[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 155 (Thursday, August 12, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49017-49020]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-20013]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration
[Docket No. MARAD-2010-0035]
America's Marine Highway Grant Notice of Funding Availability
AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Grant Notice of Funding Availability.
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SUMMARY: On October 28, 2009, the President of the United States signed
the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Section 3515 of the
NDAA, titled America's Short Sea Transportation Grants for the
Development of Marine Highways, amended Section 55601 of the 2007
Energy Independence and Security Act, titled Short Sea Transportation
Program. Section 3515 of the NDAA directs the Secretary of
Transportation (Secretary) to establish and implement a short sea
transportation grant program to implement projects or components of a
project designated under subsection (d) of Section 55601.
Marine Highway Projects are new waterborne transportation services,
or expansions of existing services operating between U.S. ports or
between U.S. ports and ports in Canada in the Great Lakes Saint
Lawrence Seaway. Projects are proposed by a project sponsor and
formally designated by the Secretary under the America's Marine Highway
Program. Projects that reduce external cost and provide public benefit
by transporting passengers and/or freight (container or wheeled) in
support of all or a portion of a Marine Highway Corridor, Connector, or
Crossing may receive support from DOT and are eligible to compete for
Marine Highway grants under the program described in this notice.
Marine Highway projects and their designation are described in detail
in the final rule published on April 9, 2010, at 75 FR 18095.
It is neither the purpose nor the intent of these grants to shift
passengers or freight currently moving by water to another water
service, but rather to expand the use of marine transportation where
landside transportation is currently being utilized and when the water
option represents the best overall option. Therefore a project that
directly competes with another, existing Marine Highway service will
not be considered for a grant award.
In order to receive a grant under the program, applicants are
required to: submit an application to the Secretary in such form and
manner, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary
may require, and demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Secretary that
the project is financially viable, the funds received will be spent
efficiently and effectively, and a market exists for the services of
the proposed project as evidenced by contracts or written statements of
intent from potential customers. Applicants are required to provide at
least 20 percent of the project costs from non-Federal sources. In
awarding grants under the program, the Secretary shall give preference
to those projects or components that present the most financially
viable transportation services and require the lowest percentage
Federal share of the costs. A plan is financially viable upon
demonstration to the Secretary of Transportation that the project will
be sustainable in a specified and reasonable timeframe. The Maritime
Administration's Fiscal Year 2010 appropriations, signed by the
President of the United States on December 16, 2009, included
$7,000,000 to ``designate and support specific projects that will
create new or expanded services along designated Marine Highway
Corridors.'' Funds for this purpose will be allocated through the
Marine Highway Grant Program established in the NDAA and set forth in
this notice.
This notice announces the availability of funding for Marine
Highway grants, and establishes selection criteria and application
requirements.
Marine Highway Grants will be awarded to applicants to implement
projects or components of projects designated under America's Marine
Highway Program as outlined in the final rule published on April 9,
2010. Eligible applicants must be sponsors of Marine Highway Projects
formally designated by the Secretary.
Sponsors of designated Marine Highway Projects are eligible to
apply for a Marine Highway Grant as described in this notice.
DATES: Grant applications must be received by 5 p.m., August 27, 2010.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) will evaluate all applications
and announce the projects that have been selected to receive grant
funds as soon as possible after the Application Deadline.
ADDRESSES: Grant applications must be submitted electronically through
Grants.gov. Only applications received through Grants.gov will be
deemed properly filed. Instructions for submitting applications through
Grants.gov are included in Section IV (Submission of Applications).
Paperwork Reduction Act: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the America's Marine Highway (AMH)
information collection was previously approved by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) and was assigned the OMB control number
2133-0541.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact the Marine Highway
Grants program manager via e-mail at [email protected], or contact
Michael Gordon at (202) 366-5468.
Table of Contents
I. Background
II. Eligibility
III. Selection Criteria
IV. Submission of Applications
V. Evaluation Process
VI. Contents of Application
VII. Grant Administration
I. Background
Three legislative actions in combination require implementation of
a Marine Highway Program, including the designation of Marine Highway
Projects, the authorization of Marine Highway grants, and the
appropriation of funds for such grants. These are described below.
[[Page 49018]]
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, Sections 1121,
1122, and 1123 of Public Law 110-140, enacted on December 19, 2007 (121
STAT. 1492), calls for the Secretary of Transportation to establish a
short sea transportation (Marine Highway) program and designate short
sea transportation projects to mitigate landside congestion. It
encourages the development and expansion of the use of documented
vessels, increased shipper utilization, port and landside
infrastructure improvement, and development of marine transportation
strategies by State and local governments.
As required by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007,
the Maritime Administration published a final rule on April 9, 2010,
establishing America's Marine Highway Program, 75 FR 18095 (April 9,
2010), including the designation of Marine Highway Projects (Section
393.4). The intent of Section 393.4 is to designate and provide support
to projects that lead to Marine Highway services which, if successfully
implemented, expanded, or otherwise enhanced, would reduce external
costs and provide the greatest benefit to the public. In addition to
reduced transportation delays, public benefits can include, but are not
limited to, reduced emissions including greenhouse gases, reduced
energy consumption, road or rail infrastructure maintenance savings,
and improved safety. Additional consideration will be given to Marine
Highway Projects that represent the most cost-effective option among
other modal improvements or reduce border congestion. Some Marine
Highway Projects can also provide public benefit by offering routes
that are more resilient to incidents that interrupt surface
transportation, or provide additional, redundant surface transportation
options. Designation can help focus public and private investment on
pre-identified projects that offer the maximum potential public
benefit, may receive support from DOT, and are eligible to compete for
Marine Highway grants under the program described in this notice.
Enactment of section 3515 of the 2010 National Defense Authorization
Act (Pub. L. 111-84) (NDAA) directs the Secretary to establish and
implement a Marine Highway grant program to implement projects or
components of projects designated as a Marine Highway Project. In order
to receive a grant under this program, applicants must submit an
application to DOT and demonstrate that the project is financially
viable, the funds will be spent efficiently and effectively, and that a
market exists for the services of the proposed project as evidenced by
contracts or written statements of intent from potential customers. It
also requires that applicants provide at least 20 percent of the
project costs from non-Federal sources. It calls for DOT to give
preference to projects that represent the most financially viable
transportation services and require the lowest Federal cost share.
The 2010 NDAA directs DOT to establish and implement a short sea
transportation grant program to implement projects or components of
projects designated as a Marine Highway Project. The Fiscal Year 2010
DOT Appropriation includes $7,000,000 from the O&T funds for the Secure
and Efficient Ports Initiative, which seeks to develop the Nation's
intermodal freight infrastructure by linking coastal and inland ports
to the highway and rail networks. It recognizes the important role that
our ports and waterways can play in easing congestion and increasing
mobility by moving both freight and passengers from our roads to
waterways. The funding provided as part of this initiative will allow
DOT to designate and support specific projects that will create new or
expanded services along designated Marine Highway Corridors. In
addition, the funding will allow for the collection of data to support
the expanded use of a secure national marine highway. The intent of
this grant program is to expand the use of water transportation.
II. Eligibility
Applicants eligible for Marine Highway Grants are project sponsors
that have received designation by DOT for a specific Marine Highway
Project under the America's Marine Highway Program. Project sponsors
are public entities, including but not limited to, Metropolitan
Planning Organizations, State governments (including State Departments
of Transportation), and port authorities. Project sponsors are
encouraged to develop coalitions and public/private partnerships that
can include vessel owners and operators, third party logistics
providers, trucking companies, shippers, railroads, port authorities,
State, regional, and local transportation planners, environmental
interests or any combination of entities working in collaboration under
a single application. Components of projects that are eligible for
grant funding include, but are not limited to, the following items,
generally in order of priority:
--Port and terminal infrastructure (wharves, docks, terminals, paving,
etc.),
--Cargo, passenger and/or vessel handling equipment,
--Efficiency or capacity improvements in ports, terminals, aboard
vessels, intermodal connectors, etc.,
--Investments that improve environmental sustainability,
--New or used vessel purchase or vessel modifications, and
--Research, planning, or environmental analysis or review.
III. Selection Criteria
This section specifies the criteria that DOT will use to evaluate
applications. Three criteria will be considered in the evaluation
process, which were established in the final rule. This information
will have been provided by applicants during the project designation
process. No additional applicant input is required to address these
criteria. These criteria establish the degree to which projects are
expected to:
1. Reduce external cost and provide public benefit,
2. Offer a lower-cost alternative to increasing land-based capacity
in the Corridor, and
3. Demonstrate the likelihood of financial viability.
Applicants may, however, opt to provide additional information
specific to the above criteria if they desire. In evaluating this
option, applicants should consider paragraph (g)(2)(B) of Section 3515
of NDAA of 2010, which requires that, in order to receive a grant under
the program, the following factors must be taken into consideration:
1. Applicants demonstrate to the satisfaction of DOT that the funds
received will be spent efficiently and effectively,
2. Applicants demonstrate to the satisfaction of DOT that a market
exists for the services of the proposed project as evidenced by
contracts or written statements of intent from potential customers,
3. Applicants provide at least 20 percent of the costs from non-
Federal sources, and,
4. In awarding grants under the program, DOT give preference to
those projects or components that present the most financially viable
transportation services and require the lowest percentage Federal share
of the costs.
While the criteria above were generally addressed in the original
Marine Highway Project application requirements (Section
393.4(e)1(F)(vi), and Business Planning (vii); Proposed Project
Timeline), these more specific
[[Page 49019]]
requirements may warrant submission of additional information in
response to this Notice of Funding Availability. It is important that
this information is available to DOT during the grant evaluation
process.
All grant applications will be reviewed pursuant to the
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C.
4321, et seq.
IV. Submission of Applications
Applications must be submitted through http://www.grants.gov
(grants.gov). To apply for funding through Grants.gov, applicants must
be properly registered. Complete instructions on how to register and
submit applications can be found on the Web site; registration must be
completed before an application can be submitted. If interested parties
experience difficulties at any point during the registration or
application process, they should call the Grants.gov Customer Support
Hotline at 1-800-518-4726, Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern
Time. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for this
solicitation is 20.816, titled America's Marine Highway Grants.
Additional information on applying through Grants.gov is available in
Appendix A, attached hereto.
V. Evaluation Process
DOT will use the evaluation, weighting, and selection processes as
set forth in Section 393.4(e)6 contained in the final rule implementing
the Marine Highway Program (MARAD-2010-0035) to review and select
Marine Highway Grant applications. In addition, an assessment of the
overall project risk factors will be conducted and considered during
the evaluation process.
VI. Contents of Application
An applicant for a Marine Highway Grant should include all of the
information requested below in the application. DOT reserves the right
to ask any applicant to supplement the data in its application, but
expects applications to be complete upon submission. To the extent
practical, DOT encourages applicants to provide data and evidence of
project merits in a form that is verifiable.
A. Length of Application. The narrative portion of an application
should not exceed 10 pages. Documentation supporting assertions made in
the narrative portion may also be provided, but should be limited to
relevant information. If possible, Web site links to supporting
documentation should be provided instead of copies of these materials.
At the applicant's discretion, relevant materials provided previously
in support of a Marine Highway Project application may be referenced
and described as unchanged. To the extent referenced, this information
need not be resubmitted for the Marine Highway grant application.
B. First Page of Application: The first page of the application
should provide the following items of information:
1. Marine Highway Project name (as stated in the Department's
Letter of Designation).
2. Primary point of contact for applicant.
3. Amount in dollars, of Grant Funds the applicant is seeking,
along with sources, and share of other matching funds.
4. Summary statement of how the grant funding will be applied.
5. Project parties.
6. Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. Recipients of
Marine Highway grants and their first-tier sub-awardees will be
required to have DUNS numbers (http://www.dnb.com) and current
registrations in the Central Contractor Registration (http://www.ccr.gov). While these items do not need to be provided as part of
the application, a Marine Highway grant will not be awarded if a
recipient or first-tier sub-awardee does not have these items.
C. Contact Information. An application should include the name,
phone number, e-mail address, and organization address of the primary
point of contact for the applicant. DOT will use this information to
inform applicants of DOT's decision regarding selection of grantees, as
well as to contact them in the event that DOT needs additional
information about applications.
D. Grant Funds and Sources and Uses of Project Funds. An
application should include specific information about the amount of
grant funding requested, sources and uses of all project funds, total
project costs, percentage of project costs that would be paid for with
Marine Highway grant funds and the identity and percentage shares of
all parties providing funds for the project (including Federal funds
provided under other programs).
E. Selection Criteria. In general, applications will be evaluated
based on the information provided in the original application for
designation as a Marine Highway Project as set forth in the final rule
implementing the Marine Highway Program (MARAD-2010-0035). However, as
addressed in Section III (Selection Criteria) of this notice,
applicants may provide additional information. This information should
be provided in the order it was solicited in the final rule.
F. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Requirement. An
application must detail whether the project will significantly affect
the human environment. Applicants should consult the Maritime
Administration's Manual of Orders, MAO-600-1, Procedures for
Considering Environmental Impacts, available at http://www.marad.dot.gov/documents/mao_600-001-0.pdf and 40 CFR Part 1500 to
ensure that the proper environmental impact information is included
with the grant application. If the NEPA, or comparable state NEPA,
process has already been completed, an applicant must indicate the date
of, and provide a Web site link or other reference to, the final
environmental document(s). If the NEPA process is underway but not
complete, the application must detail where the project is in the
process, indicate the anticipated date of completion, and provide a Web
site link or other reference to copies of any environmental documents
prepared.
G. Environmentally Related Federal, State, and Local Actions. An
application must indicate whether the proposed project is likely to
require actions by other agencies (e.g., permits), indicate the status
of such actions, and provide a Web site link or other reference to
materials submitted to the other agencies, and/or demonstrate
compliance with other Federal, state, and local regulations and permits
as applicable.
H. Certification Requirements. In order for an application to be
considered for a grant award, the Chief Executive Officer of the
applicant is required to certify, in writing, the following:
1. That, except as noted in this grant application, nothing has
changed from the original application for formal designation as a
Marine Highway Project.
2. The project sponsor will administer the project and any funds
received will be spent efficiently and effectively.
3. Applicants will provide information, data, and reports as
required by the grantor.
I. Protection of Confidential Business Information. All information
submitted as part of or in support of an application shall use publicly
available data or data that can be made public and methodologies that
are accepted by industry practice and standards, to the extent
possible. If the application includes information that the applicant
considers to be a trade secret or confidential commercial or financial
[[Page 49020]]
information, the applicant should do the following: (1) Note on the
front cover that the submission ``Contains Confidential Business
Information (CBI)''; (2) mark each affected page ``CBI''; and (3)
highlight or otherwise denote the CBI portions. DOT protects such
information from disclosure to the extent allowed under applicable law.
In the event DOT receives a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request
for the information, DOT will follow the procedures described in its
FOIA regulations at 49 CFR 7.17. Only information that is ultimately
determined to be confidential under that procedure will be exempt from
disclosure under FOIA.
VII. Grant Administration
All applicable Federal laws, rules, and regulations will apply to
projects that receive Marine Highway grants. How soon after award a
project is expected to expend grant funds and start construction,
acquisition, or procurement will be considered on a case-by-case basis
and will be specified in the project-specific grant agreement. DOT
reserves the right to revoke any award of Marine Highway grant funds
and to award such funds to another project to the extent that such
funds are not expended in a timely manner and in accordance with the
project schedule. DOT's ability to obligate funds for Marine Highway
grants expires on September 30, 2010.
Appendix A
Additional Information on Applying Through Grants.gov.
Applications for Marine Highway grants must be submitted through
Grants.gov. To apply for funding through Grants.gov, applicants must
be properly registered. Complete instructions on how to register and
apply can be found at http://www.grants.gov. If interested parties
experience difficulties at any point during the registration or
application process, please call the Grants.gov Customer Support
Hotline at 1-800-518-4726, Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Eastern Time. Registering with Grants.gov is a one-time process;
processing delays may occur for first-time registrants to receive
confirmation and a user password. It is highly recommended that
applicants start the registration process as early as possible to
avoid delays that may preclude submitting an application by the
deadline specified. Applications will not be accepted after the
relevant due date; delayed registration is not an acceptable reason
for extensions. In order to apply for a Marine Highway grant under
this announcement and to apply for funding through Grants.gov, all
applicants are required to complete the following:
1. Acquire a Data Universal Numbering System Number. A Data
Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number is required for Grants.gov
registration. The Office of Management and Budget requires that all
businesses and nonprofit applicants for Federal funds include a DUNS
number in their applications for a new award or renewal of an
existing award. A DUNS number is a unique nine-digit sequence
recognized as the universal standard for identifying and keeping
track of entities receiving Federal funds. The identifier is used
for tracking purposes and to validate address and point of contact
information for Federal assistance applicants, recipients, and sub-
recipients. The DUNS number will be used throughout the grant life-
cycle. Obtaining a DUNS number is a free, one-time activity. Obtain
a DUNS number by calling 1-866-705-5711 or by applying online at
http://www.dnb.com.
2. Acquire or Renew Registration with the Central Contractor
Registration (CCR) Database. All applicants for Federal financial
assistance maintain current registrations in the Central Contractor
Registration (CCR) database. An applicant must be registered in the
CCR to successfully register in Grants.gov. The CCR database is the
repository for standard information about Federal financial
assistance applicants, recipients, and sub-recipients. Organizations
that have previously submitted applications via Grants.gov are
already registered with CCR, as it is a requirement for Grants.gov
registration. Please note, however, that applicants must update or
renew their CCR registration at least once per year to maintain an
active status, so it is critical to check registration status well
in advance of relevant application deadlines. Information about CCR
registration procedures can be accessed at http://www.ccr.gov.
3. Acquire an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) and a
Grants.gov Username and Password. Complete your AOR profile on
Grants.gov and create your username and password. You will need to
use your organization's DUNS number to complete this step. For more
information about the registration process, go to http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp.
4. Acquire Authorization for your AOR from the E-Business Point
of Contact (E-Biz POC). The E-Biz POC at your organization must log
into Grants.gov to confirm your AOR. Please note that there can be
more than one AOR for your organization.
5. Search for the Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. Please use
the following identifying information when searching for the Marine
Highway grant opportunity on Grants.gov. The Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for this solicitation is 20.816,
which is titled America's Marine Highway Grants.
6. Submit an Application Addressing All of the Requirements
Outlined in this Funding Availability Announcement. Within 24-48
hours after submitting your electronic application, you should
receive an email validation message from Grants.gov. The validation
message will tell you whether the application has been received and
validated or rejected, with an explanation. You are urged to submit
your application at least 72 hours prior to the due date of the
application to allow time to receive the validation message and to
correct any problems that may have caused a rejection notification.
Note: When uploading attachments please use generally accepted
formats such as .pdf, .doc, and .xls. While you may imbed picture
files such as .jpg, .gif, or .bmp, in your files, please do not save
and submit attachments in these formats. Additionally, the following
formats will not be accepted: .com, .bat, .exe, .vbs, .cfg, .dat,
.db, .dbf, .dll, .ini, .log, .ora, .sys, and .zip.
Unforeseen Grants.gov Technical Issues. If you experience
unforeseen Grants.gov technical issues beyond your control that
prevent you from submitting your application by the deadline, you
must contact Michael Gordon at 202-366-5468 or
[email protected] within 24 hours after the deadline and
request approval to submit your application by alternate means. In
that circumstance, Department staff will request that you email the
complete grant application along with your DUNS number, and provide
a Grants.gov Help Desk tracking number(s) obtained prior to the
deadline. After Department staff review all of the information
submitted as well as contact the Grants.gov Help Desk to validate
the technical issues you reported, Department staff will contact you
to either approve or deny your request to submit a late application.
If the technical issues you reported cannot be validated, your
application will be rejected as untimely. To ensure a fair
competition for limited funds, the following conditions are not
valid reasons to permit late submissions: (1) Failure to complete
the registration process before the deadline date; (2) failure to
follow Grants.gov instructions on how to register and apply as
posted on its Web site; (3) failure to follow all of the
instructions in the funding availability notice; and (4) technical
issues experienced with the applicant's computer or information
technology environment.
Dated: August 10, 2010.
By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Christine Gurland,
Secretary, Maritime Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-20013 Filed 8-11-10; 8:45 am]
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