National Technical Assistance Center for Senior Transportation; Solicitation for Proposals, 67529-67535 [05-22057]

Agencies

• Federal Transit Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 214 (Monday, November 7, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67529-67535]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22057]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


National Technical Assistance Center for Senior Transportation; 
Solicitation for Proposals

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice; request for proposals.

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SUMMARY: This solicitation is for proposals from national non-profit 
organizations for a cooperative agreement to develop and implement a 
National Technical Assistance Center for Senior Transportation 
(NTACST). The major goal of the NTACST is to assist local communities 
and states in the expansion and provision of transportation services 
for older adults. This cooperative agreement is a five year award. The 
first year of the cooperative agreement is for two million dollars 
($2,000,000). Subsequent funding is authorized at one million dollars 
($1,000,000 per year) in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient 
Transportation Equity Act--A Legacy for Users (SAFETEAU-LU); actual 
funding will be based on annual appropriations.

DATES: Proposals must be submitted electronically by December 22, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Proposals should be submitted electronically to https://
www.Grants.Gov. Grants.Gov allows organizations to electronically find 
and apply for competitive grant opportunities from all Federal grant-
making agencies. Grants.Gov is the single access point for over 1,000 
grant programs offered by the 26 Federal grant-making agencies. 
Proposals can also be submitted in hard copy to United We Ride Office, 
400 7th Street, SW., Room 9114, Washington, DC 20590.

DATES: All proposals must be postmarked by midnight December 22, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bryna Helfer at (202) 366-1663; fax: 
(202) 366-3136; unitedweride@fta.dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3016 of the Safe, Accountable, 
Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act--A Legacy for Users 
(SAFETEA-LU); PL 109-059, authorized a National Technical Assistance 
Center for Senior Transportation (NTACST) is under 49 U.S.C. 5314(c) as 
follows:
    (1) Establishment. The Secretary shall award a cooperative 
agreement grant to a national not-for-profit organization for the 
establishment and maintenance of a NTACST.
    (2) Eligibility.An organization shall be eligible for a cooperative 
agreement under paragraph (1) if the organization: (A) Focuses 
significantly on serving the needs of the elderly; (B) has demonstrated 
knowledge and expertise in senior transportation policy and planning 
issues; (C) has affiliates in a majority of the states; (D) has the 
capacity to convene local groups to consult on operation and 
development of senior transportation programs; and (E) has established 
close working relationships with the Federal Transit Administration 
(FTA) and the Administration on Aging (AoA).
    (3) Use of Funds. The NTACST established under this section shall: 
(A) Gather best practices from throughout the nation and provide such 
practices to local communities that are implementing senior 
transportation programs; (B) work with teams from local communities to 
identify how the communities are successfully meeting the 
transportation needs of senior citizens and identifying any gaps in 
services in order to create a plan for an integrated senior 
transportation program; (C) provide resources on ways to pay for senior 
transportation services; (D) create a Web site to publicize and 
circulate information on senior transportation program; (E) establish a 
clearinghouse for print, video, and audio resources on senior mobility; 
and (F) administer the demonstration grant program established under 
paragraph (4).
    (4) Grants Authorized. (A) In General.--The NTACST established 
under this section, in consultation with the Federal Transit 
Administration, should award senior transportation demonstration grants 
to: (i) Local transportation organizations, (ii) state agencies, (iii) 
units of local government, and (iv) nonprofit organizations. (B) Use of 
Funds.--Grant funds received under this paragraph may be used to: (i) 
Evaluate the state of transportation services for senior citizens, (ii) 
recognize barriers to mobility that senior citizens encounter in their 
communities, (iii) establish partnerships and promote coordination 
among community stakeholders, including public, not-for-profit, and 
for-profit providers of transportation services for senior citizens, 
(iv) identify future transportation needs of senior citizens within 
local communities, and (v) establish strategies to meet the unique 
needs of healthy and frail senior citizens.

[[Page 67530]]

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to develop and 
implement a National Technical Assistance Center for Senior 
Transportation (NTACST). The major goal of the NTACST is to assist 
local communities and states in the expansion and provision of 
transportation services for older adults. To accomplish this goal, a 
series of steps is required, so this request for proposals is 
structured around a four-step process to:
     Perform a detailed needs assessment to uncover the most 
pressing areas that communities require for older adult transportation 
technical assistance;
     Develop a plan for the NTACST that includes staff, 
resources and information technology infrastructure;
     Implement the NTACST;
     Evaluate, improve and enhance the quality of services 
provided by the NTACST.
    The NTACST will utilize the framework for coherent systems 
management, used by Aging and Disability Resource Centers (the access 
component) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Real Choice 
Systems Change Grants.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN07NO05.000

    These components provide a framework to build a needs assessment 
and technical assistance program for older adult transportation 
services.
    The NTACST will follow a number of strategies in its development, 
especially coordination, empowerment, knowledge management and person-
centered technical assistance. The NTACST will coordinate with other 
technical assistance initiatives related to senior mobility and human 
service transportation to ensure a coordinated approach in this area. 
In addition, all efforts of the NTACST should ensure consumer input and 
involvement such that all technical assistance has a person centered, 
self-determination and independence focus. NTACST personnel will engage 
early and often with technical assistance recipients to ensure 
knowledge is transferred and relationships are developed. This 
information and referral system is meant to be a key focal point to 
disseminate models, best practices and develop successful demonstration 
sites for innovations in older adult transportation services and 
systems. This project will entail creative, engaging and collaborative 
public and private partnerships at all levels--local, tribal, state and 
Federal.

Background

    The forecasted increase in older adult population concentrations in 
many states underscores the need for more transportation services as 
communities strive to find ways to help older persons stay healthy, 
connected to the community and able to age in place. The latest 
information on key demographic highlights \1\ show:
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    \1\ Principle sources of data for the Profile are the U.S. 
Bureau of the Census, the National Technical assistance center on 
Health Statistics, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 
highlights incorporate the latest data available as of 12/03 but not 
all items are updated on an annual basis.
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     The older population (65+) numbered 35.6 million in 2002, 
an increase of 3.3 million or 10.2 percent since 1992 and, by the year 
2030, the older population will more than double to 71.5 million.
     The number of Americans aged 45-64 who will reach 65 over 
the next two decades increased by 38 percent during this decade.
     Older adults may face income difficulties with median 
incomes of older persons in 2002 of $19,436 for males and $11,406 for 
females.
     The key to aging in place is retaining independence and 
adapting in the face of growing chronic illness. Health status is 
generally expected to improve, but many older adults will experience 
one or more disability. In the future, older adults will generally be 
in better health than their counterparts today, due in large part to 
better health practices throughout their lives (National Academy on 
aging, 1994).
     There is an accelerating trend of decreasing disability 
rates, and the functional limitations that do exist have become less 
severe. But, increases in life expectancy will create a dramatic 
increase in the number of older adults with disabilities. Conservative 
projections estimate a 68 percent increase in the number of older 
adults with disabilities between 1990 and 2020.
     In 2000, 73 percent of individuals 65 years of age and 
older lived in suburban and rural areas.\2\
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    \2\ Ibid.

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[[Page 67531]]

    Thus, the need for mobility assistance to enable independence, 
especially public transportation services, increases with age and 
disability level. Many older adults prefer to age in place, despite 
mobility challenges. The car has made suburban and rural living 
practical, and contributed to a decline in public transportation and 
walking (Transportation Research Board, 2004). Mobility will be a 
significant challenge for this dispersed older population. Therefore, 
demand for transportation services is expected to skyrocket with the 
above noted demographic trends. These facts underscore the need for 
immediate attention to infrastructure and service investments for older 
adults and individuals with disabilities.
    In recognition of the fundamental importance of senior mobility and 
human service transportation and the continuing need to enhance 
coordination, President Bush issued an Executive Order on Human Service 
Transportation Coordination (EO) directing multiple Federal departments 
and agencies to work together to ensure that transportation services 
are seamless, comprehensive and accessible.\3\ Secretaries from the 
Departments of Transportation, Health and Human Services, Labor, 
Education, Interior, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, 
Veterans Affairs, the Commissioner of the Social Security 
Administration, the Attorney General and the Chairperson of the 
National Council on Disability are members of the new interagency 
Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM).
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    \3\ Executive Order 13330, ``Human Service Transportation 
Coordination''; 69FRZ80, February 24, 2004.
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    Specifically, the CCAM is tasked with seeking ways to simplify 
access to transportation services for persons with disabilities, 
persons with lower incomes, and older adults. The EO requires that CCAM 
members work together to provide the most appropriate, cost effective 
services within existing resources, and reduce duplication to make 
funds available for more services. To meet the requirements of the EO, 
the CCAM has developed a comprehensive action plan and launched United 
We Ride (UWR), a national initiative on human service transportation 
coordination, which includes senior mobility. The NTACST will be 
directly linked with UWR and related to technical assistance 
initiatives in the area of older adult mobility and human service 
transportation coordination. FTA will be collaborating with other 
members of CCAM on the implementation of the EO and therefore, the 
technical assistance provided under this solicitation will seek to 
complement and optimize, not duplicate the technical assistance and 
related work funded in this area by other CCAM partners.
    FTA, in partnership with AoA, will provide technical assistance 
through a cooperative agreement to the Aging Services network, 
consumers, and transportation providers (public and private) engaged in 
older adult mobility and human services transportation for older 
adults. Older adult mobility and human service transportation is 
defined as a network of services included but not limited to driving 
modification and transition; pedestrian access; public transportation; 
paratransit (curb to curb, door to door, door through door); taxi 
service; and volunteer services. Technical assistance is a process that 
enables a goal focused, strategy oriented, accountable organization to 
transfer knowledge to clients for the purpose of their growth, change, 
and improvement. Technical assistance is intended to provide extensive 
information and assistance to facilitate adoption or application of 
research-based or practice-based products, policies, or knowledge in 
order to improve the provision of services for target populations. 
Technical assistance may include information dissemination, training, 
and enhancing capacity for building more efficient transportation 
services at the local and state levels. A primary goal of the technical 
assistance offered by the NTACST is to facilitate the expansion of 
transportation services and options for older persons in their local 
communities. A key strategy to accomplish this expansion of service is 
coordination of transportation programs and initiatives. The following 
areas will be key areas of focus for the NTACST activities:
    Needs Assessments and Assistance Plans. The NTACST will conduct a 
comprehensive assessment of technical assistance needs in the area of 
senior mobility in year one. Based on this information, the NTACST will 
formulate a plan in coordination with FTA and AoA for conducting 
technical assistance in future years of funding. When conducting 
technical assistance, sites will have individual technical assistance 
plans that outline the specific need, intended outcome, plan for 
assistance, and evaluation components. Technical assistance will be 
provided via e-mail, phone, and on-site strategies, using the following 
principles:
    Peer-to-Peer Learning: Assistance will be provided in locating, 
planning, and facilitating access to peer-based information, 
experience, and advice. Facilitation may include having the grantee pay 
travel and expenses for peer assistance.
    Expert Knowledge: Assistance will be provided in accessing and 
developing the best research evidence and program information available 
into effective program demonstrations.
    Communities of Practice: The grantee will establish communities of 
practice: groups of people who share a concern for what they do and 
learn how to do it better as they interact regularly. Communities of 
practice can involve all different types of stakeholders and 
participants. Communities of practice can meet via e-mail, Internet, 
face to face, or in other venues to share information, techniques, 
strategies, and experiences.
    Grantee specific in-depth substantive assistance: Assistance will 
be provided to states and local communities in the development of major 
program components or in solving major technical problems requiring a 
substantial amount of in-depth assistance (on-site as necessary).
    Knowledge Management: Constant assessment will be made of areas of 
technical assistance focus to ensure best practices of disseminated, 
issued briefs are developed as needed and expert relationships with 
technical assistance recipients result in long-term information and 
knowledge transfer.
    Training: Curriculum development, design, and training will be made 
available via various media to target specified topics related to 
senior mobility across the range of service options. Training should be 
available for human service providers, transportation providers, and 
consumers. Technical assistance is to be consistent with the ``5's A's 
of Senior Friendly Transportation'' developed by the Beverly 
Foundation:\4\
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    \4\ From URL: https://www.beverlyfoundation.org/admin/files/
stored_file/5As%20MobSnap.pdf.

[[Page 67532]]



               The 5 A's of Senior Friendly Transportation
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Availability......................  Transportation exists and is
                                     available when needed (e.g.,
                                     transportation is at hand, evenings
                                     and/or weekends).
Accessibility.....................  Transportation can be reached and
                                     used (e.g., bus stairs can be
                                     negotiated; bus seats are high
                                     enough; van comes to the door; bus
                                     stop is reachable).
Acceptability.....................  Deals with standards relating to
                                     conditions such as cleanliness
                                     (e.g., the bus is not dirty);
                                     safety (e.g., bus stops are located
                                     in safe areas); and user-
                                     friendliness (e.g., transit
                                     operators are courteous and
                                     helpful).
Affordability.....................  Deals with costs (e.g., fees are
                                     affordable; fees are comparable to
                                     or less than driving a car;
                                     vouchers or coupons help defray out-
                                     of-pocket expenses).
Adaptability......................  Transportation can be modified or
                                     adjusted to meet special needs
                                     (e.g., wheelchair can be
                                     accommodated; trip chaining is
                                     possible).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The 5 A's of Senior Transportation were developed by the Beverly
  Foundation, 2001.

    Thus, the results of technical assistance are targeted to enhance 
availability, accessibility, acceptability, affordability and 
adaptability for older adults. In order to achieve these goals, 
technical assistance will need to focus around one-stop access systems, 
streamlining eligibility, enhancing transportation coordination, 
breaking down regulatory/funding, sharing barriers and social marketing 
to get information out to local consumers.

Tasks

    In the performance of this cooperative agreement, the grantee 
should accomplish the following tasks.

Task 1--Administration

     The grantee should meet with the project officer and task 
order monitor within ten (10) working days after issuance of the task 
order to discuss the objectives of the cooperative agreement and any 
related project. The work plan should incorporate the CCAM Action Plan 
and the GAO Study on Senior Mobility which can be found on the CCAM Web 
site at https://www.unitedweride.gov. The work plan should be submitted 
to the project officer within six (6) weeks of grant award.
     The grantee will hold regular meetings with the Director 
of NTACST to review the status of the project. Areas of concern are (1) 
accomplishments to date, (2) reviewing progress on tasks, including 
``user'' plans for technical assistance to demonstration grantees, and 
(3) problems.
     The grantee will brief FTA, AoA, and other members of the 
CCAM semiannually on their technical assistance findings, key themes 
and results.
     The grantee will prepare benchmarking reports of NTACST 
activities on a semiannual basis. These benchmarking reports may 
include documentation of submitted quarterly and annual reports, as 
well as financial statements.
     The grantee will prepare a monthly NTACST activity report 
with an accompanying explanation for NTACST invoices, and submit it to 
the project officer.
     The NTACST should include a national steering committee to 
provide guidance and feedback throughout the life of the technical 
assistance center. Steering committee members should include 
participants from national organizations representing the aging 
provider network, public and private transportation, senior advocacy 
groups and consumers. The steering committee should participate in the 
review and development of products, materials, and information. The 
technical assistance center should host full committee meetings at 
least once every quarter, for a minimum of four meetings a year.
     The grantee will prepare a quarterly travel schedule of 
all upcoming NTACST staff speaking engagements, representation on 
committees, meetings, etc., and forward it prospectively to the project 
officer.

Task 2--Technical Assistance and Training

     Needs assessments and assistance plans. The NTACST will 
conduct a comprehensive assessment of technical assistance needs in the 
areas of older adult mobility in year one. Based on this information, 
the NTACST will formulate a plan in coordination with FTA, 
Administration on Aging (AoA) and other Federal partners for conducting 
technical assistance at the state and local levels in future years of 
funding. The grantee will work with local sites to develop individual 
technical assistance plans that outline specific needs, intended 
outcomes, plans for assistance, and evaluation components.
     Technical Assistance Strategies: The grantee will develop 
the following initiatives: Providing technical assistance to the fifty 
states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Central Northern 
Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands by:
    a. Assisting FTA, AoA, and other Federally funded programs through 
at least twelve (12) site visits, telephone and/or electronic 
inquiries. Special consultants may be used and the grantee should have 
demonstrated expertise in maintaining adequate number of consultants.
    b. Establishing state and local UWR coalitions. Analyze, assess and 
evaluate the value of these coalitions with the project officer.
    c. Integrating a range of services including driving transition, 
pedestrian environments, fixed route transit, paratransit services, 
taxi programs, door through door or escort options, voucher models, and 
volunteer transportation programs into overall technical assistance.
    d. Assisting local communities with the development of mobility 
management strategies and concepts that enhance transportation service 
options and access for older adults.
    e. Assisting states and local communities in developing strategies 
for implementing consumer advocacy programs and addressing the needs of 
older adults from culturally diverse communities.
    f. Assisting states and local communities with identification of 
intelligent transportation systems and other technologies that enhance 
transportation services for older adults.
    g. Developing and implementing a quality performance process and 
benchmarking regarding technical assistance provided by NTACST; this is 
to include methods and strategies provided by the technical assistance 
team as it relates to successful funding. The grantee should integrate 
pertinent findings from the needs assessment and incorporate them into 
successful technical assistance strategies. The frequency of reports 
will be semi-annually, or as needed, but will not be more frequent than 
monthly.
    h. Organizing a team approach, which might include personnel 
assuming responsibility for a number of states/and or regions. There 
should be an overall

[[Page 67533]]

strategic approach to proactive technical assistance, which will 
include an emphasis on senior mobility and human service transportation 
coordination.
    i. Organizing a systematic approach for at least twelve site visits 
per year. The grantee should develop a team approach to these site 
visits. The grantee should develop, with input from stakeholders (e.g., 
consumers, public and private transportation agencies, human service 
providers), agendas and criteria for these site visits as well as to 
brief Federal program staff. The grantee should develop briefing 
packets and initiate communication with the project officer prior to 
site visits in order to present a comprehensive description of the 
activity. The grantee should coordinate and maintain an integrated 
approach to all documentation and subsequent data collection regarding 
all site visits.
    j. In cooperation with Indian Health Services (IHS), AoA, the 
project officer, and others as appropriate, assess, analyze and 
implement appropriate actions to integrate senior mobility and human 
service transportation in Tribal and non-Tribal entities serving Native 
American populations; the grantee should provide technical assistance 
to and collaborate with organizations that are actively engaged in 
improving the health and well-being of Native American elders.
    k. Implement training on topics related to older adult 
transportation. Training should be considered for transportation 
providers, human service providers, and consumers. If necessary, 
curricula for specific training should be developed or modified for 
existing available materials.

Task 3--Demonstration Grants

     The grantee should award senior transportation 
demonstration grants to local transportation organizations, state 
agencies, units of government and non-profit organizations in areas 
related to senior transportation.
     The grantee should enlist a fair and equitable process for 
soliciting proposals and for project selection, which is representative 
of diverse geographical regions across the country.
     The grantee should submit a list of final recommended 
projects to the project officer for review and approval prior to the 
final award notification.

Task 4--Communication and Management Information Activities

     The grantee should work collaboratively to coordinate 
input, direction and advice regarding required Federal clearances on 
all publications regardless of the medium (e.g., print, video, 
electronic, etc). In the first year, the grantee should work with FTA 
and the NTACST's steering committee to develop a logo and design for 
future activities of the NTACST in the first year.
     In the first year, the grantee should develop at least 
three products. These products may be in the form of training 
curricula, video, CD-ROM or other format appropriate to the audience. 
The type and nature of the product will be determined in coordination 
with the project officer and the steering committee and should be based 
on the needs assessment from states and local communities. The grantee 
should make alternative formats available for all publications and 
products. The grantee should coordinate and participate in an overall 
product evaluation for all products developed with FTA funding. This 
evaluation should be done annually.
     In the first year, the grantee should develop at least 
five fact sheets on targeted topics related to senior transportation 
and senior mobility and human service transportation coordination. The 
grantee should work collaboratively with the project officer and the 
steering committee to identify specific topics.
     In the first year, the grantee should provide a minimum of 
five updates per month related to senior transportation to the UWR 
webmaster to be posted on the CCAM Web site https://
www.unitedweride.gov. This includes products, Web links, and useful 
practices.
     The grantee should establish, maintain and facilitate 
NTACST electronic communications using a variety of mediums (e.g., 
print, video, electronic, Web-based, etc), which may include a Web 
site, bulletin board service, list serve, and selected internet focus 
groups for targeted topics.
     In the first year, all NTACST staff and/or contractual 
presentations at a local, state and national level are to be fully 
coordinated, with an ample timeline for discussion and approval, with 
the project officer. The grantee should plan for at least twelve (12) 
meetings annually that involve other than local travel. The grantee 
should plan for an additional fifteen (15) meetings annually in the 
Washington, DC area. The grantee should be both a presenter and an 
exhibitor during national, regional, and state meetings. In some cases, 
the grantee may also serve as a moderator or facilitator during 
targeted sessions.
     In the first year, the grantee should use an existing 
clearinghouse function to ensure the dissemination of information 
related to older adult transportation inclusive of a range of services: 
driving transition, pedestrian access, travel training, fixed route, 
paratransit, volunteer services, escort service, etc. Information 
should include existing products and materials as well as educational 
development information.
     In the first year, the grantee should develop a database 
of successful national public and private products that could 
potentially provide added value for senior mobility and human service 
transportation coordination. This includes video, curricula, and fact 
sheets. This database should include the title, description, and 
information on how to obtain the documents included in the database. 
The database will also include any evaluation information related to 
the product.

Task 5--Strategic Development in Partnerships, Community Involvement in 
Senior Transportation, and Senior Mobility and Human Service 
Transportation Coordination

     Senior mobility and human service transportation 
coordination is very dynamic and new areas of significance continually 
emerge. It is essential that the grantee respond appropriately and 
address these issues. Additionally, the grantee should provide 
expertise in strategic direction in senior mobility and human service 
transportation and senior mobility for community involvement and public 
awareness as follows:
    a. The grantee should assess, analyze, and measure trends in the 
implementation of senior transportation activities on a state and 
regional basis. The grantee should provide, in cooperation with the 
project officer, an annual report on these activities.
    b. The grantee should provide guidance and direction on 
establishing coalitions, which can be integrally involved in providing 
strategic direction for state and community involvement in human 
service transportation.
    c. The grantee should serve as a resource of information on UWR 
strategic direction related to senior mobility as it relates to pending 
and enacted legislation at all governmental levels.
    d. The grantee should enhance awareness by all stakeholders of 
funded senior mobility and related human service transportation 
activities regarding strategic direction of community involvement by 
integrating appropriate and relevant information on a monthly basis 
through a variety of communication mechanisms.

[[Page 67534]]

    e. The grantee, in cooperation with Federal program staff, should 
assess, analyze and monitor key activities and milestones of national 
organizations and Federal agencies, interagency liaison groups, private 
industry, faith-based/community organizations, professional 
organizations and members of the National Consortium for Human Service 
Transportation related to UWR activities and subsequently determine 
educational resources that may be of value on a quarterly basis.

TASK 6--Collaboration with FTA and the Federal Coordinating Council on 
Access and Mobility

     The grantee in coordination with the project officer 
should provide technical assistance to the Coordinating Council on 
Access and Mobility (CCAM). This may include organizing monthly 
conference calls, attending relevant and value-added national meetings/
conferences, providing input regarding infrastructure development of 
the CCAM activities related to senior transportation, formulating 
agendas and identifying speakers for CCAM and their executive council 
meetings.
     In coordination with the project officer, the grantee 
should develop efficient strategies and methods of establishing 
linkages with other Federally funded technical assistance centers in 
the areas of aging, pedestrian access, and the range of human service 
transportation options. In addition, the grantee will conduct a minimum 
of two trainings each year related to senior mobility for these 
technical assistance centers.
     The grantee should provide research-related technical 
assistance to project directors involved with senior mobility and human 
service transportation funded activities.
     The grantee should develop and maintain a comprehensive 
national coalition on senior transportation that is inclusive of 
advocacy organizations; public interest organizations; and provider 
organizations. This coalition should work in collaboration with the 
National Consortium on Human Service Transportation, a network of 
transportation professionals, human service professionals and 
policymakers at every level who understand the issues involved in the 
coordination of human services transportation and how coordination can 
be accomplished. The NTACST will develop a strategic plan for the 
coalition that includes education, outreach, technical assistance and 
advocacy oriented activities. The coalition can also focus on broader 
senior mobility and human service transportation initiatives that 
benefit the mobility of older adults. This coalition will serve to 
facilitate the development of state and local coalitions in all states 
and territories over the course of the cooperative agreement.
     Assist Federal program staff to conduct at least two 
special interest meetings per year on targeted topics selected in 
consultation with FTA, AoA, and the NTACST steering committee.

II. Award Information

    FTA will fund one cooperative agreement for a five year award. Year 
one of the cooperative agreement is for two million dollars 
($2,000,000). The anticipated notification date is the winter of 2006, 
with an anticipated starting date for the successful applicant of 
February 2006. Subsequent annual funding is authorized at one million 
dollars ($1,000,000) in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient 
Transportation Equity Act--A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU); actual 
funding will be based on annual appropriations. FTA grantees with 
existing FTA projects are eligible to compete for this competitive 
cooperative agreement. The FTA will participate in activities by 
attending review meetings, commenting on technical reports, maintaining 
frequent contact with the project manager and approving key decisions 
and activities any redirecting activities if needed.

III. Eligibility Information

    FTA is particularly interested in proposals for this cooperative 
agreement from national non-profit-organizations with demonstrated 
capacity in state and community transportation services for older 
adults in the following areas:
     Understanding concepts and strategies for developing 
integrated access, including single entry point and one-stop 
transportation systems;
     Understanding strategies for building a coordinated senior 
mobility and human service transportation program;
     Demonstrated success with interdisciplinary strategies in 
aging and transportation related work;
     Experience with the development and implementation of 
integrated transportation systems with health care and social support 
programs;
     Capacity for maintaining management information systems;
     Experience in implementation of consumer directed 
services;
     Experience and capacity in developing and utilizing 
volunteer programs and networks;
     Capacity and experience to build coordination and 
collaboration between public and private sector, as well as critical 
pathways which include linkages with intermediary organizations such as 
hospital discharge planners, private pay insurance, various social 
service and transportation system networks.
     Experience and knowledge of consumer involvement and 
consumer directed models in program planning and implementation;
     Capacity for developing and managing a technical 
assistance network using multiple types of intervention strategies 
(e.g., long distance, peer-to-peer, onsite, communities of practice, 
etc.);
     Capacity and experience for providing effective off-site 
technical assistance, including technical assistance by telephone and 
e-mail, moderated and unmoderated list-serves, Web-based seminars, 
topic-based conference calls, the internet (including he development of 
Web content), etc.;
     Knowledge of caregiver issues and long-term care home and 
community based services related to senior mobility;
     Understanding implementation of a range of transportation 
services including older driver, pedestrian access, fixed route, 
paratransit, assisted (door to door; hand to hand; escort) services, 
volunteer, taxi, and other types of transportation services provision;
     Capacity and experience for conducting face-to-face and 
Web-based training for consumers, human service/aging providers, and 
transportation agencies.

IV. Proposal Content

    Proposals should be submitted in double-spaced format using times 
roman 12 point font. The application must contain the following 
components:
    1. Cover sheet (1 page): Includes entity submitting proposal, 
principle investigator, title, and contact information (e.g., address, 
phone, fax, and e-mail). Name and contact information for the entity's 
key point of contact for all cooperative activities (if different from 
principle investigators).
    2. Abstract (2 pages): Abstract should include background, purpose, 
methodology, intended outcomes, and plan for evaluation.
    3. Detailed budget proposal and budget narrative.
    4. Project narrative (not to exceed 100 pages): Project narrative 
should include the following information;
    a. Staff qualifications, experience in providing technical 
assistance and implementing the other tasks outlined in the 
solicitation. The proposal should also include the proposed staff

[[Page 67535]]

members' knowledge of issues related to seniors and senior 
transportation. One page biographical sketches for staff members should 
be included in the appendices section of the proposal;
    b. Existing and future capacity of organization to address the 
issues outlined in the proposal and ability to implement tasks 1-6 
outlined under Section I in this solicitation;
    c. Methodology for addressing tasks 1-6 outlined under Section I in 
this solicitation. The proposal should also include objectives, 
activities, deliverables, milestones, timeline and intended outcomes 
for achieving the goals outlined in the scope for the first year;
    d. Plan to work with stakeholders and build partnerships at the 
national, state, and local levels;
    5. Plan for evaluation and data collection.
    6. Supplemental materials and letters of support can be included in 
an appendices section that is beyond the 100 page limit. In addition to 
the full proposal, entities have the option to submit supplemental 
material such as: brochures, products, etc. These materials should be 
delivered to Bryna Helfer, Federal Transit Administration, Office of 
Grants Management, UWR Initiative, 400 7th Street, SW., Room 9114, 
Washington, DC 20590.

V. Application Review Information

    Interdisciplinary review panels external to FTA will be convened to 
review each proposal. Project proposals will be evaluated based on the 
following criteria.
    1. Staff qualifications, which includes experience in delivering 
technical assistance and training, knowledge of senior mobility issues, 
demonstrated process skills in assessment, strategic planning, 
facilitation, and other key areas associated with identified tasks. 
Entity should also address a plan for knowledge retention. (30%)
    2. Existing capacity of the organization, which includes 
clearinghouse functions, web development and maintenance, technical 
assistance, training long distance and on-site intervention strategies, 
and other identified tasks. (30%)
    3. Reasonability of proposed goals, objectives, strategies, 
timelines, and budget. (20%)
    4. Plan to collaborate with stakeholders and establish effective 
partnerships to implement tasks. (10%)
    5. Plan for evaluation and data collection. (10%)

VI. Award administration Information

    The anticipated notification date for the award of this cooperative 
agreement is the winter of 2006, with an anticipated start date for the 
successful applicant is February 2006. The Federal Transit 
Administration's (FTA) Administrator will notify the successful entity. 
Following receipt of the FTA Administrator's notification letter, the 
successful entity will be required to submit their proposal through the 
FTA Transportation Electronic Award Management (TEAM) system website. 
FTA will manage the cooperative agreement through the TEAM system Web 
site. Before FTA may award Federal financial assistance through a 
Federal grant or cooperative agreement, the entity must submit all 
certifications and assurances pertaining to itself and its project as 
required by Federal laws and regulations.
    These certifications and assurances must be submitted to FTA 
irrespective of whether the project is financed under the authority of 
49 U.S.C. Chapter 53, or Title 23, United States Code, or another 
Federal statute. Since Federal fiscal year 1995, FTA has been 
consolidating the various certifications and assurances that may be 
required of its awardees and the projects into a single document 
published in the Federal Register. Fiscal year 2006 Annual List of 
Certifications and Assurances for FTA Grants and Cooperative Agreements 
and guidelines will be published in the Federal Register and posted on 
the FTA Web site at https://www.fta.dot.gov.

Jennifer L. Dorn,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 05-22057 Filed 11-4-05; 8:45am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-M