[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 212 (Friday, October 31, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65029-65034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-25630]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
National Technical Assistance Center for Parks and Public Lands
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice: Request for Proposals.
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SUMMARY: This solicitation is for proposals from organizations to
implement a National Technical Assistance Center for Alternative
Transportation in Public Lands. The Center is to assist the Federal
Transit Administration (FTA) in the coordinated provision of technical
assistance under the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program. The
Center is to develop, administer, distribute, and oversee multiple
technical assistance products to support land management agencies,
States, and local and tribal governments in alternative transportation
projects serving federally managed parks and public lands.
Organizations that submit proposals should have technical assistance
expertise and experience in transportation planning, coordination and
operations on parks and public lands. FTA will award a cooperative
agreement (one base year plus two option years) for an estimated amount
of $4,500,000. The funding is authorized under section 3021(d)(1) of
the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) and subsequently appropriated. For the
first year of the project, $1,500,000 will be made available. Funding
for subsequent years will be based on available annual appropriations
as well as annual performance reviews.
Use of Funds: The organization selected shall (1) provide on-demand
and proactive technical assistance in alternative transportation
project-level scoping, planning, and operations; (2) provide training
and workshops; (3) perform outreach, communications, and coordination
of services to support land management agencies in planning processes;
(4) maintain a central repository of resources and disseminate
resources; (5) support the project evaluation process; (6) convene and
collaborate with an interagency peer review group; and (7) perform
project administration and management.
DATES: Proposals must be submitted electronically by December 30, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Proposals shall be submitted electronically to http://www.grants.gov. Grants.Gov allows organizations to find and apply for
funding opportunities electronically 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Faulk, Office of Program
Management, Federal Transit Administration, 202-366-1660; FAX 202-366-
7951; e-mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 3021 of SAFETEA-LU established a new
program called the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program (49 U.S.C.
5320). The purpose of this program is to enhance the protection of
national parks and Federal lands, and increase the enjoyment of those
visiting them. The program funds capital and planning expenses for
alternative transportation systems such as buses and trams in
federally-managed parks and public lands. The Paul S. Sarbanes Transit
in Parks legislation further allows the FTA to spend program funds to
carry out planning, research, and technical assistance activities. FTA
oversees the funds allocated to technical assistance to support program
participants in planning, implementing, and evaluating alternative
transportation projects on parks and public lands. SAFETEA-LU
authorizes $97 million in funding for the program for Fiscal Years (FY)
2006 through 2009. Of this funding, no more than 10 percent of the
amount made available for any given FY under section 49 U.S.C.
5338(b)(2)(J) may be used to carry out planning, research, and
technical assistance activities.
I. Funding Opportunity Description
FTA is soliciting proposals for a cooperative agreement to develop
and implement a program of technical assistance and training for
Federal land management agencies that shall include on-demand and
proactive technical assistance in project-level scoping and planning, a
resource clearinghouse, training and workshops, publication of best
practices, and preparation of technical manuals and other reference
materials. The Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program would be well-
served through a coordinated and efficient use of its limited
resources. A National Technical Assistance Center for alternative
transportation on parks and public lands is intended to meet technical
assistance needs among land management agencies and other eligible
awardees and to achieve program and process consistencies, realize
significant cost and time savings, and build cooperative relationships
in support of the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program. Such
technical assistance will allow Federal lands to serve the public more
effectively through enhanced conservation of natural and cultural
resources and by providing high quality experiences for visitors on
public lands.
The main goal of a National Technical Assistance Center for
Alternative Transportation on Parks and Public Lands is to assist FTA
in the timely, coordinated provision of technical assistance, case
management, and program support elements of SAFETEA-LU, section 3021.
To accomplish this goal the Center is to develop, administer,
disseminate, and oversee multiple technical assistance products and
services to support land management agencies and State, local, and
tribal governments in alternative transportation projects serving
federally managed parks and public lands. FTA will award a cooperative
agreement (one base year with two option years) of $4.5 million from
funding authorized in SAFETEA-LU and subsequently appropriated. The
tasks of the Center include: (1) Project administration and management;
(2) organization of and coordination with a peer review group; (3)
technical assistance; (4) training and workshops; (5) development of
outreach, communication and coordination in support of alternative
transportation planning; and (6) knowledge management and information
dissemination. A desirable organization will have demonstrated
expertise in issues of transportation planning and operations on parks
and public lands. Ideally, an organization will have experience in
providing technical assistance to Federal land management agencies on
issues related to water and land-based transportation, particularly in
relation to the protection of natural and cultural resources.
Background
Congestion in and around parks and public lands causes traffic
delays and noise and air pollution that substantially detract from the
visitor's experience and the protection of natural resources. In August
2001, the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of the
Interior (DOI) published a comprehensive study of alternative
transportation needs in national parks and related federal lands. The
study identified significant alternative transportation needs at sites
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managed by the National Park Service (NPS), the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM), and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
(FWS). Additionally, a supplement to this report identified United
States Department of Agriculture Forest Service (FS) sites that would
benefit from such services. Section 3021 of SAFETEA-LU (49 U.S.C. 5320)
addresses these needs by establishing a new program called the Paul S.
Sarbanes Transit in Parks program to fund alternative transportation
projects in national parks and other federal lands. The goals of the
program are to: (1) Conserve natural, historical, and cultural
resources; (2) reduce congestion and pollution; (3) improve visitor
mobility and accessibility; (4) enhance visitor experience; and (5)
ensure access to all, including persons with disabilities.
Eligible applicants to the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks
program include: federal land management agencies, which are defined as
federal agencies that manage an eligible area; and State, tribal, and
local governments with jurisdiction over land in the vicinity of an
eligible area, acting with the consent of a federal land management
agency, alone or in partnership with a federal land management agency
or other governmental or non-governmental participant. An eligible area
is a federally owned or managed park, refuge, or recreational area that
is open to the general public.
A qualified alternative transportation project is a planning or
capital project in or in the vicinity of a federally owned or managed
park, refuge, or recreational area that is open to the general public
and meets the goals of the program. SAFETEA-LU defines alternative
transportation as ``transportation by bus, rail, or any other publicly
or privately owned conveyance that provides to the public general or
special service on a regular basis, including sightseeing service. The
definition of alternative transportation also includes non-motorized
transportation systems (including the provision of facilities for
pedestrians, bicycles, and non-motorized watercraft)'' (49 U.S.C.
5320(b)(3)).
To formalize the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program
management structure, section 3021 of SAFETEA-LU authorizes the
establishment of interagency and multi-disciplinary teams to develop
federal land management agency alternative transportation policy,
procedure, and coordination; and the development of procedures and
criteria for the planning, selection, funding, implementation and
oversight of a program of projects. As a result, the Paul S. Sarbanes
Transit in Parks Interagency Working Group was established and consists
of representatives from FTA, DOI, NPS, BLM, FWS, and USFS, and meets
regularly in order to coordinate program activities. Paul S. Sarbanes
Transit in Parks program-related activities such as providing workshops
and training, technical assistance in project-level scoping and
planning, publication of best practices, and providing manuals and
other reference materials are subject to advisement by the Interagency
Working Group.
To date, FTA has provided technical assistance products including a
program manual and a ``webinar''-style workshop that supplies
information on the program and guidance on applying for Paul S.
Sarbanes Transit in Parks funding (available at http://www.fta.dot.gov/atppl). A limited number of transportation assistance group (TAG)
visits have been made available to assist potential project sponsors in
the initial stages of planning; several such visits have been completed
and subsequent reports have been produced. A National Technical
Assistance Center will allow the FTA to more efficiently support
alternative transportation related activities in parks and public lands
by providing a ``one-stop'', coordinated resource for future technical
assistance activities and products.
Scope of Work
This solicitation is for proposals from organizations to implement
a National Technical Assistance Center for Alternative Transportation
in Public Lands. The Center is to assist the Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) in the coordinated provision of technical
assistance under the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program. The
Center is to develop, administer, distribute, and oversee multiple
technical assistance products to support land management agencies,
States, and local and tribal governments in alternative transportation
projects serving federally managed parks and public lands. In the
performance of this cooperative agreement, the awardee shall accomplish
the following tasks:
Task 1--On-Demand and Proactive Technical Assistance in Alternative
Transportation Project-level Scoping, Planning, and Operations
A. The Center shall conduct a comprehensive assessment of technical
assistance needs in the area of alternative transportation on federally
managed lands and public parks. Based on this information the Center
will formulate a technical assistance strategy and plan in coordination
with FTA, Federal Lands Highway, DOI, NPS, FWS, BLM, and FS staff
members of the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program Interagency
Working Group.
B. The Center shall respond to and pro-actively solicit project-
specific technical requests, including full-time Center staff answering
questions and providing technical expert and advice by phone and email,
with occasional site visits as needed and subject to funding
availability. Center staff would also link outside technical
specialists to requesters. The primary goal of this deliverable is to
maintain access to a wide variety of technical expertise that could be
made available on multiple topic areas through this centralized
service. Examples of assistance that the awardee will provide include
(but may not be limited to) assistance in project cost estimating;
financial analysis/planning; carrying capacity; transit planning;
vehicle specifications and procurement; transit operations; alternative
fuels; congestion management; data collection and monitoring;
contracting; safety; transportation and resource protection; and/or
historic landscapes and/or transportation infrastructure. Technical
expertise is often needed for matters of detailed study, and for
periods of short duration (i.e. assistance to a park or public land in
data collection or in facilitating a technical project review that can
vary between a few days to a week). These types of requests are
necessary to ensure that alternative transportation projects maintain a
high degree of technical quality and that they continue to meet the
objectives of the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program. Technical
assistance is also needed on an ongoing basis to assist project
sponsors over the period of months or years in the development and
implementation of a project. It is important to have continuing,
reliable support for project sponsors.
C. The awardee shall develop and maintain a strategy and resources
for on-demand project teams and consultants. In addition to responding
to requests, the Center will be pro-active in soliciting requests,
through advertising its services via electronic announcements or a
newsletter, and contacting Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program
awardees and potential applicants. The Center will develop
relationships with Federal land managers, Tribal, State and
metropolitan planning organizations and other Federal participants in
transportation planning.
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D. The awardee shall track, measure and evaluate the performance of
the Center in providing technical assistance, and monitor progress
towards targeted goals and outcomes. This may include development of a
unique identification classification system that allows for tracking
and reporting on services provided to the requester by the Center.
Task 2--Providing Training and Workshops
A. Curriculum development, design, and training shall be made
available by the Center via various media to target specific topics
related to alternative transportation in parks and public lands.
Development of curriculum and training shall be done in coordination
with the FTA project manager, and members of the Interagency Working
Group. This includes training agencies that are targeted awardees of
program assistance, as well as prospective partners of such agencies
and corresponding transportation planning agencies that will need to
reflect Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program initiatives in
statewide and regional plans and programs.
B. The awardee shall make 4-6 training sessions and/or workshops
per year available via various media to target specific topics related
to alternative transportation as it relates to the enhancement of
visitor experience and natural resource protection across the range of
land management areas. For instance, transit routing and scheduling for
land management agencies, context sensitive transit solutions in
federal lands, strategies to increase ridership among recreational
visitors, partnership strategies between transit agencies, coordinating
with local planning organizations, transit planning, vehicle
procurement, and basics of transit operations. Training should be made
available to Federal lands management agency staff, resource agencies,
transit agencies, State departments of transportation, local
governments, and State, regional and metropolitan planners. A technical
assistance center Web site should provide the primary framework for
organizing offerings of training and for communicating and/or
disseminating materials.
C. The awardee shall host at least two (2) regional forums in
geographic areas where there are particularly good opportunities for
partnerships between various types of entities. The awardee will
convene federal lands managers, transit agencies, State departments of
transportation, local officials, planners, and other stakeholders to
discuss opportunities to include alternative transportation serving
federal lands and the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks program.
D. The Center will facilitate details of meeting and possible
related travel arrangements for transportation professionals to speak,
facilitate, or lead a training opportunity offered as part of the
Center's services. Travel expenses associated with the delivery of
training services by the Center are subject to approval by the FTA
project manager at least 120 days prior to scheduled training delivery
date.
Task 3--Outreach, Communications, and Coordination of Services To
Support Land Management Agencies in Planning Processes
A. The Center will establish an Outreach and Communications
Operations Strategy of the Center that addresses consistent partnership
processes, policies and procedures in support of the facilitation and
coordination of communication and interaction between Federal lands
managers, metropolitan planning organization (MPOs), States, and other
Federal participants in transportation planning. The strategy shall be
accomplished via e-mail, phone, Web-based services and on-site
opportunities. This deliverable would require that the Center support
the facilitation of partnerships through convening conference calls and
meetings, answering technical questions, referral of participants to
publications and other experts in order to assist land management
agency in developing partnerships, hiring planning firms, and
contracting for transportation services.
B. The Center shall advise and/or assist land management agencies
in their participation in transportation planning processes. The goal
of this deliverable is to address the needs of federal park and public
lands managers to engage in and be consistent with the metropolitan and
Statewide planning and public participation requirements found in 49
U.S.C. 5303, 5304, and 5307(d). Federal lands, resource agencies,
States and metropolitans alike need assistance to fulfill the
consultation and participation requirements of the law. Statutory
transportation planning requirements associated with U.S. DOT funding
sources promote close coordination of transportation system plans,
programs and projects between the federal lands agencies and
corresponding state and regional transportation planning organizations.
The Center shall assist in the successful development of alternative
transportation planning processes consistent with federal land
management agencies, State, regional, and metropolitan planning
processes under Titles 23 and 49.
C. The Center shall provide assistance to land management agency
units for review of planning studies funded under the Paul S. Sarbanes
Transit in Parks program in order to ensure their quality and efficacy
before a participant moves towards implementation. The Center shall
cooperate with land management staff in the development of plans that
are consistent with the planning processes and requirements under
Titles 23 and 49.
D. The Center shall develop a total of four (4) partnering case
studies (at least one per land management agency) plus a synthesis
report that describes successful alternative transportation
partnerships. Case studies would include examples of partnerships
between federal lands agencies (other than NPS) and other entities that
may include: Transit agencies that provide transit service to public
lands; private companies such as ski resorts, bike rental companies, or
other concessioners that fund transportation services on or to public
lands; State governments providing grants; or private or public service
providers. Case studies may also include successful examples of federal
lands and others combining funding sources such as federal lands fees,
state and local taxes, federal transportation grants, and private
sources. Because most national parks and public land units view visitor
transportation as necessary but not a primary mission, partnerships or
contractual relationships are often sought to address visitor
transportation needs in ways that minimize the cost to park and public
lands agencies, both in terms of staff and financial resources
required.
E. The awardee shall develop and produce `best practices' manuals
that would specifically focus on and discuss practices used in and
aspects of the planning processes and implementation of successful
alternative transportation systems in public lands. Generally, manuals
would be available in electronic format and would address such issues
as: How systems were developed; who the partners were and what each
contributed; what service is provided; how the service is used;
ridership; what benefits the system provides; cost information; how it
is funded and who operates the system; what is the arrangement with the
operator; how particular challenges were overcome, etc. Additionally,
the awardee shall develop a manual that provides methodology for the
evaluation of newly instituted and existing
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alternative transportation systems and services that would serve the
purposes of making operational adjustments for greater efficiency and
to inform management decisions about whether to sustain, expand, or
curtail the service, as well as providing a rich source of lessons
learned for reference by others seeking to plan and implement
comparable alternative transportation services.
F. The awardee shall coordinate all aspects of the management and
implementation of the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Web site
(http://www.fta.dot.gov/atppl), which includes (a) maintaining and
updating all information for each section of the Web site using best
available technologies on a regularly scheduled basis; (b) updating the
front page once each month; (c) entering up to 5 useful practices in
the database each month; (d) posting documents and/or announcements per
month; (e) maintaining an active list serve and consistent distribution
of real-time information using best available and searchable
technology; (f) responding to submissions to the Paul S. Sarbanes
Transit in Parks electronic mailbox within 3 business days; and (g)
providing ongoing recommendations for improvement strategies as needed.
All documents and information posted on the Web site must meet the
requirements and compliance of section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.
The awardee shall work with the Project Officer to establish a plan for
approval of content for posting and disseminating information using
these mechanisms.
G. The awardee shall produce other technical assistance manuals as
needed and determined through task 6.
H. The awardee shall provide research-related technical assistance
to project managers responsible for planning alternative transportation
that provide access to or within Federal land management areas. This
includes queries regarding specific information, publications, existing
tools (such as trip planners or other mobility management tools),
strategies and available data as requested.
I. The Center will identify transit services that are operating
near federal lands and work with the transit operator and federal land
to advertise the transit option to federal land users. Where a transit
option for accessing the federal land already exists the Center will
assist, when requested, to coordinate service to make it more simple
and convenient for the user.
J. The Center will facilitate peer-to-peer learning by matching
project sponsors with others who are in different stages of the
process, convening conference calls, holding meetings, conducting
outreach, and providing other opportunities for peer-to-peer learning.
K. The Center will also facilitate details of travel arrangements
for transportation professionals to federal land units. This may
include paying salaries and direct expenses for transportation
professionals working full time with a federal land unit on alternative
transportation.
Task 4--Maintain Central Repository of Resources and Disseminate
Resources
A. The Center shall establish a central repository of resources,
make them readily accessible, and disseminate them broadly. The
repository will include technical manuals, best practices, studies,
reports, guides, articles, videos, training manuals, on-line resources,
etc. related to alternative transportation in parks and public lands.
The five deliverables of this task are: (1) Complete an inventory of
relevant materials produced to date; (2) publish this inventory on the
web, providing up to date and user friendly access to the resources on-
line; (3) target and distribute resources to program beneficiaries; (4)
maintain a list serve to distribute new resources that are developed;
(5) determine which materials should be consolidated, updated, or
otherwise built upon to increase the effectiveness of materials and
consolidate, update, and build upon under tasks 5D and 5E; and (6)
determine gaps in the literature that the Center should fill by
producing a new report and produce this report under tasks 5D, E, and
F. This deliverable includes compiling and assessing all previous
relevant materials produced by DOI, NPS, FWS, BLM, FS, DOT,
Transportation Research Board, Transit Cooperative Research Program,
universities, associations, private companies, State and local
governments and others and therefore requires a survey of existing
literature and materials.
B. The Center shall develop an interagency database concept and
implementation strategy for alternative transportation system data
collection and sharing. A key finding of earlier efforts is that
alternative transportation system data is best captured from other
existing data systems that are being given priority attention. Examples
of existing data systems include Asset Management in DOI and
corresponding efforts within the U.S. Forest Service.
C. The awardee shall develop and maintain the Paul S. Sarbanes
Transit in the Parks Technical Assistance Center Web site that provides
the primary framework for organizing offerings of training and for
communicating and/or disseminating training-related materials and
details.
Task 5--Support the Project Evaluation Process
The Center shall perform the following for 80-100 project proposals
per year:
A. Develop an electronic system (FTP/Web-based) for submission and
organization of project proposals and supporting materials.
B. Compile project proposals from the federal land management
agencies (FLMA) and FTA.
C. Organize project proposals in a logical, easy to find fashion,
that can be sorted by the following measures: type of project (planning
vs implementation); alphabetical by FLMA; alphabetical by state;
funding requested (largest to smallest).
D. Populate the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks database with
data from the proposals submitted for the program. FTA will provide the
database structure to the center.
E. Develop an Excel spreadsheet of all proposals received with key
summary information about the proposal (land unit, state, agency, type
of project, one sentence project description, funding request, name of
awardee of funds).
F. Submit a summary report of proposals received such as aggregate
dollar amount requested and breakdowns by types of project, land
management agency, new system vs. existing system, etc.
G. Distribute the organized proposals, database figures, summary
spreadsheet, and summary report on a CD and in a three-ring binder
(hard copy) to each member of the review committee.
H. Compile evaluation rating forms from FTA for each member of the
review committee, enter the ratings and comments into a database,
organize this information, and report it to the review committee
members.
I. Coordinate continuously with FTA staff and respond to FTA
requests for information. FTA will have access to the database, summary
spreadsheet, list of projects and other deliverables at all times.
J. Draft a ``lessons learned'' document, in coordination with FTA
and FLMA staff, for consideration in managing the evaluation process
for subsequent years.
Task 6--Convene and Collaborate With a Peer Review Group
A. The awardee shall establish and coordinate with a Peer Review
Group consisting of representatives from National Parks Conservation
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Association, Transportation Review Board (TRB) Transportation in Public
Lands Committee, and other public land-related associations, transit
general managers, managers of public lands that have or are planning
alternative transportation systems, State and local DOT's, American
Public Transportation Association (APTA), American Association of State
Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO), Association of Metropolitan
Planning Organizations (AMPO), American Bus Association, and other
applicable organizations. The Peer Review Group will identify and
review materials for the development of a central repository of
resources and information. The Group may offer advice on technical
assistance coordination, and provide input regarding development of
alternative transportation systems and infrastructure.
B. The awardee, in coordination with the FTA Project Officer, may
provide assistance to the Peer Review Group on a regular basis. This
may include organizing conference calls as needed, attending relevant
and value-added national meetings/conferences, providing input
regarding the development of Peer Review Group activities related to
alternative transportation project planning and implementation in
Federal lands management areas, formulating agendas and identifying
speakers for the Peer Review Group and their meetings.
C. Assist Federal program staff to conduct at least one special
interest meeting to be delivered via electronic, Web-based means each
year. The initial meeting should detail the Center's central repository
development, organization, and how to access information for land
management field staffs. Subsequent annual meetings should be made
accessible via electronic, Web-based delivery and focus on targeted
topics selected in consultation with FTA, members of the Interagency
Working Group, and members of the Peer Review Group. Special interest
meetings should target topics to include stakeholders from National,
State, regional and local levels that have expertise on the selected
topic addressed at the meeting. For each workshop or meeting,
participant lists and invitations for the meeting should be submitted
to the Federal Project Officer for review at least 60 days prior to the
targeted meeting date for approval. Briefing materials should be
submitted to the Project Officer at least two weeks prior to the
meeting for review and approval. The meeting should lead to the outcome
of publications (e.g., strategy paper, tool, fact sheet, etc.) related
to the topic discussed. In addition the awardee should submit a summary
report of the meeting within 30 working days.
Task 7--Project Administration and Management
A. The awardee shall meet with FTA point of contact within ten (10)
working days after award to discuss the objectives of the cooperative
agreement, roles and responsibilities, and any related projects.
B. The awardee will hold monthly meetings with FTA point of contact
to review the status of the project, with the option to have additional
meetings as necessary. Areas of concern are: (1) Accomplishments to
date, (2) reviewing progress on tasks, and (3) challenges or problems
in addressing specific tasks or meeting targeted deliverable dates. The
awardee shall provide minutes of the meeting to the Project Officer
within five business days of the meeting.
C. The awardee shall submit quarterly progress reports to the FTA
point of contact. The reports shall include the following items and
provide information relevant for the particular period:
General assessment of the progress of the Center
development and design.
Significant accomplishments by objective and task.
Summary of technical assistance services requested.
Summary of technical assistance services provided.
Project issues/concerns and recommended solutions.
Updated project schedule.
--Status of current tasks
--List of completed tasks
--Percent complete by task
--If slips in the schedule occur, the awardee shall propose how to
mitigate the schedule deviation(s)
Total budget by task.
--Amount spent to date by task
--Amount remaining by task
Travel expense report.
D. The awardee will brief FTA and other stakeholders, such as the
bureaus within the DOI and the United States Department of Agriculture
Forest Service, semi-annually on their technical assistance findings,
key themes and results. The awardee will produce a semi-annual report
that shall include: (1) Up-to-date budget information; (2) status of
accomplishments for each Task 1-6; and (3) deliverables for the
subsequent reporting period (next 6 months) for each Task 1-6. The
awardee will provide a copy of the report to members of the Interagency
Working Group a week before a scheduled briefing to be accomplished
either face-to-face or via conference call.
II. Award Information
FTA will fund one cooperative agreement with one base year and two
option years. Year one of the cooperative agreement is for one and one-
half million dollars ($1,500,000). The anticipated notification date is
January 15, 2009, with an anticipated starting date for the successful
applicant of March 3, 2009. Subsequent annual funding will be based on
annual appropriations and annual performance evaluations by FTA.
Awardees with existing FTA projects are eligible to compete for this
cooperative agreement. FTA will participate in activities by attending
review meetings, commenting on reports, maintaining frequent contact
with the project manager and approving key decisions, including travel
authorizations, and any redirecting of activities if needed.
III. Eligibility Information
FTA is particularly interested in proposals for this cooperative
agreement from organizations with demonstrated experience in land- and
water-based transportation system planning and in working with Federal
land management agencies or in the context of rural transportation. A
strong applicant has the following characteristics:
Experience working cooperatively and effectively on
multidisciplinary teams in relationship to transportation issues within
and/or near Federal land management units;
Experience and demonstrated capacity for providing
effective off-site technical assistance, including technical assistance
by telephone and e-mail, topic-based conference calls, the Internet
(including the development of Web content), etc.;
Capacity for developing and managing a technical
assistance network using multiple types of strategies (e.g., long
distance, Web-based, peer-to-peer, communities of practice, etc.);
Capacity for maintaining and managing information
resources and related systems;
Implementation of client-directed services;
Capacity for successful outreach and communications
strategies in advertising and solicitation of interest in services;
Capacity and experience in building coordination and
collaboration between public and private sector;
Understanding the planning and implementation of a range
of transportation system options on
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Federal lands, particularly within the context of resource protection
and visitor experience concerns;
Demonstrated capacity and experience in coordinating
events;
Demonstrated capacity and experience in developing and
conducting Web-based and face-to-face training; and
Ability to breathe new life into a program by creating
something new or revamping an existing structure.
Award of this cooperative agreement will be determined by the
proposal that offers to provide the greatest value to the beneficiaries
of the FTA National Technical Assistance Center for Parks and Public
Lands in terms of performance rather than the proposal offering the
lowest price. Applicants may propose to provide some or all of the
services listed in the tasks described in the Scope of Work above. FTA
reserves the right to award one or more cooperative awards.
IV. Proposal Content
Proposals should be submitted in double-spaced format using Times
New Roman 12 point font. The application must contain the following
components:
1. Cover sheet (1 Page): Includes entity submitting proposal,
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 entity submitting
proposal) shall also be provided.
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 80 pages): Project narrative
shall include the following information:
a. Staff qualifications, experience in providing technical
assistance and implementing the tasks outlined in the solicitation. The
proposal shall also include the proposed staff members' knowledge of
issues related to alternative transportation on federal lands. One page
biographical sketches for staff members shall 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 shall 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. Project Management Plan that includes well-defined objectives,
tasks, activities, timelines, deliverables, indicators, and outcomes.
6. Plan for evaluation of the Center activities and data
collection.
7. Supplemental materials can be included in an appendices section
that is beyond the 50 page limit. In addition to the full proposal,
entities have the option to submit supplemental material such as:
brochures, publications, products, etc. These materials shall be
delivered electronically to Scott Faulk, Federal Transit
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., East Building, E44-417,
Washington, DC 20590 or to [email protected].
V. Application Review Process and Evaluation Criteria
An interdisciplinary review panel, including those external to FTA
will be convened to review each proposal. Proposals will be evaluated
based on the following criteria and scoring system:
1. Staff qualifications, which includes experience in delivering
technical assistance and training, knowledge of alternative
transportation systems (particularly those on federal lands),
demonstrated process skills in assessment, strategic planning,
facilitation, and other key areas associated with identified tasks. The
entity shall also address a plan for knowledge retention. (20%)
2. Existing capacity of the organization, which includes
clearinghouse functions, web development and maintenance, technical
assistance, training, long distance and on-site assistance strategies,
and other identified tasks. (15%)
3. Understanding and reasonableness of proposed goals, objectives,
methodologies, activities, timelines, deliverables, and budget. (40%)
4. Plan to collaborate and implement outreach activities with
stakeholders and establish effective partnerships for transportation
planning activities. (15%)
5. Plan for evaluation and data collection. (10%)
6. FTA may elect to meet in person two or three of the most
qualified applicants.
This meeting will be held at the Department of Transportation in
Washington, DC. The applicants will be notified of a date and time
during which they will be asked to present their proposal to the FTA
review panel. If an entity proposes to perform an individual task or
tasks less than the full project, the proposal will be evaluated
accordingly on its merits. If selected, the proposer may be asked to
form a consortium with the applicant chosen to manage the larger
project.
VI. Award Administration Information
The anticipated notification date for the award of the cooperative
agreement is the January 15, 2009, with an anticipated start date for
the successful applicant by March 3, 2009. FTA will notify the
successful entity. Following the receipt of the FTA Administrator's
notification letter, the successful entity will be required to submit
its proposal through the FTA Transportation Electronic Award Management
(TEAM) system Web site. FTA will manage the cooperative agreement
through the TEAM system Web site. Before FTA may award Federal
financial assistance through a Federal cooperative agreement, the
entity must submit all certifications and assurances pertaining to
itself and its project as required by Federal laws and regulations.
Since FY 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. The FY 2008
Annual List of Certifications and Assurances for FTA Cooperative
Agreements and Guidelines has been published in the Federal Register
and posted on the FTA Web site at http://www.fta.dot.gov.
Issued in Washington, DC, this 17th day of October 2008.
James S. Simpson,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E8-25630 Filed 10-30-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P