46534 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 178 / Thursday, September 13, 2018 / Notices 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Transit Administration 

Fiscal Year 2018 Competitive Funding 

Opportunity: Access & Mobility 

Partnership Grants 

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration 

(FTA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of Funding Opportunity 

(NOFO). 

SUMMARY: The Federal Transit 

Administration (FTA) announces with 

this notice the Access & Mobility 

Partnership Grants, which are two 

opportunities to apply for funding 

under two competitive grant programs. 

First, FTA makes available $3,903,715 

in funding for the Innovative 

Coordinated Access and Mobility Pilot 

Program (ICAM Pilot Program; Catalog 

of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) 

number: 20.513). As required by Federal 

transit law, funds will be awarded 

competitively to finance innovative 

capital projects for the transportation 

disadvantaged that will improve the 

coordination of transportation services 

and non-emergency medical 

transportation services. 

Second, FTA makes available 

$2,434,767 in funding for a Human 

Services Coordination Research (HSCR) 

Program with funds available under the 

Public Transportation Innovation 

Program (Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance (CFDA) number: 20.514). 

Research activities awarded under this 

competitive program will support the 

implementation of innovative strategies 

in the coordination of human services 

transportation to provide more effective 

and efficient public transportation 

services to seniors, individuals with 

disabilities, and low-income 

individuals. Proposed research projects 

should address gaps identified in the 

locally developed Coordinated Public 

Transit-Human Services Transportation 

Plan. The HSCR funds will finance 

operating and capital project 

expenditures to develop and deploy 

projects that improve transportation 

services for targeted populations as 

noted above through methods that 

effectively and efficiently coordinate 

human services transportation. 

The Access and Mobility Partnership 

Grants are two separate and distinct 

funding opportunities that seek to 

improve access to public transportation 

through building partnerships among 

health, transportation, and other service 

providers. 

DATES: Applicants must submit 

completed proposals for each funding 

opportunity through the GRANTS.GOV 

‘‘APPLY’’ function by 11:59 p.m. 

Eastern Daylight Time November 13, 

2018. Prospective applicants should 

register as soon as possible on the 

GRANTS.GOV website to ensure they 

can complete the application process 

before the submission deadline. 

Application instructions are available 

on FTA’s website at http://

transit.dot.gov/howtoapply and in the 

‘‘FIND’’ module of GRANTS.GOV. The 

GRANTS.GOV funding opportunity ID 

for the ICAM Pilot Program is FTA– 

2018–002–ICAM. The GRANTS.GOV 

funding opportunity ID for the HSCR 

Program is FTA–2018–006–HSCR. The 

FTA will not accept mail and fax 

submissions. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kelly Tyler, FTA Office of Program 

Management; Phone: (202) 366–3102; 

Email: Kelly.Tyler@dot.gov; Fax: (202) 

366–3475. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents 

A. Program Description 

B. Federal Award Information 

C. Eligibility Information 

D. Application and Submission Information 

E. Application Review Information 

F. Federal Award Administration 

Information 

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact 

A. Program Description 

The Access and Mobility Partnership 

Grants are two separate and distinct 

funding opportunities that seek to 

improve access to public transportation 

through building partnerships among 

health, transportation, and other service 

providers. Further, these funding 

opportunities seek to fund projects that 

enhance mobility options through 

increased coordination efforts. 

1. Innovative Coordinated Access and 

Mobility Pilot Program 

Section 3006(b) of the Fixing 

America’s Surface Transportation 

(FAST) Act (Pub. L. 114–94, Dec. 4, 

2015) authorizes FTA to award grants 

for innovative coordinated access and 

mobility projects for the transportation 

disadvantaged population that improve 

the coordination of transportation 

services and non-emergency medical 

transportation services. The goals of the 

ICAM Pilot Program are to: (1) Increase 

access to care; (2) improve health 

outcomes; and (3) reduce healthcare 

costs. 

Throughout the country, communities 

are experimenting with ways to 

overcome barriers to these essential 

services by leveraging partnerships 

across transportation, health, and 

wellness providers. The ICAM Pilot 

Program grants will support capital 

projects that address the challenges the 

transportation disadvantaged face when 

accessing healthcare, such as: Getting to 

the doctor or returning home from a 

hospital procedure, or going to 

rehabilitation, behavioral health 

services, the pharmacy, or free health 

screening services. 

Through the ICAM Pilot Program, 

FTA will fund projects that enhance 

access to healthcare by utilizing 

mobility management, health and 

transportation provider partnerships, 

technology, or other actions that drive 

change. The ICAM grants will operate as 

pilots for up to eighteen (18) months. 

Within the first year, projects must be 

able to demonstrate impacts related to 

the goals of ICAM. 

To support the goals of the ICAM 

Pilot Program, recipients will: 

• Develop replicable, innovative, and 

sustainable solutions to healthcare 

access challenges; 

• foster local partnerships between 

health, transportation, home and 

community-based services, and other 

sectors to collaboratively develop and 

support solutions that increase 

healthcare access; and 

• demonstrate how transportation 

solutions improve access to healthcare 

and health outcomes and reduce costs to 

the healthcare and transportation 

sectors. 

Successful projects will work 

collaboratively and leverage 

partnerships among Federal agencies of 

the Coordinating Council on Access and 

Mobility (CCAM), including the 

Department of Health and Human 

Services’ operating divisions such as the 

Administration for Community Living, 

the Health Resources and Services 

Administration, and the Centers for 

Medicare and Medicaid Services. 

Partnerships that cross health and 

transportation sectors facilitate better 

health for communities by increasing 

access to health/wellness services. 

The FTA will award grants to 

applicants who are ready to implement 

public transportation healthcare access 

solutions and who will build upon 

previous planning activities and private 

or federally funded research activities. 

2. Human Services Coordination 

Research Program 

The HSCR program is funded through 

the Public Transportation Innovation 

Program, 49 U.S.C. 5312(b), and will 

build upon identified gaps in services or 

planning activities for the improvement 

of services, as outlined in a locally 

developed Coordinated Public TransitHuman Services Transportation Plan. 

Proposals should identify innovative 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 178 / Thursday, September 13, 2018 / Notices 46535 

solutions to provide more effective and 

efficient public transportation services 

to seniors, individuals with disabilities, 

and low-income individuals, utilizing 

coordination methods and concepts 

such as mobility management 

improvements, travel management 

systems, and operating efficiencies. The 

FTA will award capital or operating 

assistance to implement a coordinated 

public transportation project that offers 

innovative solutions to improve local 

coordination or access to coordinated 

transportation services. Additionally, 

this program seeks to support transit 

agencies, human service agencies, and 

local communities as they: 

• Integrate new mobility tools like 

smart phone apps, demand-responsive 

bus and van services; 

• aim to improve multi-modal 

connectivity for seniors, people with 

disabilities, and low-income 

individuals; 

• address accessibility issues through 

innovative technologies and practices; 

• improve the quality of the traveler 

experience and the transit product; and 

• identify new mobility-enhancing 

practices and technologies. 

The HSCR program is an opportunity 

for communities to put into practice 

innovative ideas, practices, and 

approaches to address the overall 

coordination goals of the CCAM at the 

local level. The HSCR grant awardees 

will have up to eighteen (18) months 

from the time of the award to complete 

the project. Within the first year, 

projects must be able to demonstrate 

impacts related to the expected outcome 

as described in the Coordinated Public 

Transit Human Services Transportation 

Plan. 

B. Federal Award Information 

1. Innovative Coordinated Access and 

Mobility Pilot Program 

Section 3006(b) of the FAST Act 

authorizes $3,250,000 in FY 2018 for 

grants under the ICAM Pilot Program. 

The $3,903,715 of funds that FTA is 

making available includes the FY 2018 

appropriated amount of $3,250,000, 

combined with $187,822 in FY 2016 

funds and $465,893 in FY 2017 funds 

that remain available. 

2. Human Services Coordination 

Research Program 

In FY 2018, FTA makes available 

$2,434,767 under the Public 

Transportation Innovation Program, 49 

U.S.C. 5312(b), to finance capital and/or 

operating projects that develop and 

deploy an enhancement or improvement 

to the coordination of human services 

transportation. The total amount of 

funds available includes $2,148,053 in 

remaining balances from FY 2015 and 

$286,714 from FY 2016. 

For both funding opportunities, ICAM 

and HSCR, the FTA will grant preaward authority starting on the date of 

project award announcements for the 

awards. Funds are available only for 

projects that have not incurred costs 

prior to the announcement of project 

selections. The FTA may supplement 

the total currently available with future 

appropriations. 

C. Eligibility Information 

1. Innovative Coordinated Access and 

Mobility Pilot Program 

i. Eligible Applicants 

Eligible applicants for awards are 

recipients and subrecipients of the 

Enhanced Mobility for Seniors and 

Individuals with Disabilities Program, 

which are defined under 49 U.S.C. 5310: 

designated recipients, States and local 

governmental authorities, private 

nonprofit organizations, and operators 

of public transportation. Proposals may 

contain projects to be implemented by 

the recipient or its subrecipients. 

Eligible subrecipients include public 

agencies, private nonprofit 

organizations, and private providers 

engaged in public transportation. If a 

single project proposal involves 

multiple public transportation 

providers, such as an agency that 

acquires vehicles that another agency 

will operate, the proposal must include 

a detailed statement regarding the role 

of each public transportation provider 

in the implementation of the project. 

Applicants may serve as the lead 

agency of a local consortium that 

includes stakeholders from the 

transportation, healthcare, human 

services, or other sectors, including 

private and nonprofit entities engaged 

in the coordination of nonemergency 

medical transportation services for 

people who are transportation 

disadvantaged. Members of this 

consortium are eligible as subrecipients. 

The applicant must also demonstrate 

that the proposed project was planned 

through an inclusive process with the 

involvement of the transportation, 

healthcare, and human services 

industries. Applicants must submit an 

implementation plan and schedule as 

part of the proposal. 

ii. Cost Sharing or Matching 

The maximum Federal share of 

project costs under the ICAM Pilot 

Program is 80 percent. The applicant 

provides a local share of at least 20 

percent of the net project cost and must 

document the source of the local match 

in the grant application. 

Eligible sources of local match 

include the following: 

• Cash from non-Government sources 

other than revenues from providing 

public transportation services; 

• revenues derived from the sale of 

advertising and concessions; 

• amounts received under a service 

agreement with a State or local social 

service agency or private social service 

organization; 

• revenues generated from value 

capture financing mechanisms; 

• funds from an undistributed cash 

surplus; 

• replacement or depreciation cash 

fund or reserve; or 

• new capital. 

In addition, the applicant may use 

transportation development credits or 

documentation of in-kind match for 

local match in the application. 

iii. Eligible Projects 

Under section 3006(b) of the FAST 

Act eligible projects are capital projects, 

as defined in 49 U.S.C. 5302(3). FTA 

may make grants to assist in financing 

innovative projects for the 

transportation disadvantaged that 

improve the coordination of 

transportation services and nonemergency medical transportation 

services including: The deployment of 

coordination technology; projects that 

create or increase access to community 

one-call/one-click centers; and other 

innovative projects. The FTA’s goal for 

these pilot demonstration grants is to 

identify and test promising, innovative, 

coordinated mobility strategies for 

healthcare access solutions that other 

communities can replicate. Only one 

project may be included in each 

application. 

2. Human Services Coordination 

Research Program 

i. Eligible Applicants 

Eligible applicants for awards are 

State and local governmental entities, 

providers of public transportation, 

private or non-profit organizations. 

Proposals may contain projects the 

recipient or its subrecipients will 

implement. Eligible subrecipients 

include public agencies, private 

nonprofit organizations, and private 

providers engaged in public 

transportation. 

ii. Cost Sharing or Matching 

For projects funded under the HSCR 

program, the maximum Federal share of 

capital project costs is 80 percent and 

the maximum Federal share of operating 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
46536 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 178 / Thursday, September 13, 2018 / Notices 

project costs is 50 percent. The 

applicant must document the source(s) 

of the local match in the grant 

application. 

Eligible local-match sources include 

the following: 

• Cash from non-Government sources 

other than revenues from providing 

public transportation services; 

• revenues derived from the sale of 

advertising and concessions; 

• revenues generated from value 

capture financing mechanisms; 

• funds from an undistributed cash 

surplus; 

• replacement or depreciation cash 

fund or reserve; 

• new capital; or 

• in-kind contributions. 

In addition, the applicant may use 

transportation development credits for 

local match. 

iii. Eligible Projects 

Eligible projects under this program 

are implementation-ready capital and/or 

operating projects that enhance public 

transportation coordination and access 

through innovations that: 

• Increase systems coordination of 

transportation services; 

• use mobility management and 

improvements and/or travel 

management systems; 

• provide more effective and efficient 

public transportation service, including 

services to seniors, individuals with 

disabilities, and low-income 

individuals; or 

• implement data and 

communication system advancements. 

Projects eligible for the HSCR funds 

will link directly to an adopted 

Coordinated Public Transit-Human 

Services Transportation Plan and the 

implementation strategy for an 

integrated coordinated transportation 

system. Only one project may be 

included in each application. 

D. Application and Submission 

Information 

1. Address To Request Application 

Applications must be submitted 

through GRANTS.GOV. Applicants can 

find general information for submitting 

applications through GRANTS.GOV at 

https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/ 

grants/applying/applying-fta-funding, 

along with specific instructions for the 

forms and attachments required for 

submission. Mail and fax submissions 

will not be accepted. A complete 

proposal submission consists of two 

forms: 

• The SF–424 Mandatory Form 

(downloadable from GRANTS.GOV), 

and 

• the appropriate supplemental form 

for the FY 2018 ICAM Pilot Program or 

the FY 2018 HSCR Program 

(downloadable from GRANTS.GOV or at 

https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/ 

grants/enhanced-mobility-seniorsindividuals-disabilities-section-5310). 

Applicants may also attach additional 

supporting information. Failure to 

submit the information as requested can 

delay or prevent review of the 

application. 

2. Content and Form of Application 

Submission 

i. Proposal Submission 

A complete proposals submission 

consists of at least two forms: 

• The SF–424 Mandatory Form, and 

• the supplemental form for the FY 

2018 ICAM Pilot Program or the FY 

2018 HSCR Program. 

The application must include 

responses to all sections of the SF–424 

mandatory form and the supplemental 

form unless a section is indicated as 

optional. The FTA will use the 

information on the supplemental form 

to determine applicant and project 

eligibility for the program and to 

evaluate the proposal against the 

selection criteria described in part E of 

this notice. The FTA will accept only 

one supplemental form per SF–424 

submission. The FTA encourages States 

and other applicants to consider 

submitting a single supplemental form 

that includes multiple activities to be 

evaluated as a consolidated proposal. If 

States or other applicants choose to 

submit separate proposals for individual 

consideration by FTA, they must submit 

each proposal with a separate SF–424 

and supplemental form. 

Applicants may attach additional 

supporting information to the SF–424 

submission, including but not limited to 

letters of support, project budgets, fleet 

status reports, or excerpts from relevant 

planning documents. Supporting 

documentation must be described and 

referenced by file name in the 

appropriate response section of the 

supplemental form, or it may not be 

reviewed. 

Information such as proposer name, 

Federal amount requested, local match 

amount, description of areas served, 

etc., may be requested in varying 

degrees of detail on both the SF–424 

form and supplemental form. Proposers 

must fill in all fields unless stated 

otherwise on the forms. If applicants 

copy information into the supplemental 

form from another source, they should 

verify that the supplemental form has 

fully captured pasted text and that it has 

not truncated the text due to character 

limits built into the form. Proposers 

should use both the ‘‘Check Package for 

Errors’’ and the ‘‘Validate Form’’ 

validation buttons on both forms to 

check all required fields on the forms. 

Applicants should also ensure that the 

Federal and local amounts specified are 

consistent. 

ii. Application Content 

The SF–424 Mandatory Form and the 

supplemental form will prompt 

applicants for the required information, 

including: 

a. Applicant Name 

b. Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data 

Universal Numbering System (DUNS) 

number 

c. Key contact information (including 

contact name, address, email address, 

and phone) 

d. Congressional district(s) where 

project will take place 

e. Project Information (including title, 

an executive summary, and type) 

f. A detailed description of the need for 

the project 

g. A detailed description of how the 

project will support the ICAM Pilot or 

the HSCR Program objectives 

h. Evidence that the project is consistent 

with local and regional planning 

documents and evidence of a locally 

developed and adopted Coordinated 

Public Transit-Human Services 

Transportation Plan (where 

applicable) 

i. Evidence that the applicant can 

provide the local cost share 

j. A description of the technical, legal, 

and financial capacity of the applicant 

k. A detailed project budget (up to 18 

months or less) 

l. An explanation of the scalability of 

the project 

m. Details on the local matching funds 

n. A detailed project timeline 

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System 

for Award Management (SAM) 

Each applicant is required to: (1) Be 

registered in SAM before submitting an 

application; (2) provide a valid unique 

entity identifier in its application; and 

(3) continue to maintain an active SAM 

registration with current information at 

all times during which the applicant has 

an active Federal award or an 

application or plan under consideration 

by FTA. These requirements do not 

apply if the applicant: (1) Is an 

individual; (2) is excepted from the 

requirements under 2 CFR 25.110(b) or 

(c); or (3) has an exception approved by 

FTA under 2 CFR 25.110(d). FTA may 

not make an award until the applicant 

has complied with all applicable unique 

entity identifier and SAM requirements. 

If an applicant has not fully complied 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 178 / Thursday, September 13, 2018 / Notices 46537 

with the requirements by the time FTA 

is ready to make an award, FTA may 

determine that the applicant is not 

qualified to receive an award and use 

that determination as a basis for making 

a Federal award to another applicant. 

All applicants must provide a unique 

entity identifier provided by SAM. 

Registration in SAM may take as little 

as 3–5 business days, but there can be 

unexpected steps or delays. For 

example, the applicant may need to 

obtain an Employer Identification 

Number. FTA recommends allowing 

ample time, up to several weeks, to 

complete all steps. For additional 

information on obtaining a unique 

entity identifier, please visit 

www.sam.gov. 

The FTA will provide further 

instructions on registration through an 

introductory applicant training session. 

Dates and times for the training session 

will be posted on FTA’s website at 

https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/ 

grants/enhanced-mobility-seniorsindividuals-disabilities-section-5310. 

4. Submission Dates and Times 

Project proposals must be submitted 

electronically through GRANTS.GOV by 

11:59 p.m. Eastern on November 13, 

2018. Mail and fax submissions will not 

be accepted. 

FTA urges applicants to submit 

applications at least 72 hours prior to 

the due date to allow time to correct any 

problems that may have caused either 

GRANTS.GOV or FTA systems to reject 

the submission. Proposals submitted 

after the deadline will only be 

considered under extraordinary 

circumstances not under the applicant’s 

control. 

Deadlines will not be extended due to 

scheduled website maintenance. 

GRANTS.GOV scheduled maintenance 

and outage times are announced on the 

GRANTS.GOV website. 

Within 48 hours after submitting an 

electronic application, the applicant 

should receive two email messages from 

GRANTS.GOV: (1) Confirmation of 

successful transmission to 

GRANTS.GOV; and (2) confirmation of 

successful validation by GRANTS.GOV. 

If the applicant does not receive 

confirmation of successful validation or 

receives a notice of failed validation or 

incomplete materials, the applicant 

must address the reason for the failed 

validation, as described in the email 

notice, and resubmit before the 

submission deadline. If making a 

resubmission for any reason, applicants 

must include all original attachments 

regardless of which attachments were 

updated and check the box on the 

supplemental form indicating this is a 

resubmission. 

Applicants are encouraged to begin 

the process of registration on the 

GRANTS.GOV site well in advance of 

the submission deadline. Registration is 

a multi-step process, which may take 

several weeks to complete before an 

application can be submitted. Registered 

applicants may still be required to 

update their registration before 

submitting an application. Registration 

in SAM is renewed annually and 

persons making submissions on behalf 

of the Authorized Organization 

Representative (AOR) must be 

authorized in GRANTS.GOV by the 

AOR to make submissions. 

5. Funding Restrictions 

Funds under the ICAM Pilot Program 

may be used for capital expenditures 

only. Funds under the HSCR Program 

may be used for operating or capital 

expenditures that are tied to the locally 

developed Coordinated Public TransitHuman Services Transportation Plan. 

6. Other Submission Requirements 

The FTA encourages applicants to 

identify scaled funding options in case 

insufficient funding is available to fund 

a project at the full requested amount. 

If an applicant indicates that a project 

is scalable, the applicant must provide 

an appropriate minimum funding 

amount that will fund an eligible project 

that achieves the objectives of the 

program and meets all relevant program 

requirements. The applicant must 

provide a clear explanation of how a 

reduced reward would affect the project 

budget. The FTA may award a lesser 

amount whether the applicant provides 

a scalable option. 

E. Application Review Information 

1. Project Evaluation Criteria 

i. Innovative Coordinated Access and 

Mobility Pilot Program 

Each application submitted for the 

ICAM Pilot Program must include: (1) A 

detailed description of the project; (2) 

an identification of all project partners 

(if any) and their specific role in the 

eligible project; (3) specific performance 

measures the project will use to quantify 

actual outcomes against expected 

outcomes; and (4) a description of how 

the project will: 

• Improve local coordination or 

access to coordinated transportation 

services; 

• reduce duplication of service, if 

applicable; and 

• provide innovative solutions in the 

State or community. 

The FTA will evaluate proposals 

submitted according to the following 

criteria: (a) Demonstration of need; (b) 

demonstration of benefits; (c) planning 

and partnerships; (d) local financial 

commitment; (e) project readiness; and 

(f) technical, legal, and financial 

capacity. Each applicant is encouraged 

to demonstrate the responsiveness of a 

project to all criteria with the most 

relevant information that the applicant 

can provide, regardless of whether such 

information has been specifically 

requested or identified in this notice. 

a. Demonstration of Need 

The FTA will evaluate proposals 

based on how the proposed project will 

address the need or challenges to 

improving coordination of 

transportation services and nonemergency medical transportation 

services. The FTA will consider both 

the scope of the overall need or 

challenge, and the size of the specific 

segment of the population served by the 

proposed project. 

b. Demonstration of Benefits 

The FTA will evaluate proposals on 

the benefits provided by the proposed 

project. Benefits will be tied to the 

ICAM program’s goals of increased 

access to care, improved health 

outcomes, and reduced healthcare costs. 

Benefits identified in the proposals will 

be evaluated at both the individual 

level, and that of the local health and 

transportation providers. Proposals will 

be judged on the extent to which the 

proposed project demonstrates a benefit 

to the transportation need or challenge 

to mobility and healthcare access 

demonstrated above. Projects will be 

evaluated on the ability of the proposed 

project to yield data demonstrating 

impacts on the goals of FTA’s ICAM 

Program: To increase access to care; 

improve health outcomes; and reduce 

healthcare costs. Proposals must show 

that the applicant will be able to 

provide impact data during and after the 

pilot project. FTA will conduct an 

independent evaluation of the 

demonstration grant. At various points 

in the deployment process and at the 

end of the pilot project, the recipient 

will be asked by FTA, or its designee, 

to provide performance measures 

required to conduct this evaluation. 

FTA requires each applicant to submit 

the performance data on a quarterly 

basis. This data will be used by FTA to 

produce the required Annual Report to 

Congress that contains detailed 

description of the activities carried out 

under the pilot program, and an 

evaluation of the program, including an 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
46538 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 178 / Thursday, September 13, 2018 / Notices 

evaluation of the performance measures 

described. 

c. Planning and Partnerships 

Applicants must describe the eligible 

project and outline project partners and 

their specific role in the project— 

including private and nonprofit entities 

involved in the coordination of 

nonemergency medical transportation 

services for the transportation 

disadvantaged. Applicants must include 

a description of how the eligible project 

would: (1) Improve local coordination 

or access to coordinated transportation 

service; (2) reduce duplication of 

service, if applicable; and (3) provide 

innovative solutions in the State and/or 

community. Applicants should provide 

evidence of strong commitment from 

key partners, including letters of 

support from relevant local 

stakeholders. An eligible recipient may 

submit an application in partnership 

with other entities that intend to 

participate in the implementation of the 

project. Any changes to the proposed 

partnerships will require FTA’s advance 

approval and must be consistent with 

the scope of the approved project. 

d. Local Financial Commitment 

Applicants must identify the source of 

the local share and describe whether 

such funds are currently available for 

the project or will need to be secured if 

the project is selected for funding. The 

FTA will consider the availability of the 

local share as evidence of local financial 

commitment to the project. In addition, 

an applicant may propose a local share 

that is greater than the minimum 

requirement or provide documentation 

of previous local investment in the 

project as evidence of local financial 

commitment. 

e. Project Readiness 

The FTA will evaluate the project on 

the proposed schedule and the 

applicant’s ability to implement it. 

Applicants should indicate the shortterm, mid-range, and long-term goals for 

the project. Applicants also must 

describe how the project will help the 

transportation disadvantaged and 

improve the coordination of 

transportation services and nonemergency medical transportation 

services, such as the deployment of 

coordination technology, projects that 

create or increase access to community 

One-Call/One-Click Centers, mobility 

management, etc. Proposals must 

provide specific performance measures 

the eligible project will use to quantify 

actual outcomes against expected 

outcomes. The FTA will evaluate the 

project on the extent to which it was 

developed inclusively, incorporating 

meaningful involvement from key 

stakeholders including consumer 

representatives of the target groups and 

providers from the healthcare, 

transportation, and human services 

sectors, among others. The applicant 

must show significant, ongoing 

involvement of the project’s target 

population. 

f. Technical, Legal and Financial 

Capacity 

The FTA will evaluate proposals on 

the capacity of the lead agency and any 

partners to successfully execute the 

pilot effort. The applicant should have 

no outstanding legal, technical, or 

financial issues that would make this a 

high-risk project. The FTA will evaluate 

each proposal (including the business 

plan, financial projections, and other 

relevant data) for feasibility and longerterm sustainability of both the pilot 

project as well as the proposed project 

at full deployment. It is FTA’s intent to 

select projects with a high likelihood of 

long-term success and sustainability. 

ii. Human Services Coordination 

Research Program 

Each application for the HSCR 

Program must include a statement of 

purpose detailing: (1) The need being 

addressed; (2) the short- and long-term 

goals of the project, including 

opportunities for future innovation and 

development and benefits to riders of 

public transportation; (3) how the 

project will improve public 

transportation service for seniors, 

individuals with disabilities, and lowincome individuals; and (4) the shortand long-term funding requirements to 

complete the project and any future 

objectives of the project. 

FTA will evaluate proposals 

submitted according to the following 

criteria: (a) Demonstration of need; (b) 

demonstration of benefits; (c) 

coordination, planning and 

partnerships; (d) local financial 

commitment; (e) project readiness; and 

(f) technical, legal and financial 

capacity. The FTA encourages each 

applicant to demonstrate how a project 

supports all criteria with the most 

relevant information the applicant can 

provide, regardless of whether such 

information has been specifically 

requested or identified in this notice. 

a. Demonstration of Need 

The FTA will evaluate proposals 

based on how the proposed project will 

address the need for or challenges to 

improving coordination of 

transportation services as outlined in 

the implementation strategy of a locally 

developed, Coordinated Public TransitHuman Services Transportation Plan. 

The FTA will consider both the scope 

of the overall need or challenge, and the 

size of the specific segment of the 

population served by the proposed 

project. 

b. Demonstration of Benefits 

The FTA will evaluate proposals on 

the benefits provided by the proposed 

project. The FTA will judge proposals 

based on how much the proposed 

project will benefit the implementation 

of the coordination activity and enhance 

transportation services for the targeted 

population. The HSCR Program 

provides an opportunity for 

communities to put into practice new 

and innovative ideas, practices, and 

approaches that address the overall 

coordination goals of the CCAM at the 

local level. The FTA will evaluate how 

the project supports the following goals: 

1. Implementing new and innovative 

strategies to increase human services 

transportation through interagency 

cooperation; 

2. improving access to cost-effective 

transportation services; and 

3. encouraging enhanced access to 

transportation resources. 

Proposals must show that the 

applicant will be able to provide impact 

data during and at the conclusion of the 

project. FTA will conduct an 

independent evaluation of the 

demonstration grant. At various points 

in the deployment process and at the 

end of the pilot project, the recipient 

will be asked by FTA, or its designee, 

to provide performance measures 

required to conduct this evaluation. 

FTA requires each applicant to submit 

the performance data on a quarterly 

basis. This data will be used by FTA to 

produce the required Annual Report to 

Congress that contains detailed 

description of the activities carried out 

under the program, and an evaluation of 

the program, including an evaluation of 

the performance measures described. 

c. Demonstration of Coordination, 

Planning, and Partnerships 

Applicants must describe the eligible 

project and outline project partners and 

their specific role in the project. This 

includes private and nonprofit entities 

involved in the coordination of human 

services transportation services for the 

transportation disadvantaged. 

Applicants should describe how the 

eligible project would provide more 

effective and efficient public 

transportation service for: 

1. Seniors; 

2. individuals with disabilities; and 

3. low-income individuals. 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 178 / Thursday, September 13, 2018 / Notices 46539 

Applicants must provide evidence of 

strong commitment from key partners, 

including letters of support from 

participating human services agencies 

and all other relevant local stakeholders. 

An eligible recipient may submit an 

application in partnership with other 

entities that intend to participate in the 

implementation of the project. Any 

changes to the proposed partnerships 

will require FTA’s advance approval 

and must be consistent with the scope 

of the approved project. 

d. Demonstration of Coordination, 

Planning, and Partnerships 

Applicants must identify the source of 

the local share and describe whether 

such funds are currently available for 

the project or will need to be secured if 

the project is selected for funding. The 

FTA will consider the availability of the 

local share as evidence of local financial 

commitment to the project. In addition, 

an applicant may propose a local share 

that is greater than the minimum 

requirement or provide documentation 

of previous local investment in the 

project as evidence of local financial 

commitment. 

e. Project Readiness 

The FTA will evaluate the proposed 

schedule and the applicant’s ability to 

implement it. Applicants should 

indicate the short-term, mid-range, and 

long-term goals for the project. 

Applicants should also describe how 

the project will help the targeted 

populations and improve the overall 

coordination of transportation services 

such as non-emergency medical 

transportation services. This includes 

the deployment of coordination 

technology, capital and operating 

efficiencies, mobility management, etc. 

Proposals should provide specific 

performance measures that the 

applicant will use to quantify actual 

outcomes against expected outcomes. 

The FTA will evaluate the project 

proposal based on how much the project 

is directly tied to a locally developed 

Coordinated Public Transit-Human 

Services Transportation Plan. The 

applicant must show significant, 

ongoing involvement of the project’s 

target population. 

f. Technical, Legal and Financial 

Capacity 

The FTA will evaluate the capacity of 

the lead agency and any partners to 

successfully execute the research effort. 

There should be no outstanding legal, 

technical, or financial issues with the 

applicant that would make this a highrisk project. The FTA will evaluate each 

proposal (including the business plan, 

financial projections, and other relevant 

data) for feasibility and longer-term 

sustainability. It is FTA’s intent to select 

projects with a high likelihood of longterm success, sustainability, and ability 

to be replicated in other communities. 

2. Review and Selection Process 

In addition to other FTA staff that 

may review the proposals, a technical 

evaluation committee will evaluate 

proposals based on the published 

evaluation criteria. After applying the 

above preferences, the FTA 

Administrator will consider the 

following key U.S. Department of 

Transportation objectives: 

• Supporting economic vitality at the 

national and regional level; 

• Utilizing alternative funding 

sources and innovative financing 

models to attract non-Federal sources of 

infrastructure investment; 

• Accounting for the life-cycle costs 

of the project to promote the state of 

good repair; 

• Using innovative approaches to 

improve safety and expedite project 

delivery; and 

• Holding grant recipients 

accountable for their performance and 

achieving specific, measurable 

outcomes identified by grant applicants. 

Prior to making an award, FTA is 

required to review and consider any 

information about the applicant that is 

in the Federal Awardee Performance 

and Integrity Information Systems 

(FAPIIS) accessible through SAM. An 

applicant may review and comment on 

information about itself that a Federal 

awarding agency previously entered. 

The FTA will consider any comments 

by the applicant, in addition to the other 

information in FAPIIS, in making a 

judgment about the applicant’s integrity, 

business ethics, and record of 

performance under Federal awards 

when completing the review of risk 

posed by applicants as described in 2 

CFR 200.205, Federal Awarding Agency 

Review of Risk Posed by Applicants. 

FTA may consider geographic diversity, 

and/or the applicant’s receipt of other 

discretionary awards in determining the 

allocation of program funds. 

F. Federal Award Administration 

1. Federal Award Notices 

The FTA Administrator will 

announce the final project selections on 

the FTA website. Project recipients 

should contact their FTA Regional 

Office for additional information 

regarding allocations for projects under 

each program. 

At the time project selections are 

announced, FTA will extend pre-award 

authority for the selected projects. There 

is no blanket pre-award authority for 

these projects before announcement. 

2. Award Administration 

There is no minimum or maximum 

grant award amount; however, FTA 

intends to fund as many meritorious 

projects as possible. The FTA will only 

consider proposals from eligible 

recipients for eligible activities. Due to 

funding limitations, projects selected for 

funding may receive less than the 

amount originally requested. In those 

cases, applicants must be able to 

demonstrate that the proposed projects 

are still viable and can be completed 

with the amount awarded. 

3. Administrative and National Policy 

Requirements 

i. Pre-Award Authority 

The FTA will issue specific guidance 

to recipients regarding pre-award 

authority at the time of selection. The 

FTA does not provide pre-award 

authority for competitive funds until 

projects are selected, and there are 

Federal requirements that must be met 

before costs are incurred. For more 

information about FTA’s policy on preaward authority, please see the FY 2018 

Apportionments Notice published on 

July 16, 2018, at https://www.gpo.gov/ 

fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-07-16/pdf/2018- 

14989.pdf. 

ii. Grant Requirements 

Selected applicants will submit a 

grant application through FTA’s 

electronic grant management system 

and adhere to the customary FTA grant 

requirements. All competitive grants, 

regardless of award amount, will be 

subject to the congressional notification 

and release process. The FTA 

emphasizes that third-party 

procurement applies to all funding 

awards, as described in FTA Circular 

4220.1F, ‘‘Third Party Contracting 

Guidance.’’ However, FTA may approve 

applications that include a specifically 

identified partnering organization(s) (2 

CFR 200.302(f)). When included, the 

application, budget, and budget 

narrative should provide a clear 

understanding of how the selection of 

these organizations is critical for the 

project and give sufficient detail about 

the costs involved. 

iii. Planning 

The FTA encourages applicants to 

engage the appropriate State 

Departments of Transportation, Regional 

Transportation Planning Organizations, 

or Metropolitan Planning Organizations 

in areas to be served by the project 

funds available under these programs. 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
46540 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 178 / Thursday, September 13, 2018 / Notices 

Additionally, project proposals should 

be directly tied to the locally developed 

Coordinated Public Transit-Human 

Services Transportation Plan. 

iv. Standard Assurances 

The applicant assures that it will 

comply with all applicable Federal 

statutes, regulations, executive orders, 

FTA circulars, and other Federal 

administrative requirements in carrying 

out any project supported by the FTA 

grant. The applicant acknowledges that 

it is under a continuing obligation to 

comply with the terms and conditions 

of the grant agreement issued for its 

project with FTA. The applicant 

understands that Federal laws, 

regulations, policies, and administrative 

practices might be modified from time 

to time and may affect the 

implementation of the project. The 

applicant agrees that the most recent 

Federal requirements will apply to the 

project unless FTA issues a written 

determination otherwise. The applicant 

must submit the Certifications and 

Assurances before receiving a grant if it 

does not have current certifications on 

file. 

v. Reporting 

Post-award reporting requirements 

include submission of Federal Financial 

Reports and Milestone Progress Reports 

in FTA’s electronic grants management 

system. An independent evaluation of 

the pilot program or research grant may 

occur at various points in the 

deployment process and at the end of 

the pilot project. In addition, FTA is 

responsible for producing an Annual 

Report to Congress that compiles 

evaluations of selected projects, 

including an evaluation of the 

performance measures identified by the 

applicants. All applicants must develop 

an evaluation plan to measure the 

success or failure of their projects and 

to describe any plans for broad-based 

implementation of successful projects. 

The FTA may request data and reports 

to support the independent evaluation 

and annual report. 

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact 

For questions about applying for each 

of the programs outlined in this notice, 

please contact the Program Manager, 

Kelly Tyler, at Federal Transit 

Administration, phone: (202) 366–3102, 

fax: (202) 366–3475, or email, 

Kelly.Tyler@dot.gov. A TDD is available 

at 1–800–877–8339 (TDDFIRS). 

Additionally, you may visit FTA’s 

website for this program at https://

www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/ 

enhanced-mobility-seniors-individualsdisabilities-section-5310. To ensure that 

applicants receive accurate information 

about eligibility or the program, 

applicants are encouraged to contact 

FTA directly with questions, rather than 

through intermediaries or third parties. 

FTA staff may also conduct briefings on 

the FY 2018 competitive grants 

selection and award process upon 

request. 

Issued in Washington, DC. 

K. Jane Williams, 

Acting Administrator. 

[FR Doc. 2018–19897 Filed 9–12–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES