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Subject: **[INFORMATION]{.underline}**: National Historic Covered

Bridge Preservation Program, FY 2006

Solicitation for Project Applications

**(Due: August 1, 2006)**

**/s/ Original Signed by**

From: M. Myint Lwin, P.E., S.E.

Director, Office of Bridge Technology

To: Division Administrators

The purpose of this memorandum is to solicit FY 2006 candidate bridge
projects from the States for the rehabilitation, repair, or preservation
portion of the National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation (NHCBP)
Program. This program was established by Section 1804 of the Safe,
Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy For
Users (SAFETEA-LU), and provides funding to assist the States to
rehabilitate, repair, or preserve the Nation's historic covered bridges.
For the purposes of the NHCBP Program, the term "historic covered
bridge" means a covered bridge that is listed or eligible for listing on
the National Register for Historic Places.

The NHCBP Program provides for two categories of projects. One grant is
to assist States in carrying out the rehabilitation, repair, or
preservation of the Nation's historic covered bridges. The other
category focuses on research and education on and about the Nation's
historic covered bridges. The total FY 2006 appropriation available for
this program is \$8,613,000.

This solicitation is [only]{.underline} intended for applications
regarding the rehabilitation, repair, or preservation of the Nation's
historic covered bridges. Research, education and technology projects
will be considered separately.

> Grants will be awarded to States submitting eligible projects that
> demonstrate a need for assistance in carrying out one or more eligible
> projects as outlined below:

(A) to rehabilitate or repair a historic covered bridge;

(B) to preserve a historic covered bridge, including through

    i.  installation of a fire protection system, including a
        > fireproofing or fire detection system and sprinklers;

    ii. installation of a system to prevent vandalism and arson; or

    iii. relocation of a bridge to a preservation site.

To ensure the bridges retain their historical significance, grants will
be awarded for projects only if:

(A) to the maximum extent practicable, the project

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(i) is carried out in the most historically appropriate manner; and

(ii) preserves the existing structure of the historic covered bridge;
     and

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(B) the project provides for the replacement of wooden components, with
    wooden components, unless the use of wood is impracticable for
    safety reasons.

Each project must be carried out in the most historically appropriate
manner following the Department of Interior's Standards, and the
standards and guidelines approved by the State Historic Preservation
Officer. The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of
Historic Properties may be obtained at the Web site,
[http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/pages/1054/files/Standards
Chart1.pdf](http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/pages/1054/files/Standards Chart1.pdf),
and should be consulted for the distinct approaches to treatment of
historic properties. Although the Standards were developed for historic
buildings, the terms, guidelines, and suggested approaches are generally
applicable to historic covered bridges. States should also consult the
FHWA "Covered Bridge Manual", FHWA Publication No. FHWA-HRT-04-098 for
additional information.

> Please refer to Attachment 1, the program summary, for additional
> guidance. Using the criteria and associated selection considerations,
> please assist your State to determine the projects to be submitted.
>
> As an alternative to paper, applications may be submitted
> electronically after the division office has reviewed them for
> eligibility, completeness, and assignment of the State's priorities.
> This memorandum and attachments is being provided in Microsoft Word
> format and is also being posted on the [National Historic Covered
> Bridge Preservation
> Program](http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/covered.htm) Web site.
> Included, as Attachment 2, is a list of the required data items for
> candidate projects. This information is being collected under OMB
> Control Number 2125-0609. There is no specific form required and
> applicants have the flexibility to present the information in any form
> which they deem appropriate.
>
> The State\'s application should describe the project in enough detail
> to demonstrate that it meets one or more of the goals of this program.
> Applications and other support documents that provide a further
> description of the project, such as the scope of work and bridge
> plans, should be completed and submitted to the Director, Office of
> Bridge Technology, on or before
>
> **August 1, 2006**. Projects previously submitted but not selected may
> reapply in future fiscal years.

Questions concerning this program should be addressed to Edgar Small at
(202) 366-4622 ([edgar.small@dot.gov](mailto:edgar.small@fhwa.dot.gov))
or Everett Matias at (202) 366-6712
([everett.matias@dot.gov](mailto:everett.matias@fhwa.dot.gov)) of the
Office of Bridge Technology.

Attachments

**Attachment 1 -- Description and Background**

**National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program**

**[Summary:]{.underline}**

This document describes the National Historic Covered Bridge
Preservation Program for FY 2006 and beyond, as established and
authorized in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation
Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Public Law 109-59. This
legislation reiterates the goals and requirements of the National
Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program established under the
Transportation Efficiency Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21, PL 105-178)
as amended by Title IX of PL 105-206. Implementation guidance was
developed for this program considering public input provided through
solicitation in the Federal Register FHWA Docket No. FHWA-2000-7646. As
the goals, objectives and eligibility of projects through SAFETEA-LU is
effectively equivalent to those specified in TEA-21, the implementation
guidance developed previously will be utilized.

**[Background:]{.underline}**

The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) (Public Law 109-59) establishes the
National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program and authorizes
\$10 million annually to be appropriated for each fiscal year between FY
2006 and FY 2009. The program is established to provide grants to States
for rehabilitation, repair and preservation of historic covered bridges
and to enable the Secretary of Transportation to perform research and
initiate education programs on historic covered bridges.

Grants are prescribed for eligible projects, which include
rehabilitation and repair together with preservation through:
installation of fire protection systems, including a fireproofing or
fire detection system and sprinklers, installation of a system to
prevent vandalism and arson, or relocation of a bridge to a preservation
site. Grants require that to the maximum extent practicable, the project
is carried out in the most historically appropriate manner, preserves
the existing structure of the historic covered bridge, and that the
project provides for the replacement of wooden components, with wooden
components, unless the use of wood is impracticable for safety reasons.

Research and education activities include: collection and dissemination
of information on historic covered bridges, conducting educational
programs relating to the history and construction techniques of historic
covered bridges, conducting research on the history of historic covered
bridges, conducting research on, and study techniques for, protecting
historic covered bridges from rot, fire, natural disasters, or
weight-related damage.

**[Guidelines and Administration]{.underline}**

Applicants for assistance with preservation, rehabilitation or repair of
Historic Covered Bridges are limited to State DOT's. Bridges must either
be on the National Register of Historic Places or eligible for listing.
Applicants are encouraged to consult the US Department of Agriculture
document, "Identifying and Preserving Historic Bridges," document
0071-2854-MTDC for more information on historicity of the structures.
Project assistance is provided for rehabilitation, repair or
preservation. These terms are defined in the Secretary of the Interior's
Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. These, and other
applicable considerations, are discussed in the "Covered Bridge Manual",
FHWA Publication No. FHWA-HRT-04-098. This manual may be obtained
on-line at <http://www.tfhrc.gov/structur/pubs/04098/index.htm> or by
contacting the Office of Bridge Technology.

**[Application Evaluation and Project Selection]{.underline}**

The following information is required for project applications. The
information requirements are based on the data collected through the
program in previous years, with some simplifications. The information is
also summarized in Attachment 2. This information is being collected
under OMB Control Number 2125-0609. There is no specific form required
and applicants have the flexibility to present the information in any
form which they deem appropriate.

-   State's Priority Ranking;

-   NBI Structure Number;

-   Bridge Name;

-   Description of Location

-   Congressional District and Representative;

-   Year Built;

-   Whether the structure is on or eligible for listing on the National
    Register of Historic Places and description of the qualities that
    qualify the bridge for the National Register.

-   Structure description (e.g., number of spans, length, width, design
    type, description of decking, beams/stringers, sides and roof, wood
    species, wood preservation system in use, builder, traffic carried,
    etc.);

-   General plan and elevation;

-   Description of previous repair work (description, year, etc.);

-   Description of proposed work including wood preservative system,
    fire protection, vandalism and arson prevention systems to be used;

-   Indication of whether the State has a historic bridge
    inventory/management plan accepted by the State Historic
    Preservation Officer (SHPO). A programmatic agreement for historic
    bridges with the SHPO, FHWA and the Advisory Counsel on Historic
    Preservation (ACHP) may substitute;

-   Description of whether the SHPO has reviewed and certified this
    project as warranted in accordance with the SHPO's statewide
    historic preservation plan; how it benefits statewide preservation
    efforts; how it enhances cultural tourism or enhances the
    history/economic development of the community; and other benefits
    upon successful completion of this project;

-   Amount of State or local government matching funds or other
    resources (donated materials or labor may qualify);

-   When the project is complete, will the bridge meet the current State
    or AASHTO standards for the roadway classification that it carries;

-   Plan for documentation of the bridge and the work performed;

-   Scheduled start and completion date for the project (month and
    year); and

-   Contact information for the State DOT, Local Agency (if applicable),
    FHWA Division Office, and State Historic Preservation Officer.

All projects will be evaluated and recommended for funding by a
selection panel formed by the FHWA. Awards will be made by the Director,
Office of Bridge Technology, based on the recommendations of the panel.
State priorities will be considered by the panel together with the
reasons for the priority. The FHWA will attempt to equitably distribute
funds to applicant States in accordance with the States\' priorities,
however, it is to be expected that high cost project requests may be
funded at less than 100 percent of a State\'s requested amount.

Candidate projects which best meet the intent of this program will
receive the highest priority. Applicants may want to provide additional
information to explain how the project meets the intent of the program.
Candidate projects ready for or near the construction phase will be
given priority consideration. Candidate projects that leverage Federal
funds with other significant public or private resources will be given
preference. Candidate projects, which further the aims of the State
Historic Preservation Plan with the endorsement of the SHPO, will be
given priority consideration. Candidate projects proposing complete
restoration and rehabilitation will be given priority over candidate
projects proposing only the installation of fire/vandalism protection
systems or projects that propose to move the bridge to a preservation
location.

**[Amounts Available and Application Deadlines]{.underline}**

For FY 2006, a total of \$8,613,000 is provided for project grants and
for research and education. Research and education funds will be
administered by the FHWA Office of Infrastructure R&D at the Turner
Fairbank Highway Research Center. Grants for projects to the States are
administered by the FHWA Office of Bridge Technology. Applications must
be submitted by the States to the Director, the Office of Bridge
Technology, with notification and concurrence by the FHWA Division
Office. For

FY 2006, applications must be received by August 1, 2006. Project
selections will be made by September 1, 2006.

**[FHWA Headquarters Program Office Contact]{.underline}**

For questions concerning the NHCBP program, please contact Dr. Edgar P.
Small, Office of Bridge Technology, HIBT--30, at (202) 366--4622, FAX
(202) 366-3077, or e-mail
*[edgar.small@dot.gov](../edgar.small@dot.gov);* and Mr. Everett Matias,
Office of Bridge Technology, HIBT--30, at (202) 366--6712, FAX (202)
366--3077, or e-mail
[*everett.matias@dot.gov*](../everett.matias@dot.gov).

**Attachment 2 -- Information Required for Project Applications**

**National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program - FY2006**

The following information is required for project applications. The
information requirements are based on the data collected through the
program in previous years, with some simplifications. This information
is being collected under OMB Control Number 2125-0609. There is no
specific form required and applicants have the flexibility to present
the information in any form which they deem appropriate.

-   State's Priority Ranking;

-   NBI Structure Number;

-   Bridge Name;

-   Description of Location

-   Congressional District and Representative;

-   Year Built;

-   Whether the structure is on or eligible for listing on the National
    Register of Historic Places and description of the qualities that
    qualify the bridge for the National Register.

-   Structure description (e.g., number of spans, length, width, design
    type, description of decking, beams/stringers, sides and roof, wood
    species, wood preservation system in use, builder, traffic carried,
    etc..)

-   General plan and elevation

-   Description of previous repair work (description, year, etc.);

-   Description of proposed work including wood preservative system,
    fire protection, vandalism and arson prevention systems to be used;

-   Indication of whether the State has a historic bridge
    inventory/management plan accepted by the State Historic
    Preservation Officer (SHPO). A programmatic agreement for historic
    bridges with the SHPO, FHWA and the Advisory Counsel on Historic
    Preservation (ACHP) may substitute;

-   Description of whether the SHPO has reviewed and certified this
    project is warranted in accordance with the SHPO's statewide
    historic preservation plan; how it benefits statewide preservation
    efforts; how it enhances cultural tourism or enhances the
    history/economic development of the community; and other benefits
    upon successful completion of this project;

-   Amount of State or local government matching funds or other
    resources (donated materials or labor may qualify);

-   When the project is complete, will the bridge meet the current State
    or AASHTO standards for the roadway classification that it carries;

-   Plan for documentation of the bridge and the work performed;

-   Scheduled start and completion date for the project (month and
    year); and

-   Contact information for the State DOT, local agency (if applicable),
    FHWA Division Office, and State Historic Preservation Officer.