Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment Program, 17536-17543 [2016-07051]

Agencies

• Federal Highway Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 60 (Tuesday, March 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17536-17543]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07051]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[FHWA Docket No. FHWA-2016-0005]


Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Advanced Transportation and 
Congestion Management Technologies Deployment Program

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of funding opportunity.

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SUMMARY: The Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act directs 
the DOT to establish an advanced transportation and congestion 
management technologies deployment (ATCMTD) initiative. The initiative 
provides grants to eligible entities to develop model deployment sites 
for large scale installation and operation of advanced transportation 
technologies to improve safety, efficiency, system performance, and 
infrastructure return on investment. The ATCMTD program is funded for 
fiscal years (FY) 2016 through 2020 at $60 million per FY from amounts 
authorized under sections 6002(a)(1), 6002(a)(2), and 6002(a)(4) of the 
FAST Act. This notice is the first of annual solicitations for the 
ATCMTD program and seeks applications from eligible entities to 
establish the initial set of model technology deployment sites. The DOT 
intends for these model technology deployments to help demonstrate how 
emerging transportation technologies, data, and their applications, 
which also link to Beyond Traffic 2045, can be effectively deployed and 
integrated with existing systems to provide access to essential

[[Page 17537]]

services and other destinations. This also includes efforts to increase 
connectivity to employment, education, services and other 
opportunities; support workforce development; and contribute to 
community revitalization, particularly for disadvantaged groups (e.g., 
low income groups, persons with visible or hidden disabilities, elderly 
individuals, and minority populations). The DOT will make no fewer than 
five and no more than 10 awards of up to $12 million each depending on 
the number of awards and amounts set aside for DOT administrative 
expenses.

DATES: Applications must be submitted by 3:00 p.m., e.t., on or by June 
3, 2016. The Grants.gov ``Apply'' function will open by March 29, 2016. 
Applications should be submitted through https://www.grants.gov.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted through www.grants.gov. Only 
applicants who comply with all submission requirements described in 
this notice and submit applications through www.grants.gov will be 
eligible for award.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information concerning 
this notice, please contact the FHWA via email at ATCMTD@dot.gov. For 
questions about the ATCMTD program discussed herein, contact Mr. Robert 
Arnold, Director, FHWA Office of Transportation Management, telephone 
202-366-1285 or via email at Robert.Arnold@dot.gov; or Mr. Egan Smith, 
Managing Director, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Joint 
Program Office, telephone 202-366-9224 or via email at 
Egan.Smith@dot.gov. For legal questions, please contact Mr. Adam 
Sleeter, Attorney-Advisor, FHWA Office of the Chief Counsel, telephone 
202-366-8839 or via email at Adam.Sleeter@dot.gov. Business hours for 
the FHWA are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. A telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) 
is available at 202-366-3993. Additionally, the notice, answers to 
questions, requests for clarification, and information about Webinars 
for further guidance will be posted at  https://www.grants.gov/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded from the 
Federal Register Web site at https://www.archives.gov and the Government 
Printing Office's database at https://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice solicits applications for the 
ATCMTD program for FY 2016 from eligible entities to develop model 
deployment sites for large scale installation and operation of advanced 
transportation technologies to improve safety, efficiency, system 
performance, and infrastructure return on investment. Each section of 
this notice contains information and instructions relevant to the 
application process for ATCMTD grants. The applicant should read this 
notice in its entirety to submit eligible and competitive applications.

Table of Contents

A. Program Description
B. Federal Award Information
C. Eligibility Information
D. Application and Submission Information
E. Application Review Information
F. Federal Award Administration Information
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
H. Other Information

A. Program Description

    Section 503(c)(4), title 23, United States Code (23 U.S.C. 
503(c)(4)) directs the DOT to establish an ATCMTD initiative to provide 
grants to eligible entities to develop model deployment sites for large 
scale installation and operation of advanced transportation 
technologies to improve safety, efficiency, system performance, and 
infrastructure return on investment. This solicitation seeking 
applications from eligible entities will establish the initial set of 
model technology deployment sites. The deployment of technologies will:
     Reduce costs and improve return on investments, including 
through the enhanced use of existing transportation capacity;
     deliver environmental benefits that alleviate congestion 
and streamline traffic flow;
     measure and improve the operational performance of the 
applicable transportation network;
     reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes and 
increase driver, passenger, and pedestrian safety;
     collect, disseminate, and use real time transportation-
related information to improve mobility, reduce congestion, and provide 
for more efficient and accessible transportation;
     monitor transportation assets to improve infrastructure 
management, reduce maintenance costs, prioritize investment decisions, 
and ensure a state of good repair;
     deliver economic benefits by reducing delays, improving 
system performance, and providing for the efficient and reliable 
movement of goods and services; or
     accelerate the deployment of vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-
to-infrastructure, autonomous vehicles, and other technologies.
    The DOT intends for these model technology deployments to help 
demonstrate how emerging transportation technologies, data, and their 
applications, which also link to Beyond Traffic 2045, can be 
effectively deployed and integrated with existing systems to provide 
access to essential services and other destinations.
    The competitive ATCMTD program will promote the use of innovative 
transportation solutions. The deployment of these technologies will 
provide Congress and DOT with valuable real life data and feedback to 
inform future decisionmaking. The DOT will make no fewer than five and 
no more than 10 awards of up to $12 million each depending on the 
number of awards and amounts set aside for DOT administrative expenses.

B. Federal Award Information

    Per 23 U.S.C. 503(c)(4)(I), for each fiscal year from 2016 through 
2020, a maximum of $60 million, less up to $2 million for DOT 
administrative expenses, will be available to make five to 10 awards 
not exceeding $12 million each depending on the number of awards and 
the amount set aside for DOT administrative expenses. The planned award 
type is a cost-reimbursable cooperative agreement or an allocation to a 
State department of transportation (State DOT). The ATCMTD awards may 
be used for:
     Advanced traveler information systems;
     Advanced transportation management technologies;
     Infrastructure maintenance, monitoring, and condition 
assessment;
     Advanced public transportation systems;
     Transportation system performance data collection, 
analysis, and dissemination systems;
     Advanced safety systems, including vehicle-to-vehicle and 
vehicle-to-infrastructure communications, technologies associated with 
autonomous vehicles, and other collision avoidance technologies, 
including systems using cellular technology;
     Integration of intelligent transportation systems with the 
Smart Grid and other energy distribution and charging systems;
     Electronic pricing and payment systems; or
     Advanced mobility and access technologies, such as dynamic 
ridesharing and information systems to

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support human services for elderly and disabled individuals.
    The DOT recognizes that each location has unique attributes, and 
each location's proposed deployment will be tailored to their vision 
and goals. Applications may be submitted for deploying any eligible 
technology. However, this section provides a framework for applicants 
to consider in the development of a proposed deployment by presenting 
the DOT's vision, goals, and focus areas.
    The DOT's vision for the ATCMTD initiative is the deployment of 
advanced technologies and related strategies to address issues and 
challenges in safety, mobility, sustainability, economic vitality, and 
air quality that confront transportation systems owners and operators. 
The advanced technologies are integrated into the routine functions of 
the location or jurisdiction, and play a critical role in helping 
agencies and the public address their challenges. Management systems 
within transportation and across other sectors (e.g., human services, 
energy, and logistics) share information and data to communicate 
between agencies and with the public. These management systems provide 
benefits by maximizing efficiencies based on the intelligent management 
of assets and the sharing of information using integrated technology 
solutions. The advanced technology solutions and the lessons learned 
from their deployment are used in other locations, scaled in scope and 
size, to increase successful deployments and provide widespread 
benefits to the public and agencies.
    The DOT's goals for the ATCMTD initiative include:
     Reduced costs and improved return on investments, 
including through the enhanced use of existing transportation capacity;
     Delivery of environmental benefits that alleviate 
congestion and streamline traffic flow;
     Measurement and improvement of the operational performance 
of the applicable transportation networks;
     Reduction in the number and severity of traffic crashes 
and an increase in driver, passenger, and pedestrian safety;
     Collection, dissemination and use of real time 
transportation related information to improve mobility, reduce 
congestion, and provide for more efficient and accessible 
transportation, including access to safe, reliable, and affordable 
connections to employment, education, healthcare, freight facilities, 
and other services;
     Monitoring transportation assets to improve infrastructure 
management, reduce maintenance costs, prioritize investment decisions, 
and ensure a state of good repair;
     Delivery of economic benefits by reducing delays, 
improving system performance and throughput, and providing for the 
efficient and reliable movement of people, goods, and services;
     Accelerated deployment of vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-
infrastructure, automated vehicle applications, autonomous vehicles, 
and other advanced technologies;
     Integration of advanced technologies into transportation 
system management and operations;
     Demonstration, quantification, and evaluation of the 
impact of these advanced technologies, strategies, and applications 
towards improved safety, efficiency, and sustainable movement of people 
and goods; and
     Reproducibility of successful systems and services for 
technology and knowledge transfer to other locations facing similar 
challenges.
    Although proposals are not limited to DOT priorities, the DOT is 
particularly interested in deployment programs and projects in the 
following areas:
     Transportation elements associated with Smart Cities: A 
Smart City is one that uses technology to connect transportation assets 
into an interactive network that allows communities to reduce 
congestion, support efficient goods movements, provide multimodal 
choices, keep travelers and freight logistics safe, reduce fuel 
consumption, protect the environment, respond to climate change, 
connect underserved communities, and support economic vitality. This 
focus area is for transportation technology deployments that would lead 
to a wider Smart City environment.
     Systemic applied pedestrian crossing technology: 
Pedestrian crossing technology encompasses crossing treatments with 
advanced equipment such as automated detectors that can sense 
pedestrians and provide them with safer crossing opportunities (e.g., 
extending crossing times or activating infrastructure or in-vehicle 
based displays and warnings). Such technologies offer significant 
benefits at midblock locations, which are particularly risky for 
pedestrians. Because pedestrian fatalities do not necessarily cluster 
in particular locations, it will likely be more effective to use a 
systemic application of pedestrian crossing improvements to improve 
safety. The DOT is interested in these technologies because pedestrians 
account for over 14 percent of annual roadway fatalities and over 70 
percent of these fatalities occur in urban environments.
     Multimodal Integrated Corridor Management (ICM): ICM is 
the coordination of individual network operations of adjacent 
facilities across all government or other operations agencies that 
creates a unified, interconnected, and multimodal system capable of 
sharing cross-network travel management. All corridor transportation 
assets and information services (i.e., State, regional, county, and 
local) are brought to bear when congestion events beyond nominal 
threshold conditions trigger alerts. Through an ICM approach, 
transportation professionals manage the corridor as a multimodal system 
and make operational decisions for the benefit of the corridor as a 
whole. The DOT is interested in increasing deployment of ICM.
     Traffic signal data acquisition, analysis, and management: 
Deployment of technology that actively impacts the management, 
operation, and maintenance of traffic signal systems through real time 
data collection and signal control to meet congestion management and 
system responsiveness objectives. Data collection could be from 
infrastructure sensors and cameras, mobile and connected sources (in-
vehicle and portable devices), or other external sources. Performance 
driven management of traffic systems is a proven approach to shifting 
resources from reactive to proactive processes to produce improved 
outcomes for internal and external stakeholders. The DOT has been 
working to accelerate the implementation of technologies that advance 
these strategies.
     Unified fare collection and payment system across 
transportation modes and jurisdictions: Technological advancements in 
payment systems allow convergence across both publicly-delivered and 
privately-delivered mobility services. However, field implementations 
have been achieved only sparingly and in small projects. Convergence 
will enhance consumer payment options and mode choices and forge 
partnerships among providers to achieve a seamless, accessible, and 
flexible transportation network across the Nation. The DOT is engaged 
in efforts which will assist in identifying technical, institutional, 
and policy solutions to achieve unified transportation payment systems.
     Incorporation of connected vehicle (CV) technology in 
public sector and first responder fleets: The use of CV technologies in 
infrastructure and integrated into public sector and first responder 
fleets can provide valuable system performance data, increased

[[Page 17539]]

safety and response time via signal preemption capabilities and routing 
information, and better fleet operation. The DOT is interested in early 
deployment opportunities of CV technologies that increase safety and 
has public benefit.
     Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) facilities for advanced data 
collection: WIM technology allows for the capture and recording of 
heavy vehicles axle and gross weights while traveling at normal traffic 
speed without requiring the vehicle to stop. These deployments, either 
existing or new, would be capable of high-quality and shareable data as 
part of its standard operation to support infrastructure and safety 
management needs. They would provide strategic coverage for a State's 
highway freight network. The DOT is interested in this technology to 
provide more efficient movement of goods through the collection and 
sharing of data needed to make better policy decisions at the State and 
national level.
     Dynamic ridesharing: Dynamic ridesharing deploys the 
latest communications technologies and social network structures to 
bring drivers and riders together quickly and efficiently. This 
strategy can reduce the number of single passenger trips which reduces 
overall fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The DOT 
considers dynamic ridesharing as a potential step-change improvement to 
carpooling when brought up to scale.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    To be selected for an ATCMTD award, an applicant must be an 
eligible applicant. Eligible applicants are State or local governments, 
transit agencies, metropolitan planning organizations (MPO) 
representing a population of over 200,000, or other political 
subdivisions of a State or local government (such as publicly owned 
toll or port authorities), or a multijurisdictional group or consortia 
of research institutions or academic institutions. Partnership with the 
private sector or public agencies, including multimodal and 
multijurisdictional entities, research institutions, organizations 
representing transportation and technology leaders, or other 
transportation stakeholders is encouraged.
    Typically, a consortium is a meaningful arrangement with all 
members involved in planning the overall direction of the group's 
activities and participating in most aspects of the group. The 
consortium is a long-term relationship intended to last the full life 
of the grant. Any application submitted by a sole research or academic 
institution that is not part of a consortium will not be considered for 
selection.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    Cost sharing or matching is required, with the maximum Federal 
share being 50 percent of future eligible costs. Therefore, a minimum 
non-Federal cost share of 50 percent is required. Cost sharing or 
matching means the portion of project costs not paid by Federal funds. 
For a more complete definition, please see the Uniform Administrative 
Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal 
Awards at part 200, title 2, Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR 200), 
including section 200.306 on cost sharing or matching. Other Federal 
funds using their appropriate matching share may be leveraged for the 
deployment but cannot be considered as part of the ATCMTD matching 
funds, unless otherwise supported by statute.

3. Other

    The ATCMTD recipients may use not more than five percent of the 
funds awarded each fiscal year to carry out planning and reporting 
requirements for the project.
    The DOT encourages applicants to identify any project components 
that have independent utility and separately detail the costs and 
requested ATCMTD funding for each component in their applications. If 
the application identifies one or more independent project components, 
the application should clearly identify how each independent component 
addresses the selection criteria and produces benefits on its own, and 
describe how the full proposal, of which the independent component is a 
part, addresses the selection criteria.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Address

    Applicants may obtain application forms at grants.gov under the 
Notice of Funding Opportunity Number cited herein. The applicant must 
complete and submit all forms included in the application package for 
this notice as contained at www.grants.gov.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

    The application must include the Standard Form (SF) 424 
(Application for Federal Assistance), SF 424A (Budget Information for 
Non-Construction Programs), SF 424B (Assurances for Non-Construction 
Programs), Grants.gov Lobbying Form, cover page, and the project 
narrative. The SFs are available online at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html. More detailed information about the 
cover page and project narrative follows.
    a. Cover Page Including the Following Table:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Project name
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Previously Incurred Project Cost...........  $
Future Eligible Project Cost...............  $
Total Project Cost.........................  $
ATCMTD Request.............................  $
Total Federal Funding (including ATCMTD)...  $
Are matching funds restricted to a specific  Yes/No.
 project component? If so, which one?.
State(s) in which the project is located...  ...........................
Is the project currently programmed in the:  Yes/No--please specify in
 Transportation Improvement Program   which plans the project is
 (TIP).                                       currently programmed.
 Statewide Transportation
 Improvement Program (STIP).
 MPO Long Range Transportation Plan
 State Long Range Transportation
 Plan.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

b. Project Narrative
    The application must include information required for the DOT to 
determine that the project satisfies project requirements described in 
sections A, B, and C and to assess the selection criteria specified in 
section E.1. To the extent practicable, applicants should provide data 
and

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evidence of project merits in a form that is verifiable or publicly 
available. The DOT may ask any applicant to supplement data in its 
application, but expects applications to be complete upon submission.
    The DOT recommends that the project narrative adhere to the 
following basic outline of a project description, staffing description, 
and funding description to clearly address the program requirements and 
make critical information readily apparent. In addition to a detailed 
statement of work, detailed project schedule, and detailed project 
budget, the project narrative should include a table of contents, maps, 
and graphics as appropriate to make the information easier to review. 
The DOT recommends that the project narrative be prepared with standard 
formatting preferences (i.e., a single-spaced document, using a 
standard 12-point font such as Times New Roman, with 1-inch margins). 
The project narrative may not exceed 25 pages in length, excluding 
cover pages and the table of contents. The only substantive portions 
that may exceed the 25-page limit are documents to support assertions 
or conclusions made in the project narrative or r[eacute]sum[eacute]s 
of key staff described in the project narrative. If supporting 
documents are submitted, applicants must clearly identify within the 
project narrative the relevant portion of the project narrative that 
each supporting document supports.
    c. Project description that includes the following:
    (1) An introduction that provides a one- to two-page summary of the 
proposed technology deployment(s).
    (2) A description of the entity that will be entering into the 
agreement with FHWA including:
    (a) Membership of any partnership or entity proposed to carry out 
the deployment; and
    (b) a description of how the entity will manage the program 
including project funding.
    Applicants that are multijurisdictional groups or consortia of 
research or academic institutions do not necessarily have to be an 
existing organization or coalition but should show evidence that a 
cooperative agreement, memorandum of understanding, or other 
organizational mechanism can be executed in a reasonable timeframe 
after selection. (Note: A multijurisdictional group is any combination 
of State governments, local governments, metropolitan planning 
agencies, transit agencies, or other political subdivisions of a State 
for which each member of the group has signed a written agreement to 
implement the advanced transportation technologies deployment 
initiative across jurisdictional boundaries, and is an eligible entity 
under this paragraph.)
    (3) A description of the geographic area or jurisdiction the 
deployment will service.
    (4) A description of the real world issues and challenges to be 
addressed by the proposed technology deployments. Applicants should 
discuss how the proposed technology deployments address the goals of 
the initiative and any applicable technology focus area. Applicants 
should highlight any proposed linkages to Ladders of Opportunity 
pathways to jobs and economic opportunities as described in section B.
    (5) A description of transportation systems and services to be 
included in project.
    (6) A plan to deploy and provide for the long-term operation and 
maintenance of advanced transportation and congestion management 
technologies to improve safety, efficiency, system performance, and 
return on investment.
    (7) A description of any challenges in the regulatory, legislative, 
or institutional environments or other obstacles to deployment.
    (8) Quantifiable system performance improvements, such as:
    (a) Reducing traffic-related crashes, congestion, and costs;
    (b) optimizing system efficiency; and
    (c) improving access to transportation services.
    (9) Quantifiable safety, mobility, and environmental benefit 
projections such as data-driven estimates of how the project will 
improve the region's transportation system efficiency and reduce 
traffic congestion.
    (10) Vision, goals, and objectives of the applicant for the 
technology deployment, including any future related deployments;
    (11) Vision of the organization and goals, objectives, and 
activities to be pursued in addressing the identified issues and 
challenges.
    (12) A plan for partnering with the private sector or public 
agencies, including multimodal and multijurisdictional entities, 
research institutions, organizations representing transportation and 
technology leaders, or other transportation stakeholders.
    (13) A plan to leverage and optimize existing local and regional 
advanced transportation technology investments.
    (14) A schedule for conducting the technology deployment and for 
completion of all proposed activities.
    (15) Any support or leveraging of the ITS program or innovative 
technology initiatives (DOT ITS initiatives are described online at 
https://www.its.dot.gov).
    d. Staffing description that includes the following:
    (1) A description of the organization of staffing to manage and 
conduct the project, including identification of key personnel, 
organization, role, and responsibility.
    (2) A primary point of contact (POC) and provide complete contact 
information for this individual.
e. Funding Description
    Applications must include a breakdown of estimated costs across 
project work areas or tasks, including an identification of funding 
sources and amounts.

    (Note: The maximum amount of funding requested from the ATCMTD 
program cannot exceed $12 million per year nor exceed 50 percent of 
the total cost of the activities proposed to be funded. The maximum 
amount that will be awarded will depend on the number of awards and 
the amount reserved for DOT administrative expenses. Selection of an 
application to receive grant funding in one fiscal year is not a 
commitment of any future funding. Applications will be solicited 
annually for competitively selecting grant recipients for that 
funding year.)

f. Additional Organization Information
    In addition to the forms noted above, provide answers to the 
following organizational information questions in a pdf format:
    (1) Identify any exceptions to the anticipated award terms and 
conditions as contained in section F (Federal Award Administration 
Information). Identify any preexisting intellectual property that you 
anticipate using during award performance, and your position on its 
data rights during and after the award period of performance.
    (2) The use of a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System 
(DUNS) number is required on all applications for Federal grants or 
cooperative agreements. Please provide your organization's DUNS number 
in your budget application.
    (3) A statement to indicate whether your organization has 
previously completed an A-133 Single Audit and, if so, the date that 
the last A-133 Single Audit was completed.
    (4) A statement regarding conflicts of interest. The applicant must 
disclose in writing any actual or potential personal or organizational 
conflict of interest in its application that describes in a concise 
manner all past, present or planned organizational, contractual or 
other interest(s), which may affect the applicants' ability to perform 
the

[[Page 17541]]

proposed project in an impartial and objective manner. Actual or 
potential conflicts of interest may include but are not limited to any 
past, present or planned contractual, financial, or other 
relationships, obligations, commitments or responsibilities, which may 
bias the applicant or affect the applicant's ability to perform the 
agreement in an impartial and objective manner. The Agreement Officer 
(AO) will review the statement(s) and may require additional relevant 
information from the applicant. All such information, and any other 
relevant information known to DOT, will be used to determine whether an 
award to the applicant may create an actual or potential conflict of 
interest. If any such conflict of interest is found to exist, the AO 
may disqualify the applicant or determine that it is otherwise in the 
best interest of the United States to contract with the applicant and 
include appropriate provisions to mitigate or avoid such conflict in 
the agreement pursuant to 2 CFR 200.112.
    (5) A statement to indicate whether a Federal or State organization 
has audited or reviewed the applicant's accounting system, purchasing 
system, and/or property control system. If such systems have been 
reviewed, provide summary information of the audit/review results to 
include as applicable summary letter or agreement, date of audit/
review, Federal or State POC for such review.
    (6) Terminated Contracts. List any contract/agreement that was 
terminated for convenience of the Government within the past 3 years, 
and any contract/agreement that was terminated for default within the 
past 5 years. Briefly explain the circumstances in each instance.
    (7) The applicant is directed to review 2 CFR 170 (https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr170_main_02.tpl), dated September 14, 2010, and Appendix A thereto; 
on reporting of information on subawards and executive total 
compensation. The applicant is directed to acknowledge in its 
application that it understands the requirement, has the necessary 
processes and systems in place, and is prepared to fully comply with 
the reporting described in the term if it receives funding resulting 
from this notice. The text of Appendix A will be incorporated in the 
award document as a General Term and Condition as referenced under 
section F (Federal Award Administration Information).
    (8) Disclose any violations of Federal criminal law involving 
fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations. Failure to make required 
disclosures can result in any of the remedies described in 2 CFR 
200.338 (remedies for noncompliance, including suspension or 
debarment). (See also 2 CFR part 180 and 31 U.S.C. 3321.)

3. Unique Identifier and System for Award (SAM)

    The applicant is required to: (i) Be registered in SAM before 
submitting its application; (ii) provide a valid unique entity 
identifier in its application; and (iii) continue to maintain an active 
SAM registration with current information while it has an active 
Federal award, application, or plan under consideration by a Federal 
awarding agency.
    The Federal awarding agency may not make a Federal award to an 
applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique 
entity identifier and SAM requirements. If an applicant has not fully 
complied with the requirements by the time the Federal awarding agency 
is ready to make a Federal award, it may determine that the applicant 
is not qualified and use that determination as a basis for awarding 
another applicant.

4. Submission Dates and Times

a. Deadline
    Applications must be submitted through www.Grants.gov by 3:00 p.m., 
e.t., on or by June 3, 2016, which is the date and time by which the 
FHWA must receive the full and completed application, including all 
required sections.
    To submit an application through Grants.gov, applicants must:
    (1) Obtain a DUNS number:
    (2) Register with the SAM at www.sam.gov;
    (3) Create a Grants.gov username and password; and
    (4) The E-business Point of Contact (POC) at the applicant's 
organization must respond to the registration email from Grants.gov and 
login to authorize the POC as an Authorized Organization Representative 
(AOR). Please note that there can only be one AOR per organization.
    Please note that the Grants.gov registration process usually takes 
2-4 weeks to complete and late applications that are the result of 
failure to register or comply with Grants.gov applicant requirements in 
a timely manner will not be considered. For information and instruction 
on each of these processes, please see instructions at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html. If interested 
parties experience difficulties at any point during the registration or 
application process, please call the Grants.gov Customer Service 
Support Hotline at 800-518-4726, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., e.t., 
Monday through Friday.
b. Consideration of Application
    Only applicants who comply with all submission deadlines described 
in this notice and submit applications through Grants.gov will be 
eligible for award. Applicants are strongly encouraged to make 
submissions in advance of the deadline.
    Applicants interested in applying are encouraged to email 
ATCMTD@dot.gov no later than May 13, 2016, with applicant name, State 
in which project is located, approximate total project cost, amount of 
the ATCMTD grant request, and a two- to three-sentence project 
description. The DOT seeks this early notification of interest to 
inform its allocation of resources for application evaluations and to 
facilitate timely and efficient awards.
c. Late Applications
    Applications received after the deadline will not be considered 
except in the case of unforeseen technical difficulties outlined below.
d. Late Application Policy
    Applicants experiencing technical issues with Grants.gov that are 
beyond the applicant's control must contact ATCMTD@dot.gov prior to the 
application deadline with the user name of the registrant and details 
of the technical issue experienced. The applicant must provide:
    (1) Details of the technical issue experienced;
    (2) Screen capture(s) of the technical issues experienced along 
with corresponding Grants.gov grant tracking number;
    (3) The legal business name for the applicant that was provided in 
the SF-424;
    (4) The AOR name submitted in the SF-424;
    (5) The DUNS number associated with the application; and
    (6) The Grants.gov Help Desk Tracking Number.
    To ensure a fair competition of limited discretionary funds, the 
following conditions are not valid reasons to permit late submissions: 
(1) Failure to complete the registration process before the deadline; 
(2) failure to follow Grants.gov instructions on how to register and 
apply as posted on its Web site; (3) failure to follow all of the 
instructions in this notice; and (4) technical issues experienced with 
the applicant's computer or information technology environment. After 
DOT staff review all information submitted

[[Page 17542]]

and contact the Grants.gov Help Desk to validate reported technical 
issues, DOT staff will contact late applicants to approve or deny a 
request to submit a late application through Grants.gov. If the 
reported technical issues cannot be validated, late applications will 
be rejected as untimely.

E. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

    The DOT will evaluate applications on the following criteria, which 
are of equal importance:
    Technical Merit Criteria:
     Degree to which the proposed technology deployment aligns 
with program requirements and DOT goals.
     Maturity or readiness of the proposed technology(ies) to 
be deployed, and the likelihood of success of the applicant to deploy 
and sustain the proposed technology(ies), including the proposed 
approaches to addressing any regulatory and other obstacles to 
deployment.
     Scalability or portability of the proposed technology 
deployment to other jurisdictions.
     Commitment to evaluate the effectiveness (i.e., cost-
benefit) of activities proposed.
     Clarity, quality, and completeness of the proposal.
    Staffing Criteria:
     Degree to which the application includes a program/project 
management structure or organization that will successfully oversee the 
proposed technology deployment.
     Expertise and qualifications of key personnel for managing 
or conducting appropriate aspects of the proposed technology deployment 
through the period of performance.
    The DOT will prioritize projects that also enhance personal 
mobility and accessibility. Such projects include, but are not limited 
to (1) investments that better connect people to essential services 
such as employment centers, health care, schools, education facilities, 
healthy food, and recreation; (2) remove physical barriers to access; 
(3) strengthen communities through neighborhood redevelopment; (4) 
mitigate the negative impacts of freight movement on communities; and 
(5) support workforce development, particularly for disadvantaged 
groups (e.g., low-income groups, the disabled, elderly individuals, and 
minority populations). The DOT may consider whether a project's design 
is likely to generate benefits for all users, including non-driving 
members of a community adjacent to or affected by the project.

2. Review and Selection Process

    The DOT will review all eligible applications received before the 
application deadline. The ATCMTD process consists of a technical 
evaluation phase and senior review. In the technical evaluation phase, 
teams will determine whether each project satisfies statutory 
requirements and rate how well it addresses selection criteria. The 
senior review team will consider the applications and the technical 
evaluations to determine which projects to advance to the Secretary for 
consideration. Evaluations in both the technical evaluation and senior 
review phases will place projects into rating categories, not assign 
numerical scores. The Secretary will select the projects for award. The 
DOT reserves the right to use outside expertise and/or contractor 
support to perform application evaluation. A panel of Agency experts 
will conduct a risk assessment of the applicant prior to award.
    The DOT will award the applications that are considered the most 
advantageous using the criteria cited above, subject to the results of 
an applicant risk assessment. In addition, per 23 U.S.C. 
503(c)(4)(D)(i) and (ii), the DOT shall ensure, to the extent 
practicable, that grant recipients represent diverse geographic areas 
of the United States, including urban and rural areas, and that grant 
recipients represent diverse technology solutions.

3. Other Information

    Prior to award, each selected applicant will be subject to a risk 
assessment required by 2 CFR 200.205. The DOT must review and consider 
any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity 
and performance system accessible through SAM (currently the Federal 
Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS)). An 
applicant may review information in FAPIIS and comment on any 
information about itself. The DOT will consider comments by the 
applicant, in addition to other information in FAPIIS, in making a 
judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record 
of performance under Federal awards when completing the risk 
assessment. The DOT reserves the right to deny an award based on the 
results of the risk assessment.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Federal Award Notices

    Following the evaluation outlined in section E, the DOT will notify 
the selected applicants and announce the selected projects. Notice that 
an applicant has been selected as a recipient does not constitute 
approval of the application as submitted. Before the award, the DOT 
will contact the POC listed in the SF 424 to initiate negotiation of a 
project specific agreement. If the negotiations do not result in an 
acceptable submittal, the DOT reserves the right to terminate the 
negotiation and decline to fund the applicant.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    All awards will be administered pursuant to the Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for 
Federal Awards found in 2 CFR 200, as adopted by DOT at 2 CFR 1201. 
Applicable Federal laws, rules, and regulations set forth in 23 U.S.C. 
and 23 CFR also apply. For a list of the applicable laws, rules, 
regulations, executive orders, polices, guidelines, and requirements 
related to ATCMTD projects, please see https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/aaa/generaltermsconditions.cfm.

3. Reporting

a. Progress Reporting on Grant Activity
    Each applicant selected for an ATCMTD grant must submit the Federal 
Financial Report (SF-425) on the financial condition of the project, 
its progress, and an Annual Budget Review and Program Plan to monitor 
the use of Federal funds and ensure accountability and financial 
transparency in the ATCMTD program.
b. Reporting of Matters Related to Integrity and Performance
    If the total value of a selected applicant's currently active 
grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from all 
Federal awarding agencies exceeds $10 million at any time during the 
period of performance, then the applicant must maintain the currency of 
information reported to the SAM and made available in the FAPIIS about 
civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings described in paragraph 2 
of the award terms and conditions. This is a statutory requirement 
under section 872 of Public Law 110-417, as amended (41 U.S.C. 2313). 
As required by section 3010 of Public Law 111-212, all information 
posted in the designated integrity and performance system on or after 
April 15, 2011, except past performance reviews required for Federal 
procurement contracts, will be publicly available.

[[Page 17543]]

c. Reporting to the Secretary
    Per 23 U.S.C. 503(c)(4)(F), not later than 1 year after receiving 
an ATCMTD grant, and each year thereafter, the recipient shall submit a 
report to the Secretary that describes:
    (1) Deployment and operational costs of the project compared to the 
benefits and savings the project provides; and
    (2) how the project has met the original expectations projected in 
the deployment plan submitted with the application, such as:
    (a) Data on how the project has helped reduce traffic crashes, 
congestion, costs, and other benefits of the deployed systems;
    (b) data on the effect of measuring and improving transportation 
system performance through the deployment of advanced technologies;
    (c) the effectiveness of providing real time integrated traffic, 
transit, and multimodal transportation information to the public to 
make informed travel decisions; and
    (d) lessons learned and recommendations for future deployment 
strategies to optimize transportation efficiency and multimodal system 
performance.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

    For further information or questions concerning this notice, please 
contact the FHWA via email at ATCMTD@dot.gov. For questions about the 
ATCMTD program discussed herein, contact Mr. Robert Arnold, Director, 
FHWA Office of Transportation Management, telephone 202-366-1285 or via 
email at Robert.Arnold@dot.gov; or Mr. Egan Smith, Managing Director, 
ITS Joint Program Office, telephone 202-366-9224 or via email at 
Egan.Smith@dot.gov. A TDD is available at 202-366-3993. Additionally, 
the notice, answers to questions, requests for clarification, and 
information about Webinars for further guidance will be posted at 
https://www.grants.gov/.

H. Other Information

1. Public Comment

    The ATCMTD program is funded through FY 2020. This notice solicits 
applications for FY 2016 only. Because this is the first year 
implementing the ATCMTD program, FHWA invites interested parties to 
submit comments about this notice's contents, the FHWA's implementation 
choices within the legal bounds of the program, and suggestions for 
clarification in future ATCMTD solicitations. The FHWA seeks input on 
whether the information requested in applications is reasonable and 
clear and if additional merit criteria should be considered. The FHWA 
may consider the submitted comments and suggestions when developing 
subsequent ATCMTD notices and program guidance, but they will not 
affect the program's evaluation and selection process for FY 2016 
awards. Applications or comments about specific projects should not be 
submitted to the docket. Any application submitted to the document will 
not be reviewed. Comments should be sent to docket number FHWA-2016-
0005 by July 1, 2016. To the extent practicable, FHWA will consider 
late-filed comments.

2. Protection of Confidential Business Information

    To the extent possible, all information submitted as part of or in 
support of any application shall use publicly available data or data 
that can be made public and methodologies that are accepted by industry 
practice and standards. If the application includes information the 
applicant considers to be a trade secret, confidential commercial 
information, or financial information, the applicant should do the 
following: (1) Note on the front cover that the submission ``Contains 
Confidential Business Information (CBI)''; (2) mark each affected page 
``CBI''; and (3) highlight or otherwise denote the CBI portions. The 
DOT protects such information from disclosure to the extent allowed 
under applicable law. In the event DOT receives a Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) request for the information, it will follow the 
procedures described in its FOIA regulations at 49 CFR 7.17. Only 
information that is ultimately determined to be confidential under that 
procedure will be exempt from disclosure under FOIA.

    Authority:  23 U.S.C. 503(c)(4).

Gregory G. Nadeau,
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-07051 Filed 3-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-22-P