Grant Availability to Federally Recognized Indian Tribes To Implement Traffic Safety Programs and Projects on Indian Reservations |
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Lawrence S. Roberts
Department of the Interior
4 April 2016
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 64 (Monday, April 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19236-19238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07634]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs
[167A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900 253G]
Grant Availability to Federally Recognized Indian Tribes To
Implement Traffic Safety Programs and Projects on Indian Reservations
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice is intended to inform federally-recognized Indian
Tribes of the application process and due date for the Indian Highway
Safety Program for Fiscal Year 2017. In accordance with Federal law and
as authorized by the Secretary of Transportation, the Bureau of Indian
Affairs, through its Indian Highway Safety Program (IHSP), will make
funds available to federally recognized Indian Tribes on an annual
basis for implementing traffic safety programs and projects that are
designed to reduce the number of traffic crashes, death, injuries and
property damage within Indian country. All project applications
received on or before the deadline will be reviewed and selected on a
competitive basis.
DATES: IHSP mailed application packets to all Tribal leaders by
February 15, 2016. Applications for program and/or project funds must
be received on or before May 2, 2016. Applications not received by the
IHSP by close of business on May 2, 2016, will not be considered and
will be returned unopened.
ADDRESSES: Each Tribe must submit their application to the Bureau of
Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, Attention: Indian Highway
Safety Program Director, 1001 Indian School NE., Suite 251,
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tribes should direct questions or
requests for copies of the application packet to: Kimberly Belone,
Indian Highway Safety Program, 1001 Indian School NE., Suite 251,
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104; telephone (505) 563-3900.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1973 (Pub. L. 93-87) provides for
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) funding, through the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to assist Indian Tribes
in implementing traffic safety projects. Any program or project request
must be designed to reduce the number of motor vehicle traffic crashes
and their resulting fatalities, injuries, and property damage on Indian
reservations and within Indian communities. Motor vehicle crashes are
the leading cause of death to American Indians/Alaska Natives for ages
1 to 44. Nationwide, 511 American Indians/Alaska Natives were killed in
motor vehicle crashes in 2013. Of this total, 180 died on reservations.
For additional American Indians/Alaska Natives fatality data, you can
access the NHTSA fatality Web site at: http://www-
[[Page 19237]]
nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/nrd-30/ncsa/STSI/NA_Report.htm.
This notice solicits applications from federally recognized Indian
Tribes eligible to receive this assistance. Grant funds awarded to
Tribes as a result of this announcement are reimbursed for eligible
costs incurred under the terms of 23 U.S.C. 402 and subsequent
amendments.
Responsibilities
For the purposes of application of this grant and the collection
and distribution of the funds, Indian reservations are collectively
considered a ``State'' and the Secretary of the Interior is considered
the ``Governor of a State.'' The Secretary of the Interior delegated
the authority to administer the programs for all the Indian Tribes in
the United States to the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs. The
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs further delegated the
responsibility for administration of the Indian Highway Safety Program
to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, located in
Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Program Director of the IHSP has staff
members available to provide program and technical assistance to Indian
Tribes. The IHSP maintains contact with NHTSA with respect to program
approval, funding, and technical assistance. NHTSA is responsible for
ensuring that the IHSP is carried out in accordance with 23 CFR part
1200 and other applicable Federal statutes and regulations.
National Priority Program Areas
The following highway safety program areas have been identified as
priority program areas eligible for funding under 23 CFR 1200.11 on
Tribal lands:
a. Impaired driving
b. Occupant protection
c. Traffic records
Other fundable program areas may be considered based upon well
documented problem identification from the Tribes.
Indian Highway Safety Program Funding Areas
Proposals are being solicited for the following program areas:
1. Impaired Driving: Programs directed at reducing injuries and
death attributed to impaired driving on the reservations such as:
Selective traffic enforcement programs (STEP) to apprehend impaired
drivers, specialized law enforcement training (such as standardized
field sobriety testing), public information programs on alcohol/other
drug use and driving, education programs for convicted DWI/DUI
offenders, various youth alcohol education programs promoting traffic
safety, DUI courts, and programs or projects directed toward judicial
training. Proposals for projects that enhance the development and
implementation of innovative programs to combat impaired driving are
also solicited.
2. Occupant Protection: Programs directed at decreasing injuries
and deaths attributed to the lack of safety belt and child restraint
usage such as: Surveys to determine usage rates and to identify high-
risk non-users, comprehensive programs to promote correct usage of
child safety seats and other occupant restraints, enforcement of safety
belt ordinances or laws, specialized training (e.g., Operation Kids,
traffic occupant protection strategies (TOPS), Standardized Child
Passenger Safety Technician Training), and evaluations.
3. Traffic Records: Programs to help Tribes develop or update
electronic traffic records systems which will assist with analysis of
crash information, causational factors, and support joint efforts with
other agencies to improve the Tribe's traffic records system.
Project Guidelines
Each Tribe that would like to be considered for funding in FY 2017
must fill out and submit the project application that was mailed to the
Tribal leaders. Applications will adhere to the following guidelines:
(1) Problem Identification. Highway traffic safety problems shall
be based upon accurate Tribal data. Data should be complete and
accurate and should show problems and/or trends. These data should be
available in Tribal enforcement and traffic crash records.
(2) Goals, Performance Measures and Strategies. Tribes must provide
the overall goals of the project as well as a list of performance
measures and strategies to be used to evaluate performance. All goals,
performance measures and strategies must have base line numbers and
will be expressed in clearly defined, time-framed, and measurable
terms. (Example: To decrease alcohol related motor vehicle crashes by
_% from the 2015 number of __ to __ by the end of FY17). Performance
measures should be aggressive but attainable and based on available
data and trends.
(3) Training. Training identified in the application must relate
directly to the project being proposed.
(4) Equipment. Any equipment identified in the application must
relate directly to the project being proposed.
(5) Line Item Budget. The activities to be funded must be outlined
in detail according to the following object groups: Personnel services;
travel and training, operating costs and equipment. All Tribes applying
for grants must attach a copy of the Tribe's indirect cost rate to the
application.
(6) Funding Requirements. With the enactment of the Fixing
America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), the IHSP is required,
in order to receive funds, to certify, on behalf of the Tribes, that
the program will meet certain conditions and comply with all applicable
rules and regulations for administering a highway safety program. In
addition to program oversight and technical assistance, the BIA must
certify that it will implement the following activities in support of
national highway safety goals:
a. Participate in the national law enforcement mobilizations;
b. Encourage sustained enforcement of impaired driving, occupant
protection and speeding;
c. Conduct an annual safety belt survey in accordance with criteria
established by the Secretary to measure safety belt usage rates; and
d. Develop data systems to provide timely and effective data
analysis to support allocation of highway traffic safety resources.
(7) In order to comply with the provisions of the FAST Act and the
State Certifications and Assurances, the IHSP will allocate funds on
behalf of the Tribes to implement the provisions listed in (6) above.
Copies of the State Certifications and Assurances are available upon
request or at: http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&rgn=div5&view=text&node=23:1.0.2.13.1&idno=23#ap23.1.1200_162.a.
(8) Funding Length. Traffic safety program funding is designed
primarily as the source of invention and motivation. As a result, all
projects are funded for a 12 month period of time. This program is not
intended for long term financial support of continuing and on-going
operations.
(9) Project monitoring length may exceed the grant period in the
cases where distribution of purchase equipment is necessary.
Certifications
A list of certifications is attached to the grant application and
must be initialed to show acceptance by the Tribe. These certifications
are required by the either the funding agency and/or the IHSP and
include: Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act,
Nondiscrimination, Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988, Equipment, Buy
[[Page 19238]]
America Act, Political Activity (Hatch Act), Federal Lobbying,
Restriction of State Lobbying, Lower Tier Certification, and Policy to
Ban Text Messaging While Driving.
Submission Deadline
Each Tribe must send its funding request on the appropriate
application form to the BIA IHSP office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, by
the close of business May 2, 2016. Request can be received by U.S. Mail
or via email to: indian_highway_safety@bia.gov.
Selection Criteria
A selection committee will review and evaluate each application
requesting funding. Each member of the selection committee, by
assigning points to the following four criteria, will rank each of the
proposals based on the following criteria:
Criterion (1), the General Information section will include
information on the type of grant, location, population and size of
reservation, type of law enforcement and pertinent contact information.
(10 points maximum).
Criterion (2), the strength of the Problem Identification based on
verifiable, current and applicable data to indicate the extent of the
traffic safety problem. (45 points maximum).
Criterion (3), the quality of the proposed solution plan based on
aggressive but attainable Performance Measures and Strategies. (35
points maximum).
Criterion (4), details on necessity and reasonableness of the
budget requested. (10 points maximum).
Notification of the Selection
Once the selection committee concludes its evaluation, it will
notify those Tribes it recommends for participation and funding by
letter. Upon notification, each selected Tribe must provide a duly
authorized Tribal resolution. The resolution must be on file before
grants funds can be expended by or reimbursed to the Tribe.
Notification of Non-Selection
The Program Director will notify each Tribe of non-selection.
Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grant-In-Aid
Uniform grant administration procedures have been established on a
national basis for all grant-in-aid programs by the Office of
Management and Budget under 2 CFR part 200 ``Uniform Administrative
Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal
Awards'' and the DOT under 2 CFR part 1201. NHTSA has codified uniform
procedures for State Highway Safety Programs in 23 CFR part 1200. 2 CFR
part 200 and the ``Highway Safety Grant Funding Guidance for NHTSA
Field Administered Grants are the established cost principles
applicable to grants and contracts through BIA and with Tribal
governments. A copy of the Grant Funding Policy document can be
obtained from the BIA IHSP office or at http://www.nhtsa.gov/About+NHTSA/Highway+Safety+Grant+Programs/HSGrantFunding_Guidance#_Toc363830148. The BIA IHSP office has been
established and is designated to establish operating procedures
consistent with the applicable provisions of these rules and any others
that govern these grant funds.
Auditing of Highway Safety Projects will be included in the Tribal
A-133 single audit requirement. Copies of Tribal audits must be
available for inspection by the highway safety program staff. Tribes
must provide monthly program status reports and a corresponding
reimbursement claim to the BIA Indian Highway Safety Program, 1001
Indian School, Suite 251, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104, in order to be
reimbursed for program costs. These are to be submitted no later than
15 working days beyond the reporting month.
Project Monitoring
During the program year, it is the responsibility of the BIA IHSP
office to review the implementation of Tribal traffic safety plans and
programs, monitor the progress of their activities and expenditures and
provide technical assistance as needed. This assistance may be on-site,
by telephone, and/or a review of monthly progress claims.
Project Evaluation
Each project funded is required to submit an annual report that
meets the minimum criteria as set forth in 23 CFR part 1200.35. This
information will be contained in the annual report that is required to
be submitted to NHTSA. The BIA IHSP will conduct an annual performance
evaluation for each Highway Safety Project funded. Pursuant to 23 CFR
part 1200.35, the evaluation will measure the actual accomplishments to
the planned activity and how the project and activities funded
contributed to the overall goal of the IHSP. Program staff will
evaluate progress from baseline data as reported by the Tribe. BIA IHSP
staff will evaluate the project on-site at the discretion of the IHSP
Director.
Dated: March 21, 2016.
Lawrence S. Roberts,
Acting Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2016-07634 Filed 4-1-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337-15-P