Notice2024-14428
FY 2024 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM) National Technical Assistance Center
Primary source
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Published
July 1, 2024
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Transit Administration
Abstract
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for $2.5 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Technical Assistance and Workforce Development funds through a competitive cooperative agreement award to establish a Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM) National Technical Assistance Center (CCAM TA Center) that supports CCAM members, Federal agencies, their grantees, partners, and stakeholders in improving transportation access for people with disabilities, older adults, and individuals of low income. The overarching mission of this new center is to promote and facilitate human services transportation, public transit, and non- emergency medical transportation (NEMT) coordination that advances people's access to everyday destinations.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 126 (Monday, July 1, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 126 (Monday, July 1, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54629-54636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-14428]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
FY 2024 Competitive Funding Opportunity: Coordinating Council on
Access and Mobility (CCAM) National Technical Assistance Center
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 apply for $2.5 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024
Technical Assistance and Workforce Development funds through a
competitive cooperative agreement award to establish a Coordinating
Council on Access and Mobility (CCAM) National Technical Assistance
Center (CCAM TA Center) that supports CCAM members, Federal agencies,
their grantees, partners, and stakeholders in improving transportation
access for people with disabilities, older adults, and individuals of
low income. The overarching mission of this new center is to promote
and facilitate human services transportation, public transit, and non-
emergency medical transportation (NEMT) coordination that advances
people's access to everyday destinations.
DATES: Applicants must submit completed proposals for each funding
opportunity through the GRANTS.GOV ``APPLY'' function by 11:59 p.m.
Eastern Time August 30, 2024. Prospective applicants should register as
soon as possible on the GRANTS.GOV website to ensure they can complete
the application process before the submission deadline.
ADDRESSES: Application instructions are available at FTA's website at
<a href="https://www.transit.dot.gov/notices-funding/competitive-funding-opportunity-coordinating-council-access-and-mobility-ccam">https://www.transit.dot.gov/notices-funding/competitive-funding-opportunity-coordinating-council-access-and-mobility-ccam</a> and in the
``FIND'' module of GRANTS.GOV. The GRANTS.GOV funding opportunity ID
for the CCAM TA Center is FTA-2024-011-TPM-CCAM. Mail and fax
submissions will not be accepted.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn Winchell-Mendy, FTA Office of
Program Management; Phone: (202) 366-3239; Email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#367a4f585818615f58555e535a5a1b7b5358524f7652594218515940"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="eba7928585c5bc828588838e8787c6a68e858f92ab8f849fc58c849d">[email protected]</span></a>. A TDD is available for individuals who are deaf or hard
of hearing at (800) 877-8339. Prospective applications may visit the
following website for more information: <a href="https://www.transit.dot.gov/notices-funding/competitive-funding-opportunity-coordinating-council-access-and-mobility-ccam">https://www.transit.dot.gov/notices-funding/competitive-funding-opportunity-coordinating-council-access-and-mobility-ccam</a>
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Summary of Key Information: Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility
National Technical Assistance Center Competitive Funding Opportunity
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Federal Transit Administration, U.S.
Issuing Agency Department of Transportation.
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Program Overview............. The CCAM TA Center supports CCAM members,
Federal agencies, their grantees,
partners, and stakeholders in improving
transportation access for people with
disabilities, older adults, and
individuals of low income. The
overarching mission of this new center
is to promote and facilitate human
services transportation, public transit,
and non-emergency medical transportation
(NEMT) coordination that advances
people's access to everyday
destinations.
Eligible Applicants.......... National nonprofit organizations with a
demonstrated capacity to advance
technical assistance strategies that
support CCAM members, Federal agencies,
their grantees, partners, and
stakeholders.
Eligible Projects............ The overarching mission of this new
center is to promote and facilitate
human services transportation, public
transit, and non-emergency medical
transportation (NEMT) coordination that
advances people's access to everyday
destinations.
Funding Amount............... $2.5 million for the first year.
Cost Share................... The maximum Federal share of project
costs under this program is 100 percent.
Deadline..................... August 30, 2024 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
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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
[[Page 54630]]
A. Program Description
This NOFO supports FTA's strategic goals and objectives by
promoting safe, affordable, accessible, and multimodal access to
opportunities and services while reducing transportation-related
disparities, adverse community impacts, and health effects. The FTA
solicits proposals for a cooperative agreement under FTA's Technical
Assistance and Workforce Development program (49 U.S.C. 5314(a)(2)(B)),
Assistance Listing 20.531, to establish, build, and manage a CCAM TA
Center to encourage multisector coordination across the more than 130
Federal programs that may fund human services transportation; connect
CCAM members, Federal agencies, their grantees, partners, and
stakeholders; and support improved transportation access. The mission
of the CCAM TA Center is to promote human services transportation
coordination that advances people's access to everyday destinations.
In recognition of the fundamental importance of human services
transportation and the continuing need to enhance coordination,
Executive Order 13330 (February 24, 2004) on Human Service
Transportation Coordination established the CCAM and directed multiple
federal departments and agencies to work together to ensure that
transportation services are seamless, comprehensive, and accessible.
The members of the CCAM are: the Secretaries of the Departments of
Transportation (DOT), Health and Human Services, Labor, Education,
Interior, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, and Veterans
Affairs; the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration; the
Attorney General; and the Chairperson of the National Council on
Disability.
The CCAM is tasked with seeking ways to simplify access to
transportation services for people with disabilities, older adults, and
individuals of low income. Funding is authorized under 49 U.S.C.
5314(a)(2)(B) for technical assistance to help providers of public
transportation comply with human services transportation coordination
requirements and to enhance the coordination of Federal resources for
human services transportation with those of the DOT through technical
assistance, training, and support services related to complying with
such requirements.
The Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (Pub. L.
114-94) required the CCAM to develop a strategic plan to strengthen
interagency collaboration, address outstanding recommendations, and
eliminate burdensome regulatory barriers to human services
transportation coordination. On October 27, 2022, the CCAM officially
adopted the 2023-2026 CCAM Strategic Plan, which includes specific
reference to establishing a CCAM TA Center:
<bullet> Goal 1
Strengthen the CCAM and improve multisector collaboration at all
levels and across jurisdictions.
<bullet> Activity 1.1
Create and manage a CCAM national technical assistance (TA) center
that works across multiple sectors and builds mobility management
capacity, connecting regional, State, and local CCAM partners to
improve transportation access.
<bullet> Performance Measure 1.1.1
By 2024, select one recipient from a Notice of Funding Opportunity
(NOFO) to establish the CCAM national TA center.
FTA has previously carried out similar activities through a
cooperative agreement that established and funded the National Center
for Mobility Management (NCMM). The CCAM TA Center will be the
successor of NCMM and build upon its previous work supporting the CCAM.
The CCAM TA Center will function as a ``one-stop shop'' for CCAM
members, Federal agencies, their grantees, partners, and stakeholders
to find information and receive assistance on multisector coordination
in human services transportation. The primary goals and related
activities of the CCAM TA Center are to:
1. Enhance safe, accessible, and equitable transportation options
aligned with the CCAM through regional, state, and local coordination
and strategic partnerships.
2. Actively engage CCAM members, Federal agencies, their grantees,
partners, and stakeholders to emphasize the important role of
transportation in access to services and everyday destinations, and to
provide technical assistance to reduce barriers to human services
transportation coordination.
3. Support and highlight the activities and initiatives of the
CCAM, its workgroups, and partner agencies that improve Federal
transportation coordination.
4. Disseminate guidance, best practices, and communication
campaigns to increase agencies' awareness of available transportation
resources and funding.
5. Provide self-directed and customized technical assistance,
training, and support services to CCAM members, Federal agencies, their
grantees, partners, and stakeholders.
6. Implement multisector planning and pilot grants to develop and
test innovative regional or state-based transportation solutions.
7. Research certain subjects for new transportation-related data,
strategies, or insights.
The CCAM TA Center will be managed by the recipient of the
cooperative agreement in coordination with FTA headquarters staff.
Eligible applicants are national nonprofit organizations with a
demonstrated capacity to advance technical assistance strategies that
support CCAM members, Federal agencies, their grantees, partners, and
stakeholders as they work to develop multisector coordination and
strategic partnerships around human services transportation.
This Notice solicits competitive proposals addressing the mission,
goals, and tasks set forth for this new CCAM TA Center, provides
instructions for submitting proposals, and describes the evaluation
criteria for proposal selection.
This announcement is available on the FTA website at <a href="https://www.transit.dot.gov/notices-funding/competitive-funding-opportunity-coordinating-council-access-and-mobility-ccam">https://www.transit.dot.gov/notices-funding/competitive-funding-opportunity-coordinating-council-access-and-mobility-ccam</a>. A synopsis of this
funding opportunity will be posted in the ``FIND'' module of the
government-wide, electronic grants website called GRANTS.GOV, which can
be accessed at this web address: <a href="https://www.grants.gov">https://www.grants.gov</a>.
B. Federal Award Information
FTA will award the CCAM TA Center as a 5-year cooperative agreement
to a national nonprofit organization with a demonstrated capacity to
advance technical assistance strategies that support CCAM members,
Federal agencies, their grantees, partners, and stakeholders as they
work to develop multisector coordination and strategic partnerships
around human services transportation. This cooperative agreement will
be managed by FTA's CCAM TA Center Program Manager in FTA's
headquarters office.
The CCAM TA Center will benefit from having committed CCAM partners
who will provide guidance and expertise. In turn, their stakeholders
will receive tailored TA from the CCAM TA Center for their
transportation-related needs. The following operating divisions of the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have committed to being
guidance partners in the CCAM TA Center: Administration
[[Page 54631]]
for Children and Families (ACF), Administration for Community Living
(ACL), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The following operating
division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture has committed to being a
guidance partner in the CCAM TA Center: Rural Development (RD). The
following operating division of the U.S. Department of Labor has
committed to being a guidance partner in the CCAM TA Center: Office of
Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). The ACF, ACL, HRSA, CMS, RD and
ODEP will participate in specific partnership activities as defined in
the CCAM TA Center's Scope of Work (SOW), and have also committed to:
1. Designating at least one staff-level point person to act as a
liaison to the Center;
2. Providing annual input into the Center's scope of work (SOW) and
help prioritize activities for each of the five years;
3. Attending quarterly check-in meetings with the Center and FTA to
receive status updates on the SOW implementation; and
4. Once the Center is established, being publicly acknowledged on
the Center's website as a guidance partner.
Other CCAM members may enter their own financial assistance
agreements with the successful applicant to address transportation
coordination activities at any point during the 5-year cooperative
agreement.
The FTA will award one cooperative agreement, funded up to $2.5
million for the first year with a start date in 2024 to be determined.
FTA expects to award subsequent funding of up to $2.5 million per year
for four additional years (for a total of $12.5 million over five
years). However, the availability of funding after the first year will
depend upon decisions and program priorities established by the
Secretary of Transportation related to the implementation of provisions
set forth in 49 U.S.C. 5314 (Section 5314), future authorizations and
appropriations, and the CCAM TA Center's annual performance reviews.
This funding opportunity will be awarded under the terms of a
cooperative agreement. FTA will issue specific guidance to the awardee
regarding pre-award authority at the time of selection. For more
information about FTA's policy on pre-award authority, please see the
most recent Apportionment Notice on FTA's website.
This project is funded under Section 5314 and therefore, FTA
Circular 6100.1E Research, Technical Assistance, and Training Programs:
Application Instructions and Program Management Guidelines (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. 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.
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
Eligible lead applicants are national nonprofit organizations with
a demonstrated capacity to advance technical assistance strategies that
support CCAM members, Federal agencies, their grantees, partners, and
stakeholders as they work to develop multisector coordination and
strategic partnerships around human services transportation. An
eligible applicant may act as a lead entity for a partnership with one
or more other eligible applicants that participate in the CCAM TA
Center as subrecipients. Individuals and for-profit entities are
ineligible to apply for this funding.
Lead applicants must have a demonstrated capacity to deliver a
national technical assistance and training program, among other
applicable methods to address the center's primary goals and related
activities outlined above.
The cooperative agreement will be between FTA and the selected lead
applicant, which must have a primary or substantial interest in
performing a majority of the work in the project and must not simply
act as a pass-through for funds. An application by a group of eligible
applicants must clearly identify the lead applicant. Lead applicants
should include a letter of confirmed support with sufficient evidence
of the partnership (subrecipients) from each national nonprofit
organization as part of its application. Sufficient evidence may
include a memorandum of agreement or letter of intent that describes
the parties' roles, responsibilities, and financial commitment to the
proposed project. Individuals, for-profit entities, and other Federal
agencies are ineligible to apply for this funding.
2. Cost Sharing
The FTA will fund up to 100 percent Federal share but may give
priority consideration to proposals that include non-federal matching
funds. See 2 CFR 200.306(b) and FTA Circular 6100.1E for acceptable
forms of local match.
D. Application and Submission Information
1. Address To Request Application Package
Applications must be submitted, electronically, through GRANTS.GOV.
Applicants can find general information for submitting applications
through GRANTS.GOV. Mail and fax submissions will not be accepted.
Applicants may also attach additional supporting information. Failure
to submit the information as requested may delay or prevent review of
the application.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
A complete proposal submission consists of at least two forms: (1)
the SF-424 Mandatory Form (downloaded from GRANTS.GOV or at the FTA
website at <a href="https://www.transit.dot.gov/notices-funding/competitive-funding-opportunity-coordinating-council-access-and-mobility-ccam">https://www.transit.dot.gov/notices-funding/competitive-funding-opportunity-coordinating-council-access-and-mobility-ccam</a>; and
(2) a narrative application document submitted in a Microsoft Word,
Adobe Acrobat, or compatible file format, double-spaced using Times New
Roman, 12-point font. Once completed, the narrative application
document must be placed in the attachments section of the SF-424
Mandatory form. Applicants must attach the narrative application file
to their submission in GRANTS.GOV to successfully complete the proposal
process.
The application must include responses to all sections of the SF-
424 Mandatory Form and all components of the narrative application
document unless a section is indicated as optional. FTA will use the
information in the narrative application document to determine
applicant and project eligibility and to evaluate the proposal against
the selection criteria described in part E of this notice. If
applicants choose to submit separate proposals for individual
consideration by FTA, they must submit each proposal with a separate
SF-424 and narrative application document.
Applicants may attach additional supporting information to the SF-
424 submission, including, but not limited to letters of support,
memorandums of understanding, interagency agreements, project budgets,
or excerpts from other relevant documents. Supporting documentation
must be described and referenced by file name in the narrative
application document, or it may not be reviewed.
[[Page 54632]]
Applicants must fill in all fields unless stated otherwise on the
SF-424 form and include all requested components of the narrative
application document. If applicants copy information from another
source, they should verify that the form and narrative application
document have fully captured pasted text and that it has not truncated
the text due to character limits built into the form. Applicants should
use both the ``Check Package for Errors'' and the ``Validate Form''
buttons on all required fields in the SF-424.
The narrative application document must contain the following
components and adhere to the specified maximum lengths:
a. Cover sheet (1 page). The cover sheet must include the name of
the entity submitting the proposal, the principal's name, title, and
contact information (e.g., address, phone, and email), and the name and
contact information for the key point of contact for each primary goal
and related activities of the agreement referenced under the ``Program
Description'' (Section A) of this Notice.
b. Detailed budget proposal and budget narrative (not to exceed 3
pages)
c. Project narrative and qualifications (not to exceed 10 pages).
The applicant should submit a project narrative statement describing,
for itself or in combination with its committed partners:
i. The existing and future capacity of the applicant to implement
the project goals, objectives, activities, deliverables, milestones,
timeline, and intended outcomes for the CCAM TA Center.
ii. The methodology for addressing the project goals, objectives,
activities, deliverables, milestones, timeline, and intended outcomes
for the CCAM TA Center.
iii. The methodology used to develop performance measures and track
the benefits of the CCAM TA Center, including how the applicant and its
partners will assess success:
vi. The applicant's understanding of the CCAM, its priorities, and
the 2023-2026 CCAM Strategic Plan;
v. The applicant's knowledge and experience with developing and
supporting multisector strategic partnerships, Federal Fund Braiding,
Cost Allocation, Cost Sharing, Vehicle Sharing, and other CCAM
initiatives;
vi. The applicant's demonstration of awareness of mobility
management as a strategy to improve human services transportation
coordination;
vii. The applicant's experience with grant-making developing
performance measures, tracking performance and spending, and
communicating lessons learned and project benefits to stakeholders;
viii. The applicant's knowledge of non-emergency medical
transportation (NEMT) and its relationship with public transit;
ix. A detailed plan for communication, technical assistance, and
outreach at all levels, including how the applicant will work with CCAM
members, Federal agencies, their grantees, and partners and
stakeholders to obtain input and promote coordination, build
partnerships, encourage adoption of CCAM initiatives, and equip them to
problem-solve transportation-related access to their programs;
ix. Staff qualifications including: (1) prior experience providing
technical assistance (especially related to multisector partnerships,
coordination, and mobility management) to CCAM members, Federal
agencies, their grantees, and partners and stakeholders, (2) prior
experience implementing the other tasks outlined in this solicitation,
(3) staff members' knowledge of NEMT, Federal Fund Braiding, the 2023-
2026 CCAM Strategic Plan, and other CCAM initiatives, and (4) a one-
page biographical sketch for each key staff person whose knowledge,
skills, and experience demonstrate the applicant's capacity to deliver
its proposal from the applicant and its proposed subrecipients.
d. Statement of activities (not to exceed 15 pages). The
application also should discuss how the recipient will perform the
following short-term and long-term activities:
Short-Term Activities:
1. Hiring needed staff and setting up the new center, including
developing a website (including resources previously developed through
the National Center for Mobility Management), that houses and delivers
a library of applicable coordination tools and guidance; acts as a
clearinghouse for information on multi-sector partnerships and
coordination; and facilitates outreach to CCAM members, Federal
agencies, their grantees, partners, and stakeholders.
2. Developing an online fully functional CCAM TA Center Help Desk
that will enable email and phone technical assistance inquiries and
responses to questions/topics on multisector partnerships, Federal fund
braiding, vehicle sharing, cost allocation, and other CCAM initiatives;
this system should be able to gather performance measures that track
web-analytics, technical assistance requests, time to resolution of
requests, types of requests, and enable quarterly reports to FTA on
what activities have been completed, how many people have received
assistance, the cost of that assistance, and the satisfaction of those
who sought assistance.
3. Developing an SOW for the first year of operations of the CCAM
TA Center, including but not limited to:
[cir] Recommendations to FTA on a multisector planning/pilot grant
program that promotes and appraises the benefits of innovative,
regional or state-based transportation solutions;
[cir] An outreach plan to promote the center, its resources and
relevant news through various channels (e.g., emails, blogs, social
media, newsletter);
[cir] A plan for transition of the existing NCMM website, including
the Community Transportation Map and Database, and related products, as
well as the Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination Library
(TACL) to the new Center;
[cir] A plan to transition the existing CCAM Cost Allocation
Technology for Non-Emergency Medical Transportation model, developed
with FTA funding in response to section 3006(c)(1)(A) of the FAST Act,
to the CCAM TA Center website and provide ongoing maintenance,
promotion, and technical assistance on how to use it.
Relevant websites can be found in Section H, Other Information.
Long-term/ongoing activities:
1. Educating CCAM members and their networks by providing TA in a
variety of ways:
[cir] Spreading awareness about the important role of
transportation in access to services and everyday destinations and how
to provide technical assistance to reduce barriers to human services
transportation coordination;
[cir] Developing written and electronic training materials that
explain how to leverage funds from CCAM partners to support
transportation coordination activities;
[cir] Mapping and disseminating information on available funding
opportunities;
[cir] Maintaining a resource library that tracks and shares results
from successful multisector partnerships, case studies, promising and
best practices, videos, publications, and webinars;
[cir] Managing the Transportation Technical Assistance Coordination
Library (TACL), including managing inquiries, keeping information
current, convening members for the review and approval process, and
assessing its use;
[cir] Promoting CCAM coordination tools and guidance, like the
Federal Fund Braiding Guide, Program Inventory, Cost-Sharing Policy,
and
[[Page 54633]]
Vehicle Sharing Policy, and how to use them;
2. Encouraging and supporting transportation-related coordination
and access through the use of CCAM initiatives at the state and
regional levels by, for example:
[cir] Pursuing, facilitating, and supporting partnerships between
transportation agencies and organizations that provide health-related
and social services;
[cir] Disseminating information on NEMT, examples of coordination
between state Medicaid agencies, state DOTs, transit associations, and
public transit agencies, and addressing related technical assistance
inquiries;
[cir] Fostering relationships with other CCAM member TA Centers and
their grantees through peer-to-peer meeting exchanges and collaboration
opportunities (e.g., joint convenings, webinars, publications,
presentations at CCAM member conferences);
[cir] Managing relationships with and coordinating the activities
of CCAM members who contribute resources to the CCAM TA Center, through
facilitating regular meetings, sharing outputs and outcomes, and
identifying opportunities for joint activities;
3. Supporting and guiding CCAM members, Federal agencies, their
grantees, and partners and stakeholders in identifying needs, barriers
to transportation coordination, and developing solutions, (e.g.,
establishing regional liaisons, planning and facilitating roundtables
or meetings at the state level, obtaining input through surveys and
data collection);
4. Developing a mechanism to utilize CCAM member program staff,
recipients of federal funding from a CCAM member agency, national
organizations, and other applicable stakeholders to guide the work of
the center (e.g., determining focus of projects and serving on the
selection committee for the CCAM TA Center grant program, selecting and
managing a Speaker's Bureau for partner events, recommending topic
areas for technical assistance products, reviewing publications as
appropriate);
5. Developing a grant program that offers funding for planning or
pilot projects, as subawards under this cooperative agreement's budget
and SOW, which:
[cir] Stems from identified needs, trends, and gaps in multi-sector
transportation coordination;
[cir] Encourages multisector collaboration in the composition of
the project team or project advisory group;
[cir] Tracks the impact of funded projects on human services
transportation coordination and people's access to everyday
destinations;
[cir] Frames the technical assistance delivered by the Center
(e.g., best practices, case studies, webinars);
[cir] Serves as a pipeline for innovative multisector project
applications for FTA funding programs (e.g., Sections 5307, 5310, 5311,
5312, and Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility (ICAM) Grants) to
increase sustainability and match funding.
6. Analyzing research from sources such as the Transit Cooperative
Research Program (TCRP) Reports; FTA's Research and Innovation Program;
and other FTA-funded TA centers;
7. Developing a feedback system that enables opportunities for
improvement of the Center's customer service, programs, and processes;
and
8. Developing a plan for evaluating the CCAM TA Center's activities
and performance measures.
f. Supplemental Materials
Supplemental materials, such as letters of support, can be included
in appendices that are beyond the page limits above but are not to
exceed 15 additional pages.
g. Geographic Location, Target Groups, and Emphasis Areas
The precise locations of the proposed partners, while identifying
their areas of expertise, and impacts expected from their direct
involvement in the CCAM TA Center. Graphic aids may be attached as
needed.
h. Strategic External Partners Other Than Subrecipients
FTA expects applicants to engage a broad range of stakeholder
organizations to deliver the short-term and long-term activities of the
CCAM TA Center. These stakeholder organizations may provide input into
CCAM TA Center activities, including providing strategies for meeting
the diverse needs of CCAM members, Federal agencies, their grantees,
and others.
To be eligible for funding under this NOFO, applicants must
demonstrate the ability to develop relationships with external partners
to support the CCAM TA Center's primary target audience.
External partner entities could include, but are not limited to:
[cir] Federally-supported technical assistance centers
[cir] Operators of public transportation
[cir] Educational institutions, which include entities providing
professional accreditation, degree, or certification programs, such as
universities, community colleges, or trade schools, either non-profit
or for-profit
[cir] Non-profit organizations that support the mission of human
services transportation coordination and multisector partnerships
[cir] Recipients of federal funding from a CCAM member agency
An applicant should include evidence of partnerships as part of its
application. Sufficient evidence may include a memorandum of agreement
or letter of intent that describes the parties' roles,
responsibilities, and commitment to the proposed project.
3.Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)
Each applicant is required to: (1) register in SAM before
submitting an application; (2) provide a valid unique entity identifier
in its application; and (3) continue to maintain an active SAM
registration with current information at all times 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 not fully complied 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 the award to another
applicant. These requirements do not apply if the applicant has an
exception approved by FTA 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, for completing 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 the
GRANTS.GOV website at <a href="https://www.grants.gov">https://www.grants.gov</a> by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time
August 30, 2024. Late applications will not be accepted. Mail and fax
submissions will not be accepted. Prospective applicants should
initiate the process by registering on the GRANTS.GOV website promptly
to ensure completion of the application process before the submission
deadline.
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 GRANTS.GOV to reject the submission. Deadlines will not be
extended due to
[[Page 54634]]
scheduled website maintenance. GRANTS.GOV scheduled maintenance and
outage times are announced on the GRANTS.GOV website.
Within 48 hours after submitting an electronic application, the
applicant should receive an email message from GRANTS.GOV with
confirmation of successful transmission to GRANTS.GOV. 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 process of registration on
the GRANTS.GOV 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 update their registration before submitting an
application. Registration in SAM is renewed annually and persons making
submissions on behalf of the Authorized Organization Representative
(AOR) must be authorized in GRANTS.GOV by the AOR to make submissions.
5. Funding Restrictions
Proposed projects under the CCAM TA Center must provide direct
support to CCAM members, Federal agencies, their grantees, and partners
and stakeholders in improving transportation access for people with
disabilities, older adults, and individuals of low income. Capital
expenses such as equipment purchases are not considered to be eligible
costs unless they directly relate to the technical assistance being
supported by FTA funds. Acceptable costs can include but are not
limited to technology and start-up costs for information technology
systems and website resources, subject matter expert consultants as
needed, salaries and fringe benefits of direct staff, support staff,
staff travel to attend relevant conferences and provide on-site
technical assistance, office space, program materials and supplies, and
indirect costs.
Funds awarded under this notice cannot be used to reimburse
projects for otherwise eligible expenses incurred prior to FTA award of
a grant agreement or cooperative agreement unless FTA has issued a
``Letter of No Prejudice'' for the project before the expenses are
incurred. 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.I.E.
6. Other Submission Requirements
Applicants may submit more than one proposal. However, proposals
must not be duplicative. Submission of multiple proposals from a single
entity will not increase that entity's chances of being awarded
funding.
E. Application Review Information
1. Criteria
FTA will evaluate proposals according to the following criteria:
a. Project Management Approach--FTA will evaluate whether an
applicant's proposal demonstrates the ability to meet and measure the
goals of the CCAM TA Center, to deliver the proposed outcomes and carry
out the technical assistance requirements as evidence by an effective
program management plan. Consideration will be given to the extent to
which an applicant identifies a unique or innovative approach in
providing technical assistance to promote multisector coordination in
human services transportation.
b. Organizational Capacity, Qualifications and Experience of Staff
and Key Personnel--FTA will evaluate the capacity of the lead applicant
and its proposed partners and subrecipients to effectively staff the
proposed CCAM TA Center and deliver the proposed outcomes, as well as
the fiscal, administrative, and performance management capacity in
implementing key components.
c. Knowledge and Understanding of CCAM--FTA will evaluate the
applicant on demonstrated understanding of the CCAM, its members, their
networks and technical assistance centers, and CCAM's priorities,
initiatives, and tools.
d. Strategic Partnership Development and Outreach--FTA will
evaluate whether proposals demonstrate an ability to develop and
maintain long-standing and strong partnerships (other than
subrecipients) among CCAM members, Federal agencies, their grantees,
and partners and stakeholders, and the applicant's plan to communicate
CCAM priorities and initiatives and include them in CCAM TA Center
activities and technical assistance opportunities.
e. Research and Demonstration Capacity--Proposals should
demonstrate the applicant's capability and capacity (either by itself
or in combination with its proposed subrecipients and other partners)
to conduct research, analysis, and demonstration projects related to
mobility management and multisector transportation coordination in
support of CCAM members, Federal agencies, their grantees, and partners
and stakeholders.
2. Review and Selection Process
A technical evaluation committee made up of FTA staff, including
the FTA CCAM TA Center Program Manager, will screen each application
for eligibility and evaluate proposals based on the published
evaluation criteria. FTA may request clarification from any applicant
about any statement in its application that FTA finds ambiguous or
request additional documentation to be considered during the evaluation
process to clarify information contained in the proposal. After
considering the findings of the technical evaluation committee, the FTA
Administrator will determine the final selection.
3. Integrity and Performance Review
Prior to making an award, FTA is required to review and consider
any information about the applicant that is in the Federal Awardee
Performance and Integrity Information Systems (FAPIIS) accessible
through SAM.GOV. An applicant may review and comment on 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 FAPIIS, in making a judgment about the applicant's
integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal
awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as
described in 2 CFR 200.206, Federal Awarding Agency Review of Risk
Posed by Applicants.
F. Federal Award Administration Information
1. Federal Award Notice
After the FTA Administrator has selected the proposal to be funded,
the successful applicant will be notified by email or telephone of
their selection, and in addition, the selection will be announced on
FTA's website.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
a. Execution of the FTA Agreement
FTA will instruct the successful applicant how to execute their
cooperative agreement in FTA's electronic Transit Award Management
[[Page 54635]]
System (TrAMS). FTA may withdraw its offer to provide Federal
assistance if the recipient does not provide an application in TrAMS
consistent with the applicant's proposal submission within 90 days
following the date of FTA's selection of the applicant.
b. Start Date and Incurred Costs
Unless FTA states otherwise in writing, costs incurred prior to FTA
award are not eligible as project expenses. The recipient may begin to
incur project costs when the award is executed in FTA's Transit Award
Management System (TrAMS). FTA expects recipients to implement the
projects awarded as soon as possible and to fully accomplish objectives
during the agreed period of performance, recognizing that full
transparency and accountability are required for all expenditures.
c. Standard Assurances
Selected recipients must comply with all Federal statutes,
regulations, executive orders, directives, FTA circulars, and other
Federal administrative requirements in carrying out project supported
activities by this FTA award. In addition to these requirements,
recipients of FTA funds are required to execute the most current
Certifications and Assurances before entering into a grant or
cooperative agreement.
d. Statement of Work
Once selected for award, the recipient will prepare a Statement of
Work (SOW) for its award in a format provided by FTA. The SOW includes
estimated milestone dates and performance measures and goals for major
activities and products which are SMART--specific, measurable,
achievable, relevant, and timebound. Activities should be justified in
terms of eligible program activities and proposals should clearly
demonstrate the connection between the planned work and at least one of
the specific program activities cited. The SOW also should address
supporting activities, such as marketing plans for engaging
participants or dissemination strategies for sharing the results, if
such are critical to the success of the CCAM.
This cooperative agreement will be managed from FTA's headquarters
office. FTA--in consultation with ACF, ACL, HRSA, CMS, RD, and ODEP--
will participate in activities by negotiating the final SOW, attending
review meetings, commenting on technical reports, maintaining frequent
contact with the project manager, approving key decisions and
activities, and redirecting project activities, as needed.
e. Measuring Outcomes
The recipient will be required to assist FTA evaluate the project
and its outcomes. FTA will evaluate the project according to the
metrics and goals approved in the Statement of Work for the project.
FTA anticipates applying metrics, among others, that will demonstrate
target audience usage and feedback on the services and resources of the
center.
f. Data Access & Data Sharing
Recipients funded under this announcement will be required to
gather and share all relevant and required data with FTA within
appropriate and agreed-upon timelines, to support any project
evaluations.
In response to the White House Office of Science and Technology
Policy memorandum, dated February 22, 2013, titled ``Increasing Access
to the Results of Federally Funded Scientific Research,'' the
Department is incorporating Public Access requirements into all funding
award (e.g., grants, cooperative agreements, etc.) for scientific
research. Recipients are required to include these obligations in any
sub-awards or other related funding agreements.
Recipients must remove all confidential business information (CBI)
or personally identifiable information (PII) information before
providing public access to any project data. All appropriate data are
to be accessible to FTA and the public for a minimum of 5 years after
the period of performance has expired. Recipients and sub-recipients
must make available to FTA copies of all work developed in performance
of a project funded under this announcement, including but not limited
to software and data.
g. Knowledge Transfer
Recipients and sub-recipients may be asked, during the period of
performance, to participate in information exchange meetings, webinars,
or outreach events to support FTA's goal of advancing models of success
and information that is helping to address human services
transportation coordination.
3. Reporting
Post-award reporting requirements include electronically submitting
Federal Financial Reports and Milestone Progress Reports in FTA's
electronic grants management system and providing requested information
for FTA to complete its Annual Report on Technical Assistance and
Workforce Development (Fiscal Year 2022 Report 0240).
As part of completing the annual certifications and assurances
required of FTA 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 exceeds
$10,000,000 for any period of time 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.
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact
For questions about applying for the funding opportunity outlined
in this notice, please contact the CCAM TA Center Program Manager, Lynn
Winchell-Mendy, phone: 202.366.3239, or email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3b77425555156c525558535e575716765e555f427b5f544f155c544d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="dd91a4b3b3f38ab4b3beb5b8b1b1f090b8b3b9a49db9b2a9f3bab2ab">[email protected]</span></a>. A TDD is available at 800.877.8339 (TDDFIRS).
Additionally, you may visit FTA's website for this program at <a href="https://www.transit.dot.gov/notices-funding/competitive-funding-opportunity-coordinating-council-access-and-mobility-ccam">https://www.transit.dot.gov/notices-funding/competitive-funding-opportunity-coordinating-council-access-and-mobility-ccam</a>.
For more on managing projects in accordance with FTA requirements,
see FTA Circular 6100.1E. This Circular includes requirements on
project management and administration including quarterly reporting,
financial management, and payment.
To ensure that applicants receive accurate information about
eligibility or the program, applicants are encouraged to contact FTA
directly with questions, rather than through intermediaries or third
parties.
H. Other Information
This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372,
Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.
All information submitted as part of or in support of any
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. 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. All information submitted to FTA will become
records of FTA and may be disclosed in response to a Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA)
[[Page 54636]]
request. If an applicant submits information the applicant considers to
be a trade secret or confidential commercial or financial information,
the applicant must provide that information in a separate document,
which the applicant may reference from the application narrative or
other portions of the application. For the separate document containing
confidential information, the applicant must do the following: (1)
state on the cover of that document that it ``Contains Confidential
Business Information (CBI);'' (2) mark each page that contains
confidential information with ``CBI;'' and (3) highlight or otherwise
denote the confidential content on each page. FTA will protect
confidential information complying with these requirements to the
extent required under applicable law. If FTA receives a Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) request for the information that the applicant
has marked in accordance with this section, FTA will follow the
procedures described in DOT's FOIA regulations at 49 CFR 7.29. Only
information that is in the separate document, marked in accordance with
this paragraph, and ultimately determined by FTA to be confidential
will be exempt from disclosure under FOIA.
For more information on the CCAM, its members, initiatives,
resources (including the CCAM Cost Allocation Model, the CCAM Federal
Fund Braiding Guide, and the CCAM Program Inventory), and 2023-2026
Strategic Plan, see <a href="https://www.transit.dot.gov/coordinating-council-access-and-mobility">https://www.transit.dot.gov/coordinating-council-access-and-mobility</a>.
For more information on the National Center for Mobility Management
and its initiatives and resources, including the Community
Transportation Map and Database, see <a href="https://nationalcenterformobilitymanagement.org/.For">https://nationalcenterformobilitymanagement.org/.For</a> more information on FTA's
Sponsored Technical Assistance Centers see <a href="https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-programs/access/ccam/about/federal-transit-administration-sponsored-technical">https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-programs/access/ccam/about/federal-transit-administration-sponsored-technical</a>.
For more information on FTA's Transportation Technical Assistance
Coordination Library (TACL) see <a href="https://www.nationalrtap.org/Resource-Center/TACL">https://www.nationalrtap.org/Resource-Center/TACL</a>.
For more information on FTA's cost allocation methodology and
technology, see <a href="https://www.transit.dot.gov/access/ccam/cost-allocation-technology-non-emergency-medical-transportation-final-report">https://www.transit.dot.gov/access/ccam/cost-allocation-technology-non-emergency-medical-transportation-final-report</a>.
For more information on NEMT see <a href="https://www.cms.gov/medicare/medicaid-coordination/states/non-emergency-medical-transportation">https://www.cms.gov/medicare/medicaid-coordination/states/non-emergency-medical-transportation</a>.
The FTA Annual Report on Technical Assistance and Workforce
Development for Fiscal Year 2022 (Report 0240) can be found at <a href="https://www.transit.dot.gov/research-innovation/fta-annual-report-technical-assistance-and-workforce-development-fiscal-year">https://www.transit.dot.gov/research-innovation/fta-annual-report-technical-assistance-and-workforce-development-fiscal-year</a>.
Veronica Vanterpool,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2024-14428 Filed 6-28-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-57-P
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