FY 2020 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program; Tribal Transit Program, 31593-31598 [2020-11128]

Agencies

• Federal Transit Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 101 (Tuesday, May 26, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31593-31598]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-11128]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


FY 2020 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Public Transportation on 
Indian Reservations Program; Tribal Transit Program

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the 
availability of approximately $5 million in funding, for the Public 
Transportation on Indian Reservations Program (Tribal Transit Program). 
This notice is a national solicitation for project proposals and 
includes the selection criteria and program eligibility information for 
Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 projects. FTA may fund the program for more or 
less than the full year appropriation, and may include other funding if 
available from prior fiscal years toward project proposals received in 
response to this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). This 
announcement is available on the FTA website at: https://www.transit.dot.gov. Additionally, a synopsis of the funding 
opportunity, FTA-2020-007-TR, will be posted in the FIND module of 
GRANTS.GOV at https://www.grants.gov. The program is located in the 
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under 20.509.

DATES: Complete proposals for the Tribal Transit Program announced in 
this Notice must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on August 24, 
2020. All proposals must be submitted electronically through the 
GRANTS.GOV APPLY function. Any applicant intending to apply should 
initiate the process of registering on the GRANTS.GOV site immediately 
to ensure completion of registration before the submission deadline. 
Instructions for applying can be found on FTA's website at https://www.transit.dot.gov and in the FIND module of GRANTS.GOV. Mail and fax 
submissions will not be accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact the appropriate FTA Regional 
Office at https://www.transit.dot.gov for proposal-specific information 
and issues. For general program information, contact Amy Fong, Office 
of Program Management, (202) 366-0876, email: [email protected] A TDD is 
available at 1-800-877-8339 (TDD/FIRS).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

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 Tribal Transit Program is authorized by Federal public transit 
law at 49 U.S.C. 5311(c)(1)(A). The program authorizes grants ``under 
such terms and

[[Page 31594]]

conditions as may be established by the Secretary'' to Indian tribes 
for any purpose eligible under FTA's Formula Grants for Rural Areas 
Program, 49 U.S.C. 5311. Tribes may apply for this funding directly.
    The primary purpose of these competitively selected grants is to 
support planning, capital, and, in limited circumstances, operating 
assistance for tribal public transit services. Funds distributed to 
Indian tribes under the Tribal Transit Program do not replace or reduce 
funds that Indian tribes receive from States through FTA's Formula 
Grants for Rural Areas Program. Specific project eligibility under this 
competitive allocation is described in Section C of this notice.

B. Federal Award Information

    Five million dollars is authorized for the Tribal Transit Program 
competitive allocation in FY 2020 to projects selected pursuant to the 
process described in the following sections. Federal awards under this 
competitive program will be in the form of grants. Additionally, there 
is a $25,000 cap on planning grant awards, and FTA has the discretion 
to cap capital and operating awards.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants include federally recognized Indian tribes or 
Alaska Native villages, groups, or communities as identified by the 
U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). 
As evidence of Federal recognition, an Indian tribe may submit a copy 
of the most up-to-date Federal Register notice published by BIA: 
Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive Service from the United 
States Bureau of Indian Affairs. To be an eligible recipient, an Indian 
tribe must have the requisite legal, financial, and technical 
capabilities to receive and administer Federal funds under this 
program. Additionally, applicants must be located and provide service 
in a rural area with a population of 50,000 or less. A service area can 
include some portions of urban areas, as long as the tribal transit 
service begins in and serves rural areas. An applicant must be 
registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database and 
maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all 
times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or 
plan under consideration by FTA.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    There is a 90 percent Federal share for projects selected under the 
Tribal Transit Program competitive program, unless the Indian tribe can 
demonstrate a financial hardship in its application. FTA is interested 
in the Indian tribe's financial commitment to the proposed project; 
thus, the proposal should include a description of the Indian tribe's 
financial commitment. Tribes may use any eligible local match under 
Chapter 53.

3. Eligible Projects

    Eligible projects include public transportation planning and 
capital expenses. Operating projects are eligible in limited 
circumstances. In FY 2020, FTA will only consider operating assistance 
requests from tribes without existing transit service, or those tribes 
who received a Tribal Transit Program formula allocation of less than 
$20,000 in FY 2019.
    Public transportation includes regular, continuing shared-ride 
surface transportation services open to the public or open to a segment 
of the public defined by age, disability, or low income. FTA will award 
grants to eligible Indian tribes located in rural areas. Applicants 
must submit one proposal for each project. Specific types of projects 
include: Capital projects for start-ups, replacement, or expansion 
needs; operating assistance for start-ups; and planning projects up to 
$25,000. Indian tribes applying for capital replacement or expansion 
needs must demonstrate a sustainable source of operating funds for 
existing or expanded services.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Address To Request Application Package

    A complete proposal submission will consist of at least two files: 
(1) The SF-424 Mandatory form (downloaded from GRANTS.GOV); and (2) the 
Tribal Transit supplemental form found on the FTA website at https://www.transit.dot.gov. The Tribal Transit supplemental form provides 
guidance and a consistent format for applicants to respond to the 
criteria outlined in this NOFO.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

    A strong transportation network is critical to the functioning and 
growth of the American economy. The nation's industry depends on the 
transportation network to move the goods that it produces, and 
facilitate the movements of the workers who are responsible for that 
production. When the nation's highways, railways, and ports function 
well, that infrastructure connects people to jobs, increases the 
efficiency of delivering goods and thereby cuts the costs of doing 
business, reduces the burden of commuting, and improves overall well-
being.
    Rural transportation networks play a vital role in supporting our 
national economic vitality. Addressing the deteriorating conditions and 
disproportionately high fatality rates on our rural transportation 
infrastructure is of critical interest to the Department, as rural 
transportation networks face unique challenges in safety, 
infrastructure condition, and passenger and freight usage. Consistent 
with the R.O.U.T.E.S. Initiative, the Department encourages applicants 
to consider how the project will address the challenges faced by rural 
areas.
(i) Proposal Submission
    The supplemental form and any supporting documents must be attached 
to the ``Attachments'' section of the SF-424. The application must 
include responses to all sections of the SF-424 Application for Federal 
Assistance and the supplemental form, unless indicated as optional. The 
information on the supplemental form will be used to determine 
applicant and project eligibility for the program, and to evaluate the 
proposal against the selection criteria described in part E of this 
notice.
    FTA will only accept one supplemental form per SF-424 submission. 
Applicants may attach additional supporting information to the SF-424 
submission, including but not limited to letters of support, project 
budgets, fleet status reports, or excerpts from relevant planning 
documents. Supporting documentation must be described and referenced by 
file name in the appropriate response section of the supplemental form, 
or it may not be reviewed.
    Information such as applicant name, Federal amount requested, local 
match amount, description of areas served, etc. may be requested in 
varying degrees of detail on both the SF-424 and Supplemental Form. 
Applicants must fill in all fields unless stated otherwise on the 
forms. Applicants should not place N/A or ``refer to attachment'' in 
lieu of typing in responses in the field sections. If information is 
copied into the supplemental form from another source, applicants 
should verify that pasted text is fully captured on the supplemental 
form and has not been truncated by the character limits built

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into the form. Applicants should use both the ``Check Package for 
Errors'' and the ``Validate Form'' validation buttons on both forms to 
check all required fields on the forms, and ensure that the Federal and 
local amounts specified are consistent.
    Complete instructions on the application process can be found at 
https://www.transit.dot.gov. Important: FTA urges applicants to submit 
their project proposals at least 72 hours prior to the due date to 
allow time to receive the validation message and to correct any 
problems that may have caused a rejection notification. FTA will not 
accept submissions after the stated submission deadline. GRANTS.GOV 
scheduled maintenance and outage times are announced on the GRANTS.GOV 
website at https://www.GRANTS.GOV. The deadline will not be extended due 
to scheduled maintenance or outages.
    Applicants are encouraged to begin the process of registration on 
the GRANTS.GOV site well in advance of the submission deadline. 
Registration is a multi-step process which may take several weeks to 
complete before an application can be submitted. Registered applicants 
may still be required to take steps to keep their registration up to 
date before submissions can be made successfully: (1) Registration in 
the SAM is renewed annually; and (2) persons making submissions on 
behalf of the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) must be 
authorized in GRANTS.GOV by the AOR to make submissions. Applicants 
must submit one proposal for each project.
    Information such as applicant name, Federal amount requested, 
description of areas served, and other information may be requested in 
varying degrees of detail on both the SF 424 form and supplemental 
form. Applicants must fill in all fields unless stated otherwise on the 
forms. Applicants should use both the ``Check Package for Errors'' and 
the ``Validate Form'' validation buttons on both forms to check all 
required fields on the forms, and ensure that the Federal and local 
amounts specified are consistent.
(ii) Application Content
    The SF-424 Mandatory Form and the Supplemental Form will prompt 
applicants for the required information, including:
    a. Name of federally recognized tribe and, if appropriate, the 
specific tribal agency submitting the application.
    b. Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) 
number if available.
    c. Contact information including: Contact name, title, address, 
phone number, and email address.
    d. Description of public transportation services, including areas 
currently served by the tribe, if any.
    e. Name of person(s) authorized to apply on applicant's behalf must 
accompany the proposal (attach a signed transmittal letter).
    f. Complete Project Description: Indicate the category for which 
funding is requested (i.e., project type: capital, operating, or 
planning), and then indicate the project purpose (i.e., start-up, 
expansion, or replacement). Describe the proposed project and what it 
will accomplish (e.g., number and type of vehicles, routes, service 
area, schedules, type of services, fixed route or demand responsive, 
safety aspects), route miles (if fixed route), ridership numbers 
expected (actual if an existing system, estimated if a new system), 
major origins and destinations, population served, and whether the 
tribe provides the service directly or contracts for services, and note 
vehicle maintenance plans.
    g. Project Timeline: Include significant milestones such as date of 
contract for purchase of vehicles, actual or expected delivery date of 
vehicles; facility project phases (e.g., environmental reviews, design, 
construction); or dates for completion of planning studies. If applying 
for operational funding for new services, indicate the period of time 
that funds would be used to operate the system (e.g., one year). This 
section should also include any needed timelines for tribal council 
project approvals, if applicable.
    h. Budget: Provide a detailed budget for each proposed purpose, 
noting the Federal amount requested and any additional funds that will 
be used. An Indian tribe may use up to fifteen percent of a grant award 
for capital projects for specific project-related planning and 
administration, and the indirect cost rate may not exceed ten percent 
(if necessary, add as an attachment) of the total amount requested/
awarded. Indian tribes must also provide their annual operating budget 
as an attachment or under the Financial Commitment and Operating 
Capacity section of the supplemental form.
    i. Technical, Legal, Financial Capacity: Applicants must be able to 
demonstrate adequate technical, legal, and financial capacity to be 
considered for funding. Every proposal MUST describe this capacity to 
implement the proposed project.
    1. Technical Capacity: Provide examples of management of other 
Federal projects, including previously funded FTA projects and/or 
similar types of projects for which funding is being requested. 
Describe the resources available to implement the proposed transit 
project.
    2. Legal Capacity: Provide documentation or other evidence to 
demonstrate status as a federally recognized Indian tribe. Further, 
demonstrate evidence of an authorized representative with authority to 
bind the applicant and execute legal agreements with FTA. If applying 
for capital or operating funds, identify whether appropriate Federal or 
State operating authority exists.
    3. Financial Capacity: Provide documentation or other evidence 
demonstrating current adequate financial systems to receive and manage 
a Federal grant. Fully describe: (1) All financial systems and 
controls; (2) other sources of funds currently managed; and (3) the 
long-term financial capacity to maintain the proposed or existing 
transit services.

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

    Each applicant is required to: (1) Be registered in SAM before 
submitting an application; (2) provide a valid unique entity identifier 
in its application; and (3) continue to maintain an active SAM 
registration with current information at all times during which the 
applicant has an active Federal award or an application or plan under 
consideration by FTA. These requirements do not apply if the applicant: 
(1) Is an individual; (2) is excepted from the requirements under 2 CFR 
25.110(b) or (c); or (3) has an exception approved by FTA under 2 CFR 
25.110(d). FTA may not make an award until the applicant has complied 
with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements. If 
an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time 
FTA is ready to make an award, FTA may determine that the applicant is 
not qualified to receive an award and use that determination as a basis 
for making a Federal award to another applicant. SAM registration takes 
approximately 3-5 business days, but FTA recommends allowing ample 
time, up to several weeks, for completion of all steps. For additional 
information on obtaining a unique entity identifier, please visit 
www.sam.gov.

4. Submission Dates and Times

    Project proposals must be submitted electronically through 
GRANTS.GOV by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on August 24, 2020. Mail and fax 
submissions will not be accepted. Proposals submitted after

[[Page 31596]]

the deadline will not be considered under any circumstance. 
Applications are time and date stamped by GRANTS.GOV upon successful 
submission.

5. Funding Restrictions

    Funds must be used only for the specific purposes requested in the 
application. Funds under this NOFO cannot be used to reimburse projects 
for otherwise eligible expenses incurred prior to an FTA award under 
this program. At the time the project selections are announced, FTA 
will extend pre-award authority for the selected projects. There is no 
blanket pre-award authority for these projects before announcement. FTA 
does not provide pre-award authority for competitive funds until 
projects are selected and even then, there are Federal requirements 
that must be met before costs are incurred. For more information about 
FTA's policy on pre-award authority, please see the FY 2019 
Apportionment Notice published on July 3, 2019. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-07-03/pdf/2019-14248.pdf.

E. Application Review Information

1. Selection Criteria

    FTA will use the following primary selection criteria when 
evaluating competing capital and operating assistance projects eligible 
under this program. Applications will be evaluated based on the quality 
and extent to which the following evaluation criteria are addressed. 
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 the 
section above, the Department will consider how the activities proposed 
in the application will address those challenges, regardless of the 
geographic location of those activities.
(i.) Planning and Local/Regional Prioritization
    Applications will be evaluated based on the degree to which the 
applicant: (1) Describes how the proposed project was developed; (2) 
demonstrates that a sound basis for the project exists; and (3) 
demonstrates that the applicant is ready to implement the project if 
funded. Information may vary depending upon how the planning process 
for the project was conducted and what is being requested. Planning and 
local/regional prioritization should:
    a. Describe the planning document and/or the planning process 
conducted to identify the proposed project;
    b. Provide a detailed project description, including the proposed 
service, vehicle and facility needs, and other pertinent 
characteristics of the proposed or existing service implementation;
    c. Identify existing transportation services in and near the 
proposed service area, and document in detail whether the proposed 
project will provide opportunities to coordinate service with existing 
transit services, including human service agencies, intercity bus 
services, or other public transit providers;
    d. Discuss the level of support by the community and/or tribal 
government for the proposed project;
    e. Describe how the mobility and client-access needs of tribal 
human services agencies were considered in the planning process;
    f. Describe what opportunities for public participation were 
provided in the planning process and how the proposed transit service 
or existing service has been coordinated with transportation provided 
for the clients of human services agencies, with intercity bus 
transportation in the area, or with any other rural public transit 
providers;
    g. Describe how the proposed service complements rather than 
duplicates any currently available services;
    h. Describe the implementation schedule for the proposed project, 
including time period, staffing, and procurement; and
    i. Describe any other planning or coordination efforts not 
mentioned above.
(ii.) Project Readiness
    Applications will be evaluated on the degree to which the applicant 
describes readiness to implement the project. The project readiness 
factor involves assessing whether:
    a. The project is a Categorical Exclusion or the required 
environmental work has been initiated or completed, for construction 
projects requiring an Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact 
Statement under, among others, the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as Amended;
    b. Project implementation plans are complete, including initial 
design of facilities projects;
    c. Project funds can be obligated and the project can be 
implemented quickly, if selected; and
    d. The applicant demonstrates the ability to carry out the proposed 
project successfully.
(iii.) Demonstration of Need
    Applications will be evaluated based on the degree to which the 
applicant identifies the need for transit resources. In addition to 
project-specific criteria, FTA will consider the project's impact on 
service delivery and whether the project represents a one-time or 
periodic need that cannot reasonably be funded from FTA program formula 
allocations or State and/or local resources. FTA will evaluate how the 
proposal demonstrates the transit needs of the Indian tribe as well as 
how the proposed transit improvements or the new service will address 
identified transit needs. Proposals should include information such as 
destinations and services not currently accessible by transit; needs 
for access to jobs or health care; safety enhancements; special needs 
of elders or individuals with disabilities; behavioral health care 
needs of youth; income-based community needs; or other mobility needs. 
If an applicant received a planning grant in previous fiscal years, the 
proposal should indicate the status of the planning study and how the 
proposed project relates to that study.
    Applicants applying for capital expansion or replacement projects 
should also address the following factors in their proposal. If the 
proposal is for capital funding associated with an expansion or 
expanded service, the applicant should describe how current or growing 
demand for the service necessitates the expansion (and therefore, more 
capital) and/or the degree to how the project is addressing a current 
capacity constraint. Capital replacement projects should include 
information about the age, condition, and performance of the asset to 
be replaced by the proposed project and/or how the replacement may be 
necessary to maintain the transit system in a state of good repair.
(iv.) Demonstration of Benefits
    Applications will be evaluated based on the degree to which the 
applicant identifies expected or, in the case of existing service, 
achieved project benefits. FTA is particularly interested in how these 
investments will improve the quality of life for the tribe and 
surrounding communities in which it is located. Applicants should 
describe how the transportation service or capital investment will 
provide greater access to employment opportunities, educational 
centers, healthcare, or other needs that impact the quality of life for

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the community, as described in the program purpose above. Possible 
examples include: Increased or sustained ridership and daily trips; 
improved service; elimination of gaps in service; improved operations 
and coordination; increased reliability; and health care, education, 
and economic benefits to the community. Benefits can be demonstrated by 
identifying the population of tribal members and non-tribal members in 
the proposed project service area and estimating the number of daily 
one-way trips the proposed transit service will provide or the actual 
number of individual riders served. Applicants are encouraged to 
consider qualitative and quantitative benefits to the Indian tribe and 
to the surrounding communities that are meaningful to them.
    Using the information provided under this criterion, FTA will rate 
proposals based on the quality and extent to which they discuss the 
following four factors:
    a. The project's ability to improve transit efficiency or increase 
ridership;
    b. Whether the project will improve or maintain mobility, or 
eliminate gaps in service for the Indian tribe;
    c. Whether the project will improve or maintain access to important 
destinations and services;
    d. Any other qualitative benefits, such as greater access to jobs, 
education, and health care services.
(v.) Financial Commitment and Operating Capacity
    Applications must identify the source of local match (a minimum of 
10 percent is required for all operating and capital projects), and any 
other funding sources used by the Indian tribe to support proposed 
transit services, including human service transportation funding, the 
Federal Highway Administration's Tribal Transportation Program funding, 
or other FTA programs. If requesting that FTA waive the local match 
based on financial hardship, the applicant must submit budgets and 
sources of other revenue to demonstrate hardship. FTA will review this 
information and notify a tribe at the time of award if the waiver is 
approved. If applicable, the applicant also should describe how prior 
year Tribal Transit Program funds were spent to date to support the 
service. Additionally, Indian tribes applying to operate new services 
should provide a sustainable funding plan that demonstrates how it 
intends to maintain operations.
    In evaluating proposals, FTA will consider any other resources the 
Indian tribe will contribute to the project, including in-kind 
contributions, commitments of support from local businesses, donations 
of land or equipment, and human resources. The proposal should describe 
to what extent the new project or funding for existing service 
leverages other funding. Based upon the information provided, the 
proposals will be rated on the extent to which the proposal 
demonstrates that:
    a. Tribal Transit Program funding does not replace existing 
funding;
    b. The Indian tribe will provide non-financial support to the 
project;
    c. The Indian tribe is able to demonstrate a sustainable funding 
plan; and
    d. Project funds are used in coordination with other services for 
efficient utilization of funds.
(vi.) Evaluation Criteria for Planning Proposals
    For planning grants, the proposal must describe the need for and a 
general scope of the proposed study. Applications will be evaluated 
based on the degree to which the applicant addresses the following:
    a. The tribe's long-term commitment to transit; and
    b. The method used to implement the proposed study and/or further 
tribal transit.

2. Review and Selection Process

    An FTA technical evaluation committee will review proposals under 
the project evaluation criteria. Members of the technical evaluation 
committee and other involved FTA staff reserve the right to screen the 
applications, and seek clarification about any statement in an 
application. After consideration of the findings of the technical 
evaluation committee, the FTA Administrator will determine the final 
selection and amount of funding for each project. Geographic diversity, 
the amount of local share, and the applicant's receipt and management 
of other Federal transit funds may be considered in FTA's award 
decisions.
    After applying the above preferences, the FTA Administrator will 
consider the following key Departmental objectives:
    (A) Supporting economic vitality at the national and regional 
level;
    (B) Utilizing alternative funding sources and innovative financing 
models to attract non-Federal sources of infrastructure investment;
    (C) Accounting for the life-cycle costs of the project to promote 
the state of good repair;
    (D) Using innovative approaches to improve safety and expedite 
project delivery; and
    (E) Holding grant recipients accountable for their performance and 
achieving specific, measurable outcomes identified by grant applicants.
    Prior to making an award, FTA is required to review and consider 
any information about the applicant that is in the Federal Awardee 
Performance and Integrity Information Systems accessible through SAM. 
An applicant may review and comment on any information about itself 
that a Federal awarding agency previously entered.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Federal Award Notice

    FTA will publish a list of the selected projects, including Federal 
dollar amounts and award recipients, on FTA's website. Project 
recipients should contact their FTA Regional Offices and tribal liaison 
for information about setting up grants in FTA's Transit Award 
Management System (TrAMS).

2. Award Administration

    Successful proposals will be awarded through FTA's TrAMS as grant 
agreements. The appropriate FTA Regional Office and tribal liaison will 
manage project agreements.

3. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    Except as otherwise provided in this NOFO, Tribal Transit Program 
grants are subject to the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5311(c)(1) as 
described in the latest FTA Circular 9040 for the Formula Grants for 
Rural Areas Program.

4. Reporting

    The post-award reporting requirements include submission of the 
Federal Financial Report (FFR) and Milestone Progress Report in TrAMS, 
and FTA's National Transit Database (NTD) reporting as appropriate (see 
FTA Circular 9040). Reports to TrAMS and NTD are due annually.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

    For further information concerning this notice, please contact Amy 
Fong, Office of Program Management, (202) 366-0876, email: 
[email protected]. A TDD is available at 1-800-877-8339 (TDD/FIRS).

H. Other Information

    This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372, 
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.'' FTA will consider 
applications for funding only from eligible recipients for eligible 
projects listed in Section C of this Notice. Due to funding 
limitations, applicants that are selected for funding may receive less 
than the amount requested.

[[Page 31598]]

    Additionally, to assist tribes with understanding requirements 
under the Tribal Transit Program, FTA has conducted Tribal Transit 
Technical Assistance Workshops and will continue those efforts in FY 
2020. FTA has expanded its technical assistance to tribes receiving 
funds under this program. Through the Tribal Transit Technical 
Assistance Assessments Initiative, FTA collaborates with Tribal Transit 
Leaders to review processes and identify areas in need of improvement, 
and then assists to offer solutions to address these needs--all in a 
supportive and mutually beneficial manner that results in technical 
assistance. FTA has completed over fifty assessments to date and 
expects to conduct sixteen assessments in FY 2020. These assessments 
include discussions of compliance areas pursuant to the Master 
Agreement, a site visit, promising practices reviews, and technical 
assistance from FTA and its contractors. These workshops and 
assessments have received excellent feedback from Tribal Transit 
Leaders and provided FTA with invaluable opportunities to learn more 
about Tribal Transit Leaders' perspectives and better honor the 
sovereignty of tribal nations.
    FTA will post information about upcoming workshops to its website 
and will disseminate information about the assessments through its 
regional offices. Contact information for FTA's regional offices can be 
found on FTA's website at www.transit.dot.gov.
    Applicants may also receive technical assistance by contacting 
their FTA regional Tribal Liaison. A list of Tribal Liaisons is 
available on FTA's website at www.transit.dot.gov.

K. Jane Williams,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2020-11128 Filed 5-22-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P