Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 206 / Friday, October 24, 2014 / Notices 63659 

8 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). 

Paper Comments 

• Send paper comments in triplicate 

to Secretary, Securities and Exchange 

Commission, 100 F Street NE., 

Washington, DC 20549–1090. 

All submissions should refer to File 

Number SR–FICC–2014–07. This file 

number should be included on the 

subject line if email is used. To help the 

Commission process and review your 

comments more efficiently, please use 

only one method. The Commission will 

post all comments on the Commission’s 

Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/

rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the 

submission, all subsequent 

amendments, all written statements 

with respect to the proposed rule 

change that are filed with the 

Commission, and all written 

communications relating to the 

proposed rule change between the 

Commission and any person, other than 

those that may be withheld from the 

public in accordance with the 

provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be 

available for Web site viewing and 

printing in the Commission’s Public 

Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., 

Washington, DC 20549–1090 on official 

business days between the hours of 

10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the 

filing also will be available for 

inspection and copying at the principal 

office of FICC and on FICC’s Web site: 

http://www.dtcc.com/∼/media/Files/ 

Downloads/legal/rule-filings/2014/ficc/ 

SR-FICC-2014-07.pdf. 

All comments received will be posted 

without change; the Commission does 

not edit personal identifying 

information from submissions. You 

should submit only information that 

you wish to make available publicly. All 

submissions should refer to File 

Number SR–FICC–2014–07 and should 

be submitted on or before November 14, 

2014. 

For the Commission, by the Division of 

Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated 

authority.8

Kevin M. O’Neill, 

Deputy Secretary. 

[FR Doc. 2014–25301 Filed 10–23–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8011–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

[Public Notice 8931] 

Department of State Performance 

Review Board Members; Appointments 

In accordance with section 4314(c)(4) 

of 5 United States Code, the Department 

of State has appointed the following 

individuals to the Department of State 

Performance Review Board for Senior 

Executive Service members: 

Christopher H. Flaggs, Chairperson, 

Comptroller, Bureau of the Comptroller 

and Global Financial Services, 

Department of State; 

Kelly Clements, Deputy Assistant 

Secretary, Bureau of Population, 

Refugees, and Migration, Department of 

State; 

Hoyt B. Yee, Deputy Assistant 

Secretary, Bureau of European and 

Eurasian Affairs, Department of State; 

and 

Mary Catherine Malin, Assistant Legal 

Advisor, Office of the Legal Advisor, 

Department of State. 

Dated: October 14, 2014. 

Hans Klemm, 

Acting Director General of the Foreign Service 

and Director of Human Resources, 

Department of State. 

[FR Doc. 2014–25353 Filed 10–23–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4710–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Transit Administration 

Innovative Public Transportation 

Workforce Development Program 

(Ladders of Opportunity Initiative) 

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, 

DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of Funding Availability. 

SUMMARY: The Federal Transit 

Administration (FTA) announces a 

Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) 

for the Innovative Public Transportation 

Workforce Development Program 

(Ladders of Opportunity Initiative). FTA 

has budgeted approximately $9 million 

for this solicitation. This NOFA solicits 

proposals that promote innovative 

nationally and regionally significant 

public transportation workforce 

development models and programs that 

invest in America’s economic growth 

and help build ladders of opportunity 

into the middle class for American 

workers. 

DATES: Complete proposals are due by 

11:59 p.m. EST on December 23, 2014. 

ADDRESSES: All proposals must be 

submitted electronically through the 

GRANTS.GOV ‘‘APPLY’’ function. All 

entities intending to apply should 

initiate the process of registering on the 

GRANTS.GOV Web site immediately to 

ensure completion of registration before 

the submission deadline. Instructions 

for applying can be found in the ‘‘FIND’’ 

module of GRANTS.GOV. Mail and fax 

submissions will not be accepted. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

specific information regarding the areas 

of research targeted within this NOFA, 

please contact Betty Jackson, Workforce 

Development Program Manager, Office 

of Research, Demonstration and 

Innovation, phone: (202) 366–1730, fax: 

(202) 366–3765, or email: 

betty.jackson@dot.gov. A TDD is 

available at 1–800–877–8339 (TDD/

FIRS). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Discretionary Program Overview 

A. Authority 

Section 5322(b) of Title 49, United 

States Code authorizes FTA’s 

discretionary Innovative Public 

Transportation Workforce Development 

Program, pursuant to which FTA makes 

grants to transit agencies and other 

entities to undertake workforce 

development activities, including those 

that create employment training 

programs, conduct outreach programs to 

increase minority and female 

employment in transit, conduct research 

on public transportation personnel and 

training needs, and provide training and 

assistance for minority business 

opportunities. Under this authority, 

FTA is issuing this funding opportunity 

for the Innovative Public Transportation 

Workforce Development, Ladders of 

Opportunity Initiative. FTA plans to 

fund nationally or regionally significant 

public transportation workforce projects 

that will assist in building ladders of 

opportunity for American workers to 

move into the middle class, as well as 

build the critical skillset needed in the 

public transportation industry. 

FTA has budgeted approximately 

$9,000,000 for the program. FTA may 

choose to fund the program for more or 

less than the announced amount, 

including applying any future 

appropriated funds toward the projects 

proposed in response to this NOFA. 

Future funding will depend in part on 

Congressional appropriation. 

B. Policy Priorities 

Supporting a highly-skilled transit 

workforce is critical to maintaining a 

competitive and efficient public 

transportation system. As public 

transportation experiences significant 

growth in the United States and 

investments continue in the physical 

capital of the nation’s transit systems, it 

is essential to build and maintain the 

nation’s human capital in public 

transportation as well. 

FTA is seeking projects that create a 

new nationally or regionally significant 

workforce development program, or 

augment or replicate a successful 


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existing program that will have benefits 

for transit agencies or the transit 

industry. While either type of effort will 

be considered, programs or approaches 

with an existing track record of success 

are likely to receive significant 

consideration. 

FTA is prioritizing applications that 

focus on one or more of the following 

activity areas: 

• Targeting areas with high rates of 

unemployment; 

• helping persons in local 

communities to directly benefit from 

employment opportunities created by 

the construction and operation of new 

transit capital projects or other public 

transportation activities within their 

region; 

• providing career pathways that 

support the movement of targeted 

populations (e.g., new transit entrants 

and other underserved populations) 

from initial or short-term employment 

opportunities to sustainable careers; 

• helping to increase through 

outreach and training the employment 

of minorities, women, individuals with 

disabilities, veterans, low-income 

populations and other underserved 

populations in public transportation 

activities; 

• addressing gaps in areas with 

current or projected workforce shortages 

in fields related to public transportation; 

• pre-employment training/

preparation/tracking; and/or 

• recruitment and hiring. 

II. Program Information 

A. Program Description and Purpose 

The Innovative Public Transportation 

Workforce Development Program assists 

in the development of innovative 

programs and activities in public 

transportation that address the human 

resources needs of public transportation 

operators, as well as build pathways to 

long-term careers in the public 

transportation industry. 

B. Eligibility Information 

1. Eligible Applicants 

Eligible applicants are urban and rural 

transit agencies; state departments of 

transportation (DOTs) providing public 

transportation services; Metropolitan 

Planning Organizations; Indian Tribes; 

nonprofit institutions; and institutions 

of higher education. Only these types of 

organizations are eligible to apply to 

this program. The cooperative 

agreement will be between FTA and the 

selected organization, which must have 

a substantial interest in the project and 

must not simply act as a pass-through 

for funds. Applicants may apply 

individually or in a consortium of 

eligible applicants. The consortium of 

eligible applicants must include a lead 

applicant as the primary recipient of 

federal funds. 

Individuals, for-profit entities other 

than for-profit educational institutions, 

and Federal agencies are not eligible to 

apply to this program. 

2. Strategic Partnerships 

To be eligible for funding under this 

NOFA, applicants must demonstrate 

that the proposed project is supported 

by the primary applicant in partnership 

with one or more external strategic 

partner(s) with a substantial interest and 

involvement in the project. An external 

partner must be an entity that has no 

direct relationship to the primary 

applicant. For example, the external 

partner may not be a department within 

the applicant’s organization. If the 

primary applicant is not a transit agency 

or consortia of transit agencies, the 

external partners must include at least 

one transit agency as an external 

partner. 

In addition to transit agencies, an 

external partner entity could include, 

but is not limited to: 

a. Educational institutions, which 

include entities providing professional 

accreditation, degree, and/or 

certification programs, such as 

universities, community colleges, or 

trade schools, either non-profit or forprofit. 

b. Public workforce investment 

systems, such as local Workforce 

Investment Boards and their one-stop 

systems. 

c. Labor organizations, such as labor 

unions and labor management 

organizations. 

d. Non-profit organizations that 

support the mission of transit and 

transportation workforce development. 

Applicants should include a letter of 

confirmed support from each potential 

partner as part of their application. 

Applicants must include sufficient 

evidence of the partnership. Sufficient 

evidence may include a memorandum 

of agreement or letter of intent signed by 

all parties that describes the parties’ 

roles, responsibilities and financial 

commitment in the proposed project. 

FTA may contact each partner to 

determine its level of involvement and 

financial commitment in the proposed 

application. 

3. Cost Sharing 

Funds used for this NOFA were 

authorized by both SAFETEA–LU and 

MAP–21. There is a minimum 50 

percent non-Federal cost share for all 

funds awarded. Regardless of minimum 

share requirements, cost sharing is an 

evaluation criterion and proposals with 

higher non-Federal cost share will be 

considered more favorably. Cash and 

other high-quality match will be 

considered more favorably than in-kind 

cost matching, though all are acceptable. 

FTA will not approve deferred local 

share. Recipients must comply with all 

applicable FTA requirements. 

a. Eligible sources of matching funds 

include: 

i. Cash from non-governmental 

sources other than revenues from 

providing public transportation 

services; 

ii. Non-farebox revenues from the 

operation of public transportation 

service, such as the sale of advertising 

and concession revenues. A voluntary 

or mandatory fee that a college, 

university, or similar institution 

imposes on all its students for free or 

discounted transit service is not farebox 

revenue; 

iii. Amounts received under a service 

agreement with a State or local social 

service agency or private social service 

organization; 

iv. Undistributed cash surpluses, 

replacement or depreciation cash funds, 

reserves available in cash, or new 

capital; 

v. In-kind contributions, such as the 

market value of in-kind contributions 

integral to the project, may be counted 

as a contribution toward local share. 

4. Other Eligibility Requirements 

a. Allowable Activities 

Projects must provide direct support 

to workforce development projects. 

Capital expenses such as equipment 

purchases are not considered to be 

eligible costs unless they directly relate 

to the workforce development program 

being supported by FTA funds. 

Acceptable costs can include, but are 

not limited to: Faculty/instructors, 

including salaries and fringe benefits, 

support staff, classroom space, books, 

materials and supplies, transportation 

stipends for students. 

b. Unallowable Costs 

FTA funds under this program are not 

intended as an offset to regular transit 

agency employee salaries and may not 

be used to cover the regular or overtime 

salaries of employees at transit agencies 

offering training. Funds may be used to 

cover the costs of staff directly engaged 

in a program management or training 

role at an agency. 

C. Evaluation Criteria, Review and 

Selection 

When evaluating competing projects 

for discretionary grant awards otherwise 

eligible under the program, FTA will 


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consider whether the project can help 

Americans move up to the middle class 

by providing transportation options that 

are more affordable and reliable, and 

improving their quality of life through 

greater access to education and new job 

opportunities, including jobs in the 

transportation industry. These 

considerations are the foundation of 

FTA’s ‘‘Ladders of Opportunity 

Initiative’’ and will serve as 

distinguishing factors for purposes of 

project selection. FTA will evaluate the 

applications submitted according to the 

criteria set forth below. Proposals must 

have a minimum threshold of $200,000 

and a maximum of $1,000,000. 

FTA will assess the extent to which 

a proposal addresses the following 

criteria: 

a. National or Regional Applicability 

FTA will evaluate whether the project 

has national or regional applicability 

and whether it will provide a replicable 

model of workforce development 

practices. 

b. Statement of Need 

FTA will evaluate the extent to which 

the project identifies a clear and specific 

industry need for the Federal 

investment in the proposed transit 

workforce development activities. An 

applicant must submit data and provide 

evidence of the industry need and value 

for the proposed program. 

c. Innovation 

FTA will evaluate the extent to which 

a project identifies a unique, significant, 

or innovative approach to address 

workforce development issues in a 

transit agency. 

d. Project Management and 

Organizational Capacity 

FTA will evaluate the capacity of the 

applicant and its required partners to 

effectively staff the proposed initiative 

and deliver the proposed outcomes, as 

well as the fiscal, administrative, and 

performance management capacity to 

implement the key components of this 

project. FTA will also evaluate the 

strength of the strategic partnership 

applying for the project. Additionally, 

FTA will evaluate the track record of the 

applicant and its required partners to 

implement projects of similar focus, 

size, and scope. 

e. Strategy and Project Work Plan 

FTA anticipates awarding proposals 

for projects that will be completed 

within 18 to 24 months of receipt of the 

funding award. The period of 

performance will be up to 24 months 

from the date of execution of the grant 

documents. This performance period 

includes all necessary implementation 

and start-up activities, execution of the 

program, and completion of final 

deliverables as specified in the 

applicant’s Scope of Work. 

FTA will evaluate the project work 

plan pursuant to the following factors: 

(1) The presentation of a coherent plan 

that demonstrates the applicant’s 

complete understanding of all the 

activities, responsibilities, and costs 

required to implement each phase of the 

project and achieve projected outcomes; 

(2) the demonstrated feasibility and 

reasonableness of the timeline for 

accomplishing all necessary 

implementation activities, including the 

ability to expeditiously begin training; 

and (3) the extent to which the budget 

aligns with the proposed work plan and 

is justified with respect to the adequacy 

and reasonableness of resources 

requested. 

f. Outcomes and Deliverables 

FTA will evaluate the extent to which 

the applicant and required partners 

demonstrate a results-oriented approach 

to managing and operating the project 

by providing projections for all 

applicable outcome categories relevant 

to measuring the success or impact of 

the project, describing the products and 

deliverables that will be produced as a 

result of the project activities, and fully 

demonstrating the appropriateness and 

feasibility of achieving these results. 

The applicant must include projected 

outcomes, which will be used as goals 

for the project. 

g. Furthering Ladders of Opportunity 

FTA has prioritized and will use the 

following activity areas of: (1) Targeting 

areas with high rates of unemployment; 

(2) helping persons in local 

communities to directly benefit from 

employment opportunities created by 

the construction and operation of new 

transit capital projects or other public 

transportation activities within their 

region; (3) providing career pathways 

that support the movement of targeted 

populations (e.g. new transit entrants 

and other underserved populations, etc.) 

from initial or short-term employment 

opportunities to sustainable careers; (4) 

helping to increase through outreach 

and training the employment of 

minorities, women, individuals with 

disabilities, veterans, low income 

populations and other underserved 

populations in public transportation 

activities; (5) addressing gaps in areas 

with current or projected workforce 

shortages in fields related to public 

transportation; (6) pre-employment 

training/preparation/tracking; and/or (7) 

recruitment and hiring. Further, these 

activity areas will be used to evaluate 

the extent to which an applicant and its 

required partners demonstrate how this 

program or project can assist in building 

ladders of opportunity to the middle 

class; how the proposed program can 

connect people and economic 

opportunities in public transportation; 

and how it can build pathways to new 

job opportunities in the transit field. 

D. Review and Selection Process 

A technical evaluation committee will 

review proposals under the project 

selection criteria. Members of the 

technical evaluation committee and the 

FTA Workforce Program Manager 

reserve the right to screen and rate the 

applications FTA receives and to seek 

clarification from any applicant about 

any statement in its application that 

FTA finds ambiguous and/or to request 

additional documentation to be 

considered during the evaluation 

process to clarify information contained 

within the proposal. 

After consideration of the findings of 

the technical evaluation committee, the 

FTA Administrator will determine the 

final selection and amount of funding 

for each project. Additionally, as 

provided at 49 U.S.C. 5322(b)(2), the 

FTA will consider and select, to the 

maximum extent feasible, recipients 

that: 

• Are geographically diverse; 

• Address the workforce and human 

resources needs of large public 

transportation providers; 

• Address the workforce and human 

resources needs of small public 

transportation providers; 

• Address the workforce and human 

resources needs of urban public 

transportation providers; 

• Address the workforce and human 

resources needs of rural public 

transportation providers; 

• Advance training related to 

maintenance of alternative energy, 

energy efficiency, or zero emission 

vehicles and facilities used in public 

transportation; 

• Target areas with high rates of 

unemployment; and 

• Address current or projected 

workforce shortages in areas that require 

technical expertise. 

III. Proposal Preparation and 

Submission 

A. Proposal Submission Process 

Applicants may submit more than one 

proposal. However, each proposal must 

support a new idea or program and not 

be duplicative. Submission of multiple 

proposals from a single entity will not 


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increase that entity’s chances of being 

awarded a grant. 

Complete proposals for the Innovative 

Public Transportation Workforce 

Development Program Ladders of 

Opportunity Initiative must be 

submitted electronically through the 

GRANTS.GOV Web site by 11:59 EST 

on December 23, 2014. Late applications 

will not be accepted. Proposers 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 proposers may 

still be required to take steps to keep 

their registration up to date before 

submissions can be made successfully: 

(1) Registration in the Systems for 

Award Management (SAM) (formerly 

the Central Contracting Registry (CCR) 

system) is required; and (2) persons 

making submissions on behalf of the 

Authorized Organization Representative 

(AOR) must be authorized in 

GRANTS.GOV by the AOR to make 

submissions. 

Eligible entities must have or must 

secure a DUNS number for the purposes 

of formal application and potential 

entry into a cooperative agreement with 

FTA. The DUNS number is a unique 

nine-character number that identifies 

your organization. It is a tool of the 

federal government to track how federal 

money is distributed. Each FTA 

applicant’s DUNS number will be 

maintained as part of the applicant’s 

profile. This number can be obtained 

free through the Dun and Bradstreet 

(D&B) Web site (http://www.dnb.com/

US/duns_update). 

In addition, each entity that applies 

and does not have an exemption under 

2 CFR § 25.110 should: 

(1) Be registered in the System for 

Award Management (SAM) prior to 

submitting an application or plan 

(www.sam.gov), and 

(2) Maintain an active SAM 

registration with current information at 

all times during which it has an active 

Federal award or an application or plan 

under consideration by an agency. 

B. Proposal Content 

The applicant should submit a project 

narrative statement describing the 

project objectives, proposed work tasks, 

outputs, and benefits of the proposed 

project for which Federal assistance is 

being requested. If the project is a 

proposal seeking support for an existing 

program, it should describe the 

proposed FTA-supported project within 

the context of the larger effort. 

The narrative also should indicate 

whether matching funds will be 

provided, the expected duration of the 

project, and other information that 

would assist FTA to understand and 

evaluate the project. Each submission 

for a project narrative statement should 

not exceed 12 pages (single-spaced, 

single-sided, 12 point font on 8.5x11 

inch paper) and must include the 

information listed below: 

1. Project Title, Objective(s), and 

Contact Person 

At the top of the document, state the 

title of the project and provide 2–3 

sentences describing the intended 

project goals and outcomes. List the 

contact person for this application along 

with his or her address, title, phone 

number, fax number, and email address. 

2. Statement of the Problem(s) 

Provide a description of the new or 

existing program to be supported by the 

proposed project. Describe the national 

or regional impact of this project. 

Characterize the workforce issue or 

problem present in the public 

transportation industry that the project 

directly addresses. Describe how the 

project will specifically address the 

issue for the applying organization. 

Explain why the specified approach is 

being taken as opposed to others, and 

how its innovative aspects have 

potential for nationwide or regional 

application. In addition to innovative 

workforce practices, cite the unique 

features of the project, such as design or 

technological innovations, reductions in 

cost or time, environmental benefits, 

benefits to riders, or social and 

community involvement. Finally, 

identify uncertainties and external 

factors that could affect the schedule, 

cost, or success of the program. 

Supporting documentation may be 

provided as an attachment that will not 

count toward the total page limit. Such 

information will be considered 

supplementary and will not necessarily 

be considered by FTA in the project 

selection process. 

3. Geographic Location, Target Groups, 

and Emphasis Areas 

Give a precise location or locations of 

the project and identify the area(s), and 

target group(s) to be directly served by 

the proposed effort. Maps or other 

graphic aids may be attached as needed. 

4. Strategic Partners 

Provide a list of the strategic 

partner(s) that will be participating in 

the project, as well as a description of 

each organization, the unique skill sets 

and capacity they will bring to the 

project, and the activities they will carry 

out. Also provide documentation of the 

strategic partnership, such as a 

memorandum of agreement or letter of 

intent signed by all parties that 

describes the parties’ roles, 

responsibilities and financial 

commitment in the proposed project. 

5. Scope of Work 

Outline a plan of action, organized by 

work task, pertaining to the scope and 

detail of how the proposed work will be 

accomplished. List estimated milestone 

dates for major activities and products. 

Activities should be justified in terms of 

eligible program activities and proposals 

should clearly demonstrate the 

connection between the planned work 

and at least one of the specific program 

activities cited. The Scope of Work also 

should address supporting activities, 

such as marketing plans for engaging 

participants and/or dissemination 

strategies for sharing the results, if such 

are critical to the success of the 

supported program. 

Proposals must describe at least one 

final project deliverable and how it will 

improve the state of the practice. Final 

products and project deliverables must 

be made available at no cost to FTA and 

other agencies at the project’s close for 

dissemination and sharing throughout 

the industry. Acceptable final products 

and deliverables include, but are not 

limited to, class materials, Web sites or 

software, recruitment materials, flyers, 

brochures and reports. This product is 

in addition to the performance reporting 

requirements described in Section 6 

below. Additionally, a written Final 

Report that is consistent with FTA 

Report guidelines: http://

ftanet.fta.dot.gov/TRI/Documents/

Preparation%20Instructions

%20for%20FTA%20Final

%20Reports.pdf is required. 

If a phased plan is being proposed, 

describe the context and additional 

phases on a separate page or separate 

pages. 

6. Period of Performance 

Provide a schedule for completion of 

tasks assuming a total period of 

performance of up to 24 months. If a 

phased plan is being proposed, describe 

schedule for additional phases on a 

separate page or separate pages (not 

counted toward the page maximum). 

7. Cost/Budget Proposal 

Provide the Federal amount 

requested, and a cost proposal 

indicating staffing levels, hours, and 

direct costs for the total project and 

amount of funding requested from FTA. 

The proposal must describe the source 


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and amount of matching funds. As 

appropriate, the cost proposal also must 

set forth the nature and value of in-kind 

resources that team members will 

contribute to meet the match 

requirement. 

Provide a line-item budget for the 

total project, with enough detail to 

indicate the various key components of 

the project. As FTA may elect to fund 

only a portion of a proposal rather than 

the full amount requested by the 

applicant, the budget should set forth 

the minimum amount necessary to fund 

specific project components. As funding 

for the Innovative Public Transportation 

Workforce Development Program 

(Ladders of Opportunity Initiative) is 

limited, an application that can be 

scaled may receive additional 

consideration for funding. 

8. Performance Measurement 

Provide an approach for 

demonstrating the local, nationwide or 

regional impact(s) of the project on the 

transit industry and broader 

employment opportunities. The 

proposal should include a description of 

the applicant’s plan for recording the 

outcomes and reporting in a Final 

Report, at a minimum, the following to 

FTA at the end of the project: 

• The number of individuals affected 

by the project. Applicants should define 

‘‘affected individuals’’ in terms that 

make sense for the proposed project. For 

example, other common reported 

outcomes could include: 

D Target Individuals (Veterans, 

Women, Youth, Incumbent Workers, 

etc.); 

D Number of eligible individuals 

entered into program; 

D Number of individuals who 

successfully complete the program, 

achieve applicable credential, etc.; 

D Number of placed new workers and/ 

or advanced incumbent workers; 

D Number of retained workers after 90 

days. 

• The costs of the project and the 

share of federal investment. 

• At least one performance metric. 

Quantitative metrics are preferred, but 

qualitative metrics will be considered if 

they are based on the experiences of 

those affected by the program (as 

opposed to the self-assessment of the 

applicant or partner agencies). Metrics 

could include, but are not limited to, 

survey results; exit interviews; or 

longitudinal tracking of staff (during the 

period of performance only). 

• A 1–2 page project description that 

will state the project’s initial goals and 

measure achievements against those 

goals. This statement can also include 

‘‘lessons learned.’’ 

• A 1–2 page statement of 

applicability to other entities. Once the 

program is complete, the applicant must 

describe how the project could be scaled 

and/or altered for application 

elsewhere, and what types of benefits 

could be realized by doing so. 

• Any other performance measure 

that the applicant determines would 

describe the strengths and weaknesses 

of the project. 

As part of the proposal, provide 

projections (for quantitative measures) 

or short hypotheses (for qualitative 

measures) of what type of impact/

performance FTA could expect from the 

project. 

9. Project Management 

Describe the applicant’s approach for 

managing and staffing the project, 

including the distribution of 

responsibilities among partner entities 

and an organizational chart, if 

applicable. Include responsibilities such 

as regular reporting, performance 

measurement, and technical/

management interactions with FTA. 

Quarterly cost and activity progress 

reporting is required and can be 

submitted in the FTA electronics grant 

award system and by email submission 

to the FTA Workforce Program Manager. 

FTA will provide a template upon 

request. 

10. Project Staff 

List each organization, operator, 

consultant, or other key individuals 

who will work on the project, along 

with short descriptions of their 

appropriate technical expertise and 

experience (such as past, relevant 

research). Attach resumes or curriculum 

vitae if available. Project staff resumes 

or curriculum vitae will not count 

towards the total page count for 

proposal submissions. 

IV. Award Information 

FTA will award grants of a minimum 

of $200,000 and a maximum of 

$1,000,000. FTA intends to award as 

many meritorious projects as possible, 

and may elect to award less than the 

amount requested by an applicant. In 

addition, geographic diversity and the 

applicant’s receipt of other discretionary 

awards may be considered in FTA’s 

award decisions. 

A. Notification. After FTA has 

selected the proposals to be funded, 

successful applicants will be notified by 

email or telephone of their status. In 

addition, FTA will publish a notice in 

the Federal Register announcing 

successful applicants. Upon notification 

of intent to award funds, FTA may 

withdraw its offer to provide Federal 

assistance if the recipient does not 

provide a formal application consistent 

with its proposal submission within 90 

days following the date of the offer. 

B. Execution of the FTA Agreement. 

FTA will instruct successful applicants 

on how to execute their cooperative 

agreements in FTA’s electronic grants 

management system. 

C. Start Date and Incurred Costs. 

Absent special circumstances, costs 

incurred prior to FTA award are not 

eligible as project expenses. Absent 

highly unusual circumstances, FTA 

cannot retroactively approve a project. 

The recipient may begin to incur project 

costs as of the date the award letter is 

signed by FTA and the awardee 

executes the final signature. FTA 

expects grantees to implement the 

projects awarded as soon as possible 

and to fully expend grant funds during 

the period of performance, recognizing 

that full transparency and 

accountability are required for all 

expenditures. 

V. Contacts for Additional Information 

Prospective applicants may visit the 

following Web sites for more 

information: 

• http://www.fta.dot.gov. 

• For more on managing projects in 

accordance with FTA Circular 6100.1D: 

Transit Research and Technology 

Programs: Application Instructions and 

Program Management Guidelines: 

http://fta.dot.gov/legislation_law/ 

12349_12669.html. This Circular 

includes requirements on project 

management and administration 

including quarterly reporting, financial 

management, and payment. 

For general program information, 

please use the contact information 

identified in the front of this notice. 

Please contact the Grants.gov Helpdesk 

for assistance with electronic 

applications at http://www.grants.gov. 

You also may contact 

support@grants.gov or call toll-free (800) 

518–4726. 

Therese W. McMillan, 

Acting Administrator. 

[FR Doc. 2014–25310 Filed 10–23–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Transit Administration 

[Docket No. FTA–2013–0023] 

Formula Grants for Rural Areas: 

Guidance and Application Instructions 

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration 

(FTA), DOT. 


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