[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 13, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18942-18952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-8398]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
FY 2010 Discretionary Sustainability Funding Opportunity; Transit
Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) Program
and Clean Fuels Grant Program, Augmented With Discretionary Bus and Bus
Facilities Program
AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of availability of FTA environmental sustainability
program funds: solicitation of project proposals.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the
availability of discretionary funds in Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 for the
Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER)
program funds and FY 2009 and 2010 Clean Fuels Grant program funds,
augmented with FY 2010 Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities program
funds. These discretionary program funds will be distributed in
accordance with the mission of each program and in support of the U.S.
Department of Transportation's (DOT) environmental sustainability
efforts.
This notice includes priorities established by FTA for these
discretionary funds, the criteria FTA will use to identify meritorious
projects for funding, and describes how to apply for funding under each
discretionary program. This announcement is available on the FTA Web
site at: http://www.fta.dot.gov. FTA will announce final selections on
the Web site and in the Federal Register. A synopsis of each funding
opportunity will be posted in the FIND module of the government-wide
electronic grants Web site at http://www.grants.gov.
DATES: Complete proposals for Clean Fuels/Bus and Bus Facilities
discretionary grants must be submitted by June 14, 2010. All proposals
must be submitted electronically through the GRANTS.GOV APPLY function.
Anyone intending to apply electronically through GRANTS.GOV should
initiate the process of registering on the GRANTS.GOV site immediately
to ensure completion of registration before the deadline for
submission. Those who apply via GRANTS.GOV should receive two
confirmation e-mails. The first will confirm that the application was
received and a subsequent e-mail will be sent indicating whether the
application was validated or rejected by the system.
TIGGER program proposals must be submitted by August 11, 2010.
Applicants are encouraged to submit applications early in order to
allow for full consideration by FTA. Instructions for applying for the
TIGGER program can be found at http://www.fta.dot.gov/tigger and will
also be available in the ``FIND'' module of grants.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact the appropriate FTA Regional
Administrator (Appendix A) for proposal-specific information and
issues. For general program information on the TIGGER program, contact
Walter Kulyk, Office of Mobility Innovation, (202) 366-4995, e-mail:
walter.kulyk@dot.gov. For program information on the Clean Fuels/Bus
and Bus Facilities Program; contact Juan Morrison, Office of Program
Management, (202) 366 -7005, e-mail: juan.morrison@.dot.gov. A TDD is
available at 1-800-877-8339 (TDD/FIRS).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. FTA Sustainability Program Overview
II. Sustainability Program Information
A. Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction
(TIGGER) Program
1. Program Purpose
2. Eligible Applicants
3. Eligible Projects
4. Cost Sharing or Matching
5. Application Content
6. Evaluation Criteria
7. Award Administration Information
B. Clean Fuels/Bus and Bus Facilities Program
1. Program Purpose
2. Eligible Applicants
3. Eligible Projects
4. Cost Sharing or Matching
5. Application Content
6. Evaluation Criteria
III. Technical Assistance
Appendix A FTA Regional and Metropolitan Offices
Appendix B Glossary of Terms (TIGGER Program)
Appendix C TIGGER Project Proposal Outline
Appendix D Program Matrix
[[Page 18943]]
I. FTA Sustainability Program Overview
A. Authority
These programs are authorized under section 5308, 5309(b) (as
amended by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation
Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)) and Division A of the
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act 2010.
B. Policy Priority
Among the goals of the Obama Administration is one to improve our
Nation's environment and to secure its energy future. Effective
provision of public transportation is a key part of this goal. The
Administration believes that we must commit ourselves to an economic
future in which the strength of our economy is not tied to the
unpredictability of oil markets. We must make the investments in clean
energy sources that will both enhance the environment through improved
air quality and curb our dependence on fossil fuels, making America
energy independent by:
Breaking Dependence on Oil. Provide increased public
transportation options that minimize the use of fossil fuels and invest
in the development of alternative fuel vehicles.
Producing More Energy at Home. Enhance U.S. energy
supplies through responsible development of domestic renewable energy,
fossil fuels, advanced biofuels and nuclear energy.
Promoting Energy Efficiency. Promote investments in the
transportation, electricity, industrial, building and agricultural
sectors that reduce energy bills.
FTA advances these energy and environmental goals by funding
projects that:
Enhance the quality of public transportation services.
Assist nonattainment and maintenance areas in achieving or
maintaining the National Ambient Air Quality standards for ozone and
carbon monoxide.
Support emerging Clean Fuel and advanced propulsion
technologies for transit buses and markets for those technologies.
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions of public transportation
systems.
By this notice, FTA announces the availability of at least $156.2
million in FY 2009 and FY 2010 discretionary resources to help
encourage transit projects that promote the usage and development of
energy efficient technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
other pollutants. Projects funded as a result of this notice will
further the Department's environmental sustainability efforts. To
support these efforts, and to ensure FTA is able to fund a wide variety
of investment types, FTA intends to provide funds from the TIGGER
program and Clean Fuels Grant program, augmented with Section 5309 Bus
and Bus Facilities program funds in support of capital investment that
will improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions. As each program
has separate eligibility and program requirements, FTA encourages
applicants to carefully consider which program to apply under. FTA will
provide $75 million under the TIGGER program. This program is intended
for projects of innovative and national significance with a minimum
project cost of $1 million. To complement TIGGER, FTA also will award
approximately $81.2 million under the Clean Fuels Grant program. FTA
also intends to further our environmental sustainability goals by
allowing applicants not eligible under the Clean Fuels Grant program to
apply for projects which promote the use of clean fuels and fund those
projects with additional Bus and Bus Facilities program funds.
II. Sustainability Program Information
A. TIGGER Program
The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related
Agencies Appropriations Act 2010 (Pub. L. 111-68), appropriated $75
million for grants to public transit agencies for capital investments
that will reduce the energy consumption or greenhouse gas emissions of
their public transportation systems, referred to as the Transit
Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) program.
$100 million was previously provided for TIGGER in the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) and awarded by FTA.
Based on lessons learned in the application and review process from
the ARRA-funded TIGGER program, for which proposals exceeding $2
billion were submitted, FTA is changing some of the application
procedures for the FY 2010-funded TIGGER program to simplify the
process. Additionally, given the availability of other FTA
discretionary programs in FY 2010, such as the Bus and Bus Facilities
program and the Clean Fuels Grant program, FTA will rate more favorably
innovative technologies of national significance, such as electric
drive and other forward-looking technologies, not normally funded out
of other FTA programs.
This notice announces the availability of the grant program
funding, application requirements, and deadlines for submitting
proposals for funding.
1. Program Purpose
There are two eligible purposes for TIGGER grants: (1) For capital
investments that will assist in reducing the energy consumption of a
transit system; or (2) for capital investments that will reduce
greenhouse gas emissions of a public transportation system. Project
proposals may be submitted under either or both categories; however
only one project may be submitted under a single proposal. FTA has
established a range of funding that will be considered for approval.
Each submitted project must request a minimum of $1,000,000 and must
not exceed a maximum of $25,000,000. Applications for projects less
than $1,000,000 may be applied for if they are part of a consolidated
proposal submitted by the State Department of Transportation (State
DOT) that, in total, meets or exceeds the $1,000,000 threshold. FTA may
decide to provide only partial funding for certain proposals to
maximize the impact of this program. FTA encourages applicants with
projects that are not technologically innovative, or which do not meet
these funding thresholds, to apply under the Bus and Bus Facilities or
Clean Fuels programs, which have simpler application criteria.
2. Eligible Applicants
Only public transportation agencies or State DOTs may apply. Unlike
the ARRA-funded TIGGER program, FTA will not accept consolidated
proposals from public transportation agencies. A public transportation
agency may only apply for one project for a single transit agency in
one proposal. However, public transportation agencies may submit
multiple proposals (applications). A State DOT may submit a
consolidated proposal for multiple projects from one or more transit
agencies in order to meet the $1,000,000 threshold. Consolidated
proposals must contain individual project level information, as
described in Section 5. Application Content, for each project included
in the consolidated proposal. Grant awards will be made for a
particular project directly to public transportation agencies or to a
State Department of Transportation on behalf of a public transportation
agency.
3. Eligible Projects
Eligible expenses must meet the following criteria: (1) The expense
must be an eligible capital expense as defined
[[Page 18944]]
under 49 U.S.C. 5302(a)(1); and (2) the project will assist in the
reduction of the energy consumption of a public transportation system
and/or the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of a public
transportation system.
4. Cost Sharing or Matching
The expected Federal share for TIGGER grants is 90 percent,
although applicants may request a different Federal share. A proposed
Federal share can be less than 90 percent, or up to 100 percent.
However, applicants requesting a lower Federal share may be given a
higher rating in the evaluation process, all else being equal.
5. Application Content
a. Proposal Submission Process
Project proposals must follow the submission guidelines that will
be provided shortly at http://www.fta.dot.gov/tigger. A synopsis of
this announcement will be posted in the ``FIND'' module of the
GRANTS.GOV. Mail and fax submissions will not be accepted except for
supplemental information that cannot be sent electronically.
b. Proposal Content
Proposals from public transit agencies may contain only one
project. Unlike the ARRA-funded TIGGER program, FTA will not accept
consolidated proposals with projects from multiple public transit
agencies, or multiple projects from one public transit agency. Agencies
may submit multiple proposals (applications), but each proposal must be
clearly define a separate project. See Appendix B for an outline of
project proposal requirements.
Proposals from State DOTs may contain multiple projects from one or
more transit agencies in order to meet the $1,000,000 threshold.
Consolidated proposals must contain individual project level
information, as described below, for each project included in the
consolidated proposal.
Project Summary--The applicant may be requested to enter summary
information about the proposed project into a project summary sheet or
electronic application tool. Guidelines for application procedures,
further instructions, and application tools will be located on FTA's
Web site at www.fta.dot.gov/tigger. Instructions for completing and
submitting the sheet will be provided at the Web site.
(1) Applicant Information
This addresses basic identifying information, including:
i. Applicant name;
ii. Contact information (including contact name, address, e-mail
address, phone and fax number);
iii. Whether the applicant's area is attainment, non-attainment, or
maintenance for ozone or CO;
iv. Description of services provided by the agency, including areas
served;
v. Congressional district(s) served by the proposed project;
vi. If the project proposal includes vehicles, provide existing
fleet information, such as a current rail or bus fleet management plan,
if not already on file with the FTA Regional Office; and
vii. A description of the technical, legal and financial capacity
of the project sponsor.
(2) Project Information
Every proposal must:
i. Include a project management plan to be utilized to implement
the proposed project;
ii. Address whether the project is to be evaluated under energy
reduction or greenhouse gas reduction criteria, or both criteria;
iii. Include the project scope, including descriptions of the
proposed capital investment as well as the existing system, subsystem,
facility, vehicle, or component that the investment will replace or be
applied to. The project scope determines where measurement of energy
reductions or greenhouse gas emissions reductions will take place and
must be directly related to the actual capital investment. It should be
determined in a manner that permits measurement before and after the
investment to determine either the energy savings or greenhouse gas
reductions, or both;
iv. Include a line-item budget for the project and its total cost.
For scalable projects, a scaling plan describing the minimum amount
necessary for a feasible project and the energy or greenhouse gas
reduction impacts of a reduced funding level;
v. State the expected useful life of the investment based on
accepted FTA and industry practices;
vi. Provide a project time-line outlining steps from project
development through completion, including significant milestones such
as date of contract awards and dates of project implementation; and
vii. Include the proposed location of the project. For facilities
and other infrastructure this means the city or county where the
infrastructure will be located. For transit vehicles it means the
cities or counties where transit services are likely to be provided.
(3) Project Measurement Information
i. Proposals must provide a narrative describing how the greenhouse
gas and/or energy saving estimates were calculated. Proposals also must
identify the process the agency will use to determine the actual energy
savings and/or greenhouse gas emission reductions realized once the
investment is implemented. FTA will post on its Web site (http://www.fta.dot.gov/tigger) the information or other application tools that
may be used to develop these calculations.
ii. Project Measurement Criteria for Energy Reduction Projects: The
proposal must include:
iii. Project's Current Annual Energy Use
iv. Project's Estimated Annual Energy Use
v. Project's Estimated Annual Energy Savings
vi. Project's Total Estimated Energy Savings Over Its Useful Life
vii. Project's Total Energy Savings as a Percentage of the Agency's
Total Annual Energy Use. This can be reported as less than one percent
or the proposal must include:
(a) Total Annual Energy Consumption of the Public Transportation
Agency
(b) The Project's Total Energy Savings as a percentage of the Total
Annual Energy Consumption of the Public Transportation Agency
(4) Project Measurement Criteria for Greenhouse Gas Emission
Reduction Projects: Proposals must include:
i. Project's Current Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions
ii. Project's Estimated Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions
iii. Project's Estimated Annual Greenhouse Gas Savings
iv. Project's Total Estimated Greenhouse Gas Savings over the
Project's Useful Life
(5) Proposed deviations from FTA Circular 5010
FTA's capital program includes the introduction of new technology,
through innovative and improved products, into public transportation as
an eligible expense. FTA intends to apply 49 U.S.C. 53 requirements and
FTA Circular 5010.1.D Grant Management Requirements issued on November
1, 2008 to this program. This Circular may be found at: http://www.fta.dot.gov/laws/circulars/leg_reg_8640.html. The applicant
should identify any waivers to these requirements it anticipates it may
need that would affect its ability to introduce new technology.
However, FTA is disinclined to grant any Buy America waivers.
(6) A project proposal should address each of the evaluation
criteria separately, except for geographic diversity which need not be
addressed by the applicant.
[[Page 18945]]
c. Funding Restrictions
Only proposals from eligible recipients for eligible activities
will be considered for funding (see Section II of this Notice).
6. Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated for their ability to reduce energy
consumption and/or greenhouse gas emissions of the transit agency. An
applicant will be evaluated under both criteria if it provides the
necessary project measurement information.
a. Evaluation Criteria for Energy Consumption Reduction Projects
FTA will evaluate proposals on total energy consumption savings
projected to result from the project, and projected energy savings of
the project as a percentage of the total energy usage of the public
transit agency. Refer to Appendix B for definitions.
b. Evaluation Criterion for Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Projects
FTA will evaluate proposals based on the total amount of greenhouse
gas reductions projected to result from the project.
c. Evaluation Criteria for All Projects
In addition, FTA will evaluate all proposals on the following
criteria:
(1) Project Innovation
The project identifies a unique, significant, or innovative
approach to reducing energy consumption or greenhouse gas emissions.
FTA encourages qualified projects that will demonstrate innovative
technologies and other approaches to reducing energy consumption or
greenhouse gas emissions such as electric drive technologies. FTA will
give some priority consideration to these projects if all other project
evaluation criteria are comparable.
Examples of innovation include:
i. On-Board Vehicle Energy Management (energy storage, regenerative
braking, fuel cells, turbines, engine auto start/stop, etc.)
ii. Electrification of Accessories (air conditioning, air
compressor, power steering, etc.)
iii. Bus Design (lightweight materials, component packaging,
maintainability, etc.)
iv. Rail Transit Energy Management (energy storage, regenerative
braking, solar propulsion engine systems, power load-leveling, etc.)
v. Locomotive Design (energy storage, regenerative braking, fuel
cells, turbines, engine auto start/stop, lightweight material, etc.)
vi. Other innovative approaches to reduce energy consumption or
greenhouse gas emissions.
(2) National Applicability. The national applicability of the
project as an example of energy savings or greenhouse gas reductions,
including whether the project could be replicated by other transit
agencies regionally or nationally and is consistent with FTA livability
and environmental sustainability goals should be demonstrated.
(3) Project Readiness. FTA will evaluate the proposed timeframe of
the project for timeliness and reasonableness.
(4) Project Management. The applicant demonstrates the capacity to
carry out the project.
i. The applicant is in a fundable status for the FTA grant program.
ii. The applicant's project team demonstrates the technical
capacity to carry out the project, including the project approach or
project management plan.
iii. The applicant has the ability to collect information and
demonstrate the results of the project for at least one year following
project implementation
(5) Return on Investment. This factor addresses the energy savings
and/or greenhouse gas reduction relative to the total project cost,
including the proposed Federal and local shares.
(6) Geographic Diversity. To provide the ability to evaluate
technologies in a wide variety of conditions, FTA may select projects
to ensure there is sufficient geographic diversity.
d. Review and Selection Process
Proposals first will be screened by FTA program staff. During the
process, FTA may seek clarifications or corrections to some proposals
to ensure adequate information is available to evaluate the proposal.
After evaluating proposals based on the established technical criteria,
FTA will publish the list of all selected projects and funding levels
in the Federal Register.
7. Award Administration Information
a. Award
Once proposals have been reviewed and projects have been selected,
successful applicants will apply for and FTA will award grant funding
through FTA's TEAM grant management system. These grants will be
administered and managed by FTA regional offices in accordance with the
applicable Federal requirements of 49 U.S.C. chapter 53.
Depending on award amount, FTA may require a scope and project
budget reduction before a grant is submitted in TEAM.
b. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
(1) Grant Requirements
If selected, project sponsors will apply for a grant through TEAM
and adhere to the customary FTA grant requirements of 49 U.S.C. chapter
53, including those identified in FTA Circular 5010.1D and the FTA
Master Agreement, unless otherwise specified in the grant agreement.
Technical assistance regarding these requirements is available from the
corresponding FTA regional office.
Applicants must sign and submit current Certifications and
Assurances before receiving a grant. If the applicant has already
submitted the annual Certifications and Assurances in TEAM, they do not
need to be resubmitted. The Applicant assures that it will comply with
all applicable Federal statutes, regulations, executive orders, FTA
circulars, and other Federal administrative requirements in carrying
out any project supported by the FTA grant. The Applicant acknowledges
that it is under a continuing obligation to comply with the terms and
conditions of the grant 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 Applicant agrees that the
most recent Federal requirements will apply to the project, unless FTA
issues a written determination otherwise.
(2) Planning
Applicants are encouraged to notify the appropriate State DOT and
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in areas likely to be served
by the project funds made available under this program. Incorporation
of funded projects in the long-range plans and transportation
improvement programs of States and metropolitan areas is required of
all funded projects. FTA cannot obligate grant funds unless the project
is contained in a Federally approved State Transportation Improvement
Plan (STIP).
Similarly, all environmental requirements must be complete before
FTA can obligate and award a grant in TEAM.
c. Reporting Requirements
FTA reporting requirements include standard reporting requirements
identified in FTA Circular 5010.1D, and the Master Grant Agreement. In
addition, the TIGGER program has additional reporting requirements. A
recipient of TIGGER funds must report on an annual basis:
[[Page 18946]]
(1) Actual annual energy consumed within the project scope
attributable to the investment for energy consumption reduction
projects;
(2) Actual greenhouse gas emissions within the project scope
attributable to the investment for greenhouse gas reduction projects;
and
(3) Actual annual reductions or increases in operating costs
attributable to the investment for all projects.
B. Clean Fuels/Bus and Bus Facilities Program
The Clean Fuels Grant program was first established as the Clean
Fuels Formula Grant program in Section 3008 of the Transportation
Equity Act for the 21st Century, Public Law 105-178, June 9, 1998 (now
codified at 49 U.S.C. Sec. 5308). The program was developed to assist
non-attainment or maintenance areas in achieving or maintaining the
National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone and carbon monoxide
(CO). Additionally, the program supported emerging clean fuel and
advanced propulsion technologies for transit buses and markets for
those technologies. FY 2009 unallocated funding and the FY 2010
Transportation Appropriations Act provides $81 million dollars in
discretionary Clean Fuels Grant program resources. Additionally, FTA is
expanding the eligible applicant pool and may fund projects that meet
the Clean Fuels Grant program objectives in attainment areas using a
portion of FY 2010 discretionary Bus and Bus Facilities program
resources that are available. Please Note: Subsequent to this notice,
FTA will also publish a Notice of Funding Availability that announces
the availability of additional Bus and Bus Facilities program funds
that will assist grantees to improve the state of good repair of buses
and bus facilities.
1. Program Purpose
The Clean Fuels/Bus and Bus Facilities program has a two-fold
purpose. First, the Clean Fuels Grant program was developed to assist
nonattainment and maintenance areas in achieving or maintaining the
National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone and CO. The second
program purpose is to support emerging clean fuel and advanced
propulsion technologies for transit buses and markets for those
technologies.
2. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants under the FY 2010 Clean Fuels Grant program
are:
a. Designated recipients in maintenance or non-attainment areas for
ozone or CO, which are entities designated to receive Federal urbanized
formula funds under 49 U.S.C. 5307.
b. FTA will also accept applications from direct recipients, tribes
for rural areas, and State Departments of Transportation in attainment
areas. Note: Projects selected in attainment areas will be funded using
Bus and Bus Facilities program funds.
3. Eligible Projects
Section 5308 grants authority to the Secretary to make grants under
this section to assist recipients to finance eligible projects such as
the following: (1) Purchasing or leasing clean fuel buses, including
buses that employ a lightweight composite primary structure and vans
for use in revenue service. The purchase or lease of non-revenue
vehicles is not an eligible project; (2) Constructing or leasing clean
fuel bus facilities or electrical recharging facilities and related
equipment; (3) Projects relating to clean fuel, biodiesel, hybrid
electric, or zero emissions technology buses that exhibit equivalent or
superior emissions reductions to existing clean fuel or hybrid electric
technologies.
Funds made available under this program cannot be used to fund
operating expenses or preventive maintenance. Funds made available
under this program cannot be used to reimburse projects that have
incurred prior eligible expenses without a Letter of No Prejudice
(LONP) issued by FTA for the project before the costs are incurred.
4. Cost Sharing or Matching
c. Clean Fuels
For projects awarded Clean Fuels funding, costs will be shared as
follows:
(1) Vehicles--90 percent FTA/10 percent local contribution for the
net incremental cost of the clean fuels component. For administrative
simplicity, FTA allows recipients to compute the Federal share at 83
percent for eligible vehicle purchases. The 83 percent share is a
blended figure representing 80 percent of the vehicle and 90 percent of
the vehicle-related equipment to be acquired in compliance with the
Clean Air Act.
(2) Facilities--The 83 percent Federal share does not apply to
facilities, for which the costs are more variable. The eligibility of
facility-related cost elements at the 90 percent share will be reviewed
for eligibility of the higher Federal share on a case-by-case basis as
part of the grant application process.
(3) The FY 2010 Appropriations Act allows a 90 percent Federal
share for the total cost of a biodiesel bus.
(4) The FY 2010 Appropriations Act allows a 90 percent Federal
share for the net capital cost of factory installed hybrid electric
propulsion systems and any equipment related to such a system. For
administrative simplicity, FTA allows recipients to compute the Federal
share at 83 percent for eligible vehicle purchases.
(5) FTA will not approve deferred local share.
d. Bus and Bus Facilities
For projects awarded Bus and Bus Facilities funding, costs will be
shared as follows:
(1) 80 percent FTA/20 percent local contribution for the net
capital project cost, unless the grant recipient requests a lower
percentage.
(2) The Federal share may exceed 80 percent for certain projects
related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Clean Air
Act (CAA) as follows: ADA--The Federal share is 90 percent for the cost
of vehicle-related equipment or facilities attributable to compliance
with the ADA of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.); CAA--The Federal share
is 90 percent for the cost of vehicle related equipment or facilities
(including clean-fuel or alternative-fuel vehicle related equipment or
facilities) attributable to compliance with the CAA (42 U.S.C. 7401 et
seq.). For administrative simplicity, FTA allows recipients to compute
the Federal share at 83 percent for eligible ADA and CAA vehicle
purchases.
(3) The FY 2010 Appropriations Act allows a 90 percent Federal
share for the total cost of a biodiesel bus.
(4) The FY 2010 Appropriations Act also allows a 90 percent Federal
share for the net capital cost of factory installed or retrofitted
hybrid electric propulsion systems and any equipment related to such a
system. For administrative simplicity, FTA allows recipients to compute
the Federal share at 83 percent for eligible vehicle purchases.
(5) FTA will not approve deferred local share.
5. Application Content
a. Proposal Submission Process
(1) Project proposals must be submitted electronically through
http://www.grants.gov and a synopsis of this announcement will be
available in the ``FIND'' module. Mail and fax submissions will not be
accepted except for supplemental information that cannot be sent
electronically.
(2) Applicants can only apply for funds currently available for
allocation. However, an applicant may propose a
[[Page 18947]]
project that would expend money over multiple years. The project,
however, should be ready to implement and should be completed in a
reasonable period of time. In sum, the period of performance of the
award is separate from the year that funds are awarded.
b. Proposal Content
(1) Applicant Information
This addresses basic identifying information, including:
i. Applicant's name,
ii. Contact information (including contact name, address, e-mail
address, phone and fax number),
iii. Whether the applicant's area is attainment, non-attainment, or
maintenance for ozone or CO,
iv. Description of services provided by the agency, including areas
served,
v. If the project proposal includes vehicles, include existing
fleet information, such as a current bus fleet management plan if not
already on file with the FTA regional office, and
vi. A description of your technical, legal, and financial capacity
to implement the proposed project.
(2) Project Information
Every proposal must:
i. Describe the project to be funded and include with the proposal
any necessary supporting documentation. Example: Information on the age
of the current fleet, MPO concurrence letters, ridership information.
ii. Address each of the evaluation criteria separately.
iii. Congressional district(s) served by the proposed project.
iv. Provide a line-item budget for the project and its total cost.
v. Provide the Federal amount requested for each purpose for which
funds are sought.
vi. Document matching funds, including amount and source of the
match.
vii. Provide project time-line, including significant milestones
such as date or contract for purchase of vehicle(s), actual or expected
delivery date of vehicles and contract award and completion of facility
improvements.
c. Funding Restrictions
Only proposals from eligible recipients for eligible activities
will be considered for funding. Due to funding limitations, applicants
that are selected for funding may receive less than the amount
requested.
6. Evaluation Criteria for Clean Fuels Grant Program
a. Project Evaluation Criteria
Projects will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
(1) Demonstrated Need
i. Project represents a one-time or periodic need that cannot
reasonably be funded from formula allocations or State and/or local
revenues.
ii. Project or applicant did not receive significant funding in an
earmark.
iii. The project will have a positive impact on air quality.
iv. The project is consistent with the applicant's bus fleet
management plan.
v. The project is a transportation control measure in an approved
State Implementation Plan (if applicable).
(2) Planning and prioritization at local/regional level.
i. Project is consistent with the transit priorities identified in
the long range plan and/or contingency/illustrative projects. The
project could not be included in the financially constrained
Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP)/STIP due to lack of funding (if
selected, project must be in federally approved STIP before grant
award).
ii. Local support is demonstrated by availability of local match
for this and/or related projects and letters of support.
iii. In an area with more than one transit operator, the
application demonstrates coordination with and support of other transit
operators, or other related projects within the applicant's MPO or the
geographic region within which the proposed project will operate.
(3) The project is ready to implement.
i. Any required environmental work has been initiated for
construction projects requiring an Environmental Assessment (EA).
ii. Implementation plans are ready, including initial design of
facilities projects.
iii. TIP/STIP can be amended (evidenced by MPO/State endorsement).
iv. Project can be obligated and begin implementation quickly, if
selected.
(4) The applicant demonstrates the benefits of the proposed project
in reducing transportation related pollutants.
(5) The proposed project supports emerging clean fuels technologies
or advanced technologies for transit buses.
(6) The applicants demonstrate the technical, legal, and financial
capacity to carry out the project. This criterion refers to
implementation of the particular project proposed.
i. The applicant has the technical capacity to administer the
project.
ii. The acquisition is consistent with the bus fleet management
plan.
iii. There are no outstanding legal, technical, or financial issues
with the grantee that would make this a high-risk project.
iv. Source of local match is identified and is available for prompt
project implementation if selected (no deferred local share will be
allowed).
(7) Geographic Diversity. To provide the ability to evaluate
technologies in a wide variety of conditions, FTA may select projects
to ensure there is sufficient geographic diversity.
III. Technical Assistance
FTA will post answers to commonly asked questions about the TIGGER
program as well as provide information to assist in calculations at
http://www.fta.dot.gov/tigger. Commonly asked questions about the FY
2010 Clean Fuels Grant program can be found at http://www.fta.dot.gov/funding/grants/grants_financing_3560.html. Technical assistance
regarding these requirements is available from each FTA regional office
listed in Appendix A. The regional offices will contact those
applicants selected for funding regarding grants and reporting
requirements and will provide assistance in preparing the documentation
necessary for the grant award.
Contact the appropriate FTA Regional or Metropolitan Office for
application-specific information and issues. For general TIGGER program
information, contact Walter Kulyk, Office of Mobility Innovation, (202)
366-4995, e-mail: walter.kulyk@dot.gov. For program information on the
Clean Fuels/Bus and Bus Facilities Program; contact Juan Morrison,
Office of Program Management, (202) 366-7005, e-mail:
juan.morrison.dot.gov. A TDD is available at 1-800-877-8339 (TDD/FIRS).
Issued in Washington, DC, this 8th day of April 2010.
Peter Rogoff,
Administrator.
Appendix A
FTA Regional and Metropolitan Offices
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Richard H. Doyle, Regional Administrator, Robert C. Patrick, Regional
Region 1--Boston, Kendall Square, 55 Administrator, Region 6--
Broadway, Suite 920, Cambridge, MA 02142- Ft. Worth, 819 Taylor
1093, Tel. 617-494-2055. Street, Room 8A36, Ft.
States served: Connecticut, Maine, Worth, TX 76102, Tel. 817-
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode, 978-0550.
Island, and Vermont. States served: Arkansas,
Louisiana, Oklahoma, New
Mexico, and Texas.
Brigid Hynes-Cherin, Regional Mokhtee Ahmad, Regional
Administrator, Region 2--New York, One Administrator, Region 7--
Bowling Green, Room 429, New York, NY Kansas City, MO, 901 Locust
10004-1415, Tel. 212-668-2170. Street, Room 404, Kansas
States served: New Jersey, New York. City, MO 64106, Tel. 816-
329-3920.
States served: Iowa, Kansas,
Missouri, and Nebraska.
New York Metropolitan Office, Region 2--
New York, One Bowling Green, Room 428,
New York, NY 10004-1415, Tel. 212-668-
2202.
Letitia Thompson, Regional Administrator, Terry Rosapep, Regional
Region 3--Philadelphia, 1760 Market Administrator, Region 8--
Street, Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA 19103- Denver, 12300 West Dakota
4124, Tel. 215-656-7100. Ave., Suite 310, Lakewood,
States served: Delaware, Maryland, CO 80228-2583, Tel. 720-963-
Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, 3300.
and District of Columbia. States served: Colorado,
Montana, North Dakota,
South Dakota, Utah, and
Wyoming.
Philadelphia Metropolitan Office, Region
3--Philadelphia, 1760 Market Street,
Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA 19103-4124,
Tel. 215-656-7070.
Washington, DC Metropolitan Office, 1990 K
Street, NW., Room 510, Washington, DC
20006, Tel. 202-219-3562.
Yvette Taylor, Regional Administrator, Leslie T. Rogers, Regional
Region 4--Atlanta, 230 Peachtree Street, Administrator, Region 9--
NW., Suite 800, Atlanta, GA 30303, Tel. San Francisco, 201 Mission
404-865-5600. Street, Room 1650, San
States served: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Francisco, CA 94105-1926,
Kentucky, Mississippi, North, Carolina, Tel. 415-744-3133.
Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, States served: American
and Virgin Islands. Samoa, Arizona, California,
Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, and
the Northern Mariana
Islands.
Los Angeles Metropolitan
Office, Region 9--Los
Angeles, 888 S. Figueroa
Street, Suite 1850, Los
Angeles, CA 90017-1850,
Tel. 213-202-3952.
Marisol Simon, Regional Administrator, Rick Krochalis, Regional
Region 5--Chicago, 200 West Adams Street, Administrator, Region 10--
Suite 320, Chicago, IL 60606, Tel. 312- Seattle, Jackson Federal
353-2789. Building, 915 Second
States served: Illinois, Indiana, Avenue, Suite 3142,
Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Seattle, WA 98174-1002,
Tel. 206-220-7954.
States served: Alaska,
Idaho, Oregon, and
Washington.
Chicago Metropolitan Office, Region 5--
Chicago, 200 West Adams Street, Suite
320, Chicago, IL 60606, Tel. 312-353-
2789.
Appendix B
TIGGER Program Glossary of Terms
Energy Use of the Public Transportation System is the sum of the
lower (net) heating value of fuels purchased directly by the public
transportation system plus electricity purchased directly by the
public transportation system. It includes energy used to perform
both revenue and non revenue operations directly operated by the
agency, but not energy used by purchased services. It includes fuels
used by an agency to generate energy, but not energy generated by an
agency. As an example, an applicant would count the lower heating
value of the diesel fuel used to operate a diesel generator by an
agency but not the electricity produced by the generator. Energy
produced on-site using solar or wind power is also not counted as
part of consumption.
Expected Useful Life is the expected lifetime of project
property, or the acceptable period of use in service, based on
standard industry practices such as those defined in FTA Circular
9300.1B. If a useful life is claimed that differs from standard
industry practices, or for which no standard practice exists, the
assumed useful life of a project should be justified using
appropriate citations or well-documented assumptions and reasoning.
Greenhouse Gases are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere
expressed in Carbon Dioxide (C02)-equivalent mass. The
principal greenhouse gases that enter the atmosphere because of
human activities are: Carbon Dioxide (CO2); Methane
(CH4); Nitrous Oxide (N2O); and Fluorinated
Gases (Hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur
hexafluoride)
Greenhouse Gas Emissions of the Public Transportation Agency are
greenhouse gas emissions from public transportation systems vehicles
or facilities, otherwise known as direct emissions. It does not
include indirect emissions (e.g., from third-party power plants) or
displaced emissions (e.g., emissions from manufacturing transit
equipment, waste disposal, emissions released by upstream processes
prior to purchase of the fuel or electricity by the transit agency,
etc.).
Project is the proposed capital investment as well as the
existing system, subsystem, facility, vehicle, or component that the
investment will replace or be applied to. The project scope
determines where measurement of energy reductions or emissions
reductions will take place and must be directly related to the
actual capital investment.
Total Project Energy Savings is the estimated annual project
energy savings multiplied by the expected useful life of the
investment.
Total Project Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions is the
estimated annual project greenhouse gas emission reductions
multiplied by the expected useful life of the investment.
Appendix C
TIGGER Project Proposal Outline
Each project proposal must contain the following information.
Additional application instructions and tools will be located on
FTA's TIGGER Program Web site: http://www.fta.dot.gov/tigger.
a. Project Summary Sheet--The applicant may be requested to
enter summary information about the project into a project summary
sheet that will be posted on FTA's Web site at http://www.fta.dot.gov/tigger. Instructions for completing and submitting
the sheet will be provided at the Web site.
b. Applicant information: For each transit agency included in
the proposal, the information should include:
(1) Applicant name
(2) Contact information
(3) Whether the applicant's area is attainment, non-attainment,
or maintenance for ozone or CO
(4) Description of services provided by the agency and areas
served
(5) If proposal includes vehicles, include existing fleet
information, such as a current rail or bus fleet management plan, if
not already on file with the FTA Regional Office, and
(6) A description of their technical, legal, financial, and
program management capacity to implement the proposed project.
c. Project Information: The information should include:
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(1) Whether the project is to be evaluated under energy
reduction, greenhouse gas reduction criteria, or both.
(2) A description of the scope of the project.
(3) Provide a line item budget for the project and its total
cost and for scalable projects include the minimum amount necessary
to implement the project if FTA were not to fund the total cost.
(4) Identify the expected useful life of the investment.
(5) Provide brief project time-line outlining steps from project
development through completion, including significant milestones
such as date of contract awards and dates of project implementation
(e.g. when vehicles will begin revenue service).
(6) Provide the proposed location of the project, for facilities
and other infrastructure provide the city or county where the
investment will be located as applicable; for vehicles provide the
cities or counties where services are likely to be provided.
(7) Congressional district(s) served by the proposed project.
d. Project Measurement Criteria for Energy Reduction projects:
Proposals should identify the process the agency will use to
determine the actual energy savings once the investment is
implemented. For projects proposed to reduce energy consumption the
proposal should include:
(1) Project's Current Annual Energy Use
(2) Project's Estimated Annual Energy Use
(3) Project's Estimated Annual Energy Savings
(4) Project's Total Estimated Energy Savings Over its Useful
Life
e. Project's Total Energy Savings as a Percentage of the
Agency's Total Energy Use. This can be reported as less than one
percent or the proposal must include:
(1) Total Energy Consumption of the Public Transportation Agency
(2) The Project's Total Energy Savings as a percentage of the
Total Energy Consumption of the Public Transportation Agency
f. Project Measurement Criteria for Greenhouse Gas Emission
Reduction projects: Proposals should identify the process the agency
will use to determine the greenhouse gas emission reductions once
the investment is implemented. For projects proposed to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions the proposal should include:
(1) Project's Current Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions
(2) Project's Estimated Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions
(3) Project's Estimated Annual Greenhouse Gas Savings
(4) Project's Total Estimated Greenhouse Gas Savings over the
Project's Useful Life
g. Any proposed deviations from FTA requirements
h. Address each of the evaluation criteria separately.
(1) Project Innovation
(2) National Applicability
(3) Project Readiness
(4) Project Management
(5) Return on Investment
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[FR Doc. 2010-8398 Filed 4-9-10; 11:15 am]
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