[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 189 (Thursday, September 30, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60494-60495]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-24567]
[[Page 60494]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
[Docket No. FTA-2010-0034]
Notice of Proposed Guidance and Request for Comment on the
Federal Transit Administration's Research, Technical Assistance, and
Training Programs: Application Instructions and Program Management
Guidelines (FTA Circular 6100.1D)
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed guidance and request for
comment.
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SUMMARY: This notice proposes guidance in the form of a revised
circular on the Federal Transit Administration's research, technical
assistance, and training programs and seeks comment thereon. Proposed
FTA Circular 6100.1D, ``Research, Technical Assistance, and Training
Programs: Application Instructions and Program Management Guidelines,''
modifies FTA's existing FTA Circular 6100.1C, ``Transit Research and
Technology Programs: Application Instructions and Program Management
Guidelines'' to reflect current policy and new FTA programs,
restructures the circular, and clarifies FTA's requirements and
processes.
DATES: Comments must be received by November 29, 2010. Late-filed
comments will be considered to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: You must include the agency name (Federal Transit
Administration) and the docket number (FTA-2010-0034) with your
comments. To ensure your comments are not entered into the docket more
than once, please submit comments, identified by the docket number
(FTA-2010-0034) by only one of the following methods:
1. Web site: The U.S. Government electronic docket site is http://www.regulations.gov. Go to this Web site and follow the instructions
for submitting comments into docket number FTA-2010-0034;
2. Fax: Telefax comments to 202-493-2251;
3. Mail: Mail your comments to U.S. Department of Transportation,
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Docket Operations, M-30, Room W12-140,
Washington, DC 20590; or
4. Hand Delivery: Bring your comments to the U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Docket Operations, M-30,
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590, between
9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Instructions for submitting comments: You must include the agency
name (Federal Transit Administration) and Docket number (FTA-2010-0034)
for this notice at the beginning of your comments. You should submit
two copies of your comments if you submit them by mail or courier. For
confirmation that FTA has received your comments, you must include a
self-addressed stamped postcard. Note that all comments received will
be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided, and will be available to Internet users.
You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal
Register published April 11, 2000, (65 FR 19477), or you may visit
http://www.regulations.gov.
Docket: For Internet access to the docket to read background
documents and comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov.
Background documents and comments received may also be viewed at the
U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140,
Washington, DC 20590 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For program questions, please contact
MaryAnne Polkiewicz at (202) 366-0203 or [email protected].
For legal questions, please contact Linda Sorkin at 202-366-0959 or
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Overview
II. Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis
A. Chapter I--Introduction and Background
B. Chapter II--Program Overview
C. Chapter II--Application Instructions
D. Chapter IV--Project Administration
E. Chapter V--FTA Oversight
F. Chapter VI--Financial Management
G. Appendices
I. Overview
The bulk of this proposed circular consists of restructuring of the
2003 edition of FTA Circular 6100.1C coupled with updates of Federal
statutory and regulatory citations, to reflect current policy and new
FTA programs; and clarify FTA's requirements and processes.
FTA seeks comments on the proposed circular, in particular those
portions of the circular reflecting new guidance, policies, or
interpretations. Comments received will be considered by FTA when it
develops its final FTA Circular 6100.1D. FTA will reply to comments
received in response to this notice in a second Federal Register notice
to be published after the close of the comment period. The second
notice will announce the availability of and the effective date of the
final FTA Circular 6100.1D, which final circular will reflect the
changes FTA implemented as a result of the comments received in
response to this Federal Register notice.
II. Chapter-by-Chapter Analysis
A. Chapter I--Introduction and Background
The first four sections of this chapter are a general introduction
to FTA that is proposed to be included in all new and revised program
circulars for the orientation of readers new to FTA programs. Section 5
of this chapter sets forth definitions of terms appearing in the
proposed circular to ensure a common understanding of terms.
B. Chapter II--Program Overview
Sections 1 and 2 describe the statutory authority and nature of the
national research programs and activities for which this circular
applies. Section 3 clarifies the project management roles and
responsibilities of the recipient and FTA. Section 4 describes civil
rights requirements, and Section 5 notes that Federal cross-cutting
requirements will apply to these projects.
C. Chapter III--Application Instructions
Chapter III describes application instructions including the use of
the Web-based Transportation Electronic Award and Management (TEAM
system), the development of pre-applications or white papers, the
development of formal applications including project budgets and
statements of work, and other application requirements. Section 6
describes how FTA may request recipients to participate in Peer Review
of applications.
D. Chapter IV--Project Administration
Chapter IV describes project administration requirements. Section 3
describes project identification requirements on all equipment,
hardware, construction, reports, data or any similar items produced in
the course of the project. Section 4 describes reporting requirements,
clarifying that all recipients must submit quarterly Federal Financial
Reports (FFR) and Milestone Progress Reports (MPR) in TEAM and
clarifies
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the development of Quarterly Narrative Reports. Section 4 also updates
guidelines on the Final Report and other major technical report
development and clarifies the requirements for electronic copies.
Section 4 also clarifies that all FTA-sponsored reports, not just the
Final Report, must contain an identification notice acknowledging FTA
sponsorship. Section 5 clarifies prior approval requirements and
procedures for obtaining prior approval. It clarifies prior approval
requirements for transfers of financial assistance between cost
categories and permits prior approvals to be requested and granted
electronically by authorized officials. Section 6 describes project
modifications including budget revisions and amendments. Sections 7, 8,
and 9 describe recipient responsibilities for equipment, intangible
property, and supplies. Section 10 clarifies the recipient's third
party procurement responsibilities. Section 11 describes project close-
out procedures. Sections 12 and 13 describe suspension and termination
procedures. Section 14 describes responsibilities for record retention.
E. Chapter V--FTA Oversight
Section 1 is a general description of FTA's oversight program.
Section 2 describes FTA's Oversight Programs that FTA may undertake.
Section 3 describes the types of reviews that may apply to the FTA
recipient or its projects. Section 3 describes the peer review process
FTA may request recipients to participate in.
F. Chapter VI--Financial Management
Sections 2-6 describe the proper use and management of Federal
assistance including internal controls, non-Federal matching share, the
applicable Federal cost principles, indirect costs, and program income.
Section 7 describes the single annual audit requirements and describes
when these may be extended to for-profit organizations. Section 8
clarifies payment procedures requiring all recipients to make requests
using the Request of Advance or Reimbursement Standard Form 270 (SF-
270), as is current practice.
G. Appendices
Appendix A lists all FTA circulars.
Appendix B provides an example of a Progress Report.
Appendix C describes requirements for developing a Cost Allocation
Plan.
Appendix D provides instructions for submitting the Request of Advance
or Reimbursement (SF-270).
Appendix E provides FTA regional and metropolitan contact information.
Appendix F is the Subject and Location index.
Issued this 24th day of September 2010.
Peter Rogoff,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-24567 Filed 9-29-10; 8:45 am]
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