693JJ322NF5201-2022-Full Announcement-DDETFP Graduate Fellowship_FINAL.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity Summary Information

Federal Agency Name:

Funding Opportunity Title:

Announcement Type:

Funding Opportunity Number:

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number:

Key Dates:

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Office of Administration (HAD) Office of Human Resources (HAHR) Talent Development Division 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington, DC 20590

Attn: Latoya Jones, HAD-HAHR-30

“Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program (DDETFP) Graduate Fellowship”

This is the initial announcement of this funding opportunity.

693JJ322NF5201

20.215 Highway Training & Education

Notice Issue Date is June 9, 2022 Question Due Date/Time is June 16, 2022 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time Electronic Application Due Date/Time for

• Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 is July 25, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

• FY 2023 - 2026 dates will be specified in

Attachment 1 posted with this Notice.

Documentation Due Date/Time is 7 days after the Electronic Application Due Date at 11:59 p.m.

Eastern Time.

Primary Point of Contact: Latoya Jones, latoya.jones@dot.gov, 404-562-3587

Secondary Point of Contact: FHWA Talent Development Division Staff, FHWA_UGP@dot.gov mailto:latoya.jones@dot.gov mailto:FHWA_UGP@dot.gov

693JJ322NF5201

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION TITLE PAGE

A PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 3

B FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION 5

C ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION 6

D APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION 7

E APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION 10

F FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION 13

G FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACT(S) 16

Pertinent Links:

• https://www.grants.gov/

• Transportation Fellowship Internship and Contractor System (TFICS) at fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/tficsp/signin.aspx

• General terms, conditions, and governing regulations that apply to this agreement are available online at www.fhwa.dot.gov/cfo/contractor_recip/gtandc_generaltermsconditions.cfm

Attachments:

• DDETFP Graduate Fellowship Annual Announcement https://www.grants.gov/ http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/CFO/CONTRACTOR_RECIP/GTANDC_GENERALTERMSCONDITIONS.CFM

SECTION A - PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), hereby requests applications for assistance to result in the award of up to 100 new grant agreements, supporting the “Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program (DDETFP) Graduate Fellowship.”

1. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The purpose of these proposed agreements is to provide DDETFP Graduate Fellowship funding for students to pursue master’s or doctoral degrees in transportation-related disciplines. The program objectives are: 1) to attract the Nation's brightest minds to the field of transportation; 2) to enhance the careers of transportation professionals by encouraging them to seek advanced degrees; and 3) to retain top talent in the transportation industry of the United States (U.S.). The DDETFP is intended to enhance the breadth and scope of knowledge of the entire transportation community in the U.S. The DDETFP Graduate Fellowship encompasses all modes of transportation and enhances racial equity by providing opportunities to students enrolled in minority serving institutions of higher learning.

2. LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY

The current legislation governing the program is found in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) (Pub. L. 117-58). Authority is also found in Title 23, United States Code, Section 504(c) and 502(b)(3). The purpose of the DDETFP is to attract qualified students to the field of transportation. The FHWA expects approximately $1 million to be made available for the DDETFP Graduate Fellowship in each Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 through 2026 from amounts authorized in the BIL. The FHWA anticipates Federal funding up to a total amount of $5,000,000 during the 5-year time frame, subject to the availability of funds.

3. BACKGROUND

Individual students apply for the DDETFP Graduate Fellowship. The FHWA makes awards to the Institution of Higher Education (IHE) (“Recipient”) on behalf of the student (“Student Designee”). The IHE must be accredited by a federally recognized accrediting Agency and located within the U. S. or its Territories. If a student is selected to receive a fellowship, the student, their faculty advisor, and the IHE will be responsible for completing and submitting all required paperwork to execute the agreement. Students must be prepared to submit a copy of their application package and this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to their IHE. The Recipient will be responsible for allocating funds to the Student Designee as outlined in the budget of the agreement. The agreement budget is determined based on the merit-based award to the student designee. The IHE will also be responsible for submitting all required Federal financial reports to FHWA.

4. GOALS

The goals of these grants are to provide DDETFP Graduate Fellowships to: 1) attract the Nation's brightest minds to the field of transportation; 2) enhance the careers of transportation professionals by encouraging them to seek advanced degrees; and 3) retain top talent in the transportation industry of the U.S.

When evaluating research proposals, the FHWA will seek to award grants as allowable by law, consistent with the goals of the DDETFP, and proactively address the Administration’s priorities of racial equity and barriers to opportunity and the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the effects of climate change.

5. STATEMENT OF WORK

The DDETFP Graduate Fellowship provides funding to students for the pursuit of advanced degrees in a transportation-related field at an accredited IHE. The grant may cover a combination of the following:

• Tuition and fees

• Monthly stipend

• Travel costs related to attending the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual

Meeting

Tuition, fees, and stipend are paid only for the time period the Student Designee is registered in a full-time academic program at the IHE. The TRB Annual Meeting travel expenses (e.g.

conference registration fee, transportation, lodging, meals, etc.) are provided for Student Designee to attend the event in Washington, DC.

Recipients are required to provide:

• Upon request, an abstract of Student Designee’s research project for presentation consideration for the DDETFP Research Showcase at the TRB Annual Meeting.

• Within 90 days of the end of the agreement, a copy of the Project Report (i.e. Student Designee’s research project, thesis, or dissertation), final Performance Progress Report (SF-PPR), and Federal Financial Report (SF 425).

SECTION B – FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. FUNDING AND NUMBER OF AWARDS

The FHWA expects approximately $1 million to be made available for the DDETFP Graduate Fellowship in each FY 2022 through 2026 from amounts authorized in the BIL.

The FHWA anticipates making up to 100 awards as a result of this NOFO in each FY 2022 through 2026.

The FHWA anticipates Federal funding up to a total amount of $5 million may be made available for these awards in FY 2022 through 2026, subject to the availability of funds.

Funding for each award can range from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $35,500. Note:

The Government reserves the right to award less than the anticipated number of awards and less than the maximum amount per award.

Past student designees are eligible to apply. Only one type of DDETFP Fellowship may be awarded to a student designee in each award cycle.

2. TYPE OF AWARD

The planned award type is a Grant Agreement (agreement). Funds will be awarded upon the execution of an agreement with FHWA.

3. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance for each agreement will be for up to one year from the effective date of the agreement.

4. DEGREE OF FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT

The FHWA anticipates moderate Federal involvement between it and the Recipient during the course of this project. The anticipated Federal involvement will include:

• Technical assistance and guidance to the Recipient;

• Close monitoring of performance; and

• Involvement in technical decisions.

The FHWA shall have the right to visit the Recipient and examine all material relevant to this fellowship grant, including books, records, documents, accounting procedures, bookkeeping practices, and other evidence. The material shall be of sufficient detail to reflect properly all direct costs of whatever nature claimed to have been incurred for the performance of this grant.

SECTION C – ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

This funding opportunity is open to students that are U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens. The students must be enrolled in an IHE which must be accredited by a federally recognized accrediting Agency1 and must be located within the U.S. or its Territories, both administratively as well as the campus the student is attending.

Current DOT employees are not eligible for the DDETFP.

All student applicants of the DDETFP Graduate Fellowship must:

• Possess a baccalaureate degree from, or be a confirmed graduating undergraduate senior at, an accredited IHE within the U.S. or its Territories by the Electronic Application due date listed on Page 1;

• Demonstrate confirmation of acceptance in a graduate degree program at an accredited IHE in the U.S. or its Territories by the Electronic Application due date listed on Page 1;

• Be enrolled in an accredited IHE within the U.S. or its Territories;

• Be pursuing a graduate degree in a full-time program in a transportation-related discipline;

• Have at least one full academic year remaining in program of study;

• Conduct ongoing research in one or more transportation-related disciplines; and

• Plan to enter the transportation profession after completing their higher-level education.

Non-U.S. citizens must also submit a valid copy of their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System Form issued by the IHE the student is enrolled in, or the Form I-202 “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Status”, or the Form I-551 “Permanent Resident Card” issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service.

2. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

Cost sharing or matching is not required.

1 The U.S. Department of Education publishes a list of nationally recognized accrediting Agencies on https://www.ed.gov/accreditation 2 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Form I-20 is a Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status for foreign exchange students who attend an educational program in the U. S. Educational institutions issue Form I-20 at https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students/prepare/students-and-the-form-i-20.

https://www.ed.gov/accreditation https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students/prepare/students-and-the-form-i-20

SECTION D - APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. ADDRESS TO REQUEST APPLICATION PACKAGE

Applicants may obtain application information at grants.gov under the NOFO number cited herein, however the DDETFP Graduate Fellowship application requires online submission through the Transportation Fellowship Internship and Contractor System (TFICS). No paper applications will be accepted.

Applicants must register in TFICS through the following Website to apply:

fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/tficsp/signin.aspx

General Instructions: Please read this NOFO and the respective Attachment 1 DDETFP Graduate Fellowship Annual Announcement for the respective FY cycle in their entirety before preparing application materials.

The applicant must complete and submit all forms included in the application package of this Notice.

For accessibility concerns, applicants may email FHWA_UGP@dot.gov for assistance.

2. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Only applications meeting the requirements in this NOFO and Attachment 1 DDETFP Graduate Fellowship Annual Announcement will be considered.

The application package must consist of the following:

• TFICS Electronic Application submission through fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/tficsp/signin.aspx.

• Documentation as indicated in Attachment 1 DDETFP Graduate Fellowship Annual Announcement.

Incorrect, missing documents/items, or incomplete applications are grounds for rejecting the application.

Prior to submitting an application in TFICS, applicant will be prompted to certify that they have personally completed the application and that the information they are providing is complete and accurate. Information is subject to verification.

It is imperative that applicants provide an accurate and current email address for themselves and their faculty advisor.

3. SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES

https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/tficsp/signin.aspx

Electronic Application Deadline: The DDETFP Graduate Fellowship application must be completely submitted in the FHWA TFICS system by the Electronic Application due date and time listed on Page 1.

Documentation: All supporting material as indicated in Attachment 1 DDETFP Graduate Fellowship Annual Announcement must be received no later than the Documentation Due Date and time listed on Page 1.

The deadlines cited herein are the dates and times by which the Agency must receive the complete application package with supporting documentation.

A late application will not be reviewed or considered unless the FHWA DDETFP Manager determines that doing so is in FHWA’s best interest.

4. TUITION, TRAVEL, STIPEND, AND TAXES

Fellowship awards will be based on the rankings from the National Selection Panel described in Section E part 2 of this document. Fellowship awards will provide a minimum of $5,000 based on the ranking from the National Selection Panel and may include tuition, stipend, and TRB Annual Meeting travel funding.

The fellowship Student Designees shall be advised that the stipend portion of the fellowship is subject to taxation in accordance with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service regulations (available at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf).

The anticipated stipends for the DDETFP Graduate Fellowship are based on academic level.

The actual stipend level may vary based upon IHE formal policy and available funding.

Additional stipend amounts may be added by the IHE or other sources.

5. UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD

NOTE TO APPLICANTS: The Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number will no longer be required for entities doing business with the Federal Government and is replaced by the System for Award Management (SAM) Unique Entity Identification (UEI). Applicants will need to use an UEI issued during the SAM.gov registration process. Active registrants in SAM.gov have had their SAM UEI automatically assigned and it is currently viewable within SAM.gov. There is no action for registered entities to take at this time to obtain their SAM UEI.

Each applicant is required to:

• Have an active registration in SAM.gov at the time the applicant submits an application

• Provide a valid UEI in their application

• 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 a Federal awarding Agency.

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf

Please see https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html#UEI for more information on the transition from DUNS to SAM UEI, including what UEI to enter into the UEI field on grants.gov and on application package forms.

The FHWA may not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable UEI and SAM requirements. If an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the Federal awarding Agency is ready to make a Federal award, the Federal awarding Agency may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another applicant.

NOTE TO APPLICANTS: The SAM requires the registrant to provide a UEI number to complete the registration. Since these processes can take several weeks to complete, they should be started well before the application deadline.

6. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

An application under this NOFO is not subject to the State review under Executive Order 12372.

7. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

The FHWA will not reimburse any pre-award costs or application preparation costs under this proposed agreement. Indirect costs and overhead are not allowed under this proposed agreement.

Restrictions on the use of fellowship funds by the Student Designee are as follows:

• No dependency allowances;

• Fellowship Student Designee is eligible for funding only during months of enrollment in a full-time program leading an advanced degree;

• Unused funds must be returned to FHWA within 90 days of the termination date of the grant; and

• There is a limitation of $10,000 in DDETFP funding toward tuition and fees per year.

The FHWA makes awards to the IHE on behalf of the Student Designee. The IHE has the responsibility of administering the funds and for making periodic payments to the Student Designee.

8. OTHER SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

In the event of system problems or technical difficulties with TFICS during the application submittal, applicants should contact the FHWA point of contact designated on Page 1. If applicants are unable to use TFICS due to technical difficulties, applicants must email applications to the FHWA point of contact listed on Page 1 no later than the application deadline cited above. Except for such technical difficulties, late applications will not be accepted.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html#UEI

SECTION E - APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. CRITERIA

The Government will evaluate applications according to the following criteria:

MERIT: The FHWA will evaluate and rank the applications according to technical evaluation criteria listed below. These criteria are distinct from eligibility criteria (see Section C) that are addressed before an application is accepted for review. Each application begins with an evaluation criterion score of 0 and each criterion has a maximum score to be determined based on the supporting documentation provided in the application.

The DDETFP Graduate Fellowship will be awarded on the basis of merit. Merit evaluation criteria includes the following elements, listed in descending order of importance:

1. Academic achievement (25 Points) - Level of academic accomplishments, recognitions, and demonstrated leadership o Academic Honors, Scholarships, Offices Held in Student/Professional Organizations, etc.

o Community Activities/Organizations o Experience in Transportation Education Programs

2. Potential for outstanding career in transportation (25 Points) - Demonstration of applicant's potential through personal statements summarizing long-range professional goals in transportation, including transportation work experience.

3. Proposed research plan/plan of study and impact statement (25 Points) - Demonstrates alignment of research/study plan:

o to impact and enhancement of the field of transportation o to contribute to an understanding of transportation; and/or o to provide societal benefits.

4. Recommendations (20 Points) - Caliber of endorsements of applicant's qualifications and of planned study in chosen research area.

5. Academic record (5 Points) - Reflecting class standing and grade point average.

6. Administration’s Priorities (5 Bonus/Incentive Points) - When evaluating research proposals, the FHWA will seek to award grants as allowable by law and consistent with the goals of the DDETFP and proactively address the Administration’s priorities of racial equity and barriers to opportunity and the reduction of GHG emissions and the effects of climate change. These objectives reflect Executive Order 13985: Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government (86 FR 7009); Executive Order 13900: Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis; and Executive Order 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.

Funding availability will also be considered in the award decision. Additional detail provided in Attachment 1 DDETFP Graduate Fellowship Annual Announcement

2. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

The FHWA will utilize the following merit review process to evaluate applications:

Complete applications from eligible applicants will be provided to a National Selection Panel of transportation professionals to be evaluated using the merit criteria listed above for master’s and doctoral categories. Applications missing required documents/items or incomplete applications will not be evaluated by the panel. The National Selection Panel may include representatives from Federal Agencies, academia, or the transportation industry. The panel will individually evaluate, rate, and rank each applicant. Each application begins with an evaluation criterion score of 0 and each criterion has a maximum score to be determined based on the supporting documentation provided in the application. The panel submits scores for each applicant to the FHWA DDETFP Program Manager using the technical evaluation criteria described above. The panel member scores are averaged, and a ranked list is created. The DDETFP Program Manager determines the funding level based on several factors including number of applicants, panel scores, and funding availability and may establish a minimum score below which lower scoring applicants will not be recommended to receive awards. Approximately the top 20 percent of applicant scores will be recommended in a first tier and approximately the next 20 percent in a second tier. The remainder of the recommended applicants will be placed in a third tier.

Agency personnel from FHWA will conduct a risk assessment of the Recipient (i.e. the IHE the applicant is attending) prior to award as described below.

The Government will accept the application(s) that is (are) considered the most advantageous to the Government using the criteria cited above, and subject to the results of a Recipient risk assessment. Applications selected for possible award using the criteria cited above will undergo the following risk assessment prior to award. The Government reserves the right to not make an award to a Recipient based on the results of the risk assessment.

The FHWA Administrator is the official responsible for final award selections. The Government is not obligated to make any award as a result of this Notice.

Risk Assessment

The Government will assess the risks posed by a Recipient before they receive an award. This Risk Assessment will include evaluation of some or all of the following items relative to the Recipient and/or sub-applicants as applicable:

1. Recipient’s (IHE) financial stability;

2. Recipient’s (IHE) quality of management systems and ability to meet the management standards prescribed in 2 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200;

3. Recipient’s (IHE) history of performance;

Note: History of performance includes the Recipient’s record in managing Federal awards, if it is a prior Recipient of Federal awards, including timeliness of compliance with applicable reporting requirements, conformance to the terms and conditions of previous Federal awards, and if applicable, the extent to which any previously awarded amounts will be expended prior to future awards. The Government will evaluate the relevant merits of the Recipient’s history of performance based on its reputation and record with its current and/or former customers with respect to quality, timeliness, and cost control. The history of performance will be reviewed to assure that the Recipient has relevant and successful experience and will be considered in the risk assessment. In evaluating history of performance, the Government may consider both written information provided in the application, as well as any other information available to the Government through outside sources.

4. Recipient’s (IHE) audit reports and findings from audits performed on the Recipient pursuant to 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F—Audit Requirements or the reports and findings of any other available audits;

5. Recipient’s (IHE) ability to effectively implement statutory, regulatory, or other requirements imposed on non-Federal entities;

6. Recipient’s (IHE) potential for conflict of interest if applicable; and

Note: The FHWA will review information provided by the Recipient, and any other relevant information known to DOT, to determine whether an award to the Recipient may create an actual or potential conflict of interest. If any such conflict of interest is found to exist, the Agreement Officer (AO) may (a) disqualify the Recipient, or (b) determine that it is otherwise in the best interest of the U. S. to award to the Recipient and include appropriate provisions to mitigate or avoid such conflict in the agreement pursuant to 2 CFR 200.112.

7. Recipient’s (IHE) eligibility to receive Federal funding. Per the guidelines on Government-wide suspension and debarment in 2 CFR Part 180, the Government will confirm that the Recipient and any named sub-applicants are not debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participation in Federal programs or activities.

Pursuant to 2 CFR Part 200.206, before making a Federal award, the Federal awarding Agency is required to review information available through any U.S. Office of Management and Budget-designated repositories of Government-wide eligibility qualification or financial integrity information, such as the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System, Sam.gov, and “Do Not Pay.” At a minimum, the information in the system for a prior Federal award recipient must demonstrate a satisfactory record of executing programs or activities under Federal grants, cooperative agreements, or procurement awards, and integrity and business ethics.

3. ANTICIPATED ANNOUNCEMENT AND FEDERAL AWARD DATES

The FHWA anticipates making awards in September 2022 for the FY 2022 program.

SECTION F – FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. FEDERAL AWARD NOTICES

If a student is selected for an award, FHWA will notify the student, the faculty advisor, and the identified IHE by email. The FHWA will send award documents to the IHE for signature.

Applicants not selected for an award will be notified by FHWA by email.

Only the AO can commit FHWA. The award document, signed by the AO, is the authorizing document. Only the AO can bind the Federal Government to the expenditure of funds.

Notice that an applicant has been selected as a fellow does not constitute approval of the application as submitted. Before the actual award, FHWA will enter into negotiations with the IHE concerning such items as program components, staffing, funding levels, and administrative systems, if necessary. If the negotiations do not result in an acceptable submittal, FHWA reserves the right to terminate the negotiation and decline to fund the applicant.

2. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

General terms, conditions, and governing regulations that apply to this agreement are available online at www.fhwa.dot.gov/cfo/contractor_recip/gtandc_generaltermsconditions.cfm

Special terms and conditions follow:

A. PUBLIC ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS

The applicant agrees that the resulting deliverables/documentation submitted to the FHWA under this agreement may be posted online for public access and/or shared by FHWA with other interested parties. The FHWA anticipates the documents cited herein may be posted on an FHWA Website or other appropriate Website.

B. INDIRECT COSTS

Indirect costs are not allowable under this agreement.

C. DATA RIGHTS

The Recipient must make available to FHWA copies of all work developed in performance with this agreement, including but not limited to software and data. Data rights under this agreement shall be in accordance with 2 CFR 200.315, Intangible property.

D. PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION

Personally Identifiable Information as defined at CFR Part 200.1 will not be requested unless necessary and only with prior written approval of the AO with concurrence from the AO’s Representative.

E. AVAILABLE FUNDING

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/cfo/contractor_recip/gtandc_generaltermsconditions.cfm

The total estimated amount of Federal funding that may be provided under this agreement is listed on Page 1 of the award document for the entire period of performance, subject to the limitations shown below:

1. Currently, Federal funds identified on Page 1 of the award document, are obligated to this agreement.

2. Subject to availability of funds, and an executed document by the AO, the difference between the current funding and the total estimated amount of Federal funding may be obligated to this agreement.

3. The FHWA’s liability to make payments to the Recipient is limited to those funds obligated under this agreement as indicated above and any subsequent amendments.

F. KEY PERSONNEL

Pursuant to 2 CFR 200.308(c)(2), the Recipient must request prior written approval from the AO for any change in Key Personnel specified in the award. The following person(s) are/have been identified as Key Personnel:

Name Title/Position [student designee] [faculty advisor]

(*** to be filled in at award ***)

G. ORDER OF PRECEDENCE

The applicant’s technical application is accepted, approved, and incorporated herein as Attachment A. In the event of any conflict between this agreement document and the applicant's proposal and/or application, the agreement document shall prevail.

H. DESIGNATION AS RESEARCH OR NON-RESEARCH AGREEMENT

This agreement is designated as: NON-RESEARCH

I. DISPUTES

The parties to this agreement will communicate with one another in good faith and in a timely and cooperative manner when raising issues under this provision. Any dispute, which for the purposes of this provision includes any disagreement or claim, between FHWA and the Recipient concerning questions of fact or law arising from or in connection with this agreement and whether or not involving alleged breach of this agreement, may be raised only under this Disputes provision.

Whenever a dispute arises, the parties will attempt to resolve the issues involved by discussion and mutual agreement as soon as practical. In no event will a dispute which arose more than three months prior to the notification made under the following paragraph of this provision constitute the basis for relief under this article unless FHWA waives this requirement.

Failing resolution by mutual agreement, the aggrieved party will document the dispute by notifying the other party in writing of the relevant facts, identify unresolved issues and specify the clarification or remedy sought. The AO will conduct a review of the matters in dispute and render a decision in writing within thirty calendar days of receipt of such written request. Any decision of the AO is final and binding unless a party will, within thirty calendar days, request further review as provided below.

Upon written request to the FHWA Director, Office of Acquisition and Grants Management (HCFA) or designee, made within 30 calendar days after the AO’s written decision or upon unavailability of a decision within the stated time frame under the preceding paragraph, the dispute will be further reviewed. This review will be conducted by the Director, HCFA. Following the review, the Director, HCFA will resolve the issues and notify the parties in writing. Such resolution is not subject to further administrative review and to the extent permitted by law, will be final and binding.

Nothing in this agreement is intended to prevent the parties from pursuing disputes in a U.S. Federal Court of competent jurisdiction.

3. REPORTING

The Recipient must submit the following electronically to the FHWA DDETFP Manager at FHWA_UGP@dot.gov:

• Upon request, an abstract of Student Designee’s research project for presentation consideration for the DDETFP Research Showcase at the TRB Annual Meeting

• Within 90 days after the end of the agreement period of performance, the Recipient must submit an electronic copy of:

o Project Report (i.e. Student Designee’s research project, thesis, or dissertation) o SF-PPR:

• To fulfill Block 10, Performance Narrative requirement, the

Recipient can provide a summary of Student Designees project report and confirmation that the report was submitted in electronic format to the DDETFP Manager.

• In Block 11, Other Attachments, include the information as attached pages for SF-425) o SF-425

SECTION G – FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

Address any questions to:

Talent Development Division Staff Federal Highway Administration Office of Human Resources

FHWA_UGP@DOT.GOV

693JJ322NF5201-2022

DWIGHT DAVID EISENHOWER

TRANSPORTATION FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (DDETFP) – Attachment 1

ANNUAL ANNOUNCEMENT

FOR

GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP

2022 AWARD CYCLE (June 2022)

These guidelines are in effect until further notice and were prepared for participation in the DDETFP Graduate Fellowship. Earlier versions do not apply for this award cycle.

Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program (DDETFP) Graduate Fellowship

Annual Announcement for Fiscal Year 2022

Attachment to Notice of Funding Opportunity number 693JJ322NF5201-2022

Table of Contents

SECTION 1: IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND REVISION NOTES

SECTION 2: QUESTIONS

SECTION 3: OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM

SECTION 4: DISCIPLINES / FIELDS OF STUDY

SECTION 5: TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD (TRB) ANNUAL MEETING

SECTION 6: INTERNSHIPS

SECTION 7: ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

SECTION 8: CONDITIONS OF ACCEPTANCE

SECTION 9: SUBMISSION

SECTION 10: SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES

SECTION 11: HOW TO APPLY

SECTION 12: RESPONSIBILITY

SECTION 13: EVALUATION CRITERIA

SECTION 14: RETURN OF MATERIAL

SECTION 15: NOTIFICATION OF SELECTION

SECTION 16: PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT

SECTION 1: IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND REVISION NOTES

• Electronic Application Due Date/Time for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 is July 25, 2022 at

11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

• Documentation Due Date/Time is 7 days after the Electronic Application Due Date at

11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

• The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) anticipates making award on or about

September 1, 2022.

• Applicants are students seeking a Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship

Program (DDETFP) Graduate Fellowship. If selected:

o Students will be referred to as “Student Designees” and “Fellows” o The Institution of Higher Education (IHE) the Student Designee is attending will be referred to as the “Recipient”

• Reimbursements of IHE administrative or overhead costs are prohibited.

• DDETFP Graduate Fellowship requires submitting application through Transportation

Fellows Interns and Contractor System (TFICS) https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/tficsp/signin.aspx

• Paper applications will not be accepted.

• Applicants must certify that they have read and meet eligibility criteria defined in the

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and the respective DDETFP Graduate Fellowship Annual Announcement before submission.

• For transportation-related academic disciplines, please refer to section titled Disciplines/Fields of Study.

• Letters of recommendation must be uploaded through TFICS.

• The IHE in which the student is enrolled in must be accredited by a federally recognized accrediting Agency and must be located within the United States (U.S.) or its Territories, both administratively as well as the campus the student is attending.

• Applicants should print a copy of their application and the NOFO for their files. The IHE may request these items if Fellowship is awarded.

• Only one type of DDETFP Fellowship may be awarded to a Student Designee in each award cycle.

SECTION 2: QUESTIONS

Contact the FHWA Talent Development Division at FHWA_UGP@dot.gov.

SECTION 3: OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM

The DDETFP Graduate Fellowship provides funding for students to pursue master’s or doctoral degrees in transportation-related disciplines. The program objectives are: 1) to attract the Nation's brightest minds to the field of transportation; 2) to enhance the careers of transportation professionals by encouraging them to seek advanced degrees; and 3) to retain top talent in the transportation industry of the U.S. The DDETFP is intended to enhance the breadth and scope of knowledge of the entire transportation community in the U.S. The DDETFP Graduate Fellowship encompasses all modes of transportation.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) encourages students from minority serving institutions such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Hispanic Serving

Institutions (HSI), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU), and Asian and Pacific Islander- Serving Institutions (API) to apply for the DDETFP Graduate Fellowships.

SECTION 4: DISCIPLINES / FIELDS OF STUDY

Transportation-related Academic Disciplines / Fields of Study

Sciences Architecture Biology Chemistry Communication Computer Science Criminal Justice Environmental Science Information Systems Mathematics Physics

Business Accounting Business Administration Finance Economics Management

Human Development Human Factors Human Resources Psychology

Engineering Chemical Engineering Civil Engineering Construction Engineering Electrical Engineering Electronic Engineering Environmental Engineering Geotechnical Engineering Manufacturing Engineering Mechanical Engineering Structural Engineering Transportation Engineering

Law Environmental Transportation

Public Policy and Planning Public Policy and Analysis Civil rights Public Administration Political Science/Government Urban and Regional Planning Urban Studies

Aviation Aeronautical Studies Airway Science Aviation Flight Management Science

Transportation Logistics Management Planning Policy

SECTION 5: TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD ANNUAL MEETING

Student Designees will be provided funding for a one-time expenditure (up to $1,500) for travel to Washington, DC to attend the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting held in January. Attendance at the TRB Annual Meeting is mandatory. Failure to meet this requirement will result in loss of funding designated for this activity.

The Student Designees are responsible for arranging travel and hotel accommodations following IHE travel policy to obtain the most cost-efficient rates. Registration is to be completed by logging on to www.trb.org. In addition to attendance at the TRB Annual Meeting, Student Designees are also required to attend all identified DDETFP Research Showcase events. All students should plan to arrive in time to attend the Sunday morning event and leave after the networking reception on Tuesday evening. If students have other commitments (i.e., presentations or poster sessions) during the TRB Annual Meeting they must notify FHWA staff in advance to be excused from the Showcase session that conflicts with the event they would like http://www.trb.org/ to attend. Faculty Advisor is responsible for ensuring Student Designee follows any institution specific requirements for travel.

Student Designees may be requested, regardless of funding level, to submit an abstract of their research (or proposed research) for review and consideration for presentation at the DDETFP Research Showcase. The abstract shall be submitted by the Student Designees (with a copy to their Faculty Advisor) to FHWA as indicated in the abstract request. The FHWA will notify Student Designee if their abstract was selected for presentation either on a panel or a poster session. Selected Student Designees will be required to deliver a presentation describing their research project at the DDETFP Research Showcase event.

Note: Faculty Advisor should ensure student travel arrangements (registration, lodging, per diem and airfare) for TRB Annual Meeting are completed as soon as practicable after grant agreements are fully executed.

SECTION 6: INTERNSHIPS

Student Designees may study or participate in research at transportation organizations during their tenure if:

• It does not constitute paid employment by DOT.

• In the judgment of the faculty advisor, such study will enhance their knowledge in transportation. The FHWA DDETFP Manager must be notified of all internships.

SECTION 7: ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility requirements are outlined in the NOFO.

Current DOT employees are not eligible for the DDETFP.

Applications must be submitted by the prospective fellow by the Electronic Application Due Date/Time which for FY 2022 is July 25, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Applicants must be registered and use the FHWA TFICS system (https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/tficsp/ signin.aspx) to apply. In the event of system problems or technical difficulties with TFICS during the application submittal, applicants should contact the FHWA point of contact at FHWA_UGP@DOT.GOV. Late applications will not be accepted.

Confirmation of acceptance in a graduate degree program in a transportation-related major supported by DDETFP (see section of Disciplines/Fields of Study) is required at the time of application.

All Fellows, from the date of acceptance through completion or termination of the Fellowship must be enrolled in the degree-granting IHE accredited in, and having a campus located in, the U.S. or its Territories.

SECTION 8: CONDITIONS OF ACCEPTANCE

All Fellows must conduct original research and prepare a paper or report suitable for publication on the topic for which they were selected. Recipients must make the results of the Student

Designee research available to FHWA and FHWA will retain an unlimited royalty-free privilege to use the results of the research.

Fellow’s academic programs may include a reasonable amount of teaching as deemed appropriate by the IHE as contributing to the Fellow’s academic progress.

The anticipated stipends for the DDETFP Graduate Fellowship are based on academic level and shall be calculated as follows:

Monthly Stipend Master’s Level Up to $1,700 Doctoral Level Up to $2,000

Actual stipend level may vary based upon IHE formal policy and available funding.

• Student designees are advised that the stipend portion of the award is taxable.3

• All program-related expenses must be supported by receipts/invoices.

• All unused funds must be returned to FHWA within 90 days of the end of the agreement.

Once an award is made, the proposed Research Plan may be changed only after consultation between the Fellow's Faculty Advisor and documented with a written agreement and must continue to be in a transportation-related discipline. Award funding is contingent upon the Fellow’s satisfactory academic progress as determined by the receiving IHE policies.

SECTION 9: SUBMISSION

Individual students apply for the DDETFP Graduate Fellowship. The FHWA makes awards to the IHE (“Recipient”) on behalf of the student (“Student Designee”). An IHE must be accredited by a federally recognized accrediting Agency and must be located within the U.S. or its Territories, both administratively as well as the campus the student is attending.

If a student is selected to receive a fellowship, the student, their faculty advisor and the IHE will be responsible for completing and submitting all required paperwork to execute the fellowship.

Students must be prepared to submit a copy of their application package and the NOFO to the IHE. The IHE will be responsible for allocating funds to the Student Designee as outlined in the budget. The IHE will also be responsible for submitting all required Federal financial reports to

FHWA.

All applications for the DDETFP Graduate Fellowship must be submitted via the FHWA TFICS at: https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/tficsp/signin.aspx.

We strongly recommend that Applicants complete or verify registration at least two weeks before the application deadline. This will ensure having time to address any registration challenges. Late applications will not be accepted.

3 Refer to the Internal Revenue Service Publication 970 – Tax Benefits for Education.

Page 7of 15

Do not submit application or supporting documentation via Grants.gov or mail. Only electronic applications submitted through TFICS will be considered. Pages 1-6 must be completed and required documentation uploaded, including the following:

• Personal Statement (Relevant background and future goals)

• Proposed Research Plan and Impact Statement (Research plan and plan of study)

• Transcripts are required from all institutions in which a degree was obtained o Applicant must upload official transcripts from institutions o Applicant must certify that the electronic transcripts have not been modified

• Identify at least two different individuals to provide letters of recommendation o One of the letters must be from the applicant’s current Faculty Advisor o Letters must be signed and dated by the individuals no more than 6 months prior to the Documentation Due Date for the respective FY cycle.

• Resume / Curriculum Vitae (Not to exceed two pages)

• Citizenship status o Non-U.S. citizens must upload valid copy of current Student and Exchange Visitor Information System Form I-20 issued by the educational institution attending or Form I-20 “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Status", or Permanent Resident Card Form I-551 issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

After the applicant submits the Electronic Application, the individuals (identified by the applicant) will be sent an email message requesting to upload letters of recommendation by the Documentation Due Date/Time. Please note:

• Letters of recommendation must be signed and dated by the endorser no more than 6 months prior to the Documentation Due Date for the respective fiscal year cycle.

• One of the letters of recommendation must be from the applicant’s current faculty advisor.

Applicants should not submit extraneous information or materials such as manuscripts or news clippings. These items will not be reviewed with the application. No additional information may be provided by links to Web pages within the application, except as part of citations.

Review of the application and letters of recommendation is based solely on materials received by Documentation Due Date/Time for the electronic application and the documentation.

SECTION 10: SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES

For FY 2022, Fellowship application must be submitted in the FHWA TFICS system by July 25, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

Documentation Due Date/Time: This will be one week after the Electronic Application Due Date/Time as indicated on page 1 of the DDETFP Graduate Fellowship NOFO. All letters of recommendation must be uploaded into TFICS by the individuals the applicant identified.

SECTION 11: HOW TO APPLY

The DDETFP Graduate Fellowship application and required documents must be submitted in TFICS. No paper applications will be accepted.

STEP 1: TFICS REGISTRATION

You must register in TFICS to apply for this grant. To register for an account, visit the TFICS Website: https://fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/tficsp/signin.aspx

Screen: TFICS Programs

• Click on the Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program link

• Enter your email address into the “New User” box. Click the button.

Screen: FHWA Information Systems - Rules Of Behavior

• All users of Federal applications are required to acknowledge and accept security mandated "Rules of Behavior." Rules of Behavior outline what you are expected to do with regards to "Security" while using any FHWA Application. Please read the “Terms and Conditions” of Use and the “Rules of Behavior for a User” in their entirety.

• Upon completion, you are prompted to acknowledge that you understand, agree, and comply with the “Terms and Conditions” of Use and the “Rules of Behavior for a User”.

• If you agree, check the box at the bottom of the page and click to create an account in TFICS.

• If you do not agree, click the button. You will not be able to move forward in the application process in TFICS.

Screen: TFICS New User Registration

• Here you will add your personal contact information and create your password.

Password Rules: Must be 12 to 25 characters in length and must include: one upper case letter, one lower case letter, one numeric digit, and a special character.

• You are required to complete all fields that have a red asterisk. Once complete, click the button at the bottom of the page.

• You should receive notification that you have successfully registered.

• Your TFICS User ID is also included in this message. Please make a note of your User

ID and Password. This is required for any subsequent logins to TFICS.

STEP 2: DDETFP GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION

BEFORE YOU APPLY

• You must read the NOFO.

• Make sure you meet the eligibility requirements listed in the NOFO.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

• Your permanent address and contact information.

• Information about your education (i.e. transcripts, study plan, research topic).

• Information about your employment experience (i.e. resume).

• Letters of recommendation (at least 2, one from your faculty advisor, must be uploaded by endorsers after applicant submits Electronic Application)

HOW LONG IT TAKES

• The time frame will vary from applicant to applicant.

• If at any point you need to exit, you can save your information and return to complete your application before the Electronic Application Due Date.

• You will need your TFICS User ID and Password to update your application.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

• Letters of recommendation, official transcripts, and non-U.S. citizen documentation (if applicable) are required to complete the application process.

• Letters of recommendation must be received by the Documentation Due Date and time listed on page 1 of the DDETFP Graduate Fellowship NOFO.

• No mail or hand delivery of application materials will be accepted.

ARE YOU READY TO BEGIN?

• To access the DDETFP Graduate Fellowship Application, enter TFICS and click the DDETFP hyperlink.

• Below the “Background” section, you will see information on the “Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)”.

• Please use the button to

• When the DDETFP application cycle is open, you will be able to click the button and begin your electronic application.

You do not need to complete all pages or sections during one session. You have the option to SAVE the information you have entered into TFICS and return later to complete the application.

You will need your USER ID and PASSWORD to reenter TFICS.

Once you SUBMIT your application, you may NOT make any changes.

At…