5314 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 11 / Tuesday, January 19, 2021 / Notices 

Issued in Washington, DC, under authority 

delegated in 49 CFR 1.97. 

Alan K. Mayberry, 

Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety. 

[FR Doc. 2021–01025 Filed 1–15–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–60–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

[Docket Number: DOT–OST–2020–0254] 

Extension of the Comment Deadline 

Date; Request for Information for the 

Inclusive Design Reference Hub 

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary of 

Transportation (OST), Department of 

Transportation. 

ACTION: Notice; request for information 

(RFI). 

SUMMARY: On December 21, 2020, DOT 

published in the Federal Register a 

request for information (RFI) regarding 

an Inclusive Design Reference Hub. This 

notice extends the deadline date for 

receiving comments until February 19, 

2021 at 5:00 p.m. (ET). 

DATES: Responses to the RFI must be 

received by February 19, 2021, no later 

than 5:00 p.m. (ET) to ensure 

consideration of your views. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be 

submitted using any one of the 

following methods: 

• Electronic mail: Email comments to 

inclusivedesign@dot.gov with a courtesy 

copy to Robin.Gates@dot.gov. Responses 

must be provided as attachments to an 

email. It is recommended that 

attachments with file sizes exceeding 

25MB be compressed (i.e., zipped) to 

ensure message delivery. Responses 

must be provided as a Microsoft Word 

(.docx) attachment to the email, and be 

no more than 5 pages in length, with 12- 

point font and 1-inch margins. 

• Internet: To submit comments 

electronically, go to the Federal 

regulations website at http://

www.regulations.gov. Search by using 

the docket number (DOT–OST–2020– 

0254). Follow the online instructions for 

submitting comments. 

Respondents may answer as many or 

as few questions (see the questions 

below) as they wish. 

DOT will not respond to individual 

submissions or publish publicly a 

compendium of responses. A response 

to this RFI will not be viewed as a 

binding commitment to develop or 

pursue the project or ideas discussed. 

Respondents are requested to provide 

the following information at the 

beginning of their response to this RFI: 

• Company/institution name 

• Company/institution contact 

• Contact’s address, phone number, and 

email address 

Proprietary Information 

Because information received in 

response to this RFI may be used to 

structure future programs and/or 

otherwise be made available to the 

public, respondents are strongly advised 

to NOT include any information in their 

responses that might be considered 

business sensitive, proprietary, or 

otherwise confidential. However, 

respondents may choose to include such 

information in their submissions if they 

believe it will significantly assist DOT 

in the design of the program. 

Responses containing confidential, 

proprietary, or privileged information 

must be conspicuously marked as 

described below. Failure to comply with 

these marking requirements may result 

in the disclosure of the unmarked 

information under the Freedom of 

Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552. 

If a response contains trade secrets or 

confidential commercial or financial 

information, the respondent must 

include a cover sheet identifying the 

specific pages containing that 

information. The cover sheet must also 

provide evidence that the respondent 

actually or customarily treats the 

information as private. 

In addition, the respondent must (1) 

mark the header and footer of every 

page that contains trade secrets or 

confidential commercial or financial 

information with ‘‘Contains 

Confidential Information Exempt from 

Public Disclosure’’ and (2) identify 

every line and paragraph containing 

such information with double brackets 

or highlighting. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The 

monitored inbox at inclusivedesign@

dot.gov. You may also contact the 

Contracting Officer, Robin Gates, at 

Robin.Gates@dot.gov or (202) 366–1408. 

Please reference ‘‘RFI for Inclusive 

Design Reference Hub’’ in the subject 

line when submitting your response. 

DOT looks forward to your 

submission in response to this notice. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Summary 

On December 21, 2020, DOT 

published in the Federal Register (85 

FR 83152) a request for information 

(RFI) regarding an Inclusive Design 

Reference Hub. This notice extends the 

deadline date for receiving comments 

until February 19, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. 

(ET). Note: All other information in the 

December 21, 2020 Federal Register 

Notice (85 FR 83152) remain the same, 

and is included below for easy 

reference. 

In July 2020, as part of an event 

celebrating the 30th anniversary of the 

Americans with Disabilities Act, DOT 

committed to undertake a new initiative 

to establish a library of resources for 

accessibility in automation, and work 

with outside experts to study voluntary 

best practices for ensuring accessibility 

in automated vehicles. DOT invites 

stakeholders to provide input on critical 

first steps in this process, the 

qualifications of entities that are best 

suited to perform this work, and 

considerations to ensure long-term 

sustainability of this initiative. This 

notice is not a Solicitation, and it does 

not seek the submission of formal, 

binding quotations/proposals. In the 

event OST–P determines that services 

will be procured, a formal Request for 

Quote/Proposal will be issued. OST–P 

cannot and will not reimburse any 

organization for its time, effort, or costs 

expended in responding to this RFI. 

The purpose of this RFI is to collect 

input on a proposed initiative to 

establish and curate a library of existing 

technical specifications, voluntary 

consensus or consortia standards, and 

best practices and a roadmap of such 

resources that may be needed to enable 

accessibility of automated vehicles for 

persons with physical, sensory, and 

cognitive disabilities. This initiative, 

tentatively entitled the Inclusive Design 

Reference Hub, will involve 

consultation with a range of 

stakeholders. This RFI will serve to 

refine DOT’s vision, next steps, and 

long-term ownership and maintenance 

plan for this initiative. Respondents are 

encouraged to visit https://

www.transportation.gov/accessibility for 

more information on DOT’s accessibility 

initiatives. 

Background 

As transportation evolves, DOT is 

committed to a more accessible future 

and exploring accessibility 

opportunities that may materialize as 

vehicles and mobility services evolve. 

DOT encourages research into 

technologies that have the potential to 

remove barriers to accessibility in the 

transportation system and will seek to 

complement research done by leading 

academic institutions, the private sector 

and other entities to fill gaps that 

industry is not already covering. To this 

end, DOT recently announced its intent 

to establish a library of resources for 

accessibility in automation, and to work 

with outside experts to study voluntary 

best practices for ensuring accessibility 

in automated vehicles. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 11 / Tuesday, January 19, 2021 / Notices 5315 

Needs Statement 

DOT has made early investments 

intended to begin unlocking this 

potential through its Accessible 

Transportation Technologies Research 

Initiative (ATTRI), the Inclusive Design 

Challenge, the Complete Trip—ITS4US 

Deployment Program, and numerous 

research projects. 

Industry stakeholders and others have 

reported difficulty in finding existing 

technical specifications and best 

practices for designing accessible 

vehicle features, or in prioritizing 

development of new resources where 

there are knowledge gaps. In addition, 

the expertise for developing such 

resources is fragmented across 

traditional organizational and sectoral 

bounds, making it difficult to begin new 

technical resource development. Early 

and widespread action by a coalition of 

industry, disability advocacy, academia, 

and government partners can help 

ensure shared understanding of the 

needs of individuals with a range of 

disabilities and corresponding technical 

specifications and best practices. An 

open and inclusive partnership to 

develop voluntary, consensus-based 

technical specifications, best practices, 

and standards can provide a foundation 

for consistently and comprehensively 

meeting the needs of people with 

disabilities and inform the design of 

future automated vehicles (AVs). 

A robust research pipeline can 

accelerate the accumulation of 

knowledge and encourage private sector 

experimentation. Tracking and sharing 

less mature, early stage research through 

technical specifications and best 

practices—in addition to developing 

and maintaining published technical 

standards—can help clarify where 

technical consensus is emerging and 

where investment and attention is most 

needed to fill long-term gaps. 

Numerous voluntary consensus 

standards, technical specifications, 

recommended practices, and other 

technical resources currently exist that 

relate either directly to vehicle 

accessibility or could indirectly inform 

future automated vehicle accessibility. 

For example, the former category 

includes numerous voluntary consensus 

standards focused on the safety, 

functionality, and interoperability of 

wheelchair-accessible vehicles, while 

the latter includes voluntary consensus 

and consortia standards from the 

consumer electronics sector that provide 

insights into how to design interfaces 

that are useable by people with sensory 

or cognitive disabilities. A list of such 

resources is included at the end of this 

RFI for reference. While these existing 

resources form a starting point for 

considering the accessibility of 

passenger vehicles, DOT also recognizes 

that gaps likely exist between current 

technical standards and specifications 

and best practices and a set of resources 

that would comprehensively address the 

physical, sensory, and cognitive 

accessibility needs of future vehicle 

users, including users of automated 

vehicles. 

Proposed Approach 

This initiative will serve as a ‘‘onestop shop’’ for engineers, designers, and 

individuals with disabilities to find and 

to collaborate on technical resources for 

an inclusive future. The Hub could 

either be a stand-alone resource or built 

within an existing platform. All content 

will need to be compliant with 

requirements stated in Section 508 of 

the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and 

accompanying standards developed by 

the U.S. Access Board. 

An initial investment to launch this 

initiative will seek to establish a process 

to maintain this resource in regular 

consultation with stakeholders, 

including relevant standards 

development organizations, primarily 

through existing forums. DOT will 

assess potential approaches in terms of 

how likely they are to result in a selfsustaining long-term effort that includes 

active participation from all 

stakeholders with relevant expertise and 

perspective. 

Request for Information 

In launching the proposed initiative 

outlined above, DOT is seeking input 

from its stakeholders and potential 

partners on defining its scope, the most 

critical first steps, the necessary 

qualifications and expertise to support 

it, and how to ensure long-term 

ownership and maintenance of the 

resulting resources. To clarify input 

provided in response to this notice, 

DOT may seek additional follow-up 

information. Through this notice 

specifically, DOT seeks input on the 

following questions: 

Background and Current Condition 

Information 

1. What existing initiatives, industry 

activities, best practices, or other 

resources/actions could help to inform 

this initiative? 

2. What existing technical standards 

and specifications and best practices are 

relevant or potentially relevant to the 

accessibility of vehicles for people with 

physical, sensory, and cognitive 

disabilities? What dependencies exist 

between existing resources and needed 

resources? 

3. What information could help 

stakeholders understand the user 

population, potential market, and 

business case for inclusive design 

solutions? What information does not 

exist but could potentially help fill gaps 

in knowledge regarding the user 

population, potential market, and 

business case for inclusive design 

solutions? 

4. What existing and needed resources 

are applicable to all vehicles? What 

existing and needed resources are 

specific to automated vehicles and 

when will they be needed? 

5. How can this initiative support 

improved accessibility of conventional 

vehicles in the short-term while also 

enabling the accessibility of automated 

vehicles in the long-term? 

Initiative Scope, Focus, and Proposed 

Initial Steps 

1. Are there any technical references 

in this area that do not currently exist 

and should be prioritized for 

development? 

(a) Please describe the need and ways 

to expedite the development of needed 

references with relevant stakeholders, 

including consumers. 

(b) Please also discuss the extent to 

which the topic(s) identified are at an 

appropriate stage for voluntary 

standards development in terms of 

industry consensus and technological 

maturity. 

2. Are there any existing resources or 

programs on which DOT could build or 

model this effort? Should the Inclusive 

Design Reference Hub be developed as 

a stand-alone resource, or integrated 

into an existing platform? 

3. Are there any aspects of DOT’s 

vision for this effort that could be 

clarified or improved ahead of a 

potential procurement? 

4. Should the DOT directly host the 

resource, or should it be hosted by a 

third-party organization or coalition of 

organizations serving as the convener(s) 

and technical curator(s) on behalf of 

DOT? 

5. How can this initiative be 

maintained in the long term with more 

limited federal involvement? What 

conditions need to be met in order for 

partner organizations to continue 

support for this initiative following an 

initial phase? 

6. How could DOT assess the success 

of this activity over a two-year period? 

How can processes to support long-term 

sustainability be established in this 

timeframe? 


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5316 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 11 / Tuesday, January 19, 2021 / Notices 

Performing Organization 

Qualifications—General Input 

1. What entities, organizations, 

groups, or Government agencies are 

most qualified and appropriate to 

perform this work? 

2. What perspectives need to be 

represented in the execution of this 

initiative? Which groups should 

represent these perspectives? 

3. What partnerships are critical? 

4. What organizations currently play a 

role with respect to the development of 

standards around automated vehicles, 

transportation accessibility, and the 

intersection of the two? For responding 

organizations that currently have a role, 

please discuss your organizational and 

technical capabilities and experience in 

this area. Please also discuss how you 

might augment your qualifications with 

those of potential partner organizations. 

Additional Information 

Below are existing resources that 

might be featured in the Inclusive 

Design Reference Hub. 

• Automated Driving Systems: 

Æ SAE J3171: Identifying Automated 

Driving Systems-Dedicated Vehicles 

(ADS–DVs) Passenger Issues for 

Persons with Disabilities (SAE) 

• Vehicles: 

Æ 49 CFR 571.141: Minimum Sound 

Requirements for Hybrid and Electric 

Vehicles (NHTSA) 

Æ 49 CFR 571.206: Door locks and door 

retention components (NHTSA) 

Æ 49 CFR 571.222: School bus 

passenger seating and crash 

protection (NHTSA) 

Æ 49 CFR 571.403: Platform Lift 

Systems for Motor Vehicles (NHTSA) 

Æ 49 CFR 571.404: Platform Lift 

Installations in Motor Vehicles 

(NHTSA) 

Æ 49 CFR part 38: Americans With 

Disabilities Act (ADA)—Accessibility 

Specifications For Transportation 

Vehicles (U.S. Access Board/U.S. 

DOT) 

Æ QAP–103: National Mobility 

Equipment Dealers Association 

Quality Assurance Program 

Guidelines (NMEDA) 

Æ SAE J1725: Structural Modification 

for Personally Licensed Vehicles to 

Meet the Transportation Needs of 

Persons with Disabilities (SAE) 

Æ SAE J1903: Automotive Adaptive 

Driver Controls, Manual (SAE) 

Æ SAE J2092: Testing of Wheelchair 

Lifts for Entry to or Exit from a 

Personally Licensed Vehicle (SAE) 

Æ SAE J2093: Design Considerations for 

Wheelchair Lifts for Entry to or Exit 

from a Personally Licensed Vehicle 

(SAE) 

Æ SAE J2094: Vehicle and Control 

Modifications for Drivers with 

Physical Disabilities Terminology 

(SAE) 

Æ SAE J2603: Recommended Practice 

for Powered Gas Brake Control 

Systems (SAE) 

• Mobility Equipment: 

Æ ANSI/RESNA WC–4:2017: 

Wheelchairs and Transportation 

(RESNA) 

Æ ISO 10542–1: Technical systems and 

aids for disabled or handicapped 

persons—Wheelchair tiedown and 

occupant-restraint systems (ISO) 

Æ ISO 10865: Wheelchair containment 

and occupant retention systems for 

accessible transport vehicles 

designed for use by both sitting and 

standing passengers (ISO) 

D ISO 10865: Part 1: Systems for 

rearward-facing wheelchair-seated 

passengers (ISO) 

D ISO 10865: Part 2: Systems for 

forward-facing wheelchair-seated 

passengers (ISO) 

Æ ISO 16840–4: Wheelchair seating— 

Part 4: Seating systems for use in 

motor vehicles (ISO) 

Æ ISO 7176–19: Wheeled mobility 

devices for use as seats in motor 

vehicles (ISO) 

Æ RESNA SP–3 (under development): 

Universal Docking Interface 

Guidelines (UDIG) (RESNA) 

Æ SAE J2249: Wheelchair Tiedown and 

Occupant Restraint Systems for Use 

in Motor Vehicles (SAE) 

• Electronic Interfaces/Devices: 

Æ 36 CFR 1194.1: Standards for Section 

508 of the Rehabilitation Act (U.S. 

Access Board) 

Æ ANSI/RESNA CA–1: Universal 

Criteria for Reporting the Cognitive 

Accessibility of Products and 

Technologies (RESNA) 

Æ CTA–CEB27: Recommended Practice 

for Audio Accessibility of 

Audiovisual Devices (CTA) 

Æ ISO 21801–1: Cognitive 

accessibility—Part 1: General 

guidelines (ISO) 

Æ ISO 9241–171: Ergonomics of humansystem interaction—Part 171: 

Guidance on software accessibility 

(ISO) 

Æ ISO/IEC 24786: Information 

Technology—User interfaces— 

Accessible user interface for 

accessibility settings (ISO/IEC) 

Æ ISO/IEC 29138–1: Information 

technology—User interface 

accessibility—Part 1: User 

accessibility needs (ISO/IEC) 

Æ ISO/IEC TS 20071–21:2015: 

Information technology—User 

interface component accessibility— 

Part 21: Guidance on audio 

descriptions (ISO/IEC) 

Æ WCAG 2.1: Web Content Accessibility 

Guidelines Overview (W3C) 

• General Product Usability and 

Accessibility: 

Æ ISO/IEC 20282: Ease of operation of 

everyday products (ISO) 

D ISO/IEC 20282–1: Part 1: Design 

requirements for context and use 

and user characteristics (ISO) 

D ISO/IEC 20282–2: Part 2: 

Summative test method (ISO) 

D ISO/IEC 20282–3: Part 3: Test 

method for consumer products 

(ISO) 

D ISO/IEC 20282–3: Part 4: Test 

method for the installation of 

consumer products (ISO) 

Æ ISO/IEC 24756: Framework for 

specifying a common access profile 

(CAP) of needs and capabilities of 

users, systems, and their 

environments (ISO) 

Issued on: January 12, 2021. 

Thomas Finch Fulton, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation 

Policy. 

[FR Doc. 2021–00994 Filed 1–15–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 

Internal Revenue Service 

Proposed Collection; Comment 

Request for Electronic Deposit of Tax 

Refund of $1 Million or More 

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), 

Treasury. 

ACTION: Notice and request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: The Internal Revenue Service, 

as part of its continuing effort to reduce 

paperwork and respondent burden, 

invites the general public and other 

Federal agencies to take this 

opportunity to comment on continuing 

information collections, as required by 

the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. 

The IRS is soliciting comments 

concerning electronic deposit of tax 

refund of $1 million or more. 

DATES: Written comments should be 

received on or before March 22, 2021 to 

be assured of consideration. 

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments 

to Kinna Brewington, Internal Revenue 

Service, Room 6526, 1111 Constitution 

Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20224. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Requests for additional information or 

copies of the form should be directed to 

Kerry Dennis, at (202) 317–5751 or 

Internal Revenue Service, Room 6526, 

1111 Constitution Avenue NW, 


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