Notice of Proposed Nonavailability Waiver for the Alabama State Port Authority To Purchase Two Rubber-Tired Gantry Cranes, 91481-91482 [2024-26877]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 223 / Tuesday, November 19, 2024 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[FRA–2024–0122]
Notice of Proposed Nonavailability
Waiver for the Alabama State Port
Authority To Purchase Two RubberTired Gantry Cranes
Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice; request for comment.
AGENCY:
The Federal Railroad
Administration (FRA) is seeking
comments on whether to grant a waiver
of its Buy America requirements to the
Alabama State Port Authority (ASPA)
for two rubber-tired gantry cranes,
which are not produced in the United
States, for use in the Rail Expansion,
Rehabilitation, and Modernization
Project—Montgomery Intermodal
Container Transfer Facility (Project).
The Project received funds under the
Fiscal Year 2022 Consolidated Rail
Infrastructure and Safety Improvements
(CRISI) program; therefore, FRA’s Buy
America requirements apply to the
Project. The proposed waiver would
apply to two rubber-tired gantry cranes
based on the domestic nonavailability of
the cranes. The proposed waiver would
not apply to any construction materials,
and therefore, FRA is not waiving any
applicable requirements under the Build
America, Buy America Act (BABA).
DATES: Comments must be received by
December 4, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Please submit all comments
electronically to the Federal
eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://
www.regulations.gov and follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Instructions: All submissions must
refer to the Federal Railroad
Administration and the docket number
in this notice FRA–2024–0122. Note
that all submissions received, including
any personal information provided, will
be posted without change and will be
available to the public on https://
www.regulations.gov. You may review
DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement
in the Federal Register published April
11, 2000 (65 FR 19477), or at https://
www.transportation.gov/privacy.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
questions about this notice, please
contact Shreyas Bhatnagar, Regional
Supervisor, Office of Regional Outreach
& Project Delivery—Southcentral
Region, Office of Railroad Development,
FRA, telephone: (202) 617–0212, email
Shreyas.Bhatnagar@dot.gov. For legal
questions, please contact Thomas Lis,
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:42 Nov 18, 2024
Jkt 265001
Attorney-Advisor, Office of the Chief
Counsel, FRA, telephone: (847) 921–
7344, email Thomas.Lis@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Project History and Background
On March 15, 2022, ASPA received
$67,300,000 for the Project as directed
by H.R. 2471, div. L, section 417, Joint
Explanatory Statement, page 132, under
FRA’s CRISI program. The Project is a
planned intermodal container transfer
facility located adjacent to the main
CSX rail line between Montgomery and
Mobile, Alabama. The Project will
consist of an approximately 15,000-foot
side-track, two 3,500-foot process tracks,
and one 3,500-foot support track located
under two rubber-tired gantry cranes, a
container storage yard, and associated
buildings and features required to
support the operation. The Project will
provide an alternate shipping option for
existing businesses between the Port of
Mobile and central Alabama, reduce
container storage congestion at the port,
and decrease truck traffic on Interstate
65. On June 27, 2023, ASPA requested
a waiver of FRA’s Buy America
requirements for two rubber-tired gantry
cranes, which ASPA determined are
necessary for the Project. Following its
initial request, ASPA further advanced
its procurement process. ASPA revised
its request on March 6, 2024, which
included additional information from
ASPA’s procurement process.
This notice summarizes FRA’s Buy
America requirements, ASPA’s request
for a waiver, and FRA’s proposed
waiver.
II. FRA’s Buy America Requirements
and Policy
Projects that receive funding under
FRA’s CRISI Program are subject to
FRA’s Buy America requirements.
FRA’s Buy America requirements
include both: (i) FRA’s statutory
requirements for steel, iron, and
manufactured goods at 49 U.S.C.
22905(a); and (ii) requirements under
BABA and related guidance at 2 CFR
184.6 for construction materials. This
means that FRA can fund a project
‘‘only if the steel, iron, and
manufactured goods used in the project
are produced in the United States.’’ 49
U.S.C. 22905(a). The FRA requirements
are more restrictive than what is
required under BABA. In addition, FRAfunded projects must also comply with
the relevant provisions of BABA,
including the requirement that all
construction materials used in the
project must also be produced in the
United States. Pub. L. 117–58, 70914(a);
2 CFR 184.6. FRA is not proposing to
waive the applicable BABA
PO 00000
Frm 00169
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
91481
requirements for construction materials
used in the Project, and therefore this
proposed waiver would not apply to any
construction materials used in the
Project.
FRA strictly enforces compliance with
its Buy America requirements to ensure
that FRA-funded projects maximize the
use of materials produced in the United
States. FRA expects recipients to work
with suppliers to conduct thorough
market research and adequately
consider, where appropriate, qualifying
alternate items, products, or materials.
Compliance with FRA’s Buy America
requirement supports domestic industry
and well-paying jobs.
III. FRA’s Authority To Waive Buy
America Requirements
There are limited circumstances in
which FRA can waive its Buy America
requirements under section 22905(a)
and BABA. FRA will grant a waiver
request that is consistent with the
statutory criteria for a waiver and where
a project sponsor has adequately
justified the need for a waiver.
FRA may waive its Buy America
requirements if FRA determines that:
applying the Buy America requirements
would be inconsistent with the public
interest; the steel, iron, and goods
produced in the United States are not
produced in a sufficient and reasonably
available amount or are not of a
satisfactory quality; rolling stock or
power train equipment cannot be
bought and delivered in the United
States within a reasonable time; or
including domestic material will
increase the cost of the overall project
by more than 25 percent. 49 U.S.C.
22905(a)(2); see also Public Law 117–58,
sec. 70914(b) (prescribing similar
statutory conditions for waivers); and 2
CFR 184.7 (doing the same).
Specifically, when determining
whether the steel, iron and goods
produced in the United States are not
produced in a sufficient and reasonably
available amount or are not of a
satisfactory quality pursuant to 49
U.S.C. 22905(a)(2)(B), FRA considers
whether the recipient has used
appropriate due diligence, such as
market research or by soliciting
proposals through an open procurement
process, to identify domestic products
or domestically available alternative
products that meet the recipient’s
specifications. A comparable product
that performs a similar function is not
necessarily a domestic alternative; the
product must also meet the recipient’s
specific requirements. FRA’s statutory
requirements do not require recipients
to change product specifications in
order to utilize domestic products that
E:\FR\FM\19NON1.SGM
19NON1
91482
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 223 / Tuesday, November 19, 2024 / Notices
do not meet the recipient’s original
specifications. If there are no
domestically produced products that
also meet the recipient’s specifications,
and the recipient has exercised
appropriate diligence, FRA may waive
its Buy America requirements based on
nonavailability, consistent with 49
U.S.C. 22905(a)(2)(B).
If FRA determines a waiver is
appropriate, FRA will provide notice
and seek comment from the public in
accordance with the requirements of
both section 22905(a) and BABA, if
applicable. In addition, FRA will
consult with the National Institute of
Standards and Technology’s
Manufacturing Extension Partnership
before granting a waiver, consistent with
section 70916 of BABA. Unless
otherwise specified, waiver decisions
are non-precedential and are only
applicable to the entities and products
for the specific project identified in the
final decision.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
IV. Summary of Products Requiring
Waiver
ASPA requests a waiver for two (2)
rubber-tired gantry cranes, including
spreaders. The total value of the noncompliant materials is 7–8 percent of
the total project cost.
V. ASPA’s Request for Waiver
In its request for a waiver, ASPA
described its efforts to identify domestic
sources and consider the use of
alternative products. ASPA conducted a
market research study to determine the
availability of rubber-tired gantry cranes
from domestic manufacturers and to get
ahead of long-lead times in
manufacturing. The study found one
U.S.-based manufacturer who had made
similar products; however, this
manufacturer had not made a product
that met the technical specifications
ASPA developed for the Project. ASPA
issued a request for proposals (RFP) in
late 2023 based on its technical
specifications. ASPA contacted six
manufacturers, including the sole U.S.based manufacturer identified in
ASPA’s market research. Of the six
manufacturers contacted, five
acknowledged receipt, and three
submitted proposals. However, only
non-domestic manufacturers whose
products would not be complaint with
Buy America requirements submitted
proposals; the sole U.S.-based
manufacturer declined to submit a
proposal, with no reasons given in their
email response.
Upon receipt and confirmation of the
three responsive bids, ASPA conducted
an evaluation of bids using price,
performance, compliance with ASPA’s
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:42 Nov 18, 2024
Jkt 265001
technical specifications, references and
quality track record of similar
equipment delivered and operating in
the U.S., schedule, geographic location
of parts and service, alternatives offered
and substitutions, and warranties. ASPA
used a point system to evaluate and
rank the proposals. Based on its review,
ASPA has selected a preferred
manufacturer for the crane, which
ASPA indicated will be assembled
domestically, but will not be
manufactured in the US. FRA was not
involved in ASPA’s procurement
process. FRA’s role is limited to
reviewing ASPA’s request for a waiver,
consistent with 49 U.S.C. 22905(a)(2).
Due to the lack of responsive bids
from domestic manufacturers and based
on its market research, ASPA has
concluded that cranes that meet FRA’s
Buy America requirements are not
domestically available. In the absence of
a waiver, ASPA asserts that it would not
be able to deliver the Project, as planned
operations are not possible without two
rubber-tired gantry cranes meeting
ASPA’s technical specifications.
VI. Findings and Proposed Waiver
FRA has preliminarily determined
that the two rubber-tired gantry cranes,
including spreaders, that meet ASPA’s
technical specifications are not
produced in the United States in a
sufficient and reasonably available
amount or satisfactory quality,
consistent with 49 U.S.C. 22905(a)(2)(B).
FRA finds ASPA has conducted
appropriate due diligence through
market research and an open
procurement process to identify
potential domestic suppliers for the
products. ASPA’s efforts included a
market research study that identified
one potential supplier that ultimately
did not respond to ASPA’s RFP for the
Project. Based on its review of the
waiver request and ASPA’s market
research, FRA proposes to waive its Buy
America requirements for the products
listed in section IV of this notice. FRA
is not proposing to waive any
requirements under BABA, as the
proposed waiver does not apply to
construction materials used in the
Project.
The proposed waiver would apply
only to products listed above for use in
the Project, as described in the grant
agreement between FRA and ASPA. The
proposed waiver would not apply to
other FRA recipients or to other grants
that might be made to ASPA for other
projects. The proposed waiver will
expire upon the end of the period of
performance and closeout of the grant
agreement for the project, estimated to
be April 30, 2028.
PO 00000
Frm 00170
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
VII. Request for Comment
FRA will consider comments received
during the 15-day comment period,
consistent with BABA and 2 CFR 184.7,
FRA may consider comments received
after this period to the extent
practicable. Consistent with 49 U.S.C.
22905(a)(4), if FRA determines it is
necessary to waive its Buy America
requirements, FRA will publish its
decision in the Federal Register and
provide an opportunity for public
comment on such finding for a
reasonable period of time not to exceed
15 days. After such period, FRA’s
decision will be effective.
Issued in Washington, DC.
Amitabha Bose,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2024–26877 Filed 11–18–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
Notice of Meeting of the Transit
Advisory Committee for Safety
Federal Transit Administration,
Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
AGENCY:
The Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) announces a
public meeting of the Transit Advisory
Committee for Safety (TRACS).
DATES: The TRACS meeting will be held
on December 4, 2024, from 10 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. Eastern Time and December 5,
2024, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. eastern time.
Requests to attend the meeting in person
or virtually must be received no later
than November 29, 2024. Requests for
disability accommodations must be
received no later than November 29,
2024. Requests to verbally address the
committee during the meeting must be
submitted with a written copy of the
remarks to the U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT) no later than
November 29, 2024. Requests to submit
written materials to be reviewed during
the meeting must be received no later
than November 29, 2024.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in
person at DOT Headquarters, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, District
of Columbia, 20590 and virtually via
Zoom for Government. Any committee
related requests should be sent by email
to TRACS@dot.gov. The virtual
meeting’s online access link and a
detailed agenda will be provided upon
registration. They will also be posted on
the TRACS web page at: https://
www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-andSUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\19NON1.SGM
19NON1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 19, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 91481-91482]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-26877]
[[Page 91481]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration
[FRA-2024-0122]
Notice of Proposed Nonavailability Waiver for the Alabama State
Port Authority To Purchase Two Rubber-Tired Gantry Cranes
AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice; request for comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is seeking comments
on whether to grant a waiver of its Buy America requirements to the
Alabama State Port Authority (ASPA) for two rubber-tired gantry cranes,
which are not produced in the United States, for use in the Rail
Expansion, Rehabilitation, and Modernization Project--Montgomery
Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (Project). The Project received
funds under the Fiscal Year 2022 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and
Safety Improvements (CRISI) program; therefore, FRA's Buy America
requirements apply to the Project. The proposed waiver would apply to
two rubber-tired gantry cranes based on the domestic nonavailability of
the cranes. The proposed waiver would not apply to any construction
materials, and therefore, FRA is not waiving any applicable
requirements under the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA).
DATES: Comments must be received by December 4, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Please submit all comments electronically to the Federal
eRulemaking Portal. Go to https://www.regulations.gov and follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Instructions: All submissions must refer to the Federal Railroad
Administration and the docket number in this notice FRA-2024-0122. Note
that all submissions received, including any personal information
provided, will be posted without change and will be available to the
public on https://www.regulations.gov. You may review DOT's complete
Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published April 11, 2000
(65 FR 19477), or at https://www.transportation.gov/privacy.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this notice,
please contact Shreyas Bhatnagar, Regional Supervisor, Office of
Regional Outreach & Project Delivery--Southcentral Region, Office of
Railroad Development, FRA, telephone: (202) 617-0212, email
[email protected]. For legal questions, please contact Thomas
Lis, Attorney-Advisor, Office of the Chief Counsel, FRA, telephone:
(847) 921-7344, email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Project History and Background
On March 15, 2022, ASPA received $67,300,000 for the Project as
directed by H.R. 2471, div. L, section 417, Joint Explanatory
Statement, page 132, under FRA's CRISI program. The Project is a
planned intermodal container transfer facility located adjacent to the
main CSX rail line between Montgomery and Mobile, Alabama. The Project
will consist of an approximately 15,000-foot side-track, two 3,500-foot
process tracks, and one 3,500-foot support track located under two
rubber-tired gantry cranes, a container storage yard, and associated
buildings and features required to support the operation. The Project
will provide an alternate shipping option for existing businesses
between the Port of Mobile and central Alabama, reduce container
storage congestion at the port, and decrease truck traffic on
Interstate 65. On June 27, 2023, ASPA requested a waiver of FRA's Buy
America requirements for two rubber-tired gantry cranes, which ASPA
determined are necessary for the Project. Following its initial
request, ASPA further advanced its procurement process. ASPA revised
its request on March 6, 2024, which included additional information
from ASPA's procurement process.
This notice summarizes FRA's Buy America requirements, ASPA's
request for a waiver, and FRA's proposed waiver.
II. FRA's Buy America Requirements and Policy
Projects that receive funding under FRA's CRISI Program are subject
to FRA's Buy America requirements. FRA's Buy America requirements
include both: (i) FRA's statutory requirements for steel, iron, and
manufactured goods at 49 U.S.C. 22905(a); and (ii) requirements under
BABA and related guidance at 2 CFR 184.6 for construction materials.
This means that FRA can fund a project ``only if the steel, iron, and
manufactured goods used in the project are produced in the United
States.'' 49 U.S.C. 22905(a). The FRA requirements are more restrictive
than what is required under BABA. In addition, FRA-funded projects must
also comply with the relevant provisions of BABA, including the
requirement that all construction materials used in the project must
also be produced in the United States. Pub. L. 117-58, 70914(a); 2 CFR
184.6. FRA is not proposing to waive the applicable BABA requirements
for construction materials used in the Project, and therefore this
proposed waiver would not apply to any construction materials used in
the Project.
FRA strictly enforces compliance with its Buy America requirements
to ensure that FRA-funded projects maximize the use of materials
produced in the United States. FRA expects recipients to work with
suppliers to conduct thorough market research and adequately consider,
where appropriate, qualifying alternate items, products, or materials.
Compliance with FRA's Buy America requirement supports domestic
industry and well-paying jobs.
III. FRA's Authority To Waive Buy America Requirements
There are limited circumstances in which FRA can waive its Buy
America requirements under section 22905(a) and BABA. FRA will grant a
waiver request that is consistent with the statutory criteria for a
waiver and where a project sponsor has adequately justified the need
for a waiver.
FRA may waive its Buy America requirements if FRA determines that:
applying the Buy America requirements would be inconsistent with the
public interest; the steel, iron, and goods produced in the United
States are not produced in a sufficient and reasonably available amount
or are not of a satisfactory quality; rolling stock or power train
equipment cannot be bought and delivered in the United States within a
reasonable time; or including domestic material will increase the cost
of the overall project by more than 25 percent. 49 U.S.C. 22905(a)(2);
see also Public Law 117-58, sec. 70914(b) (prescribing similar
statutory conditions for waivers); and 2 CFR 184.7 (doing the same).
Specifically, when determining whether the steel, iron and goods
produced in the United States are not produced in a sufficient and
reasonably available amount or are not of a satisfactory quality
pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 22905(a)(2)(B), FRA considers whether the
recipient has used appropriate due diligence, such as market research
or by soliciting proposals through an open procurement process, to
identify domestic products or domestically available alternative
products that meet the recipient's specifications. A comparable product
that performs a similar function is not necessarily a domestic
alternative; the product must also meet the recipient's specific
requirements. FRA's statutory requirements do not require recipients to
change product specifications in order to utilize domestic products
that
[[Page 91482]]
do not meet the recipient's original specifications. If there are no
domestically produced products that also meet the recipient's
specifications, and the recipient has exercised appropriate diligence,
FRA may waive its Buy America requirements based on nonavailability,
consistent with 49 U.S.C. 22905(a)(2)(B).
If FRA determines a waiver is appropriate, FRA will provide notice
and seek comment from the public in accordance with the requirements of
both section 22905(a) and BABA, if applicable. In addition, FRA will
consult with the National Institute of Standards and Technology's
Manufacturing Extension Partnership before granting a waiver,
consistent with section 70916 of BABA. Unless otherwise specified,
waiver decisions are non-precedential and are only applicable to the
entities and products for the specific project identified in the final
decision.
IV. Summary of Products Requiring Waiver
ASPA requests a waiver for two (2) rubber-tired gantry cranes,
including spreaders. The total value of the non-compliant materials is
7-8 percent of the total project cost.
V. ASPA's Request for Waiver
In its request for a waiver, ASPA described its efforts to identify
domestic sources and consider the use of alternative products. ASPA
conducted a market research study to determine the availability of
rubber-tired gantry cranes from domestic manufacturers and to get ahead
of long-lead times in manufacturing. The study found one U.S.-based
manufacturer who had made similar products; however, this manufacturer
had not made a product that met the technical specifications ASPA
developed for the Project. ASPA issued a request for proposals (RFP) in
late 2023 based on its technical specifications. ASPA contacted six
manufacturers, including the sole U.S.-based manufacturer identified in
ASPA's market research. Of the six manufacturers contacted, five
acknowledged receipt, and three submitted proposals. However, only non-
domestic manufacturers whose products would not be complaint with Buy
America requirements submitted proposals; the sole U.S.-based
manufacturer declined to submit a proposal, with no reasons given in
their email response.
Upon receipt and confirmation of the three responsive bids, ASPA
conducted an evaluation of bids using price, performance, compliance
with ASPA's technical specifications, references and quality track
record of similar equipment delivered and operating in the U.S.,
schedule, geographic location of parts and service, alternatives
offered and substitutions, and warranties. ASPA used a point system to
evaluate and rank the proposals. Based on its review, ASPA has selected
a preferred manufacturer for the crane, which ASPA indicated will be
assembled domestically, but will not be manufactured in the US. FRA was
not involved in ASPA's procurement process. FRA's role is limited to
reviewing ASPA's request for a waiver, consistent with 49 U.S.C.
22905(a)(2).
Due to the lack of responsive bids from domestic manufacturers and
based on its market research, ASPA has concluded that cranes that meet
FRA's Buy America requirements are not domestically available. In the
absence of a waiver, ASPA asserts that it would not be able to deliver
the Project, as planned operations are not possible without two rubber-
tired gantry cranes meeting ASPA's technical specifications.
VI. Findings and Proposed Waiver
FRA has preliminarily determined that the two rubber-tired gantry
cranes, including spreaders, that meet ASPA's technical specifications
are not produced in the United States in a sufficient and reasonably
available amount or satisfactory quality, consistent with 49 U.S.C.
22905(a)(2)(B). FRA finds ASPA has conducted appropriate due diligence
through market research and an open procurement process to identify
potential domestic suppliers for the products. ASPA's efforts included
a market research study that identified one potential supplier that
ultimately did not respond to ASPA's RFP for the Project. Based on its
review of the waiver request and ASPA's market research, FRA proposes
to waive its Buy America requirements for the products listed in
section IV of this notice. FRA is not proposing to waive any
requirements under BABA, as the proposed waiver does not apply to
construction materials used in the Project.
The proposed waiver would apply only to products listed above for
use in the Project, as described in the grant agreement between FRA and
ASPA. The proposed waiver would not apply to other FRA recipients or to
other grants that might be made to ASPA for other projects. The
proposed waiver will expire upon the end of the period of performance
and closeout of the grant agreement for the project, estimated to be
April 30, 2028.
VII. Request for Comment
FRA will consider comments received during the 15-day comment
period, consistent with BABA and 2 CFR 184.7, FRA may consider comments
received after this period to the extent practicable. Consistent with
49 U.S.C. 22905(a)(4), if FRA determines it is necessary to waive its
Buy America requirements, FRA will publish its decision in the Federal
Register and provide an opportunity for public comment on such finding
for a reasonable period of time not to exceed 15 days. After such
period, FRA's decision will be effective.
Issued in Washington, DC.
Amitabha Bose,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2024-26877 Filed 11-18-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P