Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Restoration and Enhancement Grants Program, 7538-7545 [2018-03536]

Agencies

• Federal Railroad Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 21, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7538-7545]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-03536]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Restoration and Enhancement 
Grants Program

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO or notice).

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SUMMARY: This notice details the application requirements and 
procedures to obtain grant \1\ funding for eligible projects under the 
Restoration and Enhancement (R&E) Grants Program. This notice makes 
available R&E Grants Program funding provided by the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2017, Div. K, Tit. I, Public Law 115-31 
(Appropriations Act). The opportunities described in this notice are 
available under Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 
20.324, ``Restoration and Enhancement.''
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    \1\ The term ``grant'' is used throughout this document and is 
intended to reference funding awarded through a grant agreement, as 
well as funding awarded through a cooperative agreement.

DATES: Applications for funding under this solicitation are due no 
later than 5:00 p.m. EDT May 22, 2018. Applications for funding, or 
supplemental material in support of an application, received after 5:00 
p.m. EDT on May 22, 2018 will not be considered for funding. Incomplete 
applications will not be considered for funding. See Section D of this 
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notice for additional information on the application process.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted via 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 any supporting application materials that an 
applicant is unable to submit via www.Grants.gov, an applicant may 
submit an original and two (2) copies to Amy Houser, Office of Program 
Delivery, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Room W36-412, Washington, DC 20590. However, due to delays caused by 
enhanced screening of mail delivered via the U.S. Postal Service, 
applicants are advised to use other means of conveyance (such as

[[Page 7539]]

courier service) to assure timely receipt of materials before the 
application deadline.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information regarding this 
notice, please contact Ruthie Americus, Office of Policy and Planning, 
Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W36-
403, Washington, DC 20590; email: [email protected]; phone: 202-
493-0431. Grant application submission and processing questions should 
be addressed to Amy Houser, Office of Program Delivery, Federal 
Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W36-412, 
Washington, DC 20590; email: [email protected]; phone: 202-493-0303.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

    Notice to applicants: FRA recommends that applicants read this 
notice in its entirety prior to preparing application materials. A 
list providing the definitions of key terms used throughout the NOFO 
is in Section A(2) below. These key terms are capitalized throughout 
the NOFO. There are several administrative prerequisites and 
eligibility requirements described herein that applicants must 
comply with to submit an application. Additionally, applicants 
should note that the required Project Narrative component of the 
application package may not exceed 25 pages in length.

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

A. Program Description

1. Overview

    The purpose of this notice is to solicit applications for Operating 
Assistance grants for Initiating, Restoring, or Enhancing Intercity 
Rail Passenger Transportation authorized in Section 11303 of the Fixing 
America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, Public Law 114-94 (2015); 
49 U.S.C. 24408 and funded in the Appropriations Act. FRA will consider 
applications consistent with the priorities in 49 U.S.C. Sec.  
24408(d).

2. Definitions of Key Terms

    a. ``Enhancing'' or ``Enhance'' means upgrading or modifying the 
service currently offered on a route or train. Examples may include 
operating costs associated with, but are not limited to, adding a 
station stop, increasing frequency of a train (e.g., bi-weekly to daily 
train service or increasing daily train service frequencies), or 
modifying on-board services offered on the train (e.g., food or 
sleeping accommodations).
    b. ``Initiating'' or ``Initiate'' means commencing service on a 
route that did not previously operate Intercity Rail Passenger 
Transportation.
    c. ``Intercity Rail Passenger Transportation'' is defined by 49 
U.S.C. 24102(4) to mean rail passenger transportation, except commuter 
rail passenger transportation. ``Intercity Rail Passenger Service'' is 
used interchangeably with ``Intercity Rail Passenger Transportation'' 
in this NOFO and is intended to have the same meaning.
    d. ``Net Operating Costs'' are defined as operating expenses 
incurred minus operating revenue. Operating costs are described below 
in the definition for Operating Assistance.
    e. ``Operating Assistance'' refers to financial assistance covering 
expenses associated with the operation of Intercity Rail Passenger 
Transportation. Examples of such expenses may include: Staffing costs 
for train engineers, conductors, and on-board service crew; diesel fuel 
or electricity costs associated with train propulsion power; station 
costs such as ticket sales, customer information, and train dispatching 
services; station building utility and maintenance costs; lease 
payments on rolling stock; routine planned maintenance costs of 
equipment and train cleaning; host railroad costs; train yard operation 
costs; general and administrative costs; and management, marketing, 
sales and reservations costs.
    f. ``Rail Carrier'' or ``Railroad Carrier'' is defined by 49 U.S.C. 
10102(5) to mean a person providing common carrier railroad 
transportation for compensation, but does not include street, suburban, 
or interurban electric railways not operated as part of the general 
system of rail transportation.
    g. ``Restoring'' or ``Restore'' means reinstating service to a 
route that formerly operated Intercity Rail Passenger Transportation.

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Award Amount

    The total funding available for awards under this NOFO is 
$4,796,500 after $50,000 is set aside for FRA project management 
oversight as provided in the Appropriations Act and $153,500 is set 
aside for Special Transportation Circumstances grants that will be 
announced under a separate NOFO.

2. Award Limits

    The R&E grants may not provide funding for more than three years 
for any individual Intercity Rail Passenger Transportation route and 
may not be renewed. Applicants can apply to use R&E funding for: (a) 
Multiple (up to the first three) years of service or (b) only the first 
year of service. Grantees receiving funding for only the first year of 
service may apply for R&E Operating Assistance for the second and third 
year of service in response to future NOFOs, if funds are available. In 
addition, no more than six R&E grants may be active simultaneously, but 
an applicant may be awarded more than one grant.

3. Award Size

    While there are no predetermined minimum or maximum dollar 
thresholds for awards, FRA will only make a maximum of six simultaneous 
awards with the available funding. Projects may require more funding 
than is available. Given the limited amount of funding currently 
available, applicants are also encouraged to identify scalable 
elements, because FRA may select a project for funding that is less 
than the total amount requested in the application.
    FRA may not be able to award grants to all eligible applications, 
or even those applications that meet or exceed the stated evaluation 
criteria (see Section E, Application Review Information). A recipient 
of an R&E grant may use the grant funding in combination with other 
Federal grants that would benefit the applicable rail service.

4. Award Type

    FRA will make awards for projects selected under this notice 
through cooperative agreements. Cooperative agreements allow for 
substantial Federal involvement in carrying out the agreed upon 
investment, including technical assistance, and increased program 
oversight under 2 CFR 200.24. The funding provided under these 
cooperative agreements will be made available to grantees on a 
reimbursable basis. Applicants must certify that their expenditures are 
allowable, allocable, reasonable, and necessary to the approved project 
before seeking reimbursement from FRA. Additionally, the grantee must 
expend matching funds at the required percentage alongside Federal 
funds throughout the life of the project. FRA may award grants in 
installments, and may terminate any cooperative agreement upon the 
cessation of service or the violation of any other term of the 
cooperative agreement.

[[Page 7540]]

C. Eligibility Information

    This section of the notice explains applicant eligibility, cost 
sharing and matching requirements, and project eligibility. 
Applications that do not meet the requirements in this section will be 
ineligible for funding. Instructions for submitting eligibility 
information to FRA are detailed in Section D of this NOFO.

1. Eligible Applicants

    The following entities are eligible applicants for all project 
types permitted under this notice:
    (1) A State (including the District of Columbia);
    (2) A group of States;
    (3) An Interstate Compact;
    (4) A public agency or publicly chartered authority established by 
one or more States; \2\
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    \2\ See Section D(2)(a)(iv) for supporting documentation 
required to demonstrate eligibility under this eligibility category.
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    (5) A political subdivision of a State;
    (6) Amtrak or another Rail Carrier that provides Intercity Rail 
Passenger Transportation;
    (7) Any Rail Carrier in partnership with at least one of the 
entities described in paragraphs (1) through (5); and
    (8) Any combination of the entities described in paragraph (1) 
through (7).
    Joint applicants must identify an eligible applicant as the lead 
applicant. The lead applicant serves as the primary point of contact 
for the application, and if selected, as the recipient of the R&E 
Program grant award. Joint applicants must include a description of the 
roles and responsibilities of each applicant, including budget and sub-
recipient information showing how the applicants will share project 
costs, and must be signed by an authorized representative of each. 
Entities that are not eligible applicants may be included in an 
application with one or more eligible applicants.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    Grants for a project funded under the R&E program shall not exceed 
80 percent of the projected Net Operating Costs for the first year of 
service; 60 percent of the Net Operating Costs for the second year of 
service; and 40 percent of the projected Net Operating Costs for the 
third year of service. FRA will give priority to applications proposing 
a lower R&E grant share of projected Net Operating Costs than stated 
above, as further discussed in Section E(1). The required matching 
funds for the projected Net Operating Costs not covered by the R&E 
grant may be comprised of eligible public sector funding (state, local, 
or other federal funding) or private sector funding. However, FRA will 
not consider funds already expended (or otherwise encumbered) that do 
not comply with 2 CFR 200.458 toward the matching funds requirement. 
Additionally, only cash contributions will be counted toward the 
matching funds requirements. FRA strongly encourages applicants to 
identify and include state, local, Amtrak, public agency or authority, 
or private funding or financing to support the proposed project. 
Applicants must identify the source(s) of their matching funds for the 
R&E grant associated with the service, and must clearly and distinctly 
reflect these funds in the application budget.
    Before submitting an application, applicants should carefully 
review the principles for cost sharing or matching in 2 CFR 200.306.

3. Project Eligibility

    Projects eligible for funding under this NOFO must be projects for 
Operating Assistance to Initiate, Restore, or Enhance Intercity Rail 
Passenger Transportation. FRA will give priority to proposed projects 
in applications that:
    a. Show completed or nearly completed planning, design, 
environmental reviews, negotiation of agreements, acquisition of 
equipment, construction, and other actions necessary for Initiation, 
Restoration, or Enhancement of service;
    b. Restore service over routes formerly operated by Amtrak, 
including routes in the Gulf Coast region between New Orleans, 
Louisiana, and Orlando, Florida as described in section 11304 of the 
Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015;
    c. Provide daily or daytime service over routes where such service 
did not previously exist;
    d. Include funding or other significant participation by State, 
local, and regional governmental and private entities;
    e. Include a funding plan that demonstrates the Intercity Rail 
Passenger Service will be financially sustainable beyond the three-year 
grant period;
    f. Provide service to regions and communities that are underserved 
or not served by other intercity public transportation;
    g. Foster economic development, particularly in rural communities 
and for disadvantaged populations;
    h. Provide other non-transportation benefits, such as livability 
benefits; and
    i. Enhance connectivity and geographic coverage of the existing 
national network of Intercity Rail Passenger Service.

D. Application and Submission Information

    Required documents for the application are outlined in the 
following paragraphs. Applicants must complete and submit all 
components of the application. See Section D(2) for the application 
checklist. FRA welcomes the submission of additional relevant 
supporting documentation, such as host railroad agreements, Amtrak/
operator agreements, and funding commitment documentation. The 
additional relevant supporting documentation will not count against the 
Project Narrative page limit.

1. Address To Request Application Package

    Applicants must submit all application materials in their entirety 
through https://www.Grants.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT, on May 22, 
2018. FRA reserves the right to modify this deadline. General 
information for submitting applications through Grants.gov can be found 
at: https://www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P0270.
    For any supporting application materials that an applicant cannot 
submit via Grants.gov, an applicant may submit an original and two (2) 
copies to Amy Houser, Office of Program Delivery, Federal Railroad 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W36-412, Washington, DC 
20590. However, due to delays caused by enhanced screening of mail 
delivered via the U.S. Postal Service, FRA advises applicants to use 
other means of conveyance (such as courier service) to assure timely 
receipt of materials before the application deadline. Additionally, if 
documents can be obtained online, explaining to FRA how to access files 
on a referenced website may also be sufficient.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

    FRA strongly advises applicants to read this section carefully. 
Applicants must submit all required information and components of the 
application package to be considered for funding. Additionally, 
applicants selected to receive funding must generally satisfy the grant 
readiness checklist requirements on https://www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P0268 
as a precondition to FRA issuing a grant award, as well as the 
requirements in 49 U.S.C. 24405 explained in part at https://www.fra.dot.gov/page/P0185.

[[Page 7541]]

    Required documents for an application package are outlined in the 
checklist below.
 Project Narrative (see D.2.a)
 Statement of Work (see D.2.b.i)
 Capital and mobilization plan (see D.2.b.ii)
 Operating plan (see D.2.b.iii)
 Funding plan (see D.2.b.iv)
 Status of negotiations and agreements (see D.2.b.v)
 SF424--Application for Federal Assistance
 SF 424A--Budget Information for Non-Construction
 SF 424B--Assurances for Non-Construction
 FRA's Additional Assurances and Certifications
 SF LLL--Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
a. Project Narrative
    This section describes the minimum content required in the Project 
Narrative of the grant application. The Project Narrative must follow 
the basic outline below to address the program requirements and assist 
evaluators in locating relevant information.

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I. Cover Page..........................  See D.2.a.i.
II. Project Summary....................  See D.2.a.ii.
III. Project Funding Summary...........  See D.2.a.iii.
IV. Applicant Eligibility Criteria.....  See D.2.a.iv.
V. Project Eligibility Criteria........  See D.2.a.v.
VI. Detailed Project Description.......  See D.2.a.vi.
VII. Project Location..................  See D.2.a.vii.
VIII. Evaluation and Selection Criteria  See D.2.a.viii.
IX. Project Implementation and           See D.2.a.ix.
 Management.
X. Project Readiness...................  See D.2.a.x.
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    These requirements must be satisfied through a narrative statement 
submitted by the applicant. The Project Narrative may not exceed 25 
pages in length (excluding cover pages, table of contents, and 
supporting documentation). FRA will not review or consider for award 
applications with Project Narratives exceeding the 25-page limitation. 
If possible, applicants should submit supporting documents via website 
links rather than hard copies. If supporting documents are submitted, 
applicants must clearly identify the page number of the relevant 
portion of the supporting documentation in the Project Narrative. The 
Project Narrative must adhere to the following outline.
    i. Cover Page: Include a cover page that lists the following 
elements in either a table or formatted list: Project title; location 
(e.g., city, State, Congressional district); lead applicant 
organization name; name of any co-applicants; projected Net Operating 
Costs; the annual amount of R&E funding requested up to the first three 
years of operation; and match for the remaining operating costs not 
provided by R&E funding.
    ii. Project Summary: Provide a brief 4-6 sentence summary of the 
proposed project and what the project will entail. Include challenges 
the proposed project aims to address, and summarize the intended 
outcomes and anticipated benefits that will result from the proposed 
project.
    iii. Project Funding Summary: Indicate the annual amount of R&E 
funding requested, the match for the remaining operating costs not 
provided by R&E funding, and the total annual projected Net Operating 
Costs for the first three years of operation. Identify the source(s) of 
matching funds, and clearly and distinctly reflect these funds as part 
of the total projected Net Operating Cost in the application budget. 
Additionally, identify any other sources of Federal funds committed to 
the project and any pending Federal requests. Also, note if the 
requested Federal funding must be obligated or spent by a certain date 
due to dependencies or relationships with other Federal or non-Federal 
funding sources, related projects, law, or other factors. Additionally, 
specify whether Federal funding for the project has previously been 
sought, and identify the Federal program and fiscal year of the funding 
request(s). Rail Carriers other than Amtrak should state whether they 
will require access to Amtrak's reservation system, stations, or 
facilities because they are directly related to the Rail Carrier's 
operations, and whether they expect the FRA to award a portion of the 
requested R&E grant to Amtrak for such access (and in what amount).\3\ 
Provide information about any requests submitted to other programs for 
capital funding related to this project that supports project 
commitment to the Initiation, Restoration, or Enhancement of the 
Intercity Rail Passenger Service.
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    \3\ The Secretary, acting through the FRA, is permitted in 49 
U.S.C. 24408(h) to award an appropriate portion of R&E grants under 
this NOFO to Amtrak as compensation for permitting certain access.
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    iv. Applicant Eligibility Criteria: Explain how the applicant meets 
the applicant eligibility criteria outlined in Section C of this 
notice, including references to creation or enabling legislation for 
public agencies and publicly chartered authorities established by one 
or more States. Joint applications must include a description of the 
roles and responsibilities of each applicant, including budget and sub-
recipient information showing how the applicants will share project 
costs, and must be signed by an authorized representative of each joint 
applicant.
    v. Project Eligibility Criteria: Explain how the project meets the 
project eligibility criteria in Section C(3) of this notice.
    vi. Detailed Project Description: Include a detailed project 
description that expands upon the brief summary required above and 
cites with page number references to information included in documents 
responsive to Subsections D(2)(b)(ii-v). This detailed description 
should provide, at a minimum: The specific components and elements of 
the project, including service frequency; planned routes and schedules; 
station facilities; equipment that will be used and how it will be 
acquired or refurbished (if necessary); where equipment will be 
maintained and by what entity; additional background on the challenges 
the project aims to address; the expected users and beneficiaries of 
the project; projected ridership, revenues and costs; all railroads 
whose tracks will be used; service providers or entities expected to 
provide services or facilities that will be used, including access to 
Amtrak systems, stations, and facilities; train operators and their 
qualifications; plan for ensuring safe operations; and any other 
information the applicant deems necessary to justify the proposed 
project.
    vii. Project Location: Include geospatial data for the project, as 
well as a map of the project's location. Include the Congressional 
districts in which the project will take place.
    viii. Evaluation and Selection Criteria: Include a thorough 
discussion of how the proposed project meets all of the evaluation and 
selection criteria, as outlined in Section E of this notice. If an 
application does not sufficiently address the evaluation criteria and 
the selection criteria, it is unlikely to be a competitive application.
    ix. Project Implementation and Management: Describe proposed 
project implementation and project management arrangements. Include 
descriptions of the expected arrangements for project contracting, 
contract oversight, change-order management, risk management, and 
conformance to Federal requirements for project progress reporting.
    x. Project Readiness: Provide a brief summary of the: Capital and 
mobilization plan including any capital investments; service planning 
actions; mobilization actions (such as qualification of train crews); 
and

[[Page 7542]]

timeline for undertaking and completing each of the investments. 
Describe the appropriate planning, design, any environmental reviews, 
negotiation of agreements, acquisition of equipment, construction, and 
other actions necessary for Initiation of service that have been 
completed or nearly completed. Provide the date when the first year of 
rail service will commence or when Enhancements to existing service 
will be placed into service.
b. Additional Application Elements
    Applicants must submit:
    i. A Statement of Work (SOW) addressing the scope, schedule, and 
budget for the proposed project if it were selected for award. The SOW 
must contain sufficient detail so FRA, and the applicant, can 
understand the expected outcomes of the proposed work to be performed 
and can monitor progress toward completing project tasks and 
deliverables during a prospective grant's period of performance. 
Applicants must use the standard SOW template to be considered for 
award. The SOW template is located at https://www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/Details/L18661. When preparing the budget, the total cost of a project 
must be based on the best available information as indicated in cited 
references. The project schedule should be sufficiently detailed to 
include the date when the first year of service will commence (or when 
the proposed Enhancement will be placed into service), as well as 
reasonable due dates for expenses associated with the operation of the 
Intercity Rail Passenger Transportation.
    ii. Capital and mobilization plan that includes:
    (A) A description of any capital investments, service planning 
actions (such as environmental reviews), and mobilization actions (such 
as qualifications of train crews) required for Initiation of the 
Intercity Rail Passenger Transportation; and
    (B) A timeline for undertaking and completing each of the 
investments and actions referred to in subparagraph (A).
    iii. Operating plan describing:
    (A) Planned service operation;
    (B) Identity and qualifications of the train operator;
    (C) Identity and qualifications of any other service providers 
(e.g. on-board service, equipment maintenance, station staff);
    (D) Service frequency;
    (E) Planned routes and schedules;
    (F) Station facilities that will be utilized;
    (G) Projected ridership, revenues, and costs;
    (H) Descriptions of how the projections under subparagraph (G) were 
developed;
    (I) Equipment that will be utilized, how such equipment will be 
acquired or refurbished (if necessary), and where such equipment will 
be maintained; and
    (J) A plan for ensuring safe operations and compliance with 
applicable safety regulations;
    iv. Funding plan that:
    (A) Describes the funding of initial capital costs and operating 
costs for the first three years of operation;
    (B) Includes commitment by the applicant to provide the funds 
described in subparagraph (A) to the extent not covered by Federal 
grants and revenues; and
    (C) Describes the funding of operating costs and capital costs, to 
the extent necessary, after the first three years of operation.
    v. Status of negotiations and agreements with:
    (A) Each of the railroads or regional transportation authorities 
whose tracks or facilities would be utilized by the service;
    (B) The anticipated Railroad Carrier, if such entity is not part of 
the applicant group; and
    (C) Any other service providers or entities expected to provide 
services or facilities that will be used by the service, including any 
required access to Amtrak systems, stations, and facilities if Amtrak 
is not part of the applicant group.
    vi. SF424--Application for Federal Assistance
    vii. SF 424A--Budget Information for Non-Construction
    viii. SF 424B--Assurances for Non-Construction
    ix. FRA's Additional Assurances and Certifications; and
    x. SF LLL--Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.
    Forms needed for the electronic application process are at 
www.Grants.gov.
c. Post-Selection Requirements
    See Section F(2) for post-selection requirements.

1. Unique Entity Identifier, System for Award Management (SAM), and 
Submission Instructions

    All applicants must be registered as an organization with 
Grants.gov. To apply for funding through Grants.gov, applicants must be 
properly registered. Complete instructions on how to register and 
submit an application can be found at www.Grants.gov. Registering with 
Grants.gov is a one-time process; however, it can take up to several 
weeks for first-time registrants to receive confirmation and a user 
password. FRA recommends that applicants start the registration process 
as early as possible to prevent delays that may preclude submitting an 
application package by the application deadline. Applications will not 
be accepted after the due date. Delayed registration is not an 
acceptable justification for an application extension.
    FRA may not make a discretionary grant award to an applicant until 
the applicant has complied with all applicable Data Universal Numbering 
System (DUNS) and SAM requirements. (Please note that if a Dun & 
Bradstreet DUNS number must be obtained or renewed, this may take a 
significant amount of time to complete.) 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. If an applicant 
has not fully complied with the requirements by the submission 
deadline, the application will not be considered. To submit an 
application through Grants.gov, applicants must:
a. Obtain a DUNS Number
    A DUNS number is required for Grants.gov registration. The Office 
of Management and Budget requires that all businesses and nonprofit 
applicants for Federal funds include a DUNS number in their 
applications for a new award or renewal of an existing award. A DUNS 
number is a unique nine-digit sequence recognized as the universal 
standard for the government in identifying and keeping track of 
entities receiving Federal funds. The identifier is used for tracking 
purposes and to validate address and point of contact information for 
Federal assistance applicants, recipients, and sub-recipients. The DUNS 
number will be used throughout the grant life cycle. Obtaining a DUNS 
number is a free, one-time activity. Applicants may obtain a DUNS 
number by calling 1-866-705-5711 or by applying online at https://www.dnb.com/us.
b. Register With the SAM at www.SAM.gov
    All applicants for Federal financial assistance must maintain 
current registrations in the SAM database. An applicant must be 
registered in SAM to successfully register in Grants.gov. The SAM 
database is the repository for standard information about Federal 
financial assistance applicants, recipients, and sub recipients. 
Organizations that have previously submitted applications via 
Grants.gov are already registered with SAM, as it is

[[Page 7543]]

a requirement for Grants.gov registration. Please note, however, that 
applicants must update or renew their SAM registration at least once 
per year to maintain an active status. Therefore, it is critical to 
check registration status well in advance of the application deadline. 
If an applicant is selected for an award, the applicant must maintain 
an active SAM registration with current information throughout the 
period of the award. Information about SAM registration procedures is 
available at www.sam.gov.
c. Create a Grants.gov Username and Password
    Applicants must complete an Authorized Organization Representative 
(AOR) profile on www.Grants.gov and create a username and password. 
Applicants must use the organization's DUNS number to complete this 
step. Additional information about the registration process is 
available at: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html.
d. Acquire Authorization for Your AOR From the E-Business Point of 
Contact (E-Biz POC)
    The E-Biz POC at the applicant's organization must respond to the 
registration email from Grants.gov and login at www.Grants.gov to 
authorize the applicant as the AOR. Please note there can be more than 
one AOR for an organization.
e. Submit an Application Addressing All Requirements Outlined in this 
NOFO
    If an applicant experiences difficulties at any point during this 
process, please call the Grants.gov Customer Center Hotline at 1-800-
518-4726, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (closed on Federal holidays). 
For information and instructions on each of these processes, please see 
instructions at: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html

    Note: Please use generally accepted formats such as .pdf, .doc, 
.docx, .xls, .xlsx and .ppt, when uploading attachments. While 
applicants may embed picture files, such as .jpg, .gif, and .bmp, in 
document files, applicants should not submit attachments in these 
formats. Additionally, the following formats will not be accepted: 
.com, .bat, .exe, .vbs, .cfg, .dat, .db, .dbf, .dll, .ini, .log, 
.ora, .sys, and .zip.

2. Submission Dates and Times

    Applicants must submit complete applications in their entirety to 
www.Grants.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT, May 22, 2018. FRA reviews 
www.Grants.gov information on dates/times of applications submitted to 
determine timeliness of submissions. Late applications will be neither 
reviewed nor considered. Delayed registration is not an acceptable 
reason for late submission. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply 
early to ensure that all materials are received before this deadline.
    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 website; (3) failure to follow all instructions 
in this NOFO; and (4) technical issues experienced with the applicant's 
computer or information technology environment.

3. Intergovernmental Review

    Executive Order 12372 requires applicants from State and local 
units of government or other organizations providing services within a 
State to submit a copy of the application to the State Single Point of 
Contact (SPOC), if one exists, and if this program has been selected 
for review by the State. Applicants must contact their State SPOC to 
determine if the program has been selected for State review.

4. Funding Restrictions

    R&E grants awarded for any individual Intercity Rail Passenger 
Transportation route will not receive funding for more than three years 
and may not be renewed. No more than six Operating Assistance grant 
awards will be simultaneously active. FRA will only approve pre-award 
costs consistent with 2 CFR 200.458. Under 2 CFR 200.458, grant 
recipients must seek written approval from FRA for pre-award activities 
to be eligible for reimbursement under the cooperative agreement. 
Activities initiated prior to the execution of a cooperative agreement 
without FRA's written approval may not be eligible for reimbursement or 
included as a grantee's matching contribution. For Enhancement 
projects, FRA will only fund the portion of the operating costs 
associated with the Enhancement, and not the entire project or service.

E. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

a. Eligibility and Completeness Review
    FRA will first screen each application for eligibility (eligibility 
requirements are outlined in Section C of this notice) and completeness 
(application documentation and submission requirements are outlined in 
Section D of this notice). The matching requirement is considered in 
determining whether the application is eligible. FRA will also provide 
selection preference to applications where the proposed matching funds 
exceed the annual minimum required amounts specified in Section C(2).
b. Evaluation Criteria
    FRA subject-matter experts will evaluate all eligible and complete 
applications using the evaluation criteria outlined in this section to 
determine technical merit and public benefits consistent with the 
priorities in 49 U.S.C. Sec.  24408(d).
    i. Technical Merit: FRA will evaluate application information for 
the degree to which--
    (A) The tasks and subtasks outlined in the SOW are appropriate to 
achieve the expected outcomes of the proposed project.
    (B) The appropriate planning, design, any environmental reviews, 
negotiation of agreements, acquisition of equipment, construction, and 
other actions necessary for Initiation of service have been completed 
or nearly completed.
    (C) Service is restored over routes formerly operated by Amtrak, 
including routes in the Gulf Coast region between New Orleans, 
Louisiana, and Orlando, Florida as described in section 11304 of the 
Passenger Rail Reform and Investment Act of 2015.
    (D) The appropriate funding or other significant participation by 
State, local, and regional governmental and private entities are in-
place.
    (E) The application is thorough and responsive to all the 
requirements outlined in this notice, including the strength and 
comprehensiveness of the capital and mobilization plan, operating plan, 
funding plan, and status of negotiations and agreements described in 
Section D(2)(b). In particular, the funding plan demonstrates the 
Intercity Rail Passenger Service will be financially sustainable beyond 
the 3-year grant period.
    ii. Benefits:
    FRA will evaluate the proposed rail service on:
    (A) Providing daily or daytime service over routes where such 
service did not previously exist;
    (B) Providing service to regions and communities that are 
underserved or not served by other intercity public transportation;
    (C) Fostering economic development, particularly in rural 
communities and for disadvantaged populations; and

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    (D) Enhancing connectivity and geographic coverage of the existing 
national network of Intercity Rail Passenger Service, and
    (E) Providing other non-transportation benefits.
c. Selection Criteria
    In addition to the eligibility and completeness review and the 
evaluation criteria outlined in this subsection, the FRA Administrator 
will also take into account the following key Departmental objectives:
    i. Supporting economic vitality at the national and regional level;
    ii. Leveraging Federal funding to attract other, non-Federal 
sources of infrastructure investment, as well as accounting for the 
life-cycle costs of the project;
    iii. Using innovative approaches to improve safety and expedite 
project delivery; and
    iv. Holding grant recipients accountable for their performance and 
achieving specific, measurable outcomes identified by grant applicants.

2. Review and Selection Process

    FRA will conduct a three-part application review process, as 
follows:
    a. Screen applications for completeness and eligibility;
    b. Evaluate eligible applications (completed by technical panels 
applying the evaluation criteria); and
    c. Select projects for funding (completed by the FRA Administrator 
applying the selection criteria).

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Federal Award Notice

    Applications selected for funding will be announced after the 
application review period. FRA will contact applicants with successful 
applications after announcement with information and instructions about 
the award process. This notification is not an authorization to begin 
proposed project activities. A formal cooperative agreement signed by 
both the grantee and the FRA, including an approved scope, schedule, 
and budget, is required before the award is considered complete.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    Due to funding limitations, projects that are selected for funding 
may receive less than the amount originally requested. In those cases, 
applicants must be able to demonstrate the proposed projects are still 
viable and can be completed with the amount awarded.
    For projects on a State-Supported route (as defined in 49 U.S.C. 
24102(13), grant recipients must be in compliance with the cost 
allocation methodology required under Section 209 of the Passenger Rail 
Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-432) with respect 
to that route. Selected grantees must maintain compliance with the cost 
allocation methodology for the duration of the service.
    Grantees and entities receiving funding from the grantee must 
comply with all applicable laws and regulations. A non-exclusive list 
of administrative and national policy requirements that grantees must 
follow includes: 2 CFR part 200; procurement standards; compliance with 
Federal civil rights laws and regulations; disadvantaged business 
enterprises; debarment and suspension; drug-free workplace; FRA's and 
OMB's Assurances and Certifications; Americans with Disabilities Act; 
safety requirements; NEPA; environmental justice; and the requirements 
in 49 U.S.C. 24405 including the Buy America requirements.
    See an example of standard terms and conditions for FRA grant 
awards at https://www.fra.dot.gov/Elib/Document/14426.

3. Reporting

a. Reporting Matters Related to Integrity and Performance
    Before making a Federal award with a total amount of Federal share 
greater than the simplified acquisition threshold (see 2 CFR 200.88 
Simplified Acquisition Threshold), FRA will 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)) (see 41 
U.S.C. 2313).
    An applicant, at its option, may review information in the 
designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM and 
comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding agency 
previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and 
performance system accessible through SAM.
    FRA will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the 
other information in the designated integrity and performance system, 
in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, 
and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the 
review of risk posed by applicants as described in 2 CFR 200.205.
b. Progress Reporting on Grant Activity
    Each applicant selected for a grant will be required to comply with 
all standard FRA reporting requirements, including quarterly progress 
reports, quarterly Federal financial reports, and interim and final 
performance reports, as well as all applicable auditing, monitoring and 
close out requirements. Reports may be submitted electronically.
c. Performance Reporting
    As a part of the grant agreement, the grant recipient must provide 
similar information regarding the route performance, financial, and 
ridership projections, and capital and business plans that Amtrak is 
required to provide to FRA, as well as other implementation information 
that includes the status of the investments and funded operations, the 
plans for continued operation and funding of routes, and any 
legislative recommendations.
    Grant recipients must also collect information and report on the 
project's performance using measures established by the FRA to assess 
progress in achieving strategic goals and objectives. Examples of some 
rail measures are listed in the below table.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Primary strategic   Secondary strategic
          Rail measures              Unit measured           Temporal               goal                 goal                     Description
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Passenger Counts................  Count..............  Annual.............  Economic             State of Good        Count of the annual passenger
                                                                             Competitiveness.     Repair.              boardings and alightings at
                                                                                                                       stations within the project area.

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Travel Time.....................  Time/Trip..........  Annual.............  Economic             Quality of Life....  Point-to-point travel times
                                                                             Competitiveness.                          between pre-determined station
                                                                                                                       stops within the project area.
                                                                                                                       This measure demonstrates how
                                                                                                                       track improvements and other
                                                                                                                       upgrades improve operations on a
                                                                                                                       rail line. It also helps make
                                                                                                                       sure the railroad is maintaining
                                                                                                                       the line after project
                                                                                                                       completion.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

    For further information regarding this notice and the grants 
program, please contact Amy Houser, Office of Program Delivery, Federal 
Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W36-412, 
Washington, DC 20590; email: [email protected], or Ruthie Americus, 
Office of Policy and Planning, Federal Railroad Administration,1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Room W36-403, Washington, DC 20590; email: 
[email protected].

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 15, 2018.
Jamie Rennert,
Director, Office of Program Delivery, Federal Railroad Administration.
[FR Doc. 2018-03536 Filed 2-20-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P