Section 5309 Discretionary Bus and Bus Facilities Program, 44979-44985 [2011-18928]

Agencies

• Federal Transit Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 144 (Wednesday, July 27, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44979-44985]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-18928]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


Section 5309 Discretionary Bus and Bus Facilities Program

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of FTA Bus and Bus Facilities Program 
Funds: Solicitation of Project Proposals for Veterans Transportation 
and Community Living Initiative grants.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the 
availability of discretionary Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities grant 
funds in support of the Federal Interagency Coordinating Council on 
Access and Mobility's (CCAM or Coordinating Council) Veterans 
Transportation and Community Living Initiative (VTCLI or Initiative). 
This grant opportunity will be funded using $30 million in unallocated 
Discretionary Bus and Bus Facilities Program funds, authorized by 49 
U.S.C. 5309(b) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, 
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For Users (SAFETEA-LU), Public Law 
109-59, August 10, 2005.
    This VTCLI grant opportunity makes funds available to local 
governmental agencies to finance capital costs of implementing, 
expanding, or increasing access to local One-Call/One-Click 
Transportation Resource Centers. These Centers simplify access to 
transportation for the public by connecting customers in one place to 
rides and transportation options provided in their locality by a 
variety of transportation providers and programs. This notice includes 
priorities established by the Coordinating Council's partnership for 
these discretionary funds, the criteria the interagency review panel 
will use to identify meritorious projects for funding, and describes 
how to apply. Additionally, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 
will make mobility management training assistance and support available 
to Veteran's Affairs networks in communities selected for award. The 
Department of Labor (DOL) will make social communication technologies 
and training available to selected grantees in order to actively engage 
veterans, military service personnel and families as well as others in 
the community in the development of plans to better respond to the 
transportation needs of veterans and military service families.
    This announcement is available on the FTA's Web site, on the 
Veterans Transportation and Community Living initiative Web page at: 
https://www.fta.dot.gov/veterans. FTA will announce final selections on 
its Web site and in the Federal Register. A synopsis of this 
announcement will be posted in the FIND module of the government-wide 
electronic grants Web site at https://www.grants.gov. Proposals must be 
submitted to FTA, electronically, through the GRANTS.GOV ``APPLY'' 
function.

DATES: Complete proposals for the discretionary Veterans Transportation 
and Community Living grants must be submitted by September 16, 2011. 
The proposals must be submitted electronically through the GRANTS.GOV 
Web site. Applicants who have not already done so should initiate the 
process of registering on the GRANTS.GOV site immediately to ensure 
completion of registration before the deadline for submission.

ADDRESSES: Proposals must be submitted electronically at https://www.grants.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general program information, as 
well as proposal-specific questions, please send an e-mail to 
VeteransTransportation@dot.gov or contact Doug Birnie, (202) 366-1666, 
or, Pamela Brown, (202) 493-2503. A TDD is available at 1-800-877-8339 
(TDD/FIRS).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents

I. Funding Opportunity Description
II. FTA and Other Partnership Award Information
III. Eligibility Information
IV. Proposal Submission Information
V. Proposal Review, Selection and Notification
VI. Award Administration
VII. Agency Contacts

[[Page 44980]]

Appendix A: FTA Regional Contacts

I. Funding Opportunity Description

A. Authority

    The program is authorized under 49 USC Section 5309(b) as amended 
by Section 3011 of SAFETEA-LU:

    ``The Secretary may make grants under this section to assist 
State and local governmental authorities in financing capital 
projects * * * to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase buses and 
related equipment and to construct bus-related facilities, including 
programs of bus and bus-related projects for assistance to 
subrecipients that are public agencies, private companies engaged in 
public transportation, or private non-profit organizations.''

    Eligible capital projects, as defined in 49 U.S.C. 5302(a)(1) 
include:

    ``* * * acquiring and constructing equipment or facilities for 
use in public transportation'' (including design and engineering), 
``transit-related intelligent transportation systems'', and ``the 
introduction of new technology through innovations and improved 
products, into public transportation.''

B. Background

    President Obama has made the care and support of military families 
a top national security policy priority. In a January, 2011 report, 
``Strengthening Our Military Families: Meeting America's Commitment,'' 
the White House noted the importance of ``harnessing resources and 
expertise across the Federal Government [to improve] the quality of 
military family life [and help] communities more effectively support 
military families.''
    Reliable mobility has direct and substantial impacts on many of the 
priorities presented in the report--such as promoting housing security 
among veterans, developing career and educational opportunities, and 
reducing barriers to employment. To fulfill the President's objectives 
on behalf of veterans, active duty service persons and their families, 
members of the Federal Interagency Coordinating Council on Access and 
Mobility came together with Veteran and Military Service Organizations 
(VSO/MSO) around the country to discuss transportation challenges. They 
agreed that:
    1. When it comes to transportation, more effective and consistent 
coordination is needed among Federal, state, and community-based 
programs that already deliver or sponsor services to veterans and 
people with disabilities where they live; and,
    2. Enhancing veterans' awareness of, and access to, transportation 
choices in their communities is integral to successfully reintegrating 
these men and women and their families.
    In order to achieve these outcomes, several CCAM members--the 
Departments of Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Labor, and Health and 
Human Services--have joined with the Department of Defense to launch 
the Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative (VTCLI). As 
part of this initiative, the FTA will make available $30 million in 
unallocated Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities funds under this 
notice. With these funds, FTA will help communities address 
transportation needs of veterans, military families, people with 
disabilities and other transportation disadvantaged populations acquire 
technologies to implement One-Call/One Click Transportation Resource 
Centers (One-Call/One-Click Centers). These local One-Call/One-Click 
Centers, supported with FTA funding, will be complemented by training, 
technical assistance, outreach and social media technology investments 
provided by FTA and other participating agencies in the VTCLI.

C. Program Purpose

    Building on the success of the FTA Office of United We Ride (UWR) 
``One Call Center'' model, the Veterans Transportation and Community 
Living initiative will help communities build or expand local One-Call/
One-Click Centers to bring together transportation services available 
to the general public with those available to customers of human 
services programs, and especially services for veterans and military 
families. Coordinating transportation services will promote improved 
access to community services and employment, and will advance the 
integration of those with disabilities into their communities.
    Based on its mission to care for America's veterans, the Department 
of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides transportation only to and from VA 
medical facilities. As our existing veterans age and as veterans and 
injured service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan transition 
from active duty into the VA system need reliable transportation 
options and services beyond those the VA is able to provide in order to 
maintain or regain an active community life.
    In many communities, transportation resources already exist for 
those who are not able to drive themselves. Yet all too often, members 
of the veterans and military communities are unable to participate 
fully in their communities because they aren't aware of the existing 
transportation resources, don't know how to access them, or don't 
participate in the transportation planning and the resource allocation 
processes.
    The one-call model requires coordination efforts that ensure local 
and regional transportation planners, providers, and Federal agencies 
work together more effectively to help veterans, their families and 
other community members tap into any and all mobility options that meet 
their needs--whether it's picking up a ride from a fellow college 
student to get to campus or arranging for a wheelchair-accessible van 
to get to a physical therapy appointment. Veterans and military 
families represent a population with needs that have not traditionally 
been fully considered or addressed by transportation coordinators and 
providers around the nation. Therefore, improving transportation 
options for America's veterans, service members and their families will 
help to integrate these valued members of our society. The VTCLI will 
award a funding, technical assistance and training package to 
communities whose proposals:
    1. Identify transportation and mobility needs of their veterans and 
military community;
    2. Propose to create or increase access to a community One-Call/
One-Click Transportation Resource Center or expand existing community 
One-Call/One-Click Center to include transportation resources and 
address identified needs of veterans and military families;
    3. Commit to increase the use of mobility management techniques 
within the VA system; and,
    4. Commit to use innovative or technology-based approaches to 
increase involvement in locally coordinated transportation planning to 
address additional mobility needs of veterans and members of the 
military community.

II. FTA and Other Partnership Award Information

A. FTA Award Information

    Federal transit funds are available to State or local governmental 
authorities as recipients and other public, private and non-profit 
organizations as subrecipients at up to 80% of the project cost, 
requiring a 20% local match. FTA will award a maximum of $2 million for 
any single grant, but will award as many grants as possible with the 
available $30 million based on the number and size of funding requests. 
The evaluation team will consider geographical diversity as well as 
distribution amongst large urban, small urban and rural areas in

[[Page 44981]]

making funding recommendations. The FTA Administrator will determine 
the final selection and amount of funding for each project. Selected 
projects will be announced in November 2011. FTA will publish the list 
of all selected projects and funding levels in the Federal Register.

B. Other Partnership Award Information

    Upon selection to receive FTA Section 5309 funds, communities will 
also receive a combination of technical assistance and training, as 
listed below:
    1. The Department of Veterans Affairs will support VA hospitals and 
medical facilities in or nearest the selected communities by providing 
mobility management training assistance and/or staff positions.
    2. DOL's Office of Disability Employment Policy will fund online, 
collaborative workspaces for communities to use in planning and 
implementing their one-call center and further transportation 
coordination efforts.
    3. The FTA Office of United We Ride, through its transportation 
technical assistance centers, will provide technical assistance to each 
awardee to assist in building or expanding a One-Call/One-Click Center 
to address customer transportation connections and issues.

III. Eligibility Information

A. Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants for Section 5309 funds under this program are 
Direct Recipients under FTA's Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula 
program, local governments, States, and Indian Tribes. States may 
submit consolidated proposals for projects in a given State.
    Proposals may contain projects to be implemented by the recipient 
or its subrecipients. Eligible subrecipients of FTA funding include: 
Public agencies, private non-profit organizations, including VSOs and 
MSOs, and private providers engaged in public transportation.

B. Eligible Expenses

    SAFETEA-LU grants authority to the Secretary of Transportation to 
make grants to assist State and local governmental authorities in 
financing capital projects to improve public transportation. Eligible 
capital projects, defined in 49 U.S.C. 5302(a)(1) includes ``acquiring 
and constructing equipment or facilities for use in public 
transportation'' (including design and engineering), ``transit-related 
intelligent transportation systems,'' and ``the introduction of new 
technology through innovations and improved products, into public 
transportation.''
    Projects eligible for funding under the Veterans Transportation and 
Community Living Initiative must focus on the implementation of One-
Call/One-Click Centers and related transportation coordination. 
Eligible expenses under the Initiative include capital expenses related 
to the establishment of a One-Call/One-Click Center. These costs can 
include: hardware purchases (computers, servers); in-vehicle technology 
(automatic vehicle location systems, communication devices, mobile data 
terminals); software (scheduling & dispatching, communications, 
billing, consumer mobile applications); facility-related capital 
(purchase, lease, alteration); design and engineering, including 
consultant costs; and project administration (not to exceed 10% of 
costs).

    Note:  Unlike other Section 5309 competitive programs, vehicle 
acquisition and preventive maintenance costs are not eligible under 
this grant opportunity. Additionally, mobility management 
transportation coordination expenses to support the operating 
expenses of Centers are not an eligible capital cost under the 
Section 5309 program, but are eligible under other FTA programs.

C. Cost Sharing

    Costs will be shared at the following ratio: 80% FTA/20% local 
contribution, unless the grantee requests a lower Federal share. FTA 
will not approve deferred local share under this program.

IV. Proposal Submission Information

A. Proposal Process

    An applicant may submit a project whereby funding for capital 
elements would be expended during the design, development, procurement 
and implementation stages of the One Call Center. The project would, 
however, need to be ready to actively initiate these stages upon 
receiving a grant and would need to complete the project in a 
reasonable period, in order to provide the new or enhanced coordinated 
services as soon as practicable.
    Project proposals must be submitted electronically through 
GRANTS.GOV. Complete proposals for the Veterans Transportation and 
Community Living Initiative must be submitted electronically through 
the GRANTS.GOV Web site no later than September 16, 2011.
    Applicants are encouraged to begin the process of registration on 
the GRANTS.GOV site well in advance of the submission deadline. 
Registration is a multi-step process, which may take several weeks to 
complete before a proposal can be submitted. In addition to the 
mandatory SF424 Form that will be downloaded from GRANTS.GOV, FTA 
requires applicants to complete the Supplemental FTA Form (Applicant 
and Proposal Profile) for this Initiative. The supplemental form 
provides guidance and a consistent format for applicants to respond to 
the criteria outlined in this Notice and described in detail on the FTA 
Web site at the program Web site: https://www.fta.dot.gov/veterans.
    Applicants must use this Supplemental Form and attach it to their 
submission in GRANTS.GOV to successfully complete the application 
process. Within 24-48 hours after submitting an electronic proposal, 
the applicant should receive an e-mail validation message from 
GRANTS.GOV. The validation will state whether GRANTS.GOV found any 
issues with the submitted application. As an additional notification, 
FTA's system will notify the applicant if there are any problems with 
the submitted Supplemental FTA Form. If making a resubmission for any 
reason, include all original attachments regardless of which 
attachments were updated. Complete instructions on the proposal process 
can be found at https://www.fta.dot.gov/veterans.
    Important: FTA urges applicants to submit their proposal at least 
72 hours prior to the due date to allow time to receive the validation 
message and to correct any problems that may have caused a rejection 
notification. Submissions received after September 16, 2011 will not be 
accepted.

B. Proposal Content

1. Proposal Information
    This provides basic sponsor identifying information, including:
    a. Applicant's name and FTA recipient ID number.
    b. Contact Information for notification of project selection 
(including contact name, title, address, congressional district, e-
mail, fax and phone number).
    c. Description of services provided by the agency including areas 
served.
    d. Eligibility information.
    e. A description of the agency's technical, legal and financial 
capacity to implement the proposed project. Some of this information is 
included in Standard Form 424 when applying through GRANTS.GOV.
    f. For the Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative 
please select ``Other'' for project type and indicate ``VTCLI One-Call/
One-Click Transportation Resource Center Project'' in the text box.

[[Page 44982]]

    g. Applicants may ignore the ``fleet age'' section.
2. Proposal Information
    Every proposal must:
    a. Describe concisely, but completely, the project scope to be 
funded. As FTA may select to only partially fund some project proposals 
(see below), the scope should be ``scalable'' with specific components 
of independent utility clearly identified.
    b. Address each of the evaluation criteria separately, 
demonstrating how the project responds to each criterion.
    c. Provide a basic line-item budget for the total project, 
describing the various key components of the project and estimating 
their cost.

    NOTE:  Project proposals may be at different stages of 
development. Some projects may be oriented to design and development 
of a new One Call/One Click Center while other proposers may be 
seeking these capital funds to upgrade or expand the scope of 
services already offered in another context. Proposals may use 
estimated costs for implementation if exact costs are unknown prior 
to development. Scalable guidelines for cost estimation of one-call 
technology are available on the FTA Web site.

    d. Provide the Federal amount requested and document the matching 
funds, including amount and source of the match, while demonstrating 
strong local or private sector financial participation in the project.
    e. Provide an estimated project time-line and major milestones.
    f. Congressional Districts (Place of Performance)--Enter the 
congressional district(s) in which the project will be implemented.

V. Proposal Review, Selection and Notification

A. Project Evaluation Criteria

    As an initiative of the CCAM, the VTCLI should not create narrowly 
focused programs or services. Applicants must identify how the proposal 
will enhance and/or increase transportation or mobility benefits to 
other community members, particularly, transportation disadvantaged 
populations.
    Projects will be evaluated by an interagency review team based on 
the proposals submitted according to: (1) Planning and prioritization 
at the local/regional level; (2) readiness; (3) technical, legal and 
financial capacity; and (4) demonstration of need.
    Each applicant is encouraged to demonstrate the responsiveness of a 
project to all of the selection criteria with the most relevant 
information that the applicant can provide, regardless of whether such 
information has been specifically requested, or identified, in this 
notice.
    The review panel will assess the extent to which a project 
addresses the following criteria.
1. Planning and Prioritization at the Local/Regional Level
    a. Demonstrate that the project can be included in the financially-
constrained Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)/Statewide 
Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). If the project is selected, 
the project must be in TIP before grant can be awarded.
    b. Local support is demonstrated by availability of local match and 
letters of support for project.
    c. Applicants are required to form partnerships with the following 
types of organizations or service providers:
    i. Transportation organizations, which include, but are not limited 
to: transit agencies, brokers, taxis, volunteer driver services; 
planning agencies, such as, MPO, and local coordinated plan's public 
transit/human services lead agency;
    ii. Veteran/Military Governmental Service Providers, which include, 
but are not limited to: VA medical center networks, DoD recovery care 
programs, Military bases & hospitals, and other medical providers;
    iii. Veteran/Military Service which include, but are not limited 
to: Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans; and Military 
Family Organizations, which include, but are not limited to: Wounded 
Warrior Project, Blue Star Families, National Military Family 
Association; and,
    iv. Existing One-Call/One-Click Service or Transportation Centers 
in the community, if any. As the goal of United We Ride is to improve 
coordination and eliminate silos of operation, if the new One-Call/One-
Click Transportation Resource Center will stand-alone as its own 
entity, the proposer must indicate that there are either no existing 
One-Call/One-Click Service or Transportation Centers in the community 
OR provide a strong justification why a separate One-Call/One-Click 
Transportation Resource Center will produce the best outcomes for the 
community and document the partnerships through letters of support.
    v. Applicants must also indicate how the partners were involved in 
the proposal development and how they will participate in its 
implementation. Proposals without proof of partnerships with all four 
of the above-listed organizations will not be considered.
    d. Applicants should also consider and develop partnerships with 
additional groups beyond those required above. Partnerships with 
employment, disability, or aging groups will increase a proposal's 
chance of selection.
    Applicants should consider including other groups in the proposal 
process, including:
    i. Employers, workforce development and training agencies, etc.
    ii. Independent living/aging organizations (e.g., Centers for 
Independent Living, Senior Centers, Aging and Disability Resource 
Centers)
    iii. Local political officials
    e. Applicants may also provide documentation and/or descriptions of 
any additional partners who participated in the planning and 
development of their proposal, if applicable.
    f. Communities must include a letter of endorsement from the 
nearest VA Medical Center Director in order for the VA Medical 
healthcare network to receive supplemental VA-sponsored technical 
assistance and support.
2. Readiness Justification
    Address all of the following points in the Project Readiness 
Justification:
    a. Indicate the timeframe for implementation of the project and 
obligation of funds. If the timeline for either is expected to take 
more than 18 months, please mark ``18 Months'' and indicate the 
expected timeline in the ``Project Readiness Justification'' section.
    b. Please indicate the short-term, mid-range and long-term goals 
for the project.
    c. Indicate prior experience or involvement in regional coordinated 
transportation and human services planning, including indicating:
    i. When was the most recent coordinated public transit-human 
services transportation plan (``coordinated plan'') developed?
    ii. Have the applicant and any proposed subrecipients previously 
been involved in developing their community's coordinated plan?
    d. Indicate prior work on veterans/military family mobility issues, 
including addressing the following questions:
    i. Has the community taken steps prior to the VTCLI to address the 
mobility needs of local veterans and military families?
    ii. Have veterans/military family needs previously been addressed 
in the coordinated plan?
    iii. If not, is there a commitment to develop a component to 
address current veterans/military needs in the current or new 
coordinated plan or an alternative mechanism if there is no coordinated 
plan in the community?

[[Page 44983]]

    e. Indicate prior work on One-Call/One-Click Centers, including 
addressing the following questions:
    i. Does the community have an existing transportation One-Call/One-
Click Center?
    ii. If not, has the community identified the need for a One-Call/
One-Click Center in its local coordinated public transit/human services 
transportation plan?
    iii. If so, has the existing One-Call/One-Click Center employed any 
veterans or military family members?
    iv. Have you conducted any outreach or programs for staffing the 
One-Call/One-Click Center?
    v. Does the community have any capacity of using a shared-space to 
house the One-Call/One-Click Center?
3. Technical, Legal & Financial Capacity
    Address all of the following points in the justification:
    a. Technical capacity: Demonstrated commitment to coordination--
Applicants who are willing to undertake further coordination tasks 
under their VTCLI proposals will have an increased chance of selection. 
Indicators of this commitment include:
    i. Proposal elements to address the mobility and transportation 
challenges of veterans and military families through additional 
coordinated transportation strategies, such as mobility management, 
community transportation gap assessment, etc.
    ii. Applicants should identify local technical assistance needs in 
order to effectively implement One-Call/One-Click Centers and further 
address veterans and/or military families' mobility needs in the 
coordinated public transit/human services transportation plan.
    iii. Applicant proposes to update SAFETEA-LU required Coordination 
Plan as part of VTCLI implementation.
    b. Legal capacity: Applicants must indicate that there are no legal 
issues which would prevent acceptance of FTA funds, their eligibility 
and authority to apply.
    c. Financial capacity: Leveraging other funds--Proposals that 
leverage additional FTA, other federal, state, or local funds beyond 
the required local match will be scored favorably. Indicate the 
following:
    i. Local match--As a Section 5309 grant program, the VTCLI will 
require a 20% local match. This match can be cash or in-kind;
    ii. Additional FTA program funding identified--Mobility management, 
vehicle purchases, and vehicle modifications will not be eligible 
expenses under the VTCLI. Applicants in communities that have a need 
for accessible vehicles or mobility management resources are encouraged 
to update their coordinated plan and identify funds from other FTA 
grant programs, such as Section 5310, 5316 or 5317, to meet these 
needs;
    iii. Additional Federal resources Aging and Disability Resource 
Center/Area Agencies on Aging (ADRC/AAA), One-Stop employment, VA, DoD, 
HHS funds, Vocational Rehabilitation/RSA) to be leveraged;
    iv. Other non-Federal funding above and beyond local match (State 
funding, private donations, etc.); and
    v. Identification of funding and plan for long-term sustainability, 
including the operation of the One Call Center.
4. Demonstration of Need
    Applicants should leave the ``Age of Asset'' field blank and 
address the following points indicating the need for VTCLI funds in the 
justification field. State the size of the local veteran and military 
population and identify transportation and mobility needs of these 
populations. When available, provide quantitative support; otherwise 
narrative description of challenges and needs will suffice.
    a. Questions to be addressed include:
    i How large are the veterans/military communities in the project 
area to be served by the project?
    ii. What are the specific transportation barriers and other 
challenges facing veterans and military families in the project's area?
    iii. What portion of the veterans/military population in the 
project's area are people with disabilities?
    iv. Where are the nearest veterans and military support services 
that support the project's area?
    v. Identify the community's existing public, non-profit and private 
transportation providers.
    vi. Demonstrate how the One-Call/One-Click Center will address the 
mobility needs of the above identified populations.
    vii. Describe how veterans, especially disabled veterans, will be 
engaged in the development and operation of the project.

B. Submission Dates and Time

    All proposals must be submitted electronically via GRANTS.GOV no 
later than September 16, 2011.

C. Funding Restrictions

    Proposals must be submitted by FTA recipients eligible to receive 
FTA Section 5309 funds. Due to funding limitations, applicants that are 
selected for funding may receive less than the amount originally 
requested.

D. Proposal Selection and Notification Process

    Proposals will first be screened by the FTA staff members. 
Following this initial review, eligible proposals will be submitted for 
a national review process and coordinated with representatives of VA, 
DoD, DOL and HHS. Proposals will be screened and ranked by an 
interagency review panel representing the above members of the Veterans 
Transportation and Community Living Initiative. Final decisions and 
allocation of FTA funds will be made by the FTA Administrator. Selected 
projects will be announced in November 2011.

VI. Award Administration

A. Award Notices

    FTA will announce project selections in a Federal Register Notice 
and will post the Federal Register Notices on the Web. FTA regional 
offices will contact successful applicants. After receipt of a complete 
application, FTA will award grants for the selected projects to the 
proposer through the FTA Transportation Electronic Award Management 
System (TEAM). These grants will be administered and managed by the FTA 
regional offices in accordance with the Federal requirements of the 
Section 5309 bus program. At the time the project selections are 
announced, FTA will extend pre-award authority for the selected 
projects. There is no blanket pre-award authority for these projects 
prior to announcement.

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    1. Grant Requirements. If selected, applicants will apply for a 
grant through TEAM and adhere to the customary FTA grant requirements 
of the Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities program, including those of 
FTA C 9300.1A Circular and C 5010.1C and Section 5333(b) labor 
protections. Discretionary grants greater than $500,000 will go through 
Congressional Notification and Release Process. Technical assistance 
regarding these requirements is available from each FTA regional 
office.
    2. Planning. Applicants are encouraged to notify the appropriate 
State Departments of Transportation and MPO in areas likely to be 
served by the project funds made available under this program. 
Incorporation of funded projects in the long range plans and 
transportation improvement programs of States and metropolitan areas is 
required of all funded projects.
    3. Standard Assurances. The Applicant assures that it will comply 
with all applicable Federal statutes,

[[Page 44984]]

regulations, executive orders, FTA circulars, and other Federal 
administrative requirements in carrying out any project supported by 
the FTA grant. The Applicant acknowledges that it is under a continuing 
obligation to comply with the terms and conditions of the grant 
agreement issued for its project with FTA. The Applicant understands 
that Federal laws, regulations, policies, and administrative practices 
might be modified from time to time and that modifications may affect 
the implementation of the project. The Applicant agrees that the most 
recent Federal requirements will apply to the project, unless FTA 
issues a written determination otherwise. The Applicant must submit the 
Certifications and Assurances before receiving a grant if it does not 
have current Certifications on file.

C. Reporting

    Post-award reporting requirements include submission of Financial 
Status Reports and Milestone reports in TEAM on a quarterly basis for 
all projects. Documentation is required for payment. In addition, 
grants which include innovative technologies may be required to report 
on the performance of these technologies. Additional reporting may be 
required specific to the VTCLI and recipients may be expected to 
participate in events or peer networks related to the Initiative.

VIII. Agency Contacts

    For general program information, as well as proposal-specific 
questions, please send an e-mail to VeteransTransportation@dot.gov or 
contact Doug Birnie, (202) 366-1666, or, Pamela Brown, (202) 493-2503. 
A TDD is available at 1-800-877-8339 (TDD/FIRS).
    Applicants may also visit fta.dot.gov/veterans for frequently asked 
questions and answers.

    Issued in Washington, DC, this 21st day of July 2011.
Peter Rogoff,
Administrator.

             Appendix--FTA Regional and Metropolitan Offices
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mary Beth Mello,                     Brigid Hynes-Cherin,
Regional Administrator,              Regional Administrator,
Region 1-Boston,                     Region 2-New York,
Kendall Square,                      One Bowling Green, Room 429,
55 Broadway, Suite 920,              New York, NY 10004-1415,
Cambridge, MA 02142-1093,            Tel. 212-668-2170.
Tel. 617-494-2055.
States served: Connecticut, Maine,   States served: New Jersey, New
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode   York.
Island, and Vermont.                 New York Metropolitan Office,
                                     Region 2-New York,
                                     One Bowling Green, Room 428,
                                     New York, NY 10004-1415,
                                     Tel. 212-668-2202.
Letitia Thompson,                    Yvette Taylor,
Regional Administrator,              Regional Administrator,
Region 3-Philadelphia,               Region 4-Atlanta,
1760 Market Street, Suite 500,       230 Peachtree Street, NW., Suite
Philadelphia, PA 19103-4124,          800,
Tel. 215-656-7100.                   Atlanta, GA 30303,
                                     Tel. 404-865-5600.
States served: Delaware, Maryland,   States served: Alabama, Florida,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, West         Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi,
 Virginia,                            North
and District of Columbia.            Carolina, Puerto Rico, South
                                      Carolina,
                                     Tennessee, and Virgin Islands.
Philadelphia Metropolitan Office,
Region 3-Philadelphia,
1760 Market Street, Suite 500,
Philadelphia, PA 19103-4124,
Tel. 215-656-7070.
Washington, DC Metropolitan Office,
1990 K Street, NW.,
Room 510,
Washington, DC 20006,
Tel. 202-219-3562.
Marisol Simon,                       Robert C. Patrick,
Regional Administrator,              Regional Administrator,
Region 5-Chicago,                    Region 6-Ft. Worth,
200 West Adams Street, Suite 320,    819 Taylor Street, Room 8A36,
Chicago, IL 60606,                   Ft. Worth, TX 76102,
Tel. 312-353-2789.                   Tel. 817-978-0550.
States served: Illinois, Indiana,    States served: Arkansas, Louisiana,
Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and       Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas.
 Wisconsin.
Chicago Metropolitan Office,
Region 5-Chicago,
200 West Adams Street, Suite 320,
Chicago, IL 60606,
Tel. 312-353-2789.

[[Page 44985]]

 
Mokhtee Ahmad,                       Terry Rosapep,
Regional Administrator,              Regional Administrator,
Region 7-Kansas City, MO,            Region 8-Denver,
901 Locust Street, Room 404,         12300 West Dakota Ave., Suite 310,
Kansas City, MO 64106,               Lakewood, CO 80228-2583,
Tel. 816-329-3920.                   Tel. 720-963-3300.
States served: Iowa, Kansas,         States served: Colorado, Montana,
 Missouri,                           North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah,
and Nebraska.                         and
                                     Wyoming.
Leslie T. Rogers,                    Rick Krochalis,
Regional Administrator,              Regional Administrator,
Region 9-San Francisco,              Region 10-Seattle,
201 Mission Street, Room 1650,       Jackson Federal Building,
San Francisco, CA 94105-1926,        915 Second Avenue, Suite 3142,
Tel. 415-744-3133.                   Seattle, WA 98174-1002,
                                     Tel. 206-220-7954.
States served: American Samoa,       States served: Alaska, Idaho,
Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii,    Oregon,
Nevada, and the Northern Mariana     and Washington.
Islands
Los Angeles Metropolitan Office,
Region 9-Los Angeles,
888 S. Figueroa Street, Suite 1850,
Los Angeles, CA 90017-1850,
Tel. 213-202-3952.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[FR Doc. 2011-18928 Filed 7-26-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P