activities.
Table 1--Action Plan Components
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Component Description
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Leadership Commitment and Goal An official public commitment (e.g.,
Setting. resolution, policy, ordinance,
etc.) by a high-ranking official
and/or governing body (e.g., Mayor,
City Council, Tribal Council, MPO
Policy Board, etc.) to an eventual
goal of zero roadway fatalities and
serious injuries. The commitment
must include a goal and timeline
for eliminating roadway fatalities
and serious injuries achieved
through one, or both, of the
following:
(1) the target date for achieving
zero roadway fatalities and
serious injuries, OR
(2) an ambitious percentage
reduction of roadway fatalities
and serious injuries by a
specific date with an eventual
goal of eliminating roadway
fatalities and serious injuries.
Planning Structure................ A committee, task force,
implementation group, or similar
body charged with oversight of the
Action Plan development,
implementation, and monitoring.
Safety Analysis................... Analysis of existing conditions and
historical trends that provides a
baseline level of crashes involving
fatalities and serious injuries
across a jurisdiction, locality,
Tribe, or region. Includes an
analysis of locations where there
are crashes and the severity of the
crashes, as well as contributing
factors and crash types by relevant
road users (motorists, people
walking, transit users, etc.).
Analysis of systemic and specific
safety needs is also performed, as
needed (e.g., high-risk road
features, specific safety needs of
relevant road users, public health
approaches, analysis of the built
environment, demographic, and
structural issues, etc.). To the
extent practical, the analysis
should include all roadways within
the jurisdiction, without regard
for ownership. Based on the
analysis performed, a geospatial
identification of higher-risk
locations is developed (a High-
Injury Network or equivalent).
Engagement and Collaboration...... Robust engagement with the public
and relevant stakeholders,
including the private sector and
community groups, that allows for
both community representation and
feedback. Information received from
engagement and collaboration is
analyzed and incorporated into the
Action Plan. Overlapping
jurisdictions are included in the
process. Plans and processes are
coordinated and aligned with other
governmental plans and planning
processes to the extent practical.
[[Page 31609]]
Equity Considerations............. Plan development using inclusive and
representative processes.
Underserved communities are
identified through data and other
analyses in collaboration with
appropriate partners.\7\ Analysis
includes both population
characteristics and initial equity
impact assessments of the proposed
projects and strategies.
Policy and Process Changes........ Assessment of current policies,
plans, guidelines, and/or standards
(e.g., manuals) to identify
opportunities to improve how
processes prioritize transportation
safety. The Action Plan discusses
implementation through the adoption
of revised or new policies,
guidelines, and/or standards, as
appropriate.
Strategy and Project Selections... Identification of a comprehensive
set of projects and strategies,
shaped by data, the best available
evidence and noteworthy practices,
as well as stakeholder input and
equity considerations, that will
address the safety problems
described in the Action Plan. These
strategies and countermeasures
focus on a Safe System Approach,
effective interventions, and
consider multidisciplinary
activities. To the extent
practical, data limitations are
identified and mitigated.
Once identified, the list of
projects and strategies is
prioritized in a list that provides
time ranges for when the strategies
and countermeasures will be
deployed (e.g., short-, mid-, and
long-term timeframes). The list
should include specific projects
and strategies, or descriptions of
programs of projects and
strategies, and explains
prioritization criteria used. The
list should contain interventions
focused on infrastructure,
behavioral, and/or operational
safety.
Progress and Transparency......... Method to measure progress over time
after an Action Plan is developed
or updated, including outcome data.
Means to ensure ongoing
transparency is established with
residents and other relevant
stakeholders. Must include, at a
minimum, annual public and
accessible reporting on progress
toward reducing roadway fatalities
and serious injuries, and public
posting of the Action Plan online.
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(a) Supplemental Action Plan Activities
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\7\ An underserved community as defined for this NOFO is
consistent with the Office of Management and Budget's Interim
Guidance for the Justice40 Initiative (https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/M-21-28.pdf) and the Historically
Disadvantaged Community designation, which includes U.S. Census
tracts identified in this table https://datahub.transportation.gov/stories/s/tsyd-k6ij; any Tribal land; or any territory or possession
of the United States.
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Supplemental action plan activities support or enhance an existing
Action Plan. To fund supplemental Action Plan activities through the
SS4A program, an applicant must have an existing Action Plan, or a plan
that is substantially similar and meets the eligibility requirements
for having an existing plan. The plan components may be contained
within several documents. Table 2 in Section C is a Self-Certification
Eligibility Worksheet with instructions to determine whether an
existing plan meets the eligibility requirements. Supplemental action
plan activities could include, but are not limited to: A second round
of analysis; expanded data collection and evaluation using integrated
data; testing action plan concepts before project and strategy
implementation; feasibility studies using quick-build strategies that
inform permanent projects in the future (e.g., paint, plastic bollards,
etc.); follow-up stakeholder engagement and collaboration; targeted
equity assessments; progress report development; and complementary
planning efforts such as speed management plans, accessibility and
transition plans, racial and health equity plans, and lighting
management plans. Additional information on supplemental action plan
activities is located at https://www.transportation.gov/SS4A.
Applicants that have an existing plan that is substantially similar
to and meets the eligibility requirements of an Action Plan may
alternatively choose to fund supplemental Action Plan activities
through an application for an Implementation Grant rather than an
Action Plan Grant. See Section A.2.ii below.
ii. Implementation Grants
Implementation Grants fund projects and strategies identified in an
Action Plan that address roadway safety problems. Implementation Grants
may also fund associated planning and design and supplemental Action
Plan activities in support of an existing Action Plan. DOT encourages
Implementation Grant applicants to include supplemental Action Plan
activities in their application to further improve and update existing
plans. Applicants must have an existing Action Plan to apply for
Implementation Grants or have an existing plan that is substantially
similar and meets the eligibility requirements of an Action Plan. If
applicants do not have an existing Action Plan, they should apply for
Action Plan Grants and NOT Implementation Grants. The plan components
may be contained within several documents. Table 2 in Section C is a
Self-Certification Eligibility Worksheet with instructions to determine
eligibility to apply for an Implementation Grant. Additional
information on eligibility requirements and eligible activities is in
Section C below.
3. SS4A Grant Priorities
This section discusses priorities specific to SS4A and those
related to the Department's overall mission, which are reflected in the
selection criteria and NOFO requirements. Successful grant applications
will demonstrate engagement with a variety of public and private
stakeholders and seek to adopt innovative technologies and strategies
to:
Promote safety;
Employ low-cost, high-impact strategies that can improve
safety over a wider geographic area;
Ensure equitable investment in the safety needs of
underserved communities, which includes both underserved urban and
rural communities;
Incorporate evidence-based projects and strategies; and
Align with the Department's mission and with priorities
such as equity, climate and sustainability, quality job creation, and
economic strength and global competitiveness.
The Department seeks to award Action Plan Grants based on safety
impact, equity, and other safety considerations. For Implementation
Grants, DOT seeks to make awards to projects and strategies that save
lives and reduce roadway fatalities and serious injuries; incorporate
equity, engagement, and collaboration into how projects and strategies
are executed; use effective practices and strategies; consider climate
change, sustainability, and economic competitiveness in project and
strategy implementation; and will be able to complete the full scope of
funded projects and strategies within five years after the
establishment
[[Page 31610]]
of a grant agreement. Section D provides more information on the
specific measures an application should demonstrate to support these
goals.
The SS4A grant program aligns with both Departmental and Biden-
Harris Administration activities and priorities. The National Roadway
Safety Strategy (NRSS, issued January 27, 2022) commits the Department
to respond to the current crisis in roadway fatalities by ``taking
substantial, comprehensive action to significantly reduce serious and
fatal injuries on the Nation's roadways,'' in pursuit of the goal of
achieving zero roadway deaths.\8\ DOT recognizes that zero is the only
acceptable number of deaths on our roads, and achieving that is our
long-term safety goal. The outcomes that are anticipated from the SS4A
program also support the FY 2022-2026 DOT Strategic Plan and the
accompanying safety performance goals such as a medium-term goal of a
two-thirds reduction in roadway fatalities by 2040.\9\
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\8\ https://www.transportation.gov/NRSS.
\9\ https://www.transportation.gov/dot-strategic-plan.
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As part of the NRSS, the Department adopted the Safe System
Approach as a guiding principle to advance roadway safety. The Safe
System Approach addresses the safety of all road users. It involves a
paradigm shift to improve safety culture, increase collaboration across
all safety stakeholders, and refocus transportation system design and
operation on anticipating human mistakes and lessening impact forces to
reduce crash severity and save lives. For more information on the Safe
System Approach, see the NRSS.
DOT encourages communities to adopt and implement Complete Streets
policies that prioritize the safety of all users in transportation
network planning, design, construction, and operations.\10\ A full
transition to a Complete Streets design model requires leadership,
identification and elimination of barriers, and development of new
policies, rules, and procedures to prioritize safety. A Complete Street
includes, but is not limited to: Sidewalks, curb ramps, bike lanes (or
wide paved shoulders), special bus lanes, accessible public
transportation stops, safe and accommodating crossing options, median
islands, pedestrian signals, curb extensions, narrower travel lanes,
and roundabouts.\11\ Recipients of Federal financial assistance are
required to ensure the accessibility of pedestrian facilities in the
public right-of-way. See Section F.2 of this NOFO for program
requirements.
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\10\ Complete Streets are defined in the Definitions table at
the beginning of the document.
\11\ More information on Complete Streets can be found at
https://highways.dot.gov/complete-streets.
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The NOFO aligns with and considers Departmental policy priorities
that have a nexus to roadway safety and grant funding. As part of the
Department's implementation of Executive Order 14008, Tackling the
Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (86 FR 7619), the Department seeks to
fund applications that, to the extent possible, target at least 40
percent of benefits towards low-income and underserved communities. DOT
also seeks to award funds under the SS4A grant program that proactively
address equity and barriers to opportunity, or redress prior inequities
and barriers to opportunity. DOT supports the policies in Executive
Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved
Communities Through the Federal Government (86 FR 7009), to pursue a
comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, including people of
color, rural communities, and others who have been historically
underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty
and inequality. An important area for DOT's focus is the
disproportionate, adverse safety impacts that affect certain groups on
our roadways, particularly people walking and biking in underserved
communities. See Section F.2.i of this NOFO for equity-related program
requirements.
As part of the United States' commitment to a whole-of-government
approach to reaching net-zero emissions economy-wide by 2050 and a 50-
52 percent reduction in emissions from 2005 levels by 2030, BIL and its
associated transportation funding programs permit historic investments
to improve the resilience of transportation infrastructure, helping
States and communities prepare for hazards such as wildfires, floods,
storms, and droughts exacerbated by climate change. DOT's goal is to
encourage the advancement of projects and strategies that address
climate change and sustainability. To enable this, the Department
encourages applicants to consider climate change and sustainability
throughout the planning and project development process, including the
extent to which projects and strategies under the SS4A grant program
align with the President's greenhouse gas reduction, climate
resilience, and environmental justice commitments.
The Department intends to use the SS4A grant program to support the
creation of good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a
union, and the incorporation of strong labor standards and workforce
programs, in particular registered apprenticeships, joint labor-
management programs, or other high-quality workforce training programs,
including high-quality pre-apprenticeships tied to registered
apprenticeships, in project planning stages and program delivery. Grant
applications that incorporate such considerations support a strong
economy and labor market.
Consistent with the Department's Rural Opportunities to Use
Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) initiative, the Department
seeks to award funding to rural applications that address
disproportionately high fatality rates in rural communities. For
applicants seeking to use innovative technologies and strategies, the
Department's Innovation Principles serve as a guide to ensure
innovations reduce deaths and serious injuries while committing to the
highest standards of safety across technologies.\12\
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\12\ https://www.transportation.gov/priorities/innovation/us-dot-innovation-principles. Released January 6, 2022.
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B. Federal Award Information
1. Total Funding Available
The BIL established the SS4A program with $5,000,000,000 in
advanced appropriations in Division J, including $1,000,000,000 for FY
2022. Therefore, this Notice makes available up to $1 billion for FY
2022 grants under the SS4A program. Refer to Section D for greater
detail on additional funding considerations and Section D.5 for funding
restrictions.
2. Availability of Funds
Grant funding obligation occurs when a selected applicant and DOT
enter into a written grant agreement after the applicant has satisfied
applicable administrative requirements. Unless authorized by DOT in
writing after DOT's announcement of FY 2022 SS4A grant awards, any
costs incurred prior to DOT's obligation of funds for activities
(``pre-award costs'') are ineligible for reimbursement. All FY 2022
SS4A funds must be expended within five years after the grant agreement
is executed and DOT obligates the funds.
3. Award Size and Anticipated Quantity
In FY 2022, DOT expects to award hundreds of Action Plan Grants,
and up to one hundred Implementation Grants. The Department reserves
the right to make more, or fewer, awards. DOT reserves the discretion
to alter minimum and maximum award sizes upon
[[Page 31611]]
receiving the full pool of applications and assessing the needs of the
program in relation to the SS4A grant priorities in Section A.3.
i. Action Plan Grants
For Action Plan Grants, award amounts will be based on estimated
costs, with an expected minimum of $200,000 for all applicants, an
expected maximum of $1,000,000 for a political subdivision of a State
or a federally recognized Tribal government, and an expected maximum of
$5,000,000 for a metropolitan planning organization (MPO) or a joint
application comprised of a multijurisdictional group of entities that
is regional in scope (e.g., a multijurisdictional group of counties, a
council of governments and cities within the same region, etc.). The
Department will consider applications with funding requests under the
expected minimum award amount. DOT reserves the right to make Action
Grant awards less than the total amount requested by the applicant.
Joint applications that engage multiple jurisdictions in the same
region are encouraged, in order to ensure collaboration across multiple
jurisdictions and leverage the expertise of agencies with established
financial relationships with DOT and knowledge of Federal grant
administration requirements. Applicants may propose development of a
single Action Plan covering all jurisdictions, or several plans for
individual jurisdictions, administered by the leading agency.
ii. Implementation Plan Grants
For Implementation Grants, DOT expects the minimum award will be
$5,000,000 and the maximum award will be $30,000,000 for political
subdivisions of a State. For applicants who are federally recognized
Tribal governments or applicants in rural areas, DOT expects the
minimum award will be $3,000,000 and the maximum award will be
$30,000,000. For an MPO or a joint application comprised of a
multijurisdictional group of entities that is regional in scope, the
expected maximum award will be $50,000,000. For the purposes of the
SS4A grant program award size minimum, rural is defined as an area
outside an Urbanized Area (UA) or located within a UA with a population
of fewer than 200,000.\13\ DOT reserves the right to make
Implementation Grant awards less than the total amount requested by the
applicant.
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\13\ Current lists of Urbanized Areas are available on the U.S.
Census Bureau website at http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/
uauc_refmap/ua/. For the purposes of the SS4A program, Urbanized
Areas with populations fewer than 200,000 will be considered rural.
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4. Start Dates and Period of Performance
DOT expects to obligate SS4A award funding via a signed grant
agreement between the Department and the recipient, as flexibly and
expeditiously as possible, within 12 months after awards have been
announced. Applicants who have never received Federal funding from DOT
before are encouraged to partner with eligible applicants within the
same region, such as an MPO, that have established financial
relationships with DOT and knowledge of Federal grant administration
requirements. While States are not eligible applicants and cannot be a
co-applicant, eligible applicants are encouraged to separately partner
with States and other entities experienced with administering Federal
grants, outside of the SS4A grant award process, to ensure effective
administration of a grant award. The expected period of performance for
Action Plan Grant agreements is between 12 and 24 months. The period of
performance for Implementation Grant agreements may not exceed five
years.
Because award recipients under this program may be first-time
recipients of Federal funding, DOT is committed to implementing the
program as flexibly as permitted by statute and to providing assistance
to help award recipients through the process of securing a grant
agreement and delivering both Action Plan activities and Implementation
Grant projects and strategies.
5. Data Collection Requirements
Under the BIL, the Department shall post on a publicly available
website best practices and lessons learned for preventing roadway
fatalities and serious injuries pursuant to strategies or interventions
implemented under SS4A. Additionally, DOT shall evaluate and
incorporate, as appropriate, the effectiveness of strategies and
interventions implemented under the SS4A grant program.\14\ The
Department intends to measure safety outcomes through a combination of
grant agreement activities and data collections, DOT data collections
already underway, and program evaluations separate from the individual
grant agreements in accordance with Section F.3.iii. The grant data-
collection requirements reflect the need to build evidence of
noteworthy strategies and what works. The Department expects to use the
data and outcome information collected as part of the SS4A in
evaluations focused on before and after studies.
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\14\ BIL specifically cites Countermeasures That Work: A Highway
Safety Countermeasure Guide for State Highway Safety Offices, Ninth
Edition or any successor document, but DOT also is to consider
applied research focused on infrastructure and operational projects
and strategies.
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All award recipients shall submit a report that describes:
The costs of each eligible project and strategy carried
out using the grant;
The roadway safety outcomes and any additional benefits
(e.g., increased walking, biking, or transit use without a commensurate
increase in crashes, etc.) that each such project and strategy has
generated, as--
[cir] Identified in the grant application; and
[cir] Measured by data, to the maximum extent practicable; and
The lessons learned and any recommendations relating to
future projects or strategies to prevent death and serious injury on
roads and streets.
All recipients must provide aggregated annual crash data on serious
injuries and fatalities for the duration of the period of performance
for the jurisdiction or jurisdictions for which funds were awarded.
These data will provide the information for metrics on changes in
serious injuries and fatalities over time. Implementation Grant
recipients must also provide crash data on serious injury and
fatalities in the locations where projects and strategies are
implemented, which are expected to include crash characteristics and
contributing factor information associated with the safety problems
being addressed. Data that measure outcomes for the specific safety
problems addressed are required and could include, but are not limited
to, aggregated information by road user, safety issue, and demographic
characteristics such as race and gender. For Implementation Grants that
undertake projects and strategies to foster applied research and
experimentation to inform project and strategy effectiveness,
additional data collection requirements will be negotiated with the
applicant before a grant agreement is established. Federally recognized
Tribal governments receiving grants may request alternative data
collection requirements during grant agreement formulation, as
appropriate. This information will be gathered on a quarterly basis in
a Performance Progress Report (SF-PPR).\15\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\15\ https://www.sbir.gov/sites/default/files/SF%20PPR.pdf.
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[[Page 31612]]
To fulfill the data collection requirements and in accordance with
the U.S. DOT Public Access Plan, award recipients must consider, budget
for, and implement appropriate data management, for data and
information outputs acquired or generated during the course of the
grant.16 17 Applicants are expected to account for data and
performance reporting in their budget submission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\16\ https://doi.org/10.21949/1520559.
\17\ United States. Department of Transportation. (2022) DOT
Public Access [Home page]. https://doi.org/10.21949/1503647.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants for SS4A grants are (1) a metropolitan planning
organization (MPO); (2) a political subdivision of a State or
territory; (3) a federally recognized Tribal government; and (4) a
multijurisdictional group of entities described in any of the
aforementioned three types of entities. A multijurisdictional group of
entities described in (4) should identify a lead applicant as the
primary point of contact. For the purposes of this NOFO, a political
subdivision of a State under (2), above, is defined as a unit of
government under the authority of State law. This includes cities,
towns, counties, special districts, and similar units of local
government. A transit district, authority, or public benefit
corporation is eligible if it was created under State law, including
transit authorities operated by political subdivisions of a State.
States are not eligible applicants, but DOT encourages applicants to
coordinate with State entities, as appropriate.
Eligible MPOs, transit agencies, and multijurisdictional groups of
entities with a regional scope are encouraged to support subdivisions
of a State such as cities, towns, and counties with smaller populations
within their region. The Department strongly encourages such joint
applications for Action Plan Grants, and for applicants who have never
received Federal funding and can jointly apply with entities
experienced executing DOT grants.
An eligible applicant for Implementation Grants must also meet at
least one of these conditions: (1) Have ownership and/or maintenance
responsibilities over a roadway network; (2) have safety
responsibilities that affect roadways; or (3) have agreement from the
agency that has ownership and/or maintenance responsibilities for the
roadway within the applicant's jurisdiction. For the purposes of this
NOFO, an applicant's jurisdiction is defined as the U.S. Census tracts
where the applicant operates or performs their safety responsibilities.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
The Federal share of a SS4A grant may not exceed 80 percent of
total eligible activity costs. Recipients are required to contribute a
local matching share of no less than 20 percent of eligible activity
costs. All matching funds must be from non-Federal sources. In
accordance with 2 CFR 200.306, grant recipients may use in-kind or cash
contributions toward local match requirements so long as those
contributions meet the requirements under 2 CFR 200.306(b). Matching
funds may include funding from the applicant, or other SS4A-eligible
non-Federal sources partnering with the applicant, which could include,
but is not limited to, funds from the State. Any in-kind contributions
used to fulfill the cost-share requirement for Action Plan and
Implementation Grants must: Be in accordance with the cost principles
in 2 CFR 200 subpart E; include documented evidence of completion
within the period of performance; and support the execution of the
eligible activities in Section C.4.
SS4A funds will reimburse recipients only after a grant agreement
has been executed, allowable expenses are incurred, and valid requests
for reimbursement are submitted. Grant agreements are expected to be
administered on a reimbursement basis, and at the Department's
discretion alternative funding arrangements may be established on a
case-by-case basis.
3. Grant Eligibility Requirements
If an applicant is eligible for both an Action Plan Grant and an
Implementation Grant, the applicant may only apply for an Action Plan
Grant or an Implementation Grant, not both. An eligible applicant may
only submit one application to the funding opportunity. Action Plan
Grant funding recipients are not precluded from applying for
Implementation Grants in future funding rounds.
i. Action Plan Grant Eligibility Requirements
The Action Plan Grant eligibility requirements are contingent on
whether an applicant is requesting funds to develop or complete an
Action Plan, or if the applicant is requesting funds for supplemental
action plan activities. Applicants may not apply to develop or complete
an Action Plan and fund supplemental action plan activities in the
current round of funding.
(a) Eligibility Requirements To Develop or Complete an Action Plan
Any applicant that meets the eligibility requirements may apply for
an Action Plan Grant to develop or complete an Action Plan. Applicants
with an existing Action Plan may also apply to develop a new Action
Plan.
(b) Eligibility Requirements for Supplemental Action Plan Activities
Applicants for Action Plan Grants to fund supplemental action plan
activities must either have an established Action Plan with all
components described in Table 1 in Section A, or an existing plan that
is substantially similar and meets the eligibility requirements. Table
2 below provides instructions to determine eligibility for applicants
that have a substantially similar plan. The components required for an
established plan to be substantially similar to an Action Plan may be
found in multiple plans. State-level action plans (e.g., a Strategic
Highway Safety Plan required in 23 U.S. Code (U.S.C.) Sec. 148, State
Highway Safety Plans required in 23 U.S.C. 402, etc.) or Public
Transportation Agency Safety Plans in 49 U.S.C. 5329 cannot be used as
an established plan. It is recommended that applicants include this
eligibility worksheet as part of their narrative submission. If this
Self-Certification Eligibility Worksheet is not used, applicants must
describe how their established plan is substantially similar to an
Action Plan as part of the Narrative, based on the criteria in Table 2
below.
[[Page 31613]]
Table 2--Self-Certification Eligibility Worksheet
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Worksheet instructions: The purpose of the worksheet is to determine
whether an applicant's existing plan is substantially similar to an
Action Plan, or not. For each question below, answer yes or no. For
each yes, cite the specific page in your existing Action Plan or other
plan/plans that corroborate your response, provide supporting
documentation, or provide other evidence. Refer to Table 1 for further
details on each component. Note: The term Action Plan is used in this
worksheet; it covers either a stand-alone Action Plan or components of
other plans that combined comprise an Action Plan......................
Instructions to affirm eligibility: Based on the questions in this
eligibility worksheet, an applicant is eligible to apply for an Action
Plan Grant that funds supplemental action plan activities, or an
Implementation Grant, if the following two conditions are met:.........
Questions 3, 7, and 9 are answered ``yes.'' If Question 3,
7, or 9 is answered ``no,'' the plan is not substantially similar
and ineligible to apply for Action Plan funds specifically for a
supplemental action plan activity, nor an Implementation Grant.....
At least four of the six remaining Questions are answered
``yes'' (Questions 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, or 8)............................
If both conditions are met, an applicant has a substantially similar
plan...................................................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question Response, document
and page No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Are both of the following true:
Did a high-ranking official and/or
governing body in the jurisdiction publicly
commit to an eventual goal of zero roadway
fatalities and serious injuries?
Did the commitment include either
setting a target date to reach zero, OR
setting one or more targets to achieve
significant declines in roadway fatalities
and serious injuries by a specific date?
2. To develop the Action Plan, was a committee,
task force, implementation group, or similar body
established and charged with the plan's
development, implementation, and monitoring?
3. Does the Action Plan include all of the
following?
Analysis of existing conditions and
historical trends to baseline the level of
crashes involving fatalities and serious
injuries across a jurisdiction, locality,
Tribe, or region;
Analysis of the location(s) where
there are crashes, the severity, as well as
contributing factors and crash types;
Analysis of systemic and specific
safety needs is also performed, as needed
(e.g., high risk road features, specific
safety needs of relevant road users; and
A geospatial identification
(geographic or locational data using maps) of
higher risk locations.
4. Did the Action Plan development include all of
the following activities?
Engagement with the public and
relevant stakeholders, including the private
sector and community groups;
Incorporation of information received
from the engagement and collaboration into
the plan; and
Coordination that included inter- and
intra- governmental cooperation and
collaboration, as appropriate
5. Did the Action Plan development include all of
the following?
Considerations of equity using
inclusive and representative processes;
The identification of underserved
communities through data; and
Equity analysis, in collaboration
with appropriate partners, focused on initial
equity impact assessments of the proposed
projects and strategies, and population
characteristics
6. Are both of the following true?
The plan development included an
assessment of current policies, plans,
guidelines, and/or standards to identify
opportunities to improve how processes
prioritize safety; and
The plan discusses implementation
through the adoption of revised or new
policies, guidelines, and/or standards.
7. Does the plan identify a comprehensive set of
projects and strategies to address the safety
problems identified in the Action Plan, time
ranges when the strategies and projects will be
deployed, and explain project prioritization
criteria?
8. Does the plan include all of the following?
A description of how progress will be
measured over time that includes, at a
minimum, outcome data
The plan is posted publicly online.
9. Was the plan finalized and/or last updated
between 2017 and 2022?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ii. Implementation Grant Eligibility Requirements
To apply for an Implementation Grant, the applicant must certify
that they have an existing plan which is substantially similar to an
Action Plan. The plan or plans should be uploaded as an attachment to
your application. Use Table 2, Self-Certification Eligibility
Worksheet, from the previous section to determine eligibility. The
existing plan must be focused, at least in part, on the roadway network
within the applicant's jurisdiction. The components required for an
existing plan to be substantially similar to an Action Plan may be
found in multiple plans. State-level action plans (e.g., a Strategic
Highway Safety Plan required in 23 U.S.C. 148, State Highway Safety
Plans required in 23 U.S.C. 402, Commercial Vehicle Safety Plans
required in 49 U.S.C. 31102, etc.) as well as Public Transportation
Agency Safety Plans in 49 U.S.C. 5329 cannot be used as an established
plan to apply for an Implementation Grant.
4. Eligible Activities and Costs
i. Eligible Activities
Broadly, eligible activity costs must comply with the cost
principles set forth in with 2 CFR, Subpart E (i.e., 2 CFR 200.403 and
Sec. 200.405). DOT reserves the right to make cost eligibility
determinations on a case-by-case basis. Eligible activities for grant
funding include the following three elements:
(A) Developing a comprehensive safety action plan or
Action Plan (i.e., the activities outlined in Section A.2.i in Table 1
and the list of supplemental Action Plan activities);
(B) conducting planning, design, and development
activities for projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan;
and
(C) carrying out projects and strategies identified in an
Action Plan.
For Action Plan Grants, eligible activities and costs only include
those that directly assist in the development of the Action Plan,
element (A), and/or supplemental action plan activities in support of
an existing Action Plan or plans.
For Implementation Grants, activities must include element (C)
``carrying out projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan,''
and may include element (B) ``conducting planning, design, and
development activities for projects and
[[Page 31614]]
strategies identified in an Action Plan'' and/or element (A)
``supplemental action plan activities in support of an existing Action
Plan.'' Projects and strategies identified in element (C) must be
either infrastructure, behavioral, or operational activities identified
in the Action Plan, and must be directly related to addressing the
safety problem(s) identified in the application and Action Plan.
Examples of eligible Implementation Grant activities are listed on the
SS4A website located at www.transportation.gov/SS4A. The following
activities are not eligible for element (C) ``projects and strategies''
funding:
Projects and strategies whose primary purpose is not
roadway safety.
Projects and strategies exclusively focused on non-roadway
modes of transportation, including air, rail, marine, and pipeline.
Roadway intersections with other modes of transportation (e.g., at-
grade highway rail crossings, etc.) are eligible activities.
Capital projects to construct new roadways used for motor
vehicles. New roadways exclusively for non-motorists is an eligible
activity if the primary purpose is safety-related.
Infrastructure projects primarily intended to expand
capacity to improve Levels of Service for motorists on an existing
roadway, such as the creation of additional lanes.
Maintenance activities for an existing roadway primarily
to maintain a state of good repair. However, roadway modifications on
an existing roadway in support of specific safety-related projects
identified in an Action Plan are eligible activities.
Development or implementation of a public transportation
agency safety plan (PTASP) required by 49 U.S.C. 5329. However, a PTASP
that identifies and addresses risks to pedestrians, bicyclists,
personal conveyance and micromobility users, transit riders, and others
may inform Action Plan development.
All projects and strategies must have equity--the consistent, fair,
just, and impartial treatment of all people--at their foundation. This
includes traffic enforcement strategies. As part of the Safe System
Approach adopted in the USDOT's National Roadway Safety Strategy, any
activities related to compliance or enforcement efforts to make our
roads safer should affirmatively improve equity outcomes as part of a
comprehensive approach to achieve zero roadway fatalities and serious
injuries. The SS4A program can be used to support safety projects and
strategies that address serious safety violations of drivers (e.g.,
speeding, alcohol and drug-impaired driving, etc.), so long as the
proposed strategies are data-driven and demonstrate a process in
alignment with goals around community policing and in accordance with
Federal civil rights laws and regulations.\18\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\18\ For one such example see https://cops.usdoj.gov/RIC/Publications/cops-p157-pub.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Funds may not be used, either directly or indirectly, to support or
oppose union organizing.
ii. Project and Strategy Location
For Implementation Grants, applications must identify the problems
to be addressed, the relevant geographic locations, and the projects
and strategies they plan to implement, based on their Action Plan or
established plan. This should include specific intervention types to
the extent practicable. To provide flexibility in the implementation of
projects and strategies that involve systemic safety strategies or
bundling of similar countermeasures, an applicant may wait to specify
specific site locations and designs for the projects and strategies as
part of executing the grant agreement, if necessary, upon approval of
the Department and so long as the identified site locations and designs
remain consistent with the intent of the award.
D. Application and Submission Information
1. Address To Request Application Package
All grant application materials can be accessed at grants.gov.
Applicants must submit their applications via grants.gov under the
Notice of Funding Opportunity Number cited herein. Potential applicants
may also request paper copies of materials at:
Telephone: (202) 366-4114.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
W84-322, Washington, DC 20590.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
The Action Plan Grant and Implementation Grant have different
application submission and supporting document requirements.
i. Action Plan Grant Application Submissions
All Action Plan Grant applications must submit the following
Standard Forms (SFs):
Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)
Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A)
Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B)
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL)
In addition to the SFs above, the applicant must provide: (a) Key
Information; (b) Narrative; (c) Self-Certification Eligibility
Worksheet, if applying for action plan supplemental activities; (d)
Map; and (e) Budget. While it is not required to conform to the
recommended templates below, it is strongly encouraged to provide the
information using the specific structure provided in this NOFO.
(a) Key Information Table
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lead Applicant
------------------------------------------------------------------------
If Multijurisdictional, additional
eligible entities jointly applying
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total jurisdiction population
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Count of motor-vehicle-involved roadway
fatalities from 2016 to 2020
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fatality rate
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 31615]]
Population in Underserved Communities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
States(s) in which projects and strategies
are located
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Costs by State (if project spans more than
one State)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Instructions for (a):
The lead applicant is the primary jurisdiction, and the
lead eligible entity applying for the grant.
If the application is multijurisdictional, list additional
eligible entities within the multijurisdictional group of entities. If
a single applicant, mark as not applicable.
Total jurisdiction population is based on 2020 U.S. Census
data and includes the total population of all Census tracts where the
applicant operates or performs their safety responsibilities.
The count of roadway fatalities from 2016 to 2020 in the
jurisdiction based on DOT's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS)
data, an alternative traffic fatality dataset, or a comparable data set
with roadway fatality information.\19\ This should be a number. Cite
the source, if using a dataset different from FARS, with a link to the
data if publicly available.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\19\ https://www.nhtsa.gov/research-data/fatality-analysis-reporting-system-fars. To query the FARS data see https://cdan.dot.gov/query. To query the FARS data see https://cdan.dot.gov/query. For the Census data visit https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/rdo/summary-files.html.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The fatality rate, calculated using the average from the
total count of fatalities from 2016 to 2020 based on FARS data, an
alternative traffic fatality dataset, or a comparable data set with
roadway fatality information, which is divided by the population of the
applicant's jurisdiction based on 2020 U.S. Census population data.
This should be a number. Cite the source, if using a dataset different
from FARS.
Check one of the three available boxes to the right of the
column with the three Action Plan types: New Action Plan; Action Plan
completion; or supplemental action plan activities.
The population in underserved communities should be a
percentage obtained by dividing the population living in Census tracts
with an Underserved Community designation divided by the total
population living in the jurisdiction.\20\ For multi-jurisdictional
groups, provide this information for each jurisdiction in the group.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\20\ https://datahub.transportation.gov/stories/s/tsyd-k6ij.
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Note the State(s) of the applicants. If a federally
recognized Tribal government, mark as not applicable.
Allocate funding request amounts by State based on where
the funds are expected to be spent. If the projects and strategies are
located in only one State, put the full funding request amount.
(c) Narrative
In narrative form, the applicant should respond to the Action Plan
Grant selection criteria described in Section E.1.i to affirm whether
the applicant has considered certain activities that will enhance the
implementation of an Action Plan once developed or updated. The
narrative must be no longer than 300 words.
(d) Self-Certification Eligibility Worksheet
If applying for Action Plan Grant funding supplemental action plan
activities, attach the filled out Table 2 Self-Certification
Eligibility Worksheet. If applying to develop or complete an Action
Plan, do not include Table 2.
(e) Map
The applicant must submit a map that shows the location of the
jurisdiction and highlights the roadway network under the applicant's
jurisdiction. The permissible formats include: Map web link (e.g.,
Google, Bing, etc.), PDF, image file, vector file, or shapefile.
(f) Budget
Applicants are required to provide a brief budget summary and a
high-level overview of estimated activity costs, as organized by all
major cost elements. The budget only includes costs associated with the
eligible activity (A) developing a comprehensive safety action plan and
may include supplemental action plan activities. Funding sources should
be grouped into two categories: SS4A Funding Federal share, and non-
Federal share funds. The costs or value of in-kind matches should also
be provided. This budget should not include any previously incurred
expenses, or costs to be incurred before the time of award. DOT
requires applicants use SF-424A to provide this information.
ii. Implementation Grant Application Submissions
Implementation Grant applications must submit the following
Standard Forms (SFs):
Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)
Budget Information for Construction Programs (SF-424C)
Assurances for Construction Programs (SF-424D)
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL)
In addition to the SFs above, the applicant must provide: (a) Key
Information; (b) Narrative; (c) Self-Certification Eligibility
Worksheet; and (d) Budget. While it is not required to conform to the
recommended template in the Key Information Table below, it is strongly
encouraged to provide the information using the specific structure
provided in this NOFO.
(a) Key Information Table
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Application Name
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lead Applicant
------------------------------------------------------------------------
If Multijurisdictional, additional
eligible entities jointly applying
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 31616]]
Roadway safety responsibility:
Ownership and/or maintenance
responsibilities over a roadway
network
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Safety responsibilities that affect
roadways
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Have an agreement from the agency that
has ownership and/or maintenance
responsibilities for the roadway
within the applicant's jurisdiction
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Population in Underserved Communities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
States(s) in which activities are located
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Costs by State
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Funds to Underserved Communities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost total for eligible activity (A)
supplemental action plan activities in
support of an existing Action Plan
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost total for eligible activity (B)
conducting planning, design, and
development activities for projects and
strategies identified in an Action Plan
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost total for eligible activity (C)
carrying out projects and strategies
identified in an Action Plan
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Action Plan or Established Plan Link
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Instructions for (a):
Provide a grant application name to accompany the grant
application.
The lead applicant is the primary jurisdiction, and the
lead eligible entity applying for the grant.
If the application is multijurisdictional, list additional
eligible entities within the multijurisdictional group of entities. If
a single applicant, leave blank.
The roadway safety responsibility response should check
one of the three answers to meet eligibility conditions.
The population in Underserved Community Census Tracts
should be a percentage number obtained by dividing the population
living in Underserved Community Census tracts within the jurisdiction
divided by the total population living in the jurisdiction.
Identify State(s) in which the applicant is located in. If
a federally recognized Tribal government, leave blank.
The total amount of funds to underserved communities is
the amount of spent in, and provide safety benefits to, locations in
census tracts designated as underserved communities.
For each State, allocate funding request amounts divided
up by State based on where the funds are expected to be spent. If the
applicant is located in in only one State, put the full funding request
amount only.
Provide a weblink to the plan that serves as the Action
Plan or established plan that is substantially similar. This may be
attached as a supporting PDF document instead; if so please write ``See
Supporting Documents.''
(b) Narrative
The Department recommends that the narrative follows the outline
below to address the program requirements and assist evaluators in
locating relevant information. The narrative may not exceed 10 pages in
length, excluding cover pages and the table of contents. Key
information, the Self-Certification Eligibility Worksheet, and Budget
sections do not count towards the 10-page limit. Appendices may include
documents supporting assertions or conclusions made in the 10-page
narrative and also do not count towards the 10-page limit. If possible,
website links to supporting documentation should be provided rather
than copies of these supporting materials. If supporting documents are
submitted, applicants should clearly identify within the narrative the
relevance of each supporting document.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Overview............................... See D.2.ii.b.I.
II. Location.............................. See D.2.ii.b.II.
III. Response to Selection Criteria....... See D.2.ii.b.III and Section
E.1.ii.
IV. Project Readiness..................... See D.2.ii.b.IV.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Overview
This section should provide an introduction, describe the safety
context, jurisdiction, and any high-level background information that
would be useful to understand the rest of the application.
II. Location
This section of the application should describe the jurisdiction's
location, the jurisdiction's High-Injury Network or equivalent
geospatial identification (geographic or locational data using maps) of
higher risk locations, and potential locations and corridors of the
projects and strategies. Note that the applicant is not required to
provide
[[Page 31617]]
exact locations for each project or strategy; rather, the application
should identify which geographic locations are under consideration for
projects and strategies to be implemented and what analysis will be
used in a final determination.
III. Response to Selection Criteria
This section should respond to the criteria for evaluation and
selection in Section E.1.ii of this Notice and include compelling
narrative to highlight how the application aligns with criteria #1
Safety Impact; #2 Equity, Engagement, and Collaboration; #3 Effective
Practices and Strategies; and #4 Climate Change and Sustainability, and
Economic Competitiveness. Note, criterion #1 Safety Impact assesses
``implementation cost'' information, which will be described in SF-424C
and the (d) Budget of the narrative and does not need to be duplicated
in this portion of the narrative.
The applicant must respond to each of the four criteria. Applicants
are not required to follow a specific format, but the organization
provided, which addresses each criterion separately, promotes a clear
discussion that assists evaluators. To minimize redundant information
in the application, the Department encourages applicants to cross-
reference from this section of their application to relevant
substantive information in other sections of the application. To the
extent practical, DOT encourages applicants to use and reference
existing content from their Action Plan/established plan(s) to
demonstrate their comprehensive, evidence-based approach to improving
safety.
IV. Project Readiness
The applicant must provide information to demonstrate the
applicant's ability to substantially execute and complete the full
scope of work in the application proposal within five years of when the
grant is executed, with a particular focus on design and construction,
as well as environmental, permitting, and approval processes.
Applicants should indicate if they will be seeking permission to use
roadway design standards that are different from those generally
applied by the State in which the project is located. As part of this
portion of the narrative, the applicant must include a detailed
activity schedule that identifies all major project and strategy
milestones. Examples of such milestones include: State and local
planning approvals; start and completion of National Environmental
Policy Act and other Federal environmental reviews and approvals
including permitting; design completion; right of way acquisition;
approval of plans, specifications, and estimates; procurement; State
and local approvals; public involvement; partnership and implementation
agreements; and construction. Environmental review documentation should
describe in detail known project impacts, and possible mitigation for
those impacts. When a project results in impacts, it is expected an
award recipient will take steps to engage the public. For additional
guidance and resources, visit www.transportation.gov/SS4A.
(c) Self-Certification Eligibility Worksheet
Attach a completed Table 2: Self-Certification Eligibility
Worksheet.
(d) Budget
This section of the application should describe the budget for the
SS4A proposal. Applicants are required to provide a brief budget
summary and provide a high-level overview of estimated activity costs,
as organized by all major cost elements. The budget should provide
itemized estimates of the costs of the proposed projects and strategies
at the individual component level. This includes capital costs for
infrastructure safety improvements and costs associated with behavioral
and operational safety projects and strategies. The section should also
distinguish between the three eligible activity areas: (A)
Supplementing action plan activities in support of an existing Action
Plan; (B) conducting planning, design, and development activities for
projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan; and (C) carrying
out projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan.
Funding sources should be grouped into two categories: SS4A funding
Federal share, and non-Federal share funds. Estimated costs or value of
in-kind matches should also be provided. The budget should show how
each source of funds will be spent. This budget should not include any
previously incurred expenses, or costs to be incurred before the time
of award and obligation because these expenses are not eligible for
reimbursement or cost-sharing. If non-Federal share funds or in-kind
contributions are from entities who are not the applicant, include
commitment letters or evidence of allocated cost share as a supporting
document. DOT requires applicants use form SF-424C, and the applicant
must also provide the information in Table 3 below.
Table 3--Supplemental Estimated Budget
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal Budget for (A) supplemental action plan $0.00
activities.............................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Itemized Estimated Costs of the (A) supplemental action plan activities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item #1................................................. $0.00
Item #2................................................. $0.00
---------------
Subtotal Budget for (B) conducting planning, design, $0.00
and development activities.........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Itemized Estimated Costs of the (B) planning, design, and development
activities
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item #1................................................. $0.00
Item #2................................................. $0.00
Item #3................................................. $0.00
---------------
Subtotal Budget for (C) carrying out projects and $0.00
strategies.........................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Itemized Estimated Costs of the (C) proposed projects and strategies
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item #1................................................. $0.00
Item #2................................................. $0.00
[[Page 31618]]
Item #3................................................. $0.00
Item #4................................................. $0.00
---------------
Subtotal Funds to Underserved Communities........... $0.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)
Each applicant is required to: (i) Be registered in SAM (https://sam.gov/content/home) before submitting its application; (ii) provide a
valid unique entity identifier in its application; and (iii) continue
to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all
times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or
plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. DOT may not make
a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with
all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements and, if an
applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time DOT
is ready to make an award, DOT may determine that the applicant is not
qualified to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for
making an award to another applicant.
4. Submission Dates and Times
Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday,
September 15, 2022.
5. Funding Restrictions
Per BIL requirements, not more than 15 percent of the funds made
available to carry out the SS4A program in FY22 may be awarded to
eligible applicants in a single State.\21\ In addition, 40 percent of
the total FY22 funds made available must be for developing and updating
a comprehensive safety action plan, or supplemental action plan
activities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\21\ Funding for Tribal lands will be treated as their own State
and will not count toward a State's 15% limit.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. Other Submission Requirements
The format of the Section D.2 application submission should be in
PDF format, with font size no less than 12-point Times New Roman,
margins a minimum of 1 inch on all sides, and include page numbers.
The complete application must be submitted via grants.gov. In the
event of system problems or the applicant experiences technical
difficulties, contact grants.gov technical support via telephone at 1-
800-518-4726 or email at grants.gov">support@grants.gov.
E. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria
This section specifies the criteria DOT will use to evaluate and
select applications for SS4A grant awards. The Department will review
merit criteria for all applications. Each of the two grant types to be
made available through the SS4A grant program, Action Plan Grant and
Implementation Grant, will have its own set of application review and
selection criteria.
i. Action Plan Grant Selection Criteria
For Action Plan Grants, the Department will use three evaluation
criteria. The Department will evaluate quantitative data in two
selection criteria areas: #1 Safety Impact; and #2 Equity. The
Department will also assess the narrative for #3 Additional Safety
Considerations. Costs will also be considered.
Selection Criterion #1: Safety Impact. The activities are in
jurisdictions that will likely support a significant reduction or
elimination of roadway fatalities and serious injuries involving
various road users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public
transportation users, personal conveyance and micromobility users,
motorists, and commercial operators, within the timeframe proposed by
the applicant. The Department will assess safety impact using two
quantitative ratings:
The count of roadway fatalities from 2016 to 2020 based on
DOT's FARS data, an alternative traffic crash dataset, or a comparable
data set with roadway fatality information.\22\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\22\ https://cdan.dot.gov/query.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The fatality rate, which is calculating using the average
from the total count of fatalities from 2016 to 2020 (based on FARS
data or an alternative traffic crash dataset) divided by the 2020
population of the applicant's jurisdiction based on 2020 U.S. Census
population data.
Selection Criterion #2: Equity. The activities will ensure
equitable investment in the safety needs of underserved communities in
preventing roadway fatalities and injuries, including rural
communities. The Department will assess the equity criterion using one
quantitative rating:
The percentage of the population in the applicant's
jurisdiction that resides in an Underserved Community Census tract.\23\
Population of a Census tract, either a tract that is Underserved
Community or not, must be based on 2020 U.S. Census population data.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\23\ https://usdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/d6f90dfcc8b44525b04c7ce748a3674a.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Selection Criterion #3: Additional Safety Considerations. The
Department will assess whether the applicant has considered any of the
following in the development of the Action Plan:
Employ low-cost, high-impact strategies that can improve
safety over a wider geographical area;
Engage with a variety of public and private stakeholders
(e.g., inclusive community engagement, community benefit agreements,
etc.);
Seek to adopt innovative technologies or strategies to
promote safety and equity; and
Include evidence-based projects or strategies.
The applicant must address these considerations in narrative form.
Additional Consideration: Budget Costs
The Department will assess the extent to which the budget and costs
to perform the activities required to execute the Action Plan Grant are
reasonable based on 2 CFR 200.404.
ii. Implementation Grant Selection Criteria
Implementation Grants have four merit criteria: #1 Safety Impact;
#2 Equity, Engagement, and Collaboration; #3 Effective Practices and
Strategies; and #4 Climate Change and Economic Competitiveness. Two
additional considerations will also be used in the selection process:
Project Readiness, and Funds to Underserved Communities. The response
to each criterion, to the extent practicable, should be aligned with
the applicant's Action Plan. Below describes the specific content the
applicant should respond to for each of these criteria.
Selection Criterion #1: Safety Impact. DOT will assess whether the
proposal is likely to: Significantly reduce or eliminate roadway
fatalities and serious injuries; employ low-cost, high-impact
strategies over a wide geographic area; and include evidence-based
projects and strategies. Safety impact is the most
[[Page 31619]]
important criterion and will be weighed more heavily in the review and
selection process. The Department will assess the applicant's
description of the safety problem, safety impact assessment, and costs
as part of the Safety Impact criterion:
Description of the safety problem. DOT will assess the
extent to which:
[cir] The safety problem is described, including historical trends,
fatal and serious injury crash locations, contributing factors, and
crash types by category of road user.
[cir] Crashes and/or crash risk are displayed in a High-Injury
Network, hot spot analysis, or similar geospatial risk visualization.
[cir] Safety risk is summarized from risk models, hazard analysis,
the identification of high-risk roadway features, road safety audits/
assessments, and/or other proactive safety analyses.
Safety impact assessment. DOT will assess the extent to
which projects and strategies:
[cir] Align with and address the identified safety problems.
[cir] Are supported by evidence to significantly reduce or
eliminate roadway fatalities and serious injuries involving various
road users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation
users, personal conveyance and micromobility users, motorists, and
commercial vehicle operators.
[cir] Use low-cost, high-impact strategies and projects that can
improve safety over a wider geographical area.
[cir] Measure safety impact through models, studies, reports,
proven noteworthy practices, Crash Modification Factors (CMF), and
other information on project and strategy effectiveness.
[cir] Include a multi-disciplinary, systemic approach that relies
on redundancies to reduce safety risks.
[cir] Will have safety benefits that persist over time.
Implementation Costs. DOT will assess the extent to which
projects and strategies are itemized and summarized, including capital
costs for infrastructure, behavioral, and operational safety
improvements.
Selection Criterion #2: Equity, Engagement, and Collaboration. This
criterion supports the legislative requirements to assess the extent to
which the application ensures the equitable investment in the safety
needs of underserved communities, and demonstrates engagement with a
variety of public and private stakeholders. The response to this
criterion should focus on equity, engagement, and collaboration in
relation to the implementation of the projects and strategies. DOT will
assess the extent to which projects and strategies:
Ensure equitable investment in underserved communities in
preventing roadway fatalities and serious injuries, including rural
communities.
Are designed to decrease existing disparities identified
through equity analysis.
Consider key population groups (e.g., people in
underserved communities, children, seniors, Black, Latino, Indigenous
and Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, other
persons of color, persons with disabilities, persons who live in rural
areas, and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty
or inequality) to ensure the impact to these groups is understood and
addressed.
Include equity analysis, both quantitative and
qualitative, and stakeholder engagement in underserved communities as
part of the development and implementation process.
Include meaningful engagement with the public, including
public involvement for underserved communities, community benefit
agreements, and relevant stakeholders such as private sector and
community groups, as part of implementation.
Leverage partnerships within their jurisdiction, with
other government entities, non-governmental organizations, the private
sector, academic institutions, and/or other relevant stakeholders to
achieve safety benefits while preventing unintended consequences for
persons living in the jurisdiction.
Inform representatives from areas impacted on
implementation progress and meaningfully engage over time to evaluate
the impact of projects and strategies on persons living in the
jurisdiction.
Align with the equity analysis performed as part of the
development of an existing Action Plan.
Selection Criterion #3: Effective Practices and Strategies. DOT
will assess the extent to which the application employs low-cost, high-
impact strategies that can improve safety over a wide geographical
area, includes evidence-based projects or strategies that improve
safety, and seeks to adopt innovative technologies or strategies to
promote safety and equity. The response to this criterion needs to
address, at a minimum, one of the four effective practices and
strategies from the list below, which includes: Create a safer
community; Safe System Approach; Complete Streets; and innovative
practices and technologies. If the applicant responds to more than one
of the four options, the option that is rated highest in the review
process will be used for the rating of this criterion.
Create a safer community. DOT will assess the extent to
which the projects and strategies:
[cir] Establish basic, evidence-based roadway safety infrastructure
features, including but not limited to sidewalks and separated bicycle
lanes.
[cir] Improve safety for all road users along a roadway network
using proposed Public-Rights-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines
(PROWAG).\24\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\24\ https://www.access-board.gov/prowag/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[cir] Use evidence-based, proven, and effective safety
countermeasures to significantly improve existing roadways.\25\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\25\ https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/provencountermeasures/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[cir] Use evidence-based Countermeasures that Work with four or
five stars to address persistent behavioral safety issues and consider
equity in their implementation.\26\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\26\ https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2021-09/Countermeasures-10th_080621_v5_tag.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[cir] Apply systemic safety practices that involve widely
implemented improvements based on high-risk roadway features correlated
with particular severe crash types.
Safe System Approach. DOT will assess the extent to which
the projects and strategies:
[cir] Encompass at least two of the five safety elements in the
National Roadway Safety Strategy (Safer People, Safer Roads, Safer
Speeds, Safer Vehicles, and Post-Crash Care). This may include a mix of
infrastructure, behavioral, and operational safety projects and
strategies.
[cir] Create a transportation system that accounts for and
mitigates human mistakes.
[cir] Incorporate data-driven design features that are human-
centric, limit kinetic energy, and are selected based on the physical
limits of people's crash tolerances before injury or death occurs.
[cir] Support actions and activities identified in the Department's
National Roadway Safety Strategy that are evidence-based.
Complete Streets. DOT will assess the extent to which the
projects and strategies:
[cir] Account for the safety of all road users in their
implementation through evidence-based activities.
[cir] Are supported by an existing Complete Streets Policy that
prioritizes safety in standard agency procedures and guidance or other
roadway safety policies that have eliminated barriers to
[[Page 31620]]
prioritizing the safety of all users, or includes supplemental planning
activities to achieve this. Consider the management of the right of way
using a data-driven approach (e.g., delivery access, features that
promote biking and micromobility, electric vehicle charging
infrastructure, etc.).
[cir] Improve accessibility and multimodal networks for people
outside of a motor vehicle, including people who are walking, biking,
rolling, public transit users, and have disabilities.
[cir] Incorporate the proposed PROWAG, and any actions in an
established the American with Disabilities Act Transition Plan to
correct barriers to individuals with disabilities.
Innovative practices and technologies. DOT will assess the
extent to which the projects and strategies:
[cir] Incorporate practices that promote efficiency within the
planning and road management lifecycle (e.g., dig once, etc.).
[cir] Integrate additional data beyond roadway and crash
information to inform implementation and location, such as data on the
built environment.
[cir] Foster applied, data-driven research and experimentation to
inform project and strategy effectiveness, including but not limited to
participation in a sanctioned Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
experimentation, research to inform Proven Safety Countermeasures or
Countermeasures that Work, and/or research that measures the
effectiveness of multidisciplinary activities.
[cir] Adopt innovative technologies or practices to promote safety
and equity. These could include infrastructure, behavioral,
operational, or vehicular safety-focused approaches.
Selection Criterion #4: Climate Change and Sustainability, and
Economic Competitiveness. This program's focus on equity and safety are
also advanced by considerations of how applications address climate and
sustainability considerations, as well as whether applications support
economic competitiveness. DOT will assess the extent to which the
projects and strategies use safety strategies to support the
Departmental strategic goals of climate change and sustainability, and
economic strength and global competitiveness, and the extent to which
the proposal is expected to:
Reduce motor vehicle-related pollution such as air
pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Increase safety of lower-carbon travel modes such as
transit and active transportation.
Incorporate lower-carbon pavement and construction
materials.
Support fiscally responsible land use and transportation
efficient design that reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Includes storm water management practices and incorporates
other climate resilience measures or feature, including but not limited
to nature-based solutions that improve built and/or natural environment
while enhancing resilience.
Lead to increased economic or business activity due to
enhanced safety features for all road users.
Increase mobility and expand connectivity for all road
users to jobs and business opportunities, including people in
underserved communities.
Improve multimodal transportation systems that incorporate
affordable transportation options such as public transit and
micromobility.
Demonstrate a plan or credible planning activities and
project delivery actions to advance quality jobs, workforce programs,
including partnerships with labor unions, training providers, education
institutions, and hiring policies that promote workforce inclusion.
Result in high-quality job creation by supporting good-
paying jobs with a free and fair choice to join a union, incorporate
strong labor standards (e.g., wages and benefits at or above
prevailing; use of project labor agreements, registered apprenticeship
programs, pre-apprenticeships tied to registered apprenticeships,
etc.), and/or provide workforce opportunities for historically
underrepresented groups (e.g., workforce development program, etc.).
Additional Consideration: Project Readiness
Applications rated as ``Highly Recommended'' or ``Recommended''
based on the selection Criteria 1 through 4 will be reviewed for
Project Readiness, which will be a consideration for application
selection. Project Readiness focuses on the extent to which the
applicant will be able to substantially execute and complete the full
scope of work in the Implementation Grant application within five (5)
years of when the grant is executed. This includes information related
to required design and construction standards, as well as
environmental, permitting, and approval processes. DOT will evaluate
the extent to which the application:
Documents all applicable local, State, and Federal
requirements.
Includes information on activity schedule, required
permits and approvals, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
class of action and status, State Transportation Improvement Program
(STIP) and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) status, public
involvement, right-of-way acquisition plans, procurement schedules,
multi-party agreements, utility relocation plans and risk and
mitigation strategies, as appropriate.
Is reasonably expected to begin any construction-related
projects in a timely manner consistent with all applicable local,
State, and Federal requirements.
Additional Consideration: Funds to Underserved Communities
The percentage of Implementation Grant funds that will be spent in,
and provide safety benefits to, locations in census tracts designated
as underserved communities as defined by this NOFO will be considered
as part of application selection.\27\ DOT will use this information in
support of the legislative requirement to ensure equitable investment
in the safety needs of underserved communities in preventing roadway
fatalities and injuries. Higher percentages of funding to underserved
communities will be generally viewed favorably by DOT, and the
Department encourages applicants to leverage project and strategy
activities to the extent practical and in alignment with the safety
problems identified in an Action Plan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\27\ An underserved community as defined for this NOFO is
consistent with the Office of Management and Budget's Interim
Guidance for the Justice40 Initiative and the Historically
Disadvantaged Community designation, which includes: U.S. Census
tracts identified in this table https://datahub.transportation.gov/stories/s/tsyd-k6ij; any Tribal land; or any territory or possession
of the United States.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Review and Selection Process
This section addresses the BIL requirement to describe the
methodology for evaluation in the NOFO, including how applications will
be rated according to selection criteria and considerations, and how
those criteria and considerations will be used to assign an overall
rating. The SS4A grant program review and selection process consists of
eligibility reviews, merit criteria review, and Senior Review. The
Secretary makes the final selections.
i. Action Plan Grant Review and Selection Process
The process for the application plan review is described below:
Teams of Department and contractor support staff review
all applications to determine eligibility based on the eligibility
information in Section C.
[[Page 31621]]
Eligible Action Plan applications received by the deadline
will be reviewed for their merit based on the selection criteria in
Section E.1.i.
Applications are scored numerically based on Merit
Criteria #1 Safety Impact and #2 Equity Criteria.
The #3 Additional Safety Considerations criterion
narrative will be reviewed and assessed as either ``qualified,''
meaning the application addresses the criterion at least in part, or
``not qualified,'' meaning the application does not address the
criterion. Applications that do not address the #3 Additional Safety
Considerations and are deemed ``not qualified'' will not be considered.
Action Plan Grant applications to develop or complete a
new Action Plan will be noted and prioritized for funding.
In order to ensure that final selections will meet the
statutory requirement that no more than 15 percent of program funds may
be awarded to eligible applicants in one State, applications will have
their State location denoted. Tribal awards are not counted towards
this 15 percent maximum.
The Teams will examine the locations of the applicants to
identify if multiple applicants requested funding for the same
jurisdiction. DOT reserves the right to request applicants with
duplicative funding requests consolidate their efforts as one
multijurisdictional group prior to receiving an award, and may decline
to fund duplicative applications irrespective of their individual
merits.
ii. Implementation Grant Review and Selection Process
(a) Overall Selection Process and Ratings
Teams of Department and contractor support staff review all
applications to determine whether they are eligible applicants based on
the eligibility information in Section C. All eligible Implementation
Grant applications received by the deadline will be reviewed and
receive ratings for each of these criteria: #1 Safety Impact; #2
Equity, Engagement, and Collaboration; #3 Effective Practices and
Strategies; #4 Climate Change and Sustainability, and Economic
Competitiveness. Based on the criteria ratings, an overall application
rating of ``Highly Recommended,'' ``Recommended,'' ``Acceptable,'' or
``Not Recommended'' will be assigned. Criterion #1, Safety Impact, will
be weighted most heavily.
Overall ``Highly Recommended'' Application Rating Scenarios
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scenario (a) Scenario (b)
Selection criteria criteria rating criteria rating
------------------------------------------------------------------------
#1 Safety Impact................ High.............. Medium.
#2 Equity, Engagement, and Medium or High.... High.
Collaboration.
#3 Effective Practices and Medium or High.... High.
Strategies.
#4 Climate Change Low, Medium, or High.
Sustainability, and Economic High.
Competitiveness.
Overall Rating.................. Highly Recommended Highly
Recommended.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overall ``Recommended'' Rating Scenarios
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scenario (c) Scenario (d)
Selection criteria criteria rating criteria rating
------------------------------------------------------------------------
#1 Safety impact................ High.............. Medium.
#2 Equity, Engagement, and At least one Low.. One Medium and One
Collaboration. High or Two
Medium.
#3 Effective Practices and
Strategies.
#4 Climate Change and Low, Medium, or Low, Medium, or
Sustainability, and Economic High. High.
Competitiveness.
Overall Rating.................. Recommended....... Recommended.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overall ``Acceptable'' and ``Not Recommended'' Rating Scenarios
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scenario (e) Scenario (f)
Selection criteria criteria rating criteria rating
------------------------------------------------------------------------
#1 Safety Impact................ Low............... Any are determined
Non-Responsive.
#2 Equity, Engagement, and Low, Medium, or
Collaboration. High.
#3 Effective Practices and
Strategies.
#4 Climate Change and Low, Medium, or
Sustainability, and Economic High.
Competitiveness.
Overall Rating.................. Acceptable........ Not Recommended.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(b) Safety Impact Criterion Rating Methodology
For the #1 Safety Impact criterion, the Department will assess
three subcomponents to determine a result in an overall rating of
``high,'' ``medium,'' and ``low,'' or ``non-responsive.'' The three
subcomponents are: the description of the safety problem; the safety
impact assessment; and the implementation costs.
The description of the safety problem sub-rating will use the
guidelines below:
[[Page 31622]]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
High Medium Low Non-responsive
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rating scale............. The narrative and The narrative and The narrative and The narrative and
supporting supporting supporting supporting
information information information information do not
demonstrate the demonstrate the demonstrate the address a safety
proposal is proposal is proposal is problem.
addressing a addressing an addressing a safety
substantial safety existing safety problem more minor
problem. The problem. Narrative in scope. The
narrative is well- articulates the narrative is not
articulated and is description, is well-articulated,
strongly supported generally and the supporting
by data and supporting by data data and analysis
analysis. and analysis. are limited.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The safety impact assessment sub-rating will use the guidelines
below:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
High Medium Low Non-responsive
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rating scale............. The projects and The projects and The projects and The projects and
strategies have strategies address strategies address strategies do not
strong potential to the safety problem. the safety problem address the safety
address the safety Most of the to a limited problem.
problem. The projects and degree. Some or
projects and strategies proposed none of the
strategies proposed are effective projects and
are highly measures, based on strategies proposed
effective, based on evidence, use a are effective
evidence, use a systemic approach, measures, based on
systemic approach, and have benefits evidence, use a
and have benefits that persist over systemic approach,
that persist over time. or have benefits
time. that persist over
time.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The implementation costs sub-rating will use the guidelines below:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
High Medium Low Non-responsive
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rating Scale............. The costs for the The costs for the The costs for the Cost information is
implementation of implementation of implementation of not provided.
the projects and the projects and the projects and
strategies are strategies are strategies are not
clearly articulated summarized. Future well-articulated or
and summarized. costs are missing key
Future costs are described. The details. Future
well-described. The quantity and costs are minimally
quantity and quality of the or not described.
quality of the projects and Based on the
projects and strategies in limited quantity
strategies in relation to the and/or quality of
relation to the cost amounts seem the projects and
cost amounts to indicate the strategies in
strongly indicate costs are relation to the
the costs are reasonable. cost amounts, the
reasonable. cost reasonableness
is uncertain.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The three sub-ratings for the #1 Safety Criterion (the description
of the safety problem; the safety impact assessment; and the
implementation costs) will be combined and scored using the following
rating system to determine if the overall rating for the Safety
Criterion is ``High,'' ``Medium,'' ``Low,'' or ``Non-Responsive.''
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Safety criterion sub-rating scores Overall safety criterion rating
------------------------------------------------------------------------
At least two ``high'', no ``low'', no High.
``non-responsive''.
No ``low'', no ``non-responsive,'' or Medium.
does not meet the High criterion.
No ``high'', at least one ``low'', no Low.
``non-responsive,'' or does not meet
the Medium criterion.
Any ``non-responsive''................ Non-Responsive.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(c) Other Criteria Rating Methodology
For the merit criteria #2 Equity, Engagement, and Collaboration, #3
Effective Practices and Strategies, and #4 Climate Change and Economic
Competitiveness, the Department will consider whether the application
narrative is clear, direct, responsive to the selection criterion focus
areas, and logical, which will result in a rating of ``high,
``medium,'' ``low,'' or ``non-responsive.''
[[Page 31623]]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
High Medium Low Non-responsive
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rating Scale............. The application is The application is The application is The narrative
substantively moderately minimally indicates the
responsive to the responsive to the responsive to the proposal is
criteria, with criteria, with criteria and is counter to the
clear, direct, and mostly clear, somewhat addressed criteria, or does
logical narrative. direct, and logical in the narrative. not contain
narrative. sufficient
information.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
``Highly Recommended'' and ``Recommended'' applications will
receive a Project Readiness evaluation, as described below. The
reviewers will use the application materials outlined in Section D to
assess the applicant's Project Readiness and will provide a rating of
either ``Very Likely,'' ``Likely,'' or ``Unlikely.''
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Very likely Likely Unlikely
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rating Scale......... Based on the Based on the Based on the
information information information
provided in provided in provided in
the the the
application application application
and the and the and the
proposed scope proposed scope proposed scope
of the of the of the
projects and projects and projects and
strategies, it strategies, it strategies, it
is very likely is probable is uncertain
the applicant the applicant whether the
can complete can complete applicant can
all projects all projects complete all
and strategies and strategies projects and
within a five- within a five- strategies
year time year time within a five-
horizon. horizon. year time
horizon.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
iii. Senior Review Team Phase
(a) Action Plan Grant Senior Review Team Phase
For the Action Plan Grants, the Secretary will set thresholds for
each of the three quantitative criteria ratings based on their
distribution, the number of applicants, and the availability of funds.
Eligible applicants who meet or exceed the threshold in any of the
three criteria will be offered Action Plan Grant award funding. A
composite rating of the three criteria will not be made, and each
criterion will be considered separately. Based on the overall
application pool, available funding, and legislative requirements, the
Secretary reserves the discretion to set the threshold(s) most
advantageous to the U.S. Government's interest. The Secretary will
consult with a Senior Review Team (SRT) to make the threshold
determinations. Additionally, the Secretary may choose to prioritize
Action Plan Grants that are developing or completing an Action Plan
over Action Plan Grant applications focused on supplemental action plan
activities because an Action Plan is a prerequisite to applying for
Implementation Grants in future NOFOs.
(b) Implementation Grant Senior Review Team Phase
Once every Implementation Grant application has been assigned an
overall rating based on the methodology above, all ``Highly
Recommended'' applications will be included in a list of Applications
for Consideration. The SRT will review whether the list of ``Highly
Recommended'' applications is sufficient to ensure that no more than 15
percent of the FY 2022 funds made available are awarded to eligible
applicants in a single State. ``Recommended'' applications may be added
to the proposed list of Applications for Consideration until a
sufficient number of applications are on the list to ensure that all
the legislative requirements can be met and funding would be fully
awarded. ``Recommended'' applications with a ``High'' Safety Impact
Criterion rating will be prioritized and considered first. If that
produces an insufficient list, ``Recommended'' applications with a
``Medium'' Safety Impact Criterion rating and a ``High'' rating for the
Equity, Engagement, and Collaboration Criterion will also be
considered. The SRT will also review all ``Highly Recommended''
applications that received an ``Unlikely'' project readiness rating,
and either remove those applicants from the Applications for
Consideration, OR recommend a reduced scope to minimize the risk the
applicant will not complete the scope of work within five years of the
grant agreement execution.
Additionally, to ensure the funding awards align to the extent
practicable to the program goal of equitable investment in the safety
needs of underserved communities, the SRT may review ``Recommended''
applications and set a threshold based on the percentage of funds that
will be spent in, and provide safety benefits to, locations within
underserved communities. Any ``Recommended'' applications at or above
that threshold will be included in the proposed list of Applications
for Consideration.
For each grant type, the SRT will present the list of Applications
for Consideration to the Secretary, either collectively or through a
representative of the SRT. The SRT may advise the Secretary on any
application on the list of Applications for Consideration, including
options for reduced awards, and the Secretary makes final selections.
The Secretary's selections identify the applications that best address
program requirements and are most worthy of funding.
3. Additional Information
Prior to entering into a grant agreement, each selected applicant
will be subject to a risk assessment as required by 2 CFR 200.206. The
Department must review and consider any information about the applicant
that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible
through SAM (currently the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity
Information System (FAPIIS)). An applicant may review information in
FAPIIS and comment on any information about itself that a Federal
awarding agency previously entered. The Department will consider
comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in
FAPIIS, in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business
ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing
the review of risk posed by applicants.
Because award recipients under this program may be first-time
recipients of Federal funding, DOT is committed to implementing the
program as flexibly as permitted by statute and to providing assistance
to help award recipients through the process of securing a grant
agreement and delivering both Action Plan activities and Implementation
Grant projects and strategies. Award recipients are encouraged to
identify any needs for assistance in delivering the Implementation
Grant projects and strategies so that DOT can provide directly, or
through a third party, sufficient support and technical
[[Page 31624]]
assistance to mitigate potential execution risks.
F. Federal Award Administration Information
1. Federal Award Notices
Following the evaluation outlined in Section E, the Secretary will
announce awarded applications by posting a list of selected recipients
at www.transportation.gov/SS4A. The posting of the list of selected
award recipients will not constitute an authorization to begin
performance. Following the announcement, the Department will contact
the point of contact listed in the SF-424 to initiate negotiation of a
grant agreement.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
i. Equity and Barriers to Opportunity
Each applicant selected for SS4A grant funding must demonstrate
effort to improve equity and reduce barriers to opportunity as
described in Section A. Award recipients that have not sufficiently
addressed equity and barriers to opportunity in their planning, as
determined by the Department, will be required to do so before
receiving funds, consistent with Executive Order 13985, Advancing
Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the
Federal Government (86 FR 7009).\28\
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\28\ An illustrative example of how these requirements are
applied to recipients can be found here: https://cms.buildamerica.dot.gov/buildamerica/financing/infra-grants/infra-fy21-fhwa-general-terms-and-conditions.
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ii. Labor and Workforce
Each applicant selected for SS4A grant funding must demonstrate, to
the full extent possible consistent with the law, an effort to create
good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and
incorporation of high labor standards as described in Section A. To the
extent that applicants have not sufficiently considered job quality and
labor rights in their planning, as determined by the Department of
Labor, the applicants will be required to do so before receiving funds,
consistent with Executive Order 14025, Worker Organizing and
Empowerment (86 FR 22829), and Executive Order 14052, Implementation of
the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (86 FR 64335).
As expressed in section A, equal employment opportunity is an
important priority. The Department wants to ensure that sponsors have
the support they need to meet requirements under E.O. 11246, Equal
Employment Opportunity (30 FR 12319, and as amended). All Federally
assisted contractors are required to make good faith efforts to meet
the goals of 6.9 percent of construction project hours being performed
by women and goals that vary based on geography for construction work
hours and for work being performed by people of color.\29\ Projects
over $35 million shall meet the requirements in Executive Order 14063,
Use of Project Labor Agreements for Federal Construction Projects (87
FR 7363).
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\29\ https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/ParticipationGoals.pdf.
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The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract
Compliance Programs (OFCCP) has a Mega Construction Project Program
through which it engages with project sponsors as early as the design
phase to help promote compliance with non-discrimination and
affirmative action obligations. Through the program, OFCCP offers
contractors and subcontractors extensive compliance assistance,
conducts compliance evaluations, and helps to build partnerships
between the project sponsor, prime contractor, subcontractors, and
relevant stakeholders. OFCCP will identify projects that receive an
award under this notice and are required to participate in OFCCP's Mega
Construction Project Program from a wide range of federally assisted
projects over which OFCCP has jurisdiction and that have a project cost
above $35 million. DOT will require project sponsors with costs above
$35 million that receive awards under this funding opportunity to
partner with OFCCP, if selected by OFCCP, as a condition of their DOT
award. Under that partnership, OFCCP will ask these project sponsors to
make clear to prime contractors in the pre-bid phase that project
sponsor's award terms will require their participation in the Mega
Construction Project Program. Additional information on how OFCCP makes
their selections for participation in the Mega Construction Project
Program is outlined under ``Scheduling'' on the Department of Labor
website: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ofccp/faqs/construction-compliance.
iii. Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience
It is the policy of the United States to strengthen the security
and resilience of its critical infrastructure against both physical and
cyber threats. Each applicant selected for SS4A grant funding must
demonstrate, prior to the signing of the grant agreement, effort to
consider and address physical and cyber security risks relevant to the
transportation mode and type and scale of the activities. Award
recipients that have not appropriately considered and addressed
physical and cyber security and resilience in their planning, design,
and oversight, as determined by the Department and the Department of
Homeland Security, will be required to do so before receiving
Implementation Grant funds for construction, consistent with
Presidential Policy Directive 21, Critical Infrastructure Security and
Resilience and the National Security Presidential Memorandum on
Improving Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure Control Systems.
Additionally, funding recipients must be in compliance with 2 CFR
200.216 and the prohibition on certain telecommunications and video
surveillance services or equipment.
Award recipients shall also consider whether projects in
floodplains are upgraded consistent with the Federal Flood Risk
Management Standard, to the extent consistent with current law, in
Executive Order 14030, Climate-Related Financial Risk (86 FR 27967),
and Executive Order 13690, Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management
Standard and a Process for Further Soliciting and Considering
Stakeholder Input (80 FR 6425).
iv. National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)
Funding recipients must comply with NEPA under 42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq. and the Council on Environmental Quality's NEPA implementing
regulations at 40 CFR 1500-1508, where applicable.
v. Other Administrative and Policy Requirements
All awards will be administered pursuant to the Uniform
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for
Federal Awards found in 2 CFR 200, subpart F, as adopted by the
Department at 2 CFR 1201. Additionally, as permitted under the
requirements described above, applicable Federal laws, rules, and
regulations of the relevant operating administration (e.g., the Federal
Highway Administration, etc.) administering the activities will apply
to the activities that receive SS4A grants, including planning
requirements, Stakeholder Agreements, and other requirements under the
Department's other highway and transit grant programs. DOT anticipates
grant recipients to have varying levels of experience administering
Federal funding agreements and complying with Federal requirements, and
DOT will
[[Page 31625]]
take a risk-based approach to SS4A program grant agreement
administration to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and
regulations.
The Department will also provide additional technical assistance
and support resources to first-time DOT funding recipients and those
who request additional support, as appropriate. With respect to highway
projects, except as otherwise noted in this NOFO, please note that
these grants are not required to be administered under Title 23 of the
U.S.C., which establishes requirements that are generally applicable to
funding that is provided by formula to State departments of
transportation.\30\ Therefore, the administration and implementation of
SS4A grants should be more streamlined for the entities that are
eligible for SS4A awards.
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\30\ Please note that some title 23 requirements apply
regardless of funding source. In particular, projects involving
routes on the National Highway System must meet the applicable
design standards at 23 CFR part 625.
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As expressed in Executive Order 14005, Ensuring the Future Is Made
in All of America by All of America's Workers (86 FR 7475), it is the
policy of the executive branch to maximize, consistent with law, the
use of goods, products, and materials produced in, and services offered
in, the United States. Infrastructure projects are subject to the Build
America, Buy America Act (Pub. L. No 117-58, div. G Sec. Sec. 70901-
70927) as clarified in OMB Memorandum M-22-11.\31\ The Department
expects all recipients to be able to complete their projects without
needing a waiver. However, to obtain a waiver, a recipient must be
prepared to demonstrate how they will maximize the use of domestic
goods, products, and materials in constructing their project. Projects
under this notice will be subject to the domestic preference
requirements at Sec. 70914 of the Build America, Buy America Act, as
implemented by OMB, and any awards will contain the award terms
specific in M-22-11.
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\31\ Public Law 117-58, division. G, Title IX, Subtitle A, 135
Stat. 429, 1298 (2021). For additional information on Sec. 70914,
see OMB-22-11. https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/M-22-11.pdf.
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SS4A award recipients should demonstrate compliance with civil
rights obligations and nondiscrimination laws, including Titles VI of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and accompanying
regulations. Recipients of Federal transportation funding will also be
required to comply fully with regulations and guidance for the ADA,
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and all other civil rights requirements.
Additionally, to the extent practicable, Implementation Grants must
adhere to the proposed Public Rights-of-Way Accessibility
Guidelines.\32\ The Department's and the applicable Operating
Administrations' Office of Civil Rights may work with awarded grant
recipients to ensure full compliance with Federal civil rights
requirements.
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\32\ https://www.access-board.gov/prowag/.
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In connection with any program or activity conducted with or
benefiting from funds awarded under this notice, recipients of funds
must comply with all applicable requirements of Federal law, including,
without limitation, the Constitution of the United States; the
conditions of performance, nondiscrimination requirements, and other
assurances made applicable to the award of funds in accordance with
regulations of the Department of Transportation; and applicable Federal
financial assistance and contracting principles promulgated by the
Office of Management and Budget. In complying with these requirements,
recipients, in particular, must ensure that no concession agreements
are denied or other contracting decisions made on the basis of speech
or other activities protected by the First Amendment. If the Department
determines that a recipient has failed to comply with applicable
Federal requirements, the Department may terminate the award of funds
and disallow previously incurred costs, requiring the recipient to
reimburse any expended award funds.
3. Reporting
i. Progress Reporting on Grant Activity
Reporting responsibilities include quarterly program performance
reports using the Performance Progress Report (SF-PPR) and quarterly
financial status using the SF-425 (also known as the Federal Financial
Report or SF-FFR).\33\
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\33\ https://www.grants.gov/forms/post-award-reporting-forms.html.
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ii. Post Award Reporting Requirements/Reporting of Matters Related to
Integrity and Performance
If the total value of a selected applicant's currently 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 this Federal award, then the
applicant during that period of time must maintain the currency of
information reported in SAM that is made available in the designated
integrity and performance system (currently the Federal Awardee
Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS)) about civil,
criminal, or administrative proceedings described in paragraph 2 of
this award term and condition. This is a statutory requirement under
section 872 of Public Law 110-417, as amended (41 U.S.C. 2313). As
required by section 3010 of Public Law 111-212, all information posted
in the designated integrity and performance system on or after April
15, 2011, except past performance reviews required for Federal
procurement contracts, will be publicly available. Additionally, if
applicable funding recipients must be in compliance with the audit
requirements in 2 CFR 200, Subpart F.
iii. Program Evaluation
As a condition of grant award, SS4A grant recipients may be
required to participate in an evaluation undertaken by DOT, or another
agency or partner. The evaluation may take different forms such as an
implementation assessment across grant recipients, an impact and/or
outcomes analysis of all or selected sites within or across grant
recipients, or a benefit/cost analysis or assessment of return on
investment. The Department may require applicants to collect data
elements to aid the evaluation. As a part of the evaluation, as a
condition of award, grant recipients must agree to: (1) Make records
available to the evaluation contractor; (2) provide access to program
records, and any other relevant documents to calculate costs and
benefits; (3) in the case of an impact analysis, facilitate the access
to relevant information as requested; and (4) follow evaluation
procedures as specified by the evaluation contractor or DOT staff.
Recipients and sub-recipients are also encouraged to incorporate
program evaluation including associated data collection activities from
the outset of their program design and implementation to meaningfully
document and measure the effectiveness of their projects and
strategies. Title I of the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking
Act of 2018 (Evidence Act), Public Law 115-435 (2019) urges Federal
awarding agencies and Federal assistance recipients and sub-recipients
to use program evaluation as a critical tool to learn, to improve
equitable delivery, and to elevate program service and delivery across
the program lifecycle. Evaluation means ``an assessment using
systematic data collection and analysis of one or more
[[Page 31626]]
programs, policies, and organizations intended to assess their
effectiveness and efficiency'' (codified at 5 U.S.C. 311). For grant
recipients, evaluation expenses are allowable costs (either as direct
or indirect), unless prohibited by statute or regulation, and such
expenses may include the personnel and equipment needed for data
infrastructure and expertise in data analysis, performance, and
evaluation (2 CFR 200).
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
For further information concerning this notice, please contact the
Office of the Secretary via email at SS4A@dot.gov. In addition, up to
the application deadline, the Department will post answers to common
questions and requests for clarifications on the Department's website
at www.transportation.gov/SS4A. To ensure applicants receive accurate
information about eligibility or the program, the applicant is
encouraged to contact the Department directly, rather than through
intermediaries or third parties, with questions. Department staff may
also conduct briefings on the SS4A grant selection and award process
upon request.
H. Other Information
1. Publication of Application Information
Following the completion of the selection process and announcement
of awards, the Department intends to publish a list of all applications
received along with the names of the applicant organizations. The
Department may share application information within the Department or
with other Federal agencies if the Department determines that sharing
is relevant to the respective program's objectives.
2. Department Feedback on Applications
The Department will not review applications in advance, but
Department staff are available for technical questions and assistance.
The deadline to submit technical questions is August 15, 2022. The
Department strives to provide as much information as possible to assist
applicants with the application process. Unsuccessful applicants may
request a debrief up to 90 days after the selected funding recipients
are publicly announced on transportation.gov/SS4A. Program staff will
address questions to SS4A@dot.gov throughout the application period.
3. Rural Applicants
User-friendly information and resources regarding DOT's
discretionary grant programs relevant to rural applicants can be found
on the Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success
(ROUTES) website at www.transportation.gov/rural.
Signed in Washington, DC, on May 16, 2022.
Christopher Coes,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy.
[FR Doc. 2022-11113 Filed 5-23-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P