Notice2023-22521
FY 2022 and 2023 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Accelerating Advanced Digital Construction Management Systems Program
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
October 13, 2023
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Transit Administration
Abstract
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to competitively apply for $5,093,000 under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 and 2023 Public Transportation Innovation Program to serve as the Program Lead for the Accelerating Advanced Digital Construction Management Systems ("ADCMS") program.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 197 (Friday, October 13, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 197 (Friday, October 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71074-71081]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-22521]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
FY 2022 and 2023 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Accelerating
Advanced Digital Construction Management Systems Program
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Notice of funding opportunity (NOFO).
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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the
opportunity to competitively apply for $5,093,000 under the Fiscal Year
(FY) 2022 and 2023 Public Transportation Innovation Program to serve as
the Program Lead for the Accelerating Advanced Digital Construction
Management Systems (``ADCMS'') program.
DATES: Complete proposals must be submitted electronically through the
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> ``APPLY'' function by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on February
12, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ADCMS Program Team, FTA Office of
Research, Demonstration, and Innovation, by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#09484d4a445a496d667d276e667f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="82c3c6c1cfd1c2e6edf6ace5edf4">[email protected]</span></a> or
by phone at (202) 366-2182.
Prospective applicants should initiate the process by registering
on the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> website promptly to ensure completion of the
application process before the submission deadline. Instructions for
applying can be found on FTA's website at <a href="https://www.transit.dot.gov/howtoapply">https://www.transit.dot.gov/howtoapply</a> and in the ``FIND'' module of <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>. The <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>
funding opportunity ID is FTA-2023-012-TRI-ADCMS. Mail and fax
submissions will not be accepted.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
A. Program Description
B. Federal Award Information
C. Eligibility Information
D. Application and Submission Information
E. Application Review Information
F. Federal Award Administration Information
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
H. Other Information
A. Program Description
1. Background
FTA's Public Transportation Innovation Program (49 U.S.C. 5312)
supports research and demonstrations to develop and deploy ideas,
practices, and approaches that improve public transportation. This
Notice (Federal Assistance Listing 20.526) will establish a program to
plan, deploy, evaluate, and promote ADCMS technologies under 49 U.S.C.
5312(b)(4).
Construction is often the costliest and potentially most disruptive
phase of any public transportation infrastructure project. Effective
and efficient management of all elements and life cycle phases of
infrastructure construction is key to on-time and on-budget project
delivery. Project teams must know how and why specific changes or
improvements are being made, ideally in real-time, and be aware of
variations in methods of construction, delays, and stakeholder inputs.
Public transportation infrastructure projects could have delays, cost
overruns, avoidable revisions and change orders, worker injuries, or
substandard build quality without effective and efficient
infrastructure construction management strategies.
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law 117-58 (also
called the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)), prioritizes the
modernization of public transportation systems and acknowledges that
the successful implementation of the ADCMS program relies on creating a
new digital solution for the infrastructure construction industry. BIL
codified 49 U.S.C. 5312(b)(4), which requires FTA to accelerate the
implementation and deployment of ADCMS in the public transportation
industry. ADCMS is broadly defined as empowering more timely and
productive information sharing among stakeholders through reduced
reliance on outdated pen-and-paper methods. ADCMS potentially makes
modern digital technology available to infrastructure construction
employees and enables them to perform tasks faster, more safely,
smartly, and accurately, and with reduced oversight and supervision.
Section 5312(b)(4) lists nine goals for the accelerated
implementation and deployment of ADCMS technologies in the public
transportation industry. They are:
1. Accelerated adoption of advanced digital systems applied
throughout the lifecycle of transportation infrastructure (including
through the planning, design and engineering, construction, operations,
and maintenance phases) that maximize interoperability with other
systems, products, tools, or applications; boost productivity; manage
complexity; reduce project delays and cost overruns; enhance safety and
quality; and reduce total costs for the entire lifecycle of
transportation infrastructure assets.
2. More timely and productive information sharing among
stakeholders through reduced reliance on paper to manage construction
processes and deliverables such as blueprints, design drawings,
procurement and supply-chain orders, equipment logs, daily progress
reports, and punch lists.
3. Deployment of digital management systems that enable and
leverage the use of digital technologies on construction sites by
contractors, such as state-of-the-art automated and connected machinery
and optimized routing software that allows construction workers to
perform tasks faster, more safely, more
[[Page 71075]]
accurately, and with minimal supervision.
4. The development and deployment of best practices for use in
digital construction management.
5. Increased technology adoption and deployment by States, local
governmental authorities, and designated recipients that enable project
sponsors to integrate the adoption of digital management systems and
technologies in contracts and to weigh the cost of digitization and
technology in setting project budgets.
6. Technology training and workforce development to build the
capabilities of project managers and sponsors that enable States, local
governmental authorities, or designated recipients to better manage
projects using advanced construction management technologies and to
properly measure and reward technology adoption across projects.
7. Development of guidance to assist States, local governmental
authorities, and designated recipients in updating regulations to allow
project sponsors and contractors to report data relating to the project
in digital formats and to fully capture the efficiencies and benefits
of advanced digital construction management systems and related
technologies.
8. Reduction in the environmental footprint of construction
projects using advanced digital construction management systems
resulting from eliminating congestion through more efficient projects.
9. Enhanced worker and pedestrian safety resulting from increased
transparency.
2. Program Goals and Objectives
FTA is soliciting proposals for a Program Lead to carry out
demonstrations of ADCMS software on transit construction projects and
report on the results and experiences, with the purpose of assisting
other transit agencies considering adopting ADCMS on their construction
projects.
FTA expects this ADCMS demonstration program to consist of the
following basic program elements, which are described in additional
detail below: (1) overall program management and coordination; (2)
demonstration of ADCMS on public transportation construction projects;
(3) an evaluation of the demonstration projects centered on the nine
program goals in 49 U.S.C. 5312(b)(4); and (4) development of ``lessons
learned'' documents of project findings and an implementation guide
intended to assist public transportation agencies accelerate the
deployment of ADCMS programs.
The Program Lead is encouraged to assemble and lead appropriate
partnerships to deliver all components of the ADCMS program as
described in this Notice.
i. Management and Coordination
The Program Lead will be responsible for overall program
management, coordination, and adherence to established project
timelines in accordance with available funding. This includes all
aspects of resource management, compliance, and reporting, including
oversight of sub-recipients, if any. Eligible activities include data
collection, feasibility study and analysis, economic analysis,
stakeholder engagement, and outreach, obtaining necessary equipment and
services, acquiring or developing software and hardware interfaces to
implement the project demonstrations, performance measurement and
evaluation, planning, engineering, development of technical or
financing plans, public engagement, and participant recruitment,
capital and operating expenses, technology applications, or similar
necessary components to design, select, and carry out demonstrations.
The Program Lead is expected to work closely and have frequent
contact with the transit agency owners of the demonstration
construction projects to monitor the collection and analysis of data to
ensure the validity and consistency of findings, in accordance with the
goals and requirements of this Notice, and with input of the Research
Stakeholder Committee, as described in Section A.2.iv., Structured
Demonstration and National Research, below.
ii. Demonstration Projects
The Program Lead must provide for at least two transit agencies to
demonstrate at least two different ADCMS solutions, and the
construction projects used for demonstrations must be FTA-funded
projects. Accordingly, the Program Lead must have the capability to
support the implementation of more than one ADCMS-integrated software
solution. The Program Lead must allow a public transportation agency
sponsoring a demonstration to choose its own ADCMS software, and cannot
be a provider of, or have a financial interest in, a proprietary ADCMS
software solution.
In proposing construction projects for demonstrations, the Program
Lead should consider, among other factors, the nature and type of
construction management processes being proposed for ADCMS
demonstrations, each transit agency's ability to implement ADCMS, the
ADCMS products to be demonstrated, and each transit agency's ability to
manage project data. FTA expects demonstrations to have a duration not
to exceed four years from project start date. The Project Lead shall
propose demonstration projects to ensure that the customized ADCMS
strategies and targeted investments are having a measurable impact at
the demonstration sites.
Demonstration activities should include the full lifecycle for
planning, implementing, integrating, testing, and final deployment of
the solution. For example, (1) gathering and confirming business
requirements from the recipients selected for the demonstration, (2)
configuring the ADCMS software noted in the application for the
respective partner, (3) testing and integrating the software solution
with any internal systems already deployed that relate to digital
construction management, (4) final deployment, and (5) lessons learned
in the process.
Demonstrations will include the collection of data and experiences
from participants in the demonstration projects and unique
``storytelling'' of individual participants in the various
demonstrations that will form the basis of the Project Lead's
evaluation of the demonstrations and preparation of ``lessons learned''
materials for dissemination.
Proposals must include a research program ``off-ramp plan'' to
financially support and sustain the ADCMS program for the demonstration
recipients at the conclusion of the demonstration and research period.
Competitive proposals will also have a deployment timeline and critical
milestones with associated roles and responsibilities for demonstration
transit agencies.
iii. Demonstration Project Evaluation
A Demonstration Project Evaluation report is required to assess the
research project's process, outcomes, and impact. This report should
provide an unbiased assessment of the project's strengths, weaknesses,
and lessons learned.
iv. Development of Lessons Learned
The Program Lead will facilitate the interaction between the
demonstration project transit agencies by bringing demonstration
partners together periodically to gather qualitative research and
provide feedback on their respective findings regarding the
demonstration's implementation and impact.
[[Page 71076]]
The Program Lead will develop a structured research framework for
the demonstrations. The Program Lead will establish and regularly meet
with a Research Stakeholder Committee consisting of representatives
from federal agencies involved in research and development initiatives
related to the project's domain, experts from relevant industries from
non-profit and/or private sector organizations that have a vested
interest in the research area; representatives from academia that can
contribute their knowledge, research expertise, and academic
perspectives to guide the project and ensure its alignment with current
scientific understanding; and end users or practitioners from
organizations such as public transportation agencies or relevant
professionals who will be the direct beneficiaries or users of project
outcomes. The Research Stakeholder Committee will review the
demonstration framework and methodology, data collection plan, and
preliminary and final findings and offer feedback to ensure the
demonstration satisfies the nine goals of the ADCMS program in the most
valid and impactful ways. The successful applicant will collaborate
with FTA on the membership composition of the committee. FTA will also
be a member of the committee. The Program Lead will aid the selected
demonstration sites in establishing and maintaining the collection of
project data and tools, striving for consistency across demonstrations
to the greatest extent possible. The Program Lead will also compile and
synthesize data and lessons learned from the demonstrations. Project
deliverables should include data collection instruments, including
surveys, interview guides, observation protocols, or experimental
protocols used to collect primary data; copies of oral and/or visual
presentations summarizing the project objectives, methodology,
findings, and recommendations; copies of all raw and/or processed data
collected during the demonstrations that can be used to facilitate
replication, further analysis, or meta-analyses; and, a comprehensive
demonstration project evaluation report, summarizing the evaluation
methodology, findings, and recommendations. The evaluation report
should be tailored to different stakeholders' needs and should be
easily accessible and understandable. Additionally, opportunities for
presenting the findings and engaging stakeholders in discussions should
be provided in the report to ensure that the evaluation results are
utilized for decision-making and improvement.
Research and demonstration conducted under this Notice will advance
the strategic goals of the U.S. Department of Transportation, as
outlined in its FY 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, and the Department's
Innovation Principles, which can be found at <a href="https://www.transportation.gov/priorities/transformation/us-dot-innovation-principles">https://www.transportation.gov/priorities/transformation/us-dot-innovation-principles</a>.
B. Federal Award Information
This Notice makes available $5,093,000 to award one competitively
selected Program Lead. Funding is available under FTA's Public
Transportation Innovation Program (49 U.S.C. 5312). FTA may, at its
discretion, provide additional funding for multi-year selections made
under this Notice from FTA's Public Transportation Innovation Program
(49 U.S.C. 5312), subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
An applicant whose proposal is selected for funding as the Program
Lead will receive a cooperative agreement with FTA. FTA will have
substantial involvement in the administration of the cooperative
agreement. FTA's role includes the right to participate in decisions to
redirect and reprioritize project activities, goals, and deliverables.
FTA expects to provide the Program Lead with substantive input and
direction at each stage of the project. Applicants are encouraged to
assemble and secure partnerships necessary to conduct the Program in
accordance with the requirements outlined in this Notice.
Only proposals from eligible recipients for eligible activities
will be considered for funding.
Pre-award authority is subject to FTA approval and is only
available for costs incurred after the announcement of the project
selection on FTA's website.
Projects under this Notice are for research efforts and, as such,
FTA Circular 6100.1E, ``Research, Technical Assistance and Training
Program Guidance'' (available at <a href="https://www.fta.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/fta-circulars/research-technical-assistance-and-training-program">https://www.fta.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/fta-circulars/research-technical-assistance-and-training-program</a>), will apply in administering the program.
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants for the Program Lead under this Notice include
the following:
<bullet> Departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of local, state,
and federal government, including Federal laboratories
<bullet> Institutions of higher education, including research
universities, particularly those with Minority Serving Institution
status
<bullet> Non-profit organizations
<bullet> For-profit organizations
<bullet> Technical and community colleges
Eligibility is limited to United States entities. Applicants must
demonstrate experience conducting comprehensive research
demonstrations, including those focused on data- and technology-
oriented research and application in the infrastructure construction
industry, and related areas.
To be considered eligible, an applicant must be able to demonstrate
the requisite legal, financial, and technical capabilities to receive
and administer Federal funds under this new program.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
Per 49 U.S.C. 5312(g), the eligible Federal share will not exceed
80 percent of net project cost. Applicants for Program Lead must
provide a minimum 20 percent non-federal cost share. Applicants may
also apply with a larger non-federal cost share. The non-federal share
of the net project cost may be provided in cash or in kind, and the
applicant must document in its application the source of the non-
federal match. Eligible sources of non-federal match are detailed in
FTA Circular 6100.1E.
3. Conflicts of Interest
It is FTA's intent that the ADCMS program benefits public
transportation agencies irrespective of their choice of ADCMS software.
Therefore, the Program Lead and its principal staff engaged in this
project cannot be a provider of, or have a financial interest in, a
proprietary ADCMS software solution or vendor. Each applicant must
include a statement to this effect in its application.
D. Application and Submission Information
1. Address To Request Application
Applications must be made using the Standard Form 424 (SF-424),
which can be downloaded from <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
a. Proposal Submission
General information for submitting applications along with specific
instructions for the forms and attachments required for submission can
be found at <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>. A complete
[[Page 71077]]
proposal submission must consist of: (1) The SF-424 ``Application for
Federal Assistance;'' (2) the Supplemental Form; and (3) a narrative
proposal document in Microsoft Word, PDF, or a compatible file format
that addresses the required elements contained in this Notice. The
narrative proposal should be in the format outlined in the ``Proposal
Preparation and Content'' section. A narrative proposal submission may
contain additional supporting documentation as attachments. Once
completed, the Supplemental Form, narrative proposal, and any
supporting documents must be placed in the ``Attachments'' section of
the SF-424 in <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> to successfully complete the application
process. The applicant must respond to all sections of the SF-424
Application for Federal Assistance and the Supplemental Form. The
information in the application will be used to determine applicant and
project eligibility for the program and to evaluate the proposal
against the selection criteria described in this Notice. Applicants
should carefully review the criteria noted in Section E and ensure
their proposal addresses the factors listed.
Failure to submit the information as requested can delay review or
disqualify the application.
1. Proposal Preparation and Content
Applicants must submit one electronic file for Proposals in a
Microsoft Word, PDF, or compatible file format, double-spaced using
Times New Roman, 12-point font. The proposal must contain the following
components and adhere to the specified maximum lengths:
1. Cover Sheet (not to exceed 1 page): The cover sheet must include
the entity submitting the proposal, principal's name, title, and
contact information (e.g., address, office and mobile phone, and
email). The cover sheet must also include name and contact information
for the entity's point of contact for all cooperative agreement
administrative activities (if different from principal).
2. Abstract (not to exceed 2 pages): The Abstract must include
background, purpose, methodology, intended outputs, outcomes, impacts,
and plan for accomplishing the goals and objectives as outlined in this
Notice.
3. Table of Contents (not to exceed 1 page): The Table of Contents
shall list each section of the proposal (including Appendices) by title
and page number.
4. Project Budget (not to exceed 5 pages): Project budgets should
show how different funding sources will share in each activity and
present those data in dollars and percentages. The budget should
identify other Federal funds the applicant is applying for or has been
awarded, if any, that the applicant intends to use. Funding sources
should be grouped into three categories: non-Federal, ADCMS, and other
Federal, with specific amounts from each funding source. The proposed
project budget must account for multiple years and outline the total
cost of all services and products, including salaries and fringe
benefits, supplies, travel, equipment, and proposed contractual
arrangements (e.g., subcontracts, consultant services) and how these
estimated costs are connected to the project scope.
5. Project Work Plan (not to exceed ten pages total): The proposed
project work plan must include the following information:
a. Methodology--Provide a methodology for addressing the goals and
objectives described above under Section A of this Notice; identify the
transit agencies and construction projects proposed as demonstrations
and the ADCMS products proposed to be demonstrated, and how the
applicant will integrate ADCMS into the construction projects.
b. Statement of Work--Provide proposed work tasks for the project
and how the proposed work tasks will be accomplished. Include the tasks
for proposed activities, resources, milestones, and a timeline.
i. Staffing Plan--Describe the approach for managing the project
team, including the distribution of responsibilities among project
partners, and what activities each project team member will perform.
ii. Coordination with FTA--Identify the plan for coordinating the
project team's activities and deliverables with the FTA's Research
office, as needed and relevant.
iii. Research and Data Collection--Identify activities and the plan
for electronic collection, maintenance, storage, and dissemination of
data for use by the project team, stakeholders, FTA, and other
customers.
iv. Communication Plan--Provide a plan for communications of
project results. The plan should identify innovative communication
strategies including, but not limited to the following: webinars, in-
person presentations at industry events, social media (e.g., Facebook,
Twitter, YouTube), text alerts, email, website publication, and toll-
free telephone numbers.
v. Performance Measures--Identify multiple performance measures
that FTA should use to assess the Program's overall effectiveness in
accordance with the nine stated goals of the ADCMS program.
vi. Deliverables--Provide a proposed list of proposed deliverables
(e.g., guides, plans, reports, services, etc.). Include quarterly
reports, financial forms, guidance documents, and final reports to be
submitted to FTA.
6. Staff Qualifications (not to exceed 5 pages total):
a. Organizational Capacity--Provide a narrative that briefly
describes the structure of the proposer, including its history and
experience in performing complex research activities. Include a
narrative of the proposer's understanding of the activities in this
solicitation and its responsibility for the demonstrations, data
collection, and results dissemination called for in this Notice.
Include the proposer's organization chart. The applicant must affirm
that neither it nor the individual members of its principal staff (see
d., below) has a financial interest or affiliation with the vendors
whose ADCMS solutions it proposes to demonstrate.
b. Project Team Structure--Provide a narrative that briefly
describes the structure and makeup of the project team. Eligible
applicants are encouraged to identify in their proposal one or more
project partners with a substantial interest and involvement in the
project activities or objectives. If an application that involves such
a partnership is selected for funding, the competitive selection
process will be deemed to satisfy the requirement for a competitive
procurement under 49 U.S.C. 5325(a) for the named entities. Applicants
are advised that any changes to the proposed partnership after the
award will require FTA's written approval, must be consistent with the
scope of the approved project, and may require a competitive
procurement process. Include the names of all partner organizations,
and the legal relationship, if any, between the applicant and each
proposed partner. Include the names and functional titles of each
project team member. Proposers must also provide documentation of the
project team, such as a memorandum of agreement or letter of intent
signed by all parties that describes the parties' roles,
responsibilities, commitment to the proposed project, and how the
applicant will ensure they will have enough time to devote to the
project. Include an organizational chart for the entire project team.
c. Technical Capacity of Project Team--Provide a detailed
description of the technical capacity of the project team members and
what activities each team member will perform. Include
[[Page 71078]]
project staff qualifications, education, knowledge, and results of
prior experience related to the topic called for in this notice.
Additionally, applicants should discuss the successful completion of
similar or relevant projects.
d. Biographical Summary--In addition to the Staff Qualifications
narrative (5 page maximum), include a biographical summary for each
staff member proposed to take a principal role or perform significant
work on the project.
7. Proposals shall adhere to the specified maximum page lengths.
Supplemental materials such as letters of support can be included with
the proposal in an appendices section that is beyond the page limit
above. Supplemental materials will not be evaluated independently.
The Department may share application information within the
Department or with other Federal agencies if the Department determines
that sharing is relevant to the respective program's objectives.
Applications submitted in response to this NOFO become the property
of FTA and may be subject to Freedom of Information Act requests.
Please segregate and clearly mark any portions of the application
containing confidential or privileged trade secrets or commercial or
financial information.
3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)
Each applicant is required to: (1) be registered in SAM before
applying; (2) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its
application; and (3) continue to always maintain an active SAM
registration with current information during which the applicant has an
active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by
FTA. FTA may not make an award until the applicant has complied with
all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements. If an
applicant has yet to fully comply with the requirements by the time FTA
is ready to make an award, FTA may determine that the applicant is not
qualified to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for
making a federal award to another applicant. These requirements do not
apply if the applicant has an exception approved by FTA or the U.S.
Office of Management and Budget under 2 CFR 25.110(c) or (d).
SAM registration takes approximately 3-5 business days, but FTA
recommends allowing ample time, up to several weeks, to complete all
steps. For additional information on obtaining a unique entity
identifier, please visit <a href="https://www.sam.gov">https://www.sam.gov</a>.
4. Submission Dates and Times
Project proposals must be submitted electronically through
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on February 12, 2024. Proposals
submitted after the deadline will only be considered under
extraordinary circumstances not under the applicant's control. Mail,
fax, and email submissions will not be accepted.
FTA urges applicants to submit applications at least 72 hours prior
to the due date to allow time to correct any problems that may have
caused either <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> or FTA systems to reject the submission.
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> attaches a time stamp to each application at the time of
submission. Proposals submitted after the deadline will be considered
only if lateness was due to extraordinary circumstances not under the
applicant's control. <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> scheduled maintenance and outage times
are announced in advance on the <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> website.
Deadlines will not be extended due to scheduled website
maintenance.
Within 48 hours after submitting an electronic application, the
applicant should receive an email message from <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> with
confirmation of successful transmission to <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>. If a notice of
failed validation or incomplete materials is received, the applicant
must address the reason for the failed validation, as described in the
email notice, and resubmit before the submission deadline. If making a
resubmission for any reason, include all original attachments
regardless of which attachments were updated, and check the box on the
supplemental form indicating this is a resubmission.
Applicants are encouraged to begin the registration process on the
<a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> site well in advance of the submission deadline.
Registration is a multi-step process, which may take several weeks to
complete before an application can be submitted. Registered applicants
may still be required to take steps to keep their registration up to
date before submissions can be made successfully: (1) registration in
SAM is renewed annually, and (2) persons making submissions on behalf
of the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) must be authorized
in <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> by the AOR to make submissions.
5. Funding Restrictions
Refer to Section C.3., Eligible Projects, for information on
allowable activities. Allowable direct and indirect expenses must be
consistent with the Governmentwide Uniform Administrative Requirements
and Cost Principles (2 CFR part 200) and FTA Circular 5010.1E.
Funds available under this Notice cannot be used to reimburse
applicants for otherwise eligible expenses incurred prior to FTA
issuing pre-award authority for selected projects.
E. Application Review Information
1. Evaluation Criteria
Projects will be evaluated solely on the materials provided in the
Proposal document. FTA will evaluate proposals based on the following
criteria:
a. Organizational Capacity and Key Personnel Experience
Applicants should note the structure of the lead organization,
including its history and experience in performing complex research and
software configuration and deployment activities. Applicants should
include a narrative of the applicant's understanding of the activities
called for in this funding opportunity and their responsibility for
coordinating demonstration activities. Applicants should describe the
structure and makeup of the project team to clearly demonstrate the
applicant's technical abilities to meet the requirements called for in
this funding opportunity.
Applicants should note key project team personnel who will be
involved in the project and how the applicant will ensure they have
enough time to devote to the project. Additionally, applicants should
discuss successful completion of similar or relevant real-world
projects--case studies, journal articles, references, etc.
Applicants or proposed partners must demonstrate technical
capabilities to:
<bullet> Effectively manage a national research program
<bullet> Implement data-driven decision-making in the iteration of
program management
<bullet> Manage Federal funding and eligible expenses
<bullet> Engage with public agencies, authorities, research
institutions, private organizations, and potentially community-based
organizations
<bullet> Implement agile software development (i.e., deliver small
pieces of working software quickly to improve customer satisfaction and
continuously evaluate and implement customer requirements in response
to change)
<bullet> Leverage best practices within the public transportation and
construction infrastructure industries
<bullet> Apply insights from the National Academy of Sciences and other
credible research organizations
[[Page 71079]]
b. Proposer and Proposal Team Technical Expertise
Applicants should clearly detail the technical capacity of the lead
organization and what activities each team member will perform. In
addition to their qualifications in conducting nationally significant
research and software configuration and deployment, applicants should
demonstrate project team knowledge in public transportation,
infrastructure construction, digital construction technologies, and
stakeholder coordination and engagement, including engaging
stakeholders in a targeted manner with proven and impactful methods.
c. Applied Research and Other Related Experience
Applicants should provide evidence of applied research experience
and other related experience (e.g., past program management utilizing
federal funding, collaboration with research institutions, or program
design and implementation), including research focused on digital
construction in the public transportation or other relevant industry.
The proposal should detail the applicant's ability to identify and
address transportation infrastructure issues called for in this Notice
to support the program's measurement goals.
d. Proposed Partnerships
Applicants should provide a narrative that discusses a creative and
durable collaboration model to implement a project successfully. The
narrative must include a strong framework that fosters partnerships.
e. Project Approach and Work Plan
Applicants will be evaluated on the proposed methodology and
overall project approach pursuant to the inclusion of a multi-year work
plan that demonstrates the Program Lead's understanding of all
activities, responsibilities, and costs required to establish and
implement the prescribed work. In assessing whether the proposed
implementation plans are reasonable and complete, FTA will review the
proposed project work plan, including all necessary project milestones
and the overall project timeline, as well as ensure the project team's
viability in subsequent years.
f. Technical, Legal, and Financial Capacity
Applicants must demonstrate the financial and organizational
capacity and managerial experience to oversee and implement this
project successfully. FTA may review relevant assessments and public
records to determine whether any outstanding legal, technical, or
financial issues with the applicant would affect the outcome of the
proposed project.
For applications that include named project partners, FTA will also
consider the proposed partners' technical, legal, and financial
capacity.
6. Review and Selection Process
An FTA technical evaluation committee will evaluate proposals based
on the published evaluation criteria. Members of the technical
evaluation committee may request additional information from applicants
if necessary. After considering the review of the technical evaluation
committee, the FTA Administrator will determine the final selection for
program funding.
When selecting the Program Lead, FTA will consider the applicant's
ability and its proposed plan to recruit and select demonstration sites
to address key priorities of the Administration. Consistent with the
President's January 20, 2021, Executive Order 13990 which aims to
promote clean energy, conservation, and environmental justice;
emphasizes scientific integrity and evidence-based decision-making; and
aligns with goals to mitigate climate change and prioritize
environmental sustainability, the selecting official will consider
applications that may promote these key priorities as part of the
application review.
7. Integrity and Performance Review
Prior to making an award, FTA is required to review and consider
any information about the applicant in FAPIIS, the designated integrity
and performance system accessible through SAM. An applicant may review
and comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding
agency previously entered. FTA will consider any comments by the
applicant, in addition to the other information in the designated
integrity and performance system, in making a judgment about the
applicant's and proposed partners' integrity, business ethics, and
record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review
of risk posed by applicants as described in the Office of Management
and Budget's Uniform Requirements for Federal Awards (2 CFR 200.206).
F. Federal Award Administration Information
1. Federal Award Notices
FTA will notify the successful applicant and may announce the
selection on its website, <a href="https://www.transit.dot.gov">https://www.transit.dot.gov</a>. Following
notification, the successful applicant will be required to submit their
application through the FTA Transit Award Management System (TrAMS).
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
a. Pre-Award Authority
At the time the project selection is announced, FTA may extend pre-
award authority for the successful applicant. There is no blanket pre-
award authority for the project before announcement. FTA will issue
specific guidance to the selected recipient regarding pre-award
authority at the time of selection. FTA does not provide pre-award
authority for competitive funds until projects are selected, and even
then, Federal requirements must be met before costs are incurred. For
more information about FTA's policy on pre-award authority, please see
the most recent Apportionments, Allocations, and Program Information
Notice (88 FR 23117).
b. Cooperative Agreement Requirements
The successful applicant will apply for a cooperative agreement
through TrAMS and adhere to the customary FTA grant requirements of 49
U.S.C. 5312, Public Transportation Innovation, including those of FTA C
6100.1E, where applicable. FTA will award and manage a cooperative
agreement through TrAMS. Discretionary grants and cooperative
agreements greater than $500,000 will go through the Congressional
notification and release process. Assistance regarding these
requirements is available from FTA.
c. Made in America
All capital procurements must meet FTA's Buy America requirements
(49 U.S.C. 5323(j) and 49 CFR part 661) and the Build America, Buy
America Act's domestic preference requirements for infrastructure
projects (Sec. 70901-Sec. 70927 of the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act, Pub. L. 117-58), which together require that all iron, steel,
manufactured goods and construction materials be produced in the United
States and set minimum domestic content and final assembly requirements
for rolling stock.
d. Data Management Plan
FTA seeks to improve public transportation for America's
communities by sharing digital data or source code collected or
developed through its research with the public. This allows research
organizations, public transportation agencies, State
[[Page 71080]]
DOTs, and other stakeholders to learn from and expand upon the insights
developed from FTA-funded research.
An award made pursuant to this Notice will be subject to the latest
version of FTA's Master Agreement (available at <a href="https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/granteeresources/sample-fta-agreements/fta-grant-agreements">https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/granteeresources/sample-fta-agreements/fta-grant-agreements</a>), including Section 17 Patent Rights and Section 18
Rights in Data and Copyrights. All work conducted under this award must
follow the Department data policies outlined in the DOT Public Access
Plan at: <a href="https://ntl.bts.gov/public-access/how-comply">https://ntl.bts.gov/public-access/how-comply</a>. Recipients are
required to include these obligations in any sub-awards or other
related funding agreements.
Public Data Access requirements include developing a Data
Management Plan (DMP) and submitting the DMP for FTA review. A DMP is a
document that describes how recipients plan to handle digital datasets,
software, or code generated over the course of a research project
pursuant to federal and Departmental requirements. A DMP must be
provided as a condition of receiving FTA funds under the Section 5312
Research Program and should adequately identify: (1) The data to be
collected, (2) how the data will further the goals of this effort, (3)
how the data will be made accessible, and (4) how the data will be
stored. DMPs can be updated over time if the scope of the project or
the type of data that will be collected changes. FTA staff is available
to assist recipients with complying with public data access
requirements.
FTA expects recipients to remove confidential business information
(CBI) and Personally Identifiable Information (PII) before providing
public access to project data. Recipients must ensure the appropriate
data are accessible to FTA or the public for a minimum of five years
after the award's performance period expires.
Recipients must make available to the Department copies of all work
developed in performance of a project funded under this Notice,
including but not limited to software and data. Data rights shall be in
accordance with 2 CFR 200.315, Intangible Property.
e. Disadvantaged Business Enterprises
Recipients receiving planning, capital, or operating assistance
that will award prime contracts exceeding $250,000 in FTA funds in a
Federal fiscal year must comply with Department of Transportation
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program regulations (49 CFR
part 26). Applicants should expect to include any funds awarded,
excluding those used for vehicle procurements, in setting their overall
DBE goal.
f. Standard Assurances
If an applicant receives an award, the applicant must assure that
it will comply with all applicable Federal statutes, regulations,
executive orders, directives, FTA circulars, and other Federal
administrative requirements in carrying out any project supported by
the FTA award. The applicant acknowledges that it will be under a
continuing obligation to comply with the terms and conditions of the
agreement issued for its project with FTA. The applicant understands
that Federal laws, regulations, policies, and administrative practices
might be modified from time to time and may affect the implementation
of the project. The most recent Federal requirements will apply to the
project unless FTA issues a written determination otherwise. The
applicant must submit the most recent FTA Certifications and Assurances
before receiving an award if it does not have current certifications on
file.
g. External Communications
The successful applicant must communicate with the FTA project
manager prior to engaging in any external communications regarding the
Program. This includes any work developing news or magazine stories
with media organizations, including print, video, online, or otherwise.
Additionally, the FTA project manager must be notified if project
information, including results and metrics, will be shared during a
webinar or other presentation open to the public, produced either by
the recipient itself or another organization. The successful applicant
must consult with the FTA project manager at the beginning of their
agreement to discuss and plan any external communications about their
project.
h. Software Provisions
Any standards, guidance, tools, or software developed as a part of
this solicitation will be subject to provisions of FTA's Master
Agreement and evaluated for the potential to be shared for FTA
purposes.
i. Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience
It is the policy of the United States to strengthen the security
and resilience of its critical infrastructure against both physical and
cyber threats. Each applicant selected for Federal funding under this
Notice must demonstrate, prior to the signing of the grant agreement,
effort to consider and address physical and cyber security risks
relevant to the transportation mode and type and scale of the project.
Projects that have not appropriately considered and addressed physical
and cyber security and resilience in their planning, design, and
project oversight, as determined by the Department of Transportation
and the Department of Homeland Security, will be required to do so
before receiving funds for construction, consistent with Presidential
Policy Directive 21--``Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience
and the National Security Presidential Improving Cybersecurity for
Critical Infrastructure Control Systems.''
3. Reporting and Payment
Post-award reporting requirements include the electronic submission
of Federal Financial Reports and Milestone Progress Reports in TrAMS
quarterly. Documentation is required for payment. Additional reporting
may be required specific to the program prescribed in this Notice, and
the recipient may be expected to participate in events or peer networks
related to the goals and objectives of the program. The Federal
Financial Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) requires data
entry at the FFATA Sub Award Reporting System (<a href="https://www.FSRS.gov">https://www.FSRS.gov</a>)
for all sub-awards and sub-contracts issued for $30,000 or more, as
well as addressing executive compensation for both award recipients and
sub-award organizations. The selected recipient will be required to
disburse via Delphi and E-invoicing.
The successful applicant should include any goals, targets, and
indicators referenced in its application in the Executive Summary of
the TrAMS application.
As part of completing the annual certifications and assurances
required of FTA grant recipients, a successful applicant must report on
the suspension or debarment status of itself and its principals.
If the award recipient's active grants, cooperative agreements, and
procurement contracts from all Federal awarding agencies exceed
$10,000,000 for any period during the period of performance of an award
made pursuant to this Notice, the recipient must comply with the
Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters reporting requirements
described in Appendix XII to 2 CFR part 200.
[[Page 71081]]
4. Termination for Failure To Make Progress on an Award
After providing written notice to the recipient of a project
selected for funding, FTA may withdraw its support for the selected
project (if a cooperative agreement has not yet been awarded) or
suspend or terminate all or any part of the federal assistance for the
award if the recipient has failed to make reasonable progress
implementing the project. FTA may withdraw its support for a project or
terminate an award agreement if:
1. A recipient has not completed its application for funding in
TrAMS within 60 days of the date FTA announces project selection.
2. A recipient has not begun its demonstration project within one
year after funding was awarded in TrAMS.
3. A recipient has not delivered a project evaluation to FTA within
one year of completing its demonstration project.
4. FTA may also withdraw support from a project or terminate an
award agreement if the proposed activities are no longer needed or if
the recipient has violated the terms of FTA's Annual Agreement.
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
For further information concerning this Notice, please contact the
ADCMS Program Team, FTA Office of Research, Demonstration, and
Innovation, by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1c5d585f514f5c787368327b736a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7e3f3a3d332d3e1a110a50191108">[email protected]</span></a>. A TDD is available for
individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing at 800-877-8339. In
addition, FTA will post answers to questions and requests for
clarifications on FTA's website at: <a href="https://www.transit.dot.gov/research-innovation/ADCMS">https://www.transit.dot.gov/research-innovation/ADCMS</a>.
To ensure applicants receive accurate eligibility information,
applicants are encouraged to contact FTA directly, rather than through
intermediaries or third parties, with questions. FTA staff may also
conduct briefings on the competitive grants selection and award process
upon request.
For issues with <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a>, please contact <a href="http://Grants.gov">Grants.gov</a> by phone at
1-800-518-4726 or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fd8e888d8d928f89bd9a8f9c93898ed39a928b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fe8d8b8e8e918c8abe998c9f908a8dd0999188">[email protected]</span></a>.
H. Other Information
This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372,
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
Nuria I. Fernandez,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2023-22521 Filed 10-12-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on October 13, 2023.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.