Notice of Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Safety Grants and Solicitation for Applications |
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William A. Quade
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
June 21, 2013
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 120 (Friday, June 21, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37653-37656]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14896]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Notice of Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Safety Grants and Solicitation
for Applications
AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice; announcement of grant opportunities and application due
dates.
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SUMMARY: FMCSA announces the availability of FY 2014 safety grant
opportunities and application due dates. Available grants include: the
Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) Basic and Incentive
grants; MCSAP New Entrant Safety Audit grants; MCSAP High Priority
grants; Border Enforcement Grants (BEG); Commercial Driver's License
Program Implementation (CDLPI) grants; Commercial Vehicle Information
Systems and Networks (CVISN) grants; Safety Data Improvement Program
(SaDIP) grants; Performance and Registration Information Systems
Management (PRISM) grants; and Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Operator
Safety Training grants. These grant opportunities are authorized by the
Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), as amended by the Moving Ahead for
Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21).
DATES: Application deadlines are as follows: MCSAP Basic and Incentive
grants--August 1, 2013; Border Enforcement grants--August 12, 2013;
MCSAP New Entrant Safety Audit grants--August 26, 2013; MCSAP High
Priority grants--September 9, 2013; CDLPI grants--January 13, 2014;
CVISN grants--January 13, 2014; SaDIP grants--January 21, 2014; PRISM
grants--January 27, 2014; CMV Operator Safety Training grants--February
3, 2014. Final dates will be published on the Federal Web site for
discretionary grants, Grants.gov. If additional funding is available,
the Agency may consider applications and plans submitted after the
final due dates on a case-by-case basis.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The FMCSA Grant Management Help Desk
at FMCSA_GrantMgmtHelpdesk@dot.gov by telephone at (202) 366-2967, or
by mail at FMCSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., ET, Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background and Purpose
For each grant program, FMCSA will post a Notice of Funding
Availability (NOFA) at Grants.gov. The NOFA will provide specific
information on: the application process; national program priorities
for FY 2014; evaluation criteria; required documents and
certifications; grantee matching share; maintenance-of-expenditure
requirements, if applicable; and additional information related to the
availability of funds. The Agency also provides information on FMCSA
grants and application procedures on its Web site at http://
www.fmcsa.dot.gov/about/
[[Page 37654]]
GRANTS/financial-assistance.aspx. General information about these
grants appears in the section of this notice titled ``Fiscal Year 2014
Safety Grants.''
To ensure timely review and award of all grants, applications must
be submitted in accordance with the instructions in the NOFA for the
specific grant requested and include all required information and
attachments. FMCSA strongly encourages timely, complete applications,
and may reject applications that are late, incomplete or lacking
required attachments.
Fiscal Year 2014 Safety Grants
MCSAP Basic and Incentive Grants
Sections 4101(a) and 4106 of SAFETEA-LU, [Pub. L. 109-59, 119 Stat.
1144 (August 10, 2005)], as amended by secs. 32601 and 32603(a) of MAP-
21 [Pub. L. 112-141, 126 Stat. 405, (July 6, 2012)] authorize FMCSA
MCSAP grants. The goal of MCSAP Basic and Incentive grants is to
develop and implement programs to improve CMV safety and reduce the
number and severity of crashes and hazardous materials incidents
involving CMVs through consistent, uniform, and effective CMV safety
programs.
The FMCSA will reimburse each recipient no more than 80 percent of
eligible costs incurred in carrying out approved projects from the
State's Commercial Vehicle Safety Plan (CVSP); the recipient must
provide 20 percent in matching funds. The FMCSA Administrator waives
the matching funds requirement for the Virgin Islands, American Samoa,
Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. (See 49 CFR
350.305).
Under the Basic and Incentive grant programs, a State lead agency
for administering the CVSP, as designated by its Governor, (MCSAP lead
agency) is eligible to apply for MCSAP Basic and Incentive grant
funding by submitting an application in response to the NOFA. See 49
CFR 350.201, 350.205, and 350.213. In accordance with 49 CFR 350.323,
the MCSAP Basic grant funds will be distributed proportionally to each
State's lead MCSAP agency using the following four, equally weighted
(25 percent) factors:
(1) 1997 road miles (all highways) as defined by the FMCSA;
(2) All vehicle miles traveled (VMT) as defined by the FMCSA;
(3) Population--annual census estimates as issued by the U.S.
Census Bureau; and
(4) Special fuel consumption (net after reciprocity adjustment) as
defined by the FMCSA.
A State's lead MCSAP agency also may qualify for Incentive Funds if
FMCSA determines that the State's CMV safety program has shown
improvement in any or all of the following five categories:
(1) Reduction in the number of large truck-involved fatal crashes;
(2) Reduction in the rate of large truck-involved fatal crashes or
maintenance of a large truck-involved fatal crash rate that is among
the lowest 10 percent of such rates of MCSAP recipients;
(3) Upload of CMV crash reports in accordance with current FMCSA
policy guidelines;
(4) Verification of Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDL) during all
roadside inspections; or
(5) Upload of CMV inspection data in accordance with current FMCSA
policy guidelines.
The FMCSA calculates the amount of Basic and Incentive funding each
State is to receive. This information is provided to the States and is
made available on the Agency's Web site. The projected FY 2014
distribution is available at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety-security/safety-initiatives/mcsap/mcsapforms.htm. The amount indicated is based
on FY 2013 estimated awards and includes Incentive funding. State
distributions for FY 2014 may be impacted by the total amount
appropriated in FY 2014 and variations in the factors for both the
Basic and Incentive formulae. The MCSAP Basic and Incentive formula
grants are awarded based on FMCSA's approval of the State's CVSP.
Therefore, the evaluation factors for discretionary grant programs
described in the section of this notice titled ``Evaluation Factors''
are not applicable.
Border Enforcement Grants
Sections 4101(c)(2) and 4110 of SAFETEA-LU, as amended by secs.
32603(c) and 32603(h) of MAP-21, authorize the Border Enforcement Grant
(BEG) program. The goal of the program is to increase and enhance
inspections of CMVs entering the United States. Additionally, the BEG
program funds are utilized to ensure motor carriers operating CMVs
entering the U.S. from a foreign country are in compliance with
commercial vehicle safety standards and regulations, financial
responsibility regulations and registration requirements of the U.S.
and to ensure drivers of those vehicles are qualified and properly
licensed to operate a CMV.
The FMCSA will reimburse each recipient 100 percent of eligible
costs incurred in carrying out approved projects. Eligible applicants
include State governments or entities within States that share a land
border with Canada or Mexico that can carry out border CMV safety
programs and related enforcement activities and projects. FMCSA
encourages local government agencies to coordinate their applications
with the State lead CMV inspection agency to prevent redundancy.
Applications must include a Border Enforcement Plan.
New Entrant Safety Audit Grants
Section 4107(b) of SAFETEA-LU, amended by SAFETEA-LU Technical
Corrections Act of 2008 [Pub. L. 110-244, sec. 301(b), 122 Stat. 1572,
1616 (June 6, 2008)], and as amended by sec. 32603(e) of MAP-21,
authorizes the New Entrant Safety Audit grant program. The goal of the
MCSAP New Entrant Safety Audit grant is to reduce CMV-involved crashes,
fatalities, and injuries by reviewing new interstate motor carriers to
ensure that they have effective safety management programs. Recipients
may use these funds for salaries and related expenses of New Entrant
auditors, including training and equipment, and to perform other
eligible activities that are directly related to conducting safety
audits.
The FMCSA will reimburse each recipient 100 percent of eligible
costs incurred in carrying out approved projects. State and local
governments are eligible for New Entrant Safety Audit grants.
MCSAP High Priority Grants
Section 4107(a) of SAFETEA-LU, amended by secs. 4101(a) and 4107 of
the SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections Act of 2008, as amended by secs.
32603(a) and 32603(d) of MAP-21, authorizes the MCSAP High Priority
grant program. The goals of the MCSAP High Priority grant program are
to implement, promote, and maintain national programs to improve CMV
safety; increase compliance with CMV safety regulations; increase
public awareness about CMV safety; provide education on CMV safety and
related issues; and demonstrate new safety-related technologies.
The FMCSA will reimburse each recipient 100 percent of eligible
costs incurred in carrying out approved projects related to public
education and outreach activities. FMCSA will reimburse each grantee 80
percent of eligible costs incurred in carrying out approved projects
related to all other activities; the recipient must provide 20 percent
in matching funds for these activities. Eligible applicants are State
agencies, local governments, and organizations representing government
agencies that use and train qualified
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officers and employees in coordination with State motor vehicle safety
agencies. Participation of local law enforcement agencies is
encouraged. When the NOFA is posted on Grants.gov, interested local law
enforcement agencies should carefully review it for information about
special considerations and application review processes.
Examples of High Priority activities include innovative traffic
enforcement projects with particular emphasis on texting and hand-held
cell phone prohibitions, work zone enforcement, rural road safety, and
innovative traffic enforcement initiatives such as high-visibility
traffic enforcement programs to promote safe driving behaviors among
car and truck drivers.
CDLPI Grants
Sections 4101(c)(1) and 4124 of SAFETEA-LU, as amended by secs.
32603(c) and 32604 of MAP-21, authorize the CDLPI grant program. The
goal of CDLPI grants is to improve highway safety by ensuring that
States comply with the Federal regulations that require drivers of
large trucks and buses to be qualified to obtain and hold the CDL
necessary to operate those vehicles.
The FMCSA will reimburse each recipient 100 percent of eligible
costs incurred in carrying out approved projects. Eligible applicants
for CDLPI grants include the agency designated by each State as having
the primary driver licensing responsibility, including development,
implementation, and maintenance of the CDL program. State agencies,
local governments, and other entities that can support a State's effort
to improve its CDL program, or conduct projects on a national scale to
improve the national CDL program, may also apply for projects under the
High Priority and Emerging Issues component of this grant. Priority
will be given to proposals that help States comply with 49 CFR parts
383 and 384, with specific emphasis on correcting previously identified
areas of noncompliance.
CVISN Grants
Sections 4101(c)(4) and 4126 of SAFETEA-LU, as amended by secs.
32603(c) and 32605 of MAP-21, authorize the CVISN grant program. The
goal of CVISN grants is to advance the technological capability of
Intelligent Transportation System applications for CMV operations,
including vehicle, commercial driver, and carrier-specific information
systems and networks.
The FMCSA will reimburse each recipient 50 percent of eligible
costs incurred in carrying out approved projects; the recipient must
provide 50 percent in matching funds for these activities. The agency
in each State designated as the primary agency responsible for the
development, implementation, and maintenance of the CVISN-related
systems is eligible to apply for grant funding.
Section 4126 of SAFETEA-LU establishes two types of CVISN projects:
Core and Expanded. To be eligible for funding of Core CVISN deployment
project(s), a State must have its most current Core CVISN Program Plan
and Top-Level Design approved by FMCSA and the proposed project(s)
should be consistent with its approved Core CVISN Program Plan and Top-
Level Design. A State without an FMCSA-approved Core CVISN Program Plan
and Top-Level Design may apply for funds to create one or to update an
existing CVISN Program Plan and Top-Level Design.
A State may also apply for funds to prepare an Expanded CVISN
Program Plan and Top-Level Design if FMCSA acknowledged the staff as
having completed Core CVISN deployment. In order to be eligible for
funding of any Expanded CVISN deployment project(s), a State must have
its most current Expanded CVISN Program Plan and Top-Level Design
approved by FMCSA and any proposed Expanded CVISN project(s) should be
consistent with its Expanded CVISN Program Plan and Top-Level Design. A
State without an FMCSA-approved Expanded CVISN Program Plan and Top-
Level Design may apply for funds to create one or to update an existing
Expanded CVISN Program Plan and Top-Level Design.
The maximum core deployment grant funding that FMCSA may award a
State is an aggregate total of $2.5 million in CVISN Core funding
across all fiscal years. The maximum expanded deployment grant that
FMCSA may award a State in any fiscal year is $1 million. After FMCSA
has awarded grants for the Core Deployment of CVISN, FMCSA will then
use the remaining CVISN funds for proposals for the Expanded
Deployment.
SaDIP Grants
Sections 4101(c)(5) and 4128 of SAFETEA-LU, as amended by sec
32603(c) of MAP-21, authorize Safety Data Improvement Program (SaDIP)
grants. The goal of SaDIP grants is to improve the timeliness,
efficiency, accuracy, and completeness of State processes and systems
used to collect, analyze and report large truck and bus crash and
inspection data.
The FMCSA will reimburse each recipient 80 percent of eligible
costs incurred in carrying out approved projects; the recipient must
provide 20 percent in matching funds for these activities. Eligible
applicants are State agencies, including the territories of Puerto
Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Marianas, and the U.S. Virgin
Islands, and the District of Columbia. Applicants must certify that
they have (1) conducted a comprehensive audit of its CMV safety data
system within the preceding two years; (2) developed a plan that
identifies and prioritizes its CMV safety data needs and goals; and (3)
identified performance-based measures to determine progress toward
those goals.
PRISM Grants
Sections 4101(c)(3) and 4109 of SAFETEA-LU, as amended by secs.
32602 and 32603(c) of MAP-21, authorize the PRISM grant program. The
goal of the PRISM grant is to assist States in identifying motor
carriers responsible for the safety of CMV operations and to monitor
the safety fitness of those carriers by linking the vehicle
registration process to safety performance monitoring and enforcement.
The FMCSA will reimburse each recipient 100 percent of eligible
costs incurred in carrying out approved projects. Eligible applicants
include States, U.S. Territories and Commonwealths, and the District of
Columbia.
CMV Operator Safety Training Grants
Section 4134 of SAFETEA-LU, as amended by sec. 32603(g) of MAP-21,
authorizes the CMV Operator Safety Training grant program. The goal of
the CMV Operator Safety Training grant program is to train potential
drivers in the safe operation of CMVs.
The FMCSA will reimburse each recipient 80 percent of eligible
costs incurred in carrying out approved projects; the recipient must
provide 20 percent in matching funds for these activities. Eligible
applicants include State and local governments and accredited, post-
secondary educational institutions (public or private) such as
colleges, universities, vocational-technical schools and truck driver
training schools. FMCSA will give priority to those schools that
develop a program to assist current or former members of the U.S. Armed
Forces (including Guard members and Reservists) and their spouses to
receive training to transition to the CMV operation industry and
provide job placement assistance after graduation. Secondary to the
first National priority, FMCSA may also consider those
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applicants that demonstrate in the application a capacity to recruit
and train individuals and provide job placement assistance after
graduation to persons in documented economically-distressed regions of
the U.S.
Evaluation Factors
Below are evaluation factors that FMCSA will use to review
applications for all FMCSA discretionary grants. Additional factors may
be included in each NOFA. These factors are:
(1) Prior Performance (e.g., completion of identified programs and
goals per the project plan submitted under previous grants awarded to
the applicant), if applicable;
(2) Effective Use of Prior Grants (e.g., timely use of available
funds in previous awards), if applicable;
(3) Safety and Cost Effectiveness (e.g., expected impact on safety
relative to the investment of grant funds; where appropriate, cost per
unit was calculated and compared with national averages to determine
effectiveness; in other areas, proposed costs are compared with
historical information to confirm reasonableness);
(4) Applicability to Announced Priorities; grant applications that
specifically address these issues are given priority consideration;
(5) Ability of the applicant to support the strategies and
activities in the proposal for the entire project period of
performance;
(6) Use of innovative approaches in executing a project plan to
address identified safety issues;
(7) Feasibility of overall program coordination and implementation
based upon the project plan; and
(8) Other objective and performance-based criteria that FMCSA deems
appropriate, such as consistency with national priorities, overall
program balance, and geographic diversity.
Application Due Dates
For the following grant programs, FMCSA will consider funding
complete applications or plans submitted by the following dates (any
changes to these dates will be indicated in the Grants.Gov NOFA):
MCSAP Basic and Incentive Grants--August 1, 2013.
Border Enforcement Grants--August 12, 2013.
New Entrant Safety Audit Grants--August 26, 2013.
MCSAP High Priority Grants--September 9, 2013.
CDLPI Grants--January 13, 2014.
CVISN Grants--January 13, 2014.
SaDIP Grants--January 21, 2014.
PRISM Grants--January 27, 2014.
CMV Operator Safety Training Grants--February 3, 2014.
Applications submitted after due dates may be considered on a case-
by-case basis and are subject to availability of funds.
Issued under the authority delegated in 49 CFR 1.87 on June 14,
2013.
William A. Quade,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2013-14896 Filed 6-20-13; 8:45 am]
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