Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Department of Transportation's National Infrastructure Investments (i.e., the Rebuilding American Infrastructure With Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant Program) Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, 21794-21808 [2021-08517]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
• Office of the Secretary

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 77 (Friday, April 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21794-21808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08517]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary


Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Department of 
Transportation's National Infrastructure Investments (i.e., the 
Rebuilding American Infrastructure With Sustainability and Equity 
(RAISE) Grant Program) Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary of Transportation, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of funding opportunity.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to solicit applications for 
Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity 
(RAISE) grants. Funds for the FY 2021 RAISE grant program are to be 
awarded on a competitive basis for surface transportation 
infrastructure projects that will have a significant local or regional 
impact. This program was formerly known as BUILD Transportation Grants

DATES: Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on July 12, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information concerning 
this notice, please contact the RAISE grant program staff via email at 
[email protected], or call Howard Hill at 202-366-0301. A TDD is 
available for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing at 202-366-
3993. In addition, DOT will

[[Page 21795]]

regularly post answers to questions and requests for clarifications as 
well as information about webinars for further guidance on DOT's 
website at www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Each section of this notice contains 
information and instructions relevant to the application process for 
these RAISE 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.

Table of Contents

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

A. Program Description

1. Overview

    The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Pub. L. 116-260, 
December 27, 2020) (``FY 2021 Appropriations Act'') appropriated $1 
billion to be awarded by the Department of Transportation (``DOT'') for 
National Infrastructure Investments (now known as Rebuilding American 
Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grants.) RAISE 
Grants are for capital investments in surface transportation that will 
have a significant local or regional impact. In addition to capital 
awards, DOT will award no more than $30 million for eligible planning, 
preparation or design of projects eligible for RAISE Grants that do not 
result in construction with FY2021 RAISE funding, of which at least $10 
million will be awarded to projects located in or to directly benefit 
areas of persistent poverty.
    Since this program was created, $8.9 billion has been awarded for 
capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure over 12 
rounds of competitive grants. Throughout the program, these 
discretionary grant awards have supported projects that have a 
significant local or regional impact consistent with DOT's strategic 
infrastructure goal.\1\ FY 2021 RAISE grants continue to align with 
DOT's infrastructure goal by guiding strategic investments that enable 
more efficient movement of people and goods. The FY 2021 RAISE round 
also highlights this Administration's priorities to invest in national 
infrastructure projects that result in good-paying jobs, improve 
safety, apply transformative technology, and explicitly address climate 
change and racial equity.
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    \1\ See U.S. Department of Transportation Strategic Plan for FY 
2018-2022 (Feb. 2018) at https://www.transportation.gov/dot-strategic-plan.
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    Section E of this NOFO, which outlines FY 2021 RAISE Grant 
selection criteria, describes the process for selecting projects that 
further these goals. Section F.3 describes progress and performance 
reporting requirements for selected projects, including the 
relationship between that reporting and the program's selection 
criteria.
    Consistent with DOT's R.O.U.T.E.S. initiative, DOT seeks rural 
projects that address deteriorating conditions and disproportionately 
high fatality rates on rural transportation infrastructure. Please 
visit https://www.transportation.gov/rural to learn more about DOT's 
efforts to address disparities in rural infrastructure.

2. Additional Information

    The RAISE grant program is described in the Federal Assistance 
Listings under the assistance listing program title ``National 
Infrastructure Investments'' and assistance listing number 20.933.

3. Changes From the FY 2020 NOFO

    National Infrastructure Investments are now known as Rebuilding 
American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants, 
formerly TIGER and BUILD Transportation Grants. This FY 2021 RAISE 
Notice updates the FY 2020 RAISE NOFO to reflect this Administration's 
priorities for creating good-paying jobs, improving safety, applying 
transformative technology, and explicitly addressing climate change and 
advancing racial equity. Consistent with the FY 2021 Appropriations Act 
requirement that the Secretary shall consider and award projects based 
solely on the selection criteria from the FY 2017 Notice of Funding 
Opportunity, the seven selection criteria remain the same as FY 2017. 
The primary selection criteria are safety, environmental 
sustainability, quality of life, economic competitiveness, and state of 
good repair. The secondary selection criteria are partnership and 
innovation. The Department revised the descriptions of the criteria to 
clarify how they align with long-term project outcomes. A summary of 
these changes is provided below, but applicants should refer to Section 
E for descriptions of the selection criteria.
    Consistent with the environmental sustainability merit criterion, 
the Department seeks to fund projects under the RAISE Program that 
considered climate change and environmental justice in the planning 
stage and were designed with specific elements to address climate 
change impacts. Projects that incorporate such planning considerations 
are expected to better address climate change and advance long-term 
environmental sustainability. Projects should directly support Climate 
Action Plans or apply environmental justice screening tools in the 
planning stage. Projects should include components that reduce 
emissions, promote energy efficiency, increase resiliency, and recycle 
or redevelop existing infrastructure. This objective is consistent with 
Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad 
(86 FR 7619). As part of the Department's implementation of that 
Executive Order, the Department seeks to fund projects that, to the 
extent possible, target at least 40% of resources and benefits towards 
low-income communities, disadvantaged communities, communities 
underserved by affordable transportation, or overburdened \2\ 
communities. Section E describes climate change and environmental 
justice considerations an applicant can undertake. Projects that have 
not sufficiently considered climate change and environmental justice in 
their planning, as determined by the Department, will be required to 
before receiving funds for construction. See Section F.2 of this NOFO 
for program requirements.
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    \2\ Overburdened Community: Minority, low-income, tribal, or 
indigenous populations or geographic locations in the United States 
that potentially experience disproportionate environmental harms and 
risks. This disproportionality can be as a result of greater 
vulnerability to environmental hazards, lack of opportunity for 
public participation, or other factors. Increased vulnerability may 
be attributable to an accumulation of negative or lack of positive 
environmental, health, economic, or social conditions within these 
populations or places. The term describes situations where multiple 
factors, including both environmental and socio-economic stressors, 
may act cumulatively to affect health and the environment and 
contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.
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    Consistent with the quality of life and partnership merit criteria, 
the Department seeks to use the RAISE program to encourage racial 
equity in two areas: (1) Incorporating planning and adopting policies 
related to racial equity and reducing barriers to opportunity; and (2) 
investing in projects that either proactively address racial equity and 
barriers to opportunity, including automobile dependence as a form of 
barrier, or redress prior inequities and barriers to opportunity. This 
objective supports the Department's strategic goal related to 
infrastructure, with the potential for significantly enhancing 
environmental

[[Page 21796]]

stewardship and community partnerships, and reflects Executive Order 
13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities 
Through the Federal Government (86 FR 7009). Section E describes racial 
equity considerations that an applicant can undertake to address these 
criteria. Projects that have not sufficiently considered racial equity 
in their planning, as determined by the Department, will be required to 
before receiving funds for construction. See Section F.4 of this NOFO 
for program requirements.
    The FY 2021 Appropriations Act allows for up to $30 million to be 
awarded for the planning, preparation or design of projects eligible 
for RAISE Grants, of which at least $10 million will be awarded to 
projects located in or to directly benefit areas of persistent poverty 
planning projects. Areas of persistent poverty are defined in Section 
C.3.iii.
    The Department published a FY 2021 RAISE NOFO on January 19, 2021 
and withdrew that NOFO on January 22, 2021. This notice supersedes the 
withdrawn NOFO. Unless repeated here, the content of the withdrawn NOFO 
is ineffective.
    Applicants who are planning to re-apply using materials prepared 
for prior competitions should ensure that their FY 2021 application 
fully addresses the criteria and considerations described in this 
Notice and that all relevant information is up to date.

B. Federal Award Information

1. Amount Available

    The FY 2021 Appropriations Act appropriated $1 billion to be 
awarded by DOT for the RAISE grant program. FY 2021 RAISE grants are 
for capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure and 
are to be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a 
significant local or regional impact. DOT will award no more than $30 
million (of the $1 billion) for the planning, preparation or design of 
eligible projects, of which at least $10 million will be awarded to 
projects located in or to directly benefit areas of persistent poverty 
(as defined in Section C.3.iii.). DOT refers to awards for the 
planning, preparation or design of eligible projects as RAISE planning 
grants. The FY 2021 Appropriations Act also allows DOT to retain up to 
$20 million of the $1 billion for award, oversight and administration 
of grants and credit assistance made under the program. In addition to 
the FY 2021 RAISE funds, unobligated program funds may be made 
available from prior rounds and awarded under this solicitation to 
projects that can be obligated before the obligation deadline 
associated with the respective prior year funds. The Department expects 
not more than $30 million of prior year funds may be awarded. If this 
solicitation does not result in the award and obligation of all 
available funds, DOT may publish additional solicitations.
    The FY 2021 Appropriations Act allows up to 20 percent of available 
funds (or $200 million) to be used by DOT to pay the subsidy and 
administrative costs of a project receiving credit assistance under the 
Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 1998 
(TIFIA) or Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) 
programs, if that use of the FY 2021 RAISE funds would further the 
purposes of the RAISE grant program.

2. Award Size

    The FY 2021 Appropriations Act specifies that RAISE grants may not 
be less than $5 million, except that for projects located in rural 
areas (as defined in Section C.3.ii) the minimum award size is $1 
million. Grants may not be greater than $25 million. There is no 
minimum award size for RAISE planning grants, regardless of location. 
Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit applications only for 
eligible award amounts.

3. Restrictions on Funding

    Pursuant to the FY 2021 Appropriations Act, no more than 10 percent 
of the funds made available for RAISE grants (or $100 million) may be 
awarded to projects in a single State. The Act also directs that not 
more than 50 percent of the funds provided for RAISE grants (or $500 
million) shall be awarded to rural projects (as defined in section 
C.3.ii) and directs that not more than 50 percent of the funds provided 
for RAISE grants (or $500 million) shall be awarded to urban projects 
(as defined in section C.3.ii). Further, DOT must take measures to 
ensure an equitable geographic distribution of grant funds, an 
appropriate balance in addressing the needs of urban and rural areas 
including in tribal areas, and investment in a variety of 
transportation modes.

4. Availability of Funds

    The FY 2021 Appropriations Act requires that FY 2021 RAISE grants 
funds are available for obligation only through September 30, 2024. 
Obligation occurs when a selected applicant and DOT enter into a 
written grant agreement after the applicant has satisfied applicable 
administrative requirements, including transportation planning and 
environmental review requirements. Unless authorized by DOT in writing 
after DOT's announcement of FY 2021 RAISE awards, any costs incurred 
prior to DOT's obligation of funds for a project (``pre-award costs'') 
are ineligible for reimbursement.\3\ All FY 2021 RAISE funds must be 
expended (the grant obligation must be liquidated or actually paid out 
to the grant recipient) by September 30, 2029. After this date, 
unliquidated funds are no longer available to the project. As part of 
the review and selection process described in Section E.2., DOT will 
consider a project's likelihood of being ready to proceed with an 
obligation of RAISE grant funds within the statutory timeline. No 
waiver is possible for these deadlines.
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    \3\ Pre-award costs are only costs incurred directly pursuant to 
the negotiation and anticipation of the RAISE award where such costs 
are necessary for efficient and timely performance of the scope of 
work, as determined by DOT. Costs incurred under an advance 
construction (23 U.S.C. 115) authorization before the DOT announces 
that a project is selected for a FY 2021 RAISE award cannot be 
charged to FY 2021 RAISE funds. Likewise, costs incurred under an 
FTA Letter of No Prejudice under Chapter 53 of title 49 U.S.C. 
before the DOT announces that a project is selected for a FY 2021 
RAISE award cannot be charged to FY 2021 RAISE funds.
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5. Previous BUILD/TIGER Awards

    Recipients of BUILD/TIGER grants may apply for funding to support 
additional phases of a project previously awarded funds in the BUILD/
TIGER program. However, to be competitive, the 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 project. A previous BUILD/TIGER 
award, or application, does not affect competitiveness under the FY 
2021 RAISE competition.

C. Eligibility Information

    To be selected for a RAISE grant, an applicant must be an Eligible 
Applicant and the project must be an Eligible Project.

1. Eligible Applicants

    Eligible Applicants for RAISE grants are State, local, Tribal, and 
U.S. territories' governments, including transit agencies, port 
authorities, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), and other 
political subdivisions of State or local governments.
    Multiple States or jurisdictions may submit a joint application and 
should identify a lead applicant as the primary

[[Page 21797]]

point of contact and also identify the primary recipient of the award. 
Joint applications should include a description of the roles and 
responsibilities of each applicant.
    DOT expects that the eligible applicant that submits the 
application will administer and deliver the project. If the applicant 
seeks a transfer of the award to another agency, a letter of support 
from the designated entity must be included in the application.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    Per the FY 2021 Appropriations Act, the Federal share of project 
costs for which an expenditure is made under the RAISE grant program 
may not exceed 80 percent for a project located in an urban area.\4\ 
The Secretary may increase the Federal share of costs above 80 percent 
for projects located in rural areas and for planning projects located 
in areas of persistent poverty. Urban area and rural area are defined 
in Section C.3.ii of this notice. Areas of persistent poverty are 
defined in Section C.3.iii. DOT shall give priority to projects that 
require a contribution of Federal funds to complete an overall 
financing package.
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    \4\ To meet match requirements, the minimum total project cost 
for a project located in an urban area must be $6.25 million.
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    Non-Federal sources include State funds originating from programs 
funded by State revenue, local funds originating from State or local 
revenue-funded programs, or private funds. Toll credits under 23 U.S.C. 
120(i) are considered a Federal source under the RAISE program and, 
therefore, cannot be used to satisfy the statutory cost sharing 
requirement of a RAISE award. Unless otherwise authorized by statute, 
non-Federal cost-share may not be counted as the non-Federal share for 
both the RAISE grant and another Federal grant program. DOT will not 
consider previously incurred costs or previously expended or encumbered 
funds towards the matching requirement for any project. Matching funds 
are subject to the same Federal requirements described in Section F.2. 
as awarded funds. If repaid from non-Federal sources, Federal credit 
assistance is considered non-Federal share.
    See Section D.2.iii for information about documenting cost sharing 
in the application.
    For each project that receives a RAISE grant award, the terms of 
the award will require the recipient to complete the project using at 
least the level of non-Federal funding that was specified in the 
application. If the actual costs of the project are greater than the 
costs estimated in the application, the recipient will be responsible 
for increasing the non-Federal contribution. If the actual costs of the 
project are less than the costs estimated in the application, DOT will 
generally reduce the Federal contribution.

3. Other

i. Eligible Projects
(a) Capital Projects
    Eligible projects for RAISE grants are surface transportation 
capital projects within the United States or any territory or 
possession of the United States that include, but are not limited to: 
(1) Highway, bridge, or other road projects eligible under title 23, 
United States Code; (2) public transportation projects eligible under 
chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code; (3) passenger and freight 
rail transportation projects; (4) port infrastructure investments 
(including inland port infrastructure and land ports of entry); (5) 
intermodal projects; and (6) projects investing in surface 
transportation facilities that are located on Tribal land and for which 
title or maintenance responsibility is vested in the Federal 
Government.\5\
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    \5\ Please note that DOT may award a RAISE grant to pay for the 
surface transportation components of a broader project that has non-
surface transportation components, and applicants are encouraged to 
apply for RAISE grants to pay for the surface transportation 
components of these projects.
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    Other than projects described in this section, improvements to 
Federally owned facilities are ineligible under the FY 2021 RAISE 
program. Research, demonstration, or pilot projects are eligible only 
if they will result in long-term, permanent surface transportation 
infrastructure that has independent utility as defined in Section 
C.3.iv.
(b) Planning Projects
    Activities eligible for funding under RAISE planning grants are 
related to the planning, preparation, or design--for example 
environmental analysis, feasibility studies, and other pre-construction 
activities--of eligible surface transportation capital projects 
described in Section C.3.i.(a).
    In addition, eligible activities related to multidisciplinary 
projects or regional planning may include: (1) Development of master 
plans, comprehensive plans, or corridor plans; (2) Planning activities 
related to the development of a multimodal freight corridor, including 
those that seek to reduce conflicts with residential areas and with 
passenger and non-motorized traffic; (3) Development of port and 
regional port planning grants, including State-wide or multi-port 
planning within a single jurisdiction or region; (4) Risk assessments 
and planning to identify vulnerabilities and address the transportation 
system's ability to withstand probable occurrence or recurrence of an 
emergency or major disaster.
ii. Rural/Urban Definition
    For purposes of this notice, a project is designated as urban if it 
is located within (or on the boundary of) a Census-designated urbanized 
area \6\ that had a population greater than 200,000 in the 2010 
Census.\7\ If a project is located outside a Census-designated 
urbanized area with a population greater than 200,000, it is designated 
as a rural project. Rural and urban definitions differ in some other 
DOT programs, including TIFIA.
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    \6\ Lists of UAs as defined by the Census Bureau are available 
on the Census Bureau website at https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-maps/2010/geo/2010-census-urban-areas.html.
    \7\ See www.transportation.gov/RAISEBUILDgrants for a list of 
UAs.
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    A project located in both an urban and a rural area will be 
designated as urban if the majority of the project's costs will be 
spent in urban areas. Conversely, a project located in both an urban 
area and a rural area will be designated as rural if the majority of 
the project's costs will be spent in rural areas. For RAISE planning 
grants, the location of the project being planned, prepared, or 
designed will be used for the urban or rural designation.
    This definition affects four aspects of the program: (1) Not more 
than $500 million of the funds provided for RAISE grants are to be used 
for projects in rural areas; (2) not more than $500 million of the 
funds provided for RAISE grants are to be used for projects in urban 
areas; (3) for a project in a rural area the minimum award is $1 
million; and (4) the Secretary may increase the Federal share above 80 
percent to pay for the costs of a project in a rural area.
iii. Areas of Persistent Poverty
    Areas of Persistent Poverty means: (1) Any county that has 
consistently had greater than or equal to 20 percent of the population 
living in poverty during the 30-year period preceding December 27, 
2020, as measured by the 1990 and 2000 \8\ decennial census and the 
most recent annual Small Area Income Poverty Estimates as estimated by 
the Bureau of the census; \9\ (2) any census tract with a poverty rate 
of at least 20 percent as measured by the 2014-2018 5-year data series 
available from the

[[Page 21798]]

American Community Survey of the Bureau of the Census; \10\ or (3) any 
territory or possession of the United States. A county satisfies this 
definition only if 20 percent of its population was living in poverty 
in all three of the listed datasets: (a) The 1990 decennial census; (b) 
the 2000 decennial census; and (c) the 2019 Small Area Income Poverty 
Estimates. DOT will list all counties and census tracts that meet this 
definition for Areas of Persistent Poverty on the RAISE website at 
https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants.
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    \8\ See https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/dec/census-poverty.html for county dataset.
    \9\ See https://www.census.gov/data/datasets/2019/demo/saipe/2019-state-and-county.html for December 2019 Small Area Income 
Poverty Dataset.
    \10\ See https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=ACSST1Y2018.S1701&tid=ACSST5Y2018.S1701&hidePreview=false 
for 2014-2018 five year data series from the American Community 
Survey.
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    The FY 2021 definition for Area of Persistent Poverty may differ 
from other DOT programs, including the FY 2020 FTA Hope Discretionary 
Grant program.
    This definition for Areas of Persistent Poverty affects two aspects 
of the program: (1) There is no minimum grant size for a planning 
projects that are located in or are to directly benefit an area of 
persistent poverty, and (2) the Secretary may increase the Federal 
share above 80 percent to pay for the costs of a planning project that 
is located in or is to directly benefit an area of persistent poverty.
    The Department will only consider direct benefits to Areas of 
Persistent Poverty that are clearly and explicitly described in the 
application narrative. Unless the application addresses the direct 
benefits to an Areas of Persistent Poverty consistent with the 
definition in this section, the Department will not assume the project 
benefits an Area of Persistent Poverty.
iv. Project Components
    An application may describe a project that contains more than one 
component, and may describe components that may be carried out by 
parties other than the applicant. DOT expects, and will impose 
requirements on fund recipients to ensure, that all components included 
in an application will be delivered as part of the RAISE project, 
regardless of whether a component includes Federal funding. The status 
of each component should be clearly described (for example, in the 
project schedule). DOT may award funds for a component, instead of the 
larger project, if that component (1) independently meets minimum award 
amounts described in Section B and all eligibility requirements 
described in Section C; (2) independently aligns well with the 
selection criteria specified in Section E.1; and (3) meets National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements with respect to 
independent utility. Independent utility means that the component will 
represent a transportation improvement that is usable and represents a 
reasonable expenditure of DOT funds even if no other improvements are 
made in the area, and will be ready for intended use upon completion of 
that component's construction. All project components that are 
presented together in a single application must demonstrate a 
relationship or connection between them. (See Section D.2. for Required 
Approvals).
    Applicants should be aware that, depending upon the relationship 
between project components and applicable Federal law, DOT funding of 
only some project components may make other project components subject 
to Federal requirements as described in Section F.2.
    DOT strongly encourages applicants to identify in their 
applications the project components that have independent utility and 
separately detail costs and requested RAISE grant funding for those 
components. If the application identifies one or more independent 
project components, the application should clearly identify how each 
independent component addresses selection criteria and produces 
benefits on its own, in addition to describing how the full proposal of 
which the independent component is a part addresses selection criteria.
v. Application Limit
    Each lead applicant may submit no more than three applications. 
Unrelated project components should not be bundled in a single 
application for the purpose of adhering to the limit. If a lead 
applicant submits more than three applications as the lead applicant, 
only the first three received will be considered.

D. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address To Request Application Package
    Instructions for submitting applications can be found at 
www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants along with specific instructions for 
the forms and attachments required for submission.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission
    The application must include the Standard Form 424 (Application for 
Federal Assistance), cover page, and the Project Narrative. Applicants 
are encouraged to also complete SF-424C and attach to their application 
the ``RAISE 2021 Project Information'' form available at 
www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants.
    DOT recommends that the project narrative follow the basic outline 
below to address the program requirements and assist evaluators in 
locating relevant information.

I. Project Description.....................  See D.2.i.
II. Project Location.......................  See D.2.ii.
III. Grant Funds, Sources and Uses of all    See D.2.iii.
 Project Funding.
IV. Selection Criteria.....................  See D.2. iv. and E.1.
V. Environmental Risk Review...............  See D.2. v. and E.1.ii.
VI. Benefit Cost Analysis..................  See D.2.vi. and E.1. iii..
 

    The project narrative should include the information necessary for 
DOT to determine that the project satisfies project requirements 
described in Sections B and C and to assess the selection criteria 
specified in Section E.1. To the extent practicable, applicants should 
provide supporting data and documentation in a form that is directly 
verifiable by DOT. DOT expects applications to be complete upon 
submission. DOT may ask any applicant to supplement data in its 
application but is not required to do so. Lack of supporting 
information provided with the application negatively affects 
competitiveness of the application, as described in Section E.2.
    In addition to a detailed statement of work, detailed project 
schedule, and detailed project budget, the project narrative should 
include a table of contents, maps and graphics, as appropriate, to make 
the information easier to review. DOT 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). The

[[Page 21799]]

project narrative may not exceed 30 pages in length, excluding cover 
pages and table of contents. The only substantive portions that may 
exceed the 30-page limit are documents supporting assertions or 
conclusions made in the 30-page project narrative, but evaluators are 
not required to review supporting documents as part of the merit review 
described in Section E. If possible, website links to supporting 
documentation should be provided rather than copies of these supporting 
materials. If supporting documents are submitted, applicants should 
clearly reference these in the respective section of the project 
narrative. DOT recommends using appropriately descriptive file names 
(e.g., ``Project Narrative,'' ``Maps,'' ``Memoranda of Understanding 
and Letters of Support,'') for all attachments. DOT recommends 
applications include the following sections:
i. Project Description
    The first section of the application should provide a description 
of the project, the transportation challenges that it is intended to 
address, and how it will address those challenges. 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 project sponsor. 
Applicants may also include a detailed statement of work that focuses 
on the technical and engineering aspects of the project and describes 
in detail the project to be constructed.
ii. 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 description of 
connections to existing transportation infrastructure. The application 
should also identify:
    (a) Whether the project is located in an Area of Persistent Poverty 
including the relevant County and/or census tract; and
    (b) the Census-designated urbanized area in which the project is 
located, if relevant.
    If the project is not located in an Area of Persistent Poverty but 
is a project to directly benefit such an area, the application should 
clearly and explicitly describe those benefits and the affected county 
or census tract(s). For a project to directly benefit an Area of 
Persistent Poverty, measurable and non-trivial outcomes, consistent 
with the selection criteria describe in Section E of this NOFO, must be 
located in that Area of Persistent Poverty.
iii. Grant Funds, Sources and Uses of Project Funds
    This section of the application should describe the budget for the 
RAISE project (i.e. the project scope that includes RAISE funding). 
This budget should not include any previously incurred expenses. The 
budget should show how each source of funds will be spent. The budget 
should also show how each funding source will share in each major 
construction activity, and present that data in dollars and 
percentages. If applicable, the budget should identify Federal funds 
that have been previously authorized by a Federal agency. Funding 
sources should be grouped into three categories: non-Federal, RAISE, 
and other Federal. If the project contains individual components, the 
budget should separate the costs of each project component. If the 
project will be completed in phases, the budget should separate the 
costs of each phase. The budget should clearly identify any expenses 
expected to be incurred between time of award and obligation because 
these expenses are not eligible for reimbursement, as described in 
Section B.4, or for cost sharing, as described in Section C.2. The 
budget details should sufficiently demonstrate that the project 
satisfies the statutory cost-sharing requirements described in Section 
C.2. At a minimum, it should include:
    (a) Costs for the FY2021 RAISE project;
    (b) For all funds to be used for eligible project costs, the source 
and amount of those funds;
    (c) For non-Federal funds to be used for eligible project costs, 
documentation of funding commitments. Documentation should also be 
included as an appendix to the application. If the applicant is not a 
State DOT and matching contributions from a State DOT are included as 
non-Federal match, a supporting letter from the State indicating the 
source of the funds; and
    (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.
    In addition to the information enumerated above, this section 
should provide complete information on how all project funds may be 
used. For example, if a particular source of funds is available only 
after a condition is satisfied, the application should identify that 
condition and describe the applicant's control over whether it is 
satisfied. Similarly, if a particular source of funds is available for 
expenditure only during a fixed time period, the application should 
describe that restriction. Complete information about project funds 
will ensure that DOT's expectations for award execution align with any 
funding restrictions unrelated to DOT, even if an award differs from 
the applicant's request.
iv. Selection Criteria
    This section of the application should demonstrate how the project 
aligns with the criteria described in Section E.1 of this notice. DOT 
encourages applicants to either address each criterion or expressly 
state that the project does not address the criterion. Applicants are 
not required to follow a specific format, but the outline suggested 
addresses each criterion separately and promotes a clear discussion 
that assists project evaluators. To minimize redundant information in 
the application, DOT encourages applicants to cross-reference from this 
section of their application to relevant substantive information in 
other sections of the application. The guidance in this section is 
about how the applicant should organize their application. Guidance 
describing how DOT will evaluate projects against the Selection 
Criteria is in Section E.1 of this notice. Applicants also should 
review that section before considering how to organize their 
application.
(1) Primary Selection Criteria
(a) Safety
    This section of the application should describe the anticipated 
outcomes of the project that support the Safety criterion (described in 
Section E.1.i.(a) of this notice). The applicant should include 
information on, and to the extent possible, quantify, how the project 
would improve safety outcomes within the project area or wider 
transportation network, to include how the project will reduce the 
number, rate, and consequences of transportation-related accidents, 
serious injuries, and fatalities. The application should provide 
evidence to support the claimed level of effectiveness of the project 
in reducing accidents, serious injuries, and/or fatalities. If 
applicable, the applicant should also include information on how the 
project will improve safety at highway-rail grade crossings and/or 
contribute to preventing unintended releases of hazardous materials.
(b) Environmental Sustainability
    This section of the application should describe how the project 
addresses the environmental sustainability criterion

[[Page 21800]]

(described in Section E.1.i.(b) of this notice). Applicants are 
encouraged to provide information demonstrating that they have 
considered climate change and environmental justice in the planning 
stage, in addition to a description of specific project elements that 
address climate change impacts. Applicants are encouraged to include 
information demonstrating how the project will reduce emissions, 
promote energy efficiency, incorporate electrification or zero emission 
vehicle infrastructure, increase resiliency, improve stormwater 
management, and recycle or redevelop existing infrastructure. 
Additional information for how this criterion will be evaluated is in 
Section E.1.i. of this notice.
(c) Quality of Life
    This section should describe how the project increases or improves 
transportation choices for individuals, expands access to essential 
services, improves connectivity for citizens to jobs, health care, and 
other critical destinations; proactively addresses racial equity and 
barriers to opportunity; or otherwise addresses the quality of life 
criterion (described in Section E.1.i.(c) of this notice).
(d) Economic Competitiveness
    This section of the application should describe how the project 
will support the Economic Competitiveness criterion (described in 
Section E.1.i.(d) of this notice). The applicant should include 
information about expected impacts of the project on the movement of 
goods and people, including how the project increases the efficiency of 
movement and thereby reduces costs of doing business, improves local 
and regional freight connectivity to the national and global economy, 
reduces burdens of commuting, and improves overall well-being. 
Applicants could also describe whether project delivery and 
implementation provides opportunities for workers to find good-paying 
jobs directly related to the project, including opportunities through 
unions, project labor agreements,\11\, local hiring provisions, or 
other targeted preferential hiring provisions.\12\ The applicant should 
describe the extent to which the project contributes to the functioning 
and growth of the economy, including the extent to which the project 
addresses congestion or freight connectivity, bridges service gaps in 
rural areas, or promotes the expansion of private economic development.
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    \11\ Project labor agreement must be consistent with Executive 
Order 13502.
    \12\ Preferential hiring provisions must be authorized and 
comply with Sec. 199B of the FY2021 Appropriations Act.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(e) State of Good Repair
    This section of the application should describe how the project 
will contribute to a state of good repair by improving the condition or 
resilience of existing transportation facilities and systems (described 
in Section E.1.i.(e) of this notice), including the project's current 
condition, how the proposed project will improve it, and any estimates 
of impacts on long-term cost structures or overall life-cycle costs.
(2) Secondary Selection Criteria
(a) Partnership
    This section of the application should include information to 
assess the partnership criterion (described in Section E.1.ii.(a) of 
this notice) including a list of all project parties and details about 
the proposed grant recipient and other public and private parties who 
are involved in delivering the project. This section should also 
describe efforts to collaborate among stakeholders, including with the 
private sector.
    Applications for projects involving other Federal agencies, or 
requiring action from other Federal agencies, should demonstrate 
commitment and involvement of those agencies. For example, relevant 
port projects should demonstrate alignment with U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers investment strategies.
(b) Innovation
    This section of the application should describe innovative 
strategies used and the anticipated benefits of using those strategies, 
including those corresponding to three categories (described in Section 
E.1.ii.(b) of this notice): (i) Innovative Technologies, (ii) 
Innovative Project Delivery, or (iii) Innovative Financing.
(i) Innovative Technologies
    If an applicant is proposing to adopt innovative technology, the 
application should demonstrate the applicant's capacity to implement 
those innovations, the applicant's understanding of applicable Federal 
requirements and whether the innovations may require extraordinary 
permitting, approvals, exemptions, waivers, or other procedural 
actions, and the effects of those innovations on the project delivery 
timeline.
    If an applicant is proposing to deploy autonomous vehicles or other 
innovative motor vehicle technology, the application should demonstrate 
that all vehicles will comply with applicable safety requirements, 
including those administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration (NHTSA) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration 
(FMCSA). Specifically, the application should show that vehicles 
acquired for the proposed project will comply with applicable Federal 
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
Regulations (FMCSR). If the vehicles may not comply, the application 
should either (1) show that the vehicles and their proposed operations 
are within the scope of an exemption or waiver that has already been 
granted by NHTSA, FMCSA, or both agencies or (2) directly address 
whether the project will require exemptions or waivers from the FMVSS, 
FMCSR, or any other regulation and, if the project will require 
exemptions or waivers, present a plan for obtaining them.
(ii) Innovative Project Delivery
    If an applicant plans to use innovative approaches to project 
delivery or is located in a State with NEPA delegation authority, 
applicants should describe those project delivery methods and how they 
are expected to improve the efficiency of the project development or 
expedite project delivery.
(iii) Innovative Financing
    If an applicant plans to incorporate innovative funding or 
financing, the applicant should describe the funding or financing 
approach, including a description of all activities undertaken to 
pursue private funding or financing for the project and the outcomes of 
those activities.
v. Environmental Risk
    This section of the application should include sufficient 
information for DOT to evaluate whether the project is reasonably 
expected to begin construction in a timely manner. To assist DOT's 
project environmental risk review, the applicant should provide the 
information requested on project schedule, required approvals and 
permits, NEPA, risk and mitigation strategies, each of which is 
described in greater detail in the following sections. Applicants are 
not required to follow the specific format described here, but this 
organization, which addresses each relevant aspect of environmental 
risk, promotes a clear discussion that assists project evaluators. To 
minimize redundant information in the application, DOT encourages 
applicants to cross-reference from this section of their application to 
relevant substantive

[[Page 21801]]

information in other sections of the application.
    The guidance here is about what information applicants should 
provide and how the applicant should organize their application. 
Guidance describing how DOT will evaluate environmental risk is 
described in Section E.1.ii of this notice. Applicants should review 
that section when considering how to organize their application.
(a) Project Schedule
    The applicant should include a detailed project schedule that 
identifies all major project milestones. Examples of such milestones 
include State and local planning approvals (e.g., programming on the 
Statewide Transportation Improvement Program); start and completion of 
NEPA and other Federal environmental reviews and approvals including 
permitting; design completion; right of way acquisition; approval of 
plans, specifications and estimates; procurement; State and local 
approvals; project partnership and implementation agreements, including 
agreements with railroads; and construction. The project schedule 
should be sufficiently detailed to demonstrate that:
    (1.) All necessary activities will be complete to allow RAISE grant 
funds to be obligated sufficiently in advance of the statutory deadline 
(June 30, 2024 \13\), and that any unexpected delays will not put the 
funds at risk of expiring before they are obligated;
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    \13\ The statutory obligation deadline is September 30, 2024. 
The Department assesses risk against an earlier deadline of June 30, 
2024 to allow time to complete administrative processing and address 
challenges before the statutory deadline.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2.) the project can begin construction upon obligation of grant 
funds and that those funds will be spent expeditiously once 
construction starts, with all funds expended by September 30, 2029; and
    (3.) all real property and right-of-way acquisition will be 
completed in a timely manner in accordance with 49 CFR part 24, 23 CFR 
part 710, and other applicable legal requirements or a statement that 
no right-of-way acquisition is necessary.
(b) Required Approvals
    1. Environmental Permits and Reviews. The application should 
demonstrate receipt (or reasonably anticipated receipt) of all 
environmental approvals and permits necessary for the project to 
proceed to construction on the timeline specified in the project 
schedule and necessary to meet the statutory obligation deadline, 
including satisfaction of all Federal, State and local requirements and 
completion of the NEPA process. Specifically, the application should 
include:
    i. Information about the NEPA status of the project. If the NEPA 
process is complete, an applicant should indicate the date of 
completion, and provide a website link or other reference to the final 
Categorical Exclusion, Finding of No Significant Impact, Record of 
Decision, and any other NEPA documents prepared. If the NEPA process is 
underway, but not complete, the application should detail the type of 
NEPA review underway, where the project is in the process, and indicate 
the anticipated date of completion of all milestones and of the final 
NEPA determination. If the last agency action with respect to NEPA 
documents occurred more than three years before the application date, 
the applicant should describe why the project has been delayed and 
include a proposed approach for verifying and, if necessary, updating 
this material in accordance with applicable NEPA requirements.
    ii. Information on reviews, approvals, and permits by other 
agencies. An application should indicate whether the proposed project 
requires reviews or approval actions by other agencies,\14\ indicate 
the status of such actions, and provide detailed information about the 
status of those reviews or approvals and should demonstrate compliance 
with any other applicable Federal, State or local requirements, and 
when such approvals are expected. Applicants should provide a website 
link or other reference to copies of any reviews, approvals, and 
permits prepared.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ Projects that may impact protected resources such as 
wetlands, species habitat, cultural or historic resources require 
review and approval by Federal and State agencies with jurisdiction 
over those resources.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    iii. Environmental studies or other documents, preferably through a 
website link, that describe in detail known project impacts, and 
possible mitigation for those impacts.
    iv. A description of discussions with the appropriate DOT operating 
administration field or headquarters office regarding the project's 
compliance with NEPA and other applicable Federal environmental reviews 
and approvals.
    v. A description of public engagement about the project that has 
occurred, including details on the degree to which public comments and 
commitments have been integrated into project development and design.
    2. State and Local Approvals. The applicant should demonstrate 
receipt of State and local approvals on which the project depends, such 
as State and local environmental and planning approvals and Statewide 
Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) or (Transportation 
Improvement Program) TIP funding. For projects acquiring State DOT-
owned right of way, applicants should demonstrate they have coordinated 
the project with the State DOT or transportation facility owner. 
Additional support from relevant State and local officials is not 
required; however, an applicant should demonstrate that the project has 
broad public support.
    3. Federal Transportation Requirements Affecting State and Local 
Planning. The planning requirements applicable to the relevant 
operating administration apply to all RAISE grant projects,\15\ 
including intermodal projects located at airport facilities.\16\ 
Applicants should demonstrate that a project that is required to be 
included in the relevant State, metropolitan, and local planning 
documents has been or will be included in such documents. If the 
project is not included in a relevant planning document at the time the 
application is submitted, the applicant

[[Page 21802]]

should submit a statement from the appropriate planning agency that 
actions are underway to include the project in the relevant planning 
document. To the extent possible, freight projects should be included 
in a State Freight Plan and supported by a State Freight Advisory 
Committee (49 U.S.C. 70201, 70202), if these exist. Applicants should 
provide links or other documentation supporting this consideration. 
Because projects have different schedules, the construction start date 
for each RAISE grant must be specified in the project-specific 
agreements signed by relevant operating administration and the grant 
recipients, based on critical path items that applicants identify in 
the application and will be consistent with relevant State and local 
plans.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ Under 23 U.S.C. 134 and 135, all projects requiring an 
action by FHWA must be in the applicable plan and programming 
documents (e.g., metropolitan transportation plan, transportation 
improvement program (TIP) and statewide transportation improvement 
program (STIP)). Further, in air quality non-attainment and 
maintenance areas, all regionally significant projects, regardless 
of the funding source, must be included in the conforming 
metropolitan transportation plan and TIP. Inclusion in the STIP is 
required under certain circumstances. To the extent a project is 
required to be on a metropolitan transportation plan, TIP, and/or 
STIP, it will not receive a RAISE grant until it is included in such 
plans. Plans that do not currently include the awarded RAISE project 
can be amended by the State and MPO. Projects that are not required 
to be in long range transportation plans, STIPs, and TIPs will not 
need to be included in such plans to receive a RAISE grant. Port, 
freight rail, and intermodal projects are not required to be on the 
State Rail Plans called for in the Passenger Rail Investment and 
Improvement Act of 2008, or in a State Freight Plan as described in 
the FAST Act. However, applicants seeking funding for freight 
projects are encouraged to demonstrate that they have done 
sufficient planning to ensure that projects fit into a prioritized 
list of capital needs and are consistent with long-range goals. 
Means of demonstrating this consistency would include whether the 
project is in a TIP or a State Freight Plan that conforms to the 
requirements 49 U.S.C. 70202 prior to the start of construction. 
Port planning guidelines are available at StrongPorts.gov.
    \16\ Projects at grant obligated airports must be compatible 
with the FAA-approved Airport Layout Plan, as well as aeronautical 
surfaces associated with the landing and takeoff of aircraft at the 
airport. Additionally, projects at an airport: Must comply with 
established Sponsor Grant Assurances, including (but not limited to) 
requirements for non-exclusive use facilities, consultation with 
users, consistency with local plans including development of the 
area surrounding the airport, and consideration of the interest of 
nearby communities, among others; and must not adversely affect the 
continued and unhindered access of passengers to the terminal.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(c) Assessment of Project Risks and Mitigation Strategies
    Project risks, such as procurement delays, environmental 
uncertainties, increases in real estate acquisition costs, uncommitted 
local match, unavailability of vehicles that either comply with Federal 
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards or are exempt from Federal Motor Vehicle 
Safety Standards in a manner that allows for their legal acquisition 
and deployment, unavailability of domestically manufactured equipment, 
or lack of legislative approval, affect the likelihood of successful 
project start and completion. The applicant should identify all 
material risks to the project and the strategies that the lead 
applicant and any project partners have undertaken or will undertake to 
mitigate those risks. The applicant should assess the greatest risks to 
the project and identify how the project parties will mitigate those 
risks.
    If an applicant anticipates pursuing a waiver for relevant domestic 
preference laws, the applicant should describe steps that have been or 
will be taken to maximize the use of domestic goods, products, and 
materials in constructing its project.
    To the extent the applicant is unfamiliar with the Federal program, 
the applicant should contact the appropriate DOT operating 
administration field or headquarters offices, as found in contact 
information at www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants, for information on 
the pre-requisite steps to obligate Federal funds in order to ensure 
that their project schedule is reasonable and that there are no risks 
of delays in satisfying Federal requirements.
    RAISE planning grant applicants should describe their capacity to 
successfully implement the proposed activities in a timely manner.
vi. Benefit Cost Analysis
    This section describes the recommended approach for the completion 
and submission of a benefit-cost analysis (BCA) as an appendix to the 
Project Narrative. The results of the analysis should be summarized in 
the Project Narrative directly, as described in Section D.2.
    The appendix should provide present value estimates of a project's 
benefits and costs relative to a no-build baseline. To calculate 
present values, applicants should apply a real discount rate (i.e., the 
discount rate net of the inflation rate) of 7 percent per year to the 
project's streams of benefits and costs. The purpose of the BCA is to 
enable DOT to evaluate the project's cost-effectiveness by estimating a 
benefit-cost ratio for the project.
    The primary economic benefits from projects eligible for RAISE 
grants are likely to include savings in travel time costs, vehicle or 
terminal operating costs, and safety costs for both existing users of 
the improved facility and new users who may be attracted to it as a 
result of the project. Reduced damages from vehicle emissions and 
savings in maintenance costs to public agencies may also be quantified. 
Applicants may describe other categories of benefits in the BCA that 
are more difficult to quantify and value in economic terms, such as 
improving the reliability of travel times or improvements to the 
existing human and natural environments (such as increased 
connectivity, improved public health, storm water runoff mitigation, 
and noise reduction), while also providing numerical estimates of the 
magnitude and timing of each of these additional impacts wherever 
possible. Any benefits claimed for the project, both quantified and 
unquantified, should be clearly tied to the expected outcomes of the 
project.
    The BCA should include the full costs of developing, constructing, 
operating, and maintaining the proposed project, as well as the 
expected timing or schedule for costs in each of these categories. The 
BCA may also consider the present discounted value of any remaining 
service life of the asset at the end of the analysis period. The costs 
and benefits that are compared in the BCA should also cover the same 
project scope.
    The BCA should carefully document the assumptions and methodology 
used to produce the analysis, including a description of the baseline, 
the sources of data used to project the outcomes of the project, and 
the values of key input parameters. Applicants should provide all 
relevant files used for their BCA, including any spreadsheet files and 
technical memos describing the analysis (whether created in-house or by 
a contractor). The spreadsheets and technical memos should present the 
calculations in sufficient detail and transparency to allow the 
analysis to be reproduced by DOT evaluators. Detailed guidance for 
estimating some types of quantitative benefits and costs, together with 
recommended economic values for converting them to dollar terms and 
discounting to their present values, are available in DOT's guidance 
for conducting BCAs for projects seeking funding under the RAISE grant 
program (see www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/additional-guidance).

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

    Each applicant must: (1) Be registered in SAM before submitting its 
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 it has an active 
Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a 
Federal awarding agency. DOT may not make a RAISE grant to an applicant 
until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity 
identifier and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully 
complied with the requirements by the time DOT is ready to make a RAISE 
grant, DOT may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive 
a RAISE grant and use that determination as a basis for making a RAISE 
grant to another applicant.

4. Submission Dates and Times

    Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Eastern on July 12, 
2021. To submit an application through Grants.gov, applicants must:
    (1) Obtain a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number;
    (2) Register with the System for Award Management (SAM) at 
www.SAM.gov;
    (3) Create a Grants.gov username and password; and
    (4) The E-Business Point of Contact (POC) at the applicant's 
organization must respond to the registration email from Grants.gov and 
login at Grants.gov to authorize the applicant as the Authorized 
Organization Representative (AOR). Please note that there can be more 
than one AOR for an organization.
    Please note that the Grants.gov registration process usually takes 
2-4 weeks to complete and that DOT will

[[Page 21803]]

not consider late applications that are the result of failure to 
register or comply with Grants.gov applicant requirements in a timely 
manner. For information and instruction on each of these processes, 
please see instructions at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html. If applicants experience difficulties at any point 
during the registration or application process, please call the 
Grants.gov Customer Service Support Hotline at 1(800) 518-4726, Monday-
Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST.

5. Other Submission Requirements

(a) Submission Location
    Applications must be submitted to Grants.gov.
(b) Consideration of Applications
    Only applicants who comply with all submission deadlines described 
in this notice and electronically submit valid applications through 
Grants.gov will be eligible for award. Applicants are strongly 
encouraged to make submissions in advance of the deadline.
(c) Late Applications
    Applicants experiencing technical issues with Grants.gov that are 
beyond the applicant's control must contact [email protected] prior 
to the application deadline with the user name of the registrant and 
details of the technical issue experienced. The applicant must provide:
    (1) Details of the technical issue experienced;
    (2) Screen capture(s) of the technical issues experienced along 
with corresponding Grants.gov ``Grant tracking number;''
    (3) The ``Legal Business Name'' for the applicant that was provided 
in the SF-424;
    (4) The AOR name submitted in the SF-424;
    (5) The DUNS number associated with the application; and
    (6) The Grants.gov Help Desk Tracking Number.
    To ensure a fair competition of limited discretionary funds, the 
following conditions are not valid reasons to permit late submissions: 
(1) Failure to complete the registration process before the deadline; 
(2) failure to follow Grants.gov instructions on how to register and 
apply as posted on its website; (3) failure to follow all instructions 
in this notice of funding opportunity; and (4) technical issues 
experienced with the applicant's computer or information technology 
environment. After DOT reviews all information submitted and contact 
the Grants.gov Help Desk to validate reported technical issues, DOT 
staff will contact late applicants to approve or deny a request to 
submit a late application through Grants.gov. If the reported technical 
issues cannot be validated, late applications will be rejected as 
untimely.
(d) Compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
    The Department encourages applicants to submit documents that are 
compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 
508 guidelines are available at https://www.access-board.gov/ict/.

E. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

(a) Capital Projects
    This section specifies the criteria that DOT will use to evaluate 
and award applications for RAISE grants. The criteria incorporate the 
statutory eligibility requirements for this program, which are 
specified in this notice as relevant. For each proposed project, DOT 
will review the potential long-term benefits for the primary and 
secondary merit criteria described in this section. DOT does not 
consider any primary merit criterion more important than the others. 
Applications that do not demonstrate the project will, more likely than 
not generate benefits in one or more merit criteria for at least the 
useful life of the project; demonstrate moderate local or regional 
impact; and contain sufficient information to assess the projects 
benefits will not proceed in the evaluation process. In evaluating the 
primary and secondary merit criteria, DOT will review the project's 
local or regional impact as well as the content and credibility of 
information used to explain project benefits. As described in section 
E.2, projects that address primary merit criteria will be more 
competitive than projects that only address secondary merit criteria.
i. Primary Merit Criteria
(a) Safety
    DOT will assess the project's ability to foster a safe 
transportation system for the movement of goods and people, consistent 
with the Department's strategic goal to reduce transportation-related 
fatalities and serious injuries across the transportation system. DOT 
will consider the project's estimated impacts on the number, rate, and 
consequences of crashes, fatalities and injuries among transportation 
users; the degree to which the project addresses vulnerable roadway 
users, the degree to which the project addresses inequities in crash 
victims, the extent to which the project improves safety at highway/
rail grade crossings; the project's incorporation of roadway design and 
technology that is proven to improve safety; or the project's 
contribution to preventing unintended releases of hazardous materials.
(b) Environmental Sustainability
    DOT will consider the extent to which the project incorporates 
considerations of climate change and environmental justice in the 
planning stage and in project delivery, such as through incorporation 
of specific design elements that address climate change impacts. DOT 
will evaluate the degree to which the project is expected to reduce 
emissions, promote energy efficiency, support fiscally responsible land 
use and transportation efficient design, incorporates electrification 
or zero emission vehicle infrastructure, increases resiliency, reduces 
pollution, and recycles or redevelops brownfield sites, particularly 
communities that disproportionally experience climate-change-related 
consequences. DOT will assess whether the project has addressed 
environmental sustainability, including but not limited to the 
following examples:
    (1) A Local/Regional/State Climate Action Plan which results in 
lower greenhouse gas emissions has been prepared and the project 
directly supports that Climate Action Plan;
    (2) A Local/Regional/State Equitable Development Plan has been 
prepared and the project directly supports that Equitable Development 
Plan;
    (3) The project sponsor has used environmental justice tools such 
as the EJSCREEN to minimize adverse impacts to environmental justice 
communities (https://ejscreen.epa.gov/mapper/); or
    (4) A Local/Regional/State Energy Baseline Study has been prepared 
and the project directly supports that study;

[[Page 21804]]

    (5) The project supports a modal shift in freight or passenger 
movement to reduce emissions, or reduce induced travel demand. The 
project utilizes demand management strategies to reduce congestion, 
induced travel demand, and greenhouse gas emissions;
    (6) The project incorporates electrification infrastructure, zero-
emission vehicle infrastructure, or both;
    (7) The project supports the installation of electric vehicle 
charging stations;
    (8) The project promotes energy efficiency;
    (9) The project serves the renewable energy supply chain;
    (10) The project improves disaster preparedness and resiliency;
    (11) The project avoids adverse environmental impacts to air or 
water quality, wetlands, and endangered species, such as through 
reduction in Clean Air Act criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases, 
improved stormwater management, or improved habitat connectivity;
    (12) The project repairs existing dilapidated or idle 
infrastructure that is currently causing environmental harm (e.g. 
brownfield redevelopment);
    (13) The project supports or incorporates the construction of 
energy- and location-efficient buildings;
    (14) The project proposes recycling of materials, use of materials 
known to reduce or reverse carbon emissions, or both.
(c) Quality of Life
    DOT will consider the extent to which the project: (i) Increases 
transportation choices and equity for individuals; (ii) expands access 
to essential services for communities across the United States, 
particularly for underserved or disadvantaged communities; (iii) 
improves connectivity for citizens to jobs, health care, and other 
critical destinations, or (iv) proactively addresses racial equity \17\ 
and barriers to opportunity, through the planning process or through 
incorporation of design elements. DOT will assess whether the project 
addresses quality of life, including but not limited to the following 
examples:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ Definitions for ``racial equity'' and ``underserved 
communities'' are found in Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial 
Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal 
Government, Sections 2 (a) and (b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (1) A racial equity impact analysis has been completed for the 
project;
    (2) The project sponsor has adopted an equity and inclusion 
program/plan or has otherwise instituted equity-focused policies 
related to project procurement, material sourcing, construction, 
inspection, hiring, or other activities designed to ensure racial 
equity in the overall project delivery and implementation.
    (3) The project includes physical-barrier-mitigating land bridges, 
caps, lids, linear parks, and multimodal mobility investments that 
either redress past barriers to opportunity or that proactively create 
new connections and opportunities for underserved communities that are 
underserved by transportation;
    (4) The project includes new or improved walking, biking, and 
rolling access for the disabled, especially access that reverses the 
disproportional impacts of crashes on people of color, and mitigate 
neighborhood bifurcation; or
    (5) The project includes new or improved freight access to 
underserved communities to increase access to goods and job 
opportunities for those underserved communities.
(d) Economic Competitiveness
    DOT will assess the degree to which the project will (1) decrease 
transportation costs and improve access, through reliable and timely 
access, to employment centers and job opportunities; (2) improve long-
term efficiency or reliability, or reduce costs in the movement of 
workers or goods; (3) offer significant regional and national 
improvements in economic strength by increasing the economic 
productivity of land, capital, or labor, and improving the economic 
strength of regions and cities; (4) result in long-term job creation by 
supporting good-paying jobs directly related to the project with the 
choice of a union, and supporting American industry through compliance 
with domestic preference laws, the use of project labor agreements, 
local hiring provisions, or other targeted preferential hiring 
requirements; or (5) help the United States compete in a global economy 
by encouraging the location of important industries and future 
innovations and technology in the U.S., and facilitating efficient and 
reliable freight movement. This criterion is consistent with DOT's 
strategic objective to promote investments that bring lasting economic 
benefit to the Nation.
    Projects that bridge gaps in service in rural areas and projects 
that attract private economic development both support local or 
regional economic competitiveness.
(e) State of Good Repair
ii. Consistent with the Department's strategic objective to maintain 
and upgrade existing transportation systems, DOT will assess whether 
and to what extent: (1) The project is consistent with relevant plans 
to maintaintransportation facilities or systems in a state of good 
repair and address current and projected vulnerabilities; (2) if left 
unimproved, the poor condition of the asset will threaten future 
transportation network efficiency, mobility of goods or accessibility 
and mobility of people, or economic growth; (3) the project is 
appropriately capitalized, including whether project sponsor has 
conducted scenario planning and/or fiscal impact analysis to understand 
the future impact on public finances; (4) a sustainable source of 
revenue is available for operations and maintenance of the project and 
the project will reduce overall life-cycle costs; (5) the project will 
maintain or improve transportation infrastructure that supports border 
security functions; and (6) the project includes a plan to maintain the 
transportation infrastructure in a state of good repair. DOT will 
prioritize projects that ensure the good condition of transportation 
infrastructure, including rural transportation infrastructure, that 
support commerce and economic growth. Secondary Merit Criteria
(a) Partnership
    DOT will consider the extent to which projects demonstrate strong 
collaboration among a broad range of stakeholders. Projects with strong 
partnership typically involve multiple partners in project development 
and funding, such as State and local governments, other public 
entities, and private or nonprofit entities, particularly minority 
business enterprises. DOT will consider applicants that partner with 
State, local, or private entities for the completion and operation of 
transportation infrastructure to have strong partnership. DOT will also 
assess the extent to which the project application demonstrates 
collaboration among neighboring or regional jurisdictions to achieve 
local or regional benefits, especially equity-focused community 
outreach and public engagement in the project's planning in underserved 
communities. In the context of public-private partnerships, DOT will 
assess the extent to which partners are encouraged to ensure long-term 
asset performance, such as through pay-for-success approaches.
    DOT will also consider the extent to which projects include 
partnerships that bring together diverse transportation

[[Page 21805]]

agencies or are supported, financially or otherwise, by other 
stakeholders that are pursuing similar objectives. For example, DOT 
will consider the extent to which transportation projects are 
coordinated with economic development, affordable housing projects, 
water and waste infrastructure, power and electric infrastructure, 
broadband and land use plans and policies or other public service 
efforts.
(b) Innovation
    Consistent with DOT's objectives to encourage transformative 
projects that take the lead in deploying innovative technologies and 
practices that drive outcomes in terms of safety, equity, climate and 
resilience, and economic strength, DOT will assess the extent to which 
the applicant uses innovative strategies, including: (1) Innovative 
technologies, (2) innovative project delivery, or (3) innovative 
financing.
1. Innovative Technologies
    Consistent with overarching goals to support good-paying jobs with 
the choice of a union, DOT will assess innovative technological 
approaches to transportation, particularly in relation to automated, 
connected, and electric vehicles and the detection, mitigation, and 
documentation of safety risks. When making RAISE grant award decisions, 
DOT will consider any innovative technological approaches proposed by 
the applicant, particularly projects which incorporate innovative 
technological design solutions, enhance the environment for connected, 
electric, and automated vehicles, or use technology to improve the 
detection, mitigation, and documentation of safety risks. Innovative 
technological approaches may include, but are not limited to:
     Conflict detection and mitigation technologies (e.g., 
intersection alerts and signal prioritization);
     Dynamic signaling, smart traffic signals, or pricing 
systems to reduce congestion;
     Traveler information systems, to include work zone data 
exchanges;
     Signage and design features that facilitate autonomous or 
semi-autonomous vehicle technologies;
     Applications to automatically capture and report safety-
related issues (e.g., identifying and documenting near-miss incidents);
     Vehicle-to-Everything V2X Technologies (e.g. technology 
that facilitates passing of information between a vehicle and any 
entity that may affect the vehicle);
     Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) Technologies (e.g., 
digital, physical, coordination, and other infrastructure technologies 
and systems that allow vehicles to interact with transportation 
infrastructure in ways that improve their mutual performance);
     Vehicle-to-Grid Technologies (e.g., technologies and 
infrastructure that encourage electric vehicle charging, and broader 
sustainability of the power grid);
     Cybersecurity elements to protect safety-critical systems;
     Broadband deployment and the installation of high-speed 
networks concurrent with the transportation project construction;
     Technology at land and sea ports of entry that reduces 
congestion, wait times, and delays, while maintaining or enhancing the 
integrity of our border;
     Work Zone data exchanges or related data exchanges; or
     Other Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) that 
directly benefit the project's users.
    For innovative safety proposals, DOT will evaluate safety benefits 
that those approaches could produce and the broader applicability of 
the potential results. DOT will also assess the extent to which the 
project uses innovative technology that supports surface transportation 
to significantly enhance the operational performance of the 
transportation system. Please note that all innovative technology must 
be in compliance with 2 CFR 200.216.\18\
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2. Innovative Project Delivery
    DOT will consider the extent to which the project utilizes 
innovative practices in contracting (such as public-private 
partnerships), congestion management, asset management, or long-term 
operations and maintenance.
    DOT also seeks projects that employ innovative approaches to 
improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the environmental 
permitting and review to accelerate project delivery and achieve 
improved outcomes for communities and the environment. DOT's objective 
is to achieve timely and consistent environmental review and permit 
decisions. Accordingly, projects from States with NEPA assignment 
authority under 23 U.S.C. 327 are considered to use an innovative 
approach to project delivery. Participation in innovative project 
delivery approaches will not remove any statutory requirements 
affecting project delivery.
    Infrastructure investment also provides opportunities for workers 
to find good-paying jobs with the choice to join a union, and supports 
American industry through the application of domestic preference 
requirements. Projects that use project labor agreements and deploy 
local hiring provisions or targeted preferential hiring provisions also 
contribute to innovative project delivery.
    While RAISE grant award recipients are not required to employ 
innovative approaches, DOT encourages RAISE grant applicants to 
describe innovative project delivery methods for proposed projects.
3. Innovative Financing
    DOT will assess the extent to which the project incorporates 
innovations in transportation funding and finance through both 
traditional and innovative means, including by using private sector 
funding or financing or using congestion pricing or other demand 
management strategies to address congestion in major urban areas.
iii. Demonstrated Project Readiness
    During application evaluation, DOT may consider project readiness 
to assess the likelihood of a successful project. In that analysis, DOT 
will consider three evaluation ratings: Environmental Risk, Technical 
Capacity, and Financial Capacity. Environmental Risk assessment 
analyzes the project's environmental approvals and likelihood of the 
necessary approval affecting project obligation. The Technical Capacity 
will be reviewed for all eligible applications and will assess the 
applicant's capacity to successfully deliver the project in compliance 
with applicable Federal requirements based on factors including the 
recipient's experience working with Federal agencies, previous 
experience with BUILD or INFRA awards, and the technical experience and 
resources dedicated to the project. The Financial Capacity assessment 
reviews the availability of matching funds and whether the applicant 
presented a complete funding package. Risks do not disqualify projects 
from award, but competitive applications clearly and directly describe 
achievable risk mitigation strategies. A project with mitigated risks 
or with a risk mitigation plan is more competitive than a comparable 
project with unaddressed risks.
iv. Project Costs and Benefits
    DOT may consider the costs and benefits of projects seeking RAISE 
grant funding. To the extent possible, DOT will rely on quantitative, 
evidenced-based and data-supported analysis to assess how well a 
project addresses this

[[Page 21806]]

criterion, including an assessment of the project's estimated benefit-
cost ratio (BCR) based on the applicant-supplied BCA described in 
Section D.2.vi.
    To evaluate the costs and benefits of a proposed project, DOT will 
assign the project into ranges based on its estimated BCR, and DOT will 
assign a level of confidence associated with the estimated BCR range. 
DOT will use these ranges for BCR: Less than 1; 1-1.5; 1.5-3; and 
greater than 3. The confidence levels are high, medium, and low. 
Projects for which the BCR is less than 1 will not advance to the 
Secretary as Highly Rated and will not be selected for an award, unless 
the project demonstrates clear, unquantified outcomes, as identified by 
the SRT, consistent with the environmental sustainability and quality 
of life criteria.
(b) Planning Grants
    Planning grant applications will be evaluated against the same 
criteria as capital grants. The Department will consider how the plan, 
once implemented, will ultimately further the merit criteria. DOT will 
not evaluate the benefits and costs (as expressed in a benefit-cost 
analysis) or environmental risks of projects that do not include 
construction.
(c) Additional Considerations
    The FY 2021 Appropriations Act requires DOT to consider 
contributions to geographic diversity among recipients, including the 
need for a balance between the needs of urban and rural areas, 
including Tribal areas, and investment in a variety of transportation 
modes when selecting RAISE grant awards.

2. Review and Selection Process

    DOT reviews all eligible applications received by the deadline. The 
RAISE grants review and selection process consists of at least a 
Technical Review and a Senior Review. In the Merit Review, teams 
comprising staff from the Office of the Secretary (OST) and operating 
administrations review all eligible applications and rate projects as 
Highly Recommended, Recommended, Acceptable, or Unacceptable. For a 
capital project to receive a Highly Recommended rating, (1) the project 
must demonstrate that, more likely than not, it will generate long-term 
benefits in one or more primary merit criteria and does not appear to 
negatively affect any of the other merit criteria; (2) the project must 
have a clear, direct, significant, and positive local or regional 
impact (i.e. the project will, more likely than not, reduce the problem 
or use the opportunity that project proposes to address); and (3) the 
application contains sufficient information to assess project benefits 
and the benefits claimed by the applicant appear reasonable and 
justifiable. Planning projects will receive the same merit review and 
rating as capital projects, except that for planning projects the 
review does not include an assessment of whether the application 
contains sufficient information to assess project benefits and whether 
those benefits appear reasonable and justifiable. If the project has 
not substantively changed from prior submissions to BUILD or other 
Department programs, staff may rely on previous analysis. The Senior 
Review Team, which includes senior leadership from OST and the 
operating administrations, determines which projects to advance to the 
Secretary as Highly Rated. The FY 2021 Appropriations Act mandated 
RAISE grant awards by November 22, 2021. The Secretary selects from the 
Highly Rated projects for final awards. Consistent with past practice, 
the Department offers debriefs to applicants not selected for award to 
receive information about the RAISE project's evaluation.

3. Additional Information

    Prior to award, each selected applicant will be subject to a risk 
assessment as required by 2 CFR 200.206. DOT must review and consider 
any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity 
and performance system accessible through SAM (currently the Federal 
Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS). An 
applicant may review information in FAPIIS and comment on any 
information about itself that a Federal awarding agency previously 
entered. DOT will consider comments by the applicant, in addition to 
the other information in FAPIIS, in making a judgment about the 
applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under 
Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Federal Award Notice

    Following the evaluation outlined in Section E, the Secretary will 
announce awarded projects by posting a list of selected projects at 
www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants. Notice of selection is not 
authorization to begin performance or to incur costs for the proposed 
project. Following that announcement, the relevant operating 
administration will contact the point of contact listed in the SF 424 
to initiate negotiation of the grant agreement for authorization.
    Recipients of RAISE Grant awards will not receive lump-sum cash 
disbursements at the time of award announcement or obligation of funds. 
Instead, RAISE funds will reimburse recipients only after a grant 
agreement has been executed, allowable expenses are incurred, and valid 
requests for reimbursement are submitted.
    Unless authorized by DOT in writing after DOT's announcement of FY 
2021 RAISE awards, any costs that a recipient incurs before DOT 
executes a grant agreement for that recipient's project are ineligible 
for reimbursement, and are ineligible match for cost share 
requirements.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

(a) Administrative Requirements
    Please visit https://www.transportation.gov/policy-initiatives/build/grant-agreements for the General Terms and Conditions for BUILD 
2020 awards. The RAISE 2021 Terms and Conditions will be similar to the 
BUILD 2020 Terms and Conditions, but may include relevant updates.
    All awards will be administered pursuant to the Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for 
Federal Awards found in 2 C.F.R part 200, as adopted by DOT at 2 C.F.R 
part 1201. Federal wage rate requirements included in subchapter IV of 
chapter 31 of title 40, U.S.C., apply to all projects receiving funds 
under this program, and apply to all parts of the project, whether 
funded with RAISE Grant funds, other Federal funds, or non-Federal 
funds.
    In connection with any program or activity conducted with or 
benefiting from funds awarded under this notice, recipients of funds 
must comply with all applicable requirements of Federal law, including, 
without limitation, the Constitution of the United States; the 
conditions of performance, non-discrimination requirements, and other 
assurances made applicable to the award of funds in accordance with 
regulations of the Department of Transportation; and applicable Federal 
financial assistance and contracting principles promulgated by the 
Office of Management and Budget. In complying with these requirements, 
recipients, in particular, must ensure that no concession agreements 
are denied or other contracting decisions made on the basis of speech 
or other activities protected by the First Amendment. If

[[Page 21807]]

DOT determines that a recipient has failed to comply with applicable 
Federal requirements, DOT may terminate the award of funds and disallow 
previously incurred costs, requiring the recipient to reimburse any 
expended award funds.
    Additionally, applicable Federal laws, rules and regulations of the 
relevant operating administration administering the project will apply 
to the projects that receive RAISE grant awards, including planning 
requirements, Service Outcome Agreements, Stakeholder Agreements, Buy 
America compliance, and other requirements under DOT's other highway, 
transit, rail, and port grant programs. For projects that are eligible 
under RAISE but are not eligible under DOT's other programs or projects 
that are eligible under multiple DOT programs, the RAISE program will 
determine the appropriate requirements to ensure the project is 
delivered consistent with program and Department goals. In particular, 
Executive Order 14005 directs the Executive Branch Departments and 
agencies to maximize the use of goods, products, and materials produced 
in, and services offered in, the United States through the terms and 
conditions of Federal financial assistance awards. If selected for an 
award, grant recipients must be prepared to demonstrate how they will 
maximize the use of domestic goods, products, and materials in 
constructing their project. RAISE grant projects involving vehicle 
acquisition must involve only vehicles that comply with applicable 
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Federal Motor Carriers 
Safety Regulations, or vehicles that are exempt from Federal Motor 
Vehicle Safety Standards or Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations in 
a manner that allows for the legal acquisition and deployment of the 
vehicle or vehicles.
    For projects administered by FHWA, applicable Federal laws, rules, 
and regulations set forth in Title 23 U.S.C. and Title 23 CFR apply, 
including the 23 U.S.C. 129 restrictions on the use of toll revenues, 
and Section 4(f) preservation of parklands and historic properties 
requirements under 23 U.S.C. 138. For an illustrative list of the other 
applicable laws, rules, regulations, executive orders, polices, 
guidelines, and requirements as they relate to a RAISE grant project 
administered by the FHWA, please see https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/Freight/infrastructure/tiger/#build18.
    For RAISE projects administered by the Federal Transit 
Administration and partially funded with Federal transit assistance, 
all relevant requirements under chapter 53 of title 49 U.S.C. apply. 
For transit projects funded exclusively with RAISE grant funds, some 
requirements of chapter 53 of title 49 U.S.C. and chapter VI of title 
49 CFR apply.
    For projects administered by the Federal Railroad Administration, 
FRA requirements described in 49 U.S.C. Subtitle V, Part C apply.
(b) Program Requirements
i. Climate Change and Environmental Justice Impact Consideration
    Each applicant selected for RAISE grant funding must demonstrate 
effort to consider climate change and environmental justice impacts as 
described in Section A. Projects that have not sufficiently considered 
climate change and environmental justice in their planning, as 
determined by the Department, will be required to do so before 
receiving funds for construction, consistent with Executive Order 
14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (86 FR 7619).
a. Racial Equity and Barriers to Opportunity
    Each applicant selected for RAISE grant funding must demonstrate 
effort to improve racial equity and reduce barriers to opportunity as 
described in Section A. Projects that have not sufficiently considered 
climate change and environmental justice in their planning, as 
determined by the Department, will be required to do before receiving 
funds for construction, consistent with Executive Order 13985, 
Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through 
the Federal Government (86 FR 7009).

3. Reporting

(a) Progress Reporting on Grant Activities
    Each applicant selected for RAISE grant funding must submit 
quarterly progress reports and Federal Financial Reports (SF-425) to 
monitor project progress and ensure accountability and financial 
transparency in the RAISE grant program.
(b) System Performance Reporting
    Each applicant selected for RAISE grant funding must collect and 
report to the DOT information on the project's performance based on 
performance indicators DOT identifies related to program goals (e.g 
travel time savings, greenhouse gas emissions, passenger counts, level 
of service, etc). Performance indicators should include measurable 
goals or targets that DOT will use internally to determine whether the 
project meets program goals, and grant funds achieve the intended long-
term outcomes of the RAISE Grant Program. To the extent possible, 
performance indicators used in the reporting should align with the 
measures included in the application and should relate to at least one 
of the selection criteria defined in Section E.1. Performance reporting 
continues for several years after project construction is completed, 
and DOT does not provide RAISE grant funding specifically for 
performance reporting.
(c) Reporting of Matters Related to Recipient Integrity and Performance
    If the total value of a selected applicant's currently active 
grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from all 
Federal awarding agencies exceeds $10,000,000 for any period of time 
during the period of performance of this Federal award, then the 
applicant during that period of time must maintain the currency of 
information reported to the SAM that is made available in the 
designated integrity and performance system (currently FAPIIS) about 
civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings described in paragraph 2 
of this award term and condition. This is a statutory requirement under 
section 872 of Public Law 110-417, as amended (41 U.S.C. 2313). As 
required by section 3010 of Public Law 111-212, all information posted 
in the designated integrity and performance system on or after April 
15, 2011, except past performance reviews required for Federal 
procurement contracts, will be publicly available.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

    For further information concerning this notice please contact the 
RAISE grant program staff via email at [email protected], or call 
Howard Hill at 202-366-0301. A TDD is available for individuals who are 
deaf or hard of hearing at 202-366-3993. In addition, DOT will post 
answers to questions and requests for clarifications on DOT's website 
at www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants. To ensure applicants receive 
accurate information about eligibility or the program, the applicant is 
encouraged to contact DOT directly, rather than through intermediaries 
or third parties, with questions. DOT staff may also conduct briefings 
on the RAISE grant selection and award process upon request.

[[Page 21808]]

H. Other Information

1. Protection of Confidential Business Information

    All information submitted as part of or in support of any 
application shall use publicly available data or data that can be made 
public and methodologies that are accepted by industry practice and 
standards, to the extent possible. If the applicant submits information 
that the applicant considers to be a trade secret or confidential 
commercial or financial information, the applicant must provide that 
information in a separate document, which the applicant may cross-
reference from the application narrative or other portions of the 
application. For the separate document containing confidential 
information, the applicant must do the following: (1) State on the 
cover of that document that it ``Contains Confidential Business 
Information (CBI)''; (2) mark each page that contains confidential 
information with ``CBI''; (3) highlight or otherwise denote the 
confidential content on each page; and (4) at the end of the document, 
explain how disclosure of the confidential information would cause 
substantial competitive harm. DOT will protect confidential information 
complying with these requirements to the extent required under 
applicable law. If DOT receives a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 
request for the information that the applicant has marked in accordance 
with this section, DOT will follow the procedures described in its FOIA 
regulations at 49 CFR 7.29. Only information that is in the separate 
document, marked in accordance with this section, and ultimately 
determined to be confidential under Sec.  7.29 will be exempt from 
disclosure under FOIA.

2. Publication/Sharing of Application Information

    Following the completion of the selection process and announcement 
of awards, DOT intends to publish a list of all applications received 
along with the names of the applicant organizations and funding amounts 
requested. Except for the information properly marked as described in 
Section H.1., DOT may make application narratives publicly available or 
share application information within DOT or with other Federal agencies 
if DOT determines that sharing is relevant to the respective program's 
objectives.

3. Department Feedback on Previous Applications

    DOT strives to provide as much information as possible to assist 
applicants with the application process. DOT will not review 
applications in advance, but DOT staff are available for technical 
questions and assistance. To efficiently use Department resources, DOT 
will prioritize interactions with applicants who have not already 
received a debrief on their FY 2020 RAISE grant application. Program 
staff will address questions received at [email protected] throughout 
the application period. DOT staff will make reasonable efforts to 
schedule meetings on projects through May 15, 2021. After that date, 
DOT staff will schedule meetings only to the extent possible and 
consistent with timely completion of other activities.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 16, 2021.
Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg,
Secretary of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 2021-08517 Filed 4-22-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P