Notice of Fiscal Year 2011 Safety Grants and Solicitation for Applications |
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William A. Quade
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
September 28, 2010
[Federal Register: September 28, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 187)]
[Notices]
[Page 59784-59787]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28se10-130]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
[FMCSA Docket No. FMCSA-2010-0212]
Notice of Fiscal Year 2011 Safety Grants and Solicitation for
Applications
AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice; change in application due dates.
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SUMMARY: This notice is to inform the public of FMCSA's Fiscal Year
(FY) 2011 safety grant opportunities and FMCSA's changes to its
application dates. At present, FMCSA is operating under an extension of
the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A
Legacy of Users (Pub. L. 109-59) which will expire December 31, 2010,
unless extended by Congress. While the Agency expects new authorizing
legislation to make changes to its grant programs, the Agency is
preparing for FY 2011 assuming that the following grant programs will
continue for part or all of the upcoming fiscal year. The 10 safety
grant programs include the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program
(MCSAP) Basic grants; MCSAP Incentive grants; MCSAP New Entrant Safety
Audit grants; MCSAP High Priority grants; Commercial Motor Vehicle
(CMV) Operator Safety Training grants; Border Enforcement grants (BEG);
Commercial Driver's License Program Improvement (CDLPI) grants;
Performance and Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM)
grants; Safety Data Improvement Program grants (SaDIP); and the
Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks (CVISN) grants. It
should be noted that FMCSA does not expect the Commercial Driver's
License Information System (CDLIS) Modernization grants to be continued
in reauthorization, and, therefore, FMCSA will not be soliciting
applications for this grant program in FY 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Please contact the following FMCSA staff
with questions or needed information on the Agency's grant programs:
MCSAP Basic/Incentive Grants--Jack Kostelnik, john.kostelnik@dot.gov,
202-366-5721.
New Entrant Safety Audits Grants--Arthur Williams,
arthur.williams@dot.gov, 202-366-3695.
Border Enforcement Grants--Carla Vagnini, carla.vagnini@dot.gov, 202-
366-3771.
MCSAP High Priority Grants--Cim Weiss, cim.weiss@dot.gov, 202-366-0275.
CMV Operator Safety Training Grants--Julie Otto, julie.otto@dot.gov,
202-366-0710.
CDLPI Grants--Brandon Poarch, brandon.poarch@dot.gov, 202-366-3030.
SaDIP Grants--Cim Weiss, cim.weiss@dot.gov, 202-366-0275.
PRISM Grants--Tom Lawler, tom.lawler@dot.gov, 202-366-3866.
CVISN Grants--Julie Otto, julie.otto@dot.gov, 202-366-0710.
All staff may be reached at FMCSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., EST,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background and Purpose
The FMCSA recognizes that State and local governments and other
grantees are dependent on its safety grants to develop and maintain
important CMV safety programs. The FMCSA further acknowledges that
delays in awarding grant funds may have an adverse impact on these
important safety programs. As a result, FMCSA completed a grants
process review to identify ways to streamline the application, award,
and grants management processes, and to award grant funds earlier each
fiscal year. In addition, FMCSA made changes in the grants application,
award and oversight processes to standardize
[[Page 59785]]
application forms, increase the use of electronic documents,
standardize quarterly reports and reduce the number of needed grant
amendments.
The FMCSA continues to enter into grant agreements beginning
October 1 or as soon thereafter as administratively practicable. FMCSA
intends to enter into grant agreements no later than 90 days from the
date the application is due.
The FMCSA is using a standard grant application form and a new
quarterly reporting process. The FMCSA requires the Standard Form 424
(``Application for Federal Assistance'') and its attachments for all
grant program applications. While each grant program may request
different data in some of the data fields on the form, the use of the
Standard Form 424 is mandatory. FMCSA adopted the Standard Form--
Project Progress Report (SF-PPR) as its required form for quarterly
reporting. Again, each grant program may, in certain instances, request
that different data be submitted in some of the fields or boxes on the
form but SF-PRR is mandatory for quarterly reporting.
The number of original copies of grant agreements required to be
submitted to FMCSA was reduced from three copies to two. In addition,
FMCSA will provide most grant agreement documents electronically to its
financial processing office. Grantees will, however, be required to
submit the completed Automated Clearing House (ACH) Vendor Payment Form
(SF-3881) directly to FMCSA's financial processing office by U.S.
Postal Service, courier service or secure fax. Changes were
necessitated by the Agency's implementation of a new grants management
information technology system--GrantSolutions. GrantSolutions is a
comprehensive grants management system provided by the Grants Center of
Excellence (COE). The Grants COE serves as one of three consortia leads
under the Grants Management Line of Business E-Gov initiative offering
government-wide grants management system support services. It is
expected that after full implementation, the GrantSolutions system will
allow FMCSA to more quickly award grant funds, and will provide
standardized grant application, award, and management and oversight
throughout the Agency's grant programs. It should be noted that in FY
2011, FMCSA will be implementing the electronic signatures
functionality of the GrantSolutions system. As a result, this will be
the Agency's preferred method for securing grant agreement signatures.
If electronic signature is used, two copies of the grant agreement do
not have to be signed. Additional information will be provided to
grantees during the grant award process.
Discussion of Comments
On July 13, 2010, FMCSA published a notice and request for comments
regarding FMCSA's anticipated Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 safety grant
opportunities (75 FR 40023). This notice requested comments on the
originally proposed dates. Only one comment was submitted to the
docket. It did not directly discuss the grant programs or the proposed
dates. Rather, the anonymous commenter provided an opinion about
SAFETEA-LU.
Additional information is provided below for each individual grant
program.
MCSAP Basic and Incentive Grants:
Sections 4101 and 4107 of SAFETEA-LU authorize FMCSA's Motor
Carrier Safety Grants. MCSAP Basic and Incentive formula grants are
governed by 49 U.S.C. 31102-31104 and 49 CFR Part 350. Under the Basic
and Incentive grants programs, a State lead MCSAP agency, as designated
by its Governor, is eligible to apply for Basic and Incentive grant
funding by submitting a commercial vehicle safety plan (CVSP). See 49
CFR 350.201 and 350.205. The following jurisdictions are not eligible
for Incentive funds: The Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto
Rico, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Pursuant to
49 U.S.C. 31103 and 49 CFR 350.303, FMCSA will reimburse each lead
State MCSAP agency 80 percent of eligible costs incurred in a fiscal
year. Each State will provide a 20 percent match to qualify for the
program. The FMCSA Administrator waives the requirement for matching
funds for the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. See 49 CFR 350.305. In
accordance with 49 CFR 350.323, the 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 may qualify for Incentive Funds if it
can demonstrate 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
accidents;
(2) Reduction in the rate of large-truck-involved fatal accidents
or maintenance of a large- truck-involved fatal accident rate that is
among the lowest 10 percent of such rates for MCSAP recipients and is
not higher than the rate most recently achieved;
(3) Upload of CMV accident reports in accordance with current FMCSA
policy guidelines;
(4) Verification of Commercial Driver's Licenses during all
roadside inspections; and
(5) Upload of CMV inspection data in accordance with current FMCSA
policy guidelines.
Incentive funds will be distributed in accordance with 49 CFR
350.327(b).
Prior to the start of each fiscal year, FMCSA calculates the amount
of Basic and Incentive funding each State is expected to receive. This
information is provided to the States and is made available on the
Agency's Web site. The FY 2011 information is available at http://
www.fmcsa.dot.gov.
It should be noted that MCSAP Basic and Incentive formula grants
are awarded based on the State's submission of the CVSP. The evaluation
factors described in the section below titled ``Application Information
for FY 2011 Grants'' will not be considered. MCSAP Basic and Incentive
grant applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov
(http://www.grants.gov).
New Entrant Safety Audit Grants:
Sections 4101 and 4107 of SAFETEA-LU also authorize the Motor
Carrier Safety Grants to enable grant recipients to conduct interstate
New Entrant safety audits consistent with 49 CFR Parts 350.321 and
385.301. Eligible recipients are State agencies, local governments, and
organizations representing government agencies that use and train
qualified officers and employees in coordination with State motor
vehicle safety agencies. The FMCSA's share of these grant funds will be
100 percent. New Entrant grant applications must be submitted
electronically through grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov).
MCSAP High Priority Grants:
Section 4107 of SAFETEA-LU also authorizes the Motor Carrier Safety
Grants to enable recipients to carry out activities and projects that
improve CMV safety and compliance with CMV regulations. Funding is
available for projects that are national in scope, increase public
awareness and education, demonstrate new technologies and reduce the
number and rate of CMV accidents. Eligible
[[Page 59786]]
recipients are State agencies, local governments, and organizations
representing government agencies that use and train qualified officers
and employees in coordination with State motor vehicle safety agencies.
For grants awarded for public education activities, the Federal
share will be 100 percent. For all High Priority grants other than
those awarded in support of public education activities, FMCSA will
provide reimbursements for no more than 80 percent of all eligible
costs, and recipients will be required to provide a 20 percent match.
FMCSA may reserve High Priority funding exclusively for innovative
traffic enforcement projects, with particular emphasis on work zone
enforcement and rural road safety. Also, FMCSA may reserve funding for
an innovative traffic enforcement initiative known as ``Ticketing
Aggressive Cars and Trucks'' or TACT. TACT provides a research-based
safety model that can be replicated by States when conducting a high-
visibility traffic enforcement program to promote safe driving
behaviors among car and truck drivers. The objective of this program is
to reduce the number of commercial truck and bus related crashes,
fatalities and injuries resulting from improper operation of motor
vehicles and aggressive driving behavior. More information regarding
TACT can be found at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety-security/tact/
abouttact.htm.
High Priority grant applications must be submitted through
grants.gov.
CMV Operator Safety Training Grants:
Section 4134 of SAFETEA-LU established a grant program which
enables recipients to train current and future drivers in the safe
operation of CMVs, as defined in 49 U.S. C. 31301(4). Eligible awardees
include State governments, local governments and accredited post-
secondary educational institutions (public or private) such as
colleges, universities, vocational-technical schools and truck driver
training schools. Funding priority for this discretionary grant program
will be given to regional or multi-state educational or nonprofit
associations serving economically distressed regions of the United
States. The Federal share of these funds will be 80 percent, and
recipients will be required to provide a 20 percent match. CMV Operator
Safety Training grant applications must be submitted electronically
through grants.gov.
Border Enforcement Grants (BEG):
Section 4110 of SAFETEA-LU established the BEG program. The purpose
of this discretionary program is to provide funding for border CMV
safety programs and related enforcement activities and projects. An
entity or a State that shares a land border with another country is
eligible to receive this grant funding. Eligible awardees include State
governments, local governments, and entities (i.e., accredited post-
secondary public or private educational institutions such as
universities). Requests from entities must be coordinated with the
State lead CMV inspection agency. Applications must include a Border
Enforcement Plan and meet the required maintenance of expenditure
requirement. BEG funding decisions take into consideration the State or
entity's performance on previous BEG awards; its ability to expend the
awarded funds with the BEG performance year; and activities meeting the
BEG national criteria established by FMCSA. As established by SAFETEA-
LU, the Federal share of these funds will be 100 percent. As a result,
there is no matching requirement. BEG grant applications must be
submitted electronically through grants.gov.
CDLPI Grants:
Section 4124 of SAFETEA-LU established a discretionary grant
program that provides funding for improving States' implementation of
the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) program, including expenses for
computer hardware and software, publications, testing, personnel, and
training. Funds may not be used to rent, lease, or buy land or
buildings. The agency designated by each State as the primary driver
licensing agency responsible for the development, implementation, and
maintenance of the CDL program is eligible to apply for basic grant
funding. 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 components.
Grant proposals must include a detailed budget explaining how the funds
will be used. The Federal share of funds for projects awarded under
this grant is established by SAFETEA-LU as 100 percent; therefore,
there is no grantee matching requirement. The funding opportunity
announcement on grants.gov will provide more detailed information on
the application process; national funding priorities for FY 2011;
evaluation criteria; required documents and certifications; State
maintenance of expenditure requirements; and additional information
related to the availability of funds. CLDPI grant applications must be
submitted electronically through grants.gov.
SaDIP Grants:
Section 4128 of SAFETEA-LU established a SaDIP grant program to
improve the quality of crash and inspection truck and bus data reported
by the States to FMCSA, as described 49 USC 31102. Eligible recipients
are State agencies, local governments, and organizations representing
government agencies that are involved with highway traffic safety
activities and must demonstrate a capacity to work with highway traffic
safety stakeholders. The State's SaDIP proposal must focus on a project
that enhances the accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of the
collection and reporting of Commercial Motor Vehicle crash information
in all components of the State's record system. An applicant's proposed
SaDIP project must address the seven (7) application requirements plus
the overriding indicator established for the State Safety Data Quality
(SSDQ) program. The FMCSA will provide reimbursements for no more that
80 percent of all eligible costs and recipients are required to provide
a 20 percent match.
PRISM Grants:
Section 4109 of SAFETEA-LU authorizes FMCSA to award financial
assistance funds to States to implement the PRISM requirements that
link Federal motor carrier safety information systems with State CMV
registration and licensing systems. This program enables a State to
determine the safety fitness of a motor carrier or registrant when
licensing or registering or while the license or registration is in
effect. PRISM grant applications must be submitted electronically
through grants.gov. No matching funds are required.
CVISN Grants:
Section 4126 of SAFETEA-LU authorizes FMCSA to award financial
assistance to States to deploy, operate, and maintain elements of their
CVISN Program, including commercial vehicle, commercial driver, and
carrier-specific information systems and networks. The agency in each
State designated as the primary agency responsible for the development,
implementation, and maintenance of a CVISN-related system is eligible
to apply for grant funding.
Section 4126 of SAFETEA-LU distinguishes between 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. If a State does not have a
[[Page 59787]]
Core CVISN Program Plan and Top-Level Design, it may apply for up to
$100,000 in funds to either compile or update a Core 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 State 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.
If a State does not have an existing or up-to-date Expanded CVISN
Program Plan and Top-Level Design, it may apply for up to $100,000 in
funds to either compile or update an Expanded CVISN Program Plan and
Top-Level Design.
CVISN grant applications must be submitted electronically through
grants.gov. Awards for approved CVISN grant applications are made on a
first-come, first-served basis. States must provide a match of 50
percent.
Application Information For FY 2011 GRANTS:
General information about the FMCSA grant programs is available in
the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) which can be found on
the internet at http://www.cfda.gov. To apply for funding, applicants
must register with grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_
registered.jsp and submit an application in accordance with
instructions provided.
Evaluation Factors: The following evaluation factors will be used
in reviewing the applications for all FMCSA discretionary grants:
(1) Prior performance--Completion of identified programs and goals
per the project plan.
(2) Effective Use of Prior Grants--Demonstrated timely use and
expensing of available funds.
(3) Cost Effectiveness--Applications will be evaluated and
prioritized on the basis of expected impact on safety relative to the
investment of grant funds. Where appropriate, costs per unit will be
calculated and compared with national averages to determine
effectiveness. In other areas, proposed costs will be compared with
historical information to confirm reasonableness.
(4) Applicability to announced priorities--If national priorities
are included in the grants.gov notice, those grants that specifically
address these issues will be 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.
(8) Any grant-specific evaluation factors, such as program balance
or geographic diversity, will be included in the grants.gov application
information.
Revised Application Due Dates: For the following grant programs,
FMCSA will consider funding complete applications or plans submitted by
the following dates:
MCSAP Basic and Incentive Grants--August 1, 2010.
Border Enforcement Grants--September 15, 2010.
MCSAP High Priority Grants--October 15, 2010.
CMV Operator Safety Training Grants--December 15, 2010.
New Entrant Safety Audit Grants--October 15, 2010.
CVISN Grants--February 1, 2011.
CDLPI Grants--November 15, 2010.
PRISM Grants--February 1, 2011.
SaDIP Grants--February 15, 2011.
Applications submitted after due dates may be considered on a case-
by-case basis and are subject to availability of funds.
Issued on: September 20, 2010.
William A. Quade,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement and Program Delivery.
[FR Doc. 2010-24044 Filed 9-27-10; 8:45 am]
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