[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 133 (Tuesday, July 13, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40023-40026]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-17067]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
[FMCSA Docket No. FMCSA-2010-0212]
Notice of Fiscal Year 2011 Safety Grants and Solicitation for
Applications
AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This notice is to inform the public of the Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) anticipated Fiscal Year (FY)
2011 safety grant opportunities. At present, FMCSA is operating under
an extension of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy of Users (Pub. L. 109-59) which
will expire December 31, 2010, unless extended further by Congress.
While the Agency expects new authorization to make changes to its grant
programs, the Agency is preparing for FY 2011 using the assumption that
the following grant programs will continue in the new authorization.
The FMCSA invites comments on the proposed application deadlines
for its FY 2011 safety grants programs. The 11 safety programs include
the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) Basic grants; MCSAP
Incentive grants; MCSAP New Entrant Safety Audit grants; MCSAP High
Priority grants; Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Operator Safety
Training grants; Border Enforcement grants (BEG); Commercial Driver's
License Program Improvement (CDLPI) grants; Commercial Driver's License
Information System (CDLIS) Modernization grants; Performance and
Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM) grants; Safety Data
Improvement Program grants (SaDIP); and the Commercial Vehicle
Information Systems and Networks (CVISN) grants. The purpose of this
notice is to provide grantees with information well in advance of the
Agency's proposed FY 2011 safety grant application deadlines and to
request comments on the deadlines and other changes in the Agency's
safety grant programs.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 13, 2010.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Docket Number FMCSA-
2010-0212, using any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
online instructions for submitting comments.
Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building, Ground
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-
140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. E.T.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Instructions: All submissions must include the Agency name and
docket number. Note that all comments received will be posted without
change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal
information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading for further
information.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the
online instructions for accessing the docket or physically go to the
street address listed above.
Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's
Privacy Act Statement for the Federal Docket Management System
published in the Federal Register on January 17, 2008 (73 FR 3316), or
you may visit http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-785.pdf.
Public Participation: The Federal eRulemaking Portal is available
24 hours each day, 365 days each year. You can get electronic
submission and retrieval help and guidelines under the ``help'' section
of the Federal eRulemaking Portal Web site. If you want us to notify
you that we received your comments, please include a self-addressed,
stamped envelope or postcard, or print the acknowledgement page that
appears after submitting comments online.
Comments received after the comment closing date will be included
in the docket, and we will consider late comments to the extent
practicable. FMCSA may, however, issue a final determination at any
time after the close of the comment period.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact the following FMCSA
staff with questions or needed information on the Agency's grant
programs:
New Entrant Safety Audits Grants--Arthur Williams,
[[Page 40024]]
[email protected], 202-366-3695
Border Enforcement Grants--Carla Vagnini, [email protected], 202-
366-3771
MCSAP Basic/Incentive Grants--Deborah Snider, [email protected],
202-366-2941
MCSAP High Priority Grants--Cim Weiss, [email protected], 202-366-0275
CMV Operator Safety Training Grants--Julie Otto, [email protected],
202-366-0710
CDLPI Grants--Brandon Poarch, [email protected], 202-366-3030
SaDIP Grants--Cim Weiss, [email protected], 202-366-0275
PRISM Grants--Tom Lawler, [email protected], 202-366-3866
CVISN Grants--Julie Otto, [email protected], 202-366-0710.
All staff may be reached at FMCSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., EST,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FMCSA recognizes that State and local
governments and other grantees are dependent on its safety grants to
develop and maintain important commercial motor vehicle (CMV) safety
programs. The FMCSA further acknowledges that delays in awarding grant
funds may have an adverse impact on these important safety programs. As
a result, FMCSA completed a grants process review to identify ways to
streamline the application, award, and grants management processes, and
to award grant funds earlier each fiscal year. In addition, FMCSA made
changes in the grants application, award and oversight processes to
standardize application forms, increase the use of electronic
documents, standardize quarterly reports and reduce the number of
needed grant amendments.
The FMCSA continues to enter into grant agreements beginning
October 1 or as soon thereafter as administratively practicable. FMCSA
intends to enter into grant agreements no later than 90 days from the
date the application is due.
The FMCSA is using a standard grant application form and a new
quarterly reporting process. The FMCSA requires the Standard Form 424
(``Application for Federal Assistance'') and its attachments for all
grant program applications. While each grant program may request
different data in some of the data fields on the form, the use of the
Standard Form 424 is mandatory. FMCSA adopted the Standard Form--
Project Progress Report (SF-PPR) as its required form for quarterly
reporting. Again, each grant program may, in certain instances, request
different data be submitted in some of the fields or boxes on the form
but SF-PRR is mandatory for quarterly reporting.
The number of original copies of grant agreements required to be
submitted to FMCSA was reduced from three copies to two. In addition,
FMCSA will provide most grant agreement documents electronically to its
financial processing office. Grantees will, however, be required to
submit the completed Automated Clearing House (ACH) Vendor Payment Form
(SF-3881) directly to FMCSA's financial processing office by U.S.
Postal Service, courier service or secure fax. We request information
on any impacts of these proposed changes.
The FMCSA continues to request comments and suggestions from
grantees concerning improvement of the application, award and grants
management processes. Additional information is provided below for each
individual grant program.
MCSAP Basic and Incentive Grants
Sections 4101 and 4107 of SAFETEA-LU authorize FMCSA's Motor
Carrier Safety Grants. MCSAP Basic and Incentive formula grants are
governed by 49 U.S.C. 31102-31104 and 49 CFR Part 350. Under the Basic
and Incentive grants programs, a State lead MCSAP agency, as designated
by its Governor, is eligible to apply for Basic and Incentive grant
funding by submitting a commercial vehicle safety plan (CVSP). See 49
CFR 350.201 and 350.205. The following jurisdictions are not eligible
for Incentive funds: The Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto
Rico, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Pursuant to
49 U.S.C. 31103 and 49 CFR 350.303, FMCSA will reimburse each lead
State MCSAP agency 80 percent of eligible costs incurred in a fiscal
year. Each State will provide a 20 percent match to qualify for the
program. The FMCSA Administrator waives the requirement for matching
funds for the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. See 49 CFR 350.305. In
accordance with 49 CFR 350.323, the Basic grant funds will be
distributed proportionally to each State's lead MCSAP agency using the
following four, equally weighted (25 percent) factors:
(1) 1997 road miles (all highways) as defined by the FMCSA;
(2) All vehicle miles traveled (VMT) as defined by the FMCSA;
(3) Population--annual census estimates as issued by the U.S.
Census Bureau; and
(4) Special fuel consumption (net after reciprocity adjustment) as
defined by the FMCSA.
A State's lead MCSAP agency may qualify for Incentive Funds if it can
demonstrate that the State's CMV safety program has shown improvement
in any or all of the following five categories:
(1) Reduction in the number of large truck-involved fatal
accidents;
(2) Reduction in the rate of large-truck-involved fatal accidents
or maintenance of a large-truck-involved fatal accident rate that is
among the lowest 10 percent of such rates for MCSAP recipients and is
not higher than the rate most recently achieved;
(3) Upload of CMV accident reports in accordance with current FMCSA
policy guidelines;
(4) Verification of Commercial Driver's Licenses during all
roadside inspections; and
(5) Upload of CMV inspection data in accordance with current FMCSA
policy guidelines.
Incentive funds will be distributed in accordance with 49 CFR
350.327(b).
Prior to the start of each fiscal year, FMCSA calculates the amount
of Basic and Incentive funding each State is expected to receive. This
information is provided to the States and is made available on the
Agency's Web site. The FY 2011 information is available at
www.fmcsa.dot.gov.
It should be noted that MCSAP Basic and Incentive formula grants
are awarded based on the State's submission of the CVSP. The evaluation
factors described in the section below titled ``Application Information
for FY 2011 Grants'' will not be considered. MCSAP Basic and Incentive
grant applications must be submitted electronically through grants.gov
(http://www.grants.gov).
New Entrant Safety Audit Grants
Sections 4101 and 4107 of SAFETEA-LU also authorize the Motor
Carrier Safety Grants to enable grant recipients to conduct interstate
New Entrant safety audits consistent with 49 CFR Parts 350.321 and
385.301. Eligible recipients are State agencies, local governments, and
organizations representing government agencies that use and train
qualified officers and employees in coordination with State motor
vehicle safety agencies. The FMCSA's share of these grant funds will be
100 percent. New Entrant grant applications must be submitted
electronically through grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov).
[[Page 40025]]
MCSAP High Priority Grants
Section 4107 of SAFETEA-LU also authorizes the Motor Carrier Safety
Grants to enable recipients to carry out activities and projects that
improve CMV safety and compliance with CMV regulations. Funding is
available for projects that are national in scope, increase public
awareness and education, demonstrate new technologies and reduce the
number and rate of CMV accidents. Eligible recipients are State
agencies, local governments, and organizations representing government
agencies that use and train qualified officers and employees in
coordination with State motor vehicle safety agencies.
For grants awarded for public education activities, the Federal
share will be 100 percent. For all High Priority grants other than
those awarded in support of public education activities, FMCSA will
provide reimbursements for no more than 80 percent of all eligible
costs, and recipients will be required to provide a 20 percent match.
FMCSA may reserve High Priority funding exclusively for innovative
traffic enforcement projects, with particular emphasis on work zone
enforcement and rural road safety. Also, FMCSA may reserve funding for
an innovative traffic enforcement initiative known as ``Ticketing
Aggressive Cars and Trucks'' or TACT. TACT provides a research-based
safety model that can be replicated by States when conducting a high-
visibility traffic enforcement program to promote safe driving
behaviors among car and truck drivers. The objective of this program is
to reduce the number of commercial truck and bus related crashes,
fatalities and injuries resulting from improper operation of motor
vehicles and aggressive driving behavior. More information regarding
TACT can be found at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety-security/tact/abouttact.htm.
High Priority grant applications must be submitted electronically
through grants.gov.
CMV Operator Safety Training Grants
Section 4134 of SAFETEA-LU established a grant program which
enables recipients to train current and future drivers in the safe
operation of CMVs, as defined in 49 U.S.C. 31301(4). Eligible awardees
include State governments, local governments and accredited post-
secondary educational institutions (public or private) such as
colleges, universities, vocational-technical schools and truck driver
training schools. Funding priority for this discretionary grant program
will be given to regional or multi-state educational or nonprofit
associations serving economically distressed regions of the United
States. The Federal share of these funds will be 80 percent, and
recipients will be required to provide a 20 percent match. CMV Operator
Safety Training grant applications must be submitted electronically
through grants.gov.
Border Enforcement Grants (BEG)
Section 4110 of SAFETEA-LU established the BEG program. The purpose
of this discretionary program is to provide funding for border CMV
safety programs and related enforcement activities and projects. An
entity or a State that shares a land border with another country is
eligible to receive this grant funding. Eligible awardees include State
governments, local governments, and entities (i.e., accredited post-
secondary public or private educational institutions such as
universities). Requests from entities must be coordinated with the
State lead CMV inspection agency. Applications must include a Border
Enforcement Plan and meet the required maintenance of expenditure
requirement. BEG funding decisions take into consideration the State or
entity's performance on previous BEG awards; its ability to expend the
awarded funds with the BEG performance year; and activities meeting the
BEG national criteria established by FMCSA. As established by SAFETEA-
LU, the Federal share of these funds will be 100 percent. As a result,
there is no matching requirement. BEG grant applications must be
submitted electronically through grants.gov.
CDLPI Grants
Section 4124 of SAFETEA-LU established a discretionary grant
program that provides funding for improving States' implementation of
the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) program, including expenses for
computer hardware and software, publications, testing, personnel, and
training. Funds may not be used to rent, lease, or buy land or
buildings. The agency designated by each State as the primary driver
licensing agency responsible for the development, implementation, and
maintenance of the CDL program is eligible to apply for grant funding.
State grant proposals must include the State's assessment of its CDL
program and a detailed budget explaining how the funds will be used.
The Federal share of funds for projects awarded under this grant is
established by SAFETEA-LU as 100 percent; therefore, there is no State
matching requirement. The funding opportunity announcement on
grants.gov will provide more detailed information on the application
process; national funding priorities for FY 2011; evaluation criteria;
required documents and certifications; State maintenance of expenditure
requirements; and additional information related to the availability of
funds. CLDPI grant applications must be submitted electronically
through grants.gov.
SaDIP Grants
Section 4128 of SAFETEA-LU established a Safety Data Improvement
Program (SaDIP) grant program to improve the quality of crash and
inspection truck and bus data reported by the States to FMCSA, as
described 49 U.S.C. 31102. Eligible recipients are State agencies,
local governments, and organizations representing government agencies
that are involved with highway traffic safety activities and must
demonstrate a capacity to work with highway traffic safety
stakeholders. The State's SaDIP proposal must focus on a project that
enhances the accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of the collection
and reporting of Commercial Motor Vehicle crash information in all
components of the State's record system. An applicant's proposed SaDIP
project must address the seven (7) application requirements plus the
overriding indicator established for the State Safety Data Quality
(SSDQ) program. The FMCSA will provide reimbursements for no more that
80 percent of all eligible costs and recipients are required to provide
a 20 percent match.
PRISM Grants
Section 4109 of SAFETEA-LU authorizes FMCSA to award financial
assistance funds to States to implement the Performance and
Registration Information Systems Management (PRISM) requirements that
link Federal motor carrier safety information systems with State CMV
registration and licensing systems. This program enables a State to
determine the safety fitness of a motor carrier or registrant when
licensing or registering or while the license or registration is in
effect. PRISM grant applications must be submitted electronically
through grants.gov. No matching funds are required.
CVISN Grants
Section 4126 of SAFETEA-LU authorizes FMCSA to award financial
assistance to States to deploy, operate, and maintain elements of their
Commercial Vehicle Information Systems and Networks (CVISN)
[[Page 40026]]
Program, including commercial vehicle, commercial driver, and carrier-
specific information systems and networks. The agency in each State
designated as the primary agency responsible for the development,
implementation, and maintenance of a CVISN-related system is eligible
to apply for grant funding.
Section 4126 of SAFETEA-LU distinguishes between two types of CVISN
projects: Core and Expanded. To be eligible for funding of Core CVISN
deployment project(s), a State must have its most current Core CVISN
Program Plan and Top-Level Design approved by FMCSA and the proposed
project(s) should be consistent with its approved Core CVISN Program
Plan and Top-Level Design. If a State does not have a Core CVISN
Program Plan and Top-Level Design, it may apply for up to $100,000 in
funds to either compile or update a Core CVISN Program Plan and Top-
Level Design.
A State may also apply for funds to prepare an Expanded CVISN
Program Plan and Top-Level Design if FMCSA acknowledged the State as
having completed Core CVISN deployment. In order to be eligible for
funding of any Expanded CVISN deployment project(s), a State must have
its most current Expanded CVISN Program Plan and Top-Level Design
approved by FMCSA and any proposed Expanded CVISN project(s) should be
consistent with its Expanded CVISN Program Plan and Top-Level Design.
If a State does not have an existing or up-to-date Expanded CVISN
Program Plan and Top-Level Design, it may apply for up to $100,000 in
funds to either compile or update an Expanded CVISN Program Plan and
Top-Level Design.
CVISN grant applications must be submitted electronically through
grants.gov. Awards for approved CVISN grant applications are made on a
first-come, first-served basis. States must provide a match of 50
percent.
Application Information for FY 2011 Grants
General information about the FMCSA grant programs is available in
the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) which can be found on
the internet at http://www.cfda.gov. To apply for funding, applicants
must register with grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_
registered.jsp and submit an application in accordance with
instructions provided.
Evaluation Factors: The following evaluation factors will be used
in reviewing the applications for all FMCSA discretionary grants:
(1) Prior performance--Completion of identified programs and goals
per the project plan.
(2) Effective Use of Prior Grants--Demonstrated timely use and
expensing of available funds.
(3) Cost Effectiveness--Applications will be evaluated and
prioritized on the basis of expected impact on safety relative to the
investment of grant funds. Where appropriate, costs per unit will be
calculated and compared with national averages to determine
effectiveness. In other areas, proposed costs will be compared with
historical information to confirm reasonableness.
(4) Applicability to announced priorities--If national priorities
are included in the grants.gov notice, those grants that specifically
address these issues will be given priority consideration.
(5) Ability of the applicant to support the strategies and
activities in the proposal for the entire project period of
performance.
(6) Use of innovative approaches in executing a project plan to
address identified safety issues.
(7) Feasibility of overall program coordination and implementation
based upon the project plan.
(8) Any grant-specific evaluation factors, such as program balance
or geographic diversity, will be included in the grants.gov application
information.
Proposed Application Due Dates: For the following grant programs,
FMCSA will consider funding complete applications or plans submitted by
the following dates:
MCSAP Basic and Incentive Grants--August 1, 2010
Border Enforcement Grants--September 15, 2010
MCSAP High Priority Grants--September 15, 2010
CMV Operator Safety Training Grants--October 1, 2010
New Entrant Safety Audit Grants--October 15, 2010
CVISN Grants--October 15, 2010
CDLPI Grants--November 1, 2010
PRISM Grants--November 1, 2010
SaDIP Grants--November 1, 2010
Applications submitted after due dates may be considered on a case-
by-case basis and are subject to availability of funds.
Issued on: July 6, 2010.
William A. Quade,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement and Program Delivery.
[FR Doc. 2010-17067 Filed 7-12-10; 8:45 am]
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