Federal Transit Administration November 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) requires the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to make certain changes to our Buy America requirements. Accordingly, this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) would clarify the Buy America requirements with respect to microprocessor waivers, remove two general waiver categories, allow for post-award waivers, require greater detail for public interest waivers, and specify that final decisions by FTA are subject to judicial review. In addition, this NPRM would clarify the definitions of end product, negotiated agreement, and contractor, and provide a list representative of those items. The NPRM also proposes addressing the procurement of systems under the definition of end product, negotiated agreement, and contractor to ensure that major system procurements are not used to circumvent the Buy America requirements. Finally, the NPRM would make a minor clarification to pre-award and post-delivery review of rolling stock purchases.

Appendix A of this Notice contains the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) comprehensive compilation of the certifications and assurances for Federal fiscal year 2006 to be used in connection with all Federal assistance programs that FTA administers during Federal fiscal year 2006. FTA is required by 49 U.S.C. 5323(n) to compile an annual list of certifications and assurances and publish them as required by 49 U.S.C. 5336(d)(2). Due to enactment of FTA's new authorizing legislation, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Pub. L. 109-59, Aug. 10, 2005, FTA's annual certifications and assurances have been revised to accommodate these legislative changes, as well as changes resulting from enactment of other recent Federal legislation.

This solicitation is for proposals from national non-profit organizations for a cooperative agreement to develop and implement a National Technical Assistance Center for Senior Transportation (NTACST). The major goal of the NTACST is to assist local communities and states in the expansion and provision of transportation services for older adults. This cooperative agreement is a five year award. The first year of the cooperative agreement is for two million dollars ($2,000,000). Subsequent funding is authorized at one million dollars ($1,000,000 per year) in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity ActA Legacy for Users (SAFETEAU-LU); actual funding will be based on annual appropriations.

This final rule will amend 49 CFR Part 601 to reflect modifications in the organization and distribution of functions within the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and to document its rulemaking procedures. This rule has not been amended since 1999, and recently there has been a restructuring of offices and duties within FTA. Additionally, many of FTA's regional offices have physically moved to different locations; thus, this rule revises the addresses and phone numbers of the regional offices. Further, the outdated internal delegations of authority have been removed, the means by which the public can access FTA information has been updated, and FTA's rulemaking procedures are provided.