Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 13 / Thursday, January 21, 2010 / Notices 3517 

nominate experts to serve as lead 

authors and reviewers of the various 

chapters of the report. To respond to 

this request, the U.S. Government is 

soliciting recommendations from any 

interested Federal, academic, nongovernmental, or private sector entity. 

The U.S. government will review 

proposed nominations and develop a 

slate of nominees for forwarding to 

IPCC. Given the large number of 

individuals that are typically nominated 

by different member countries of the 

IPCC, selection as a U.S. nomination 

does not guarantee selection as an IPCC 

author. 

Further information, including the 

IPCC request for nominations, the 

approved outlines of the three IPCC 

working groups for the AR5, a 

description of the roles and 

responsibilities associated with them, 

and a nomination form that must be 

completed for each nominee, may be 

found at either the IPCC Secretariat 

Web site (http://www.ipcc.ch) 

or USGCRP Web site (http:// 

www.globalchange.gov/) 

Dated: January 15, 2010. 

Trigg Talley, 

Director, Office of Global Change, Department 

of State. 

[FR Doc. 2010–1098 Filed 1–20–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4710–09–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Office of the Secretary 

Notice of Funding Availability for the 

Small Business Transportation 

Resource Center Program 

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary of 

Transportation (OST), Office of Small 

and Disadvantaged Business Utilization 

(OSDBU), Department of Transportation 

(DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability. 

SUMMARY: The Department of 

Transportation (DOT), Office of the 

Secretary (OST), Office of Small and 

Disadvantaged Business Utilization 

(OSDBU) announces the opportunity 

for; (1) Business centered communitybased organizations; (2) transportationrelated trade associations; (3) colleges 

and universities; (4) community colleges 

or; (5) chambers of commerce, registered 

with the Internal Revenue Service as 

501C(6) or 501C(3) tax-exempt 

organizations, to compete for 

participation in OSDBU’s Small 

Business Transportation Resource 

Center (SBTRC) program in the 

Southwest Region, the South Atlantic 

Region, and the Mid-South Atlantic 

Region. The Central, Great Lakes, Gulf, 

Mid Atlantic, Northeast, Northwest, and 

Southeast Regions will be competed at 

a later date as their cooperative 

agreements expire. A new West Central 

Region will also be competed at that 

time. 

OSDBU will enter into Cooperative 

Agreements with these organizations to 

outreach to the small business 

community in their designated region 

and provide financial and technical 

assistance, business training programs, 

such as, business assessment, 

management training, counseling, 

technical assistance, marketing and 

outreach, and the dissemination of 

information, to encourage and assist 

small businesses to become better 

prepared to compete for, obtain, and 

manage DOT funded transportationrelated contracts and subcontracts at the 

federal, state and local levels. 

Throughout this notice, the term ‘‘small 

business’’ will refer to: 8(a), 

Disadvantaged business enterprises 

(DBE), women owned small business 

(WOB), HubZone, service disabled 

veteran owned business (SDVOB), and 

veteran owned small business (VOSB). 

Throughout this notice, ‘‘transportationrelated’’ is defined as the maintenance, 

rehabilitation, restructuring, 

improvement, or revitalization of any of 

the nation’s modes of transportation. 

Catalog of Federal Domestic 

Assistance (CFDA) Number: 20.910 

Assistance to small and disadvantaged 

businesses. 

Type of Award: Cooperative 

Agreement Grant. 

Award Ceiling: $138,000. 

Award Floor: $128,000. 

Program Authority: DOT is authorized 

under 49 U.S.C. 332(b)(4), (5) & (7) to 

design and carry out programs to assist 

small disadvantaged businesses in 

getting transportation-related contracts 

and subcontracts; develop support 

mechanisms, including management 

and technical services, that will enable 

small disadvantaged businesses to take 

advantage of those business 

opportunities; and to make 

arrangements to carry out the above 

purposes. 

DATES: Complete Proposals must be 

electronically submitted to OSDBU via 

email on or before February 16, 2010, 5 

p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Proposals 

received after the deadline will be 

considered non-responsive and will not 

be reviewed. The applicant is advised to 

turn on request delivery receipt 

notification for email submissions. DOT 

plans to give notice of awards for the 

competed regions on or before the 

following dates: 

Southwest Region February 28, 2010 

South Atlantic Region March 31, 2010 

Mid-South Atlantic Region March 31, 

2010 

ADDRESSES: Applications must be 

electronically submitted to OSDBU via 

e-mail at SBTRC@dot.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: For further 

information concerning this notice, 

contact Mr. Arthur D. Jackson, U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Office of 

Small and Disadvantaged Business 

Utilization, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, 

SE., W56–462, Washington, DC 20590. 

Telephone: 1–800–532–1169. E-mail: 

art.jackson@dot.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents 

1. Introduction 

1.1 Background 

1.2 Program Description and Goals 

1.3 Description of Competition 

1.4 Duration of Agreements 

1.5 Authority 

1.6 Eligibility Requirements 

2. Program Requirements 

2.1 Recipient Responsibilities 

2.2 Office of Small and Disadvantaged 

Business Utilization Responsibilities 

3. Submission of Proposals 

3.1 Format for Proposals 

3.2 Address, Number of Copies, Deadline 

for Submission 

4. Selection Criteria 

4.1 General Criteria 

4.2 Scoring of Applications 

4.3 Conflicts of Interest 

Format for Proposals—Appendix A 

Assurances Signature Form—Attachment 1 

Certification Signature Form—Attachment 2 

Standard Form 424—Attachment 3 

Full Text of Announcement 

1. Introduction 

1.1 Background 

The United States Department of 

Transportation (DOT) established the 

Office of Small and Disadvantaged 

Business Utilization (OSDBU) in 

accordance with Public Law 95–507, an 

amendment to the Small Business Act 

and the Small Business Investment Act 

of 1958. 

The mission of OSDBU at DOT is to 

ensure that the small and disadvantaged 

business policies and goals of the 

Secretary of Transportation are 

developed and implemented in a fair, 

efficient and effective manner to serve 

small and disadvantaged businesses 

throughout the country. The OSDBU 

also administers the provisions of Title 

49, Section 332, the Minority Resource 

Center (MRC) which includes the duties 

of advocacy, outreach and financial 

services on behalf of small and 

disadvantaged business and those 

certified under CFR 49 parts 23 and or 


jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
3518 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 13 / Thursday, January 21, 2010 / Notices 

26 as Disadvantaged Business 

Enterprises (DBE) and the development 

of programs to encourage, stimulate, 

promote and assist small businesses to 

become better prepared to compete for, 

obtain and manage transportationrelated contracts, and subcontracts. 

The Regional Partnerships Division of 

OSDBU, through the SBTRC program 

allows OSDBU to partner with local 

organizations to offer a comprehensive 

delivery system of business training, 

technical assistance and dissemination 

of information, targeted towards small 

business transportation enterprises in 

their regions. 

1.2 Program Description and Goals 

The national SBTRC program utilizes 

Cooperative Agreements with chambers 

of commerce, trade associations, 

educational institutions and businesscentered community based 

organizations to establish SBTRCs to 

provide business training, technical 

assistance and information to DOT 

grantees and recipients, prime 

contractors and subcontractors. In order 

to be effective and serve their target 

audience, the SBTRCs must be active in 

the local transportation community in 

order to identify and communicate 

opportunities and provide the required 

technical assistance. SBTRCs must 

already have, or demonstrate the ability 

to establish working relationships with 

the state and local transportation 

agencies and technical assistance 

agencies (i.e., The U.S. Department of 

Commerce’s Minority Business 

Development Centers (MBDCs), Small 

Business Development Centers (SBDCs), 

Procurement Technical Assistance 

Centers (PTACs), SCORE and State DOT 

highway supportive services contractors 

in their region. Utilizing these 

relationships and their own expertise, 

the SBTRCs are involved in activities 

such as information dissemination, 

small business counseling, and 

technical assistance with small 

businesses currently doing business 

with public and private entities in the 

transportation industry. 

Effective outreach is critical to the 

success of the SBTRC program. In order 

for their outreach efforts to be effective, 

SBTRCs must be familiar with DOT’s 

Operating Administrations, its funding 

sources, and how funding is awarded to 

DOT grantees, recipients, contractors, 

subcontractors, and its financial 

assistance programs. SBTRCs must 

outreach to the regional small business 

transportation community to 

disseminate information and distribute 

DOT-published marketing materials, 

such as STLP Program Information, 

Bonding Assistance information, SBTRC 

brochures and literature, Procurement 

Forecasts; Contracting with DOT 

booklets, and any other materials or 

resources that DOT or OSDBU may 

develop for this purpose. To maximize 

outreach, the SBTRC may be called 

upon to participate in regional and 

national conferences and seminars. 

Quantities of DOT publications for onhand inventory and dissemination at 

conferences and seminars will be 

available upon request from the OSDBU 

office. 

1.3 Description of Competition 

The purpose of this RFP is to solicit 

proposals from transportation-related 

trade associations, chambers of 

commerce, community based entities, 

colleges and universities, community 

colleges, and any other qualifying 

transportation-related non-profit 

organizations with the desire and ability 

to partner with OSDBU to establish and 

maintain an SBTRC. 

It is OSDBU’s intent to award 

Cooperative Agreement to one 

organization in each of the designated 

geographical area(s), from herein 

referred to as ‘‘region(s)’’, competed in 

this solicitation. However, if warranted, 

OSDBU reserves the option to make 

multiple awards to selected partners. 

Proposals submitted for a region must 

contain a plan to service the entire 

region, not just the SBTRC state or local 

geographical area. The region’s SBTRC 

headquarters must be established in the 

designated state set forth below. 

Submitted proposals must also contain 

justification for the establishment of the 

SBTRC headquarters in a particular city 

within the designated state. 

SBTRC Region(s) Competed in This 

Solicitation 

South Atlantic Region: 

North Carolina, Headquarters 

Virginia 

Kentucky 

West Virginia 

Southwest Region: 

California, Headquarters 

Arizona 

Nevada 

Hawaii 

Mid-South Atlantic Region: 

Georgia, Headquarters 

Tennessee 

South Carolina 

Program requirements and selection 

criteria, set forth in Sections 2 and 4 

respectively, indicate, the OSDBU 

intends for the SBTRC to be 

multidimensional; that is, the selected 

organizations must have the capacity to 

effectively access and provide 

supportive services to the broad range of 

small businesses within the respective 

geographical region. To this end, the 

SBTRC must be able to demonstrate that 

they currently have established 

relationships within the geographic 

region with whom they may coordinate 

and establish effective networks with 

DOT grant recipients and local/regional 

technical assistance agencies to 

maximize resources. 

Cooperative agreement awards will be 

distributed to the region(s) as follows: 

South Atlantic Region: Up to $138,000 

per year 

Southwest Region: Up to $136,000 per 

year 

Mid-South Atlantic Region: Up to 

$128,000 per year 

Cooperative agreement awards by 

region are based upon an analysis of 

DBEs, Certified Small Businesses, and 

US DOT transportation dollars in each 

region. 

It is OSDBU’s intent to maximize the 

benefits received by the small business 

transportation community through the 

SBTRC. Funding may be utilized to 

reimburse an on-site Project Director up 

to 100% of salary plus fringe benefits, 

an on-site Executive Director up to 50% 

of salary plus fringe benefits, the cost of 

designated SBTRC space, other direct 

costs, and all other general and 

administrative expenses. Selected 

SBTRC partners will be expected to 

provide in-kind administrative support. 

Submitted proposals must contain an 

alternative funding source with which 

the SBTRC will fund administrative 

support costs. Preference will be given 

to proposals containing in-kind 

contributions for the Project Director, 

the Executive Director, cost of 

designated SBTRC space, other direct 

costs, and all other general and 

administrative expenses. 

1.4 Duration of Agreements 

Cooperative agreements will be 

awarded for a period of 12 months (one 

year) with options for two (2) additional 

one year periods. OSDBU will notify the 

SBTRC of our intention to exercise an 

option year or not to exercise an option 

year 30 days in advance of expiration of 

the current year. 

1.5 Authority 

DOT is authorized under 49 U.S.C. 

332(b)(4), (5) & (7) to design and carry 

out programs to assist small 

disadvantaged businesses in getting 

transportation-related contracts and 

subcontracts; develop support 

mechanisms, including management 

and technical services, that will enable 

small disadvantaged businesses to take 

advantage of those business 

opportunities; and to make 


jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 13 / Thursday, January 21, 2010 / Notices 3519 

arrangements to carry out the above 

purposes. 

1.6 Eligibility Requirements 

To be eligible, an organization must 

be an established, nonprofit, 

community-based organization, 

transportation-related trade association, 

chamber of commerce, college or 

university, community college, and any 

other qualifying transportation-related 

non-profit organization which has the 

documented experience and capacity 

necessary to successfully operate and 

administer a coordinated delivery 

system that provides access for small 

businesses to prepare and compete for 

transportation-related contracts. 

In addition, to be eligible, the 

applicant organization must: 

(A) Be an established 501 C(3) or 501 

C(6) tax-exempt organization and 

provide documentation as verification. 

No application will be accepted without 

proof of tax-exempt status; 

(B) Have at least one year of 

documented and continuous experience 

prior to the date of application in 

providing advocacy, outreach, and 

technical assistance to small businesses 

within the region in which proposed 

services will be provided. Prior 

performance providing services to the 

transportation community is preferable, 

but not required; and 

(C) Have an office physically located 

within the proposed city in the 

designated headquarters state in the 

region for which they are submitting the 

proposal that is readily accessible to the 

public. 

2. Program Requirements 

2.1 Recipient Responsibilities 

(A) Assessments, Business Analyses 

1. Conduct an assessment of small 

businesses in the SBTRC region to 

determine their training and technical 

assistance needs, and use information 

that is available at no cost to structure 

programs and services that will enable 

small business enterprises to become 

better prepared to compete for and 

receive transportation-related contract 

awards. 

2. Contact other federal, state and 

local governmental agencies, such as the 

U.S. Small Business Administration, 

(SBA), state and local highway 

departments, state and local airport 

authorities, and transit authorities to 

identify relevant and current 

information that may support the 

assessment of the regional small 

business transportation community 

needs. 

(B) General Management & Technical 

Training and Assistance 

1. Utilize OSDBU’s Intake Form to 

document each small business assisted 

by the SBTRC and type of service(s) 

provided. The completed form must be 

transmitted electronically to the SBTRC 

Program Manager on a monthly basis, 

accompanied by a narrative report on 

the activities and performance results 

for that period. The data gathered must 

be supportive by the narrative and must 

relate to the numerical data on the 

monthly reports. 

2. Ensure that an array of information 

is made available for distribution to the 

small business transportation 

community that is designed to inform 

and educate the community on DOT/ 

OSDBU services and opportunities. 

3. Coordinate efforts with OSDBU’s 

National Information Clearinghouse in 

order to maintain an on-hand inventory 

of DOT/OSDBU informational materials 

for general dissemination and for 

distribution at transportation-related 

conferences and other events. 

(C) Business Counseling 

1. Collaborate with agencies, such as 

the SBA, U.S. Department of 

Commerce’s Minority Business 

Development Centers (MBDCs), Service 

Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), 

Procurement Technical Assistance 

Centers (PTACs), and Small Business 

Development Centers (SBDCs), to offer a 

broad range of counseling services to 

transportation-related small business 

enterprises. 

2. Create a technical assistance plan 

that will provide each counseled 

participant with the knowledge and 

skills necessary to improve the 

management of their own small 

business to expand their transportationrelated contracts and subcontracts 

portfolio. 

3. Provide a minimum of 20 hours of 

individual or group counseling sessions 

to small businesses per month. 

(D) Planning Committee 

1. Establish a Regional Planning 

Committee consisting of at least 7 

members that includes representatives 

from the regional community and 

federal, state, and local agencies. The 

highway, airport, and transit authorities 

for the SBTRC’s headquarters state must 

have representation on the planning 

committee. This committee shall be 

established no later than 60 days after 

the execution of the Cooperative 

agreement between the OSDBU and the 

selected SBRTC. 

2. Provide a forum for the federal, 

state, and local agencies to disseminate 

information about upcoming 

procurements. 

3. Hold either monthly or quarterly 

meetings at a time and place agreed 

upon by SBTRC and planning 

committee members. 

4. Use the initial session 

(teleconference call) by the SBTRC 

explain the mission of the committee 

and identify roles of the staff and the 

members of the group. 

5. Responsibility for the agenda and 

direction of the Planning Committee 

should be handled by the SBTRC 

Executive Director or his/her designee. 

(E) Outreach Services/Conference 

Participation 

1. Utilize the services of the Central 

Contractor Registration (CCR) and other 

sources to construct a database of 

regional small businesses that currently 

or may participate in DOT direct and 

DOT funded transportation related 

contracts, and make this database 

available to OSDBU, upon request. 

2. Utilize the database of regional 

transportation-related small businesses 

to match opportunities identified 

through the planning committee forum, 

FedBiz Opps, a web-based system for 

posting solicitations and other Federal 

procurement-related documents on the 

Internet, and other sources to eligible 

small businesses and contact the eligible 

small businesses about those 

opportunities. 

3. Develop a ‘‘targeted’’ database of 

firms (100–150) that have the capacity 

and capabilities, and are ready, willing 

and able to participate in DOT contracts 

and subcontracts immediately. This 

control group will receive ample 

resources from the SBTRC, i.e., access to 

working capital, bonding assistance, 

business counseling, management 

assistance and direct referrals to DOT 

agencies at the state and local levels, 

and to prime contractors as effective 

subcontractor firms. 

4. Identify regional, state and local 

conferences where a significant number 

of small businesses, with transportation 

related capabilities, are expected to be 

in attendance. Maintain and submit a 

list of those events to the SBTRC 

Program Manager for review and for 

posting on the OSDBU Web site on a 

monthly basis. Include 

recommendations for OSDBU and/or 

SBTRC participation with the list. 

5. Conduct outreach and disseminate 

information to small businesses at 

regional transportation-related 

conferences, seminars, and workshops. 

In the event that the SBTRC is requested 

to participate in an event, prior approval 

must be granted by the OSDBU prior to 

participation. Upon OSDBU approval, 


jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
3520 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 13 / Thursday, January 21, 2010 / Notices 

the SBTRC will send DOT materials, the 

OSDBU banner and other information 

that is deemed necessary for the event. 

6. Submit a conference summary 

report to OSDBU no later than 5 

business days after participation in the 

event or conference. The conference 

summary report must summarize 

activities, contacts, outreach results, and 

recommendations for continued or 

discontinued participation in future 

similar events sponsored by that 

organization. 

7. Upon approval by OSDBU, 

coordinate efforts with DOT’s grantees 

and recipients at the state and/or local 

levels to sponsor or cosponsor an 

OSDBU transportation related 

conference in the region. 

(F) Loan and Bond Assistance 

1. Work with STLP participating 

banks and if not available, other lending 

institutions, to deliver a minimum of 

five (5) seminars/workshops per year on 

the STLP financial assistance program 

to the transportation-related small 

business community. The seminar/ 

workshop must cover the entire STLP 

process, from completion of STLP loan 

applications and preparation of the loan 

package to graduation from the STLP. 

2. Provide direct support, technical 

support, and advocacy services to 

potential STLP applicants to increase 

the probability of STLP loan approval 

and generate a minimum of 5 approved 

STLP applications per year. 

3. Work with local bond producers/ 

agents in your region to deliver a 

minimum of five (5) seminars/ 

workshops to DBEs on the DOT ARRA 

BAP and how the Reimbursable Fee 

Program works. A minimum of 10 DBE 

firms per workshop should participate. 

4. Provide direct support, technical 

support, and advocacy services to 

potential Disadvantaged Business 

Enterprise American Reinvestment and 

Recovery Act of 2009 Bonding 

Assistance Reimbursable Fee Program 

(DBE ARRA BAP) applicants to increase 

the probability of reimbursement 

approval and generate a minimum of 5 

approved DBE ARRA BAP applications 

until September 8, 2010 or until notice 

of cessation in the event the program is 

extended. 

5. Provide direct support, technical 

support, and advocacy services to 

potential Provide direct support, 

technical support, and advocacy 

services to potential Bonding Assistance 

Program (BAP) applicants to increase 

the probability of guaranteed bond 

approval and generate a minimum of 5 

approved BAP applications per year 

from inception of the BAP program. 

(G) Furnish all labor, facilities and 

equipment to perform the services 

described in this announcement 

2.2 Office of Small and Disadvantaged 

Business Utilization (OSDBU) 

Responsibilities 

(A) Provide consultation and 

technical assistance in planning, 

implementing and evaluating activities 

under this announcement. 

(B) Provide orientation and training to 

the applicant organization. 

(C) Monitor SBTRC activities, 

cooperative agreement compliance, and 

overall SBTRC performance. 

(D) Assist SBTRC to develop or 

strengthen its relationships with federal, 

state, and local transportation 

authorities, other technical assistance 

organizations, and DOT grantees. 

(E) Facilitate the exchange and 

transfer of successful program activities 

and information among all SBTRC 

regions. 

(F) Provide the SBTRC with DOT/ 

OSDBU materials and other relevant 

transportation-related information for 

dissemination. 

(G) Maintain effective communication 

with the SBTRC and inform them of 

transportation news and contracting 

opportunities to share with small 

businesses in their region. 

(H) Provide all required forms to be 

used by the SBTRC for reporting 

purposes under the program. 

(I) Perform an annual performance 

evaluation of the SBTRC. Satisfactory 

performance is a condition of continued 

participation of the organization as an 

SBTRC and execution of all option 

years. 

3. Submission of Proposals 

3.1 Format for Proposals 

Each proposal must be submitted to 

DOT’s OSDBU in the format set forth in 

the application form attached as 

Appendix A to this announcement. 

3.2 Address; Number of Copies; 

Deadlines for Submission 

Any eligible organization, as defined 

in Section 1.6 of this announcement, 

will submit only one proposal per 

region for consideration by OSDBU. 

Eligible organizations may submit 

proposals for multiple regions. 

Applications must be double spaced, 

and printed in a font size not smaller 

than 12 points. Applications will not 

exceed 35 single-sided pages, not 

including any requested attachments. 

All pages should be numbered at the 

top of each page. All documentation, 

attachments, or other information 

pertinent to the application must be 

included in a single submission. 

Grant application packages must be 

submitted electronically to OSDBU at 

SBTRC@dot.gov. The applicant is 

advised to turn on request delivery 

receipt notification for email 

submissions. 

Proposals must be received by DOT/ 

OSDBU no later than February 16, 2010 

5 p.m., EST. 

4. Selection Criteria 

4.1 General Criteria 

OSDBU will award the cooperative 

agreement on a best value basis, using 

the following criteria to rate and rank 

applications: 

Applications will be evaluated using 

a point system (maximum number of 

points = 100); 

• Approach and strategy (25 points) 

• Linkages (25 points) 

• Organizational Capability (25 

points) 

• Staff Capabilities and Experience 

(15 points) 

• Cost Proposal (10 points) 

(A) Approach and Strategy (25 Points) 

The applicant must describe their 

strategy to achieve the overall mission 

of the SBTRC as described in this 

solicitation and service the small 

business community in their entire 

geographic regional area. The applicant 

must also describe how the specific 

activities outlined in Section 2.1 will be 

implemented and executed in the 

organization’s regional area. OSDBU 

will consider the extent to which the 

proposed objectives are specific, 

measurable, time-specific, and 

consistent with OSDBU goals and the 

applicant organization’s overall mission. 

OSDBU will give priority consideration 

to applicants that demonstrate 

innovation and creativity in their 

approach to assist small businesses to 

become successful transportation 

contractors and increase their ability to 

access DOT contracting opportunities 

and financial assistance programs. 

Applicants must also submit the 

estimated direct costs, other than labor, 

to execute their proposed strategy. 

OSDBU will consider the quality of the 

applicant’s plan for conducting program 

activities and the likelihood that the 

proposed methods will be successful in 

achieving proposed objectives at the 

proposed cost. 

(B) Linkages (25 Points) 

The applicant must describe their 

established relationships within their 

geographic region and demonstrate their 

ability to coordinate and establish 

effective networks with DOT grant 

recipients and local/regional technical 


jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 13 / Thursday, January 21, 2010 / Notices 3521 

assistance agencies to maximize 

resources. OSDBU will consider 

innovative aspects of the applicant’s 

approach and strategy to build upon 

their existing relationships and 

established networks with existing 

resources in their geographical area. The 

applicant should describe their strategy 

to obtain support and collaboration on 

SBTRC activities from DOT grantees and 

recipients, transportation prime 

contractors and subcontractors, the 

SBA, U.S. Department of Commerce’s 

Minority Business Development Centers 

(MBDCs), Service Corps of Retired 

Executives (SCORE), Procurement 

Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs), 

Small Business Development Centers 

(SBDCs), State DOTs, and State highway 

supportive services contractors. In 

rating this factor, OSDBU will consider 

the extent to which the applicant 

demonstrates ability to be 

multidimensional. The applicant must 

demonstrate that they have the ability to 

access a broad range of supportive 

services to effectively serve a broad 

range of transportation-related small 

businesses within their respective 

geographical region. Emphasis will also 

be placed on the extent to which the 

applicant identifies a clear outreach 

strategy related to identified needs that 

can be successfully carried out within 

the period of this agreement and a plan 

for involving the Planning Committee in 

the execution of that strategy. 

(C) Organizational Capability (25 Points) 

The applicant must demonstrate that 

they have the organizational capability 

to meet the program requirements set 

forth in Section 2. The applicant 

organization must have sufficient 

resources and past performance 

experience to successfully outreach to 

the small business transportation 

resources in their geographical area and 

carry out the mission of the SBTRC. In 

rating this factor, OSDBU will consider 

the extent to which the applicant’s 

organization has recent, relevant and 

successful experience in advocating for 

and addressing the needs of small 

businesses. Applicants will be given 

points for demonstrated past 

transportation-related performance. The 

applicant must also describe technical 

and administrative resources it plans to 

use in achieving proposed objectives. In 

their description, the applicant must 

describe their facilities, computer and 

technical facilities, ability to tap into 

volunteer staff time, and a plan for 

sufficient matching alternative financial 

resources to fund the general and 

administrative costs of the SBTRC. The 

applicant must also describe their 

administrative and financial 

management staff. OSDBU will place an 

emphasis on capabilities of the 

applicant’s financial management staff. 

(D) Staff Capability and Experience (15 

Points) 

The applicant organization must 

provide a list of proposed personnel for 

the project, with salaries, fringe benefit 

burden factors, educational levels and 

previous experience clearly delineated. 

The applicant’s project team must be 

well-qualified, knowledgeable, and able 

to effectively serve the diverse and 

broad range of small businesses in their 

geographical region. The Executive 

Director and the Project Director shall 

be deemed key personnel. Detailed 

resumes must be submitted for all 

proposed key personnel and outside 

consultants and subcontractors. 

Proposed key personnel must have 

detailed demonstrated experience 

providing services similar in scope and 

nature to the proposed effort. The 

proposed Project Director will serve as 

the responsible individual for the 

program. 100% of the Project Director’s 

time must be dedicated to the SBTRC. 

Both the Executive Director and the 

Project Director must be located on-site. 

In this element, OSDBU will consider 

the extent to which the applicant’s 

proposed Staffing Plan; (a) clearly meets 

the education and experience 

requirements to accomplish the 

objectives of the cooperative agreement; 

(b) delineates staff responsibilities and 

accountability for all work required and; 

(c) presents a clear and feasible ability 

to execute the applicant’s proposed 

approach and strategy. 

(E) Cost Proposal (10 Points) 

Applicants must submit the total 

proposed cost of establishing and 

administering the SBTRC in the 

applicant’s geographical region for a 12 

month period, inclusive of costs funded 

through alternative matching resources. 

The applicant’s budget must be 

adequate to support the proposed 

strategy and costs must be reasonable in 

relation to project objectives. The 

portion of the submitted budget funded 

by OSDBU can not exceed the ceiling 

outlined in Section 1.3 Description of 

Competition per fiscal year. Applicants 

are encouraged to provide in-kind costs 

and other innovative cost approaches. 

4.2 Scoring of Applications 

A review panel will score each 

application based upon the evaluation 

criteria listed above. Points will be 

given for each evaluation criteria 

category, not to exceed the maximum 

number of points allowed for each 

category. Proposals which are deemed 

non-responsive, do not meet the 

established criteria, or incomplete at the 

time of submission will be disqualified. 

OSDBU will perform a responsibility 

determination of the prospective 

winning recipient in each region, which 

may include a site visit, before awarding 

the cooperative agreement. 

4.3 Conflicts of Interest 

Applicants must submit a certified 

statement by key personnel and all 

organization principals indicating that 

they, or members of their immediate 

families, do not have a personal, 

business or financial interest in any 

DOT-funded transportation projects, nor 

any relationships with local or state 

transportation agencies that may have 

the appearance of a conflict of interest. 

Appendix A—Format for Proposals for 

the Department of Transportation 

Office of Small and Disadvantaged 

Business Utilization’s Small Business 

Transportation Resource Center 

(SBTRC) Program 

Submitted proposals for the DOT, Office of 

Small and Disadvantaged Business 

Utilization’s Small Business Transportation 

Resource Center Program must contain the 

following 12 sections and be organized in the 

following order: 

1. Table of Contents: 

Identify all parts, sections and attachments 

of the application. 

2. Application Summary: 

Provide a summary overview of the 

following: 

• The applicant’s proposed SBTRC region 

and city and key elements of the plan of 

action/strategy to achieve the SBTRC 

objectives. 

• The applicant’s relevant organizational 

experience and capabilities. 

3. Understanding of the Work: 

Provide a narrative which contains specific 

project information as follows: 

• The applicant will describe its 

understanding of the OSDBU’s SBTRC 

program mission and the role of the 

applicant’s proposed SBTRC in advancing 

the program goals. 

• The applicant will describe specific 

outreach needs of transportation-related 

small businesses in the applicant’s region 

and how the SBTRC will address the 

identified needs. 

4. Approach and Strategy: 

• Describe the applicant’s plan of action/ 

strategy for conducting the program in terms 

of the tasks to be performed. 

• Describe the specific services or 

activities to be performed and how these 

services/activities will be implemented. 

• Describe innovative and creative 

approaches to assist small businesses to 

become successful transportation contractors 

and increase their ability to access DOT 

contracting opportunities and financial 

assistance programs. 

• Estimated direct costs, other than labor, 

to execute the proposed strategy. 


jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
3522 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 13 / Thursday, January 21, 2010 / Notices 

5. Linkages: 

• Describe established relationships within 

the geographic region and demonstrate the 

ability to coordinate and establish effective 

networks with DOT grant recipients and 

local/regional technical assistance agencies. 

• Describe the strategy to obtain support 

and collaboration on SBTRC activities from 

DOT grantees and recipients, transportation 

prime contractors and subcontractors, the 

SBA, U.S. Department of Commerce’s 

Minority Business Development Centers 

(MBDCs), Service Corps of Retired Executives 

(SCORE), Procurement Technical Assistance 

Centers (PTACs), Small Business 

Development Centers (SBDCs), State DOTs, 

and State highway supportive services 

contractors. 

• Describe the outreach strategy related to 

the identified needs that can be successfully 

carried out within the period of this 

agreement and a plan for involving the 

Planning Committee in the execution of that 

strategy. 

6. Organizational Capability: 

• Describe recent and relevant past 

successful performance in addressing the 

needs of small businesses, particularly with 

respect to transportation-related small 

businesses. 

• Describe internal technical, financial 

management, and administrative resources. 

• Propose a plan for sufficient matching 

alternative financial resources to fund the 

general and administrative costs of the 

SBTRC. 

7. Staff Capability and Experience: 

• List proposed key personnel, their 

salaries and proposed fringe benefit factors. 

• Describe the education, qualifications 

and relevant experience of key personnel. 

Attach detailed re ́sume ́s. 

• Proposed staffing plan. Describe how 

personnel are to be organized for the program 

and how they will be used to accomplish 

program objectives. Outline staff 

responsibilities, accountability and a 

schedule for conducting program tasks. 

8. Cost Proposal: 

• Outline the total proposed cost of 

establishing and administering the SBTRC in 

the applicant’s geographical region for a 12- 

month period, inclusive of costs funded 

through alternative matching resources. 

Clearly identify the portion of the costs 

funded by OSDBU. 

• Provide a brief narrative linking the cost 

proposal to the proposed strategy. 

9. Proof of Tax Exempt Status: 

10. Assurances Signature Form: 

Complete the attached form identified as 

Attachment 1. 

11. Certification Signature Form: 

Complete the attached form identified as 

Attachment 2. 

12. Standard Form 424: 

Complete the attached Standard Form 424 

identified as Attachment 3. 

Please be sure that all forms have been 

signed by an authorized official who can 

legally represent the organization. 

Issued in Washington, DC on January 13, 

2010. 

Brandon Neal, 

Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged 

Business Utilization, Office of the Secretary, 

U.S. Department of Transportation. 

[FR Doc. 2010–1062 Filed 1–20–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Highway Administration 

Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions 

on Proposed Highway in California 

AGENCY: Federal Highway 

Administration (FHWA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of Limitation on Claims 

for Judicial Review of Actions by the 

California Department of Transportation 

(Caltrans), pursuant to 23 USC 327. 

SUMMARY: The FHWA, on behalf of 

Caltrans, is issuing this notice to 

announce actions taken by Caltrans that 

are final within the meaning of 23 

U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The actions relate to a 

proposed interchange project on U.S. 

Route 101 at the Monterey/San Benito 

County line (Monterey County 

postmiles 100.0/101.3 and San Benito 

County postmiles 0.0/1.6) in the State of 

California. Those actions grant licenses, 

permits, and approvals for the project. 

DATES: By this notice, the FHWA, on 

behalf of Caltrans, is advising the public 

of final agency actions subject to 23 

U.S.C. 139(l)(1). A claim seeking 

judicial review of the Federal agency 

actions on the highway project will be 

barred unless the claim is filed on or 

before July 20, 2010. If the Federal law 

that authorizes judicial review of a 

claim provides a time period of less 

than 180 days for filing such claim, then 

that shorter time period still applies. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: G. 

William ‘‘Trais’’ Norris III, Senior 

Environmental Planner, California 

Department of Transportation (Caltrans), 

2015 East Shields Avenue, Suite 100, 

Fresno, CA 93726; weekdays 8 a.m. to 

5 p.m. (Pacific time); telephone (559) 

243–8178; (please note office closed 1st 

through 3rd Fridays due to State 

furloughs), e-mail: 

trais_norris@dot.ca.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective 

July 1, 2007, the Federal Highway 

Administration (FHWA) assigned, and 

the California Department of 

Transportation (Caltrans) assumed, 

environmental responsibilities for this 

project pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327. 

Notice is hereby given that the Caltrans 

has taken final agency actions subject to 

23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1) by issuing licenses, 

permits, and approvals for the following 

highway project in the State of 

California: The San Juan Interchange 

Project on U.S. Route 101 in Monterey 

and San Benito Counties of California. 

The purpose of the project is to make 

safety and operational improvements by 

constructing an interchange with 

frontage roads on U.S. Route 101 and a 

median barrier to close existing gaps. 

The project limits are 0.4 mile south of 

Dunbarton Road in Monterey County 

(post mile 100.0) to 1 mile north of Cole 

Road in San Benito County (post mile 

1.6). 

The actions by the Federal agencies, 

and the laws under which such actions 

were taken, are described in the 

Environmental Assessment (EA)/ 

Finding of No Significant Impact 

(FONSI) for the project, approved on 

December 7, 2009. The EA/FONSI and 

other documents are available by 

contacting Caltrans at the address 

provided above. The EA/FONSI, and 

other documents also can be viewed and 

downloaded from the project Web site 

at: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/ 

projects/mon_sanjuan/index.htm. 

This notice applies to all Federal 

agency decisions as of the issuance date 

of this notice and all laws under which 

such actions were taken, including but 

not limited to: 

1. General: National Environmental 

Policy Act (NEPA) [42 U.S.C. 4321– 

4351]; and Federal-Aid Highway Act [23 

U.S.C. 109 and 23 U.S.C. 128]. 

2. Air: Clean Air Act [42 U.S.C. 7401– 

7671(q)]. 

3. Land: Landscape and Scenic 

Enhancement (Wildflowers) [23 U.S.C. 

319]. 

4. Wetlands and Water Resources: 

Safe Drinking Water Act [42 U.S.C. 

300(f) -300(j)(6)]; and Wetlands 

Mitigation [23 U.S.C. 103(b)(6)(m) and 

133(b)(11)]. 

5. Wildlife: Endangered Species Act 

[16 U.S.C. 1531–1544 and Section 

1536]; Fish and Wildlife Coordination 

Act [16 U.S.C. 661–667(d)]; and 

Migratory Bird Treaty Act [16 U.S.C. 

703–712]. 

6. Historic and Cultural Resources: 

Section 106 of the National Historic 

Preservation Act of 1966, as amended 

[16 U.S.C. 470(f) et seq.]; Archaeological 

and Historic Preservation Act [16 U.S.C. 

469–469c]; Archaeological Resources 

Protection Act of 1979 [16 U.S.C. 470aa 

et seq]; and Native American Graves 

Protection and Repatriation Act [25 

U.S.C. 3001–3013]. 

7. Social and Economic: Civil Rights 

Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. 2000(d)– 

2000(d)(1)]; Farmland Protection Policy 

Act [7 U.S.C. 4201–4209]; and The 

Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real 


jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES