Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program; Tribal Transit Program Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, 12214-12223 [E9-6271]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 54 / Monday, March 23, 2009 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Public Transportation on Indian
Reservations Program; Tribal Transit
Program Under the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act of 2009
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AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration
(FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability:
Solicitation of Grant Applications for
ARRA Tribal Transit Program Funds.
SUMMARY: This notice announces the
availability of $17 million in funding
provided by the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for the Public
Transportation on Indian Reservations
Program (Tribal Transit Program (TTP)),
a program authorized by the Safe,
Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for
Users (SAFETEA–LU), Section 3013 (c).
This notice is a national solicitation for
grant applicants to be selected on a
competitive basis, and includes grant
terms, conditions, and reporting
requirements; application procedures;
and the criteria that FTA will utilize to
select ARRA TTP projects. ARRA TTP
funding may be used only for capital
expenditures. FTA will announce the
availability of, and competition for, the
FY 2009 (annual) TTP in a separate
notice.
DATES: Applicants must submit
completed applications by May 22,
2009. FTA will announce grant awards
in the Federal Register when the
competitive selection process is
complete.
Applicants should be aware that
materials sent through the U.S. Postal
Service are subject to significant delays
in delivery due to the security screening
process. Use of courier or express
delivery services is recommended.
ADDRESSES: FTA has posted a synopsis
of this announcement on the
government-wide electronic grants Web
site at: https://www.grants.gov.
Applicants may submit applications by
either delivering five hard copies to
FTA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590, Attn: Lorna R.
Wilson, or by sending via e-mail to
fta.tribalprogram@dot.gov. FTA will not
accept applications via facsimile. The
APPLY functionality in Grants.Gov is
not available for this announcement or
other ARRA opportunities.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Contact the appropriate FTA Regional
Tribal Liaison (Appendix B) for
application-specific information. For
general program information, contact
Lorna R. Wilson, Office of Transit
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Programs, at (202) 366–2053, e-mail:
Lorna.Wilson@dot.gov. A TDD is
available at 1–800–877–8339 (TDD/
FIRS).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Overview of This Notice
II. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants
B. Eligible Projects
III. Local Match
IV. Terms and Conditions
A. General Grant Requirements
B. ARRA-Specific Grant Requirements
V. Reporting Requirements and Certifications
Applicable to Recipients of ARRA Funds
A. Section 1511: Certifications
B. Section 1512: Reports on Use of Funds
C. Section 1512(h): Registration
D. Section 1201(a): Maintenance of Effort
E. Section 1201(c)(2): Periodic Reports
F. Section 1607
G. Section 1609
H. Other Reporting
VI. Application Content
A. Applicant Information
B. Technical, Legal, and Financial Capacity
to Implement the Proposed Project
C. Project Information
D. Application Evaluation Criteria
E. Intergovernmental Review
F. Funding Restrictions
VII. How Proposals Will Be Evaluated
A. Competitive Selection Process
B. Evaluation Criteria
C. Continuation Projects
D. Review and Selection Process
VIII. Award Administration Information
IX. Technical Assistance
Appendices
Appendix A: Certifications and Assurances
Appendix B: FTA Regional Offices and
Tribal Liaisons
Appendix C: Technical Assistance
Contacts
I. Overview of This Notice
The ‘‘American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act, 2009’’ (Pub. L. 111–
5 or ‘‘ARRA’’), signed into law by
President Barack Obama on February
17, 2009, provides appropriations and
tax law changes totaling approximately
$787 billion to support multi-pronged
efforts to stimulate the economy.
Appropriations in ARRA include $8.4
billion to preserve and create jobs and
promote economic recovery through
investment in public transportation.
Formula transit programs provided in
ARRA were the subject of FTA’s March
5, 2009, Federal Register notice. The
March 5 notice further provided an
overview of the ARRA’s transit
provisions and established the
principles, policies, and procedures that
would apply to all ARRA formula
transit programs. Readers interested in
how FTA intends to implement ARRA’s
formula transit program resources
should refer to the March 5 notice for
more information.
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ARRA’s Transit Capital Assistance
program authorizes $6.9 billion in
funding for capital expenses as defined
by 49 U.S.C. 5302(a)(1). Most of this
funding is appropriated by formula, and
was apportioned by the March 5 notice.
Ten percent of funding under the
program was apportioned for grants
under 49 U.S.C. section 5311
(Nonurbanized Area Formula Program).
Of this amount, 2.5 percent has been
set-aside for discretionary allocation
through FTA’s Public Transportation on
Indian Reservations program (Tribal
Transit program (TTP)), as established
by Section 3013(c) of SAFETEA–LU.
SAFETEA–LU’s TTP authorizes direct
grants ‘‘under such terms and
conditions as may be established by the
Secretary’’ to Indian tribes for any
purpose eligible under FTA’s
Nonurbanized Area Formula Program,
49 U.S.C. 5311 (Section 5311 program).
However, ARRA specifies that funds it
appropriates are to be used only for
capital expenditures. This means that
only items defined as capital under 49
U.S.C. Chapter 53 are eligible activities
under the ARRA TTP program.
The ARRA TTP program provides $17
million in capital funding intended to
preserve or create jobs, contribute to
cleaning our environment through green
purchases, retrofitting existing facilities,
making public transportation
opportunities available to more people,
and helping ease local fiscal problems.
This notice presents the eligibility,
project selection process, and grant
application process for TTP funds made
available by the ARRA. Additional
information on program grant and
ARRA’s unique—and extensive—
reporting requirements will be made
available in the notice of selection.
II. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants include federallyrecognized Indian tribes or Alaska
Native villages, groups, or communities
as identified by the Bureau of Indian
Affairs (BIA) in the Department of the
Interior (DOI). To be an eligible
recipient, a tribe must have the requisite
legal, financial and technical
capabilities to receive and administer
Federal funds under this program. A
newly recognized tribe may submit a
copy of the most up-to-date Federal
Register notice published by DOI, BIA:
Entities Recognized and Eligible to
Receive Service from the United States
Bureau of Indian Affairs to establish
eligibility.
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B. Eligible Projects
Eligible recipients may use ARRA
TTP funds for any capital expense as
defined by 49 U.S.C. 5302(a)(1). Eligible
capital projects include but are not
limited to: Preventive maintenance;
acquiring, constructing, supervising, or
inspecting equipment or a facility for
use in public transportation (including
engineering, designing, location
surveying, mapping, and acquiring
right-of-way) transit-related ITS;
rehabilitating buses; remanufacturing a
bus; overhauling rail rolling stock;
leasing a facility or equipment for use in
public transportation where more costeffective than purchase or construction;
public transportation improvement that
enhances economic development or
incorporates private investment,
including commercial and residential
development, pedestrian and bicycle
access to public transportation facilities,
construction or renovation of intercity
bus and rail stations and terminals,
renovation and improvements of
historic transportation facilities, where
the improvement enhances the
effectiveness of a public transportation
project and is physically or functionally
related to that public transportation
project, or creates a new or enhanced
coordination between public
transportation and other transportation
and provides a fair share of revenue to
be used in public transportation; eligible
crime prevention and security expenses;
establishing a debt service reserve; and
mobility management.
III. Local Match
Under the ARRA, the Federal share of
a TTP grant is up to 100 percent of the
net project cost of capital projects.
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IV. Terms and Conditions
Section 3013 of SAFETEA–LU
amended 49 U.S.C. section 5311(c) by
authorizing funds for the TTP ‘‘under
such terms and conditions as may be
established by the Secretary.’’ Pursuant
to this discretionary statutory authority
in SAFETEA–LU, FTA published a
Federal Register notice dated March 22,
2006 (71 FR 14618), ‘‘Public
Transportation on Indian Reservations
Program (49 U.S.C. 5311(c)(1)): Notice of
Public Meetings, Proposed Grant
Program Provisions,’’ and proposed
certain statutory and regulatory terms
and conditions that should apply to
grants awarded under the TTP.
FTA received a substantial number of
comments from Indian tribes and other
groups concerning certain proposed
terms and conditions for the TTP. FTA
addressed these comments in a Federal
Register notice dated August 15, 2006
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(71 FR 46878) and established
appropriate grant requirements for the
TTP.
The terms and conditions established
in the August 15, 2006, notice equally
apply to ARRA TTP program funds, and
are summarized below. In addition,
ARRA specifies additional grant
requirements that apply to its funding
programs, including the ARRA TTP,
which are also provided below.
A. General Grant Requirements
1. Common Grant Rule (49 CFR part
18), ‘‘Uniform Administrative
Requirements for Grants and
Cooperative Agreements to State and
Local Governments.’’ This is a
government-wide requirement that
applies to all Federal assistance
programs.
2. Civil Rights Act of 1964, as
amended (42 U.S.C. 2000d). Unless
Indian tribes are specifically exempted
from civil rights statutes, compliance
with civil rights statutes is required,
including compliance with equity in
service. However, Indian tribes will not
be required to comply with FTA
program-specific guidance for Title VI
and Title VII.
3. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation
Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C.
794), and the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements in
49 CFR parts 27, 37, and 38. Section 504
is a government-wide requirement that
applies to all Federal programs, and the
implementing regulations of the ADA
apply to public transportation.
4. Drug and Alcohol Testing
requirements (49 CFR part 655). FTA
will apply this requirement because it
addresses a national safety issue for
operators of public transportation.
5. National Environmental Policy Act,
as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
This is a government-wide requirement
that applies to all Federal programs.
6. Charter Service and School Bus
transportation requirements in 49 CFR
parts 604 and 605. The definition of
‘‘public transportation’’ in 49 U.S.C.
section 5302 specifically excludes
school bus and charter service.
7. National Transit Database (NTD)
Reporting requirement. Title 49 U.S.C.
section 5335 requires NTD reporting for
recipients of Section 5311 funds. The
TTP is a Section 5311 program that will
provide funds directly to Indian tribes.
Therefore, this reporting requirement
applies.
8. Bus Testing requirements (49 CFR
part 665). To ensure that vehicles
acquired under this program will meet
adequate safety and operational
standards, this requirement will apply.
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9. Labor Protections (49 U.S.C. section
5333(b)). At the time of the August 15,
2006, notice, FTA indicated that labor
protective arrangements would be
required but that FTA would not
implement this requirement until the
Department of Labor (DOL) revised its
procedures to provide a relevant
arrangement for tribes. On October 1,
2008, DOL began using a revised special
warranty for the Section 5311 program
which is appropriate for use with TTP
grants. All TTP grants (ARRA and
annual) awarded after October 1, 2008,
will be subject to the special warranty
for labor protective arrangements under
the Section 5311 program, which will be
incorporated by reference in the grant
agreement.
A comprehensive list and description
for all of the statutory and regulatory
terms and conditions that apply to the
TTP are set forth in FTA’s Master
Agreement for the TTP available on
FTA’s Web site at: https://
www.fta.dot.gov/
17861_18441_ENG_HTML.htm. Selected
grantees are required to formally
designate, by resolution or other formal
tribal action, an authorized
representative who will have the
authority to execute grant agreements on
behalf of the Indian tribe with FTA and
who will also have the authority on
behalf of the Indian tribe to execute
FTA’s Annual List of Certifications and
Assurances and the Section 1511
certification for ARRA program
described in Section V, A of this notice.
The Annual List of Certifications and
Assurances is attached in Appendix A
for informational purposes only. The
Certification and Assurances must be
signed by a legal entity. FTA has
provided information concerning
Certifications and Assurances in
Appendix A of this notice. Tribes are
required to select categories 01 and 22
for the purpose of the TTP.
B. ARRA-Specific Requirements
1. A successful applicant for
competitive ARRA TTP funding, must
submit a separate ARRA grant
application electronically to the
appropriate FTA regional office through
TEAM-Web.
2. Grantees may not commingle ARRA
funds into a grant application that
contains FTA funding authorized under
SAFETEA–LU or any prior
authorization. Furthermore, grantees
cannot apply for funding allocated
under separate ARRA programs in a
single grant. In other words, if a Tribe
is selected for funding under the annual
TTP program and/or the State’s annual
Section 5311 apportionment and/or the
State’s ARRA Section 5311
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apportionment, FTA will not combine
the ARRA TTP funds in a grant award
with any other source of funds the tribe
may be receiving. The tribe may,
however, use different sources of funds
to support a single project at the local
level, provided the tribe can track and
report on the funds separately.
3. FTA will process ARRA grants
promptly upon receipt of a completed
application. ARRA funds must be
obligated in a grant before September
30, 2010. If the tribe selected for funding
has not received a grant by then, the
funds will no longer be available to the
tribe. A tribe selected for ARRA TTP
funding must promptly submit a grant
application to FTA and provide all
information the region requests as
necessary to obligate the funds in a
grant award. In order to assure that
project funds will begin to flow into the
economy as quickly as possible, all
ARRA grants should be for a project that
the tribe expects to implement quickly.
Grant application information must
include milestones appropriate to the
scale of the project to allow adequate
oversight to monitor the progress of
projects from the start through
completion and closeout. [Note:
Grantees will be expected to update
activity milestones and financial status
report on a quarterly basis for ARRA
grants.]
4. Before FTA can award grants for
discretionary projects and activities,
notification of the award must be given
to members of Congress, and in the case
of awards greater than $500,000, to the
House and Senate authorizing and
appropriations committees at least three
days before award.
5. Before executing an ARRA grant,
the executing official must inform FTA
via the TEAM system of the (1) purpose
of the investment, and (2) the rationale
for the investment. Grantees must select
one or more of the following purposes
before the grant can be executed:
a. To preserve and create jobs and
promote economic recovery.
b. To assist those impacted by the
recession.
c. To provide investments needed to
increase economic efficiency by
spurring technological advances.
d. To invest in infrastructure that will
provide long-term economic benefits.
e. To stabilize State and local
government budgets, in order to
minimize reductions in essential
services and counterproductive State
and local tax increases.
In addition, grantees must also select
one or more of the following rationale:
a. Project is ready to go (all applicable
federal requirements are complete).
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b. Use of Recovery funds for this
project frees up other FTA/State/local
resources for other purposes.
c. Project is high local/regional
priority.
d. Project could not have been
implemented without supplemental
funding.
e. Funding accelerates completion
and decreases over-all project costs.
f. Project provides equipment or
facilities to increase transit ridership.
g. Project is a needed investment to
bring assets to a state of good repair.
h. Project addresses immediate
maintenance needs.
6. Other important issues that affect
FTA grant processing activities are
discussed below.
a. Special Conditions of Grant
Award—Recipients applying for grants
that contain ARRA funds must agree to
the following grant conditions that will
be included in the grant application.
1. Recipient of ARRA funds agrees to
comply with reporting requirements and
deadlines set out in section 1201(c) of
Public Law 111–5.
2. Recipient of ARRA funds agrees to
comply with reporting requirements and
deadlines set out in section 1512 of
Public Law 111–5.
3. Recipient of ARRA funds agrees
that all data submitted to FTA in
compliance with the requirements of
Public Law 111–5 is accurate, objective,
and of the highest integrity.
4. Recipient of ARRA funds
acknowledges that receipt of ARRA
funds is a ‘‘one-time’’ disbursement that
does not create any future obligation by
the FTA to advance similar funding
amounts.
5. Recipient of ARRA funds agrees to
display any program logos as may be
required by FTA.
6. Recipient of ARRA funds agrees
that it or its sub-recipients shall report
any credible evidence that a principal,
employee, agent, contractor, subrecipient, subcontractor, or other person
has submitted a false claim under the
False Claims Act or has committed a
criminal or civil violation of law
pertaining to fraud, conflict of interest,
bribery, gratuity, or similar misconduct
involving ARRA funds.
b. Buy America—The Buy America
requirements under 49 U.S.C. 5323(j)
that typically apply to projects
accepting Federal assistance under the
Federal Transit program authorized
under Chapter 53 of title 49, United
States Code, apply to all capital public
transportation projects funded with
amounts appropriated in the ARRA.
Therefore, an applicant, in carrying out
a procurement financed with Federal
assistance authorized under the ARRA
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must comply with applicable Buy
America requirements in 49 U.S.C.
section 5323(j) and 49 CFR Part 661.
V. Reporting Requirements and
Certifications Applicable to Recipients
of ARRA Funds
As a condition of award, grantees
receiving ARRA funds will be required
to report on grant activities on a routine
basis. FTA grantees will be responsible
for reporting up-to-date and accurate
information in the milestone status
report and financial status report on a
quarterly basis, as well as additional
data elements that are required to be
reported in https://www.recovery.gov.
Additionally, special certifications and
grant conditions will also be required of
ARRA grant recipients. FTA will issue
specific guidance on reporting
requirements in the near future for your
information. The ARRA statutory
reporting requirements and
certifications are identified below:
A. Section 1511: Certifications
For covered funds made available to
State or local governments, including
Tribes, for infrastructure investments,
the Governor, mayor, or other chief
executive, as appropriate, are required
to certify that the infrastructure
investment has received the full review
and vetting required by law and that the
chief executive accepts responsibility
that the infrastructure investment is an
appropriate use of taxpayer dollars.
Such certification must include a
description of the investment, the
estimated total cost, and the amount of
covered funds to be used, and must be
posted on a specified Web site. A State
or local agency or tribe may not receive
infrastructure investment funding from
funds made available under ARRA
unless this certification is made and
posted. For ARRA TTP grants, this
certification must be made by the Tribal
official authorized to execute grant
agreements and execute certifications
and assurances, as noted in Section
IV.A, above, before FTA can award a
grant. The certifying official must also
provide a list of projects selected to
receive ARRA funds. DOT will post the
certification and project list to a public
Web site linked to https://
www.recovery.gov, as required by law.
B. Section 1512: Reports on Use of
Funds
Recipient Reports.—Not later than 10
days after the end of each calendar
quarter, each recipient that received
recovery funds from a Federal agency
shall submit a report to that agency that
contains—
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(i) The total amount of recovery funds
received from that agency;
(ii) The amount of recovery funds
received that were expended or
obligated to projects or activities; and
(iii) a detailed list of all projects or
activities for which recovery funds were
expended or obligated, including—
(1) The name of the project or activity;
(2) A description of the project or
activity;
(3) An evaluation of the completion
status of the project or activity;
(4) An estimate of the number of jobs
created and the number of jobs retained
by the project or activity; and
(5) For infrastructure investments
made by State and local governments,
the purpose, total cost, and rationale of
the agency for funding the infrastructure
investment with funds made available
under ARRA, and name of the person to
contact at the agency if there are
concerns with the infrastructure
investment.
(iv) Detailed information on any
subcontracts or subgrants awarded by
the recipient to include the data
elements required to comply with the
Federal Funding Accountability and
Transparency Act of 2006 (Pub. L. 109–
282), allowing aggregate reporting on
awards below $25,000 or to individuals,
as prescribed by the Director of the
Office of Management and Budget.
The data elements required to comply
with Public Law 109–282 are: name of
entity receiving the award; the amount
of the award; information on the award
including transaction type, funding
agency, the North American Industry
Classification System Code or Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance number
(where applicable); program source; and
an award title descriptive of the purpose
of each funding action.
FTA will extract as much as possible
of this information from grant
information and standard quarterly
reports provided through the TEAM
electronic grants award and
management system. Supplemental
reporting may be required, however, to
provide the project and contract level
information. FTA will provide further
reporting instructions at a later date.
FTA is working with other modal
administrations within the Department
of Transportation (DOT) to standardize
the information required from all DOT
recipients. DOT will post the
information the tribe reports in response
to this requirement on https://
www.recovery.gov to satisfy the
transparency requirements of the ARRA.
C. Section 1512(h): Registration
Recipients of ARRA funds must
register with Central Contractor
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Registration database (CCR) or complete
other registration requirements as
determined by the Director of the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB). CCR
registration can be completed at https://
www.ccr.gov. CCR registration must be
completed before the first quarterly
Section 1512 report is due (ten days
after the end of the first quarter after the
tribe receives an ARRA grant). OMB has
issued guidance requiring FTA and
other Federal agencies to ensure that
grantees and first tier subawardees
(subrecipients and contractors) obtain a
DUNS number, or update their DUNS
record if necessary. DUNS registration
can be completed at https://
www.dnb.com. OMB has not yet issued
a final determination on the extent to
which subawardees will be required to
register in CCR.
D. Section 1201(a): Maintenance of
Effort
Not later than March 19, 2009 for each
amount that is distributed to a State or
agency thereof from an appropriation in
ARRA for a covered program, the
Governor of State is required to certify
to the Secretary of Transportation that
the State will maintain its effort with
regard to State funding for the types of
projects that are funded by the
appropriation. As part of this
certification, the Governor is required to
submit to the Secretary of
Transportation a statement identifying
the amount of funds the State planned
to expend from State sources as of
February 17, 2009, during the period of
February 17, 2009 through September
30, 2010, for the types of projects that
are funded by the appropriation.
This requirement applies only to State
funding for transportation projects
eligible for ARRA funding. DOT will
treat this maintenance of effort
requirement through one consolidated
certification from the Governor to the
Secretary, which should include State
funding for transit projects, as well as
highway and other transportation modal
projects. The tribe is not required to
complete this certification, but must
report any State transportation funding
received in its quarterly Section
1201(c)(2) report.
E. Section 1201(c)(2): Periodic Reports
For amounts received under each
covered program by a grant recipient
under ARRA, the grant recipient shall
include in the periodic reports
information tracking:
(A) The amount of Federal funds
appropriated, allocated, obligated, and
outlayed under the appropriation;
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(B) The number of projects that have
been put out to bid under the
appropriation;
(C) The number of projects for which
contracts have been awarded under the
appropriation and the amount of
Federal funds associated with such
contracts;
(D) The number of projects for which
work has begun under such contracts
and the amount of Federal funds
associated with such contracts;
(E) The number of projects for which
work has been completed under such
contracts and the amount of Federal
funds associated with such contracts;
(F) The number of direct, on-project
jobs created or sustained by the Federal
funds provided for projects under the
appropriation and, to the extent
possible, the estimated indirect jobs
created or sustained in the associated
supplying industries, including the
number of job-years created and the
total increase in employment since
February 17, 2009; and
(G) The actual aggregate expenditures
by each grant recipient from State
sources for projects eligible for funding
under the program during the period of
February 17, 2009 through September
30, 2010, as compared to the level of
such expenditures that were planned to
occur during such period as of the date
of enactment of ARRA.
Each grant recipient is required to
submit the first of the periodic reports
including the Section 1201(c)(2) data
required above not later than 90 days
from February 17, 2009 and is required
to submit updated reports not later than
180 days, one year, two years, and three
years from February 17, 2009.
FTA will extract as much as possible
of this information from grant
information and standard quarterly
reports provided through the TEAM
electronic grants award and
management system. Supplemental
reporting may be required, however, to
provide the project and contract level
information. FTA will provide further
reporting instructions at a later date.
FTA is working with other modal
administrations within DOT to
standardize the information required
from all DOT recipients, including the
possibility of generating the required
jobs data through the use of economic
models and factors applied to the data
provided in the grant awards and other
information reported by the grant.
F. Section 1607
Section 1607 requires that the
Governor certify within 45 days of
enactment (April 3, 2009) that, for funds
provided, the state will request and use
funds provided by this Act and the
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funds will be used to create jobs and
promote economic health. If the
Governor does not provide this
certification, then the state legislature
may act to accept the funds. This
requirement applies to all ARRA
programs across the government and is
not directly applicable to the ARRA
TTP.
G. Section 1609
Under section 1609(c), FTA is
required to report to certain
congressional committees every 90 days
following enactment on the status and
progress of projects funded or proposed
for funding under the Act with respect
to compliance with NEPA and its
implementing regulations. FTA will
necessarily ask recipients for assistance
in compiling this quarterly report.
H. Other Reporting
To satisfy the needs for transparency
and accountability related to funding
appropriated under the ARRA, grantees
may be required to provide additional
information not yet specified in
response to requests from the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB), the
Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the
Government Accountability Office
(GAO), or the DOT Inspector General
(IG). FTA will inform grantees if and
when such additional reports are
required.
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VI. Application Content
The following information must
accompany all requests for ARRA TTP
funding. Information such as the
identity of the applicant need not be
repeated, but the project description and
budget must clearly indicate capital
activities for which the tribe seeks
ARRA TTP funding, and the application
must specifically address the ARRA
related aspects of the evaluation criteria.
A. Applicant Information
1. Name of federally recognized tribe
and, if appropriate, the specific tribal
agency submitting the application.
2. Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data
Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
number if available. (Note: If selected,
applicant will be required to provide
DUNS number prior to grant award.)
3. Contact information including:
contact name, title, address, fax and
phone number, and e-mail address if
available.
4. Description of public transportation
services including areas currently
served by tribe, if any.
5. Name of person(s) authorized to
apply on behalf of tribe (signed
transmittal letter) must accompany
application.
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B. Technical, Legal, and Financial
Capacity To Implement the Proposed
Project
Tribes that cannot demonstrate
adequate capacity in technical, legal and
financial areas will not be considered
for funding. Every application must
describe the tribe’s legal, technical, and
financial capacity to implement the
proposed project.
1. Legal Capacity: Provide
documentation or other evidence to
show that the applicant is a federally
recognized tribe. Also, who is the
authorized representative to execute
legal agreements with FTA on behalf of
the tribe? Does the tribe have
appropriate Federal or State operating
authority?
2. Technical Capacity: Give examples
of the tribe’s management of other
Federal projects. What resources does
the tribe have to implement a transit
project?
3. Financial Capacity: Does the tribe
have adequate financial systems in
place to receive and manage a Federal
grant? Describe the tribe’s financial
systems and controls.
C. Project Information
1. Budget: Provide the Federal amount
requested for each purpose for which
funds are sought and any funding from
other sources that will be provided.
2. Project Description: Provide a
summary description of the proposed
project and how it will be implemented
(e.g., number and type of vehicles,
service area, schedules, type of services,
fixed route or demand responsive),
route miles (if fixed route), major origins
and destinations, population served,
and whether the tribe provides the
service directly or contracts for services
and how will vehicles be maintained.
Note that while application must
include a description of how equipment
requested will be used and maintained,
only capital expenses are eligible under
the ARRA. Costs of operations are not
eligible under this program. Include a
summary discussion of how the project
is consistent with the objectives of the
ARRA.
3. Project Timeline: Include
significant milestones such as date of
contract for purchase of vehicle(s),
actual or expected delivery date of
vehicles, and service start up dates.
D. Application Evaluation Criteria
Applications for funding of transit
services should address the application
criteria based on project to be funded
(for more detail see section VI below).
Note that while these are the same
criteria used for FTA’s annual TTP
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program, special attention for these
ARRA TTP resources will be placed
upon the readiness of the project to be
implemented (within criterion 1) and
the estimated number of jobs created or
sustained (within criterion 3).
1. Criterion 1: Project Planning and
Coordination.
2. Criterion 2: Demonstration of Need.
3. Criterion 3: Project Benefits.
4. Criterion 4: Financial Commitment
and Operating Capacity.
E. Intergovernmental Review
This program is not subject to
Executive Order 12372,
‘‘Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs.’’
F. Funding Restrictions
FTA will consider applications for
funding only from eligible recipients for
eligible capital activities (see section II).
Due to funding limitations, applicants
that are selected for funding may receive
less than the amount requested. Current
TTP grantees applying for ARRA
funding must be in an active status to
receive additional funding.
VII. How Proposals Will Be Evaluated
A. Competitive Selection Process
FTA intends to award $17 million in
ARRA TTP funding. If a tribe applies for
funding both under this announcement
(ARRA) and under the FY 2009 annual
TTP announcement, FTA will consider
both applications in relationship to each
other, as appropriate. FTA encourages
applicants to review the evaluation
criteria and all other related application
information prior to preparation of an
application. Applicants may receive
technical assistance for application
development by contacting their FTA
regional Tribal liaison, or the National
Rural Transportation Assistance
Program (RTAP) office. Contact
information for technical assistance can
be found in Appendix C.
B. Evaluation Criteria
1. Project Planning and Coordination
(25 points)
In this section, the applicant should
describe how the proposed project was
developed and demonstrate that there is
a sound basis for it. Additionally, the
applicant must provide evidence that
the project is ready for implementation
as soon as a grant is awarded.
Information may vary depending upon
whether the tribe has a formal plan that
includes transit.
a. Applicants without a formal plan
that includes transit are advised to
consider and address the following
areas:
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i. Provide a detailed project
description.
ii. Identify existing transportation
services available to the tribe and
discuss whether the proposed project
will provide opportunities to coordinate
service with existing transit services,
including human service agencies,
intercity bus services, or other public
transit providers.
iii. Discuss the level of support either
by the community and/or tribal
government for the proposed project.
iv. Describe the implementation
schedule for the proposed project, such
as time frame, staffing, and
procurement. Evidence that project
implementation can begin immediately
upon grant award is desired.
b. Applicants with a formal transit
plan are advised to consider and
address the following areas:
i. Describe the planning document
and/or the planning process conducted
to identify the proposed project.
ii. Describe how the mobility and
client-access needs of tribal human
service agencies were considered in the
planning process.
iii. Describe what opportunities for
public participation were provided in
the planning process and how the
proposed project has been coordinated
with transportation provided for the
clients of human service agencies, with
intercity bus transportation in the area,
or with any other rural public transit
providers.
iv. Describe how the proposed project
complements rather than duplicates any
currently available facilities, equipment,
or services.
v. Describe the implementation
schedule for the proposed project,
including time frame, staffing,
procurement, etc. Evidence that project
implementation can begin immediately
upon grant award is desired.
vi. Describe any other planning or
coordination efforts that were not
mentioned above.
c. Based on the information provided
as discussed in the above section,
proposals will be rated on the following:
i. Is there a sound basis for the
proposed project?
ii. Is the project ready to implement?
2. Demonstration of Need (25 points)
In this section, the application should
demonstrate the transit needs of the
tribe and discuss how the proposed
project will address the identified
transit needs. Applications may include
information such as destinations and
services not currently accessible by
transit, need for access to jobs or health
care, special needs of the elderly and
individuals with disabilities, income-
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based community needs, or other
mobility needs.
Based on the information provided,
the proposals will be rated on the
following:
a. Is there a demonstrated need for the
project?
b. How well does the project fulfill
the need?
3. Project Benefits (25 points)
In this section, applications should
identify expected project benefits.
Possible examples include increased
ridership and daily trips, improved
service, improved operations and
coordination, and economic benefits to
the community. Consistent with the
objectives of the ARRA, the number of
estimated jobs created or sustained
should also be provided.
Benefits can be demonstrated by
identifying the population of tribal
members and non-tribal members in the
proposed project service area and
estimating the number of daily one-way
trips the transit service will provide
and/or the number of individual riders.
There may be many other, less
quantifiable, benefits to the tribe and
surrounding community from this
project. Please document, explain or
show the benefits in whatever format is
reasonable to present them.
Based on the information provided
proposals will be rated based on:
a. Will the project improve transit
efficiency or increase ridership?
b. Will the project improve mobility
for the tribe?
c. Will the project improve access to
important destinations and services?
d. How many jobs will the proposed
project create or sustain?
e. Are there other qualitative benefits?
4. Financial Commitment and Operating
Capacity (25 points)
In this section, the application should
identify any other funding sources used
by the tribe to support the proposed
project, including human service
transportation funding, Indian
Reservation Roads, or other FTA
programs such as Job Access and
Reverse Commute (JARC), New
Freedom, section 5311, section 5310, or
section 5309 bus and bus facilities
funding.
The application should show how
ARRA TTP funding will supplement
(not duplicate or replace) current
funding sources. If the transit system
was previously funded under section
5311 through the State’s apportionment
or the annual TTP, describe how
requested ARRA TTP funding will
expand facilities, and/or other capital
resources.
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Describe any other resources the tribe
will contribute to the project, including
in-kind contributions, commitments of
support from local businesses,
donations of land or equipment, and
human resources, and describe to what
extent the new project or funding for
existing service leverages other funding.
The tribe should show its ability to
manage programs by demonstrating the
existing programs it administers in any
area of expertise such as human
services. Based upon the information
provided, the proposals will be rated on
the extent to which the proposal
demonstrates that:
a. This project provides new services
or complements existing service;
b. TTP funding does not replace
existing funding;
c. The tribe has or will provide nonfinancial support to project;
d. The tribe has demonstrated ability
to provide other services or manage
other programs; and
e. Project funds are used in
coordination with other services for
efficient utilization of funds.
C. Continuation Projects
If an applicant is proposing to fund,
with ARRA resources, the continuation
of a project funded previously with FY
06–08 TTP funding, tribes must
demonstrate that their project(s) are in
an active status to receive additional
funding. Along with the criteria listed in
Section B, proposals should state that
the applicant is a current TTP grantee
and provide information on their transit
project(s) status including services now
being provided and how the new
funding will complement the existing
service. Please provide any data that
would be helpful to project evaluators,
i.e., ridership, increased service hours,
extended service routes, stops, etc. If
you received a planning grant in
previous fiscal years, please indicate the
status of your planning study and how
this project relates to that study.
D. Review and Selection Process
Each application will be screened by
a panel of members, including FTA
Headquarters and regional staff.
Incomplete or non-responsive
applications will be disqualified. FTA
will make an effort to award grants to as
many qualified applicants as possible.
VIII. Award Administration
Information
FTA will award grants directly to
Federally-recognized Indian tribes for
the projects selected through this
competition. Following publication of
the selected recipients, projects, and
amounts, FTA regional staff will assist
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the successful applicants in preparing
electronic applications for grant awards.
At that time, the tribe will be required
to sign the Certification and Assurances
contained in Appendix A. The Master
Agreement is available on FTA’s Web
site at https://www.fta.dot.gov/
17861_18441_ENG_HTML.htm.
FTA will notify all applicants, both
those selected for funding and those not
selected, when the competitive selection
process is complete. Projects selected
for funding will be published in a
Federal Register notice, along with any
additional grants and reporting
requirements for ARRA funds.
IX. Technical Assistance
Technical assistance regarding these
requirements is available from each FTA
regional office. The regional offices will
contact those applicants selected for
funding regarding general and ARRAspecific grants and reporting
requirements and will provide
assistance in preparing the
documentation necessary for the grant
award. Contact the appropriate FTA
regional Tribal Liaison (Appendix B) for
application specific information and
issues. For general program information,
contact Lorna R. Wilson, Office of
Transit Programs, at (202) 366–2053, email: Lorna.Wilson@dot.gov. A TDD is
available at 1–800–877–8339 (TDD/
FIRS).
Issued in Washington, DC, this 18th day of
March, 2009.
Matthew J. Welbes,
Acting Deputy Administrator.
Appendix A
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Federal Fiscal Year 2009 Certifications and
Assurances for the Federal Transit
Administration Public Transportation on
Indian Reservation Program
Federal Fiscal Year 2009 Certifications and
Assurances for Federal Transit
Administration Assistance Programs;
Preface
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 5323(n), the
following certifications and assurances have
been compiled for Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) assistance programs.
FTA requests each Applicant to provide as
many certifications and assurances as needed
for all programs for which the Applicant
intends to seek FTA assistance during
Federal Fiscal Year 2008. Twenty-four (24)
Categories of certifications and assurances
are listed by numbers 01 through 24 in the
TEAM-Web ‘‘Recipients’’ option at the
‘‘Cert’s & Assurances’’ tab of ‘‘View/Modify
Recipients.’’ Category 01 applies to all
Applicants. Category 02 applies to all
applications for Federal assistance in excess
of $100,000. Categories 03 through 24 will
apply to and be required for some, but not
all, Applicants and projects. FTA’s annual
certifications and assurances permit the
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Applicant to select a single certification
which can cover all the programs for which
it anticipates submitting an application. FTA
requests the Applicant to read each
certification and assurance carefully and
select all certifications and assurances that
may apply to the programs for which it
expects to seek Federal assistance.
FTA and the Applicant understand and
agree that not every provision of these
certifications and assurances will apply to
every Applicant or every project for which
FTA provides Federal financial assistance
through a Grant Agreement or Cooperative
Agreement. The type of project and the
section of the statute authorizing Federal
financial assistance for the project will
determine which provisions apply. The terms
of these certifications and assurances reflect
applicable requirements of FTA’s enabling
legislation currently in effect.
The Applicant also understands and agrees
that these certifications and assurances are
special pre-award requirements specifically
prescribed by Federal law or regulation and
do not encompass all Federal laws,
regulations, and directives that may apply to
the Applicant or its project. A comprehensive
list of those Federal laws, regulations, and
directives is contained in the current FTA
Master Agreement MA(14) for Federal Fiscal
Year 2008 at the FTA Web site https://
www.fta.dot.gov/documents/14–Master.pdf.
The certifications and assurances in this
document have been streamlined to remove
most provisions not covered by statutory or
regulatory certification or assurance
requirements.
Because many requirements of these
certifications and assurances will require the
compliance of the subrecipient of an
Applicant, we strongly recommend that each
Applicant, including a State, that will be
implementing projects through one or more
subrecipients, secure sufficient
documentation from each subrecipient to
ensure compliance, not only with these
certifications and assurances, but also with
the terms of the Grant Agreement or
Cooperative Agreement for the project, and
the Master Agreement or an alternative
Master Agreement for its project, if
applicable, incorporated therein by reference.
Each Applicant is ultimately responsible for
compliance with the provisions of the
certifications and assurances applicable to
itself or its project irrespective of
participation in the project by any
subrecipient.
01. Assurances Required for Each Applicant
Each Applicant for FTA assistance must
provide all assurances in this Category ‘‘01.’’
Except to the extent that FTA expressly
determines otherwise in writing, FTA may
not award any Federal assistance until the
Applicant provides the following assurances
by selecting Category ‘‘01.’’
A. Assurance of Authority of the Applicant
and Its Representative
The authorized representative of the
Applicant and the attorney who sign these
certifications, assurances, and agreements
affirm that both the Applicant and its
authorized representative have adequate
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authority under applicable State, local, or
Indian tribal law and regulations, and the
Applicant’s by-laws or internal rules to:
(1) Execute and file the application for
Federal assistance on behalf of the Applicant;
(2) Execute and file the required
certifications, assurances, and agreements on
behalf of the Applicant binding the
Applicant; and
(3) Execute grant agreements and
cooperative agreements with FTA on behalf
of the Applicant.
B. Standard Assurances
The Applicant ensures that it will comply
with all applicable Federal statutes and
regulations in carrying out any project
supported by an FTA grant or cooperative
agreement. The Applicant agrees that it is
under a continuing obligation to comply with
the terms and conditions of the grant
agreement or cooperative agreement issued
for its project with FTA. The Applicant
recognizes that Federal laws and regulations
may be modified from time to time and those
modifications may affect project
implementation. The Applicant understands
that Presidential executive orders and
Federal directives, including Federal policies
and program guidance may be issued
concerning matters affecting the Applicant or
its project. The Applicant agrees that the
most recent Federal laws, regulations, and
directives will apply to the project, unless
FTA issues a written determination
otherwise.
C. Intergovernmental Review Assurance
Except if the Applicant is an Indian tribal
government seeking assistance authorized by
49 U.S.C. 5311(c)(1), the Applicant ensures
that each application for Federal assistance it
submits to FTA has been submitted or will
be submitted for intergovernmental review to
the appropriate State and local agencies as
determined by the State. Specifically, the
Applicant ensures that it has fulfilled or will
fulfill the obligations imposed on FTA by
U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S.
DOT) regulations, ‘‘Intergovernmental
Review of Department of Transportation
Programs and Activities,’’ 49 CFR part 17.
This assurance does not apply to Applicants
for Federal assistance derived from FTA’s
Tribal Transit Program, 49 U.S.C. 5311(c)(1).
D. Nondiscrimination Assurance
As required by 49 U.S.C. 5332 (which
prohibits discrimination on the basis of race,
color, creed, national origin, sex, or age, and
prohibits discrimination in employment or
business opportunity), by Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C.
2000d, and by U.S. DOT regulations,
‘‘Nondiscrimination in Federally-Assisted
Programs of the Department of
Transportation—Effectuation of Title VI of
the Civil Rights Act,’’ 49 CFR part 21 at 21.7,
the Applicant ensures that it will comply
with all requirements imposed by or issued
pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 5332, 42 U.S.C. 2000d,
and 49 CFR part 21, so that no person in the
United States, on the basis of race, color,
national origin, creed, sex, or age will be
excluded from participation in, be denied the
benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to
discrimination in any program or activity
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(particularly in the level and quality of
transportation services and transportationrelated benefits) for which the Applicant
receives Federal assistance awarded by the
U.S. DOT or FTA.
Specifically, during the period in which
Federal assistance is extended to the project,
or project property is used for a purpose for
which the Federal assistance is extended or
for another purpose involving the provision
of similar services or benefits, or as long as
the Applicant retains ownership or
possession of the project property, whichever
is longer, the Applicant ensures that:
(1) Each project will be conducted,
property acquisitions will be undertaken, and
project facilities will be operated in
accordance with all applicable requirements
imposed by or issued pursuant to 49 U.S.C.
5332, 42 U.S.C. 2000d, and 49 CFR part 21,
and understands that this assurance extends
to its entire facility and to facilities operated
in connection with the project.
(2) It will promptly take the necessary
actions to effectuate this assurance, including
notifying the public that complaints of
discrimination in the provision of
transportation-related services or benefits
may be filed with U.S. DOT or FTA. Upon
request by U.S. DOT or FTA, the Applicant
ensures that it will submit the required
information pertaining to its compliance with
these provisions.
(3) It will include in each subagreement,
property transfer agreement, third party
contract, third party subcontract, or
participation agreement adequate provisions
to extend the requirements imposed by or
issued pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 5332, 42 U.S.C.
2000d and 49 CFR part 21 to other parties
involved therein including any subrecipient,
transferee, third party contractor, third party
subcontractor at any level, successor in
interest, or any other participant in the
project.
(4) Should it transfer real property,
structures, or improvements financed with
Federal assistance provided by FTA to
another party, any deeds and instruments
recording the transfer of that property shall
contain a covenant running with the land
assuring nondiscrimination for the period
during which the property is used for a
purpose for which the Federal assistance is
extended or for another purpose involving
the provision of similar services or benefits.
(5) The United States has a right to seek
judicial enforcement with regard to any
matter arising under the Act, regulations, and
this assurance.
(6) It will make any changes in its Title VI
implementing procedures as U.S. DOT or
FTA may request to achieve compliance with
the requirements imposed by or issued
pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 5332, 42 U.S.C. 2000d,
and 49 CFR part 21.
E. Assurance of Nondiscrimination on the
Basis of Disability
As required by U.S. DOT regulations,
‘‘Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Handicap
in Programs and Activities Receiving or
Benefiting from Federal Financial
Assistance,’’ at 49 CFR 27.9, the Applicant
ensures that, as a condition to the approval
or extension of any Federal assistance
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awarded by FTA to construct any facility,
obtain any rolling stock or other equipment,
undertake studies, conduct research, or to
participate in or obtain any benefit from any
program administered by FTA, no otherwise
qualified person with a disability shall be,
solely by reason of that disability, excluded
from participation in, denied the benefits of,
or otherwise subjected to discrimination in
any program or activity receiving or
benefiting from Federal assistance
administered by the FTA or any entity within
U.S. DOT. The Applicant ensures that project
implementation and operations so assisted
will comply with all applicable requirements
of U.S. DOT regulations implementing the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29
U.S.C. 794, et seq., and the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, 42
U.S.C. 12101 et seq., and implementing U.S.
DOT regulations at 49 CFR parts 27, 37, and
38, and any other applicable Federal laws
that may be enacted or Federal regulations
that may be promulgated.
F. U.S. Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) Assurances
Consistent with OMB assurances set forth
in SF–424B and SF–424D, the Applicant
ensures that, with respect to itself or its
project, the Applicant:
(1) Has the legal authority to apply for
Federal assistance and the institutional,
managerial, and financial capability
(including funds sufficient to pay the nonFederal share of project cost) to ensure
proper planning, management, and
completion of the project described in its
application;
(2) Will give FTA, the Comptroller General
of the United States, and, if appropriate, the
State, through any authorized representative,
access to and the right to examine all records,
books, papers, or documents related to the
award; and will establish a proper accounting
system in accordance with generally
accepted accounting standards or agency
directives;
(3) Will establish safeguards to prohibit
employees from using their positions for a
purpose that constitutes or presents the
appearance of personal or organizational
conflict of interest or personal gain;
(4) Will initiate and complete the work
within the applicable project time periods
following receipt of FTA approval;
(5) Will comply with all applicable Federal
statutes relating to nondiscrimination
including, but not limited to:
(a) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, 42
U.S.C. 2000d, which prohibits discrimination
on the basis of race, color, or national origin;
(b) Title IX of the Education Amendments
of 1972, as amended, 20 U.S.C. 1681 through
1683, and 1685 through 1687, and U.S. DOT
regulations, ‘‘Nondiscrimination on the Basis
of Sex in Education Programs or Activities
Receiving Federal Financial Assistance,’’ 49
CFR part 25, which prohibit discrimination
on the basis of sex;
(c) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. 794, which
prohibits discrimination on the basis of
disability;
(d) The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as
amended, 42 U.S.C. 6101 through 6107,
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12221
which prohibits discrimination on the basis
of age;
(e) The Drug Abuse Office and Treatment
Act of 1972, as amended, 21 U.S.C. 1101 et
seq., relating to nondiscrimination on the
basis of drug abuse;
(f) The Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism Prevention Act of 1970, as
amended, 42 U.S.C. 4541 et seq. relating to
nondiscrimination on the basis of alcohol
abuse or alcoholism;
(g) The Public Health Service Act of 1912,
as amended, 42 U.S.C. 201 et seq., relating to
confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse
patient records;
(h) Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act, 42
U.S.C. 3601 et seq., relating to
nondiscrimination in the sale, rental, or
financing of housing; and
(i) Any other nondiscrimination statute(s)
that may apply to the project;
(6) To the extent applicable, will comply
with, or has complied with, the requirements
of Titles II and III of the Uniform Relocation
Assistance and Real Property Acquisition
Policies Act of 1970, as amended, (Uniform
Relocation Act) 42 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.,
which, among other things, provide for fair
and equitable treatment of persons displaced
or persons whose property is acquired as a
result of Federal or federally assisted
programs. These requirements apply to all
interests in real property acquired for project
purposes and displacement caused by the
project regardless of Federal participation in
any purchase. As required by sections 210
and 305 of the Uniform Relocation Act, 42
U.S.C. 4630 and 4655, and by U.S. DOT
regulations, ‘‘Uniform Relocation Assistance
and Real Property Acquisition for Federal
and Federally Assisted Programs,’’ 49 CFR
24.4, the Applicant ensures that it has the
requisite authority under applicable state and
local law to comply with the requirements of
the Uniform Relocation Act, 42 U.S.C. 4601
et seq., and U.S. DOT regulations, ‘‘Uniform
Relocation Assistance and Real Property
Acquisition for Federal and Federally
Assisted Programs,’’ 49 CFR part 24, and will
comply with that Act or has complied with
that Act and those implementing regulations,
including but not limited to the following:
(a) The Applicant will adequately inform
each affected person of the benefits, policies,
and procedures provided for in 49 CFR part
24;
(b) The Applicant will provide fair and
reasonable relocation payments and
assistance as required by 42 U.S.C. 4622,
4623, and 4624; 49 CFR part 24; and any
applicable FTA procedures, to or for families,
individuals, partnerships, corporations, or
associations displaced as a result of any
project financed with FTA assistance;
(c) The Applicant will provide relocation
assistance programs offering the services
described in 42 U.S.C. 4625 to such
displaced families, individuals, partnerships,
corporations, or associations in the manner
provided in 49 CFR part 24;
(d) Within a reasonable time before
displacement, the Applicant will make
available comparable replacement dwellings
to displaced families and individuals as
required by 42 U.S.C. 4625(c)(3);
(e) The Applicant will carry out the
relocation process in such manner as to
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provide displaced persons with uniform and
consistent services, and will make available
replacement housing in the same range of
choices with respect to such housing to all
displaced persons regardless of race, color,
religion, or national origin;
(f) In acquiring real property, the Applicant
will be guided to the greatest extent
practicable under state law, by the real
property acquisition policies of 42 U.S.C.
4651 and 4652;
(g) The Applicant will pay or reimburse
property owners for necessary expenses as
specified in 42 U.S.C. 4653 and 4654, with
the understanding that FTA will provide
Federal financial assistance for the
Applicant’s eligible costs of providing
payments for those expenses, as required by
42 U.S.C. 4631;
(h) The Applicant will execute such
amendments to third party contracts and
subagreements financed with FTA assistance
and execute, furnish, and be bound by such
additional documents as FTA may determine
necessary to effectuate or implement the
assurances provided herein; and
(i) The Applicant agrees to make these
assurances part of or incorporate them by
reference into any third party contract or
subagreement, or any amendments thereto,
relating to any project financed by FTA
involving relocation or land acquisition and
provide in any affected document that these
relocation and land acquisition provisions
shall supersede any conflicting provisions;
(7) To the extent applicable, will comply
with the Davis-Bacon Act, as amended, 40
U.S.C. 3141 et seq., the Copeland ‘‘AntiKickback’’ Act, as amended, 18 U.S.C. 874,
and the Contract Work Hours and Safety
Standards Act, as amended, 40 U.S.C. 3701
et seq., regarding labor standards for federally
assisted projects;
(8) To the extent applicable, will comply
with the flood insurance purchase
requirements of section 102(a) of the Flood
Disaster Protection Act of 1973, as amended,
42 U.S.C. 4012a(a), requiring the Applicant
and its subrecipients in a special flood
hazard area to participate in the program and
purchase flood insurance if the total cost of
insurable construction and acquisition is
$10,000 or more;
(9) To the extent applicable, will comply
with the Lead-Based Paint Poisoning
Prevention Act, 42 U.S.C. 4831(b), which
prohibits the use of lead-based paint in the
construction or rehabilitation of residence
structures;
(10) To the extent applicable, will not
dispose of, modify the use of, or change the
terms of the real property title or other
interest in the site and facilities on which a
construction project supported with FTA
assistance takes place without permission
and instructions from FTA;
(11) To the extent required by FTA, will
record the Federal interest in the title of real
property, and will include a covenant in the
title of real property acquired in whole or in
part with Federal assistance funds to ensure
nondiscrimination during the useful life of
the project;
(12) To the extent applicable, will comply
with FTA provisions concerning the drafting,
review, and approval of construction plans
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and specifications of any construction project
supported with FTA assistance. As required
by U.S. DOT regulations, ‘‘Seismic Safety,’’
49 CFR 41.117(d), before accepting delivery
of any building financed with FTA
assistance, it will obtain a certificate of
compliance with the seismic design and
construction requirements of 49 CFR part 41;
(13) To the extent applicable, will provide
and maintain competent and adequate
engineering supervision at the construction
site of any project supported with FTA
assistance to ensure that the complete work
conforms with the approved plans and
specifications, and will furnish progress
reports and such other information as may be
required by FTA or the state;
(14) To the extent applicable, will comply
with any applicable environmental standards
that may be prescribed to implement the
following Federal laws and executive orders:
(a) Institution of environmental quality
control measures under the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321 through 4335 and
Executive Order No. 11514, as amended, 42
U.S.C. 4321 note;
(b) Notification of violating facilities
pursuant to Executive Order No. 11738, 42
U.S.C. 7606 note;
(c) Protection of wetlands pursuant to
Executive Order No. 11990, 42 U.S.C. 4321
note;
(d) Evaluation of flood hazards in
floodplains in accordance with Executive
Order No. 11988, 42 U.S.C. 4321 note;
(e) Assurance of project consistency with
the approved state management program
developed pursuant to the requirements of
the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as
amended, 16 U.S.C. 1451 through 1465;
(f) Conformity of Federal actions to State
(Clean Air) Implementation Plans under
section 176(c) of the Clean Air Act of 1955,
as amended, 42 U.S.C. 7401 through 7671q;
(g) Protection of underground sources of
drinking water under the Safe Drinking
Water Act of 1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C.
300f through 300j–6;
(h) Protection of endangered species under
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended, 16 U.S.C. 1531 through 1544; and
(i) Environmental protections for Federal
transportation programs, including, but not
limited to, protections for parks, recreation
areas, or wildlife or waterfowl refuges of
national, state, or local significance or any
land from a historic site of national, State, or
local significance to be used in a
transportation project as required by 49
U.S.C. 303(b) and 303(c);
(j) Protection of the components of the
national wild and scenic rivers systems, as
required under the Wild and Scenic Rivers
Act of 1968, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1271
through 1287; and
(k) Provision of assistance to FTA in
complying with section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as
amended, 16 U.S.C. 470f; with the
Archaeological and Historic Preservation Act
of 1974, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 469 through
469c; and with Executive Order No. 11593
(identification and protection of historic
properties), 16 U.S.C. 470 note;
(15) To the extent applicable, will comply
with the requirements of the Hatch Act, 5
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 4701
Sfmt 4703
U.S.C. 1501 through 1508 and 7324 through
7326, which limit the political activities of
State and local agencies and their officers
and employees whose primary employment
activities are financed in whole or part with
Federal funds including a Federal loan, grant
agreement, or cooperative agreement except,
in accordance with 49 U.S.C. 5307(k)(2) and
23 U.S.C. 142(g), the Hatch Act does not
apply to a nonsupervisory employee of a
public transportation system (or of any other
agency or entity performing related
functions) receiving FTA assistance to whom
that Act does not otherwise apply;
(16) To the extent applicable, will comply
with the National Research Act, Pub. L. 93–
348, July 12, 1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 289
et seq., and U.S. DOT regulations,
‘‘Protection of Human Subjects,’’ 49 CFR part
11, regarding the protection of human
subjects involved in research, development,
and related activities supported by Federal
assistance;
(17) To the extent applicable, will comply
with the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act of
1966, as amended, 7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq., and
U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations,
‘‘Animal Welfare,’’ 9 CFR subchapter A, parts
1, 2, 3, and 4, regarding the care, handling,
and treatment of warm blooded animals held
or used for research, teaching, or other
activities supported by Federal assistance;
(18) Will have performed the financial and
compliance audits as required by the Single
Audit Act Amendments of 1996, 31 U.S.C.
7501 et seq., OMB Circular A–133, ‘‘Audits
of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit
Organizations,’’ Revised, and the most recent
applicable OMB A–133 Compliance
Supplement provisions for the U.S. DOT; and
(19) To the extent applicable, will comply
with all applicable provisions of all other
Federal laws, regulations, and directives
governing the project, except to the extent
that FTA has expressly approved otherwise
in writing.
22. Tribal Transit Program
Each Applicant for Tribal Transit Program
assistance must provide all certifications and
assurance set forth below. Except to the
extent that FTA determines otherwise in
writing, FTA may not award any Federal
assistance under the Tribal Transit Program
until the Applicant provides these
certifications and assurances by selecting
Category ‘‘22.’’
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 5311(c)(1)
that authorizes the Secretary of
Transportation to establish terms and
conditions for direct grants to Indian tribal
governments, the Applicant certifies and
ensures as follows:
A. The Applicant ensures that:
(1) It has or will have the necessary legal,
financial, and managerial capability to apply
for, receive, and disburse Federal assistance
authorized for 49 U.S.C. 5311; and to carry
out each project, including the safety and
security aspects of that project;
(2) It has or will have satisfactory
continuing control over the use of project
equipment and facilities;
(3) The project equipment and facilities
will be adequately maintained; and
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(4) Its project will achieve maximum
feasible coordination with transportation
service assisted by other Federal sources.
B. In accordance with 49 CFR
18.36(g)(3)(ii), the Applicant certifies that its
procurement system will comply with the
requirements of 49 CFR 18.36, or will inform
FTA promptly that its procurement system
does not comply with 49 CFR 18.36.
C. To the extent applicable to the
Applicant or its Project, the Applicant
certifies that it will comply with the
certifications, assurances, and agreements in
Category 08 (Bus Testing), Category 09
(Charter Bus Agreement), Category 10
(School Transportation Agreement), Category
11 (Demand Responsive Service), Category 12
(Alcohol Misuse and Prohibited Drug Use),
and Category 14 (National Intelligent
Transportation Systems Architecture and
Standards) of this document.
D. If its application exceeds $100,000, the
Applicant agrees to comply with the
certification in Category 02 (Lobbying) of this
document.
Appendix B
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FTA Regional Offices and Tribal Transit
Liaisons
Region I—Massachusetts, Rhode Island,
Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont
and Maine, Richard H. Doyle, FTA
Regional Administrator, Volpe National
Transportation Systems Center, Kendall
Square, 55 Broadway, Suite 920,
Cambridge, MA 02142–1093, Phone: (617)
494–2055, Fax: (617) 494–2865, Regional
Tribal Liaison: Judi Molloy.
Region II—New York, New Jersey, Brigid
Hynes-Cherin, FTA Regional
Administrator, One Bowling Green, Room
429, New York, NY 10004–1415, Phone:
(212) 668–2170, Fax: (212) 668–2136,
Regional Tribal Liaison: Rebecca ReyesAlicea.
Region III—Pennsylvania, Maryland,
Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware,
Washington, DC, Letitia Thompson, FTA
Regional Administrator, 1760 Market
Street, Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA 19103–
4124, Phone: (215) 656–7100, Fax: (215)
656–7260, Regional Tribal Liaison: NA.
Region IV—Georgia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee,
Kentucky, Alabama, Puerto Rico, Virgin
Islands, Yvette G. Taylor, FTA Regional
Administrator, 230 Peachtree St., NW.,
Suite 800, Atlanta, GA 30303, Tel.: 404–
865–5600, Fax: 404–865–5605, Regional
Tribal Liaisons: Jamie Pfister and James
Garland.
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Region V—Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin,
Minnesota, Michigan, Marisol R. Simon,
FTA Regional Administrator, 200 West
Adams Street, Suite 320, Chicago, IL
60606–5232, Phone: (312) 353–2789, Fax:
(312) 886–0351, Regional Tribal Liaisons:
William Wheeler, Joyce Taylor.
Region VI—Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana,
Arkansas, Oklahoma, Robert Patrick, FTA
Regional Administrator, 819 Taylor Street,
Room 8A36, Ft. Worth, TX 76102, Phone:
(817) 978–0550, Fax: (817) 978–0575,
Regional Tribal Liaison: Lynn Hayes.
Region VII—Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas,
Missouri, Mokhtee Ahmad, FTA Regional
Administrator, 901 Locust Street, Suite
404, Kansas City, MO 64106, Phone: (816)
329–3920, Fax: (816) 329–3921, Regional
Tribal Liaisons: Joni Roeseler and Cathy
Monroe.
Region VIII—Colorado, North Dakota, South
Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Terry
Rosapep, FTA Regional Administrator,
12300 West Dakota Avenue, Suite 310,
Lakewood, CO 80228–2583, Phone: (720)
963–3300, Fax: (720) 963–3333, Regional
Tribal Liaisons: Jennifer Stewart and David
Beckhouse.
Region IX—California, Arizona, Nevada,
Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Leslie
Rogers, FTA Regional Administrator, 201
Mission Street, Suite 1650, San Francisco,
CA 94105–1831, Phone: (415) 744–3133,
Fax: (415) 744–2726, Regional Tribal
Liaison: Lorraine Lerman.
Region X—Washington, Oregon, Idaho,
Alaska, Richard Krochalis, FTA Regional
Administrator, Jackson Federal Building,
915 Second Avenue, Suite 3142, Seattle,
WA 98174–1002, Phone: (206) 220–7954,
Fax: (206) 220–7959, Regional Tribal
Liaisons: Bill Ramos and Annette Clothier.
Appendix C
Technical Assistance Contacts
Alaska Tribal Technical Assistance Program,
Kim Williams, University of Alaska,
Fairbanks, P.O. Box 756720, Fairbanks, AK
99775–6720, (907) 842–2521, (907) 474–
5208, williams@nushtel.net, https://
community.uaf.edu/∼alaskattac. Service
area: Alaska.
National Indian Justice Center, Raquelle
Myers, 5250 Aero Drive, Santa Rosa, CA
95403, (707) 579–5507 or (800) 966–0662,
(707) 579–9019, nijc@aol.com, https://
www.nijc.org/ttap.html. Service area:
California, Nevada.
Tribal Technical Assistance Program at
Colorado State University, Ronald Hall,
Rockwell Hall, Room 321, Colorado State
PO 00000
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Fmt 4701
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12223
University, Fort Collins, CO 80523–1276,
(800) 262–7623, (970) 491–3502,
ronald.hall@colostate.edu, https://
ttap.colostate.edu/. Service area: Arizona,
Colorado, New Mexico, Utah.
Tribal Technical Assistance Program (TTAP),
Bernie D. Alkire, 301–E Dillman Hall,
Michigan Technological University, 1400
Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931–
1295, (888) 230–0688, (906) 487–1834,
balkire@mtu.edu, https://
www.ttap.mtu.edu/. Service area: Alabama,
Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida,
Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Maine, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota,
Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire,
New Jersey, New York, North Carolina,
Ohio, Pennsylvania.
Northern Plains Tribal Technical Assistance
Program, Dennis Trusty, United Tribes
Technical College, 3315 University Drive,
Bismarck, ND 58504, (701) 255–3285 ext.
1262, (701) 530–0635,
nddennis@hotmail.com, https://
www.uttc.edu/forum/ttap/ttap.asp. Service
area: Montana (Eastern), Nebraska
(Northern), North Dakota, South Dakota,
Wyoming.
Northwest Tribal Technical Assistance
Program, Richard A. Rolland, Eastern
Washington University, Department of
Urban Planning, Public & Health
Administration, 216 Isle Hall, Cheney, WA
99004, (800) 583–3187, (509) 359–7485,
rrolland@ewu.edu, https://www.ewu.edu/
TTAP/. Service area: Idaho, Montana
(Western), Oregon, Washington.
Tribal Technical Assistance Program at
Oklahoma State University, James Self,
Oklahoma State University, 5202 N.
Richmond Hills Road, Stillwater, OK
74078–0001, (405) 744–6049, (405) 744–
7268, jim.self@okstate.edu, https://
ttap.okstate.edu/. Service area: Kansas,
Nebraska (Southern), Oklahoma, Texas.
Other Technical Assistance Resources
National RTAP (National Rural Transit
Assistance Program), Contact: Nichole
Goldsmith, Executive Director, 10 G Street
NE., Suite 710, Washington, DC 20002,
Telephone: (202) 248–5044, Fax: (202)
289–6539, https://www.nationalrtap.org.
Community Transportation Association of
America, The Resource Center—800–891–
0590, https://www.ctaa.org/.
[FR Doc. E9–6271 Filed 3–20–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–57–P
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 54 (Monday, March 23, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12214-12223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-6271]
[[Page 12213]]
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Part IV
Department of Transportation
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Federal Transit Administration
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Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program; Tribal Transit
Program Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009;
Notice
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 54 / Monday, March 23, 2009 /
Notices
[[Page 12214]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program; Tribal
Transit Program Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability: Solicitation of Grant
Applications for ARRA Tribal Transit Program Funds.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of $17 million in
funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
for the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program (Tribal
Transit Program (TTP)), a program authorized by the Safe, Accountable,
Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users
(SAFETEA-LU), Section 3013 (c). This notice is a national solicitation
for grant applicants to be selected on a competitive basis, and
includes grant terms, conditions, and reporting requirements;
application procedures; and the criteria that FTA will utilize to
select ARRA TTP projects. ARRA TTP funding may be used only for capital
expenditures. FTA will announce the availability of, and competition
for, the FY 2009 (annual) TTP in a separate notice.
DATES: Applicants must submit completed applications by May 22, 2009.
FTA will announce grant awards in the Federal Register when the
competitive selection process is complete.
Applicants should be aware that materials sent through the U.S.
Postal Service are subject to significant delays in delivery due to the
security screening process. Use of courier or express delivery services
is recommended.
ADDRESSES: FTA has posted a synopsis of this announcement on the
government-wide electronic grants Web site at: https://www.grants.gov.
Applicants may submit applications by either delivering five hard
copies to FTA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, Attn:
Lorna R. Wilson, or by sending via e-mail to fta.tribalprogram@dot.gov.
FTA will not accept applications via facsimile. The APPLY functionality
in Grants.Gov is not available for this announcement or other ARRA
opportunities.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact the appropriate FTA Regional
Tribal Liaison (Appendix B) for application-specific information. For
general program information, contact Lorna R. Wilson, Office of Transit
Programs, at (202) 366-2053, e-mail: Lorna.Wilson@dot.gov. A TDD is
available at 1-800-877-8339 (TDD/FIRS).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Overview of This Notice
II. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants
B. Eligible Projects
III. Local Match
IV. Terms and Conditions
A. General Grant Requirements
B. ARRA-Specific Grant Requirements
V. Reporting Requirements and Certifications Applicable to
Recipients of ARRA Funds
A. Section 1511: Certifications
B. Section 1512: Reports on Use of Funds
C. Section 1512(h): Registration
D. Section 1201(a): Maintenance of Effort
E. Section 1201(c)(2): Periodic Reports
F. Section 1607
G. Section 1609
H. Other Reporting
VI. Application Content
A. Applicant Information
B. Technical, Legal, and Financial Capacity to Implement the
Proposed Project
C. Project Information
D. Application Evaluation Criteria
E. Intergovernmental Review
F. Funding Restrictions
VII. How Proposals Will Be Evaluated
A. Competitive Selection Process
B. Evaluation Criteria
C. Continuation Projects
D. Review and Selection Process
VIII. Award Administration Information
IX. Technical Assistance
Appendices
Appendix A: Certifications and Assurances
Appendix B: FTA Regional Offices and Tribal Liaisons
Appendix C: Technical Assistance Contacts
I. Overview of This Notice
The ``American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, 2009'' (Pub. L. 111-5
or ``ARRA''), signed into law by President Barack Obama on February 17,
2009, provides appropriations and tax law changes totaling
approximately $787 billion to support multi-pronged efforts to
stimulate the economy. Appropriations in ARRA include $8.4 billion to
preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery through
investment in public transportation.
Formula transit programs provided in ARRA were the subject of FTA's
March 5, 2009, Federal Register notice. The March 5 notice further
provided an overview of the ARRA's transit provisions and established
the principles, policies, and procedures that would apply to all ARRA
formula transit programs. Readers interested in how FTA intends to
implement ARRA's formula transit program resources should refer to the
March 5 notice for more information.
ARRA's Transit Capital Assistance program authorizes $6.9 billion
in funding for capital expenses as defined by 49 U.S.C. 5302(a)(1).
Most of this funding is appropriated by formula, and was apportioned by
the March 5 notice. Ten percent of funding under the program was
apportioned for grants under 49 U.S.C. section 5311 (Nonurbanized Area
Formula Program). Of this amount, 2.5 percent has been set-aside for
discretionary allocation through FTA's Public Transportation on Indian
Reservations program (Tribal Transit program (TTP)), as established by
Section 3013(c) of SAFETEA-LU. SAFETEA-LU's TTP authorizes direct
grants ``under such terms and conditions as may be established by the
Secretary'' to Indian tribes for any purpose eligible under FTA's
Nonurbanized Area Formula Program, 49 U.S.C. 5311 (Section 5311
program). However, ARRA specifies that funds it appropriates are to be
used only for capital expenditures. This means that only items defined
as capital under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53 are eligible activities under the
ARRA TTP program.
The ARRA TTP program provides $17 million in capital funding
intended to preserve or create jobs, contribute to cleaning our
environment through green purchases, retrofitting existing facilities,
making public transportation opportunities available to more people,
and helping ease local fiscal problems.
This notice presents the eligibility, project selection process,
and grant application process for TTP funds made available by the ARRA.
Additional information on program grant and ARRA's unique--and
extensive--reporting requirements will be made available in the notice
of selection.
II. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants include federally-recognized Indian tribes or
Alaska Native villages, groups, or communities as identified by the
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) in the Department of the Interior (DOI).
To be an eligible recipient, a tribe must have the requisite legal,
financial and technical capabilities to receive and administer Federal
funds under this program. A newly recognized tribe may submit a copy of
the most up-to-date Federal Register notice published by DOI, BIA:
Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive Service from the United
States Bureau of Indian Affairs to establish eligibility.
[[Page 12215]]
B. Eligible Projects
Eligible recipients may use ARRA TTP funds for any capital expense
as defined by 49 U.S.C. 5302(a)(1). Eligible capital projects include
but are not limited to: Preventive maintenance; acquiring,
constructing, supervising, or inspecting equipment or a facility for
use in public transportation (including engineering, designing,
location surveying, mapping, and acquiring right-of-way) transit-
related ITS; rehabilitating buses; remanufacturing a bus; overhauling
rail rolling stock; leasing a facility or equipment for use in public
transportation where more cost-effective than purchase or construction;
public transportation improvement that enhances economic development or
incorporates private investment, including commercial and residential
development, pedestrian and bicycle access to public transportation
facilities, construction or renovation of intercity bus and rail
stations and terminals, renovation and improvements of historic
transportation facilities, where the improvement enhances the
effectiveness of a public transportation project and is physically or
functionally related to that public transportation project, or creates
a new or enhanced coordination between public transportation and other
transportation and provides a fair share of revenue to be used in
public transportation; eligible crime prevention and security expenses;
establishing a debt service reserve; and mobility management.
III. Local Match
Under the ARRA, the Federal share of a TTP grant is up to 100
percent of the net project cost of capital projects.
IV. Terms and Conditions
Section 3013 of SAFETEA-LU amended 49 U.S.C. section 5311(c) by
authorizing funds for the TTP ``under such terms and conditions as may
be established by the Secretary.'' Pursuant to this discretionary
statutory authority in SAFETEA-LU, FTA published a Federal Register
notice dated March 22, 2006 (71 FR 14618), ``Public Transportation on
Indian Reservations Program (49 U.S.C. 5311(c)(1)): Notice of Public
Meetings, Proposed Grant Program Provisions,'' and proposed certain
statutory and regulatory terms and conditions that should apply to
grants awarded under the TTP.
FTA received a substantial number of comments from Indian tribes
and other groups concerning certain proposed terms and conditions for
the TTP. FTA addressed these comments in a Federal Register notice
dated August 15, 2006 (71 FR 46878) and established appropriate grant
requirements for the TTP.
The terms and conditions established in the August 15, 2006, notice
equally apply to ARRA TTP program funds, and are summarized below. In
addition, ARRA specifies additional grant requirements that apply to
its funding programs, including the ARRA TTP, which are also provided
below.
A. General Grant Requirements
1. Common Grant Rule (49 CFR part 18), ``Uniform Administrative
Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local
Governments.'' This is a government-wide requirement that applies to
all Federal assistance programs.
2. Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2000d). Unless
Indian tribes are specifically exempted from civil rights statutes,
compliance with civil rights statutes is required, including compliance
with equity in service. However, Indian tribes will not be required to
comply with FTA program-specific guidance for Title VI and Title VII.
3. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29
U.S.C. 794), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements
in 49 CFR parts 27, 37, and 38. Section 504 is a government-wide
requirement that applies to all Federal programs, and the implementing
regulations of the ADA apply to public transportation.
4. Drug and Alcohol Testing requirements (49 CFR part 655). FTA
will apply this requirement because it addresses a national safety
issue for operators of public transportation.
5. National Environmental Policy Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.). This is a government-wide requirement that applies to all
Federal programs.
6. Charter Service and School Bus transportation requirements in 49
CFR parts 604 and 605. The definition of ``public transportation'' in
49 U.S.C. section 5302 specifically excludes school bus and charter
service.
7. National Transit Database (NTD) Reporting requirement. Title 49
U.S.C. section 5335 requires NTD reporting for recipients of Section
5311 funds. The TTP is a Section 5311 program that will provide funds
directly to Indian tribes. Therefore, this reporting requirement
applies.
8. Bus Testing requirements (49 CFR part 665). To ensure that
vehicles acquired under this program will meet adequate safety and
operational standards, this requirement will apply.
9. Labor Protections (49 U.S.C. section 5333(b)). At the time of
the August 15, 2006, notice, FTA indicated that labor protective
arrangements would be required but that FTA would not implement this
requirement until the Department of Labor (DOL) revised its procedures
to provide a relevant arrangement for tribes. On October 1, 2008, DOL
began using a revised special warranty for the Section 5311 program
which is appropriate for use with TTP grants. All TTP grants (ARRA and
annual) awarded after October 1, 2008, will be subject to the special
warranty for labor protective arrangements under the Section 5311
program, which will be incorporated by reference in the grant
agreement.
A comprehensive list and description for all of the statutory and
regulatory terms and conditions that apply to the TTP are set forth in
FTA's Master Agreement for the TTP available on FTA's Web site at:
https://www.fta.dot.gov/17861_18441_ENG_HTML.htm. Selected grantees
are required to formally designate, by resolution or other formal
tribal action, an authorized representative who will have the authority
to execute grant agreements on behalf of the Indian tribe with FTA and
who will also have the authority on behalf of the Indian tribe to
execute FTA's Annual List of Certifications and Assurances and the
Section 1511 certification for ARRA program described in Section V, A
of this notice. The Annual List of Certifications and Assurances is
attached in Appendix A for informational purposes only. The
Certification and Assurances must be signed by a legal entity. FTA has
provided information concerning Certifications and Assurances in
Appendix A of this notice. Tribes are required to select categories 01
and 22 for the purpose of the TTP.
B. ARRA-Specific Requirements
1. A successful applicant for competitive ARRA TTP funding, must
submit a separate ARRA grant application electronically to the
appropriate FTA regional office through TEAM-Web.
2. Grantees may not commingle ARRA funds into a grant application
that contains FTA funding authorized under SAFETEA-LU or any prior
authorization. Furthermore, grantees cannot apply for funding allocated
under separate ARRA programs in a single grant. In other words, if a
Tribe is selected for funding under the annual TTP program and/or the
State's annual Section 5311 apportionment and/or the State's ARRA
Section 5311
[[Page 12216]]
apportionment, FTA will not combine the ARRA TTP funds in a grant award
with any other source of funds the tribe may be receiving. The tribe
may, however, use different sources of funds to support a single
project at the local level, provided the tribe can track and report on
the funds separately.
3. FTA will process ARRA grants promptly upon receipt of a
completed application. ARRA funds must be obligated in a grant before
September 30, 2010. If the tribe selected for funding has not received
a grant by then, the funds will no longer be available to the tribe. A
tribe selected for ARRA TTP funding must promptly submit a grant
application to FTA and provide all information the region requests as
necessary to obligate the funds in a grant award. In order to assure
that project funds will begin to flow into the economy as quickly as
possible, all ARRA grants should be for a project that the tribe
expects to implement quickly. Grant application information must
include milestones appropriate to the scale of the project to allow
adequate oversight to monitor the progress of projects from the start
through completion and closeout. [Note: Grantees will be expected to
update activity milestones and financial status report on a quarterly
basis for ARRA grants.]
4. Before FTA can award grants for discretionary projects and
activities, notification of the award must be given to members of
Congress, and in the case of awards greater than $500,000, to the House
and Senate authorizing and appropriations committees at least three
days before award.
5. Before executing an ARRA grant, the executing official must
inform FTA via the TEAM system of the (1) purpose of the investment,
and (2) the rationale for the investment. Grantees must select one or
more of the following purposes before the grant can be executed:
a. To preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery.
b. To assist those impacted by the recession.
c. To provide investments needed to increase economic efficiency by
spurring technological advances.
d. To invest in infrastructure that will provide long-term economic
benefits.
e. To stabilize State and local government budgets, in order to
minimize reductions in essential services and counterproductive State
and local tax increases.
In addition, grantees must also select one or more of the following
rationale:
a. Project is ready to go (all applicable federal requirements are
complete).
b. Use of Recovery funds for this project frees up other FTA/State/
local resources for other purposes.
c. Project is high local/regional priority.
d. Project could not have been implemented without supplemental
funding.
e. Funding accelerates completion and decreases over-all project
costs.
f. Project provides equipment or facilities to increase transit
ridership.
g. Project is a needed investment to bring assets to a state of
good repair.
h. Project addresses immediate maintenance needs.
6. Other important issues that affect FTA grant processing
activities are discussed below.
a. Special Conditions of Grant Award--Recipients applying for
grants that contain ARRA funds must agree to the following grant
conditions that will be included in the grant application.
1. Recipient of ARRA funds agrees to comply with reporting
requirements and deadlines set out in section 1201(c) of Public Law
111-5.
2. Recipient of ARRA funds agrees to comply with reporting
requirements and deadlines set out in section 1512 of Public Law 111-5.
3. Recipient of ARRA funds agrees that all data submitted to FTA in
compliance with the requirements of Public Law 111-5 is accurate,
objective, and of the highest integrity.
4. Recipient of ARRA funds acknowledges that receipt of ARRA funds
is a ``one-time'' disbursement that does not create any future
obligation by the FTA to advance similar funding amounts.
5. Recipient of ARRA funds agrees to display any program logos as
may be required by FTA.
6. Recipient of ARRA funds agrees that it or its sub-recipients
shall report any credible evidence that a principal, employee, agent,
contractor, sub-recipient, subcontractor, or other person has submitted
a false claim under the False Claims Act or has committed a criminal or
civil violation of law pertaining to fraud, conflict of interest,
bribery, gratuity, or similar misconduct involving ARRA funds.
b. Buy America--The Buy America requirements under 49 U.S.C.
5323(j) that typically apply to projects accepting Federal assistance
under the Federal Transit program authorized under Chapter 53 of title
49, United States Code, apply to all capital public transportation
projects funded with amounts appropriated in the ARRA. Therefore, an
applicant, in carrying out a procurement financed with Federal
assistance authorized under the ARRA must comply with applicable Buy
America requirements in 49 U.S.C. section 5323(j) and 49 CFR Part 661.
V. Reporting Requirements and Certifications Applicable to Recipients
of ARRA Funds
As a condition of award, grantees receiving ARRA funds will be
required to report on grant activities on a routine basis. FTA grantees
will be responsible for reporting up-to-date and accurate information
in the milestone status report and financial status report on a
quarterly basis, as well as additional data elements that are required
to be reported in https://www.recovery.gov. Additionally, special
certifications and grant conditions will also be required of ARRA grant
recipients. FTA will issue specific guidance on reporting requirements
in the near future for your information. The ARRA statutory reporting
requirements and certifications are identified below:
A. Section 1511: Certifications
For covered funds made available to State or local governments,
including Tribes, for infrastructure investments, the Governor, mayor,
or other chief executive, as appropriate, are required to certify that
the infrastructure investment has received the full review and vetting
required by law and that the chief executive accepts responsibility
that the infrastructure investment is an appropriate use of taxpayer
dollars. Such certification must include a description of the
investment, the estimated total cost, and the amount of covered funds
to be used, and must be posted on a specified Web site. A State or
local agency or tribe may not receive infrastructure investment funding
from funds made available under ARRA unless this certification is made
and posted. For ARRA TTP grants, this certification must be made by the
Tribal official authorized to execute grant agreements and execute
certifications and assurances, as noted in Section IV.A, above, before
FTA can award a grant. The certifying official must also provide a list
of projects selected to receive ARRA funds. DOT will post the
certification and project list to a public Web site linked to https://www.recovery.gov, as required by law.
B. Section 1512: Reports on Use of Funds
Recipient Reports.--Not later than 10 days after the end of each
calendar quarter, each recipient that received recovery funds from a
Federal agency shall submit a report to that agency that contains--
[[Page 12217]]
(i) The total amount of recovery funds received from that agency;
(ii) The amount of recovery funds received that were expended or
obligated to projects or activities; and
(iii) a detailed list of all projects or activities for which
recovery funds were expended or obligated, including--
(1) The name of the project or activity;
(2) A description of the project or activity;
(3) An evaluation of the completion status of the project or
activity;
(4) An estimate of the number of jobs created and the number of
jobs retained by the project or activity; and
(5) For infrastructure investments made by State and local
governments, the purpose, total cost, and rationale of the agency for
funding the infrastructure investment with funds made available under
ARRA, and name of the person to contact at the agency if there are
concerns with the infrastructure investment.
(iv) Detailed information on any subcontracts or subgrants awarded
by the recipient to include the data elements required to comply with
the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Pub.
L. 109-282), allowing aggregate reporting on awards below $25,000 or to
individuals, as prescribed by the Director of the Office of Management
and Budget.
The data elements required to comply with Public Law 109-282 are:
name of entity receiving the award; the amount of the award;
information on the award including transaction type, funding agency,
the North American Industry Classification System Code or Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance number (where applicable); program source;
and an award title descriptive of the purpose of each funding action.
FTA will extract as much as possible of this information from grant
information and standard quarterly reports provided through the TEAM
electronic grants award and management system. Supplemental reporting
may be required, however, to provide the project and contract level
information. FTA will provide further reporting instructions at a later
date. FTA is working with other modal administrations within the
Department of Transportation (DOT) to standardize the information
required from all DOT recipients. DOT will post the information the
tribe reports in response to this requirement on https://www.recovery.gov to satisfy the transparency requirements of the ARRA.
C. Section 1512(h): Registration
Recipients of ARRA funds must register with Central Contractor
Registration database (CCR) or complete other registration requirements
as determined by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB). CCR registration can be completed at https://www.ccr.gov. CCR
registration must be completed before the first quarterly Section 1512
report is due (ten days after the end of the first quarter after the
tribe receives an ARRA grant). OMB has issued guidance requiring FTA
and other Federal agencies to ensure that grantees and first tier
subawardees (subrecipients and contractors) obtain a DUNS number, or
update their DUNS record if necessary. DUNS registration can be
completed at https://www.dnb.com. OMB has not yet issued a final
determination on the extent to which subawardees will be required to
register in CCR.
D. Section 1201(a): Maintenance of Effort
Not later than March 19, 2009 for each amount that is distributed
to a State or agency thereof from an appropriation in ARRA for a
covered program, the Governor of State is required to certify to the
Secretary of Transportation that the State will maintain its effort
with regard to State funding for the types of projects that are funded
by the appropriation. As part of this certification, the Governor is
required to submit to the Secretary of Transportation a statement
identifying the amount of funds the State planned to expend from State
sources as of February 17, 2009, during the period of February 17, 2009
through September 30, 2010, for the types of projects that are funded
by the appropriation.
This requirement applies only to State funding for transportation
projects eligible for ARRA funding. DOT will treat this maintenance of
effort requirement through one consolidated certification from the
Governor to the Secretary, which should include State funding for
transit projects, as well as highway and other transportation modal
projects. The tribe is not required to complete this certification, but
must report any State transportation funding received in its quarterly
Section 1201(c)(2) report.
E. Section 1201(c)(2): Periodic Reports
For amounts received under each covered program by a grant
recipient under ARRA, the grant recipient shall include in the periodic
reports information tracking:
(A) The amount of Federal funds appropriated, allocated, obligated,
and outlayed under the appropriation;
(B) The number of projects that have been put out to bid under the
appropriation;
(C) The number of projects for which contracts have been awarded
under the appropriation and the amount of Federal funds associated with
such contracts;
(D) The number of projects for which work has begun under such
contracts and the amount of Federal funds associated with such
contracts;
(E) The number of projects for which work has been completed under
such contracts and the amount of Federal funds associated with such
contracts;
(F) The number of direct, on-project jobs created or sustained by
the Federal funds provided for projects under the appropriation and, to
the extent possible, the estimated indirect jobs created or sustained
in the associated supplying industries, including the number of job-
years created and the total increase in employment since February 17,
2009; and
(G) The actual aggregate expenditures by each grant recipient from
State sources for projects eligible for funding under the program
during the period of February 17, 2009 through September 30, 2010, as
compared to the level of such expenditures that were planned to occur
during such period as of the date of enactment of ARRA.
Each grant recipient is required to submit the first of the
periodic reports including the Section 1201(c)(2) data required above
not later than 90 days from February 17, 2009 and is required to submit
updated reports not later than 180 days, one year, two years, and three
years from February 17, 2009.
FTA will extract as much as possible of this information from grant
information and standard quarterly reports provided through the TEAM
electronic grants award and management system. Supplemental reporting
may be required, however, to provide the project and contract level
information. FTA will provide further reporting instructions at a later
date. FTA is working with other modal administrations within DOT to
standardize the information required from all DOT recipients, including
the possibility of generating the required jobs data through the use of
economic models and factors applied to the data provided in the grant
awards and other information reported by the grant.
F. Section 1607
Section 1607 requires that the Governor certify within 45 days of
enactment (April 3, 2009) that, for funds provided, the state will
request and use funds provided by this Act and the
[[Page 12218]]
funds will be used to create jobs and promote economic health. If the
Governor does not provide this certification, then the state
legislature may act to accept the funds. This requirement applies to
all ARRA programs across the government and is not directly applicable
to the ARRA TTP.
G. Section 1609
Under section 1609(c), FTA is required to report to certain
congressional committees every 90 days following enactment on the
status and progress of projects funded or proposed for funding under
the Act with respect to compliance with NEPA and its implementing
regulations. FTA will necessarily ask recipients for assistance in
compiling this quarterly report.
H. Other Reporting
To satisfy the needs for transparency and accountability related to
funding appropriated under the ARRA, grantees may be required to
provide additional information not yet specified in response to
requests from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the
Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Government Accountability Office
(GAO), or the DOT Inspector General (IG). FTA will inform grantees if
and when such additional reports are required.
VI. Application Content
The following information must accompany all requests for ARRA TTP
funding. Information such as the identity of the applicant need not be
repeated, but the project description and budget must clearly indicate
capital activities for which the tribe seeks ARRA TTP funding, and the
application must specifically address the ARRA related aspects of the
evaluation criteria.
A. Applicant Information
1. Name of federally recognized tribe and, if appropriate, the
specific tribal agency submitting the application.
2. Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
number if available. (Note: If selected, applicant will be required to
provide DUNS number prior to grant award.)
3. Contact information including: contact name, title, address, fax
and phone number, and e-mail address if available.
4. Description of public transportation services including areas
currently served by tribe, if any.
5. Name of person(s) authorized to apply on behalf of tribe (signed
transmittal letter) must accompany application.
B. Technical, Legal, and Financial Capacity To Implement the Proposed
Project
Tribes that cannot demonstrate adequate capacity in technical,
legal and financial areas will not be considered for funding. Every
application must describe the tribe's legal, technical, and financial
capacity to implement the proposed project.
1. Legal Capacity: Provide documentation or other evidence to show
that the applicant is a federally recognized tribe. Also, who is the
authorized representative to execute legal agreements with FTA on
behalf of the tribe? Does the tribe have appropriate Federal or State
operating authority?
2. Technical Capacity: Give examples of the tribe's management of
other Federal projects. What resources does the tribe have to implement
a transit project?
3. Financial Capacity: Does the tribe have adequate financial
systems in place to receive and manage a Federal grant? Describe the
tribe's financial systems and controls.
C. Project Information
1. Budget: Provide the Federal amount requested for each purpose
for which funds are sought and any funding from other sources that will
be provided.
2. Project Description: Provide a summary description of the
proposed project and how it will be implemented (e.g., number and type
of vehicles, service area, schedules, type of services, fixed route or
demand responsive), route miles (if fixed route), major origins and
destinations, population served, and whether the tribe provides the
service directly or contracts for services and how will vehicles be
maintained. Note that while application must include a description of
how equipment requested will be used and maintained, only capital
expenses are eligible under the ARRA. Costs of operations are not
eligible under this program. Include a summary discussion of how the
project is consistent with the objectives of the ARRA.
3. Project Timeline: Include significant milestones such as date of
contract for purchase of vehicle(s), actual or expected delivery date
of vehicles, and service start up dates.
D. Application Evaluation Criteria
Applications for funding of transit services should address the
application criteria based on project to be funded (for more detail see
section VI below). Note that while these are the same criteria used for
FTA's annual TTP program, special attention for these ARRA TTP
resources will be placed upon the readiness of the project to be
implemented (within criterion 1) and the estimated number of jobs
created or sustained (within criterion 3).
1. Criterion 1: Project Planning and Coordination.
2. Criterion 2: Demonstration of Need.
3. Criterion 3: Project Benefits.
4. Criterion 4: Financial Commitment and Operating Capacity.
E. Intergovernmental Review
This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372,
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
F. Funding Restrictions
FTA will consider applications for funding only from eligible
recipients for eligible capital activities (see section II). Due to
funding limitations, applicants that are selected for funding may
receive less than the amount requested. Current TTP grantees applying
for ARRA funding must be in an active status to receive additional
funding.
VII. How Proposals Will Be Evaluated
A. Competitive Selection Process
FTA intends to award $17 million in ARRA TTP funding. If a tribe
applies for funding both under this announcement (ARRA) and under the
FY 2009 annual TTP announcement, FTA will consider both applications in
relationship to each other, as appropriate. FTA encourages applicants
to review the evaluation criteria and all other related application
information prior to preparation of an application. Applicants may
receive technical assistance for application development by contacting
their FTA regional Tribal liaison, or the National Rural Transportation
Assistance Program (RTAP) office. Contact information for technical
assistance can be found in Appendix C.
B. Evaluation Criteria
1. Project Planning and Coordination (25 points)
In this section, the applicant should describe how the proposed
project was developed and demonstrate that there is a sound basis for
it. Additionally, the applicant must provide evidence that the project
is ready for implementation as soon as a grant is awarded. Information
may vary depending upon whether the tribe has a formal plan that
includes transit.
a. Applicants without a formal plan that includes transit are
advised to consider and address the following areas:
[[Page 12219]]
i. Provide a detailed project description.
ii. Identify existing transportation services available to the
tribe and discuss whether the proposed project will provide
opportunities to coordinate service with existing transit services,
including human service agencies, intercity bus services, or other
public transit providers.
iii. Discuss the level of support either by the community and/or
tribal government for the proposed project.
iv. Describe the implementation schedule for the proposed project,
such as time frame, staffing, and procurement. Evidence that project
implementation can begin immediately upon grant award is desired.
b. Applicants with a formal transit plan are advised to consider
and address the following areas:
i. Describe the planning document and/or the planning process
conducted to identify the proposed project.
ii. Describe how the mobility and client-access needs of tribal
human service agencies were considered in the planning process.
iii. Describe what opportunities for public participation were
provided in the planning process and how the proposed project has been
coordinated with transportation provided for the clients of human
service agencies, with intercity bus transportation in the area, or
with any other rural public transit providers.
iv. Describe how the proposed project complements rather than
duplicates any currently available facilities, equipment, or services.
v. Describe the implementation schedule for the proposed project,
including time frame, staffing, procurement, etc. Evidence that project
implementation can begin immediately upon grant award is desired.
vi. Describe any other planning or coordination efforts that were
not mentioned above.
c. Based on the information provided as discussed in the above
section, proposals will be rated on the following:
i. Is there a sound basis for the proposed project?
ii. Is the project ready to implement?
2. Demonstration of Need (25 points)
In this section, the application should demonstrate the transit
needs of the tribe and discuss how the proposed project will address
the identified transit needs. Applications may include information such
as destinations and services not currently accessible by transit, need
for access to jobs or health care, special needs of the elderly and
individuals with disabilities, income-based community needs, or other
mobility needs.
Based on the information provided, the proposals will be rated on
the following:
a. Is there a demonstrated need for the project?
b. How well does the project fulfill the need?
3. Project Benefits (25 points)
In this section, applications should identify expected project
benefits. Possible examples include increased ridership and daily
trips, improved service, improved operations and coordination, and
economic benefits to the community. Consistent with the objectives of
the ARRA, the number of estimated jobs created or sustained should also
be provided.
Benefits can be demonstrated by identifying the population of
tribal members and non-tribal members in the proposed project service
area and estimating the number of daily one-way trips the transit
service will provide and/or the number of individual riders. There may
be many other, less quantifiable, benefits to the tribe and surrounding
community from this project. Please document, explain or show the
benefits in whatever format is reasonable to present them.
Based on the information provided proposals will be rated based on:
a. Will the project improve transit efficiency or increase
ridership?
b. Will the project improve mobility for the tribe?
c. Will the project improve access to important destinations and
services?
d. How many jobs will the proposed project create or sustain?
e. Are there other qualitative benefits?
4. Financial Commitment and Operating Capacity (25 points)
In this section, the application should identify any other funding
sources used by the tribe to support the proposed project, including
human service transportation funding, Indian Reservation Roads, or
other FTA programs such as Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC), New
Freedom, section 5311, section 5310, or section 5309 bus and bus
facilities funding.
The application should show how ARRA TTP funding will supplement
(not duplicate or replace) current funding sources. If the transit
system was previously funded under section 5311 through the State's
apportionment or the annual TTP, describe how requested ARRA TTP
funding will expand facilities, and/or other capital resources.
Describe any other resources the tribe will contribute to the
project, including in-kind contributions, commitments of support from
local businesses, donations of land or equipment, and human resources,
and describe to what extent the new project or funding for existing
service leverages other funding.
The tribe should show its ability to manage programs by
demonstrating the existing programs it administers in any area of
expertise such as human services. Based upon the information provided,
the proposals will be rated on the extent to which the proposal
demonstrates that:
a. This project provides new services or complements existing
service;
b. TTP funding does not replace existing funding;
c. The tribe has or will provide non-financial support to project;
d. The tribe has demonstrated ability to provide other services or
manage other programs; and
e. Project funds are used in coordination with other services for
efficient utilization of funds.
C. Continuation Projects
If an applicant is proposing to fund, with ARRA resources, the
continuation of a project funded previously with FY 06-08 TTP funding,
tribes must demonstrate that their project(s) are in an active status
to receive additional funding. Along with the criteria listed in
Section B, proposals should state that the applicant is a current TTP
grantee and provide information on their transit project(s) status
including services now being provided and how the new funding will
complement the existing service. Please provide any data that would be
helpful to project evaluators, i.e., ridership, increased service
hours, extended service routes, stops, etc. If you received a planning
grant in previous fiscal years, please indicate the status of your
planning study and how this project relates to that study.
D. Review and Selection Process
Each application will be screened by a panel of members, including
FTA Headquarters and regional staff. Incomplete or non-responsive
applications will be disqualified. FTA will make an effort to award
grants to as many qualified applicants as possible.
VIII. Award Administration Information
FTA will award grants directly to Federally-recognized Indian
tribes for the projects selected through this competition. Following
publication of the selected recipients, projects, and amounts, FTA
regional staff will assist
[[Page 12220]]
the successful applicants in preparing electronic applications for
grant awards. At that time, the tribe will be required to sign the
Certification and Assurances contained in Appendix A. The Master
Agreement is available on FTA's Web site at https://www.fta.dot.gov/17861_18441_ENG_HTML.htm.
FTA will notify all applicants, both those selected for funding and
those not selected, when the competitive selection process is complete.
Projects selected for funding will be published in a Federal Register
notice, along with any additional grants and reporting requirements for
ARRA funds.
IX. Technical Assistance
Technical assistance regarding these requirements is available from
each FTA regional office. The regional offices will contact those
applicants selected for funding regarding general and ARRA-specific
grants and reporting requirements and will provide assistance in
preparing the documentation necessary for the grant award. Contact the
appropriate FTA regional Tribal Liaison (Appendix B) for application
specific information and issues. For general program information,
contact Lorna R. Wilson, Office of Transit Programs, at (202) 366-2053,
e-mail: Lorna.Wilson@dot.gov. A TDD is available at 1-800-877-8339
(TDD/FIRS).
Issued in Washington, DC, this 18th day of March, 2009.
Matthew J. Welbes,
Acting Deputy Administrator.
Appendix A
Federal Fiscal Year 2009 Certifications and Assurances for the
Federal Transit Administration Public Transportation on Indian
Reservation Program
Federal Fiscal Year 2009 Certifications and Assurances for Federal
Transit Administration Assistance Programs; Preface
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 5323(n), the following
certifications and assurances have been compiled for Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) assistance programs. FTA requests each
Applicant to provide as many certifications and assurances as needed
for all programs for which the Applicant intends to seek FTA
assistance during Federal Fiscal Year 2008. Twenty-four (24)
Categories of certifications and assurances are listed by numbers 01
through 24 in the TEAM-Web ``Recipients'' option at the ``Cert's &
Assurances'' tab of ``View/Modify Recipients.'' Category 01 applies
to all Applicants. Category 02 applies to all applications for
Federal assistance in excess of $100,000. Categories 03 through 24
will apply to and be required for some, but not all, Applicants and
projects. FTA's annual certifications and assurances permit the
Applicant to select a single certification which can cover all the
programs for which it anticipates submitting an application. FTA
requests the Applicant to read each certification and assurance
carefully and select all certifications and assurances that may
apply to the programs for which it expects to seek Federal
assistance.
FTA and the Applicant understand and agree that not every
provision of these certifications and assurances will apply to every
Applicant or every project for which FTA provides Federal financial
assistance through a Grant Agreement or Cooperative Agreement. The
type of project and the section of the statute authorizing Federal
financial assistance for the project will determine which provisions
apply. The terms of these certifications and assurances reflect
applicable requirements of FTA's enabling legislation currently in
effect.
The Applicant also understands and agrees that these
certifications and assurances are special pre-award requirements
specifically prescribed by Federal law or regulation and do not
encompass all Federal laws, regulations, and directives that may
apply to the Applicant or its project. A comprehensive list of those
Federal laws, regulations, and directives is contained in the
current FTA Master Agreement MA(14) for Federal Fiscal Year 2008 at
the FTA Web site https://www.fta.dot.gov/documents/14-Master.pdf. The
certifications and assurances in this document have been streamlined
to remove most provisions not covered by statutory or regulatory
certification or assurance requirements.
Because many requirements of these certifications and assurances
will require the compliance of the subrecipient of an Applicant, we
strongly recommend that each Applicant, including a State, that will
be implementing projects through one or more subrecipients, secure
sufficient documentation from each subrecipient to ensure
compliance, not only with these certifications and assurances, but
also with the terms of the Grant Agreement or Cooperative Agreement
for the project, and the Master Agreement or an alternative Master
Agreement for its project, if applicable, incorporated therein by
reference. Each Applicant is ultimately responsible for compliance
with the provisions of the certifications and assurances applicable
to itself or its project irrespective of participation in the
project by any subrecipient.
01. Assurances Required for Each Applicant
Each Applicant for FTA assistance must provide all assurances in
this Category ``01.'' Except to the extent that FTA expressly
determines otherwise in writing, FTA may not award any Federal
assistance until the Applicant provides the following assurances by
selecting Category ``01.''
A. Assurance of Authority of the Applicant and Its Representative
The authorized representative of the Applicant and the attorney
who sign these certifications, assurances, and agreements affirm
that both the Applicant and its authorized representative have
adequate authority under applicable State, local, or Indian tribal
law and regulations, and the Applicant's by-laws or internal rules
to:
(1) Execute and file the application for Federal assistance on
behalf of the Applicant;
(2) Execute and file the required certifications, assurances,
and agreements on behalf of the Applicant binding the Applicant; and
(3) Execute grant agreements and cooperative agreements with FTA
on behalf of the Applicant.
B. Standard Assurances
The Applicant ensures that it will comply with all applicable
Federal statutes and regulations in carrying out any project
supported by an FTA grant or cooperative agreement. The Applicant
agrees that it is under a continuing obligation to comply with the
terms and conditions of the grant agreement or cooperative agreement
issued for its project with FTA. The Applicant recognizes that
Federal laws and regulations may be modified from time to time and
those modifications may affect project implementation. The Applicant
understands that Presidential executive orders and Federal
directives, including Federal policies and program guidance may be
issued concerning matters affecting the Applicant or its project.
The Applicant agrees that the most recent Federal laws, regulations,
and directives will apply to the project, unless FTA issues a
written determination otherwise.
C. Intergovernmental Review Assurance
Except if the Applicant is an Indian tribal government seeking
assistance authorized by 49 U.S.C. 5311(c)(1), the Applicant ensures
that each application for Federal assistance it submits to FTA has
been submitted or will be submitted for intergovernmental review to
the appropriate State and local agencies as determined by the State.
Specifically, the Applicant ensures that it has fulfilled or will
fulfill the obligations imposed on FTA by U.S. Department of
Transportation (U.S. DOT) regulations, ``Intergovernmental Review of
Department of Transportation Programs and Activities,'' 49 CFR part
17. This assurance does not apply to Applicants for Federal
assistance derived from FTA's Tribal Transit Program, 49 U.S.C.
5311(c)(1).
D. Nondiscrimination Assurance
As required by 49 U.S.C. 5332 (which prohibits discrimination on
the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, or age, and
prohibits discrimination in employment or business opportunity), by
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C.
2000d, and by U.S. DOT regulations, ``Nondiscrimination in
Federally-Assisted Programs of the Department of Transportation--
Effectuation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act,'' 49 CFR part 21
at 21.7, the Applicant ensures that it will comply with all
requirements imposed by or issued pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 5332, 42
U.S.C. 2000d, and 49 CFR part 21, so that no person in the United
States, on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, sex, or
age will be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits
of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination in any program or
activity
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(particularly in the level and quality of transportation services
and transportation-related benefits) for which the Applicant
receives Federal assistance awarded by the U.S. DOT or FTA.
Specifically, during the period in which Federal assistance is
extended to the project, or project property is used for a purpose
for which the Federal assistance is extended or for another purpose
involving the provision of similar services or benefits, or as long
as the Applicant retains ownership or possession of the project
property, whichever is longer, the Applicant ensures that:
(1) Each project will be conducted, property acquisitions will
be undertaken, and project facilities will be operated in accordance
with all applicable requirements imposed by or issued pursuant to 49
U.S.C. 5332, 42 U.S.C. 2000d, and 49 CFR part 21, and understands
that this assurance extends to its entire facility and to facilities
operated in connection with the project.
(2) It will promptly take the necessary actions to effectuate
this assurance, including notifying the public that complaints of
discrimination in the provision of transportation-related services
or benefits may be filed with U.S. DOT or FTA. Upon request by U.S.
DOT or FTA, the Applicant ensures that it will submit the required
information pertaining to its compliance with these provisions.
(3) It will include in each subagreement, property transfer
agreement, third party contract, third party subcontract, or
participation agreement adequate provisions to extend the
requirements imposed by or issued pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 5332, 42
U.S.C. 2000d and 49 CFR part 21 to other parties involved therein
including any subrecipient, transferee, third party contractor,
third party subcontractor at any level, successor in interest, or
any other participant in the project.
(4) Should it transfer real property, structures, or
improvements financed with Federal assistance provided by FTA to
another party, any deeds and instruments recording the transfer of
that property shall contain a covenant running with the land
assuring nondiscrimination for the period during which the property
is used for a purpose for which the Federal assistance is extended
or for another purpose involving the provision of similar services
or benefits.
(5) The United States has a right to seek judicial enforcement
with regard to any matter arising under the Act, regulations, and
this assurance.
(6) It will make any changes in its Title VI implementing
procedures as U.S. DOT or FTA may request to achieve compliance with
the requirements imposed by or issued pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 5332, 42
U.S.C. 2000d, and 49 CFR part 21.
E. Assurance of Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability
As required by U.S. DOT regulations, ``Nondiscrimination on the
Basis of Handicap in Programs and Activities Receiving or Benefiting
from Federal Financial Assistance,'' at 49 CFR 27.9, the Applicant
ensures that, as a condition to the approval or extension of any
Federal assistance awarded by FTA to construct any facility, obtain
any rolling stock or other equipment, undertake studies, conduct
research, or to participate in or obtain any benefit from any
program administered by FTA, no otherwise qualified person with a
disability shall be, solely by reason of that disability, excluded
from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise
subjected to discrimination in any program or activity receiving or
benefiting from Federal assistance administered by the FTA or any
entity within U.S. DOT. The Applicant ensures that project
implementation and operations so assisted will comply with all
applicable requirements of U.S. DOT regulations implementing the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. 794, et seq., and
the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, 42 U.S.C.
12101 et seq., and implementing U.S. DOT regulations at 49 CFR parts
27, 37, and 38, and any other applicable Federal laws that may be
enacted or Federal regulations that may be promulgated.
F. U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Assurances
Consistent with OMB assurances set forth in SF-424B and SF-424D,
the Applicant ensures that, with respect to itself or its project,
the Applicant:
(1) Has the legal authority to apply for Federal assistance and
the institutional, managerial, and financial capability (including
funds sufficient to pay the non-Federal share of project cost) to
ensure proper planning, management, and completion of the project
described in its application;
(2) Will give FTA, the Comptroller General of the United States,
and, if appropriate, the State, through any authorized
representative, access to and the right to examine all records,
books, papers, or documents related to the award; and will establish
a proper accounting system in accordance with generally accepted
accounting standards or agency directives;
(3) Will establish safeguards to prohibit employees from using
their positions for a purpose that constitutes or presents the
appearance of personal or organizational conflict of interest or
personal gain;
(4) Will initiate and complete the work within the applicable
project time periods following receipt of FTA approval;
(5) Will comply with all applicable Federal statutes relating to
nondiscrimination including, but not limited to:
(a) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. 2000d, which
prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national
origin;
(b) Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended, 20
U.S.C. 1681 through 1683, and 1685 through 1687, and U.S. DOT
regulations, ``Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education
Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance,'' 49
CFR part 25, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex;
(c) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended,
29 U.S.C. 794, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of
disability;
(d) The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, 42 U.S.C.
6101 through 6107, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of
age;
(e) The Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act of 1972, as amended,
21 U.S.C. 1101 et seq., relating to nondiscrimination on the basis
of drug abuse;
(f) The Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention
Act of 1970, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4541 et seq. relating to
nondiscrimination on the basis of alcohol abuse or alcoholism;
(g) The Public Health Service Act of 1912, as amended, 42 U.S.C.
201 et seq., relating to confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse
patient records;
(h) Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.,
relating to nondiscrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of
housing; and
(i) Any other nondiscrimination statute(s) that may apply to the
project;
(6) To the extent applicable, will comply with, or has complied
with, the requirements of Titles II and III of the Uniform
Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of
1970, as amended, (Uniform Relocation Act) 42 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.,
which, among other things, provide for fair and equitable treatment
of persons displaced or persons whose property is acquired as a
result of Federal or federally assisted programs. These requirements
apply to all interests in real property acquired for project
purposes and displacement caused by the project regardless of
Federal participation in any purchase. As required by sections 210
and 305 of the Uniform Relocation Act, 42 U.S.C. 4630 and 4655, and
by U.S. DOT regulations, ``Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real
Property Acquisition for Federal and Federally Assisted Programs,''
49 CFR 24.4, the Applicant ensures that it has the requisite
authority under applicable state and local law to comply with the
requirements of the Uniform Relocation Act, 42 U.S.C. 4601 et seq.,
and U.S. DOT regulations, ``Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real
Property Acquisition for Federal and Federally Assisted Programs,''
49 CFR part 24, and will comply with that Act or has complied with
that Act and those implementing regulations, including but not
limited to the following:
(a) The Applicant will adequately inform each affected person of
the benefits, policies, and procedures provided for in 49 CFR part
24;
(b) The Applicant will provide fair and reasonable relocation
payments and assistance as required by 42 U.S.C. 4622, 4623, and
4624; 49 CFR part 24; and any applicable FTA procedures, to or for
families, individuals, partnerships, corporations, or associations
displaced as a result of any project financed with FTA assistance;
(c) The Applicant will provide relocation assistance programs
offering the services described in 42 U.S.C. 4625 to such displaced
families, individuals, partnerships, corporations, or associations
in the manner provided in 49 CFR part 24;
(d) Within a reasonable time before displacement, the Applicant
will make available comparable replacement dwellings to displaced
families and individuals as required by 42 U.S.C. 4625(c)(3);
(e) The Applicant will carry out the relocation process in such
manner as to
[[Page 12222]]
provide displaced persons with uniform and consistent services, and
will make available replacement housing in the same range of choices
with respect to such housing to all displaced persons regardless of
race, color, religion, or national origin;
(f) In acquiring real property, the Applicant will be guided to
the greatest extent practicable under state law, by the real
property acquisition policies of 42 U.S.C. 4651 and 4652;
(g) The Applicant will pay or reimburse property owners for
necessary expenses as specified in 42 U.S.C. 4653 and 4654, with the
understanding that FTA will provide Federal financial assistance for
the Applicant's eligible costs of providing payments for those
expenses, as required by 42 U.S.C. 4631;
(h) The Applicant will execute such amendments to third party
contracts and subagreements financed with FTA assistance and
execute, furnish, and be bound by such additional documents as FTA
may determine necessary to effectuate or implement the assurances
provided herein; and
(i) The Applicant agrees to make these assurances part of or
incorporate them by reference into any third party contract or
subagreement, or any amendments thereto, relating to any project
financed by FTA involving relocation or land acquisition and provide
in any affected document that these relocation and land acquisition
provisions shall supersede any conflicting provisions;
(7) To the extent applicable, will comply with the Davis-Bacon
Act, as amended, 40 U.S.C. 3141 et seq., the Copeland ``Anti-
Kickback'' Act, as amended, 18 U.S.C. 874, and the Contract Work
Hours and Safety Standards Act, as amended, 40 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.,
regarding labor standards for federally assisted projects;
(8) To the extent applicable, will comply with the flood
insurance purchase requirements of section 102(a) of the Flood
Disaster Protection Act of 1973, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4012a(a),
requiring the Applicant and its subrecipients in a special flood
hazard area to participate in the program and purchase flood
insurance if the total cost of insurable construction and
acquisition is $10,000 or more;
(9) To the extent applicable, will comply with the Lead-Based
Paint Poisoning Prevention Act, 42 U.S.C. 4831(b), which prohibits
the use of lead-based paint in the construction or rehabilitation of
residence structures;
(10) To the extent applicable, will not dispose of, modify the
use of, or change the terms of the real property title or other
interest in the site and facilities on which a construction project
supported with FTA assistance takes place without permission and
instructions from FTA;
(11) To the extent required by FTA, will record the Federal
interest in the title of real property, and will include a covenant
in the title of real property acquired in whole or in part with
Federal assistance funds to ensure nondiscrimination during the
useful life of the project;
(12) To the extent applicable, will comply with FTA provisions
concerning the drafting, review, and approval o