Document ID: DOT-OST-2013-0120-0002
Agency: dot
Document Type: Notice
Title: Order Soliciting Small Community Grant Proposals
Posted Date: 2013-06-27T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 124 (Thursday, June 27, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38783-38794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15525]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

[Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120]

Grant Applications; Small Community Air Service Development 
Program under 49 U.S.C. 41743 et seq.; Order Soliciting Small Community 
Grant Proposals

Issued by the Department of Transportation on the 24th day of June, 
2013.
    By this order, the Department invites proposals from communities 
and/or consortia of communities interested in obtaining a federal grant 
under the Small Community Air Service Development Program (``Small 
Community Program'' or ``SCASDP'') to address air service and airfare 
issues in their communities. Applications of no more than 20 pages each 
(one-sided only, excluding the completed SF424, Summary Information 
schedule, and any letters from the community or an air carrier showing 
support for the application), including all required information, must 
be submitted to www.grants.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, 
July 26, 2013.
    This order is organized into the following sections:

I. Background
II. Selection Criteria and Guidance on Application of Selection 
Criteria
III. Evaluation and Selection Process
IV. How to Apply
V. Air Service Development Zone
VI. Grant Administration
VII. Questions and Clarifications
    Appendix A--Additional Information on Applying Through 
www.grants.gov
    Appendix B--Summary Information
    Appendix C--Application Checklist
    Appendix D--Confidential Commercial Information

I. Background

    The Small Community Program was established by the Wendell H. Ford 
Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (Pub. L. 106-
181) and reauthorized by the Vision 100-Century of Aviation 
Reauthorization Act (Pub. L. 108-176). The program is designed to 
provide financial assistance to small communities in order to help them 
enhance their air service. The Department provides this assistance in 
the form of monetary grants that are disbursed on a reimbursable basis. 
Authorization for this program is codified at 49 U.S.C. 41743.
    The Small Community Program is authorized to receive appropriations 
under 49 U.S.C. 41743(e)(2), as amended. Appropriations are provided 
for this program for award selection in FY 2013 pursuant to the FAA 
Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112-95). The Department 
has up to $11.5 million available for FY 2013 grant awards to carry out 
this program. There is no limit on the amount of individual awards, and 
the amounts awarded will vary depending upon the features and merits of 
the selected proposals. In past years, the Department's individual 
grant sizes have ranged from $20,000 to nearly $1.6 million.

A. Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants are small communities that meet the following 
statutory criteria under 49 U.S.C. 41743:
    1. As of calendar year 1997, the airport serving the community was 
not larger than a small hub airport, and it has insufficient air 
carrier service or unreasonably high air fares; and
    2. The airport serving the community presents characteristics, such 
as geographic diversity or unique circumstances that demonstrate the 
need for, and feasibility of, grant assistance from the Small Community 
Program.
    No more than four communities or consortia of communities, or a 
combination thereof, from the same state may be selected to participate 
in the program in any fiscal year. No more than 40 communities or 
consortia of communities, or a combination thereof, may be selected to 
participate in the program in each year for which the funds are 
appropriated.
    Communities Without Existing Air Service: Communities that do not 
currently have commercial air service are eligible for SCASDP funds, 
but air service providers must have met or be able to meet in a 
reasonable period, all Department requirements for air service 
certification, including safety and economic authorities.
    Essential Air Service Communities: Small communities that meet the 
basic SCASDP criteria and currently receive subsidized air service 
under the Essential Air Service (``EAS'') program are eligible to apply 
for SCASDP funds. However, grant awards to EAS-subsidized communities 
are limited to marketing or promotion projects that support existing or 
newly subsidized EAS. Grant funds will not be authorized for EAS-
subsidized communities to support any new competing air service. 
Furthermore, no funds will be authorized to support additional flights 
by EAS carriers or changes to those carriers' existing schedules. These 
restrictions are necessary to avoid conflicts with the mandate of the 
EAS program.
    Consortium Applications: Both individual communities and consortia 
of communities are eligible for SCASDP funds. An application from a 
consortium of communities must be one that seeks to facilitate the 
efforts of the communities working together toward one joint grant 
project, with one joint objective, including the establishment of one 
entity to ensure that the joint objective is accomplished.
    Multiple Applications: Communities may file only one application 
for a grant, either individually or as part of a consortium.

B. Eligible Projects

    The Department is authorized to award grants under 49 U.S.C. 41743 
to communities that seek to provide assistance to:
     An air carrier to subsidize service to and from an 
underserved airport for a period not to exceed 3 years;
     An underserved airport to obtain service to and from the 
underserved airport; and/or
     An underserved airport to implement such other measures as 
the Secretary, in consultation with such

[[Page 38784]]

airport, considers appropriate to improve air service both in terms of 
the cost of such service to consumers and the availability of such 
service, including improving air service through marketing and 
promotion of air service and enhanced utilization of airport 
facilities.
    Applicants should also keep in mind the following statutory 
restrictions on eligible projects:
     An applicant may not receive an additional grant to 
support the same project from a previous grant (see Same Project 
Limitation, below); and
     An applicant may not receive an additional grant, prior to 
the completion of its previous grant (see Concurrent Grant Limitation, 
below).
    Same Project Limitation: A community may not receive an additional 
grant to support the same project for which it received a previous 
grant (Same Project Limitation). In assessing whether a previous 
grantee's current application represents a new project, the Department 
will compare the goals and objectives of the previous grant, including 
the key components of the means by which those goals and objectives 
were to be achieved, to the current application. For example, if a 
community received an earlier grant to support a revenue guarantee for 
service to a particular destination or direction, a new application by 
that community for another revenue guarantee for service to the same 
destination or in the same direction is ineligible, even if the revenue 
guarantee were structured differently or the type of carrier were 
different. However, a new application by such a previous grantee for 
service to a new destination or direction using a revenue guarantee, or 
for general marketing of the airport and the various services it 
offers, is eligible. We recognize that not all revenue guarantees, 
marketing agreements, studies, etc. are of the same nature, and that if 
a subsequent application incorporates different goals or significantly 
different components, it may be sufficiently different to constitute a 
new project under 49 U.S.C. 41743(c).
    Concurrent Grant Limitation: A community or consortium may have 
only one SCASDP grant at any time. If a community or consortium applies 
for a subsequent SCASDP grant when its current grant has not yet 
expired, that community/consortium must notify the Department of its 
intent to terminate the current SCASDP grant prior to entering into the 
new grant. In addition, for consortium member applicants, permission 
must be granted from both the grant sponsor and the Department to 
withdraw from the current SCASDP grant before that consortium member 
will be deemed eligible to receive a subsequent SCASDP grant.
    Airport Capital Improvements Ineligible: Airport capital 
improvement projects, including, but not limited to, runway expansions 
and enhancements, the construction of additional aircraft gates, and 
other airport terminal expansions and reconfigurations are ineligible 
for funding under the Small Community Program. Airports seeking funding 
for airport capital improvement projects may want to consult with their 
local FAA Regional Office to discuss potential eligibility for grants 
under the Airport Improvement Program.

II. Selection Criteria and Guidance on Application of Selection 
Criteria

    SCASDP grants will be awarded based on the selection criteria as 
outlined below. There are two categories of selection criteria: 
Priority Selection Criteria and Secondary Selection Criteria. 
Applications that meet one or more of the Priority Selection Criteria 
will be viewed more favorably than those that do not meet any Priority 
Selection Criteria.

A. Priority Selection Criteria

    The law directs the Department to give priority consideration to 
those communities or consortia where the following criteria are met:
    1. Air fares are higher than the national average air fares for all 
communities--DOT will compare the local community's air fares to the 
national average air fares for all similar markets. Communities with 
market air fares significantly higher than the national average air 
fares in similar markets will receive priority consideration. DOT 
calculates these fares using data from the Bureau of Transportation 
Statistics (BTS) Airline Origin and Destination Survey data. DOT 
evaluates all fares in all relevant markets that serve a SCASDP 
community and compares the SCASDP community fares to all fares in 
similar markets across the country. Each SCASDP applicant's air fares 
are computed as a percentage above or below the national averages. 
SCASDP community relevant markets are markets that average more than 
one passenger per day each way. The report compares a community's air 
fares to the average for all other similar markets in the country that 
have similar density (passenger volume) and similar distance 
characteristics (market groupings). All calculations are based on 12-
month ended periods to control for seasonal variation of fares.
    2. The community or consortium will provide a portion of the cost 
of the activity from local sources other than airport revenue sources--
DOT will consider whether a community or consortium proposes local 
funding for the proposed project. Applications providing 
proportionately higher levels of cash contributions from sources other 
than airport revenues will be viewed more favorably. Applications that 
provide multiple levels of contributions (state, local, airport, cash 
and in-kind contributions) will also be viewed more favorably. See 
Additional Guidance--Cost Sharing and Local Contributions, in 
Subsection C below, for more information on the application of this 
selection criterion.
    3. The community or consortium has established or will establish a 
public-private partnership to facilitate air carrier service to the 
public--DOT will consider a community or consortium's commitment to 
facilitate air carrier service in the form of a public-private 
partnership. Applications that describe in detail how the partnership 
will actively participate in the implementation of the proposed project 
will be viewed more favorably.
    4. The assistance will provide material benefits to a broad segment 
of the traveling public, including businesses, educational 
institutions, and other enterprises, whose access to the national air 
transportation system is limited--DOT will consider whether the 
proposed project would provide, to a broad segment of the community's 
traveling public, important benefits relevant to the community. 
Examples include service that would offer new or additional access to a 
connecting hub airport, service that would provide convenient travel 
times for both business and leisure travelers that would help obviate 
the need to drive long distances, and service that would offer lower 
fares.
    5. The assistance will be used in a timely manner--DOT will 
consider whether a proposed project provides a well-defined plan and 
reasonable timetable for use of the grant funds. In DOT's experience, a 
reasonable timetable for use of grant funds includes a year to complete 
studies, two years for marketing and promotion of the airport, 
community, carrier, or destination, and three years for projects that 
target a revenue guarantee, subsidy, or other financial incentives. 
Applicants should describe how their projects can be accomplished 
within a reasonable time period.
    6. Multiple communities cooperate to submit a regional or 
multistate application to consolidate air service

[[Page 38785]]

into one regional airport--DOT will consider whether a proposed project 
involves a consortium effort to consolidate air service into one 
regional airport. This statutory priority criterion was added pursuant 
to Section 429 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 
112-95).

B. Secondary Selection Criteria

    1. Innovation--DOT will consider whether an application proposes 
new and creative solutions to the transportation issues facing the 
community, including:
     The extent to which the applicant's proposed solution(s) 
to solving the problem(s) is new or innovative, including whether the 
proposed project utilizes or encourages intermodal or regional 
solutions to connect passengers to the community's air service (i.e., 
cost-effective inter/intra city passenger bus service, marketing of 
intermodal surface transportation options also available to air 
travelers, or projects that have a positive impact on travel and 
tourism); and
     Whether the proposed project, if successfully implemented, 
could serve as a working model for other communities.
    2. Participation--DOT will consider whether an application has 
broad community participation, including:
     Whether the proposed project has broad community support; 
and
     the community's demonstrated commitment to and 
participation in the proposed project.
    3. Location--DOT will consider the location and characteristics of 
a community:
     The geographic location of each applicant, including the 
community's proximity to larger centers of air service and low-fare 
service alternatives;
     the population and business activity, as well as the 
relative size of each community; and
     whether the community's proximity to an existing or prior 
grant recipient could adversely affect either its proposal or the 
project undertaken by the other recipient.
    4. Other Factors--DOT will also consider:
     Whether the proposed project clearly addresses the 
applicant's stated problems;
     the community's existing level of air service and whether 
that service has been increasing or decreasing;
     whether the applicant has a plan to provide any necessary 
continued financial support for the proposed project after the 
requested grant award expires;
     the grant amount requested compared with total funds 
available for all communities;
     the proposed federal grant amount requested compared with 
the local share offered;
     any letters of intent from airline planning departments or 
intermodal surface transportation providers on behalf of applications 
that are specifically intended to enlist new or expanded air service or 
surface transportation service in support of the air service in the 
community;
     whether the applicant has plans to continue with the 
proposed project if it is not self-sustaining after the grant award 
expires; and
     equitable and geographic distribution of available funds.

C. Additional Guidance

    Market Analysis: Applicants requesting funds for a revenue 
guarantee/subsidy/financial incentive are encouraged to conduct and 
reference in their applications an in-depth analysis of their target 
markets. Target markets can be destination specific (e.g., service to 
LAX), a geographic region (e.g., northwest mountain region) or 
directional (e.g., hub in the southeastern United States).
    Complementary Marketing Commitment: Applicants requesting funds for 
a revenue guarantee/subsidy/financial incentive are encouraged to 
designate in their applications a portion of the project funds 
(federal, local or in-kind) for the development and implementation of a 
marketing plan in support of the service sought.
    Subsidies for a carrier to compete against an incumbent: The 
Department is reluctant to subsidize one carrier but not others in a 
competitive market. For this reason, communities that propose to use 
the grant funds for service in a city-pair market that is already 
served by another air carrier must explain in detail why the existing 
service is insufficient or unsatisfactory, or provide other compelling 
information to support such proposals.
    Cost Sharing and Local Contributions: Applications must clearly 
identify the level of federal funding sought for the proposed project. 
Applications must also identify the community's cash contributions to 
the proposed project, in-kind contributions from the airport, and in-
kind contributions from the community. Non-federal funds will be 
applied proportionately to the entire scope of the project. Communities 
cannot use non-federal funds to selectively fund certain components of 
a project (see Section VI--Grant Administration--Payments for more 
information). Cash contributions from airport revenues must be 
identified separately from cash contributions from other community 
sources, and cash contributions from the state and/or local government 
should be separately identified and described.
    Types of contributions. Contributions should represent a new 
financial commitment or new financial resources devoted to attracting 
new or improved service, or addressing specific high-fare or other 
service issues, such as improving patronage of existing service at the 
airport. For communities that propose to contribute to the grant 
project, that contribution can be in the following forms:
    Cash from non-airport revenues. A cash contribution can include 
funds from the state, the county or local government, and/or from local 
businesses, or other private organizations in the community. 
Contributions that are comprised of intangible non-cash items, such as 
the value of donated advertising, are considered in-kind contributions 
(see further discussion below).
    Cash from airport revenues. This includes contributions from funds 
generated by airport operations. Airport revenues may not be used for 
revenue guarantees to airlines, per 49 U.S.C. 47107 and 47133. 
Applications that include local contributions based on airport revenues 
do not receive priority consideration for selection.
    In-kind contributions from the airport. This can include such items 
as waivers of landing fees, terminal rents, fuel fees, and/or vehicle 
parking fees.
    In-kind contributions from the community. This can include such 
items as donated advertising from media outlets, catering services for 
inaugural events, or in-kind trading, such as advertising in exchange 
for free air travel. Travel banks and travel commitments/pledges are 
considered to be in-kind contributions.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ A travel bank involves the actual deposit of funds from 
participating parties (e.g., businesses, individuals) into a 
designated bank account for purchasing air travel on the selected 
airline, with defined procedures for the subsequent use or 
withdrawal of those funds under an agreement with the airline. 
Often, however, what communities refer to as a travel bank actually 
involves travel pledges from businesses in the community without any 
collection of funds or formal procedures for use of the funds. As 
with other types of in-kind contributions, the Department views 
travel banks and pledges included in grant applications as an 
indicator of local community support.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Cash vs. in-kind contributions. Communities that include local 
contributions made in cash will be viewed more favorably.

[[Page 38786]]

III. Evaluation and Selection Process

    The Department will first review each application to determine 
whether it has satisfied the following eligibility requirements:
    1. The applicant is an eligible applicant;
    2. The application is for an eligible project (including compliance 
with the Same Project Limitation); and
    3. The application is complete (including submission of a completed 
SF424 and all of the information listed in Contents of Application, in 
Section IV below).
    To the extent that the Department determines that an application 
does not satisfy these eligibility requirements, the Department will 
deem that application ineligible and not consider it further.
    The Department will then review all eligible applications based on 
the selection criteria outlined above in Section II. Applications that 
meet one or more of the Priority Selection Criteria will be viewed more 
favorably than those that do not meet any Priority Selection Criteria.
    Grant awards will be made as promptly as possible so that selected 
communities can complete the grant agreement process and implement 
their plans. Given the competitive nature of the grant process, the 
Department will not meet with applicants regarding their applications. 
All non-confidential portions of each application, all correspondence 
and ex-parte communications, and all orders will be posted in the 
above-captioned docket on www.regulations.gov.
    The Department will announce its grant selections in a Selection 
Order that will be posted in the above-captioned docket, served on all 
applicants and all parties served with this Solicitation Order, and 
posted on the Department's SCASDP Web site at http://www.dot.gov/policy/aviation-policy/small-community-rural-air-service/SCASDP.

IV. How To Apply

Required Steps

     Determine eligibility;
     Register with www.grants.gov (see Registration with 
www.grants.gov, below);
     Submit an Application for Federal Domestic Assistance 
(SF424);
     Submit a completed ``Summary Information'' schedule. This 
is your application cover sheet (see Appendix B);
     Submit a detailed application of up to 20 pages (one-sided 
only, excluding the completed SF424, Summary Information schedule, and 
any letters from the community or an air carrier showing support for 
the application) that meets all required criteria (see Appendix C);
     Attach any letters from the community or an air carrier 
showing support for the application to the proposal, which should be 
addressed to Brooke Chapman, Associate Director, Small Community Air 
Service Development Program; and
     Provide separate submission of confidential material, if 
requested. (see Appendix D)
    An application will not be complete and will be deemed ineligible 
for a grant award until and unless all required materials, including 
SF424, have been submitted through www.grants.gov by 5 p.m. EDT on July 
26, 2013.
    Registration with www.grants.gov: Communities must be registered 
with www.grants.gov in order to submit an application for funds 
available under this program. For consortium applications, only the 
Legal Sponsor must be registered with www.grants.gov in order to submit 
its application for funds available under this program. See Appendix A 
for additional information on applying through www.grants.gov.
    Contents of Application: There is no set format that must be used 
for applications. Each application should, to the maximum extent 
possible, address the selection criteria set forth in Section II, 
above, including a clear description of the air service needs/
deficiencies and present plans/strategies that directly address those 
needs/deficiencies. At a minimum, however, each application must 
include the following information:
     A description of the community's air service needs or 
deficiencies, including information about: (1) Major origin/destination 
markets that are not now served or are not served adequately; (2) fare 
levels that the community deems relevant to consideration of its 
application, including market analyses or studies demonstrating an 
understanding of local air service needs; and (3) any air service 
development efforts over the past three years and the results of those 
efforts (including marketing and promotional efforts).
     A strategic plan for meeting those needs under the Small 
Community Program, including the community's specific project goal(s) 
and detailed plan for attaining such goal(s). Applicants are advised to 
obtain firm assurances from air carriers proposing to offer new air 
services if a grant is awarded. Plans should:
    [cir] for applications involving new or improved service, explain 
how the service will become self-sufficient.
    [cir] fully and clearly outline the goals and objectives of the 
project. When an application is selected, these goals and objectives 
will be incorporated into the grant agreement, along with the strategic 
plan, and define the grant agreement's project scope. Once a grant 
agreement is signed, the agreement cannot be amended in a way that 
would alter the project scope.
     A detailed description of the funding necessary for 
implementation of the proposed project (including federal and non-
federal contributions).
     An explanation of how the proposed project differs from 
any previous projects for which the community received SCASDP funds 
(see Same Project Limitation, above).
     Designation of a legal sponsor responsible for 
administering the proposed project. The legal sponsor of the proposed 
project must be a government entity, such as a state, county, or 
municipality. The legal sponsor must be legally, financially, and 
otherwise able to administer the grant, including having the authority 
to assume and carry out the certifications, representations, 
warranties, assurances, covenants and other obligations required under 
the grant agreement with the Department and to ensure compliance by the 
grant recipient with the grant agreement and grant assurances. If the 
applicant is a public-private partnership, a public government member 
of the organization must be identified as the community's sponsor to 
receive project cost reimbursements. A community may designate only one 
government entity as the legal sponsor, even if it is applying as a 
consortium that consists of two or more local government entities. 
Private organizations may not be designated as the legal sponsor of a 
grant under the Small Community Program. The community has the 
responsibility to ensure that the legal sponsor and grant recipient of 
any funding has the legal authority under state and local laws to carry 
out all aspects of the grant, and the Department may require an opinion 
of the legal sponsor's attorney as to its legal authority to act as a 
sponsor and to carry out its responsibilities under the grant 
agreement.

V. Air Service Development Zone Designation

    The statute authorizing the Small Community Program also provides 
that the Department will designate one of the grant recipients in the 
program as an Air Service Development Zone (ASDZ). A

[[Page 38787]]

current grant recipient--with its grant award period extending into 
FY2013--remains active as the ASDZ designee. As a result, the 
Department is not currently soliciting applications for selection as an 
ASDZ designee.

VI. Grant Administration

    Grant Agreements: Communities awarded grants are required to 
execute a grant agreement with the Department before they begin to 
expend funds under the grant award. Applicants should not assume they 
have received a grant, nor should they obligate or expend local funds 
prior to receiving and fully executing a grant agreement with the 
Department. Expenditures made prior to the execution of a grant 
agreement, including costs associated with preparation of the grant 
application, will not be reimbursed. Moreover, there are numerous 
assurances that grant recipients must sign and honor when federal funds 
are awarded. All communities receiving a grant will be required to 
accept and meet the obligations created by these assurances when they 
execute their grant agreements. Copies of assurances are available 
online at http://www.dot.gov/policy/aviation-policy/small-community-rural-air-service/SCASDP, (click on ``SCASDP Grant Assurances'').
    Payments: The Small Community Program is a reimbursable program; 
therefore, communities are required to make expenditures for project 
implementation under the program prior to seeking reimbursement from 
the Department. Project implementation costs are reimbursable from 
grant funds only for services or property delivered during the grant 
term. Reimbursement rates are calculated as a percentage of the total 
federal funds requested divided by the federal funds plus the local 
cash contribution (which is not refundable). The percentage is 
determined by: (SCASDP Grant Amount) / (SCASDP Grant Amount + Local 
Cash Contribution + State Cash Contribution, if applicable). Payments/
expenditures in forms other than cash (e.g., in-kind) are not 
reimbursable. For example, if a community requests $500,000 in federal 
funding and provides $100,000 in local contributions, the reimbursement 
rate would be 83.33 percent: ((500,000)/(500,000 + 100,000)) = 83.33.
    Grantee Reports: Each grantee must submit quarterly reports on the 
progress made during the previous quarter in implementing its grant 
project. In addition, each community will be required to submit a final 
report on its project to the Department, and 10 percent of the grant 
funds will not be reimbursed to the community until such a final report 
is received. Additional information on award administration for 
selected communities will be provided in the grant agreement.

VII. Questions and Clarifications

    For further information concerning this Order, please contact 
Brooke Chapman at Brooke.Chapman@dot.gov or (202) 366-0577. A TDD is 
available for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing at (202) 366-
3993. The Department may post answers to questions and other important 
clarifications in the above-captioned docket on www.regulations.gov and 
on the program Web site at http://www.dot.gov/policy/aviation-policy/small-community-rural-air-service/SCASDP.
    This order is issued under authority delegated in 49 CFR 1.25a(b).

Accordingly,

    1. Applications for funding under the Small Community Air Service 
Development Program should be submitted via www.grants.gov as an 
attachment to the SF424 by July 26, 2013; and
    2. This Order will be published in the Federal Register, posted on 
www.grants.gov and www.regulations.gov, and served on the Conference of 
Mayors, the National League of Cities, the National Governors 
Association, the National Association of State Aviation Officials, 
County Executives of America, the American Association of Airport 
Executives, and the Airports Council International-North America.

    Issued June 24, 2013.

Susan L. Kurland,
Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs.
    An electronic version of this document is available online at 
www.regulations.gov.

Additional Information on Applying through WWW.GRANTS.GOV

    Applications must be submitted electronically through 
www.grants.gov/Apply. To apply for funding through www.grants.gov, 
applicants must be properly registered. The Grants.gov/Apply feature 
includes a simple, unified application process that makes it possible 
for applicants to apply for grants online. There are five ``Get 
Registered'' steps for an organization to complete at Grants.gov. 
Complete instructions on how to register and apply can be found at 
http://www.grants.gov/applicants/organization_registration.jsp. If 
applicants experience difficulties at any point during registration or 
application process, please call the www.grants.gov Customer Support 
Hotline at 1-800-518-4726, Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. EDT. 
Registering with www.grants.gov is a one-time process; however, 
processing delays may occur and it can take up to several weeks for 
first-time registrants to receive confirmation and a user password. It 
is highly recommended that applicants start the registration process as 
early as possible to prevent delays that may preclude submitting an 
application by the deadlines specified. Applications will not be 
accepted after July 26, 2013; delayed registration is not an acceptable 
reason for extensions.
    In order to apply for SCASDP funding through www.grants.gov/Apply, 
all applicants are required to complete the following:
    1. DUNS Requirement. The Office of Management and Budget requires 
that all businesses and nonprofit applicants for federal funds include 
a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number in 
their applications for a new award or renewal of an existing award. A 
DUNS number is a unique nine-digit sequence recognized as the universal 
standard for identifying and keeping track of entities receiving 
federal funds. The identifier is used for tracking purposes and to 
validate address and point of contact information for federal 
assistance applicants, recipients, and sub-recipients. The DUNS number 
will be used throughout the grant life cycle. The DUNS number must be 
included in the data entry field labeled ``Organizational DUNS'' on the 
SF-424 form. Instructions for obtaining DUNS number can be found at the 
following Web site: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/org_step1.jsp.
    2. System for Award Management. In addition to having a DUNS 
number, applicants applying electronically through Grants.gov must 
register with the federal System for Award Management (SAM). Step-by-
step instructions for registering with SAM can be found here: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/org_step2.jsp. All applicants must register 
with SAM in order to apply online. Failure to register with the SAM 
will result in your application being rejected by Grants.gov during the 
submissions process.
    3. Username and Password. Acquire an Authorized Organization 
Representative (AOR) and a www.grants.gov username and password. 
Complete your AOR profile on www.grants.gov and create your username 
and password. You will need to use your organization's DUNS Number to 
complete this step. For more

[[Page 38788]]

information about creating a profile on Grants.gov visit: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/org_step3.jsp.
    4. After creating a profile on Grants.gov, the E-Biz Point of 
Contact (E-Biz POC)--a representative from your organization who is the 
contact listed for SAM--will receive an email to grant the AOR 
permission to submit applications on behalf of their organization. The 
E-Biz POC will then log in to Grants.gov and approve an applicant as 
the AOR, thereby giving him or her permission to submit applications. 
To learn more about AOR Authorization visit: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/org_step5.jsp. To track an AOR status visit: http://www.grants.gov/applicants/org_step6.jsp.
    a. Applicants are, therefore, encouraged to register early. The 
registration process can take up to four weeks to be completed. Thus, 
registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not 
impact your ability to meet required submission deadlines. You will be 
able to submit your application online any time after you have approved 
as an AOR.
    5. Electronic Signature. Applications submitted through Grants.gov 
constitute a submission as electronically signed applications. The 
registration and account creation with Grants.gov with E-Biz POC 
approval establishes an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). 
When you submit the application through Grants.gov, the name of your 
AOR on file will be inserted into the signature line of the 
application. Applicants must register the individual who is able to 
make legally binding commitments for the applicant organization as the 
Authorized Organization Representative (AOR);
    6. Search for the Funding Opportunity on www.grants.gov. Please use 
the following identifying information when searching for the SCASDP 
funding opportunity on www.grants.gov. The Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance (CFDA) number for this solicitation is 20.930, titled 
Payments for Small Community Air Service Development.
    7. Submit an application addressing all of the requirements 
outlined in this funding availability announcement. Within 24-48 hours 
after submitting your electronic application, you should receive an 
email validation message from www.grants.gov. The validation message 
will tell you whether the application has been received and validated 
or rejected, with an explanation. You are urged to submit your 
application at least 72 hours prior to the due date of the application 
to allow time to receive the validation message and to correct any 
problems that may have caused a rejection notification.
    8. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission. 
Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by Grants.gov. An 
electronic timestamp is generated within the system when the 
application is successfully received by Grants.gov. The applicant will 
receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number from 
Grants.gov with successful transmission of the application. Applicants 
should print this receipt and save it, as a proof of timely submission.
    9. Grants.gov allows applicants to download the application 
package, instructions and forms that are incorporated in the 
instructions, and work offline. In addition to forms that are part of 
the application instructions, there will be a series of electronic 
forms that are provided utilizing Adobe Reader.
    a. Adobe Reader. Adobe Reader is available for free to download 
from on the Download Software page: http://www.grants.gov/help/download_software.jsp. Adobe Reader allows applicants to read the 
electronic files in a form format so that they will look like any other 
Standard form. The Adobe Reader forms have content sensitive help. This 
engages the content sensitive help for each field you will need to 
complete on the form. The Adobe Reader forms can be downloaded and 
saved on your hard drive, network drive(s), or CDs.
    b. Note: For the Adobe Reader, Grants.gov is compatible with 
versions 8.1.1 and later versions. Always refer to the Download 
Software page for compatible versions. Please do not use lower versions 
of the Adobe Reader.
    c. Mandatory Fields in Adobe Forms. In the Adobe Reader forms, you 
will note fields that will appear with a background color on the data 
fields to be completed. These fields are mandatory fields and they must 
be completed to successfully submit your application.

    Note: When uploading attachments please use generally accepted 
formats such as .pdf, .doc, and .xls. While you may imbed picture 
files such as .jpg, .gif, .bmp, in your files, please do not save 
and submit the attachment in these formats. Additionally, the 
following formats will not be accepted: .com, .bat, .exe, .vbs, 
.cfg, .dat, .db, .dbf, .dll, .ini, .log, .ora, .sys, and .zip.

Experiencing Unforeseen www.grants.gov Technical Issues

    If you experience unforeseen www.grants.gov technical issues beyond 
your control that prevent you from submitting your application by 5 
p.m. EDT on July 26, 2013, you must contact us at 
Nina.Tatyanina@dot.gov or (202) 366-9959 within 24 hours following the 
deadline and request approval to submit your application after the 
deadline has passed. At that time, DOT staff will require you to 
provide your DUNS number and your www.grants.gov Help Desk tracking 
number(s). After DOT staff review all of the information submitted and 
contact the www.grants.gov Help Desk to validate the technical issues 
you reported, DOT staff will contact you to either approve or deny your 
request to submit a late application through www.grants.gov. If the 
technical issues you reported cannot be validated, your application 
will be rejected as untimely. To ensure a fair competition for limited 
discretionary funds, the following conditions are not valid reasons to 
permit late submissions: (1) Failure to complete the registration 
process before the deadline date; (2) failure to follow www.grants.gov 
instructions on how to register and apply as posted on its Web site; 
(3) failure to follow all of the instructions in the funding 
availability notice; and (4) technical issues experienced with the 
applicant's computer or information technology (IT) environment.
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Confidential Commercial Information

    Applicants will be able to provide certain confidential business 
information relevant to their proposals on a confidential basis. Under 
the Department's Freedom of Information Act regulations (49 CFR 7.17), 
such information is limited to commercial or financial information 
that, if disclosed, would either likely cause substantial harm to the 
competitive position of a business or enterprise or make it more 
difficult for the Federal Government to obtain similar information in 
the future.
    Applicants seeking confidential treatment of a portion of their 
applications must segregate the confidential material in a sealed 
envelope marked ``Confidential Submission of X (the applicant) in 
Docket DOT-OST-2013-0120,'' and include with that material a request in 
the form of a motion seeking confidential treatment of the material 
under 14 CFR 302.12 (``Rule 12'') of the Department's regulations. The 
applicant should submit an original and two copies of its motion and an 
original and two copies of the confidential material in the sealed 
envelope.
    The confidential material should not be included with the original 
of the applicant's proposal that is submitted via www.grants.gov. The 
applicant's original submission, however, should indicate clearly where 
the confidential material would have been inserted. If an applicant 
invokes Rule 12, the confidential portion of its filing will be treated 
as confidential pending a final determination. All confidential 
material must be received by July 26, 2013, and delivered to the Office 
of Aviation Analysis, 8th Floor, Room W86-307, 1200 New Jersey Ave. 
SE., Washington, DC 20590.
    A template for the confidential motion can be found at http://www.dot.gov/policy/aviation-policy/small-community-rural-air-service/SCASDP.

[FR Doc. 2013-15525 Filed 6-25-13; 4:15 pm]
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