[Federal Register: November 7, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 214)]
[Notices]
[Page 67529-67535]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07no05-119]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
National Technical Assistance Center for Senior Transportation;
Solicitation for Proposals
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice; request for proposals.
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SUMMARY: This solicitation is for proposals from national non-profit
organizations for a cooperative agreement to develop and implement a
National Technical Assistance Center for Senior Transportation
(NTACST). The major goal of the NTACST is to assist local communities
and states in the expansion and provision of transportation services
for older adults. This cooperative agreement is a five year award. The
first year of the cooperative agreement is for two million dollars
($2,000,000). Subsequent funding is authorized at one million dollars
($1,000,000 per year) in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient
Transportation Equity Act--A Legacy for Users (SAFETEAU-LU); actual
funding will be based on annual appropriations.
DATES: Proposals must be submitted electronically by December 22, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Proposals should be submitted electronically to http://www.Grants.Gov.
Grants.Gov allows organizations to electronically find
and apply for competitive grant opportunities from all Federal grant-
making agencies. Grants.Gov is the single access point for over 1,000
grant programs offered by the 26 Federal grant-making agencies.
Proposals can also be submitted in hard copy to United We Ride Office,
400 7th Street, SW., Room 9114, Washington, DC 20590.
DATES: All proposals must be postmarked by midnight December 22, 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bryna Helfer at (202) 366-1663; fax:
(202) 366-3136; unitedweride@fta.dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3016 of the Safe, Accountable,
Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act--A Legacy for Users
(SAFETEA-LU); PL 109-059, authorized a National Technical Assistance
Center for Senior Transportation (NTACST) is under 49 U.S.C. 5314(c) as
follows:
(1) Establishment. The Secretary shall award a cooperative
agreement grant to a national not-for-profit organization for the
establishment and maintenance of a NTACST.
(2) Eligibility.An organization shall be eligible for a cooperative
agreement under paragraph (1) if the organization: (A) Focuses
significantly on serving the needs of the elderly; (B) has demonstrated
knowledge and expertise in senior transportation policy and planning
issues; (C) has affiliates in a majority of the states; (D) has the
capacity to convene local groups to consult on operation and
development of senior transportation programs; and (E) has established
close working relationships with the Federal Transit Administration
(FTA) and the Administration on Aging (AoA).
(3) Use of Funds. The NTACST established under this section shall:
(A) Gather best practices from throughout the nation and provide such
practices to local communities that are implementing senior
transportation programs; (B) work with teams from local communities to
identify how the communities are successfully meeting the
transportation needs of senior citizens and identifying any gaps in
services in order to create a plan for an integrated senior
transportation program; (C) provide resources on ways to pay for senior
transportation services; (D) create a Web site to publicize and
circulate information on senior transportation program; (E) establish a
clearinghouse for print, video, and audio resources on senior mobility;
and (F) administer the demonstration grant program established under
paragraph (4).
(4) Grants Authorized. (A) In General.--The NTACST established
under this section, in consultation with the Federal Transit
Administration, should award senior transportation demonstration grants
to: (i) Local transportation organizations, (ii) state agencies, (iii)
units of local government, and (iv) nonprofit organizations. (B) Use of
Funds.--Grant funds received under this paragraph may be used to: (i)
Evaluate the state of transportation services for senior citizens, (ii)
recognize barriers to mobility that senior citizens encounter in their
communities, (iii) establish partnerships and promote coordination
among community stakeholders, including public, not-for-profit, and
for-profit providers of transportation services for senior citizens,
(iv) identify future transportation needs of senior citizens within
local communities, and (v) establish strategies to meet the unique
needs of healthy and frail senior citizens.
[[Page 67530]]
I. Funding Opportunity Description
The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to develop and
implement a National Technical Assistance Center for Senior
Transportation (NTACST). The major goal of the NTACST is to assist
local communities and states in the expansion and provision of
transportation services for older adults. To accomplish this goal, a
series of steps is required, so this request for proposals is
structured around a four-step process to:
Perform a detailed needs assessment to uncover the most
pressing areas that communities require for older adult transportation
technical assistance;
Develop a plan for the NTACST that includes staff,
resources and information technology infrastructure;
Implement the NTACST;
Evaluate, improve and enhance the quality of services
provided by the NTACST.
The NTACST will utilize the framework for coherent systems
management, used by Aging and Disability Resource Centers (the access
component) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Real Choice
Systems Change Grants.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN07NO05.000
These components provide a framework to build a needs assessment
and technical assistance program for older adult transportation
services.
The NTACST will follow a number of strategies in its development,
especially coordination, empowerment, knowledge management and person-
centered technical assistance. The NTACST will coordinate with other
technical assistance initiatives related to senior mobility and human
service transportation to ensure a coordinated approach in this area.
In addition, all efforts of the NTACST should ensure consumer input and
involvement such that all technical assistance has a person centered,
self-determination and independence focus. NTACST personnel will engage
early and often with technical assistance recipients to ensure
knowledge is transferred and relationships are developed. This
information and referral system is meant to be a key focal point to
disseminate models, best practices and develop successful demonstration
sites for innovations in older adult transportation services and
systems. This project will entail creative, engaging and collaborative
public and private partnerships at all levels--local, tribal, state and
Federal.
Background
The forecasted increase in older adult population concentrations in
many states underscores the need for more transportation services as
communities strive to find ways to help older persons stay healthy,
connected to the community and able to age in place. The latest
information on key demographic highlights \1\ show:
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\1\ Principle sources of data for the Profile are the U.S.
Bureau of the Census, the National Technical assistance center on
Health Statistics, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The
highlights incorporate the latest data available as of 12/03 but not
all items are updated on an annual basis.
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The older population (65+) numbered 35.6 million in 2002,
an increase of 3.3 million or 10.2 percent since 1992 and, by the year
2030, the older population will more than double to 71.5 million.
The number of Americans aged 45-64 who will reach 65 over
the next two decades increased by 38 percent during this decade.
Older adults may face income difficulties with median
incomes of older persons in 2002 of $19,436 for males and $11,406 for
females.
The key to aging in place is retaining independence and
adapting in the face of growing chronic illness. Health status is
generally expected to improve, but many older adults will experience
one or more disability. In the future, older adults will generally be
in better health than their counterparts today, due in large part to
better health practices throughout their lives (National Academy on
aging, 1994).
There is an accelerating trend of decreasing disability
rates, and the functional limitations that do exist have become less
severe. But, increases in life expectancy will create a dramatic
increase in the number of older adults with disabilities. Conservative
projections estimate a 68 percent increase in the number of older
adults with disabilities between 1990 and 2020.
In 2000, 73 percent of individuals 65 years of age and
older lived in suburban and rural areas.\2\
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\2\ Ibid.
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[[Page 67531]]
Thus, the need for mobility assistance to enable independence,
especially public transportation services, increases with age and
disability level. Many older adults prefer to age in place, despite
mobility challenges. The car has made suburban and rural living
practical, and contributed to a decline in public transportation and
walking (Transportation Research Board, 2004). Mobility will be a
significant challenge for this dispersed older population. Therefore,
demand for transportation services is expected to skyrocket with the
above noted demographic trends. These facts underscore the need for
immediate attention to infrastructure and service investments for older
adults and individuals with disabilities.
In recognition of the fundamental importance of senior mobility and
human service transportation and the continuing need to enhance
coordination, President Bush issued an Executive Order on Human Service
Transportation Coordination (EO) directing multiple Federal departments
and agencies to work together to ensure that transportation services
are seamless, comprehensive and accessible.\3\ Secretaries from the
Departments of Transportation, Health and Human Services, Labor,
Education, Interior, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture,
Veterans Affairs, the Commissioner of the Social Security
Administration, the Attorney General and the Chairperson of the
National Council on Disability are members of the new interagency
Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM).
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\3\ Executive Order 13330, ``Human Service Transportation
Coordination''; 69FRZ80, February 24, 2004.
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Specifically, the CCAM is tasked with seeking ways to simplify
access to transportation services for persons with disabilities,
persons with lower incomes, and older adults. The EO requires that CCAM
members work together to provide the most appropriate, cost effective
services within existing resources, and reduce duplication to make
funds available for more services. To meet the requirements of the EO,
the CCAM has developed a comprehensive action plan and launched United
We Ride (UWR), a national initiative on human service transportation
coordination, which includes senior mobility. The NTACST will be
directly linked with UWR and related to technical assistance
initiatives in the area of older adult mobility and human service
transportation coordination. FTA will be collaborating with other
members of CCAM on the implementation of the EO and therefore, the
technical assistance provided under this solicitation will seek to
complement and optimize, not duplicate the technical assistance and
related work funded in this area by other CCAM partners.
FTA, in partnership with AoA, will provide technical assistance
through a cooperative agreement to the Aging Services network,
consumers, and transportation providers (public and private) engaged in
older adult mobility and human services transportation for older
adults. Older adult mobility and human service transportation is
defined as a network of services included but not limited to driving
modification and transition; pedestrian access; public transportation;
paratransit (curb to curb, door to door, door through door); taxi
service; and volunteer services. Technical assistance is a process that
enables a goal focused, strategy oriented, accountable organization to
transfer knowledge to clients for the purpose of their growth, change,
and improvement. Technical assistance is intended to provide extensive
information and assistance to facilitate adoption or application of
research-based or practice-based products, policies, or knowledge in
order to improve the provision of services for target populations.
Technical assistance may include information dissemination, training,
and enhancing capacity for building more efficient transportation
services at the local and state levels. A primary goal of the technical
assistance offered by the NTACST is to facilitate the expansion of
transportation services and options for older persons in their local
communities. A key strategy to accomplish this expansion of service is
coordination of transportation programs and initiatives. The following
areas will be key areas of focus for the NTACST activities:
Needs Assessments and Assistance Plans. The NTACST will conduct a
comprehensive assessment of technical assistance needs in the area of
senior mobility in year one. Based on this information, the NTACST will
formulate a plan in coordination with FTA and AoA for conducting
technical assistance in future years of funding. When conducting
technical assistance, sites will have individual technical assistance
plans that outline the specific need, intended outcome, plan for
assistance, and evaluation components. Technical assistance will be
provided via e-mail, phone, and on-site strategies, using the following
principles:
Peer-to-Peer Learning: Assistance will be provided in locating,
planning, and facilitating access to peer-based information,
experience, and advice. Facilitation may include having the grantee pay
travel and expenses for peer assistance.
Expert Knowledge: Assistance will be provided in accessing and
developing the best research evidence and program information available
into effective program demonstrations.
Communities of Practice: The grantee will establish communities of
practice: groups of people who share a concern for what they do and
learn how to do it better as they interact regularly. Communities of
practice can involve all different types of stakeholders and
participants. Communities of practice can meet via e-mail, Internet,
face to face, or in other venues to share information, techniques,
strategies, and experiences.
Grantee specific in-depth substantive assistance: Assistance will
be provided to states and local communities in the development of major
program components or in solving major technical problems requiring a
substantial amount of in-depth assistance (on-site as necessary).
Knowledge Management: Constant assessment will be made of areas of
technical assistance focus to ensure best practices of disseminated,
issued briefs are developed as needed and expert relationships with
technical assistance recipients result in long-term information and
knowledge transfer.
Training: Curriculum development, design, and training will be made
available via various media to target specified topics related to
senior mobility across the range of service options. Training should be
available for human service providers, transportation providers, and
consumers. Technical assistance is to be consistent with the ``5's A's
of Senior Friendly Transportation'' developed by the Beverly
Foundation:\4\
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\4\ From URL: http://www.beverlyfoundation. org/admin/files/
stored-- file/5As%20MobSnap.pdf.
[[Page 67532]]
The 5 A's of Senior Friendly Transportation
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Availability...................... Transportation exists and is
available when needed (e.g.,
transportation is at hand, evenings
and/or weekends).
Accessibility..................... Transportation can be reached and
used (e.g., bus stairs can be
negotiated; bus seats are high
enough; van comes to the door; bus
stop is reachable).
Acceptability..................... Deals with standards relating to
conditions such as cleanliness
(e.g., the bus is not dirty);
safety (e.g., bus stops are located
in safe areas); and user-
friendliness (e.g., transit
operators are courteous and
helpful).
Affordability..................... Deals with costs (e.g., fees are
affordable; fees are comparable to
or less than driving a car;
vouchers or coupons help defray out-
of-pocket expenses).
Adaptability...................... Transportation can be modified or
adjusted to meet special needs
(e.g., wheelchair can be
accommodated; trip chaining is
possible).
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* The 5 A's of Senior Transportation were developed by the Beverly
Foundation, 2001.
Thus, the results of technical assistance are targeted to enhance
availability, accessibility, acceptability, affordability and
adaptability for older adults. In order to achieve these goals,
technical assistance will need to focus around one-stop access systems,
streamlining eligibility, enhancing transportation coordination,
breaking down regulatory/funding, sharing barriers and social marketing
to get information out to local consumers.
Tasks
In the performance of this cooperative agreement, the grantee
should accomplish the following tasks.
Task 1--Administration
The grantee should meet with the project officer and task
order monitor within ten (10) working days after issuance of the task
order to discuss the objectives of the cooperative agreement and any
related project. The work plan should incorporate the CCAM Action Plan
and the GAO Study on Senior Mobility which can be found on the CCAM Web
site at http://www.unitedweride.gov. The work plan should be submitted
to the project officer within six (6) weeks of grant award.
The grantee will hold regular meetings with the Director
of NTACST to review the status of the project. Areas of concern are (1)
accomplishments to date, (2) reviewing progress on tasks, including
``user'' plans for technical assistance to demonstration grantees, and
(3) problems.
The grantee will brief FTA, AoA, and other members of the
CCAM semiannually on their technical assistance findings, key themes
and results.
The grantee will prepare benchmarking reports of NTACST
activities on a semiannual basis. These benchmarking reports may
include documentation of submitted quarterly and annual reports, as
well as financial statements.
The grantee will prepare a monthly NTACST activity report
with an accompanying explanation for NTACST invoices, and submit it to
the project officer.
The NTACST should include a national steering committee to
provide guidance and feedback throughout the life of the technical
assistance center. Steering committee members should include
participants from national organizations representing the aging
provider network, public and private transportation, senior advocacy
groups and consumers. The steering committee should participate in the
review and development of products, materials, and information. The
technical assistance center should host full committee meetings at
least once every quarter, for a minimum of four meetings a year.
The grantee will prepare a quarterly travel schedule of
all upcoming NTACST staff speaking engagements, representation on
committees, meetings, etc., and forward it prospectively to the project
officer.
Task 2--Technical Assistance and Training
Needs assessments and assistance plans. The NTACST will
conduct a comprehensive assessment of technical assistance needs in the
areas of older adult mobility in year one. Based on this information,
the NTACST will formulate a plan in coordination with FTA,
Administration on Aging (AoA) and other Federal partners for conducting
technical assistance at the state and local levels in future years of
funding. The grantee will work with local sites to develop individual
technical assistance plans that outline specific needs, intended
outcomes, plans for assistance, and evaluation components.
Technical Assistance Strategies: The grantee will develop
the following initiatives: Providing technical assistance to the fifty
states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Central Northern
Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands by:
a. Assisting FTA, AoA, and other Federally funded programs through
at least twelve (12) site visits, telephone and/or electronic
inquiries. Special consultants may be used and the grantee should have
demonstrated expertise in maintaining adequate number of consultants.
b. Establishing state and local UWR coalitions. Analyze, assess and
evaluate the value of these coalitions with the project officer.
c. Integrating a range of services including driving transition,
pedestrian environments, fixed route transit, paratransit services,
taxi programs, door through door or escort options, voucher models, and
volunteer transportation programs into overall technical assistance.
d. Assisting local communities with the development of mobility
management strategies and concepts that enhance transportation service
options and access for older adults.
e. Assisting states and local communities in developing strategies
for implementing consumer advocacy programs and addressing the needs of
older adults from culturally diverse communities.
f. Assisting states and local communities with identification of
intelligent transportation systems and other technologies that enhance
transportation services for older adults.
g. Developing and implementing a quality performance process and
benchmarking regarding technical assistance provided by NTACST; this is
to include methods and strategies provided by the technical assistance
team as it relates to successful funding. The grantee should integrate
pertinent findings from the needs assessment and incorporate them into
successful technical assistance strategies. The frequency of reports
will be semi-annually, or as needed, but will not be more frequent than
monthly.
h. Organizing a team approach, which might include personnel
assuming responsibility for a number of states/and or regions. There
should be an overall
[[Page 67533]]
strategic approach to proactive technical assistance, which will
include an emphasis on senior mobility and human service transportation
coordination.
i. Organizing a systematic approach for at least twelve site visits
per year. The grantee should develop a team approach to these site
visits. The grantee should develop, with input from stakeholders (e.g.,
consumers, public and private transportation agencies, human service
providers), agendas and criteria for these site visits as well as to
brief Federal program staff. The grantee should develop briefing
packets and initiate communication with the project officer prior to
site visits in order to present a comprehensive description of the
activity. The grantee should coordinate and maintain an integrated
approach to all documentation and subsequent data collection regarding
all site visits.
j. In cooperation with Indian Health Services (IHS), AoA, the
project officer, and others as appropriate, assess, analyze and
implement appropriate actions to integrate senior mobility and human
service transportation in Tribal and non-Tribal entities serving Native
American populations; the grantee should provide technical assistance
to and collaborate with organizations that are actively engaged in
improving the health and well-being of Native American elders.
k. Implement training on topics related to older adult
transportation. Training should be considered for transportation
providers, human service providers, and consumers. If necessary,
curricula for specific training should be developed or modified for
existing available materials.
Task 3--Demonstration Grants
The grantee should award senior transportation
demonstration grants to local transportation organizations, state
agencies, units of government and non-profit organizations in areas
related to senior transportation.
The grantee should enlist a fair and equitable process for
soliciting proposals and for project selection, which is representative
of diverse geographical regions across the country.
The grantee should submit a list of final recommended
projects to the project officer for review and approval prior to the
final award notification.
Task 4--Communication and Management Information Activities
The grantee should work collaboratively to coordinate
input, direction and advice regarding required Federal clearances on
all publications regardless of the medium (e.g., print, video,
electronic, etc). In the first year, the grantee should work with FTA
and the NTACST's steering committee to develop a logo and design for
future activities of the NTACST in the first year.
In the first year, the grantee should develop at least
three products. These products may be in the form of training
curricula, video, CD-ROM or other format appropriate to the audience.
The type and nature of the product will be determined in coordination
with the project officer and the steering committee and should be based
on the needs assessment from states and local communities. The grantee
should make alternative formats available for all publications and
products. The grantee should coordinate and participate in an overall
product evaluation for all products developed with FTA funding. This
evaluation should be done annually.
In the first year, the grantee should develop at least
five fact sheets on targeted topics related to senior transportation
and senior mobility and human service transportation coordination. The
grantee should work collaboratively with the project officer and the
steering committee to identify specific topics.
In the first year, the grantee should provide a minimum of
five updates per month related to senior transportation to the UWR
webmaster to be posted on the CCAM Web site http://www.unitedweride.gov.
This includes products, Web links, and useful
practices.
The grantee should establish, maintain and facilitate
NTACST electronic communications using a variety of mediums (e.g.,
print, video, electronic, Web-based, etc), which may include a Web
site, bulletin board service, list serve, and selected internet focus
groups for targeted topics.
In the first year, all NTACST staff and/or contractual
presentations at a local, state and national level are to be fully
coordinated, with an ample timeline for discussion and approval, with
the project officer. The grantee should plan for at least twelve (12)
meetings annually that involve other than local travel. The grantee
should plan for an additional fifteen (15) meetings annually in the
Washington, DC area. The grantee should be both a presenter and an
exhibitor during national, regional, and state meetings. In some cases,
the grantee may also serve as a moderator or facilitator during
targeted sessions.
In the first year, the grantee should use an existing
clearinghouse function to ensure the dissemination of information
related to older adult transportation inclusive of a range of services:
driving transition, pedestrian access, travel training, fixed route,
paratransit, volunteer services, escort service, etc. Information
should include existing products and materials as well as educational
development information.
In the first year, the grantee should develop a database
of successful national public and private products that could
potentially provide added value for senior mobility and human service
transportation coordination. This includes video, curricula, and fact
sheets. This database should include the title, description, and
information on how to obtain the documents included in the database.
The database will also include any evaluation information related to
the product.
Task 5--Strategic Development in Partnerships, Community Involvement in
Senior Transportation, and Senior Mobility and Human Service
Transportation Coordination
Senior mobility and human service transportation
coordination is very dynamic and new areas of significance continually
emerge. It is essential that the grantee respond appropriately and
address these issues. Additionally, the grantee should provide
expertise in strategic direction in senior mobility and human service
transportation and senior mobility for community involvement and public
awareness as follows:
a. The grantee should assess, analyze, and measure trends in the
implementation of senior transportation activities on a state and
regional basis. The grantee should provide, in cooperation with the
project officer, an annual report on these activities.
b. The grantee should provide guidance and direction on
establishing coalitions, which can be integrally involved in providing
strategic direction for state and community involvement in human
service transportation.
c. The grantee should serve as a resource of information on UWR
strategic direction related to senior mobility as it relates to pending
and enacted legislation at all governmental levels.
d. The grantee should enhance awareness by all stakeholders of
funded senior mobility and related human service transportation
activities regarding strategic direction of community involvement by
integrating appropriate and relevant information on a monthly basis
through a variety of communication mechanisms.
[[Page 67534]]
e. The grantee, in cooperation with Federal program staff, should
assess, analyze and monitor key activities and milestones of national
organizations and Federal agencies, interagency liaison groups, private
industry, faith-based/community organizations, professional
organizations and members of the National Consortium for Human Service
Transportation related to UWR activities and subsequently determine
educational resources that may be of value on a quarterly basis.
TASK 6--Collaboration with FTA and the Federal Coordinating Council on
Access and Mobility
The grantee in coordination with the project officer
should provide technical assistance to the Coordinating Council on
Access and Mobility (CCAM). This may include organizing monthly
conference calls, attending relevant and value-added national meetings/
conferences, providing input regarding infrastructure development of
the CCAM activities related to senior transportation, formulating
agendas and identifying speakers for CCAM and their executive council
meetings.
In coordination with the project officer, the grantee
should develop efficient strategies and methods of establishing
linkages with other Federally funded technical assistance centers in
the areas of aging, pedestrian access, and the range of human service
transportation options. In addition, the grantee will conduct a minimum
of two trainings each year related to senior mobility for these
technical assistance centers.
The grantee should provide research-related technical
assistance to project directors involved with senior mobility and human
service transportation funded activities.
The grantee should develop and maintain a comprehensive
national coalition on senior transportation that is inclusive of
advocacy organizations; public interest organizations; and provider
organizations. This coalition should work in collaboration with the
National Consortium on Human Service Transportation, a network of
transportation professionals, human service professionals and
policymakers at every level who understand the issues involved in the
coordination of human services transportation and how coordination can
be accomplished. The NTACST will develop a strategic plan for the
coalition that includes education, outreach, technical assistance and
advocacy oriented activities. The coalition can also focus on broader
senior mobility and human service transportation initiatives that
benefit the mobility of older adults. This coalition will serve to
facilitate the development of state and local coalitions in all states
and territories over the course of the cooperative agreement.
Assist Federal program staff to conduct at least two
special interest meetings per year on targeted topics selected in
consultation with FTA, AoA, and the NTACST steering committee.
II. Award Information
FTA will fund one cooperative agreement for a five year award. Year
one of the cooperative agreement is for two million dollars
($2,000,000). The anticipated notification date is the winter of 2006,
with an anticipated starting date for the successful applicant of
February 2006. Subsequent annual funding is authorized at one million
dollars ($1,000,000) in the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient
Transportation Equity Act--A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU); actual
funding will be based on annual appropriations. FTA grantees with
existing FTA projects are eligible to compete for this competitive
cooperative agreement. The FTA will participate in activities by
attending review meetings, commenting on technical reports, maintaining
frequent contact with the project manager and approving key decisions
and activities any redirecting activities if needed.
III. Eligibility Information
FTA is particularly interested in proposals for this cooperative
agreement from national non-profit-organizations with demonstrated
capacity in state and community transportation services for older
adults in the following areas:
Understanding concepts and strategies for developing
integrated access, including single entry point and one-stop
transportation systems;
Understanding strategies for building a coordinated senior
mobility and human service transportation program;
Demonstrated success with interdisciplinary strategies in
aging and transportation related work;
Experience with the development and implementation of
integrated transportation systems with health care and social support
programs;
Capacity for maintaining management information systems;
Experience in implementation of consumer directed
services;
Experience and capacity in developing and utilizing
volunteer programs and networks;
Capacity and experience to build coordination and
collaboration between public and private sector, as well as critical
pathways which include linkages with intermediary organizations such as
hospital discharge planners, private pay insurance, various social
service and transportation system networks.
Experience and knowledge of consumer involvement and
consumer directed models in program planning and implementation;
Capacity for developing and managing a technical
assistance network using multiple types of intervention strategies
(e.g., long distance, peer-to-peer, onsite, communities of practice,
etc.);
Capacity and experience for providing effective off-site
technical assistance, including technical assistance by telephone and
e-mail, moderated and unmoderated list-serves, Web-based seminars,
topic-based conference calls, the internet (including he development of
Web content), etc.;
Knowledge of caregiver issues and long-term care home and
community based services related to senior mobility;
Understanding implementation of a range of transportation
services including older driver, pedestrian access, fixed route,
paratransit, assisted (door to door; hand to hand; escort) services,
volunteer, taxi, and other types of transportation services provision;
Capacity and experience for conducting face-to-face and
Web-based training for consumers, human service/aging providers, and
transportation agencies.
IV. Proposal Content
Proposals should be submitted in double-spaced format using times
roman 12 point font. The application must contain the following
components:
1. Cover sheet (1 page): Includes entity submitting proposal,
principle investigator, title, and contact information (e.g., address,
phone, fax, and e-mail). Name and contact information for the entity's
key point of contact for all cooperative activities (if different from
principle investigators).
2. Abstract (2 pages): Abstract should include background, purpose,
methodology, intended outcomes, and plan for evaluation.
3. Detailed budget proposal and budget narrative.
4. Project narrative (not to exceed 100 pages): Project narrative
should include the following information;
a. Staff qualifications, experience in providing technical
assistance and implementing the other tasks outlined in the
solicitation. The proposal should also include the proposed staff
[[Page 67535]]
members' knowledge of issues related to seniors and senior
transportation. One page biographical sketches for staff members should
be included in the appendices section of the proposal;
b. Existing and future capacity of organization to address the
issues outlined in the proposal and ability to implement tasks 1-6
outlined under Section I in this solicitation;
c. Methodology for addressing tasks 1-6 outlined under Section I in
this solicitation. The proposal should also include objectives,
activities, deliverables, milestones, timeline and intended outcomes
for achieving the goals outlined in the scope for the first year;
d. Plan to work with stakeholders and build partnerships at the
national, state, and local levels;
5. Plan for evaluation and data collection.
6. Supplemental materials and letters of support can be included in
an appendices section that is beyond the 100 page limit. In addition to
the full proposal, entities have the option to submit supplemental
material such as: brochures, products, etc. These materials should be
delivered to Bryna Helfer, Federal Transit Administration, Office of
Grants Management, UWR Initiative, 400 7th Street, SW., Room 9114,
Washington, DC 20590.
V. Application Review Information
Interdisciplinary review panels external to FTA will be convened to
review each proposal. Project proposals will be evaluated based on the
following criteria.
1. Staff qualifications, which includes experience in delivering
technical assistance and training, knowledge of senior mobility issues,
demonstrated process skills in assessment, strategic planning,
facilitation, and other key areas associated with identified tasks.
Entity should also address a plan for knowledge retention. (30%)
2. Existing capacity of the organization, which includes
clearinghouse functions, web development and maintenance, technical
assistance, training long distance and on-site intervention strategies,
and other identified tasks. (30%)
3. Reasonability of proposed goals, objectives, strategies,
timelines, and budget. (20%)
4. Plan to collaborate with stakeholders and establish effective
partnerships to implement tasks. (10%)
5. Plan for evaluation and data collection. (10%)
VI. Award administration Information
The anticipated notification date for the award of this cooperative
agreement is the winter of 2006, with an anticipated start date for the
successful applicant is February 2006. The Federal Transit
Administration's (FTA) Administrator will notify the successful entity.
Following receipt of the FTA Administrator's notification letter, the
successful entity will be required to submit their proposal through the
FTA Transportation Electronic Award Management (TEAM) system website.
FTA will manage the cooperative agreement through the TEAM system Web
site. Before FTA may award Federal financial assistance through a
Federal grant or cooperative agreement, the entity must submit all
certifications and assurances pertaining to itself and its project as
required by Federal laws and regulations.
These certifications and assurances must be submitted to FTA
irrespective of whether the project is financed under the authority of
49 U.S.C. Chapter 53, or Title 23, United States Code, or another
Federal statute. Since Federal fiscal year 1995, FTA has been
consolidating the various certifications and assurances that may be
required of its awardees and the projects into a single document
published in the Federal Register. Fiscal year 2006 Annual List of
Certifications and Assurances for FTA Grants and Cooperative Agreements
and guidelines will be published in the Federal Register and posted on
the FTA Web site at http://www.fta.dot.gov.
Jennifer L. Dorn,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 05-22057 Filed 11-4-05; 8:45am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-M