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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 64 (Friday, April 3, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18283-18292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07711]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary of Transportation

Notice of Funding Availability for the Department of 
Transportation's National Infrastructure Investments Under the 
Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary of Transportation, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of funding availability.

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SUMMARY: The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 
2015 (Pub. L. 113-235, December 16, 2014) (``FY 2015 Appropriations 
Act'' or the ``Act'') appropriated $500 million to be awarded by the 
Department of Transportation (``DOT'' or the ``Department'') for 
National Infrastructure Investments. This appropriation is similar, but 
not identical, to the program funded and implemented pursuant to the 
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the ``Recovery Act'') 
known as the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or 
``TIGER Discretionary Grants,'' program. Because of the similarity in 
program structure, DOT will continue to refer to the program as ``TIGER 
Discretionary Grants.'' Funds for the FY 2015 TIGER program (``TIGER FY 
2015'') are to be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will 
have a significant impact on the Nation, a metropolitan area, or a 
region. The purpose of this final notice is to solicit applications for 
TIGER Discretionary Grants.

DATES: Pre-applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. E.D.T. on May 
4, 2015. Final applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. E.D.T. on 
June 5, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Pre-applications must be submitted electronically through 
www.dot.gov/TIGER. Final applications must be submitted through 
Grants.gov. Only applicants who comply with all submission requirements 
described in this notice and electronically submit both valid pre-
applications to DOT and final applications through Grants.gov will be 
eligible for award.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information concerning 
this notice, please contact the TIGER Discretionary Grant program staff 
via email at TIGERGrants@dot.gov, or call Howard Hill at 202-366-0301. 
A TDD is available for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing at 
202-366-3993. In addition, DOT will regularly post answers to questions 
and requests for

[[Page 18284]]

clarifications on DOT's Web site at www.dot.gov/TIGER

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is substantially similar to the 
final notice published for the TIGER Discretionary Grant program in the 
Federal Register on March 3, 2014. However, the FY 2015 Appropriations 
Act does not provide dedicated funding for the planning, preparation, 
or design of capital projects (``TIGER Planning Grants''); these 
activities may be eligible to the extent that they are part of an 
overall construction project that receives TIGER Discretionary Grant 
funding. Additionally, unlike the past two rounds of TIGER 
Discretionary Grants, a pre-application must be submitted for an 
application to be considered. The pre-application helps DOT allocate 
staff resources for the evaluation process, allows applicants to 
provide identifying information about their project, and assists DOT in 
clarifying eligibility questions before the final application is 
submitted. In addition to the differences above, and minor edits for 
clarification and those made to conform the notice to the statutory 
circumstances of this round of TIGER Discretionary Grant funding, this 
notice's format has changed to conform to Appendix I to 2 CFR part 200. 
Each section of this notice contains information and instructions 
relevant to the application process for these TIGER Discretionary 
Grants, and you should read this notice in its entirety so that you 
have the information you need to submit eligible and competitive 
applications.

Table of Contents

A. Program Description
B. Federal Award Information
C. Eligibility Information
D. Application and Submission Information
E. Application Review
F. Federal Award Administration
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
H. Other Information

A. Program Description

    Since the TIGER Discretionary Grants program was first created, 
$4.1 billion has been awarded for capital investments in surface 
transportation infrastructure over six rounds of competitive grants. 
The TIGER Discretionary Grant program seeks to award projects that 
advance DOT's long-term priorities for the nation's transportation 
system found in DOT's Strategic Plan for FY 2014-FY 2018 (http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/2014-2018-strategic-plan_0.pdf). 
Section E, Application Review, of this notice describes the TIGER 
Discretionary Grant selection criteria based on these priorities. 
Please see DOT's Web site at www.dot.gov/TIGER for background on 
previous rounds of TIGER Discretionary Grants.
    Throughout the TIGER program, TIGER Discretionary Grant awards have 
supported innovative projects, including multimodal and 
multijurisdictional projects which are difficult to fund through 
traditional Federal programs. Successful TIGER projects leverage 
resources, encourage partnership, catalyze investment and growth, fill 
a critical void in the transportation system or provide a substantial 
benefit to the nation, region or metropolitan area in which the project 
is located. The FY 2015 TIGER program will continue to make 
transformative surface transportation investments that dramatically 
improve the status quo by providing significant and measurable 
improvements over existing conditions. Transformative improvements 
anchor broad and long-lasting, positive changes in economic 
development, safety, quality of life, environmental sustainability, or 
state of good repair. Because each TIGER project is unique, applicants 
are encouraged to present, in measurable terms, how TIGER investment 
will lead to transformative change(s) in their community.
    The FY 2015 TIGER program will fund transformative projects of all 
eligible types, including projects that promote Ladders of Opportunity, 
to the extent permitted by law. The FY 2014 TIGER program gave 
consideration to projects that sought to improve access to reliable, 
safe, and affordable transportation for disconnected communities in 
urban, suburban, and rural areas. This included, but was not limited 
to, capital projects that better connected people to jobs, removed 
physical barriers to access, and strengthened communities through 
neighborhood redevelopment. The FY 2015 TIGER program clearly 
identifies this concept as Ladders of Opportunity. Ladders of 
Opportunity projects may increase connectivity to employment, 
education, services and other opportunities, support workforce 
development, or contribute to community revitalization, particularly 
for disadvantaged groups: low income groups, persons with visible and 
hidden disabilities, elderly individuals, and minority persons and 
populations.

B. Federal Award Information

    The FY 2015 Appropriations Act appropriated $500 million to be 
awarded by DOT for the TIGER Discretionary Grants program. The FY 2015 
TIGER Discretionary Grants are for capital investments in surface 
transportation infrastructure and are to be awarded on a competitive 
basis for projects that will have a significant impact on the Nation, a 
metropolitan area, or a region. The Act also allows DOT to use a small 
portion of the $500 million for oversight and administration of grants. 
If this solicitation does not result in the award and obligation of all 
available funds, DOT may publish additional solicitations.
    The FY 2015 Appropriations Act specifies that TIGER Discretionary 
Grants may not be less than $10 million and not greater than $200 
million, except that for projects located in rural areas (as defined in 
Section C.3) the minimum TIGER Discretionary Grant size is $1 million.
    Pursuant to the FY 2015 Appropriations Act, no more than 25 percent 
of the funds made available for TIGER Discretionary Grants (or $125 
million) may be awarded to projects in a single State. The FY 2015 
Appropriations Act directs that not less than 20 percent of the funds 
provided for TIGER Discretionary Grants (or $100 million) shall be used 
for projects located in rural areas. Further, pursuant to the FY 2015 
Appropriations Act, DOT must take measures to ensure an equitable 
geographic distribution of grant funds, an appropriate balance in 
addressing the needs of urban and rural areas, and investment in a 
variety of transportation modes.
    The FY 2015 Appropriations Act requires that FY 2015 TIGER funds 
are only available for obligation through September 30, 2017. No FY 
2015 TIGER funds may be expended after September 30, 2022. As part of 
the review and selection process described in Section E.2., DOT will 
consider whether a project is ready to proceed with an obligation of 
grant funds from DOT within the statutory time provided. Under the FY 
2015 Appropriations Act, no waiver is possible for these deadlines.
    The FY 2015 Appropriations Act allows for up to 20 percent of 
available funds (or $100 million) to be used by the Department to pay 
the subsidy and administrative costs for a project receiving credit 
assistance under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and 
Innovation Act of 1998 (``TIFIA'') program, if it would further the 
purposes of the TIGER Discretionary Grant program.
    Recipients of prior TIGER Discretionary Grants may apply for 
funding to support additional phases of a project awarded funds in 
earlier rounds of this program. However, to be competitive, the 
applicant should

[[Page 18285]]

demonstrate the extent to which the previously funded project phase has 
been able to meet estimated project schedules and budget, as well as 
the ability to realize the benefits expected for the project.
    DOT expects that each TIGER Discretionary Grant will be 
administered by one of the relevant modal administrations, pursuant to 
a grant agreement between the TIGER Discretionary Grant recipient and 
the relevant modal administration.

C. Eligibility Information

    To be selected for a TIGER Discretionary Grant, an applicant must 
be an Eligible Applicant and the project must be an Eligible Project.

1. Eligible Applicants

    Eligible Applicants for TIGER Discretionary Grants are State, 
local, and tribal governments, including U.S. territories, transit 
agencies, port authorities, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), 
and other political subdivisions of State or local governments.
    Multiple States or jurisdictions may submit a joint application and 
must identify a lead applicant as the primary point of contact. Each 
applicant in a joint application must be an Eligible Applicant. Joint 
applications must include a description of the roles and 
responsibilities of each applicant and must be signed by each 
applicant.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    TIGER Discretionary Grants may be used for up to 80 percent of the 
costs of a project. \1\ DOT may increase the Federal share above 80 
percent only for projects located in rural areas, in which case DOT may 
fund up to 100 percent of the costs of a project.
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    \1\ To meet match requirements, the minimum total project cost 
for a project located in an urban area must be $12.5 million.
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    DOT will consider non-Federal funds, as well as funds from the 
Tribal Transportation Program (23 U.S.C. 202), as a local match for 
purposes of this program. DOT cannot consider any funds already 
expended (or otherwise encumbered) towards the matching requirement. 
Please note that matching funds provided by an applicant will not be 
considered as matching funds if the source of those funds is ultimately 
a Federal program, nor can Federal funds be used as match for other 
Federal funds, unless authorized in statute. Matching funds are subject 
to the same Federal requirements described in Section F.2. as awarded 
funds.

3. Other

    i. Eligible Projects--Eligible projects for TIGER Discretionary 
Grants are capital projects that include, but are not limited to: (1) 
Highway or bridge projects eligible under title 23, United States Code 
(including bicycle and pedestrian related projects); (2) public 
transportation projects eligible under chapter 53 of title 49, United 
States Code; (3) passenger and freight rail transportation projects; 
(4) port infrastructure investments (including inland port 
infrastructure); and (5) intermodal projects. This description of 
eligible projects is identical to the description of eligible projects 
under earlier rounds of the TIGER Discretionary Grant program.\2\ 
Research, demonstration, or pilot projects are eligible only if they 
result in long-term, permanent surface transportation infrastructure 
that has independent utility as defined in Section C.3.iii.
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    \2\ Please note that the Department may use a TIGER 
Discretionary Grant to pay for the surface transportation components 
of a broader project that has non-surface transportation components, 
and applicants are encouraged to apply for TIGER Discretionary 
Grants to pay for the surface transportation components of these 
projects.
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    ii. Rural/Urban Definition--For purposes of this notice, DOT 
defines ``rural area'' as any area not in an Urbanized Area, as such 
term is defined by the Census Bureau,\3\ and will consider a project to 
be in a rural area if all or the majority of a project (determined by 
geographic location(s) where the majority of project money is to be 
spent) is located in a rural area. In this notice ``urban'' means not 
rural. This definition affects three aspects of the program. First, the 
FY 2015 Appropriations Act directs that not less than $100 million of 
the funds provided for TIGER Discretionary Grants are to be used for 
projects in rural areas. Second, for a project in a rural area the 
minimum award is $1 million instead of $10 million. Third, up to 100 
percent of the costs of a project in a rural area may be paid for with 
Federal funds.
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    \3\ For Census 2010, the Census Bureau defined an Urbanized Area 
(UA) as an area that consists of densely settled territory that 
contains 50,000 or more people. Updated lists of UAs are available 
on the Census Bureau Web site at http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/UAUC_RefMap/ua/. Urban Clusters (UCs) are rural areas for 
purposes of the TIGER Discretionary Grant program. Please note that 
while individual jurisdictions might have a population of fewer than 
50,000, if they are included as part of an UA, they will be 
classified as urban for purposes of the TIGER program.
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    To the extent more than a de minimis portion of a project is 
located in an Urbanized Area, applicants should identify the estimated 
percentage of project costs that will be spent in Urbanized Areas and 
the estimated percentage that will be spent in rural areas.
    iii. Project Components--An application may describe a project that 
contains more than one component. DOT may award funds for a component, 
instead of the larger project, if that component (1) meets minimum 
award amounts described in Section B and all eligibility requirements 
described in Section C; (2) has independent utility; and (3) 
independently aligns well with the selection criteria specified in 
Section E.1 (Selection Criteria). Independent utility means that the 
component provides transportation benefits in and of itself and will be 
ready for intended use upon completion of the component's construction. 
All project components that are presented in a single application must 
demonstrate a strong relationship or connection between them (please 
see Section E.1.iii.d. for Required Approvals.)
    DOT strongly encourages applicants to identify in their 
applications the project components that have independent utility and 
separately detail the costs and requested TIGER funding for those 
components. If the application identifies an independent project 
component, the application must clearly identify the benefits that the 
component would produce on its own, in addition to describing the 
benefits from the full proposal.
    iv. Limit on Number of Applications--Each lead applicant may submit 
no more than three applications. Unrelated project components should 
not be bundled in an application for the purpose of avoiding the three 
applications per lead applicant limit. Please note that the three-
application limit applies only to applications where the applicant is 
the lead applicant. There is no limit on applications for which an 
applicant can be listed as a partnering agency. If a lead applicant 
submits more than three applications as the lead applicant, only the 
first three received will be considered.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Address

    Pre-application instructions and information will be available at 
www.dot.gov/TIGER, and will include details for submitting the pre-
application electronically to DOT. Final applications must be submitted 
to Grants.gov. Instructions for submitting pre-applications and final 
applications through Grants.gov can be found at www.dot.gov/TIGER.

[[Page 18286]]

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

    i. Pre-Application: The pre-application requires applicants to 
submit identifying information about their project and qualifies 
applicants to submit a final application. If an applicant does not 
submit a pre-application, the final application will not be considered. 
Pre-applications will not be reviewed until after the pre-application 
deadline.
    Applicants must complete the pre-application form and send it to 
DOT electronically on or prior to the pre-application deadline, in 
accordance with the instructions specified at www.dot.gov/TIGER.
    ii. Final Application: Final applications will not be considered 
unless a pre-application is submitted by the applicant. Any changes 
from the pre-application should be clearly identified in the final 
application. DOT may ask any applicant to supplement data in its 
application, but expects applications to be complete upon submission. 
To the extent practicable, applicants should provide data and evidence 
of project merits in a form that is verifiable or publicly available. 
The final application must include the Standard Form 424 (Application 
for Federal Assistance) and the Project Narrative. Additional 
clarifying guidance and FAQs to assist applicants in completing the SF-
424 will be available at www.dot.gov/TIGER by May 5, 2015, when the 
``Apply'' function within Grants.gov opens to accept applications under 
this notice.
    The Project Narrative (attachment to SF-424) must respond to the 
application requirements outlined below. The application must include 
information required for DOT to assess each of the criteria specified 
in Section E.1 (Selection Criteria). Applicants must demonstrate the 
responsiveness of a project to any pertinent selection criteria with 
the most relevant information that you can provide, regardless of 
whether such information has been specifically requested, or 
identified, in this notice. An application should provide evidence of 
the feasibility of achieving project milestones, and of financial 
capacity and commitment in order to support project readiness.
    An application should also include a description of how the project 
addresses the needs of the area, creates economic opportunity, and 
sparks community revitalization, particularly for disadvantaged groups.
    DOT recommends that the project narrative adhere to the following 
basic outline and, in addition to a detailed statement of work, 
detailed project schedule, and detailed project budget, should include 
a table of contents, maps, and graphics as appropriate that make the 
information easier to review:
    a. Project Description (including a description of what TIGER funds 
will support, information on the expected users of the project, a 
description of the transportation challenges that the project aims to 
address, how the project will address these challenges, and if, and 
how, the project promotes Ladders of Opportunity. The description 
should include relevant data, such as passenger or freight volumes, 
congestion levels, infrastructure condition, and safety experience.);
    b. Project Location (a detailed description of the proposed project 
and geospatial data for the project, including a map of the project's 
location and its connections to existing transportation infrastructure, 
as well as a description of the national, regional, or metropolitan 
area in which the project is located, including economic information 
such as population size, median income for transportation facility 
users, or major industries affected, and project map);
    c. Project Parties (information about the grant recipient and other 
project parties);
    d. Grant Funds and Sources/Uses of Project Funds (information about 
the amount of grant funding requested, availability/commitment of fund 
sources and uses of all project funds, total project costs, percentage 
of project costs that would be paid with TIGER Discretionary Grant 
funds, and the identity of all parties providing funds for the project 
and their percentage shares.) Include any other pending or past Federal 
funding requests for the project as well as Federal funds already 
provided under other programs and the size, nature/source of the 
required match for those funds, to clarify that these are not the same 
funds counted under the matching requirement for this grant request;
    e. Selection Criteria (information about how the project aligns 
with each of the primary and secondary selection criteria):

(i) Primary Selection Criteria
    (a) State of Good Repair
    (b) Economic Competitiveness
    (c) Quality of Life
    (d) Environmental Sustainability
    (e) Safety
(ii) Secondary Selection Criteria
    (a) Innovation
    (b) Partnership

    f. Results of Benefit-Cost Analysis;
    g. Project Readiness, including planning approvals, NEPA and other 
environmental reviews/approvals, (including information about 
permitting, legislative approvals, State and local planning, and 
project partnership and implementation agreements); and
    h. Federal Wage Rate Certification (an application must include a 
certification, signed by the applicant(s), stating that it will comply 
with the requirements of subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40, 
United States Code [Federal wage rate requirements], as required by the 
FY 2015 Appropriations Act).
    The purpose of this recommended format is to ensure that 
applications clearly address the program requirements and make critical 
information readily apparent.
    DOT recommends that the project narrative be prepared with standard 
formatting preferences (i.e., a single-spaced document, using a 
standard 12-point font, such as Times New Roman, with 1-inch margins). 
The project narrative may not exceed 30 pages in length. Documentation 
supporting the assertions made in the narrative portion may also be 
provided, but should be limited to relevant information. Cover pages, 
tables of contents, and the federal wage rate certification do not 
count towards the 30-page limit for the narrative portion of the 
application. Otherwise, the only substantive portions of the 
application that may exceed the 30-page limit are any supporting 
documents (including a more detailed discussion of the benefit-cost 
analysis) provided to support assertions or conclusions made in the 30-
page narrative section. If possible, Web site links to supporting 
documentation (including a more detailed discussion of the benefit-cost 
analysis) should be provided rather than copies of these materials. 
Otherwise, supporting documents should be included as appendices to the 
application. It is helpful if applicants' references to supporting 
documentation clearly identify the relevant portion of that document. 
At the applicant's discretion, relevant materials provided previously 
to a relevant modal administration in support of a different DOT 
discretionary financial assistance program (for example, New Starts or 
TIFIA) may be referenced and described as unchanged. This information 
need not be resubmitted for the TIGER Discretionary Grant application 
but may be referenced as described above; Web site links to the 
materials are highly recommended. DOT recommends using appropriately 
descriptive file names (e.g., ``Project Narrative,'' ``Maps,'' 
``Memoranda of Understanding and Letters of Support,'' etc.) for all 
attachments.

[[Page 18287]]

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

    DOT may not make a TIGER Discretionary Grant award to an applicant 
until the applicant has complied with all applicable DUNS and SAM 
requirements. If an applicant has not fully complied with the 
requirements by the submission deadline, the application will not be 
considered. To submit an application through Grants.gov, applicants 
must:
    i. Obtain a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number;
    ii. Register with the System for Award Management (SAM) at 
www.SAM.gov;
    iii. Create a Grants.gov username and password; and
    iv. The E-Business Point of Contact (POC) at your organization must 
respond to the registration email from Grants.gov and login at 
Grants.gov to authorize you as an Authorized Organization 
Representative (AOR). Please note that there can be more than one AOR 
for an organization.
    For information and instructions on each of these processes, please 
see instructions at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html.
    If an applicant is selected for an award, the applicant will be 
required to maintain an active SAM registration with current 
information throughout the period of the award.

4. Submission Dates and Times

    i. Deadline: Pre-applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. 
E.D.T. on May 4, 2015. Final applications must be submitted by 11:59 
p.m. E.D.T. on June 5, 2015. The Grants.gov ``Apply'' function will 
open on May 5, 2015.
    The Department has determined that a pre-application deadline fewer 
than 60 days after this notice is appropriate because (1) this notice 
is substantially similar to notices used for previous rounds of TIGER 
Discretionary Grants, (2) minimal work is required to submit the pre-
application, and (3) the accelerated timeframe helps the Department 
ensure that it can timely obligate the available funds.
    ii. Only applicants who comply with all submission deadlines 
described in this notice and electronically submit valid pre-
applications to DOT and final applications through Grants.gov will be 
eligible for award.
    Applicants are strongly encouraged to make submissions in advance 
of the deadline. Please be aware that you must complete the Grants.gov 
registration process before submitting the final application, and that 
this process usually takes 2-4 weeks to complete. If interested parties 
experience difficulties at any point during the registration or 
application process, please call the Grants.gov Customer Support 
Hotline at 1-800-518-4726, Monday-Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. 
EDT.
    iii. Late Applications: Applications received after the deadline 
will not be considered except in the case of unforeseen technical 
difficulties outlined in Section 4.iv. Late applications that are the 
result of failure to register or comply with Grants.gov applicant 
requirements in a timely manner will not be considered.
iv. a. Pre-Application
    Applicants experiencing technical issues due to the pre-application 
submission site that are beyond the applicant's control must contact 
TIGERGrants@dot.gov or Howard Hill at 202-366-0301 prior to the pre-
application deadline with the user name of the registrant and details 
of the technical issue experienced.
    DOT will consider late pre-applications on a case-by-case basis. 
DOT encourages applicants to submit additional information documenting 
the reason for the late submissions.
b. Final Application
    Applicants experiencing technical issues with Grants.gov that are 
beyond the applicant's control must contact TIGERGrants@dot.gov or 
Howard Hill at 202-366-0301 prior to the corresponding deadline with 
the user name of the registrant and details of the technical issue 
experienced. The applicant must provide:
    (i) Details of the technical issue experienced.
    (ii) Screen capture(s) of the technical issue experienced along 
corresponding ``Grant tracking number'' (Grants.Gov).
    (iii) The ``Legal Business Name'' for the applicant that was 
provided in the SF-424 or pre-application.
    (iv) The AOR name submitted in the SF-424 (Grants.gov).
    (v) The DUNS number associated with the pre-application/
application.
    (vi) The Grants.gov or Pre-Application Help Desk Tracking Number.
    To ensure a fair competition for limited discretionary funds, the 
following conditions are not valid reasons to permit late submissions: 
(1) Failure to complete the registration process before the deadline 
date; (2) failure to follow Grants.gov instructions on how to register 
and apply as posted on its Web site; (3) failure to follow all of the 
instructions in this notice of funding availability; and (4) technical 
issues experienced with the applicant's computer or information 
technology (IT) environment. After DOT staff review all of the 
information submitted and contacted the Grants.gov Help Desk to 
validate the technical issues you reported, DOT staff will contact you 
to either approve or deny your request to submit a late application 
through Grants.gov. If the technical issues you reported cannot be 
validated, your application will be rejected as untimely.

5. Funding Restrictions

    There is no specific set aside funding solely for pre-construction 
activities \4\ in the FY 2015 TIGER Discretionary Grant program. 
However, these activities may be eligible to the extent that they are 
part of an overall construction project that receives TIGER 
Discretionary Grant funding. For TIGER funds to be considered for pre-
construction activities, the applicant must clearly state, in the 
application, the pre-construction activity and amount of TIGER funds 
that will be expended on the activity.
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    \4\ Pre-Construction activities are activities related to the 
planning, preparation, or design of surface transportation projects. 
These activities include but are not limited to environmental 
analysis, feasibility studies, design, and engineering of surface 
transportation projects as described in Section C.3.
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E. Application Review

1. Selection Criteria

    This section specifies the criteria that DOT will use to evaluate 
and award applications for TIGER Discretionary Grants. The criteria 
incorporate the statutory eligibility requirements for this program, 
which are specified in this notice as relevant. There are two 
categories of selection criterion, ``Primary Selection Criteria'' and 
``Secondary Selection Criteria.'' Within each relevant selection 
criteria, applicants are encouraged to present in measurable terms how 
TIGER investment will lead to transformative change(s) in their 
community. Projects will also be evaluated for demonstrated project 
readiness, benefits and costs, and cost share.
i. Primary Selection Criteria
    Applications that do not demonstrate a likelihood of significant 
long-term benefits based on these criteria will not proceed in the 
evaluation process. DOT does not consider any primary selection 
criterion more important than the others. The primary selection 
criteria, which will receive equal consideration, are:
    a. Safety. Improving the safety of U.S. transportation facilities 
and systems for all modes of transportation and users. DOT will assess 
the project's ability to

[[Page 18288]]

reduce the number, rate, and consequences of surface transportation-
related accidents, serious injuries, and fatalities among 
transportation users, the project's contribution to the elimination of 
highway/rail grade crossings, and the project's contribution to 
preventing unintended releases of hazardous materials. DOT will 
consider the project's ability to foster a safe, connected, accessible 
transportation system for the multimodal movement of goods and people.
    b. State of Good Repair. Improving the condition and resilience of 
existing transportation facilities and systems. DOT will assess whether 
and to what extent: (1) The project is consistent with relevant plans 
to maintain transportation facilities or systems in a state of good 
repair and address current and projected vulnerabilities; (2) if left 
unimproved, the poor condition of the asset will threaten future 
transportation network efficiency, mobility of goods or accessibility 
and mobility of people, or economic growth; (3) the project is 
appropriately capitalized up front and uses asset management approaches 
that optimize its long-term cost structure; (4) a sustainable source of 
revenue is available for operations and maintenance of the project; and 
(5) the project improves the transportation asset's ability to 
withstand probable occurrence or recurrence of an emergency or major 
disaster or other impacts of climate change. Additional consideration 
will be given to a project's contribution to improve the overall 
reliability of a multimodal transportation system that serves all 
users, and to projects that offer significant transformational 
improvements to the condition of existing transportation systems and 
facilities.
    c. Economic Competitiveness. Contributing to the economic 
competitiveness of the United States over the medium- to long-term, 
revitalizing communities, and creating and preserving jobs. DOT will 
assess whether the project will (1) Decrease transportation costs and 
improve access for Americans with transportation disadvantages through 
reliable and timely access to employment centers, education and 
training opportunities, and other basic needs of workers; (2) improve 
long-term efficiency, reliability or costs in the movement of workers 
or goods; (3) increase the economic productivity of land, capital, or 
labor at specific locations, and through community revitalization 
efforts; (4) result in long-term job creation and other economic 
opportunities; or (5) help the United States compete in a global 
economy by facilitating efficient and reliable freight movement, 
including border infrastructure and projects that have a significant 
effect on reducing the costs of transporting export cargoes. DOT will 
prioritize projects that exhibit strong leadership and vision, and are 
part of a larger strategy to significantly revitalize communities and 
increase economic opportunities.
    d. Quality of Life. Increasing transportation choices and access to 
essential services for people in communities across the United States, 
particularly for disadvantaged groups. DOT will assess whether the 
project furthers the six ``Livability Principles'' developed by DOT 
with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of the Partnership for 
Sustainable Communities.\5\ DOT will focus on the first principle, the 
creation of affordable and convenient transportation choices.\6\ 
Further, DOT will prioritize projects developed in coordination with 
land-use planning and economic development decisions, including through 
programs like TIGER Planning Grants, the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development's Regional Planning Grants, the Environmental 
Protection Agency's Brownfield Area-Wide Planning Pilot Program, and 
technical assistance programs focused on quality of life or economic 
development planning. DOT will assess the extent to which the project 
will anchor transformative, positive and long-lasting quality of life 
changes at the national, regional or metropolitan level.
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    \5\ http://www.sustainablecommunities.gov/index.html.
    \6\ In full, this principle reads: ``Provide more transportation 
choices. Develop safe, reliable and economical transportation 
choices to decrease household transportation costs, reduce our 
nations' dependence on foreign oil, improve air quality, reduce 
greenhouse gas emissions and promote public health.''
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    e. Environmental Sustainability. Improving energy efficiency, 
reducing dependence on oil, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, 
improving water quality, avoiding and mitigating environmental impacts 
and otherwise benefitting the environment. DOT will assess the 
project's ability to: (i) Reduce energy use and air or water pollution; 
(ii) avoid adverse environmental impacts to air or water quality, 
wetlands, and endangered species; or (iii) provide environmental 
benefits, such as brownfield redevelopment, ground water recharge in 
areas of water scarcity, wetlands creation or improved habitat 
connectivity, and stormwater mitigation, including green 
infrastructure. Applicants are encouraged to provide quantitative 
information, including baseline information that demonstrates how the 
project will reduce energy consumption, stormwater runoff, or achieve 
other benefits for the environment.
ii. Secondary Selection Criteria
    a. Innovation. Use of innovative strategies to pursue the long-term 
outcomes outlined above. DOT will also assess the extent to which the 
project uses innovative technology to pursue one or more of the long-
term outcomes outlined above or to significantly enhance the 
operational performance of the transportation system. DOT will also 
assess the extent to which the project incorporates innovations in 
transportation funding and finance and leverages both existing and new 
sources of funding through both traditional and innovative means. 
Further, DOT will consider the extent to which the project utilizes 
innovative practices in contracting, congestion management, safety 
management, asset management, or long-term operations and maintenance. 
DOT is interested in projects that apply innovative strategies to 
improve the efficiency of project development or to improve project 
delivery.
    b. Partnership. Demonstrating strong collaboration among a broad 
range of stakeholders, and the product of a robust, inclusive planning 
process.
    (i) Jurisdictional and Stakeholder Collaboration. DOT will consider 
the extent to which projects involve multiple partners in project 
development and funding, such as State and local governments, other 
public entities, and/or private or nonprofit entities. DOT will also 
assess the extent to which the project application demonstrates 
collaboration among neighboring or regional jurisdictions to achieve 
national, regional, or metropolitan benefits. In the context of public-
private partnerships, DOT will assess the extent to which partners are 
encouraged to ensure long-term asset performance, such as through pay-
for-success approaches.
    (ii) Disciplinary Integration. DOT will consider the extent to 
which projects include partnerships that bring together diverse 
transportation agencies and/or are supported, financially or otherwise, 
by non-transportation public agencies that are pursuing similar 
objectives. For example, DOT will give priority to transportation 
projects that are coordinated with economic development, housing, water 
infrastructure, and land use plans and policies or other public service 
efforts.

[[Page 18289]]

Similarly, DOT will give priority to transportation projects that are 
coordinated with housing, social services, or education agencies. 
Projects that grow out of a robust planning process--such as those 
conducted with DOT's various planning programs and initiatives, the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development's Regional Planning Grants 
and Choice Neighborhood Planning Grants, or the Environmental 
Protection Agency's Brownfield Area-Wide Planning Pilot Program, as 
well as technical assistance programs focused on livability or economic 
development planning--will also be given priority.
iii. Demonstrated Project Readiness
    Projects that receive funding in this round of TIGER must obligate 
funds by September 30, 2017, or the funding will expire. Therefore, DOT 
will assess every application to determine whether the project is 
likely to proceed to obligation by the statutory deadline (see 
Additional Information on Project Readiness Guidelines located at 
www.dot.gov/TIGER for further details), as evidenced by:
    a. Technical Feasibility. The technical feasibility of the project 
should be demonstrated by engineering and design studies and 
activities; the development of design criteria and/or a basis of 
design; the basis for the cost estimate presented in the TIGER 
application, including the identification of contingency levels 
appropriate to its level of design; and any scope, schedule, and budget 
risk-mitigation measures. Applicants must include a detailed statement 
of work that focuses on the technical and engineering aspects of the 
project and describes in detail the project to be constructed;
    b. Financial Feasibility. The viability and completeness of the 
project's financing package (assuming the availability of the requested 
TIGER Discretionary Grant funds) should be demonstrated including 
evidence of stable and reliable capital and (as appropriate) operating 
fund commitments sufficient to cover estimated costs; the availability 
of contingency reserves should planned capital or operating revenue 
sources not materialize; evidence of the financial condition of the 
project sponsor; and evidence of the grant recipient's ability to 
manage grants. The applicant must include a detailed project budget in 
this section of the application containing a breakdown of how the funds 
will be spent. That budget must estimate--both dollar amount and 
percentage of cost-- the cost of work for each project component and 
provide examples. If the project will be completed in individual 
segments or phases, a budget for each individual segment or phase must 
be included. Budget spending categories must be broken down between 
TIGER, other Federal, and non-Federal sources \7\, and identify how 
each funding source will share in each activity.
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    \7\ Non-Federal sources include State funds originating from 
State revenue funded programs, local funds originating from State or 
local revenue funded programs, private funds or other funding 
sources of non-Federal origins.
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    c. Project Schedule. The applicant must include a detailed project 
schedule that includes all major project milestones--such as start and 
completion of environmental reviews and approvals; design; right of way 
acquisition; approval of plan, specification and estimate (PS&E); 
procurement; and construction-- with sufficiently detailed information 
to demonstrate that:
    (i) all necessary pre-construction activities will be complete to 
allow grant funds to be obligated no later than June 30, 2017, to give 
DOT reasonable assurance that the TIGER Discretionary Grant funds will 
be obligated sufficiently in advance of the September 30, 2017, 
statutory deadline, and that any unexpected delays will not put the 
funds at risk of expiring before they are obligated;
    (ii) the project can begin construction quickly upon receipt of a 
TIGER Discretionary Grant, and that the grant funds will be spent 
steadily and expeditiously once construction starts; and
    (iii) any applicant that is applying for a TIGER Discretionary 
Grant and does not own all of the property or right-of-way required to 
complete the project should provide evidence that the property and/or 
right-of-way acquisition can and will be completed expeditiously.
    DOT may revoke any award of TIGER Discretionary Grant funds and 
award those funds to another project if the funds cannot be timely 
expended or construction does not begin in accordance with the project 
schedule established in the grant agreement.
d. Required Approvals
    (i) Environmental Permits and Reviews. An application for a TIGER 
Discretionary Grant must detail whether the project will significantly 
impact the natural, social and/or economic environment. The application 
should demonstrate receipt (or reasonably anticipated receipt) of all 
environmental approvals and permits necessary for the project to 
proceed to construction on the timeline specified in the project 
schedule and necessary to meet the statutory obligation deadline, 
including satisfaction of all Federal, State and local requirements and 
completion of the National Environmental Policy Act (``NEPA'') process. 
Although Section C.3.iii (Project Components) of this notice encourages 
applicants to identify independent project components, those components 
may not be separable for the NEPA process. In such cases, the NEPA 
review for the independent project component may have to include 
evaluation of all project components as connected, similar, or 
cumulative actions, as detailed at 40 CFR 1508.25. The applicant should 
submit the information listed below with your application:
    (1) Information about the NEPA status of the project. If the NEPA 
process is completed, an applicant must indicate the date of, and 
provide a Web site link or other reference to the final Categorical 
Exclusion, Finding of No Significant Impact or Record of Decision. If 
the NEPA process is underway but not complete, the application must 
detail the type of NEPA review underway, where the project is in the 
process, and indicate the anticipated date of completion. You must 
provide a Web site link or other reference to copies of any NEPA 
documents prepared.
    (2) Information on reviews by other agencies. An application for a 
TIGER Discretionary Grant must indicate whether the proposed project 
requires reviews or approval actions by other agencies,\8\ indicate the 
status of such actions, and provide detailed information about the 
status of those reviews or approvals and/or demonstrate compliance with 
any other applicable Federal, State, or local requirements.
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    \8\ Projects that may impact protected resources such as 
wetlands, species habitat, cultural or historic resources require 
review and approval by Federal and State agencies with jurisdiction 
over those resources. Examples of these reviews and approvals can be 
found at www.dot.gov/TIGER.
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    (3) Environmental studies or other documents--preferably through a 
Web site link--that describe in detail known project impacts, and 
possible mitigation for those impacts.
    (4) A description of discussions with the appropriate DOT modal 
administration field or headquarters office regarding compliance with 
NEPA and other applicable environmental reviews and approvals.
    (ii) Legislative Approvals. The applicant should demonstrate 
receipt of state and local approvals on which the project depends. 
Additional support

[[Page 18290]]

from relevant State and local officials is not required; however, an 
applicant should demonstrate that the project is broadly supported.
    (iii) State and Local Planning. The planning requirements of the 
modal administration administering the TIGER project will apply.\9\ You 
should demonstrate that a project that is required to be included in 
the relevant State, metropolitan, and local planning documents has been 
or will be included. If the project is not included in the relevant 
planning documents at the time the application is submitted, you should 
submit a certification from the appropriate planning agency that 
actions are underway to include the project in the relevant planning 
document. Because projects have different schedules, the construction 
start date for each TIGER Discretionary Grant will be specified in the 
project-specific grant agreements signed by relevant modal 
administration and the grant recipients and will be based on critical 
path items identified by applicants in response to items (i)(1) through 
(4) above.
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    \9\ All projects requiring an action by the Federal Highway 
Administration (FHWA) or the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in 
accordance with 23 CFR part 450, must be in the metropolitan 
transportation plan, transportation improvement program (TIP) and 
statewide transportation improvement program (STIP). Further, in air 
quality non-attainment and maintenance areas, all regionally 
significant projects, regardless of the funding source, must be 
included in the conforming metropolitan transportation plan and TIP. 
To the extent a project is required to be on a metropolitan 
transportation plan, TIP, and/or STIP, it will not receive a TIGER 
Discretionary Grant until it is included in such plans. Projects not 
currently included in these plans can be amended by the State and 
metropolitan planning organization (MPO). Projects that are not 
required to be in long range transportation plans, STIPs, and TIPs 
will not need to be included in such plans in order to receive a 
TIGER Discretionary Grant. Port, freight and passenger rail projects 
are not required to be on the State Rail Plans called for in the 
Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008. This is 
consistent with the exemption for high-speed and intercity passenger 
rail projects under the Recovery Act. However, applicants seeking 
funding for freight and passenger rail projects are encouraged to 
demonstrate that they have done sufficient planning to ensure that 
projects fit into a prioritized list of capital needs and are 
consistent with long-range goals. To the extent possible, freight 
projects should be included in a state freight plan and supported by 
a state freight advisory committee (see MAP-21 Sec. Sec.  1117-
1118). Further information and guidance information on 
transportation planning and is available from the following FHWA and 
FTA sites respectively--http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning and http://www.fta.dot.gov/about/12347.html. Port planning guidelines are 
available at StrongPorts.gov.
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    e. Assessment of Project Risks and Mitigation Strategies. The 
applicant should identify the material risks to the project and the 
strategies that the lead applicant and any project partners have 
undertaken or will undertake in order to mitigate those risks. In past 
rounds of TIGER Discretionary Grants, certain projects have been 
affected by procurement delays, environmental uncertainties, and 
increases in real estate acquisition costs. The applicant must assess 
the greatest risks to the projects and identify how the project parties 
will mitigate those risks. DOT will consider projects that contain 
risks so long as the applicant clearly and directly describe achievable 
mitigation strategies.
    The applicant, to the extent they are unfamiliar with the Federal 
program, should contact DOT modal field or headquarters offices for 
information on what steps are pre-requisite to the obligation of 
Federal funds in order to ensure that their project schedule is 
reasonable and that there are no risks of delays in satisfying federal 
requirements.
    Contacts for the Federal Highway Administration Division offices--
which are located in all 50 States, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico--
can be found at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/about/field.cfm. Contacts for 
the ten Federal Transit Administration regional offices can be found at 
http://www.fta.dot.gov/12926.html. Contacts for the nine Maritime 
Administration Gateway Offices can be found at http://www.marad.dot.gov/about_us_landing_page/gateway_offices/Gateway_Presence.htm. For Federal Railroad Administration Contacts, 
please contact TIGER program staff via email at TIGERGrants@dot.gov, or 
call Howard Hill at 202-366-0301.
iv. Project Costs and Benefits
    An applicant for TIGER Discretionary Grants is generally required 
to identify, quantify, and compare expected benefits and costs, subject 
to the following qualifications: \10\
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    \10\ DOT has a responsibility under Executive Order 12893, 
Principles for Federal Infrastructure Investments, 59 FR 4233, to 
base infrastructure investments on systematic analysis of expected 
benefits and costs, including both quantitative and qualitative 
measures.
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    An applicant should prepare and submit an analysis of benefits and 
costs; however, DOT understands that the appropriate level of detail of 
analysis (for items such as surveys, travel demand forecasts, market 
forecasts, and statistical analyses) is less for smaller projects than 
for larger projects. The level of sophistication of the benefit-cost 
analysis (BCA) should be reasonably related to the size of the overall 
project and the amount of grant funds requested in the application. Any 
subjective estimates of benefits and costs should be quantified, and 
the applicant should provide appropriate evidence to lend credence to 
their subjective estimates. Estimates of benefits should be presented 
in monetary terms whenever possible; if a monetary estimate is not 
possible, then at least one non-monetary quantitative estimate (in 
physical, non-monetary terms, such as crash rates, ridership estimates, 
emissions levels, or energy efficiency improvements) should be 
provided.
    Based on feedback over previous rounds of TIGER, DOT recognizes 
that the benefit-cost analysis can be particularly burdensome on Tribal 
governments. Therefore, the Department is providing additional 
flexibility to Tribal governments for the purposes of this notice. At 
their discretion, Tribal applicants may elect to provide raw data to 
support the need for a project (such as crash rates, ridership 
estimates, and the number of people who will benefit from the project), 
without additional analysis. This data will then be used to allow DOT 
economists to make the best estimates they can develop (given the data 
provided) of benefits and costs. Examples of BCAs by successful Tribal 
applicants are also available online at http://www.dot.gov/policy-initiatives/tiger/tribal-tiger-bca-examples.
    The lack of a useful analysis of expected project benefits and 
costs may be the basis for not selecting a project for award of a TIGER 
Discretionary Grant. If it is clear to DOT that the total benefits of a 
project are not reasonably likely to justify the project's costs, DOT 
will not award a TIGER Discretionary Grant to the project.
    Detailed guidance for the preparation of benefit-cost analyses is 
provided in the 2015 Benefit-Cost Analyses Guidance for TIGER Grant 
Applicants and in the BCA Resource Guide (available at www.dot.gov/TIGER). A recording of the Benefit-Cost Analysis Practitioner's 
Workshop (2010) and two BCA-related webinars are also available for 
viewing at www.dot.gov/TIGER, along with examples of benefit-cost 
analyses that have been submitted in previous rounds of TIGER.
    Spreadsheets supporting the benefit-cost analysis should be 
original Excel spreadsheets, not PDFs of those spreadsheets. Benefits 
should be presented, whenever possible, in a tabular form showing 
benefits and costs in each year for the useful life of the project. The 
application should include projections for both the build and no-build 
scenarios for the project for each year between the completion of the 
project and a point in time at least 20 years beyond the project's 
completion date or the lifespan of the project, whichever is closer to 
the present.

[[Page 18291]]

Benefits and costs should both be discounted to the year 2015, and 
calculations should be presented for discounted values of both the 
stream of benefits and the stream of costs. If the project has multiple 
components, each of which has independent utility, the benefits and 
costs of each component should be estimated and presented separately. 
The results of the benefit-cost analysis should be summarized in the 
Project Narrative section of the application itself, but the details 
should be presented in an attachment to the application if the full 
analysis cannot be included within the page limit for the project 
narrative.
v. Cost Share
    The FY 2015 Appropriations Act directs DOT to prioritize projects 
that require a contribution of Federal funds to complete an overall 
financing package, and all projects can increase their competitiveness 
for purposes of the TIGER program by demonstrating significant non-
Federal financial contributions. The applicant should clearly 
demonstrate the extent to which the project cannot be readily and 
efficiently completed without a TIGER Discretionary Grant, and the 
extent to which other sources of funds, including Federal, State, or 
local funding, may or may not be readily available for the project. DOT 
recognizes that applicants have varying abilities and resources to 
contribute non-Federal contributions, especially those communities that 
are not routinely receiving and matching Federal funds. DOT recognizes 
certain communities with fewer financial resources may struggle to 
provide cost-share that exceeds the minimum requirements and will, 
therefore, consider an applicant's broader fiscal constraints when 
evaluating non-Federal contributions. In the first six rounds, on 
average, projects attracted more than 3.5 matching dollars for every 
TIGER grant dollar.

2. Review and Selection Process

    DOT reviews all eligible applications received before the deadline. 
The TIGER review and selection process consists of three phases: 
Technical Review, Tier 2 Analysis consisting of project readiness and 
economic analysis, and Senior Review.
    In the Technical Evaluation phase, teams comprising staff from the 
Office of the Secretary (OST) and modal administrations review all 
eligible applications and rate projects as Highly Recommended, 
Recommended, Acceptable, or Not Recommended based on how well the 
projects align with the selection criteria.
    Tier 2 Analysis consists of (1) an Economic Analysis and (2) a 
Project Readiness Analysis. The Economic Analysis Team, comprising OST 
and modal administration economic staff, assess whether total benefits 
of the proposed projects are likely to outweigh costs. The Project 
Readiness Team, comprising Office of the Secretary Office of Policy 
(OST-P) and modal administration staff, evaluates the proposed 
project's technical and financial feasibility, potential risks and 
mitigation strategies, and project schedule, including the status of 
environmental approvals and readiness to proceed.
    In the third review phase, the Senior Review Team, which includes 
senior leadership from OST and the modal administrations, consider all 
projects that were rated Acceptable, Recommended, or Highly Recommended 
and determine which projects to advance to the Secretary as Highly 
Rated. The Secretary selects from the Highly Rated projects for final 
award.

F. Federal Award Administration

1. Federal Award Notice

    Following the evaluation outlined in Section E, the Secretary will 
announce awarded projects by posting a list of selected projects at 
www.dot.gov/TIGER. Following the announcement, the relevant modal 
administration will contact the point of contact listed in the SF 424 
to initiate negotiation of the grant agreement.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    All awards will be administered pursuant to the Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for 
Federal Awards found in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted by DOT at 2 CFR 
part. 1201. Additionally, applicable Federal laws, rules and 
regulations of the relevant modal administration administering the 
project will apply to the projects that receive TIGER Discretionary 
Grant awards, including planning requirements, Service Outcome 
Agreements, Stakeholder Agreements, Buy America compliance, and other 
requirements under DOT's other highway, transit, rail, and port grant 
programs.
    For projects administered by the Federal Highway Administration 
(FHWA), applicable Federal laws, rules, and regulations set forth in 
Title 23 U.S.C. and Title 23 CFR apply. For an illustrative list of the 
applicable laws, rules, regulations, executive orders, polices, 
guidelines, and requirements as they relate to a TIGER project 
administered by the FHWA, please see [http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/infrastructure/tiger/fy2014_gr_exhbt_c/index.htm]. For TIGER 
projects administered by the Federal Transit Administration and 
partially funded with Federal transit assistance, all relevant 
requirements under chapter 53 of title 49 U.S.C. apply. For transit 
projects funded exclusively with TIGER discretionary funds, some 
requirements of chapter 53 of title 49 U.S.C. and chapter VI of title 
49 CFR apply. For projects administered by the Federal Railroad 
Administration, FRA requirements described in 49 U.S.C. Subtitle V, 
Part C apply.
    Federal wage rate requirements included in subchapter IV of chapter 
31 of title 40, United States Code, apply to all projects receiving 
funds under this program, and apply to all parts of the project, 
whether funded with TIGER Discretionary Grant funds, other Federal 
funds, or non-Federal funds.

3. Reporting

    i. Performance Reporting--Each applicant selected for TIGER 
Discretionary Grant funding must collect information and report on the 
project's performance with respect to the relevant long-term outcomes 
that are expected to be achieved through construction of the project. 
Performance indicators will not include formal goals or targets, but 
will include baseline measures as well as post-project outcomes for an 
agreed-upon timeline, and will be used to evaluate and compare projects 
and monitor the results that grant funds achieve to ensure that grant 
funds achieve the intended long-term outcomes of the TIGER 
Discretionary Grant program.
    ii. Progress Reporting --Each applicant selected for TIGER 
Discretionary Grant funding must submit quarterly progress reports and 
Federal Financial Report (SF-425) on the financial condition of the 
project and the project's progress, as well as an Annual Budget Review 
and Program Plan to monitor the use of Federal funds and ensure 
accountability and financial transparency in the TIGER program.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

    For further information concerning this notice please contact the 
TIGER Discretionary Grant program staff via email at 
TIGERGrants@dot.gov, or call Howard Hill at 202-366-0301. A TDD is 
available for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing at 202-366-
3993. In addition, DOT will post answers to questions and requests for 
clarifications on DOT's Web site at www.dot.gov/

[[Page 18292]]

TIGER. To ensure applicants receive accurate information about 
eligibility or the program, the applicant is encouraged to contact DOT 
directly, rather than through intermediaries or third parties, with 
questions. DOT staff may also conduct briefings on the TIGER 
Discretionary Grants selection and award process upon request.

H. Other Information

1. Protection of Confidential Business Information

    All information submitted as part of or in support of any 
application shall use publicly available data or data that can be made 
public and methodologies that are accepted by industry practice and 
standards, to the extent possible. If the application includes 
information you consider to be a trade secret or confidential 
commercial or financial information, the applicant should do the 
following: (1) Note on the front cover that the submission ``Contains 
Confidential Business Information (CBI)''; (2) mark each affected page 
``CBI''; and (3) highlight or otherwise denote the CBI portions. DOT 
protects such information from disclosure to the extent allowed under 
applicable law. In the event DOT receives a Freedom of Information Act 
(FOIA) request for the information, DOT will follow the procedures 
described in its FOIA regulations at 49 CFR 7.17. Only information that 
is ultimately determined to be confidential under that procedure will 
be exempt from disclosure under FOIA.

    Issued On: March 30, 2015.
Anthony R. Foxx,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-07711 Filed 4-2-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P
```