Notice of Funding Opportunity for America's Marine Highway Projects, 12965-12970 [2020-04486]

Agencies

• Maritime Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 44 (Thursday, March 5, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12965-12970]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-04486]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration


Notice of Funding Opportunity for America's Marine Highway 
Projects

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of funding opportunity.

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SUMMARY: This Notice announces the availability of funding for grants 
and establishes selection criteria and application requirements for the 
Short Sea Transportation Program, commonly referred to as the America's 
Marine Highway Program (AMHP). The purpose of this program is to make 
grants available to previously designated Marine Highway Projects that 
support the development and expansion of documented vessels, or port 
and landside infrastructure. The U.S. Department of Transportation 
(Department) will award Marine Highway Grants to implement projects or 
components of projects previously designated by the Secretary of 
Transportation (Secretary) under AMHP. Only Marine Highway Projects the 
Secretary designated before the Notice of Funding Opportunity closing 
date are eligible for funding as described in this Notice.

DATES: Applications must be received by the Maritime Administration by 
5 p.m. EDT on April 10, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Grant applications must be submitted electronically using 
Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov). Please be aware that you must 
complete the Grants.gov registration process before submitting your 
application, and that the registration process usually takes 2 to 4 
weeks to complete. Applicants are strongly encouraged to make 
submissions in advance of the deadline.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fred Jones, Office of Ports & 
Waterways Planning, Room W21-311, Maritime Administration, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC 
20590, phone 202-366-1123, or email [email protected]. Persons who use 
a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above 
individual during business hours. The FIRS is available twenty-four 
hours a day, seven days a week, to leave a message or question with the 
above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business 
hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Each section of this Notice contains 
information and instructions relevant to the application process for 
these Marine Highway Grants, and all applicants should read this Notice 
in its entirety so that they have the information they need to submit 
eligible and competitive applications. Applications received after the 
deadline will not be considered except in the case of unforeseen 
technical difficulties as outlined below in Section D.4.

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

    The Secretary, in accordance with 46 U.S.C. 55601, established a 
short sea transportation grant program to implement projects or 
components of designated Marine Highway Projects. The grant funds 
currently available are for projects related to documented vessels and 
port and landside infrastructure.
    The America's Marine Highway Program Office (Program Office) 
follows a three-step approach when supporting investment opportunities 
for Marine Highway services. The first step is designation of a Marine 
Highway Route by the Secretary. The Department accepts Marine Highway 
Route Designation requests at any time from Route Sponsors. Once a 
Route is designated, the second step is designation as a Marine Highway 
Project by the Secretary. Marine Highway Projects represent concepts 
for new services or expansions of existing marine highway services on 
designated Marine Highway Routes that use documented vessels and 
mitigate land congestion or promote short sea transportation. The 
Maritime Administration (MARAD) will announce by notice in the Federal 
Register open season periods to allow Project Applicants opportunities 
to submit Marine Highway Project Designation applications. A Project 
Applicant must receive a Project

[[Page 12966]]

Designation for that project to then become eligible for Marine Highway 
Grant funding, the third step referenced above. Marine Highway Grant 
funding (the subject of this NOFO) is provided to successful public and 
private sector applicants as funds are appropriated by Congress.
    The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Pub. L. 116-94) 
appropriated $9,775,000 for Marine Highway Grants.

B. Federal Award Information

    The total funding available for awards under this NOFO is 
$9,481,750, after $293,250 is set aside for MARAD grant administration 
and oversight.
    MARAD will seek to obtain the maximum benefit from the available 
funding by awarding grants to as many qualified projects as possible; 
however, in accordance with 46 U.S.C. 55601(g)(3), MARAD shall give 
preference to those projects or components that present the most 
financially viable transportation services and require the lowest 
percentage of Federal share of the costs. Depending on the 
characteristics of the pool of qualified applications, it is possible 
MARAD may award all funds to a single project. MARAD may also award 
grants supporting a portion of a project described in an application by 
selecting discrete components. The start date and period of performance 
for each award will be determined by mutual agreement of MARAD and each 
grant recipient. MARAD will administer each Marine Highway Grant 
pursuant to a grant agreement with the Marine Highway Grant recipient, 
and funds will be administered on a reimbursable basis.
    Prior recipients of Marine Highway Grants may apply for funding to 
support additional phases of a designated project. However, to be 
competitive, the grant applicant should demonstrate the extent to which 
the previously funded project phase has met estimated project schedules 
and budget, as well as the ability to realize the benefits expected for 
the new award.

C. Eligibility Information

    To be selected for a Marine Highway Grant, an applicant must be an 
Eligible Applicant, and the project must be an Eligible Project.

1. Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants for funding available under this Notice are an 
original Project Applicant of a project that the Secretary has 
previously designated as a Marine Highway Project or a substitute 
(which can be either a public entity or a private-sector entity who has 
been referred to the Program Office by the original Project Applicant, 
with a written explanation, as part of the application). Original 
Project Applicants are defined as those public entities named by the 
Secretary in the original designated project. Grant applicants must 
have operational, or administrative areas of responsibility, that are 
adjacent to or near the relevant designated Marine Highway Project. 
Eligible grant applicants include State governments (including State 
departments of transportation), metropolitan planning organizations, 
port authorities, and tribal governments, or private sector operators 
of marine highway services within designated Marine Highway Projects.
    Grant applicants are encouraged to develop coalitions and public/
private partnerships, which might include vessel owners and operators; 
third-party logistics providers; trucking companies; shippers; 
railroads; port authorities; state, regional, and local transportation 
planners; environmental organizations; impacted communities; or any 
combination of entities working in collaboration on a single grant 
application that can be submitted by the original Project Applicant or 
their designated substitute. All successful grant applicants, whether 
they are public or private entities, must comply with all Federal 
requirements.
    If multiple applicants submit a joint grant application, they must 
identify a lead grant applicant as the primary point of contact. Joint 
grant applications must include a description of the roles and 
responsibilities of each applicant, including designating the one 
entity that will receive the Federal funds directly from MARAD, and 
must be signed by each applicant.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    An applicant must provide at least 20 percent of project costs from 
non-Federal sources. The application should demonstrate, such as 
through a letter or other documentation, the sources of these funds. 
Preference will be given to those projects that provide a larger 
percentage of costs from non-Federal sources. Matching funds are 
subject to the same Federal requirements described in Section F.2 as 
Federally-awarded funds, including applicable Buy American 
requirements.

3. Other

Eligible Projects
    The purpose of this grant program is to create new marine highway 
services or to expand existing marine highway services. Only projects 
or their components that the Secretary has previously designated as 
Marine Highway Projects, are eligible for this round of grant funding. 
Projects proposed for funding must support the development and 
expansion of documented vessels or port and landside infrastructure. 
Grant funds may be requested for eligible project planning activities; 
however, market-related studies are ineligible to receive Marine 
Highway Grants.
    The current list of designated Marine Highway Projects can be found 
on the Marine Highway website at: https://www.maritime.dot.gov/grants/marine-highways/marine-highway-project-description-pages.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Address To Request Application Package

    Applications may be found at and must be submitted through 
Grants.gov. Applications must include the Standard Form 424 
(Application for Federal Assistance), which is available on the 
Grants.gov website at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

    In addition to the SF-424, the application should include the 
Project Narrative. MARAD recommends that the Project Narrative follows 
the basic outline below to address the program requirements and assist 
evaluators in locating relevant information.

____________________________________
 
____________________________________
I. First Page of Project Narrative..  See D.2.i.
II. Project Description.............  See D.2.ii.
III. Project Location...............  See D.2.iii.
IV. Grant Funds, Sources and Uses of  See D.2.iv.
 all Project Funding.
V. Selection Criteria...............  See D.2.v and E.1.
VI. Other Application Requirements..  See D.2.vi.
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    The Project Narrative should include the information necessary for 
MARAD to determine that the project satisfies the requirements 
described in Sections B and C, and to assess the selection criteria 
specified in Section E.1. This includes a detailed project description, 
location, and budget. To the extent practicable, applicants should 
provide supporting data and documentation in a form that is directly 
verifiable by MARAD. Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide 
quantitative information, including baseline

[[Page 12967]]

information, that demonstrates the project's merits and economic 
viability. MARAD may ask any applicant to supplement data in its 
application, but expects applications to be complete upon submission. 
Incomplete applications may not be considered for an award.
    Consistent with the Department's R.O.U.T.E.S. Initiative (https://www.transportation.gov/rural), the Department encourages applicants to 
describe how activities proposed in their application would address the 
unique challenges facing rural transportation networks, regardless of 
the geographic location of those activities.
    The Project Narrative should also include a table of contents, maps 
and graphics, as appropriate, to make the information easier to review. 
MARAD recommends that the Project Narrative be prepared with standard 
formatting preferences (a single-spaced document, using a standard 12-
point font such as Times New Roman, with 1-inch margins, and the 
narrative text in one column only). The Project Narrative may not 
exceed 10 pages in length, excluding the table of contents and 
appendices. The only substantive portions that may exceed the 10-page 
limit are documents supporting assertions or conclusions made in the 
10-page Project Narrative. If possible, website links to supporting 
documentation should be provided rather than copies of these supporting 
materials, though it is important to ensure that the website links are 
currently active and working. If supporting documents are submitted, 
applicants should clearly identify within the Project Narrative the 
relevant portion of the Project Narrative that each supporting document 
supports. At the applicant's discretion, relevant materials provided 
previously in support of a Marine Highway Project application may be 
referenced, updated, or described as unchanged. To the extent documents 
provided previously are referenced, they need not be resubmitted in 
support of a Marine Highway Grant application.
    To ensure the Project Narrative is sufficiently detailed and 
informative, MARAD recommends applications include the following 
sections:
i. First Page of Project Narrative
    The first page of the Project Narrative should provide the 
following items of information:
    (A) Marine Highway Project name and the original Project Applicant 
(as stated on the Marine Highway Program's list of Designated 
Projects);
    (B) Primary point of contact. An application must include the name, 
phone number, email address, and business address of the primary point 
of contact for the grant applicant;
    (C) Total amount of the proposed grant project cost in dollars and 
the amount of grant funds the applicant is seeking, along with sources 
and share of matching funds;
    (D) Executive Summary, which should include an outline of the 
background of the project, the need for the project, and how the grant 
funding will be applied in the context of the service referenced in the 
original Project Designation application;
    (E) Project parties. The public and private partners engaged in the 
Marine Highway Project;
    (F) The Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number associated 
with the application. Marine Highway Grants and their first-tier sub-
awardees must obtain DUNS numbers, which are available at https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform; and
    (G) Evidence of registration with the System for Award Management 
(SAM) at https://www.SAM.gov.
ii. Project Description
    The next section of the application should provide a concise 
description of the project. The project description must be in 
paragraph form providing a high-level view of the overall project and 
its major components. This section should discuss the project's 
history, including a description of any previously completed 
components. The applicant may use this section to place the project 
into a broader context of other transportation infrastructure 
investments being pursued by the grant applicant, and, if applicable, 
how it will benefit communities in rural areas. This section should 
also include a timeline for implementing the project.
iii. Project Location
    This section of the application should describe the project 
location, including a detailed geographical description of the proposed 
project, a map of the project's location and connections to existing 
transportation infrastructure, and geospatial data describing the 
project location.
    The application should also state whether the project is located in 
an urban area (UA) or rural area (RA) as designated by the U.S. Census 
Bureau at https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/UAUC_RefMap/ua/.
    The Department will consider a project to be in a RA if the 
majority of the project (determined by geographic location(s) where the 
majority of the money is to be spent) is located in a RA. Grant funds 
utilized in an UA border, including an intersection with an UA, will be 
considered urban for the purposes of the FY 2020 Marine Highway Grants.
    Applicants should state whether the project is located in a 
Qualified Opportunity Zone designated pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 1400Z-1.
iv. Grant Funds, Sources and Uses of Project Funds
    This section of the application should describe the project's 
budget. The budget should not include any previously incurred expenses. 
At a minimum, it should include:
    (A) Project costs;
    (B) The source and amount of those funds to be used for project 
costs;
    (C) For Non-Federal funds to be used for eligible project costs, 
documentation of funding commitments should be referenced here and 
included as an appendix to the application;
    (D) For Federal funds to be used for eligible project costs, the 
amount, nature, and source of any required non-Federal match for those 
funds;
    (E) A budget showing how each source of funds will be spent. The 
budget should show how each funding source will share in each project 
component, and present that data in dollars and percentages. Funding 
sources should be grouped into three categories: Non-Federal; Marine 
Highway Grant funding; and other Federal. A letter of commitment from 
each funding source should be an attachment to the application. If the 
project contains individual components, the budget should separate the 
costs of each project component. The budget should sufficiently 
demonstrate that the project satisfies the statutory cost-sharing 
requirements described in Section C.2.
v. Selection Criteria
    This section of the application should demonstrate how the project 
proposed for grant funding aligns with the criteria described below and 
in Section E.1. MARAD encourages applicants to address each criterion, 
or expressly state that the project does not address the criterion. 
Applicants are not required to follow a specific format, but MARAD 
recommends applicants address each criterion separately using the 
outline suggested below, which provides a clear discussion that assists 
project evaluators. Guidance describing how MARAD will evaluate 
projects against the Selection Criteria is in Section E.1 of this 
Notice. Applicants also should review that section before considering

[[Page 12968]]

how to organize and complete their application. To minimize redundant 
information in the application, MARAD encourages applicants to cross-
reference from this section of their application to relevant 
substantive information in other sections of the application.
(A) Primary Selection Criteria
    (1) This section of the application should demonstrate the extent 
to which the project is financially viable. Pet 46 U.S.C. 55601(g)(3), 
preference will be given to projects or components that present the 
most financially viable transportation services.
    (2) This section of the application should demonstrate that the 
funds received will be spent efficiently and effectively.
    (3) This section of the application should demonstrate that a 
market exists for the services of the proposed project as evidenced by 
contracts or written statements of intent from potential customers.
    (4) This section of the application should describe the public 
benefits anticipated by the proposed grant project, as outlined in 46 
CFR 393.3(c)(8), and described below. The public benefits described in 
the relevant Marine Highway Project Designation application may be 
referenced, updated, or described as unchanged. Applicants will need to 
clearly demonstrate that the original public benefits outlined in the 
original project designation application apply to the specific grant 
funding request associated with this Notice, and provide any updates or 
supplement the original public benefits, as necessary. To the extent 
referenced, this information need not be resubmitted in support of a 
Marine Highway Grant application. Applicants should organize their 
external net cost savings and public benefits of the proposed grant 
project based on the following six categories:
    (i) Emissions benefits;
    (ii) Energy savings;
    (iii) Landside transportation infrastructure maintenance savings;
    (iv) Economic competitiveness;
    (v) Safety improvements;
    (vi) System resiliency and redundancy.
vi. Other Application Requirements
(A) National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Requirements
    Projects selected for grant award must comply with NEPA and any 
other applicable environmental laws. The application should provide 
information about the NEPA status of the project. If the environmental 
review process is underway but not complete at the time of the 
application, the application must detail where the project is in the 
process, indicate the anticipated date of completion, and provide a 
website link or other reference to copies of any environmental 
documents prepared.
(B) Other Federal, State, and Local Actions
    An application must indicate whether the proposed project is likely 
to require actions by other agencies (e.g., permits), indicate the 
status of such actions, provide a website link or other reference to 
materials submitted to the other agencies, and demonstrate compliance 
with other Federal, state, or local regulations and permits as 
applicable.
(C) Certification Requirements
    For an application to be considered for a grant award, the Chief 
Executive Officer, or equivalent, of the applicant is required to 
certify, in writing, the following:
    1. That, except as noted in this grant application, nothing has 
changed from the original application for formal designation as a 
Marine Highway Project; and
    2. The grant applicant will administer the project and any funds 
received will be spent efficiently and effectively; and
    3. The grant applicant will provide information, data, and reports 
as required.
(D) Protection of Confidential Commercial Information
    Grant applicants should submit, as part of or in support of an 
application, publicly available data or data that can be made public 
and methodologies that are accepted by industry practice and standards 
to the extent possible. If the application includes information that 
the applicant considers to be a trade secret or confidential commercial 
or financial information, the applicant should do the following: Note 
on the front cover that the submission contains ``Confidential 
Commercial Information (CCI)''; mark each affected page ``CCI''; and 
highlight or otherwise denote the CCI portions. MARAD will protect such 
information from disclosure to the extent allowed under applicable law. 
In the event MARAD receives a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request 
for the information, procedures described in the Department's FOIA 
regulation at 49 CFR 7.29 will be followed. Only information that is 
ultimately determined to be confidential under those procedures will be 
exempt from disclosure under FOIA.
(E) Additional Application Information Needed from Private-Sector 
Applicants
    1. Written referral from the original successful Project Applicant 
stating that the private entity has been referred by the original 
Project Applicant for the relevant designated Marine Highway Project.
    2. A description of the entity including location of the 
headquarters; a description of the entity's assets (tugs, barges, 
etc.); years in operation; ownership; customer base; and website 
address, if any.
    3. Unique entity identifier of the parent company (when 
applicable): Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS + 4 number) (when 
applicable).
    4. The most recent year-end audited, reviewed or compiled financial 
statements, prepared by a certified public accountant (CPA), per U.S. 
generally accepted accounting principles (not tax-based accounting 
financial statements). If CPA prepared financial statements are not 
available, provide the most recent financial statement for the entity. 
Do not provide tax returns.
    5. Statement regarding the relationship between applicants and any 
parents, subsidiaries or affiliates, if any such entity is going to 
provide a portion of the match.
    6. Evidence documenting applicant's ability to make proposed 
matching requirement (loan agreement, commitment from investors, cash 
on balance sheet, etc.).
    7. Pro-forma financial statements reflecting financial condition at 
beginning of period; effect on balance sheet of grant and matching 
funds (e.g., a decrease in cash or increase in debt, additional equity 
and an increase in fixed assets); and impact on company's projected 
financial condition (balance sheet) of completion of project, showing 
that company will have sufficient financial resources to remain in 
business.
    8. Statement whether during the past five years, the applicant or 
any predecessor or related company has been in bankruptcy or in 
reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, or in any 
insolvency or reorganization proceedings, and whether any substantial 
property of the applicant or any predecessor or related company has 
been acquired in any such proceeding or has been subject to foreclosure 
or receivership during such period. If so, give details.
    9. Additional information may be requested as deemed necessary by 
MARAD to facilitate and complete its review of the application. If such

[[Page 12969]]

information is not provided, MARAD may deem the application incomplete 
and cease processing it.
    10. Company Officer's certification of each of the following:
    a. That the company operates in the geographic location of the 
designated Marine Highway Project;
    b. That the applicant has the authority to carry out the proposed 
project; and
    c. That the applicant has not, and will not make any prohibited 
payments out of the requested grant, in accordance with the Department 
of Transportation's regulation restricting lobbying, 49 CFR part 20.

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

    MARAD will not make an award to an applicant until the applicant 
has complied with all applicable DUNS and SAM requirements. Each 
applicant must be registered in SAM before applying, provide a valid 
Unique Entity Identifier number in its application, and maintain an 
active SAM registration with current information throughout the period 
of the award. Applicants may register with the SAM at www.SAM.gov. 
Applicants can obtain a DUNS number at https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. 
If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the 
time MARAD is ready to make an award, MARAD may determine that the 
applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award under this 
program.

4. Submission Dates and Times

    Applications must be received by 5 p.m. EDT on April 10, 2020. Late 
applications that are the result of failure to register or comply with 
Grants.gov application requirements in a timely manner will not be 
considered. Applicants experiencing technical issues with Grants.gov 
that are beyond the applicant's control must contact [email protected] or Fred 
Jones at 202-366-1123 prior to the deadline with the user name of the 
registrant and details of the technical issue experienced. The 
applicant must provide: Details of the technical issue experienced; 
screen capture(s) of the technical issue experienced along with the 
corresponding ``Grant tracking number'' that is provided via 
Grants.gov; the ``Legal Name'' for the applicant that was provided in 
the SF-424; the name and contact information for the person to be 
contacted on matters involving submission that is included on the SF- 
424; the DUNS number associated with the application; and the 
Grants.gov Help Desk Tracking Number.

5. Funding Restrictions

    MARAD will not allow reimbursement of any pre-award costs that may 
have been incurred by an applicant. Grant funds may only be used for 
the purposes described in this Notice and may not be used as an 
operating subsidy. Market-related studies are ineligible for Marine 
Highway Grant funds.

6. Other Submission Requirements

    Grant applications must be submitted electronically using 
Grants.gov (https://www.grants.gov).

E. Application Review Information

1. Selection Criteria

    This section specifies the criteria that MARAD will use to evaluate 
and award applications for Marine Highway Grants. These criteria 
incorporate the statutory requirements for this program, as well as 
Departmental and Programmatic priorities.
    When reviewing grant applications, MARAD will consider how the 
proposed service could satisfy, in whole or in part, 46 U.S.C. 
55601(b)(1) and (3) and the following criteria found at 46 U.S.C. 
55601(g)(2)(B):
     The project is financially viable;
     The funds received will be spent efficiently and 
effectively; and
     A market exists for the services of the proposed project 
as evidenced by contracts or written statements of intent from 
potential customers.
    MARAD will also consider how the proposed request for funding 
outlined in the grant application supports the elements of 46 CFR 
393.3(c)(8) (Public benefits) as a key programmatic objective.
    After applying the above preferences, MARAD will consider the 
following key Departmental objectives:
     Supporting economic vitality at the national and regional 
level;
     Utilizing alternative funding sources and innovative 
financing models to attract non-Federal sources of infrastructure 
investment;
     Accounting for the life-cycle costs of the project to 
promote the state of good repair;
     Using innovative approaches to improve safety and expedite 
project delivery; and,
     Holding grant recipients accountable for their performance 
and achieving specific, measurable outcomes identified by grant 
applicants.
    In awarding grants under the program, MARAD will give preference to 
those projects or components that present the most financially viable 
marine highway transportation services and require the lowest total 
percentage Federal share of the costs. MARAD may also consider whether 
a project is located in a Qualified Opportunity Zone designated 
pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 1400Z-1.
    Consistent with the Department's R.O.U.T.E.S. Initiative (https://www.transportation.gov/rural), the Department recognizes that rural 
transportation networks face unique challenges. To the extent that 
those challenges are reflected in the merit criteria listed in this 
section, the Department will consider how the activities proposed in 
the application will address those challenges, regardless of the 
geographic location of those activities.

2. Review and Selection Process

    Upon receipt, MARAD will conduct a technical review to evaluate the 
application using the criteria outlined above. Upon completion of the 
technical review, MARAD will forward the applications to an inter-
agency review team (Intermodal Review Team). The Intermodal Review Team 
will include members of MARAD, other Department of Transportation 
Operating Administrations, and representatives from the Office of the 
Secretary of Transportation. The Intermodal Review Team will assign 
ratings of ``highly recommended,'' ``recommended,'' ``not 
recommended,'' ``incomplete,'' or ``not eligible'' for each application 
based on the criteria set forth above. The Intermodal Review Team will 
provide its findings to the Program Office. The Program Office will use 
those findings to inform the recommendations that will be made to the 
Maritime Administrator and the Secretary.

3. FAPIIS Check

    MARAD is required to review and consider any information about the 
applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system 
accessible through SAM (currently 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. MARAD 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.

[[Page 12970]]

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Federal Award Notices

    Following the evaluation outlined in Section E, the Secretary will 
announce the selected grant award recipients. The award announcement 
will be posted on the MARAD website (https://www.marad.dot.gov).

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    All awards must be administered pursuant to the ``Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for 
Federal Awards'' found at 2 CFR part 200, as adopted by the Department 
at 2 CFR part 1201. Federal wage rate requirements included at 40 
U.S.C. 3141-3148 apply to all projects receiving funds under this 
program and apply to all parts of the project, whether funded with 
Federal funds or non-Federal funds. Additionally, all applicable 
Federal laws and regulations will apply to projects that receive Marine 
Highway Grants.
    MARAD and the applicant will enter into a written grant agreement 
after the applicant has satisfied applicable administrative 
requirements, such as environmental review requirements. The grant 
agreement is the fund-obligating document and will also describe the 
period of performance for the project as well as the schedule for 
construction or procurement. Funds will be administered on a 
reimbursable basis. MARAD reserves the right to revoke any award of 
Marine Highway Grant funds and to award such funds to another project 
to the extent that such funds are not expended in a timely or 
acceptable manner and in accordance with the project schedule.
    As expressed in Executive Orders 13788 of April 18, 2017 and 13858 
of January 31, 2019, it is the policy of the executive branch to 
maximize, consistent with law, the use of goods, products, and 
materials produced in the United States in the terms and conditions of 
Federal financial assistance awards. Consistent with the requirements 
of Section 410 of Division H--Transportation, Housing and Urban 
Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020, of the 
Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, (Pub. L. 116-94,), the 
Buy American requirements of 41 U.S.C. Chapter 83 apply to funds made 
available under this Notice, and all award recipients must apply, 
comply with, and implement all provisions of the Buy American Act and 
related provisions in the grant agreement when implementing Marine 
Highway Grants. Depending on other funding streams, the project may be 
subject to separate ``Buy America'' requirements.
    If a project intends to use any product with foreign content or of 
foreign origin, this information should be listed and addressed in the 
application. Applications should expressly address how the applicant 
plans to comply with domestic-preference requirements and whether there 
are any potential foreign-content issues with their proposed project. 
Applications that use grant funds for domestic-content purchases will 
be viewed favorably. If certain foreign content is granted an exception 
or waiver from Buy American or Buy America requirements, a Cargo 
Preference requirement may apply.

3. Reporting

    Award recipients are required to submit quarterly reports, signed 
by an officer of the recipient, to the Program Office to keep MARAD 
informed of all activities during the reporting period. The reports 
will indicate progress made, planned activities for the next reporting 
period, and a listing of any purchases made with grant funds during the 
reporting period. In addition, the report will include an explanation 
of any deviation from the projected budget and timeline. Quarterly 
reports will also contain, at a minimum, the following: A statement as 
to whether the award recipient has used the grant funds consistent with 
the terms contemplated in the grant agreement; if applicable, a 
description of the budgeted activities not procured by recipient; if 
applicable, the rationale for recipient's failure to execute the 
budgeted activities; if applicable, an explanation as to how and when 
recipient intends to accomplish the purposes of the grant agreement; 
and a budget summary showing funds expended since commencement, 
anticipated expenditures for the next reporting period, and 
expenditures compared to overall budget.
    Grant award recipients will also collect information and report on 
the project's observed performance with respect to the relevant long-
term outcomes that are expected to be achieved through the project. 
Performance indicators will not include formal goals or targets, but 
will include observed measures under baseline (pre-project) as well as 
post-implementation outcomes for an agreed-upon timeline, and will be 
used to evaluate and compare projects and monitor the results that 
grant funds achieve to the intended long-term outcomes of the AMHP. 
Performance reporting continues for several years after project 
construction is completed, and MARAD does not provide Marine Highway 
Grant funding specifically for performance reporting.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

    To ensure applicants receive accurate information about 
eligibility, the program, or in response to other questions, applicants 
are encouraged to contact MARAD directly, rather than through 
intermediaries or third parties. Please see contact information in the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above.
* * * * *

    Dated: March 2, 2020.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2020-04486 Filed 3-4-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-81-P