National Rural Transportation Assistance Program Request for Proposals (RFP), 10327-10332 [E8-3604]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 38 / Tuesday, February 26, 2008 / Notices
Respondent
universe
Total annual
responses
Average time per
response
—Responses to FRA Request for
Further Info. After Agency Receipt
of Notice of Product Development—Technical Consultations.
—Petitions for Final Approval ..........
—FRA Receipt of Petition & Request For Info.
—Agency Consultations To Decide
on Petition.
—Other Petitions for Approval .........
—FRA acknowledges receipt of petitions.
236.913 Petitions for Approval/Informational Filings—Comments.
Product Safety Plan (PSP)—3rd Party
Assessment.
Product Safety Plan—Amendments ........
236.917—Retention of Records ..............
Report of Inconsistencies with PSP to
FRA.
236.919—Operations & Maintenance
Manual.
—Plans For Proper Maintenance,
Repair, Inspection of Safety-Critical Products.
—Hardware/Software/Firmware Revisions.
—Identification of Safety-Critical
Components.
236.921—Training ...................................
—Training of Signalmen & Dispatchers.
236.923—Task
Analysis/Basic
Reqmnts—Recds.
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CFR section
85 Railroads ...........
5 consultations .........
120 hours ...............
600
75,000
85 Railroads ...........
85 Railroads ...........
20 petitions ...............
10 documents ..........
40 hours .................
80 hours .................
800
800
30,400
30,400
85 Railroads ...........
10 consultations .......
40 hours .................
400
15,200
85 Railroads ...........
85 Railroads ...........
5 petitions .................
10 documents ..........
60 hours .................
40 hours .................
300
400
11,400
15,200
Public/RR Community.
85 Railroads ...........
10 comments ...........
8 hours ...................
80
2,960
3 assessments .........
4,000 hours ............
12,000
1,500,000
85 Railroads ...........
85 Railroads ...........
85 Railroads ...........
15 amendments .......
22 documents ..........
40 reports .................
40 hours .................
40 hours .................
20 hours .................
600
880
800
22,200
33,440
30,400
85 Railroads ...........
30 manuals ..............
120 hours ...............
3,600
136,800
85 Railroads ...........
30 plans ...................
200 hours ...............
6,000
228,000
85 Railroads ...........
5 revisions ................
40 hours .................
200
7,600
85 Railroads ...........
10,000 markings ......
10 minutes ..............
1,667
51,667
85 Railroads ...........
85 Railroads ...........
30 Training Prog ......
220 sessions ............
400 hours ...............
40 hours/20 hrs ......
12,000
8,400
456,000
1,050,000
85 Railroads ...........
4,400 records ...........
10 minutes ..............
733
27,854
Total Responses: 15,145.
Estimated Total Annual Burden:
117,342 hours.
Status: Regular Review.
Title: Post-Traumatic Stress in Train
Crew Members After a Critical Incident.
OMB Control Number: 2130–0567.
Abstract: Nearly 1,000 fatalities occur
every year in this country from trains
striking motor vehicles at grade
crossings and individual trespassers
along the track. These events can be
very traumatic to train crew members,
who invariably are powerless to prevent
such collisions. Exposure of train crews
to such work-related traumas can cause
extreme stress and result in safetyimpairing behaviors, such as are seen in
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or Acute
Stress Disorder. Most railroads have
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
(CISD) intervention programs designed
to mitigate problems caused by
exposure to these traumas. However,
they are quite varied in their approach,
and it is not certain which components
of these programs are most effective.
The purpose of this collection of
information is to identify ‘‘best
practices’’ for CISD programs in the
railroad industry. By means of written
and subsequent oral interviews with
train crew members that will each take
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approximately 45 minutes, the approved
study aims to accomplish the following:
(1) Benchmark rail industry best
practices of CISD programs; (2) Establish
the extent of traumatic stress disorders
due to grade crossing and trespasser
incidents in the rail industry (not by
region or railroad) and identify at-risk
populations; and (3) Evaluate the
effectiveness of individual components
of CISD programs. It should be noted
that only the components of CISD
programs will be evaluated, not an
individual railroad’s overall
intervention program.
Affected Public: Train Crew Members.
Respondent Universe: 2,000 Train
Crew Members.
Frequency of Submission: On
Occasion.
Form(s): FRA F 6180.120; FRA F
6180.121; FRA F 6180.122.
Estimated Annual Burden: 3,000
hours.
Status: Regular Review.
Pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 3507(a) and 5
CFR 1320.5(b), 1320.8(b)(3)(vi), FRA
informs all interested parties that it may
not conduct or sponsor, and a
respondent is not required to respond
to, a collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control
number.
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Total annual
burden hours
Total annual
burden cost
Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501–3520.
Issued in Washington, DC on February 20,
2008.
D.J. Stadtler,
Director, Office of Financial Management,
Federal Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. E8–3606 Filed 2–25–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
National Rural Transportation
Assistance Program Request for
Proposals (RFP)
AGENCY:
Federal Transit Administration,
DOT.
ACTION:
Notice; request for proposals.
SUMMARY: This solicitation is for
proposals from not-for-profit entities
with rural transit and technical
assistance expertise for a cooperative
agreement to develop and implement a
National Rural Transportation
Assistance Program (RTAP). The entity
or entities selected will manage a
National technical assistance program
that improves and enhances the
coordination of Federal resources for
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rural transportation. The major goal of
the National RTAP is to assist States and
local communities in the expansion and
provision of rural public transportation.
The Federal Transit Administration
(FTA) will award one or more five-year
agreement(s), funded annually. Year one
of the cooperative agreement(s) is for
$1.212 million dollars as authorized in
the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and
Efficient Transportation Equity Act—A
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA–LU) and
appropriated in FY2007. Funding for
subsequent years will be based on
annual appropriations, as well as annual
performance reviews. However, years
2010 and 2011 are subject to the next
reauthorization.
DATES: Proposals must be submitted
electronically by April 11, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Proposals shall be
submitted electronically to https://
www.grants.gov. Grants.Gov allows
organizations to find and apply for
funding opportunities electronically
from all Federal grant-making agencies.
Grants.Gov is the single access point for
over 1,000 cooperative agreement
programs offered by the 26 Federal
grant-making agencies.
Proposals can also be submitted in
hard copy accompanied by an electronic
version to Pamela Brown, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, E43–465, Washington,
DC 20590, or by electronic mail to
Pamela.brown@dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER PROGRAM INFORMATION
CONTACT: Pamela Brown at 202–493–
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2503; FAX: 202–366–7951; or via email: pamela.brown@dot.gov.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
FTA is soliciting proposals for a
cooperative agreement (or agreements)
to implement the National RTAP. FTA
will award one or more five-year
cooperative agreements, which will be
funded annually at $1.2 to $1.5 million
(subject to the availability of
appropriations). The purpose of this
cooperative agreement is to develop and
implement an RTAP. The major goal of
the National RTAP is to assist States in
the service provision of rural public
transportation at both the State and
local levels. RTAP funds may be used
for training, technical assistance,
research, and related support services.
The National RTAP includes the
following tasks: (1) To promote the
delivery of safe and effective public
transportation in non-urbanized areas;
(2) To make more effective use of public
and private resources in the provision of
rural public transportation; (3) To
support the coordination of public and
human service transportation; (4) To
foster the development of State and
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local capacity for addressing the
training and technical assistance needs
of the rural transportation community;
(5) To facilitate peer-to-peer self-help
through networks of transit
professionals; (6) To improve the quality
of information and technical assistance
available through the development of
training and technical assistance
resource materials; (7) To disseminate
information and resources efficiently to
those who need them; (8) To conduct
research and analysis about rural transit;
(9) Maintain Mechanism for User Input
and Feedback; and (10) Project
Management and Administration.
The National RTAP will pursue the
following strategies in its development
and delivery of technical assistance
services targeted to enhance rural public
transportation: building partnerships,
leadership development, knowledge
management and customer-focused
service in order to facilitate capacity
building at the State and local levels,
and the provision of technical expertise
for research and analysis, either through
staff resources or contracts. RTAP
personnel will engage early and often
with Technical Assistance (TA)
recipients to ensure knowledge is
transferred and relationships are
developed. The RTAP will develop an
information and referral system as a key
focal point to disseminate models, and
identify useful practices for innovations
in rural public transportation and
systems. The RTAP also will build
coordination with and referrals to other
TA centers focused in targeted areas
related to rural public transportation to
build capacity (for example, the
National Resource Center for
Coordination, the National Senior
Transportation Center, JOBLINKS, and
Project ACTION).
The National RTAP program will
create and maintain collaborative public
and private partnerships at all levels—
local, tribal, State and Federal,
including a broad range of stakeholders
interested in facilitating rural public
transportation access to employment,
health, education, recreation and other
community services for elderly
individuals, individuals with
disabilities, low income individuals and
the general public in rural and small
urban areas.
II. Background
From Fiscal Years (FY) 1988–2005,
the RTAP was funded at approximately
$5 million each FY, with approximately
$500–750,000 each year devoted to a
National project. RTAP consists of two
components, the State program and the
national program. The RTAP program is
currently funded as a two percent
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takedown from the Section 5311
program. 85 percent of the takedown is
used to fund the State RTAP program
and the remaining 15 percent is for the
National RTAP program.
FTA implements the national program
through a cooperative agreement with a
private nonprofit organization
demonstrating a commitment to serving
rural, small urban, and specialized
transit providers. The nonprofit
organization which FTA selects through
a competitive process may receive
assistance under cooperative agreements
for up to five consecutive years before
FTA conducts a new competitive
selection.
RTAP is FTA’s major funding
mechanism for rural training, technical
assistance and research initiatives. The
objectives of the National RTAP are:
1. To promote the delivery of safe and
effective public transportation in
nonurbanized areas;
2. To make more effective use of
public and private resources in the
provision of rural transportation;
3. To support the coordination of
public and human service
transportation;
4. To foster the development of state
and local capacity for addressing the
training and technical assistance needs
of the rural transportation community;
5. To facilitate peer-to-peer self help
through networks of transit
professionals;
6. To improve the quality of
information and technical assistance
available through the development of
training and technical assistance
resource materials;
7. To disseminate information and
resources efficiently to those who need
them; and
8. To conduct research, including
analysis of data reported to FTA’s
National Transit Database (NTD), and to
maintain current profiles of the
characteristics of rural transit and the
inventory of providers of rural and
specialized transportation providers.
III. Objective
The objective of this project is to
provide technical support through a
cooperative agreement with a nonprofit
entity currently demonstrating an
independent commitment to serving the
ultimate beneficiaries of FTA’s National
RTAP.
IV. Scope of Work
The recipient will provide technical
assistance that will be useful to
beneficiaries of the FTA National RTAP.
Under this arrangement:
• The recipient will have the lead
responsibility for overall management of
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the National RTAP, which includes:
planning and preparing the annual work
program; supporting and assisting the
entities administering the state RTAP
activities; developing and promoting
training materials; conducting outreach
and coordination with other
organizations involved in rural public
transportation; convening national and
regional meetings on rural topics; and
monitoring the success of the RTAP
programs through user input and
feedback.
• The recipient will also have the
lead responsibility for operation of the
RTAP Rural Resource Center, which
shall include: providing toll-free
telephone assistance; disseminating
information electronically; distributing
resource materials; collecting and
maintaining available information
resources; regularly updating a catalog
of relevant training materials;
developing timely information briefs;
performing research as required; and
maintaining information about the
characteristics and status of rural transit
and inventory of specialized
transportation providers.
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Task I: Project Planning and
Coordination
The recipient will assume primary
responsibility for administration and
management of the National RTAP.
Subtasks include:
• Submitting to the FTA project
manager, prior to the award of the
cooperative agreement each year, for
approval;
(1) A Work Plan, which specifies how
the stated objectives of project will be
met;
(2) a Management Plan, which sets
forth how the project will be managed
and who will be the key personnel
involved; and
(3) a Budget Plan, which specifies
what will be the costs associated with
the project.
• Submitting a progress report after
each project quarter, and a final project
report at the end of the project year;
• Ensuring the integration of all
projects tasks;
• Coordinating and implementing a
comprehensive set of activities designed
to encourage use of National RTAP
program products and services. Special
goals will be the preparation on a
regular basis of ‘‘press release’’ type
articles that can be used by state and
other national organizations to promote
National RTAP products, and
maintenance of appropriate promotional
materials that can be distributed at state
and national conferences.
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Task II: Development and Promotion of
Training Materials
The recipient will develop and
disseminate training materials designed
for use by rural transit providers.
Subtasks include:
• Developing, field testing, and
disseminating to the state RTAP’s
training packages or courses designed
for use by rural transit providers.
Selection of topics shall be guided by
and consistent with the identified
training needs of rural transit providers
and the state RTAP activities. Prior to
beginning developmental work on any
training package, the recipient shall
submit to FTA for its approval a plan for
the development of the package. The
plan shall include an overview for each
of the component parts to be produced
as part of training package, a time line
for development and final production
and a budget. This task may include
development of courses for delivery by
the National Transit Institute (NTI) or
other organizations (e.g. Tribal
Technical Assistance Program (TTAP)).
• Identifying and reviewing training
materials that are being developed
outside of the National RTAP, especially
by states under the RTAP state program
and by private vendors. Maintain
information on new and currently
available materials in a regularly
updated catalogue of existing training
materials, made available to state DOTs
and others through appropriate means,
including electronic dissemination.
• Promoting the RTAP training
packages. Activities include preparing
articles for use in state and national
publications to announce the package
for distribution through the RTAP state
program and at national, regional and
state meetings; and conducting
demonstration workshops at selected
national and regional meetings to build
the capacity of state and system level
personnel to facilitate the sound
delivery of the training packages.
Task III: Support for State
Administration of RTAP
The recipient will establish a liaison
relationship with the state RTAP
managers to ensure that the products
developed and activities undertaken
through the National RTAP are useful to
and supportive of the state programs,
promote information exchange at all
levels, and encourage coordination of
state efforts. Specific subtasks include:
• Provide a forum for networking
with state RTAP managers while
establishing communication for
information dissemination (i.e.,
newsletter or bulletin). The recipient
will report on national and state
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program accomplishments and
activities.
• Promoting and participating in
three or four RTAP regional meetings
annually, to share information about
RTAP products and other relevant FTA
initiatives.
• Assisting state DOTs to evaluate the
benefits of their state RTAP activities.
This effort will provide information to
FTA on how well the RTAP program is
working to meet the program goals and
objectives.
• Providing individualized technical
assistance to state RTAP managers as
requested by the state or by FTA.
In undertaking these subtasks, the
recipient will work to assure that
activities are complementary and not
duplicative.
Task IV: Outreach and Coordination
With other Organizations Involved with
Rural Transit
The recipient will coordinate with
other organizations involved with rural
public transportation and related
interests to avoid duplication of efforts
and to draw on these organizations’
networks to promote National RTAP
products and services. Specific subtasks
that will be undertaken by the recipient
will include:
• Participating in conferences,
workshops, and meetings of other
national and regional organizations both
to learn about their activities and to
promote FTA RTAP.
• Staying informed about other
national rural transportation assistance
activities within and outside FTA.
• Participating in the Transportation
Research Board (TRB) biennial National
Conference on Rural Public and
Intercity Bus Transportation.
• Coordinating activities with the
FHWA Local Area Technical Assistance
Program (LTAP and TTAP).
• Coordinating with other FTAfunded technical assistance centers, and
participating in the National
Consortium on Human Service
Coordination (National Consortium) and
the National Resource Center for Human
Service Transportation Coordination
(NRC).
The recipient will consult with the
FTA project manager as to the
appropriate form of support for each of
these activities.
Task V: RTAP Rural Resource Center
The recipient will maintain a national
clearinghouse for rural public
transportation technology sharing and
information dissemination, a central
collection of products and services that
are useful to rural transit professionals.
The recipient will promote and monitor
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usage of the RTAP rural resource center.
Specific activities under this task
include:
• Collecting and maintaining relevant
information resources, training and
technical assistance materials, and
contacts and referrals, and developing
expertise about issues of concern to the
rural transit community;
• Operating a telephone hotline
information service, which provides
timely response to questions and
requests for information;
• Developing and providing
electronic access to information
resources maintained at the center;
• Disseminating information on new
rural public transportation technical
assistance and training materials and
updated databases;
• Collecting and disseminating
materials created by the state RTAP’s;
• Monitoring rural transit-related
legislation and regulations and
preparing timely summaries for
dissemination;
• Researching and preparing
information and technical assistance
briefs to fill identified gaps in available
information resources in response to
time-sensitive issues and areas of
common interest;
• Promoting and monitoring the
effectiveness of the resource center’s
products and services through regular
reports of center use statistics;
promotion in publications widely read
by the target audience; participation in
national, regional and state meetings;
dissemination of materials about the
center; and telephone surveys of
operators or other feedback mechanisms
such as postage-paid comment cards
included with center mailings.
Task VI: Rural Transit Database
The recipient is responsible for
maintaining the database of FTA-funded
rural and specialized systems. Subtasks
include:
• Maintaining an accurate and up-todate inventory of subrecipients under
FTA’s Elderly and Persons with
Disabilities Program (Section 5310) in
coordination with the National Senior
Transportation Center.
• Preparing profiles and analyses
based upon the data submitted to the
FTA rural NTD, and creating resource
materials based on the data.
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Task VII: Peer-to-Peer Networking
The recipient will develop and
implement a national self-help technical
assistance network that facilitates the
exchange of technologies and
techniques among rural transit operators
on a peer-to-peer basis. Specific
subtasks include:
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• Identifying expert peers in areas of
current interest on a continuing basis;
• Setting up technical assistance
workshops to utilize a peer-to-peer
network efficiently, in coordination
with regularly scheduled meetings of
national, state, and regional groups;
• Matching peers with those needing
assistance on a one-to-one basis;
• Encouraging and facilitating peerto-peer exchange and providing support
services to promote peer assistance.
Task VIII: Research and Technical
Support
The recipient will provide a research
and technical support capacity to FTA
to address issues of immediate concern
to the rural transit programs. Examples
of specific subtasks to be performed at
the request of the FTA project manager
could include, but are not limited to:
• Preparing issue papers or reports in
response to FTA requests;
• Convening a focus group or small
meeting on a specific topic;
• Compiling data.
Task IX: Maintain Mechanism for User
Input and Feedback
The recipient will maintain a
mechanism for user input and feedback
such as the program review board.
Historically, the review board has
functioned as the mechanism for
providing the national program with
guidance on priority needs in the areas
of training materials development,
information dissemination, and
technical assistance. If project funding
is insufficient to support the review
board, an alternative mechanism should
be developed. Specific subtasks include:
• Convening no more than two (2)
official meetings of the board each year
of the project. One official meeting must
be held in Washington, DC. The second
meeting may be held at the TRB
Biennial National Conference on Rural
Public and Intercity Bus Transportation
or another national meeting. All official
review board meetings will be approved
by the FTA project manager. The board,
or alternative mechanism, will function
to:
• Provide the national program with
guidance on priority needs in the areas
of training material development,
information dissemination, and
technical assistance.
• Oversee the quality of national
program products and services.
• Promote the national program to
States and operators.
The following principles have been
developed to guide the review board:
• The review board will be limited to
15 or fewer members—roughly half
transit providers and half State DOT
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representatives. In the event that a board
member is no longer employed by a
nonurbanized transit provider or State
transit agency (including Tribal rural
operators), there shall be an automatic
vacancy for that individual’s position on
the board.
• Review board membership shall be
of limited duration and regular rotations
shall occur, so that continuity is
maintained.
• The recipient shall conduct an
appropriate orientation for new board
members, including an introduction to
the project’s history, goals and
objectives and current status, and
provide relevant materials including
summaries of past board-meetings,
information on board-member roles and
responsibilities, and other relevant
information.
Task X. Project Management and
Administration
a. The recipient shall 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 projects.
b. The Project Coordinator of the
RTAP shall submit quarterly progress
reports to the FTA project manager. The
reports shall include the following items
and provide information relevant for the
particular period:
Sample Format for Progress Report
Goal:
Objective:
• Objective’s Total Budget
• Expenditures this quarter, this
objective
• Total expenditures, this objective.
(The expenditures reported on the
account, shall match the progress of
the project.)
Status as of : llllllllllll
(end date of reporting period)
Activity Planned (Relative to Project
Task Elements, Indicators and
Milestone Activities):
Actual Activity (Relative to Project Task
Elements, Indicators and Milestone
Activities):
Difficulties Encountered: (as applicable,
should include information on
specific reasons why goals and
objectives or milestones were not met,
and analysis and explanations of
costs overruns)
• Goal/Objective or Milestone Not
Met:
• Problem(s):
• Resolution/corrective action plan
and schedule:
Activity anticipated for next reporting
period:
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Expended
Q1
Budget
Expended
Q2
Expended
Q3
Expended
Q4
10331
Balance
Task 1
Task 2
Task 3
Task 4
Task 5
Task 6
Staff Travel
Consultant
Services—
Ambassadors
Salaries,
fringe, indirect, direct
administrative costs
Total
Contact Information: All
documentation for the project, financial
and administrative, shall be forwarded
to: Pamela Brown, Project Manager,
Federal Transit Administration, 1200
New Jersey Ave., SE, 4th Floor, Room
E43–465, Washington, DC 20590, 202–
493–2503, Pamela.Brown@dot.gov.
V. Evaluation Criteria
The following evaluation criteria will
be used to rate all proposals responding
to this announcement, listed in
descending order of relative importance:
1. Technical approach.
2. Qualifications and experience of
the organization and its personnel.
3. Program management capability.
4. Application review information.
Award of this cooperative agreement
will be determined by the proposal that
offers to provide the greatest value to
the beneficiaries of the FTA RTAP in
terms of performance rather than the
proposal offering the lowest price.
Applicants may propose to provide
some or all of the services listed in the
tasks described in the Scope of Work
above. FTA reserves the right to award
one or more cooperative agreements.
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1. Technical Approach
The overall technical approach to the
requirements of the statement of work
will be examined. Particular attention
will be given to the proposer’s
understanding of the objectives of the
National RTAP and how those
objectives will be met by their proposal.
The proposal should respond to the
specific requirements of the statement of
work and clearly explain how those
requirements will be accomplished.
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2. Qualifications and Experience of the
Organization and Its Personnel
The nonprofit organization must
demonstrate that it has a broad based
constituency and purpose relevant to
rural public transportation interests.
The individual qualifications and work
experience of proposed project
personnel will be carefully examined.
The organization must show that it will
be able to assign employees with a
variety of skills and knowledge which
include: Familiarity with rural
operational issues facing both public
and private transportation operators;
experience in dealing with innovative
solutions to rural transportation needs;
knowledge of current Federal policy
initiatives; demonstrated ability to
develop and implement a broad
program of rural technical assistance;
knowledge of information dissemination
techniques and training and technical
assistance methodology; and
organizational skills to coordinate the
diverse individuals and organizations
involved in such a program.
FTA is particularly interested in
proposals for this cooperative agreement
from national non-profit organizations
with demonstrated capacity in State and
community transportation and rural
public transportation services. A strong
applicant has the following
characteristics:
• Demonstrated track record for
managing large scale projects.
• Exhibits strong analytical skills.
• Performance based organization
with an entrepreneurial approach to
problem solving.
• Ability to breathe new life into a
program by creating something new or
revamping an existing structure.
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
3. Program Management Capability
The proposal should indicate a strong
capability for managing an active and
varied rural technical assistance
program. Experience in working with
rural transportation professionals from
local, city, county, state, and Federal
government, public and private
operators and volunteer organizations is
an important requirement. The
organization should also demonstrate
coalition building and organizational
development skills. In addition, the
proposal should indicate experience in
managing and monitoring subrecipients
and contractors, if any are included in
the proposal. The recipient selected
must be an eligible recipient of a
cooperative agreement with FTA and be
able to sign the required certifications
and assurances and cooperative
agreement.
4. Application Review Information
An FTA review panel will be
convened to review each proposal.
Project proposals will be evaluated
based on the following criteria and
scoring system:
1. Staff qualifications, which includes
experience in delivering technical
assistance and training, knowledge of
human service transportation,
demonstrated process skills in
assessment, strategic planning,
facilitation, and other key areas
associated with identified tasks. The
entity shall also address a plan for
knowledge retention. (15%).
2. Capacity of the organization, which
includes clearinghouse functions, Web
development and maintenance,
technical assistance, training, long
distance and on-site intervention
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 38 / Tuesday, February 26, 2008 / Notices
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
strategies, and other, identified tasks.
(15%).
3. Understanding and reasonability of
proposed goals, objectives,
methodologies, activities, timelines,
deliverables, and budget. (40%).
4. Plan to collaborate with
stakeholders and establish effective
partnerships to implement tasks. (20%).
5. Plan for evaluation and data
collection. (10%).
6. FTA may elect to meet in person
two or three of the most qualified
applicants.
This meeting will be held at the
Department of Transportation, in
Washington, DC. The applicants will be
notified of a date and time during which
they will be asked to present their
proposal to the FTA review panel. If an
entity proposes to perform an individual
task or tasks less than the full project,
the proposal will be evaluated
accordingly on its merits. If selected, the
proposer may be asked to form a
consortium with the applicant chosen to
manage the larger project
VI. Proposal Content
Proposals shall be submitted in
double-spaced format using Times New
Roman 12 point font. The application
must contain the following components:
1. Cover sheet (1 page): Includes
entity submitting proposal, principal
investigator, title, and contact
information (e.g., address, phone, fax,
and E-mail). Name and contact
information for the entity, key point of
contact for all cooperative activities (if
different from principle investigators).
2. Abstract (2 pages): Abstract shall
include background, purpose,
methodology, intended outcomes, and
plan for evaluation.
3. Detailed budget proposal and
budget narrative.
4. Project narrative (not to exceed 75
pages): Project narrative shall include
the following information:
a. Staff qualifications, include
experience in providing technical
assistance and implementing the other
tasks outlined in the solicitation. The
proposal shall also include the proposed
staff members’ knowledge of issues
related to human service transportation.
One page biographical sketches for staff
members shall 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 I–X outlined under
Section IV. (Scope of Work) in this
solicitation;
c. Methodology for addressing tasks I–
X outlined under Section IV. in this
solicitation. The proposal shall also
VerDate Aug<31>2005
19:29 Feb 25, 2008
Jkt 214001
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. Project Management Plan that
includes well defined objectives, tasks,
activities, timelines, deliverables,
indicators, and outcomes.
6. Plan for evaluation of RTAP
activities and data collection.
7. Supplemental materials and letters
of support can be included in an
appendices section that is beyond the 75
page limit. In addition to the full
proposal, entities have the option to
submit supplemental material such as:
Brochures, publications, products, etc.
These materials shall be delivered to
Pamela Brown, Federal Transit
Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue, SE., 4th Floor—East Building,
Room E43–465, Washington, DC 20590.
VII. Instructions
1. Submit five copies of proposal to
the following address: Federal Transit
Administration, TPM–5, Office of
Program Management, United We Ride
Office, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
4th Floor—East Building, Room E43–
465, Washington, DC 20590, Attn:
Pamela Brown; or apply through
Grants.Gov.
2. Proposals must be received no later
than 5:30 p.m., EDT, April 28, 2008
3. Technical questions and requests
for clarifications may be addressed to
Lorna R. Wilson at 202–366–2053.
4. The recipient will be selected and
the candidates notified approximately
two months after the application
deadline.
5. The recipient selected will be asked
to submit an application for a
cooperative agreement by July 1, 2008,
with funding of $1,212,000 for the first
year anticipated to be awarded before
October 30, 2008.
VIII. Award Information
FTA reserves the right to fund one or
more cooperative agreements for a five
year award. Year one of the cooperative
agreement is for $1.212 million. The
anticipated notification date is the
Spring of 2008, with an anticipated
starting date for the successful applicant
of July, 2008. Subsequent annual
funding will be based on annual
appropriations. FTA recipients with
existing FTA projects are eligible to
complete for this cooperative agreement.
The FTA will participate in activities
by attending review meetings,
commenting on technical reports,
PO 00000
Frm 00113
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
maintaining frequent contact with the
project manager, approving key
decisions/activities and negotiating any
redirecting activities if needed.
IX. Award Administration Information
The anticipated notification date for
the award of this cooperative agreement
is Spring of 2008, with an anticipated
start date for the successful applicant by
late Spring. FTA will notify the
successful entity. Following receipt of
the FTA Administrator’s notification
letter, the successful entity will be
required to submit its proposal through
the FTA Transportation Electronic
Award Management (TEAM) system
Web site. FTA will manage the
cooperative agreement through the
TEAM system Web site. Before FTA
may award Federal financial assistance
through a Federal cooperative
agreement, the entity must submit all
certifications and assurances pertaining
to itself and its project as required by
Federal laws and regulations. Since
Federal FY 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. The FY 2008 Annual
List of Certifications and Assurances for
FTA Cooperative Agreements 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.
Issued in Washington, DC, this 21st day of
February, 2008.
James S. Simpson,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E8–3604 Filed 2–25–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–57–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
[STB Docket No. MC–F–21025]
Fenway Partners Capital Fund III, L.P.,
and Coach America Holdings, Inc.—
Control—Lakefront Lines, Inc., and
Hopkins Airport Limousine Service,
Inc.
AGENCY:
Surface Transportation Board,
DOT.
Notice Tentatively Approving
Finance Transaction.
ACTION:
SUMMARY: On February 1, 2008, Fenway
Partners Capital Fund III, L.P. (Fenway),
a noncarrier, and Coach America
Holdings, Inc. (Coach America)
(collectively, applicants), a noncarrier,
have filed an application under 49
U.S.C. 14303 to acquire control of
E:\FR\FM\26FEN1.SGM
26FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 38 (Tuesday, February 26, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10327-10332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-3604]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
National Rural Transportation Assistance Program Request for
Proposals (RFP)
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice; request for proposals.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This solicitation is for proposals from not-for-profit
entities with rural transit and technical assistance expertise for a
cooperative agreement to develop and implement a National Rural
Transportation Assistance Program (RTAP). The entity or entities
selected will manage a National technical assistance program that
improves and enhances the coordination of Federal resources for
[[Page 10328]]
rural transportation. The major goal of the National RTAP is to assist
States and local communities in the expansion and provision of rural
public transportation. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will
award one or more five-year agreement(s), funded annually. Year one of
the cooperative agreement(s) is for $1.212 million dollars as
authorized in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient
Transportation Equity Act--A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) and
appropriated in FY2007. Funding for subsequent years will be based on
annual appropriations, as well as annual performance reviews. However,
years 2010 and 2011 are subject to the next reauthorization.
DATES: Proposals must be submitted electronically by April 11, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Proposals shall be submitted electronically to https://
www.grants.gov. Grants.Gov allows organizations to find and apply for
funding opportunities electronically from all Federal grant-making
agencies. Grants.Gov is the single access point for over 1,000
cooperative agreement programs offered by the 26 Federal grant-making
agencies.
Proposals can also be submitted in hard copy accompanied by an
electronic version to Pamela Brown, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, E43-465,
Washington, DC 20590, or by electronic mail to Pamela.brown@dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER PROGRAM INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Brown at 202-493-2503;
FAX: 202-366-7951; or via e-mail: pamela.brown@dot.gov.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
FTA is soliciting proposals for a cooperative agreement (or
agreements) to implement the National RTAP. FTA will award one or more
five-year cooperative agreements, which will be funded annually at $1.2
to $1.5 million (subject to the availability of appropriations). The
purpose of this cooperative agreement is to develop and implement an
RTAP. The major goal of the National RTAP is to assist States in the
service provision of rural public transportation at both the State and
local levels. RTAP funds may be used for training, technical
assistance, research, and related support services. The National RTAP
includes the following tasks: (1) To promote the delivery of safe and
effective public transportation in non-urbanized areas; (2) To make
more effective use of public and private resources in the provision of
rural public transportation; (3) To support the coordination of public
and human service transportation; (4) To foster the development of
State and local capacity for addressing the training and technical
assistance needs of the rural transportation community; (5) To
facilitate peer-to-peer self-help through networks of transit
professionals; (6) To improve the quality of information and technical
assistance available through the development of training and technical
assistance resource materials; (7) To disseminate information and
resources efficiently to those who need them; (8) To conduct research
and analysis about rural transit; (9) Maintain Mechanism for User Input
and Feedback; and (10) Project Management and Administration.
The National RTAP will pursue the following strategies in its
development and delivery of technical assistance services targeted to
enhance rural public transportation: building partnerships, leadership
development, knowledge management and customer-focused service in order
to facilitate capacity building at the State and local levels, and the
provision of technical expertise for research and analysis, either
through staff resources or contracts. RTAP personnel will engage early
and often with Technical Assistance (TA) recipients to ensure knowledge
is transferred and relationships are developed. The RTAP will develop
an information and referral system as a key focal point to disseminate
models, and identify useful practices for innovations in rural public
transportation and systems. The RTAP also will build coordination with
and referrals to other TA centers focused in targeted areas related to
rural public transportation to build capacity (for example, the
National Resource Center for Coordination, the National Senior
Transportation Center, JOBLINKS, and Project ACTION).
The National RTAP program will create and maintain collaborative
public and private partnerships at all levels--local, tribal, State and
Federal, including a broad range of stakeholders interested in
facilitating rural public transportation access to employment, health,
education, recreation and other community services for elderly
individuals, individuals with disabilities, low income individuals and
the general public in rural and small urban areas.
II. Background
From Fiscal Years (FY) 1988-2005, the RTAP was funded at
approximately $5 million each FY, with approximately $500-750,000 each
year devoted to a National project. RTAP consists of two components,
the State program and the national program. The RTAP program is
currently funded as a two percent takedown from the Section 5311
program. 85 percent of the takedown is used to fund the State RTAP
program and the remaining 15 percent is for the National RTAP program.
FTA implements the national program through a cooperative agreement
with a private nonprofit organization demonstrating a commitment to
serving rural, small urban, and specialized transit providers. The
nonprofit organization which FTA selects through a competitive process
may receive assistance under cooperative agreements for up to five
consecutive years before FTA conducts a new competitive selection.
RTAP is FTA's major funding mechanism for rural training, technical
assistance and research initiatives. The objectives of the National
RTAP are:
1. To promote the delivery of safe and effective public
transportation in nonurbanized areas;
2. To make more effective use of public and private resources in
the provision of rural transportation;
3. To support the coordination of public and human service
transportation;
4. To foster the development of state and local capacity for
addressing the training and technical assistance needs of the rural
transportation community;
5. To facilitate peer-to-peer self help through networks of transit
professionals;
6. To improve the quality of information and technical assistance
available through the development of training and technical assistance
resource materials;
7. To disseminate information and resources efficiently to those
who need them; and
8. To conduct research, including analysis of data reported to
FTA's National Transit Database (NTD), and to maintain current profiles
of the characteristics of rural transit and the inventory of providers
of rural and specialized transportation providers.
III. Objective
The objective of this project is to provide technical support
through a cooperative agreement with a nonprofit entity currently
demonstrating an independent commitment to serving the ultimate
beneficiaries of FTA's National RTAP.
IV. Scope of Work
The recipient will provide technical assistance that will be useful
to beneficiaries of the FTA National RTAP. Under this arrangement:
The recipient will have the lead responsibility for
overall management of
[[Page 10329]]
the National RTAP, which includes: planning and preparing the annual
work program; supporting and assisting the entities administering the
state RTAP activities; developing and promoting training materials;
conducting outreach and coordination with other organizations involved
in rural public transportation; convening national and regional
meetings on rural topics; and monitoring the success of the RTAP
programs through user input and feedback.
The recipient will also have the lead responsibility for
operation of the RTAP Rural Resource Center, which shall include:
providing toll-free telephone assistance; disseminating information
electronically; distributing resource materials; collecting and
maintaining available information resources; regularly updating a
catalog of relevant training materials; developing timely information
briefs; performing research as required; and maintaining information
about the characteristics and status of rural transit and inventory of
specialized transportation providers.
Task I: Project Planning and Coordination
The recipient will assume primary responsibility for administration
and management of the National RTAP. Subtasks include:
Submitting to the FTA project manager, prior to the award
of the cooperative agreement each year, for approval;
(1) A Work Plan, which specifies how the stated objectives of
project will be met;
(2) a Management Plan, which sets forth how the project will be
managed and who will be the key personnel involved; and
(3) a Budget Plan, which specifies what will be the costs
associated with the project.
Submitting a progress report after each project quarter,
and a final project report at the end of the project year;
Ensuring the integration of all projects tasks;
Coordinating and implementing a comprehensive set of
activities designed to encourage use of National RTAP program products
and services. Special goals will be the preparation on a regular basis
of ``press release'' type articles that can be used by state and other
national organizations to promote National RTAP products, and
maintenance of appropriate promotional materials that can be
distributed at state and national conferences.
Task II: Development and Promotion of Training Materials
The recipient will develop and disseminate training materials
designed for use by rural transit providers. Subtasks include:
Developing, field testing, and disseminating to the state
RTAP's training packages or courses designed for use by rural transit
providers. Selection of topics shall be guided by and consistent with
the identified training needs of rural transit providers and the state
RTAP activities. Prior to beginning developmental work on any training
package, the recipient shall submit to FTA for its approval a plan for
the development of the package. The plan shall include an overview for
each of the component parts to be produced as part of training package,
a time line for development and final production and a budget. This
task may include development of courses for delivery by the National
Transit Institute (NTI) or other organizations (e.g. Tribal Technical
Assistance Program (TTAP)).
Identifying and reviewing training materials that are
being developed outside of the National RTAP, especially by states
under the RTAP state program and by private vendors. Maintain
information on new and currently available materials in a regularly
updated catalogue of existing training materials, made available to
state DOTs and others through appropriate means, including electronic
dissemination.
Promoting the RTAP training packages. Activities include
preparing articles for use in state and national publications to
announce the package for distribution through the RTAP state program
and at national, regional and state meetings; and conducting
demonstration workshops at selected national and regional meetings to
build the capacity of state and system level personnel to facilitate
the sound delivery of the training packages.
Task III: Support for State Administration of RTAP
The recipient will establish a liaison relationship with the state
RTAP managers to ensure that the products developed and activities
undertaken through the National RTAP are useful to and supportive of
the state programs, promote information exchange at all levels, and
encourage coordination of state efforts. Specific subtasks include:
Provide a forum for networking with state RTAP managers
while establishing communication for information dissemination (i.e.,
newsletter or bulletin). The recipient will report on national and
state program accomplishments and activities.
Promoting and participating in three or four RTAP regional
meetings annually, to share information about RTAP products and other
relevant FTA initiatives.
Assisting state DOTs to evaluate the benefits of their
state RTAP activities. This effort will provide information to FTA on
how well the RTAP program is working to meet the program goals and
objectives.
Providing individualized technical assistance to state
RTAP managers as requested by the state or by FTA.
In undertaking these subtasks, the recipient will work to assure
that activities are complementary and not duplicative.
Task IV: Outreach and Coordination With other Organizations Involved
with Rural Transit
The recipient will coordinate with other organizations involved
with rural public transportation and related interests to avoid
duplication of efforts and to draw on these organizations' networks to
promote National RTAP products and services. Specific subtasks that
will be undertaken by the recipient will include:
Participating in conferences, workshops, and meetings of
other national and regional organizations both to learn about their
activities and to promote FTA RTAP.
Staying informed about other national rural transportation
assistance activities within and outside FTA.
Participating in the Transportation Research Board (TRB)
biennial National Conference on Rural Public and Intercity Bus
Transportation.
Coordinating activities with the FHWA Local Area Technical
Assistance Program (LTAP and TTAP).
Coordinating with other FTA-funded technical assistance
centers, and participating in the National Consortium on Human Service
Coordination (National Consortium) and the National Resource Center for
Human Service Transportation Coordination (NRC).
The recipient will consult with the FTA project manager as to the
appropriate form of support for each of these activities.
Task V: RTAP Rural Resource Center
The recipient will maintain a national clearinghouse for rural
public transportation technology sharing and information dissemination,
a central collection of products and services that are useful to rural
transit professionals. The recipient will promote and monitor
[[Page 10330]]
usage of the RTAP rural resource center. Specific activities under this
task include:
Collecting and maintaining relevant information resources,
training and technical assistance materials, and contacts and
referrals, and developing expertise about issues of concern to the
rural transit community;
Operating a telephone hotline information service, which
provides timely response to questions and requests for information;
Developing and providing electronic access to information
resources maintained at the center;
Disseminating information on new rural public
transportation technical assistance and training materials and updated
databases;
Collecting and disseminating materials created by the
state RTAP's;
Monitoring rural transit-related legislation and
regulations and preparing timely summaries for dissemination;
Researching and preparing information and technical
assistance briefs to fill identified gaps in available information
resources in response to time-sensitive issues and areas of common
interest;
Promoting and monitoring the effectiveness of the resource
center's products and services through regular reports of center use
statistics; promotion in publications widely read by the target
audience; participation in national, regional and state meetings;
dissemination of materials about the center; and telephone surveys of
operators or other feedback mechanisms such as postage-paid comment
cards included with center mailings.
Task VI: Rural Transit Database
The recipient is responsible for maintaining the database of FTA-
funded rural and specialized systems. Subtasks include:
Maintaining an accurate and up-to-date inventory of
subrecipients under FTA's Elderly and Persons with Disabilities Program
(Section 5310) in coordination with the National Senior Transportation
Center.
Preparing profiles and analyses based upon the data
submitted to the FTA rural NTD, and creating resource materials based
on the data.
Task VII: Peer-to-Peer Networking
The recipient will develop and implement a national self-help
technical assistance network that facilitates the exchange of
technologies and techniques among rural transit operators on a peer-to-
peer basis. Specific subtasks include:
Identifying expert peers in areas of current interest on a
continuing basis;
Setting up technical assistance workshops to utilize a
peer-to-peer network efficiently, in coordination with regularly
scheduled meetings of national, state, and regional groups;
Matching peers with those needing assistance on a one-to-
one basis;
Encouraging and facilitating peer-to-peer exchange and
providing support services to promote peer assistance.
Task VIII: Research and Technical Support
The recipient will provide a research and technical support
capacity to FTA to address issues of immediate concern to the rural
transit programs. Examples of specific subtasks to be performed at the
request of the FTA project manager could include, but are not limited
to:
Preparing issue papers or reports in response to FTA
requests;
Convening a focus group or small meeting on a specific
topic;
Compiling data.
Task IX: Maintain Mechanism for User Input and Feedback
The recipient will maintain a mechanism for user input and feedback
such as the program review board. Historically, the review board has
functioned as the mechanism for providing the national program with
guidance on priority needs in the areas of training materials
development, information dissemination, and technical assistance. If
project funding is insufficient to support the review board, an
alternative mechanism should be developed. Specific subtasks include:
Convening no more than two (2) official meetings of the
board each year of the project. One official meeting must be held in
Washington, DC. The second meeting may be held at the TRB Biennial
National Conference on Rural Public and Intercity Bus Transportation or
another national meeting. All official review board meetings will be
approved by the FTA project manager. The board, or alternative
mechanism, will function to:
Provide the national program with guidance on priority
needs in the areas of training material development, information
dissemination, and technical assistance.
Oversee the quality of national program products and
services.
Promote the national program to States and operators.
The following principles have been developed to guide the review
board:
The review board will be limited to 15 or fewer members--
roughly half transit providers and half State DOT representatives. In
the event that a board member is no longer employed by a nonurbanized
transit provider or State transit agency (including Tribal rural
operators), there shall be an automatic vacancy for that individual's
position on the board.
Review board membership shall be of limited duration and
regular rotations shall occur, so that continuity is maintained.
The recipient shall conduct an appropriate orientation for
new board members, including an introduction to the project's history,
goals and objectives and current status, and provide relevant materials
including summaries of past board-meetings, information on board-member
roles and responsibilities, and other relevant information.
Task X. Project Management and Administration
a. The recipient shall 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
projects.
b. The Project Coordinator of the RTAP shall submit quarterly
progress reports to the FTA project manager. The reports shall include
the following items and provide information relevant for the particular
period:
Sample Format for Progress Report
Goal:
Objective:
Objective's Total Budget
Expenditures this quarter, this objective
Total expenditures, this objective. (The expenditures
reported on the account, shall match the progress of the project.)
Status as of :---------------------------------------------------------
(end date of reporting period)
Activity Planned (Relative to Project Task Elements, Indicators and
Milestone Activities):
Actual Activity (Relative to Project Task Elements, Indicators and
Milestone Activities):
Difficulties Encountered: (as applicable, should include information on
specific reasons why goals and objectives or milestones were not met,
and analysis and explanations of costs overruns)
Goal/Objective or Milestone Not Met:
Problem(s):
Resolution/corrective action plan and schedule:
Activity anticipated for next reporting period:
[[Page 10331]]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Expended Q1 Expended Q2 Expended Q3 Expended Q4 Balance
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Task 1
Task 2
Task 3
Task 4
Task 5
Task 6
Staff Travel
Consultant Services--Ambassadors
Salaries, fringe, indirect, direct
administrative costs
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact Information: All documentation for the project, financial
and administrative, shall be forwarded to: Pamela Brown, Project
Manager, Federal Transit Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, 4th
Floor, Room E43-465, Washington, DC 20590, 202-493-2503,
Pamela.Brown@dot.gov.
V. Evaluation Criteria
The following evaluation criteria will be used to rate all
proposals responding to this announcement, listed in descending order
of relative importance:
1. Technical approach.
2. Qualifications and experience of the organization and its
personnel.
3. Program management capability.
4. Application review information.
Award of this cooperative agreement will be determined by the
proposal that offers to provide the greatest value to the beneficiaries
of the FTA RTAP in terms of performance rather than the proposal
offering the lowest price. Applicants may propose to provide some or
all of the services listed in the tasks described in the Scope of Work
above. FTA reserves the right to award one or more cooperative
agreements.
1. Technical Approach
The overall technical approach to the requirements of the statement
of work will be examined. Particular attention will be given to the
proposer's understanding of the objectives of the National RTAP and how
those objectives will be met by their proposal. The proposal should
respond to the specific requirements of the statement of work and
clearly explain how those requirements will be accomplished.
2. Qualifications and Experience of the Organization and Its Personnel
The nonprofit organization must demonstrate that it has a broad
based constituency and purpose relevant to rural public transportation
interests. The individual qualifications and work experience of
proposed project personnel will be carefully examined. The organization
must show that it will be able to assign employees with a variety of
skills and knowledge which include: Familiarity with rural operational
issues facing both public and private transportation operators;
experience in dealing with innovative solutions to rural transportation
needs; knowledge of current Federal policy initiatives; demonstrated
ability to develop and implement a broad program of rural technical
assistance; knowledge of information dissemination techniques and
training and technical assistance methodology; and organizational
skills to coordinate the diverse individuals and organizations involved
in such a program.
FTA is particularly interested in proposals for this cooperative
agreement from national non-profit organizations with demonstrated
capacity in State and community transportation and rural public
transportation services. A strong applicant has the following
characteristics:
Demonstrated track record for managing large scale
projects.
Exhibits strong analytical skills.
Performance based organization with an entrepreneurial
approach to problem solving.
Ability to breathe new life into a program by creating
something new or revamping an existing structure.
3. Program Management Capability
The proposal should indicate a strong capability for managing an
active and varied rural technical assistance program. Experience in
working with rural transportation professionals from local, city,
county, state, and Federal government, public and private operators and
volunteer organizations is an important requirement. The organization
should also demonstrate coalition building and organizational
development skills. In addition, the proposal should indicate
experience in managing and monitoring subrecipients and contractors, if
any are included in the proposal. The recipient selected must be an
eligible recipient of a cooperative agreement with FTA and be able to
sign the required certifications and assurances and cooperative
agreement.
4. Application Review Information
An FTA review panel will be convened to review each proposal.
Project proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria and
scoring system:
1. Staff qualifications, which includes experience in delivering
technical assistance and training, knowledge of human service
transportation, demonstrated process skills in assessment, strategic
planning, facilitation, and other key areas associated with identified
tasks. The entity shall also address a plan for knowledge retention.
(15%).
2. Capacity of the organization, which includes clearinghouse
functions, Web development and maintenance, technical assistance,
training, long distance and on-site intervention
[[Page 10332]]
strategies, and other, identified tasks. (15%).
3. Understanding and reasonability of proposed goals, objectives,
methodologies, activities, timelines, deliverables, and budget. (40%).
4. Plan to collaborate with stakeholders and establish effective
partnerships to implement tasks. (20%).
5. Plan for evaluation and data collection. (10%).
6. FTA may elect to meet in person two or three of the most
qualified applicants.
This meeting will be held at the Department of Transportation, in
Washington, DC. The applicants will be notified of a date and time
during which they will be asked to present their proposal to the FTA
review panel. If an entity proposes to perform an individual task or
tasks less than the full project, the proposal will be evaluated
accordingly on its merits. If selected, the proposer may be asked to
form a consortium with the applicant chosen to manage the larger
project
VI. Proposal Content
Proposals shall be submitted in double-spaced format using Times
New Roman 12 point font. The application must contain the following
components:
1. Cover sheet (1 page): Includes entity submitting proposal,
principal investigator, title, and contact information (e.g., address,
phone, fax, and E-mail). Name and contact information for the entity,
key point of contact for all cooperative activities (if different from
principle investigators).
2. Abstract (2 pages): Abstract shall include background, purpose,
methodology, intended outcomes, and plan for evaluation.
3. Detailed budget proposal and budget narrative.
4. Project narrative (not to exceed 75 pages): Project narrative
shall include the following information:
a. Staff qualifications, include experience in providing technical
assistance and implementing the other tasks outlined in the
solicitation. The proposal shall also include the proposed staff
members' knowledge of issues related to human service transportation.
One page biographical sketches for staff members shall 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 I-X
outlined under Section IV. (Scope of Work) in this solicitation;
c. Methodology for addressing tasks I-X outlined under Section IV.
in this solicitation. The proposal shall 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. Project Management Plan that includes well defined objectives,
tasks, activities, timelines, deliverables, indicators, and outcomes.
6. Plan for evaluation of RTAP activities and data collection.
7. Supplemental materials and letters of support can be included in
an appendices section that is beyond the 75 page limit. In addition to
the full proposal, entities have the option to submit supplemental
material such as: Brochures, publications, products, etc. These
materials shall be delivered to Pamela Brown, Federal Transit
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 4th Floor--East Building,
Room E43-465, Washington, DC 20590.
VII. Instructions
1. Submit five copies of proposal to the following address: Federal
Transit Administration, TPM-5, Office of Program Management, United We
Ride Office, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 4th Floor--East Building,
Room E43-465, Washington, DC 20590, Attn: Pamela Brown; or apply
through Grants.Gov.
2. Proposals must be received no later than 5:30 p.m., EDT, April
28, 2008
3. Technical questions and requests for clarifications may be
addressed to Lorna R. Wilson at 202-366-2053.
4. The recipient will be selected and the candidates notified
approximately two months after the application deadline.
5. The recipient selected will be asked to submit an application
for a cooperative agreement by July 1, 2008, with funding of $1,212,000
for the first year anticipated to be awarded before October 30, 2008.
VIII. Award Information
FTA reserves the right to fund one or more cooperative agreements
for a five year award. Year one of the cooperative agreement is for
$1.212 million. The anticipated notification date is the Spring of
2008, with an anticipated starting date for the successful applicant of
July, 2008. Subsequent annual funding will be based on annual
appropriations. FTA recipients with existing FTA projects are eligible
to complete for this cooperative agreement.
The FTA will participate in activities by attending review
meetings, commenting on technical reports, maintaining frequent contact
with the project manager, approving key decisions/activities and
negotiating any redirecting activities if needed.
IX. Award Administration Information
The anticipated notification date for the award of this cooperative
agreement is Spring of 2008, with an anticipated start date for the
successful applicant by late Spring. FTA will notify the successful
entity. Following receipt of the FTA Administrator's notification
letter, the successful entity will be required to submit its proposal
through the FTA Transportation Electronic Award Management (TEAM)
system Web site. FTA will manage the cooperative agreement through the
TEAM system Web site. Before FTA may award Federal financial assistance
through a Federal cooperative agreement, the entity must submit all
certifications and assurances pertaining to itself and its project as
required by Federal laws and regulations. Since Federal FY 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. The FY 2008 Annual List of
Certifications and Assurances for FTA Cooperative Agreements 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.
Issued in Washington, DC, this 21st day of February, 2008.
James S. Simpson,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E8-3604 Filed 2-25-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P
