Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology; University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program, Competition for Regions 1, 2, and 3, 24445-24447 [2017-10927]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 101 / Friday, May 26, 2017 / Notices
III. Request for Comments
In accordance with 49 U.S.C. 31136(e)
and 31315, FMCSA requests public
comment from all interested persons on
the exemption petitions described in
this notice. We will consider all
comments received before the close of
business on the closing date indicated
in the date section of the notice.
FMCSA notes that section 4129 of the
Safe, Accountable, Flexible and
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A
Legacy for Users requires the Secretary
to revise its diabetes exemption program
established on September 3, 2003 (68 FR
52441).1 The revision must provide for
individual assessment of drivers with
diabetes mellitus, and be consistent
with the criteria described in section
4018 of the Transportation Equity Act
for the 21st Century (49 U.S.C. 31305).
Section 4129 requires: (1) Elimination
of the requirement for 3 years of
experience operating CMVs while being
treated with insulin; and (2)
establishment of a specified minimum
period of insulin use to demonstrate
stable control of diabetes before being
allowed to operate a CMV.
In response to section 4129, FMCSA
made immediate revisions to the
diabetes exemption program established
by the September 3, 2003 notice.
FMCSA discontinued use of the 3-year
driving experience and fulfilled the
requirements of section 4129 while
continuing to ensure that operation of
CMVs by drivers with ITDM will
achieve the requisite level of safety
required of all exemptions granted
under 49 U.S.C. 31136 (e).
Section 4129(d) also directed FMCSA
to ensure that drivers of CMVs with
ITDM are not held to a higher standard
than other drivers, with the exception of
limited operating, monitoring and
medical requirements that are deemed
medically necessary.
The FMCSA concluded that all of the
operating, monitoring and medical
requirements set out in the September 3,
2003 notice, except as modified, were in
compliance with section 4129(d).
Therefore, all of the requirements set
out in the September 3, 2003 notice,
except as modified by the notice in the
Federal Register on November 8, 2005
(70 FR 67777), remain in effect.
IV. Submitting Comments
You may submit your comments and
material online or by fax, mail, or hand
delivery, but please use only one of
1 Section 4129(a) refers to the 2003 notice as a
‘‘final rule.’’ However, the 2003 notice did not issue
a ‘‘final rule’’ but did establish the procedures and
standards for issuing exemptions for drivers with
ITDM.
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these means. FMCSA recommends that
you include your name and a mailing
address, an email address, or a phone
number in the body of your document
so that FMCSA can contact you if there
are questions regarding your
submission.
To submit your comment online, go to
https://www.regulations.gov and in the
search box insert the docket number
FMCSA–2017–0036 and click the search
button. When the new screen appears,
click on the blue ‘‘Comment Now!’’
button on the right hand side of the
page. On the new page, enter
information required including the
specific section of this document to
which each comment applies, and
provide a reason for each suggestion or
recommendation. If you submit your
comments by mail or hand delivery,
submit them in an unbound format, no
larger than 81⁄2 by 11 inches, suitable for
copying and electronic filing. If you
submit comments by mail and would
like to know that they reached the
facility, please enclose a stamped, selfaddressed postcard or envelope.
We will consider all comments and
material received during the comment
period. FMCSA may issue a final
determination at any time after the close
of the comment period.
V. Viewing Comments and Documents
To view comments, as well as any
documents mentioned in this preamble,
go to https://www.regulations.gov and in
the search box insert the docket number
FMCSA–2017–0036 and click ‘‘Search.’’
Next, click ‘‘Open Docket Folder’’ and
you will find all documents and
comments related to this notice.
Issued on: May 18, 2017.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2017–10764 Filed 5–25–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–EX–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Research and Technology; University
Transportation Centers (UTC)
Program, Competition for Regions 1, 2,
and 3
Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Research and Technology
(OST–R), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability.
AGENCY:
The United States Department
of Transportation (the Department) is
publishing this notice to give eligible
nonprofit institutions of higher learning
in Standard Federal Regions 1, 2, and 3
advance notice that they will have an
SUMMARY:
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24445
opportunity to submit, through a recompetition, grant applications as a
Regional Center, for Standard Federal
Regions 1, 2 and 3, in the University
Transportation Centers (UTCs) program
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
number 20.701).
Funds for this grant program were
authorized beginning on October 1,
2015. In the near future, the
Department, via the Office of the
Assistant Secretary for Research and
Technology (OST–R), will release a
grant solicitation through Grants.gov,
and the UTC Program’s Web site, https://
utc.dot.gov, describing the competition
and deadlines for applications.
Proposals will be evaluated through a
competitive process on the basis of
demonstrated ability, research,
technology transfer and education
resources, leadership, multimodal
research capability, commitment to
transportation workforce development
programs, dissemination of results, and
the use of peer review, cost effectiveness
and partnerships to advance diversity.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Kevin Womack, Director, Office of
Research, Development and
Technology, mail code RDT–10, OST–R,
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC 20590. Telephone
Number (405) 954–7312 or Email:
Kevin.Womack@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Background
II. Eligibility
III. Matching Requirements
IV. Application Process
V. Program Funding and Award
VI. Use of Grant Funds
I. Background
The Fixing America’s Surface
Transportation Act (FAST Act; Pub. L.
114–94, Sec. 6002(a)(5); December 4,
2015) authorizes $72.5 million for
Federal fiscal year (FY) 2016, $75
million for FY 2017 and FY 2018, and
$77.5 million for FY 2019 and FY 2020
for up to 35 competitive grants for
UTCs. The FY 2016 through FY 2020
funds are subject to appropriations and
to an annual obligation limitation. The
amount of budget authority available in
a given year may be less than the
amount authorized for that fiscal year.
The FAST Act authorizes the
Secretary of Transportation to make
grants to eligible nonprofit institutions
of higher education to establish and
operate UTCs. Nonprofit institutions of
higher education may include
qualifying two-year institutions (20
U.S.C. 1001(a)). OST–R will manage the
UTC Program for the Department. The
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 101 / Friday, May 26, 2017 / Notices
Department will solicit competitive
grant applications for three Regional
University Transportation Centers, one
each in Standard Federal Regions 1, 2,
and 3. Previously, the Department
solicited competitive grant applications
for these three regions; however, the
Department did not select any of the
submitted applications. UTCs will be
selected by the Secretary, in
consultation as appropriate with the
Assistant Secretary for Research and
Technology, and the Administrator of
the Federal Highway Administration
and other modal administrators as
appropriate. (49 U.S.C. 5505(b)(4)(B) as
amended by Pub. L. 114–94, Sec. 6016).
The Department plans to
competitively select three Regional
UTCs, one in each Standard Federal
Regions 1, 2, and 3, with an initial
annual award ofup to $2,570,600 each.
The role of each UTC is to advance
transportation expertise and technology
in the varied disciplines that comprise
the field of transportation through
education, research, and technology
transfer activities; to provide for a
critical transportation knowledge base
outside of the Department of
Transportation; and to address critical
workforce needs and educate the next
generation of transportation leaders.
year institutions may be members of a
consortium if they meet the definition of
‘‘institution of higher learning’’ in 20
U.S.C. 1001(a). The grantee institution
(lead institution of a consortium of
institutions) will be the direct and
primary recipient of UTC program
funds. The grantee institution must
perform a substantive role in carrying
out UTC activities, and not serve merely
as a conduit for awards to other parties.
Applicants are reminded of the
following restriction (49 U.S.C.
5505(b)(2)(A) as amended by Public Law
114–94, § 6016):
A lead institution of a consortium of
nonprofit institutions of higher
education may only receive one grant
per fiscal year for each type of Center.
Thus, a lead institution may receive
grants as a National Center, a Regional
Center, and a Tier 1 Center, but not
more than one grant in each category.
II. Eligibility
A UTC must be located in the United
States or territories. A change in the
UTC Program from prior authorizations
is that each UTC must be a consortium
of two or more nonprofit institutions of
higher learning (49 U.S.C. 5505(b)(1) as
amended by Public Law 114–94,
§ 6016). A Regional UTC must be
located in the region for which the grant
is sought. (49 U.S.C. 5505(c)(3)(B)(ii) as
amended by Pub. L. 114–94, § 6016). All
members of a Regional UTC consortium
must be located in the region for which
the grant is sought.
For Region 1, the eligible states are:
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, Rhode Island and
Vermont. For Region 2, the eligible
states/territories are: New Jersey, New
York, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin
Islands. For Region 3, the eligible states
are: Delaware, the District of Columbia,
Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and
West Virginia.
Institutions may collaborate with state
and local departments of transportation,
Metropolitan Planning Organizations,
the private sector and non-governmental
organizations; however, these
organizations or others that are not U.S.
nonprofit institutions of higher learning
may not be considered members of a
consortium. A change from previous
UTC Program competitions is that two-
IV. Application Process
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Ill. Matching Requirements
Each UTC is required to obtain
matching funds from non-federal
sources. The amount of matching funds
required for a Regional UTC is 100
percent of the Federal award. The
matching amounts may include the
amounts made available to a grant
recipient under 23 U.S.C. 504(b) or 505.
Full and Open Competition. The
Department will conduct the UTC
program selection based on principles of
full and open competition. Three
Regional Centers will be selected from
the pool of applicants.
Subject Matter Focus. A change to the
UTC Program in this competition is that
applicants must address the following
selected research priorities taken from
section 6503, Subtitle III of title 49 as
amended by Public Law 114–94, § 6016:
A. Improving mobility of people and
goods; B. Reducing congestion;
C. Promoting safety;
D. Improving the durability and
extending the life of transportation
infrastructure; and
E. Preserving the existing
transportation system.
The Secretary has selected
nonexclusive candidate topic areas that
will fall within these priority areas.
Each UTC will be awarded a grant based
on its ability to address one of the
priorities and the topic areas that fall
within the priority area selected.
Regional UTCs: One UTC will be
selected in each of Standard Federal
Regions 1, 2, and 3. Regional UTCs are
required to focus on transportation
research and education (49 U.S.C.
5505(c)(3)(B) as amended by Pub. L.
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114–94, § 6016). Regional UTCs must be
able to conduct research in an area of
focus from among nonexclusive
candidate topic areas established by the
Secretary that address the research
priorities identified in section 6503,
Subtitle III of title 49 as amended by
Public Law 114–94, § 6016. An
applicant for a Regional UTC must
designate the region in which it is
applying.
Selection criteria. The Department
will evaluate and select UTC applicants
based on the nine selection criteria
outlined in the FAST Act:
‘‘(i) the demonstrated ability of the
recipient to address each specific topic area
described in the research and strategic plans
of the recipient;
‘‘(ii) the demonstrated research, technology
transfer, and education resources available to
the recipient to carry out this section;
‘‘(iii) the ability of the recipient to provide
leadership in solving immediate and longrange national and regional transportation
problems;
‘‘(iv) the ability of the recipient to carry out
research, education, and technology transfer
activities that are multimodal and
multidisciplinary in scope;
‘‘(v) the demonstrated commitment of the
recipient to carry out transportation
worliforce development programs through‘‘(!) degree-granting programs or programs
that provide other industry-recognized
credentials; and
‘‘(II) outreach activities to attract new
entrants into the transportation field
including women and underrepresented
populations;
‘‘(vi) the demonstrated ability of the
recipient to disseminate results and spur the
implementation of transportation research
and education programs through national or
statewide continuing education programs;
‘‘(vii) the demonstrated commitment ofthe
recipient to the use of peer review principles
and other research best practices in the
selection, management, and dissemination of
research projects;
‘‘(viii) the strategic plan submitted by the
recipient describing the proposed research to
be carried out by the recipient and the
performance metrics to be used in assessing
the performance of the recipient in meeting
the stated research, technology transfer,
education, and outreach goals; and
‘‘(ix) the ability of the recipient to
implement the proposed program in a costefficient manner, such as through cost
sharing and overall reduced overhead,
facilities, and administrative costs. ’’
(49 U.S.C. 5505(b)(4)(B) as amended by
Pub. L. 114–94, § 6016).
The following additional selection
criteria also apply to Regional UTCs:
Regional UTCs. The lead institution
in a Regional consortium must have a
well-established, nationally recognized
program in research and education, as
shown by:
(i) recent expenditures by the institution in
highway or public transportation research;
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 101 / Friday, May 26, 2017 / Notices
(ii) a historical track record of awarding
graduate degrees in professional fields
closely related to highways and public
transportation; and
(iii) an experienced faculty who specialize
in professional fields closely related to
highways and public transportation.
(49 U.S.C. 5505(c)(3)(B) (iii) as amended
by Pub. L. 114–94, § 6016).
Past Performance. The Department is
required by 2 CFR part 200, Uniform
Administrative Requirements, Cost
Principles, and Audit Requirements for
Federal Awards, Section 205, to review
risk posed by applicants. This may be
done through such publicly available
information collections as the System
for Award Management (SAM.gov) and/
or through specifically collected
information about the applicant’s record
in managing Federal awards.
External Stakeholders. The
Department will consult with external
stakeholders (including the
Transportation Research Board ofthe
National Academy of Sciences, among
others), to the maximum extent
practicable, to evaluate and review all
proposals. (49 U.S.C. 5505(b)(6) as
amended by Pub. L. 114–94, § 6016).
V. Program Funding and Award
UTCs will be selected by the
Secretary, in consultation as appropriate
with the Assistant Secretary for
Research and Technology, the
Administrator of the Federal Highway
Administration and other modal
administrators as appropriate. Awards
will be made no later than December 4,
2017, with Federal FY 2016 funds
awarded at that time. Subsequent
Federal FY 2017–FY 2020 funding will
be awarded approximately annually
after that date, subject to availability of
funds and grantee compliance with
grant terms and conditions.
VI. Use of Grant Funds
Grantees will have until September
30, 2023 to expend all funds, assuming
availability of annual appropriations.
Issued in Washington, DC, on May 23,
2017.
Elaine L. Chao,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017–10927 Filed 5–25–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P
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19:14 May 25, 2017
Jkt 241001
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service
Proposed Collection; Comment
Request for Forms 1065, 1065–B, 1066,
1120, 1120–C, 1120–F, 1120–FSC,
1120–H, 1120–L, 1120–ND, 1120–PC,
1120–POL, 1120–S, 1120–SF, 1120–
REIT, 1120–RIC, and Related
Attachments
Internal Revenue Service (IRS),
Treasury.
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
The Internal Revenue Service,
as part of its continuing effort to reduce
paperwork and respondent burden,
invites the general public and other
Federal agencies to take this
opportunity to comment on proposed
and continuing information collections,
as required by the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (PRA). This notice requests
comments on all forms used by business
entity taxpayers:
Forms 1065, 1065–B, 1066, 1120,
1120–C, 1120–F, 1120–FSC, 1120–H,
1120–L, 1120–ND, 1120–PC, 1120–POL,
1120–S, 1120–SF, 1120–REIT, 1120–
RIC; and all attachments to these forms
(see the Appendix to this notice). With
this notice, the IRS is also announcing
significant changes to (1) the manner in
which tax forms used by business
taxpayers will be approved under the
PRA and (2) its method of estimating the
paperwork burden imposed on all
business taxpayers.
DATES: Written comments should be
received on or before July 25, 2017 to be
assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments
to Laurie Brimmer, Internal Revenue
Service, Room 6526, 1111 Constitution
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224.
Requests for additional information or
copies of the form and instructions
should be directed to Sara Covington, at
Internal Revenue Service, Room 6526,
1111 Constitution Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20224, or through the
internet, at Sara.L.Covington@irs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Change in PRA Approval of Forms
Used by Business Taxpayers
Under the PRA, OMB assigns a
control number to each ‘‘collection of
information’’ that it reviews and
approves for use by an agency. A single
information collection may consist of
one or more forms, recordkeeping
requirements, and/or third-party
disclosure requirements. Under the PRA
and OMB regulations, agencies have the
discretion to seek separate OMB
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24447
approvals for business forms,
recordkeeping requirements, and thirdparty reporting requirements or to
combine any number of forms,
recordkeeping requirements, and/or
third-party disclosure requirements
(usually related in subject matter) under
one OMB Control Number. Agency
decisions on whether to group
individual requirements under a single
OMB Control Number or to disaggregate
them and request separate OMB Control
Numbers are based largely on
considerations of administrative
practicality.
The PRA also requires agencies to
estimate the burden for each collection
of information. Accordingly, each OMB
Control Number has an associated
burden estimate. The burden estimates
for each control number are displayed
in (1) the PRA notices that accompany
collections of information, (2) Federal
Register notices such as this one, and
(3) in OMB’s database of approved
information collections. If more than
one form, recordkeeping requirement,
and/or third-party disclosure
requirement is approved under a single
control number, then the burden
estimate for that control number reflects
the burden associated with all of the
approved forms, recordkeeping
requirements, and/or third-party
disclosure requirements.
As described below under the heading
‘‘New Burden Model,’’ the IRS’s new
Business Taxpayer Burden Model
(BTBM) estimates of taxpayer burden
are based on taxpayer characteristics
and activities, taking into account,
among other things, the forms and
schedules generally used by those
groups of business taxpayers and the
recordkeeping and other activities
needed to complete those forms. The
BTBM represents the second phase of a
long-term effort to improve the ability of
IRS to measure the burden imposed on
various groups of taxpayers by the
federal tax system. While the new
methodology provides a more accurate
and comprehensive description of
business taxpayer burden, it will not
provide burden estimates on a form-byform basis, as has been done under the
previous methodology. When the prior
model was developed in the mid-1980s,
almost all tax returns were prepared
manually, either by the taxpayer or a
paid provider. In this context, it was
determined that estimating burden on a
form-by-form basis was an appropriate
methodology. Today, over 90 percent of
all business entity tax returns are
prepared using software or with
preparer assistance. In this
environment, in which many taxpayers’
activities are no longer as directly
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 101 (Friday, May 26, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24445-24447]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10927]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology;
University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program, Competition for
Regions 1, 2, and 3
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
(OST-R), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The United States Department of Transportation (the
Department) is publishing this notice to give eligible nonprofit
institutions of higher learning in Standard Federal Regions 1, 2, and 3
advance notice that they will have an opportunity to submit, through a
re-competition, grant applications as a Regional Center, for Standard
Federal Regions 1, 2 and 3, in the University Transportation Centers
(UTCs) program (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number 20.701).
Funds for this grant program were authorized beginning on October
1, 2015. In the near future, the Department, via the Office of the
Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R), will release a
grant solicitation through Grants.gov, and the UTC Program's Web site,
https://utc.dot.gov, describing the competition and deadlines for
applications. Proposals will be evaluated through a competitive process
on the basis of demonstrated ability, research, technology transfer and
education resources, leadership, multimodal research capability,
commitment to transportation workforce development programs,
dissemination of results, and the use of peer review, cost
effectiveness and partnerships to advance diversity.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Kevin Womack, Director, Office of
Research, Development and Technology, mail code RDT-10, OST-R, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone Number (405) 954-
7312 or Email: Kevin.Womack@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Background
II. Eligibility
III. Matching Requirements
IV. Application Process
V. Program Funding and Award
VI. Use of Grant Funds
I. Background
The Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act; Pub. L.
114-94, Sec. 6002(a)(5); December 4, 2015) authorizes $72.5 million for
Federal fiscal year (FY) 2016, $75 million for FY 2017 and FY 2018, and
$77.5 million for FY 2019 and FY 2020 for up to 35 competitive grants
for UTCs. The FY 2016 through FY 2020 funds are subject to
appropriations and to an annual obligation limitation. The amount of
budget authority available in a given year may be less than the amount
authorized for that fiscal year.
The FAST Act authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to make
grants to eligible nonprofit institutions of higher education to
establish and operate UTCs. Nonprofit institutions of higher education
may include qualifying two-year institutions (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). OST-R
will manage the UTC Program for the Department. The
[[Page 24446]]
Department will solicit competitive grant applications for three
Regional University Transportation Centers, one each in Standard
Federal Regions 1, 2, and 3. Previously, the Department solicited
competitive grant applications for these three regions; however, the
Department did not select any of the submitted applications. UTCs will
be selected by the Secretary, in consultation as appropriate with the
Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, and the Administrator
of the Federal Highway Administration and other modal administrators as
appropriate. (49 U.S.C. 5505(b)(4)(B) as amended by Pub. L. 114-94,
Sec. 6016).
The Department plans to competitively select three Regional UTCs,
one in each Standard Federal Regions 1, 2, and 3, with an initial
annual award ofup to $2,570,600 each.
The role of each UTC is to advance transportation expertise and
technology in the varied disciplines that comprise the field of
transportation through education, research, and technology transfer
activities; to provide for a critical transportation knowledge base
outside of the Department of Transportation; and to address critical
workforce needs and educate the next generation of transportation
leaders.
II. Eligibility
A UTC must be located in the United States or territories. A change
in the UTC Program from prior authorizations is that each UTC must be a
consortium of two or more nonprofit institutions of higher learning (49
U.S.C. 5505(b)(1) as amended by Public Law 114-94, Sec. 6016). A
Regional UTC must be located in the region for which the grant is
sought. (49 U.S.C. 5505(c)(3)(B)(ii) as amended by Pub. L. 114-94,
Sec. 6016). All members of a Regional UTC consortium must be located
in the region for which the grant is sought.
For Region 1, the eligible states are: Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. For Region 2,
the eligible states/territories are: New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico,
and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For Region 3, the eligible states are:
Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia
and West Virginia.
Institutions may collaborate with state and local departments of
transportation, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, the private sector
and non-governmental organizations; however, these organizations or
others that are not U.S. nonprofit institutions of higher learning may
not be considered members of a consortium. A change from previous UTC
Program competitions is that two-year institutions may be members of a
consortium if they meet the definition of ``institution of higher
learning'' in 20 U.S.C. 1001(a). The grantee institution (lead
institution of a consortium of institutions) will be the direct and
primary recipient of UTC program funds. The grantee institution must
perform a substantive role in carrying out UTC activities, and not
serve merely as a conduit for awards to other parties.
Applicants are reminded of the following restriction (49 U.S.C.
5505(b)(2)(A) as amended by Public Law 114-94, Sec. 6016):
A lead institution of a consortium of nonprofit institutions of
higher education may only receive one grant per fiscal year for each
type of Center. Thus, a lead institution may receive grants as a
National Center, a Regional Center, and a Tier 1 Center, but not more
than one grant in each category.
Ill. Matching Requirements
Each UTC is required to obtain matching funds from non-federal
sources. The amount of matching funds required for a Regional UTC is
100 percent of the Federal award. The matching amounts may include the
amounts made available to a grant recipient under 23 U.S.C. 504(b) or
505.
IV. Application Process
Full and Open Competition. The Department will conduct the UTC
program selection based on principles of full and open competition.
Three Regional Centers will be selected from the pool of applicants.
Subject Matter Focus. A change to the UTC Program in this
competition is that applicants must address the following selected
research priorities taken from section 6503, Subtitle III of title 49
as amended by Public Law 114-94, Sec. 6016:
A. Improving mobility of people and goods; B. Reducing congestion;
C. Promoting safety;
D. Improving the durability and extending the life of
transportation infrastructure; and
E. Preserving the existing transportation system.
The Secretary has selected nonexclusive candidate topic areas that
will fall within these priority areas. Each UTC will be awarded a grant
based on its ability to address one of the priorities and the topic
areas that fall within the priority area selected.
Regional UTCs: One UTC will be selected in each of Standard Federal
Regions 1, 2, and 3. Regional UTCs are required to focus on
transportation research and education (49 U.S.C. 5505(c)(3)(B) as
amended by Pub. L. 114-94, Sec. 6016). Regional UTCs must be able to
conduct research in an area of focus from among nonexclusive candidate
topic areas established by the Secretary that address the research
priorities identified in section 6503, Subtitle III of title 49 as
amended by Public Law 114-94, Sec. 6016. An applicant for a Regional
UTC must designate the region in which it is applying.
Selection criteria. The Department will evaluate and select UTC
applicants based on the nine selection criteria outlined in the FAST
Act:
``(i) the demonstrated ability of the recipient to address each
specific topic area described in the research and strategic plans of
the recipient;
``(ii) the demonstrated research, technology transfer, and
education resources available to the recipient to carry out this
section;
``(iii) the ability of the recipient to provide leadership in
solving immediate and long-range national and regional
transportation problems;
``(iv) the ability of the recipient to carry out research,
education, and technology transfer activities that are multimodal
and multidisciplinary in scope;
``(v) the demonstrated commitment of the recipient to carry out
transportation worliforce development programs through-
``(!) degree-granting programs or programs that provide other
industry-recognized credentials; and
``(II) outreach activities to attract new entrants into the
transportation field including women and underrepresented
populations;
``(vi) the demonstrated ability of the recipient to disseminate
results and spur the implementation of transportation research and
education programs through national or statewide continuing
education programs;
``(vii) the demonstrated commitment ofthe recipient to the use
of peer review principles and other research best practices in the
selection, management, and dissemination of research projects;
``(viii) the strategic plan submitted by the recipient
describing the proposed research to be carried out by the recipient
and the performance metrics to be used in assessing the performance
of the recipient in meeting the stated research, technology
transfer, education, and outreach goals; and
``(ix) the ability of the recipient to implement the proposed
program in a cost-efficient manner, such as through cost sharing and
overall reduced overhead, facilities, and administrative costs. ''
(49 U.S.C. 5505(b)(4)(B) as amended by Pub. L. 114-94, Sec. 6016).
The following additional selection criteria also apply to Regional
UTCs:
Regional UTCs. The lead institution in a Regional consortium must
have a well-established, nationally recognized program in research and
education, as shown by:
(i) recent expenditures by the institution in highway or public
transportation research;
[[Page 24447]]
(ii) a historical track record of awarding graduate degrees in
professional fields closely related to highways and public
transportation; and
(iii) an experienced faculty who specialize in professional
fields closely related to highways and public transportation.
(49 U.S.C. 5505(c)(3)(B) (iii) as amended by Pub. L. 114-94, Sec.
6016).
Past Performance. The Department is required by 2 CFR part 200,
Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit
Requirements for Federal Awards, Section 205, to review risk posed by
applicants. This may be done through such publicly available
information collections as the System for Award Management (SAM.gov)
and/or through specifically collected information about the applicant's
record in managing Federal awards.
External Stakeholders. The Department will consult with external
stakeholders (including the Transportation Research Board ofthe
National Academy of Sciences, among others), to the maximum extent
practicable, to evaluate and review all proposals. (49 U.S.C.
5505(b)(6) as amended by Pub. L. 114-94, Sec. 6016).
V. Program Funding and Award
UTCs will be selected by the Secretary, in consultation as
appropriate with the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology,
the Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration and other modal
administrators as appropriate. Awards will be made no later than
December 4, 2017, with Federal FY 2016 funds awarded at that time.
Subsequent Federal FY 2017-FY 2020 funding will be awarded
approximately annually after that date, subject to availability of
funds and grantee compliance with grant terms and conditions.
VI. Use of Grant Funds
Grantees will have until September 30, 2023 to expend all funds,
assuming availability of annual appropriations.
Issued in Washington, DC, on May 23, 2017.
Elaine L. Chao,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-10927 Filed 5-25-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P
