ATTIMD - ATTAIN 2022 NOFO 693JJ322NF00010.pdf

U.S. Department of Transportation

Notice of Funding Opportunity Number 693JJ322NF00010

“Advanced Transportation Technologies and Innovative Mobility Deployment (ATTIMD) Program” also known as

“Advanced Transportation Technology and Innovation (ATTAIN) Program”

Issue Date: 9/19/2022

Application Due Date: 11/18/2022

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY INFORMATION

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR

SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES FROM FISCAL YEAR 2021 NOFO

SECTION A – PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

SECTION B – FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

SECTION C – ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

SECTION D – APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

SECTION E – APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

SECTION F – FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

SECTION G – FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

SECTION H – OTHER INFORMATION

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is using www.Grants.gov for the issuance of this

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Applicants must register at Grants.gov under the NOFO number to receive notifications of updates/amendments to this NOFO. It is the Applicant’s responsibility to monitor the Grants.gov site for any updates/amendments to this NOFO.

http://www.grants.gov/

Summary Information

Funding Opportunity Summary:

Up to $60 million in Federal funding to provide grants to eligible entities to deploy, install, and operate advanced transportation technologies to improve safety, mobility, efficiency, system performance, intermodal connectivity, and infrastructure return on investment.

Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Operations 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Mail Drop: E86-205 Washington, DC 20590 Attn: David Harris

Funding Opportunity Title: Advanced Transportation Technologies and Innovative Mobility Deployment (ATTIMD) Program also known as

Advanced Transportation Technology and Innovation (ATTAIN) Program

Announcement Type: This is the initial announcement of this funding opportunity. This is not a follow-on notice. Note, FHWA previously issued six NOFOs for the Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment (ATCMTD) Grant Program before the program was amended and renamed to the Advanced Transportation Technologies and Innovative Mobility Deployment Program by Section 13006 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (Public Law 117-58, also known as the “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law” (BIL)).

Funding Opportunity Number:

693JJ322NF00010

Type of Award: Cooperative Agreements or Allocations to State departments of transportation

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number:

20.200 Highway Research & Development

Application Due Date: Submission Deadline: Applications are due by 11/18/2022 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time through www.Grants.gov

Questions: Submit Questions to: ATTAIN@dot.gov mailto:ATCMTD@dot.gov

Funding Opportunity Informational Webinar

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will host an Informational Session regarding this funding opportunity focused on the ATTAIN Program. This session will be conducted as a virtual forum and will focus on specific topics to help potential

Applicants gather additional information and ask specific questions.

Participation in this session is not mandatory to submit an application under this NOFO.

However, we encourage potential Applicants to take advantage of this opportunity to gather information regarding this specific funding opportunity.

INFORMATIONAL SESSION: ATTAIN PROGRAM

SESSION:

DATE:

TIME:

Virtual Webcast: Background and Application Information for the ATTAIN Program 10/12/2022 1:00 pm Eastern Time

INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION: To Be Determined

Note: FHWA will also consider conducting additional virtual and/or in-person workshops regarding the ATTAIN Program funding opportunity.

Substantive Changes from Fiscal Year 2021 ATCMTD NOFO

Note: Applicants are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the entire

NOFO. This page is only guidance to identify significant changes and does not identify all changes.

The Program Description, beginning on page 5, has been revised.

The Focus Areas, beginning on page 10, have been revised.

The table identifying which of the technologies, DOT goals, and focus areas are addressed in the application, beginning on page 30, has been revised.

Project Outcome Criteria, beginning on page 33, have been added.

Additional Review Criteria, beginning on page 48, have been added.

SECTION A – PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Advanced Transportation Technologies and Innovative Mobility Deployment

Program (ATTIMD), established in Section 503(c)(4) of title 23, United States Code

(U.S.C.), also known as the Advanced Transportation Technology and Innovation

(ATTAIN) Program, directs FHWA to award grants to eligible entities to deploy, install, and operate advanced transportation technologies to improve safety, mobility, efficiency, system performance, intermodal connectivity, and infrastructure return on investment. FHWA intends for these model technology deployments to help demonstrate how emerging transportation technologies, data, and their applications can be effectively deployed and integrated with existing systems to provide access to essential services and other destinations. This also includes efforts to increase connectivity to employment, education, services, and other opportunities; support workforce development; or contribute to increased mobility, particularly for persons with visible and hidden disabilities and elderly individuals. The Assistance Listing Number for this opportunity is 20.200 – Highway Research and Development.

FHWA anticipates making not less than 5 and no more than 10 awards of up to $12 million individually.

NOTE: The program referenced above for this funding opportunity will hereby be referred to as “ATTAIN” for the remainder of this document.

FHWA seeks to fund projects that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and are designed with specific elements to address climate change impacts. Section E provides more information on the specific measures a project may undertake to support these goals.

FHWA also seeks to award projects that address environmental justice, particularly for communities (including rural communities) that may disproportionately experience consequences from climate change and other pollutants. Environmental justice, as defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. As part of the Department’s implementation of Executive Order (E.O.) 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (86 FR 7619), the Department seeks to fund projects that, to the extent possible, target at least 40 percent of resources and benefits towards low-income communities, disadvantaged communities, communities underserved by affordable transportation, or overburdened communities. Projects that have not sufficiently considered climate change and environmental justice in their planning, as determined by the Department, will be required to do so before receiving funds for construction.

See Section F.2 of this NOFO for program requirements.

FHWA also seeks to award projects that proactively address equity and barriers to opportunity, including automobile dependence as a form of barrier, or redress prior inequities and barriers to opportunity. Section E describes equity considerations that an

Applicant can undertake, and the Department will consider during the review of applications. Projects that have not sufficiently considered equity and barriers to opportunity in their planning, as determined by the Department, will be required to do so before receiving funds for construction. All projects must comply with Federal civil rights requirements. See Section F.2 of this NOFO for program requirements.

In addition, FHWA intends to use this NOFO opportunity to support the creation of good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and the incorporation of strong labor standards and workforce programs, in particular registered apprenticeships, labor management partnerships and Local Hire agreements,1 in project planning stages and program delivery. Projects that incorporate such planning considerations are expected to support a strong economy and labor market. Section E describes job creation and labor considerations an Applicant can undertake and that the

1 Contracts awarded with geographic hiring preferences are eligible for assistance under most

Department financial assistance programs.

Department will consider during the review of applications. Projects that have not sufficiently considered job creation and labor considerations in their planning, as determined by the Department, will be required to do so to the full extent possible under the law before receiving funds for construction. See Section F.2 of this NOFO for program requirements.

Section E of this NOFO describes the process for selecting projects that further these goals programs. Section F.3 describes progress and performance reporting requirements for selected projects, including the relationship between that reporting and the program’s selection criteria.

Consistent with DOT’s Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success

(ROUTES) Initiative, FHWA seeks to award funding to rural projects that address deteriorating conditions and disproportionately high fatality rates and transportation costs in rural communities.

1. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

FHWA hereby requests applications to result in awards to eligible entities to deploy, install, and operate advanced transportation technologies to improve safety, mobility, efficiency, system performance, intermodal connectivity, and infrastructure return on investment. These model deployments are expected to provide benefits in the form of:

• reduced traffic-related fatalities and injuries;

• reduced traffic congestion and improved travel time reliability;

• reduced transportation-related emissions;

• optimized multimodal system performance;

• improved access to transportation alternatives, including for underserved populations;

• improved integration of payment systems;

• public access to real-time integrated traffic, transit, and multimodal transportation information to make informed travel decisions;

• cost savings to transportation agencies, businesses, and the traveling public; or

• other benefits to transportation users and the general public.

(23 U.S.C. § 503(c)(4))

This competitive ATTAIN Program will promote the use of innovative transportation solutions. The deployment of these technologies will provide Congress and FHWA with valuable real-life data and feedback to inform future decision-making.

2. LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY

Specific statutory authority for conducting this effort is found in 23 U.S.C. § 503(c)(4), which authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to “… provide grants to eligible entities to deploy, install, and operate advanced transportation technologies to improve safety, mobility, efficiency, system performance, intermodal connectivity, and infrastructure return on investment.”

Per 23 U.S.C. §503(c)(4)(I)(i), funding for this effort is expected to be made available from amounts authorized under 23 U.S.C. §§ 512 through 518, as well as § 503(b), and

§ 503(c). The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), enacted as the Infrastructure

Investment and Jobs Act, Pub. L. 117-58 (Nov. 15, 2021) amended 23 U.S.C. 503(c)(4), creating the ATTAIN Program.

The authority to enter into an assistance agreement for this effort is found under 23

U.S.C. §502 - Surface Transportation Research, Development, and Technology, paragraphs (a)(1) and (b)(3)(C), which state:

(a) Basic Principles Governing Research and Technology Investments.-

(1) Applicability.-The research, development, and technology provisions of this section shall apply throughout this chapter.

(b) General Authority.—

(3) cooperation, grants, and contracts. — The Secretary may carry out research, development, and technology transfer activities related to transportation—

(A) independently;

(B) in cooperation with other Federal departments, agencies, and instrumentalities and Federal laboratories; or

(C) by making grants to or entering into contracts and cooperative agreements with one or more of the following: the National Academy of

Sciences, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation

Officials, any Federal laboratory, Federal Agency, State agency, authority, association, institution, for-profit or nonprofit corporation, organization, foreign country, or any other person.

3. BACKGROUND

Projects funded under this program will deploy advanced transportation and congestion management technologies, which could include:

i. Advanced traveler information systems – Systems that provide real-time, predicted, and individualized information about travel choices based on data from sensors (traffic, weather), mobile sources (personal portable devices, connected vehicles), and other information systems (public transportation, shared-use mobility, traffic incident management, construction, parking, congestion pricing/tolls or other costs) to allow travelers and shippers to make informed decisions regarding destinations, when to travel, routes, or modes.

This information should be publicly accessible and not limited to users with smartphones;

ii. Advanced transportation management technologies – Technologies that assist transportation system operators in managing and controlling the performance of their systems to provide optimal services or respond to dynamic conditions, including inter-jurisdictional and intermodal coordination;

technologies may include traffic signal equipment, advanced data collection and processing (from sensors, connected vehicles, and other mobile sources, other information systems), dynamic lane controls/configurations, and cooperative transportation management algorithms including pricing strategies across jurisdictions/agencies/facilities/modes;

iii. Advanced transportation technologies to improve emergency evacuation and response by Federal, State, and local authorities –

Technologies and systems that assist transportation system operators, emergency management agencies, and public safety agencies in the facilitation of evacuation (including contraflow and emergency shoulder use), post-incident re-entry, or other emergency response activities (including search and rescue activities and delivering life-saving or life-sustaining commodities) to respond to an incident that occurs with or without advance notice; technologies and systems may include closed-circuit television and other video surveillance, traffic counters, remote sensing and detection devices, mobile communication units, permanent or portable changeable message signs, ramp gates, third party traffic data, real-time traveler information systems, and highway advisory radio;

iv. Infrastructure maintenance, monitoring, and condition assessment –

Technologies and systems that monitor the behavior or assess the condition of transportation infrastructure to allow agencies to better manage their transportation assets through optimizing resource allocation, preventative maintenance processes, and responses to critical conditions;

v. Advanced public transportation systems – Technologies that assist public transportation system operators or other shared mobility entities in managing and optimizing the provision of public transportation and mobility services;

technologies may include remote fleet monitoring systems, coordinated communication systems, algorithms, and applications to enable better transit connections for users, advanced data collection and processing (from sensors, mobile/connected sources, other information systems) to provide dynamic, responsive transit services, and communication and data systems that enable shared mobility services;

vi. Transportation system performance data collection, analysis, and dissemination systems – Technologies and systems that actively monitor the performance of and interactions between transportation systems and permit agencies and other interested entities to conduct analyses and research and explore innovative, value-added products and services;

vii. Advanced safety systems, including vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications, technologies associated with automated vehicles, and other collision avoidance technologies, including systems using cellular technology – Deployment of technology-based safety systems such as described at Safer Car

(http://www.safercar.gov/) or at the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)

Program https://www.its.dot.gov/index.htm, or other applicable safety technologies;

viii. Integration of intelligent transportation systems with the Smart Grid and other energy distribution and charging systems – Technologies that link information from ITS and other transportation systems with information from

Smart Grid and other energy distribution and charging systems to provide users with better information related to opportunities for recharging electric vehicles, and to provide energy distribution agencies with better information related to potential transportation-user demand;

ix. Integrated corridor management systems – Integrated Corridor

Management (ICM) is the coordination of individual transportation network partners (stakeholders) and the coordinated operation of their supportive facilities across all local, county, regional, and State agencies, such that “the whole” creates a unified, interconnected, and multimodal response during severe, prolonged, or exceptional atypical events that shut down trunk freeways or require a holistic regional response. Through an ICM approach, transportation agencies manage the corridor as a multimodal system and make operational and safety decisions for the benefit of the corridor as a whole facility. FHWA is interested in increasing the deployment of ICM;

x. Advanced parking reservation or variable pricing systems –

Technologies and systems designed to significantly reduce search time and cruising for parking for either personal vehicles or for trucks, including using pricing to manage and shift parking demand for personal vehicles to reflect http://www.safercar.gov/ https://www.its.dot.gov/index.htm the available supply of both parking and roadway capacity, and technologies and systems designed to guide truck or other drivers directly to available parking;

xi. Electronic pricing, toll collection, and payment systems – Technologies that permit users to electronically conduct financial transactions for mobility services across jurisdictions and agencies, such as unified fare collection, payment, and tolling systems across transportation modes;

xii. Technology that enhances high occupancy vehicle toll lanes, cordon pricing, or congestion pricing – High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes and cordon pricing are both types of congestion pricing. Congestion Pricing involves the imposition of fees or tolls that vary based on the level of demand for travel on a highway facility, geographic area, or parking facilities. The fees may vary according to a fixed schedule or in real-time based on actual travel conditions. While pricing generates revenue, this strategy has a primary focus of managing congestion, environmental impacts, and other external costs. FHWA is seeking innovative and accurate methods of informing, monitoring, and applying any, or all, of these tenets;

xiii. Integration of transportation service payment systems – Technologies and processes for facilitating transactions and payment across multimodal and/or multiagency transportation organizations. Integration of payment systems across municipalities and regions can facilitate seamless travel across a variety of modes, improving mobility and convenience, and creating mutually beneficial relationships between modes that improve overall system performance and flexibility. Open, account-based architectures are being implemented that make it easier for these payment methods to be adapted to meet differing local needs, built around coordination and collaboration among various entities – from mobility service providers to payment processors to technology suppliers;

xiv. Advanced mobility access and on-demand transportation service technologies, such as dynamic ridesharing and other shared-use mobility applications and information systems to support human services for elderly and disabled individuals – Technologies, applications, and information systems that leverage data and communications systems to allow public agencies and human service organizations to provide improved demand-responsive, coordinated, and/or seamless mobility services to at-risk users such as the elderly, disabled, or other individuals that require transportation assistance. Also of interest are dynamic ridesharing and other shared-use mobility applications being made available more broadly to the general public with a particular emphasis on highly innovative services

(measured in improved user/system experience rather than technology for its own sake) or new approaches leading to step-change increases in system performance and/or service scale;

xv. Dedicated Short-Range Communications – Retrofitting dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) technology deployed as part of an existing pilot program to cellular vehicle-to-everything (C–V2X) technology, subject to the condition that the retrofitted technology operates only within the existing spectrum allocations for connected vehicle systems; or

xvi. Advanced transportation technologies – Advanced transportation technologies, in accordance with the research areas described in section

6503 of title 49.

4. VISION, GOALS, AND FOCUS AREAS

FHWA recognizes that each location has unique attributes, and each location’s proposed deployment will be tailored to its vision and goals. Applications may be submitted for deploying any eligible technology. However, this section provides a framework for Applicants to consider in the development of a proposed deployment by presenting DOT’s vision, goals, and focus areas.

The FHWA’s vision for the ATTAIN Program is the deployment of advanced technologies and related strategies to address issues and challenges in safety, mobility, sustainability, economic vitality, equity, and air quality that are confronted by transportation systems owners and operators. The advanced technologies are integrated into the routine functions of the location or jurisdiction and play a critical role in helping agencies and the public address their challenges. Management systems within transportation and across other sectors (e.g., human services, energy, and logistics) share information and data to communicate between agencies and with the public. These management systems provide benefits by maximizing efficiencies based on the intelligent management of assets and the sharing of information using integrated technology solutions. The advanced technology solutions and the lessons learned from their deployment are used in other locations, scaled in scope and size to increase successful deployments and provide widespread benefits to the public and agencies.

Goals for the ATTAIN Program include:

• Improve the mobility of people and goods;

• Improve the durability and extend the life of transportation infrastructure;

• Reduced costs and improved return on investments, including through optimization of existing transportation capacity;

• Protect the environment and deliver environmental benefits that alleviate congestion, reduce transportation-related emissions, and streamline traffic flow;

• Measurement and improvement of the operational performance of the applicable transportation networks;

• Reduction in the number and severity of traffic crashes and an increase in driver, passenger, and pedestrian safety;

• Collection, dissemination, and use of real-time traffic-related information including, but not limited to work zone, weather, transit, paratransit and parking, to improve mobility, reduce congestion, and provide for more efficient and accessible, and integrated transportation services, including access to safe, reliable, and affordable connections to employment, education, healthcare, freight facilities, and other services;

• Facilitate account-based payments for transportation access and services and integrate payment systems across modes;

• Monitoring transportation assets to improve infrastructure management, reduce maintenance costs, prioritize investment decisions, and ensure a state of good repair;

• Delivery of economic benefits by reducing delays, improving system performance and throughput, and providing for the safe, efficient and reliable movement of people, goods, and services;

• Accelerated deployment of V2V, V2I, vehicle-to-pedestrian, and technologies associated with automated vehicles and other advanced technologies;

• Integration of advanced technologies into transportation system management and operations;

• Demonstration, quantification, and evaluation of the impact of these advanced technologies, strategies, and applications towards improved safety, efficiency, equity, and sustainable movement of people and goods;

• Reproducibility of successful systems and services for technology and knowledge transfer to other locations facing similar challenges; and

• Incentivize travelers— o (I) to share trips during periods in which travel demand exceeds system capacity; or o (II) to shift trips to periods in which travel demand does not exceed system capacity.

Although proposals are not limited to DOT priorities, FHWA is particularly interested in deployment programs and projects in the following DOT Focus Areas:

State of Good Repair:

The FHWA will assess whether and to what extent the project (1) is consistent with relevant plans to maintain transportation facilities or systems in a state of good repair, including DOT-required asset management; and (2) addresses current and projected vulnerabilities that, if left unimproved, will threaten future transportation network efficiency, mobility of goods or accessibility and mobility of people, or economic growth. The FHWA will also consider whether the project includes a plan to maintain the transportation infrastructure built with grant funds in a state of good repair. The FHWA will prioritize projects that ensure the good condition of transportation infrastructure, including rural transportation infrastructure, and support commerce and economic growth. Projects that represent routine or deferred maintenance will be less competitive in this criterion.

Per FHWA’s published Policy on Using Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Resources to

Build a Better America2, the Department encourages Applicants to improve the condition and safety of existing state and locally-owned transportation infrastructure within the right-of-way before proposing projects that add new general purpose travel lanes serving single occupancy vehicles.

Integration of Intelligent Transportation Systems with the Smart Grid and other energy distribution and charging systems:

Technologies that link information from ITS and other transportation systems with information from Smart Grid and other energy distribution and charging systems to provide users with better information related to opportunities for recharging personal, commercial and/or transit electric vehicles and provide energy distribution agencies with better information related to potential transportation-user demand.

Advanced public transportation systems:

Technologies that assist public transportation system operators or other shared mobility entities in managing and optimizing the provision of public transportation and mobility services; technologies may include remote fleet monitoring systems, coordinated communication systems, algorithms, and applications to enable better transit connections for users, advanced data collection and processing (from sensors, mobile/connected sources, other information systems) to provide dynamic, responsive transit services, and communication and data systems that enable shared mobility services.

2 https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bipartisan-infrastructure-law/docs/building_a_better_america-policy_framework.pdf https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bipartisan-infrastructure-law/docs/building_a_better_america-policy_framework.pdf https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bipartisan-infrastructure-law/docs/building_a_better_america-policy_framework.pdf

Efficiency of Freight Movement:

Technologies that improve supply chain efficiency or improve the efficiency of freight movement. For example, a Freight Community System (sometimes called Port

Community System) is an electronic platform that connects the multiple systems operated by a variety of organizations that make up a freight transportation community, including seaports, airports, rail yards/inland ports, and distribution centers. It is shared in the sense that it is set up, organized, and used by firms in the same sector – in this case, a freight community – to provide a neutral and open electronic platform enabling an intelligent and secure exchange of information between public and private stakeholders in order to improve the efficiency and competitive position of the ports’ community(ies). It optimizes, manages, and automates smooth port and logistics processes through a single submission of data by connecting transport and logistics chains. This focus area is important to FHWA goal of integrating freight infrastructure within the surface transportation system, particularly maritime ports, while at the same time providing a platform to reduce the impacts of national freight movement on local communities.

ROUTES Initiative:

A strong transportation network is critical to the functioning and growth of the American economy. The Nation’s industry depends on the transportation network to move the goods that it produces and facilitate the movements of the workers who are responsible for that production. When the Nation’s highways, railways, and ports function well, that infrastructure connects people to jobs, increases the efficiency of delivering goods, and thereby cuts the costs of doing business, reduces the burden of commuting, and improves economic well-being. Rural transportation networks play a vital role in supporting our national economic vitality. Addressing the deteriorating conditions and disproportionately high fatality rates on our rural transportation infrastructure is of critical interest to FHWA, as rural transportation networks face unique challenges in safety, infrastructure condition, and passenger and freight usage. Consistent with the

ROUTES Initiative, FHWA will consider how the project will address the challenges faced by rural areas. Example technologies include improved access to transportation services, corridor freight platooning, mobile work zone alerts, improved roadway weather management, improved emergency response services and traffic incident management, curve warning systems, or animal intrusion detection and warning.

Complete Trip Program:

The Complete Trip Program (https://its.dot.gov/factsheets/pdf/ITS4US_Factsheet.pdf) is a FHWA Initiative that explores emerging technologies to enhance travel that includes opportunities for people with mobility challenges by providing travel opportunities that are seamlessly integrated into their daily lives. The lack of transportation options for all travelers, including travelers with disabilities, travelers from rural areas, and lower-income travelers, is a persistent challenge for access to jobs, education, healthcare, and other activities. The Complete Trip Program will: Engage stakeholders to assess the impacts and effectiveness of accessible technologies, define complete trip and what it means and what is missing; advance technological innovation for accessible transportation through foundational research, prototype development, and technology transfer programs; improve transportation systems integration including pedestrian and built environments; coordinate with key partners, within the Federal Government, the research community, stakeholder organizations, and private industry; and, demonstrate, deploy, evaluate and provide guidance for accessible transportation technologies.

FHWA is interested in emerging technologies that support the Complete Trip Program.

Data Availability:

Although not required, FHWA encourages applications that include a commitment to make relevant data available to FHWA and the public to further advance the objectives of this program. For example, in addition to providing the report to the Secretary required by 23 U.S.C. 503(c)(4), projects may provide FHWA access to the underlying data used to determine the costs and benefits described in this report. Please note that data availability is not part of the technical merit criteria detailed in Section E.1.

5. DELIVERABLES

The selected ATTAIN awardees shall provide a schedule for the project deliverables that includes, at a minimum, the following items.

https://its.dot.gov/factsheets/pdf/ITS4US_Factsheet.pdf

Deliverable Approximate

Due Date

Section 508

Compliant?

Preliminary Kick-off Meeting – Conduct a preliminary kick-off meeting with FHWA at a mutually agreed-upon location.

Within 6 weeks after the announcement of project selection.

No

Draft Cooperative Agreement completed. The cooperative agreement shall include a Project Management Plan. The Project Management Plan shall include, at a minimum:

a) Project Description with a description of Tasks and

Sub-Tasks by which the project work activities will be organized, executed, and monitored.

b) A Project Schedule (Gantt Chart or equivalent) displaying start and end times for each Task and Sub-Task, plus achievement of Project Milestones.

c) A description of major Project Milestones, including key reports, the start of operations of important systems or subsystems, and other important deliverables or events.

d) A Staffing Table, which identifies a single Project Manager, plus project staff and/or consultants that will lead and support each Task (or Sub-Task if appropriate).

e) A Project Budget, displaying planned expenditures for each Task, with a further breakdown by Cost Element for each Task and by the Federal share vs.

non-Federal share.

Within 6 weeks after the preliminary kick-off meeting.

No

Fully-Executed Cooperative Agreement

Within 6 weeks after completion of the draft agreement.

No

Kick-off Meeting – Conduct a kick-off meeting with

FHWA at a mutually agreed-upon location.

Within 4 weeks after the execution of the cooperative agreement.

No

Quarterly Progress Reports – Submit progress reports to document activities performed, anticipated activities, and any changes to the schedule or anticipated issues.

Quarterly No

Systems Engineering Documents – In accordance As applicable No with 23 CFR 940.11, the Recipient shall submit electronic copies of the Milestone Systems Engineering documents applicable to this project for approval by FHWA. This shall include, at a minimum:

a) Systems Engineering Review Form

b) Concept of Operations

c) Systems Engineering Management Plan.

Project Evaluation Plan – The Recipient shall submit to FHWA for approval an Evaluation Plan, which shall include, at a minimum:

a) Statement of Project Objectives,

b) List of Evaluation Criteria (e.g., quantitative performance metrics and/or qualitative assessments) tailored to the Project Objectives,

c) Description of Data-Collection procedures tailored to these criteria, which could include, for example, before/after data, surveys, interviews, system-monitoring data, or other data needed to report on the achievement of project objectives.

d) Outline of Evaluation Report (1-page draft list of topics to be addressed)

Within 90 days after the project is obligated.

No

Data Management Plan (DMP) – The Recipient shall submit to FHWA for approval a DMP that provides a preliminary overview of data that may be collected or created through the project, which shall include, at a minimum:

a) Data description

b) Data access policies

c) Data storage and retention approach

The Recipient shall then update the DMP throughout the project with more details on the data that is collected or created, including information on data rights and standards. Additional information on DMPs can be found at:

https://ntl.bts.gov/ntl/public-access/creating-data-management-plans-extramural-research.

Within 90 days after the project is obligated, to be updated throughout the project.

No

Report to the Secretary – Submit a report describing:

the deployment and operational costs of the project compared to the benefits and savings the project provides; how the project has met the original expectations projected in the deployment plan submitted with the application, such as (I) data on how

Annually beginning 1 year after the project is obligated.

Yes https://ntl.bts.gov/ntl/public-access/creating-data-management-plans-extramural-research https://ntl.bts.gov/ntl/public-access/creating-data-management-plans-extramural-research the project has helped reduce traffic crashes, congestion, costs, and other benefits of the deployed systems; (II) data on the effect of measuring and improving transportation system performance through the deployment of advanced technologies;

(III) the effectiveness of providing real-time integrated traffic, transit, and multimodal transportation information to the public to make informed travel decisions; and (IV) lessons learned and recommendations for future deployment strategies to optimize transportation mobility, efficiency, multimodal system performance, and payment system performance.

Annual Budget Review and Program Plan Reporting – Submit the Annual Budget Review and Program Plan Report. The report should describe:

(1) Overview and schedule of tasks, activities, milestones, and deliverables for the upcoming year, to include:

• the latest deliverables table or project management schedule; and

• a discussion of whether the current approved Technical Application attached to the award needs to be updated or not. If an update is warranted, propose the updates.

(2) Overview and forecast budget for the upcoming year, including a discussion of whether the current approved Budget Application attached to the award needs to be updated or not. If an update is warranted, propose the updates.

60 days prior to the anniversary date of the award

No

Final Report - The Recipient shall provide a final report within 90 days after the termination or expiration of this agreement. The FHWA Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR), in consultation with the Recipient, will determine the final design and scope of the evaluation and report. Submit an electronic copy of all reports to the ATTAIN mailbox at ATTAIN@dot.gov

Within 90 days after the termination or expiration of this agreement.

Yes

(Additional deliverables to be identified in separate rows by the Applicant)

Note: Section 508 requirements are included in NOFO Section F’s General Terms and

Conditions available online at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/aaa/generaltermsconditions.cfm.

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/aaa/generaltermsconditions.cfm

SECTION B – FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. FUNDING AND NUMBER OF AWARDS

For Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, up to $60 million is available for the ATTAIN Program. That amount is reduced based on the imposition of the statutory obligation limitation for FY

2022 and subject to a set aside of up to $2 million for FHWA administrative expenses each fiscal year. A single grant recipient may not receive more than $12 million in one fiscal year. FHWA anticipates making not less than 5 and not more than 10 awards each fiscal year. The FHWA previously issued six NOFOs for the ATCMTD Grant

Program before the program was amended and renamed to the ATTIMD (or “ATTAIN”)

Program by Section 13006 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law

117-58, also known as the “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law” (BIL)).

2. TYPE OF AWARD

The planned award type is a cost-reimbursable cooperative agreement.3

3. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The estimated period of performance is between two and four years. For the purposes of this program, the period of performance is considered to have begun upon full execution of a cooperative agreement, and subsequent obligation of funding and/or provision of an allocation memorandum.

4. DEGREE OF FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT

FHWA anticipates substantial Federal involvement with the ATTAIN recipients during the course of these projects. The anticipated Federal involvement will include:

technical assistance and guidance to the Recipient; participation in status meetings, including a kick-off meeting and project reviews; review and comment on draft documents, as appropriate; performance reporting and financial reporting to ensure that the objectives and the terms and conditions of the agreement are met; and monitoring of performance.

3 The definition of “cooperative agreement” can be found at 2 CFR 200.1.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-A/subject-group-ECFR2a6a0087862fd2c/section-200.1

SECTION C – ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Eligible Applicants are State or local governments, transit agencies, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), or other political subdivisions of a State or local government (such as publicly owned toll or port authorities), or a multijurisdictional group or consortia of research institutions or academic institutions. Partnership with the private sector or public agencies, including multimodal and multijurisdictional entities, research institutions, organizations representing transportation and technology leaders, or other transportation stakeholders, and as discussed in Section D.2 of this NOFO, Applicants are required to include a partnership plan in the technical application.

Typically, a consortium is a meaningful arrangement with all members involved in planning the overall direction of the group’s activities and participating in most aspects of the group; the consortium is a long-term relationship intended to last the full life of the grant. Any application submitted by a sole research or academic institution that is not part of a consortium will not be considered for selection.

Note: A multijurisdictional group is any combination of State governments, local governments, metropolitan planning agencies, transit agencies, or other political subdivisions of a State for which each member of the group has signed a written agreement to implement the ATTAIN Program across jurisdictional boundaries and is an eligible entity under this paragraph.

2. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

Cost-sharing or matching is required, with the maximum Federal share being 80 percent; hence, this NOFO requires a minimum non-Federal cost share of 20 percent.

Cost sharing or matching means the portion of project costs not paid by Federal funds.

For a more complete definition, please see the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards at 2 CFR Part 200, including section 200.306 on Cost Sharing or matching. Other Federal funds using their appropriate matching share may be leveraged for the deployment but cannot be considered as part of the ATTAIN matching funds unless otherwise supported by statute.

3. OTHER INFORMATION

ATTAIN recipients may use not more than 5 percent of the funds awarded each fiscal year to carry out planning and reporting requirements for the project.

FHWA encourages Applicants to identify any project components that have independent utility and separately detail the costs and requested ATTAIN funding for each component in their applications. If the application identifies one or more independent project components, the application should clearly identify how each independent component addresses the selection criteria and produces benefits on its own, and describe how the full proposal, of which the independent component is a part, addresses the selection criteria.

RURAL SET-ASIDE: Not less than 20 percent of the amounts made available under this opportunity shall be reserved for projects serving rural areas. In this notice, a rural area is defined as an area with a population of less than 50,000, using 2010 Census data.

SECTION D – APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. ADDRESS TO REQUEST APPLICATION PACKAGE

Applicants may access application packages and must submit their applications via

Grants.gov under the NOFO number cited herein. Applications must be submitted through the Grants.gov workspace.

The Applicant must complete and submit all Office of Management and Budget (OMB)-approved forms included in the application package for this notice as contained at www.Grants.gov.

For a Telephone Device for the Deaf, please call (202) 366-3993. If potential Applicants are unable to download the application package from the internet, they may send a written request for a paper copy to the below address. Requests should be sent to:

Ryan Buck

202-366-4229

Ryan.Buck@dot.gov mailto:Ryan.Buck@dot.gov

2. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Applicants shall submit an application consisting of the following application volumes and sections:

NOTE: There is no mandatory format or template for information required under this NOFO that falls outside of the aforementioned OMB-approved forms. However, while there is no prescribed template or format for that information, the information itself must be provided in some form in each application for that application to be considered responsive to this NOFO.

Table D.2 – Application Volumes

Volume Section Page Limitations

Volume I. Technical Application

I - Cover Page

One (1) file, 30-page limit

II - Project Narrative

III – Management Structure

IV - Staffing Description and Résumés

Appendix – Résumés No page limit

Volume II. Budget Application

I - Application Standard Forms

One (1) file, no page limit

II – Summary Budget Information

III – Cost Share Information

IV - Organizational Information

Note: Applicants shall provide résumés in Volume 1 of the application. Résumés will not count against the page limit. Applicants shall provide letters of commitment in

Volume 2.

For the submitted application package, FHWA suggests that pictures, graphics, and other large files be reduced in number and quality to keep the size of the files of the application manageable and in line with the Grants.gov suggested maximum size of 200 megabytes for the entire grant application package.

The FHWA recommends that Applicants use a file naming format of:

Applicant_organization-2022-ATTAIN-fileID (e.g., Vol-1, Vol-2) where

“Applicant_organization” reflects the Applicant’s legal name, abbreviated as appropriate.

If an organization is submitting multiple applications, project names or identifiers may be added to the workspace title in parentheses after the Applicant organization. For example, a workspace in Grants.gov may be titled “Applicant_organization(Project 1)-

2022-ATTAIN.” If necessary, the workspace title can be edited per the instructions on

Grants.gov.

FHWA is committed to considering project funding decisions holistically among the various discretionary grant programs available in BIL. FHWA also recognizes that

Applicants may be seeking grant program funding from multiple FHWA grant programs and opportunities. An Applicant may seek the same award amounts from multiple

FHWA grant programs opportunities or seek a combination of funding from multiple

FHWA opportunities. In those cases, the Applicant must indicate, within the Federal funding description, details as to what other potential FHWA grant programs and opportunities they are currently applying for or intend to apply for and what award amounts they will be seeking. This information will be reviewed by FHWA to ensure that a single project, or its sub-elements, is not awarded Federal funding under multiple

FHWA grant programs. FHWA reserves the right to contact Applicants to obtain additional information concerning those scopes of work to discuss any possible or actual overlap in scope.

VOLUME 1 – TECHNICAL APPLICATION

a) Section I - Cover Page

For the Cover Page, the following format, or any format with consistent data points to what is listed below, may be used to convey this information:

Project Name

Eligible Entity Applying to Receive Federal

Funding

Total Project Cost (from all sources) $

ATTAIN Request $

Are matching funds restricted to a specific project component? If so, which one?

Yes/No

State(s) in which the project is located

Is the project currently programmed in the:

• Transportation Improvement Program

• Statewide Transportation Improvement

Program

• MPO Long Range Transportation Plan

Yes/No – please specify in which plans the project is currently programmed

• State Long Range Transportation Plan

Technologies Proposed to Be Deployed (briefly list)

Will the project use connected vehicle technologies? If so, which technologies will be used—for instance, will the project use:

• DSRC/5.9 GHz spectrum?

• Cellular/4G/5G communications?

• Another connectivity technology? (please specify - e.g., “Wi-Fi,” “Bluetooth,” “RFID,” etc.)

If the connectivity technology has yet to be determined, please specify “TBD.”

Yes/No – please specify which technology(ies) will be used

Will the project use automated driving system technologies?

Yes/No

Rural Considerations:

a) Is the project serving a rural area(s)?

A rural area is an area with a population of less than 50,000 residents (according to the 2010 Census).

b) If yes, how much ATTAIN funding is being requested to be put toward serving the rural area(s)?

Yes/No

b) Section II - Project Narrative

The Project Narrative must include all the necessary information required for FHWA to determine that the project satisfies the ATTAIN Program requirements described in Sections A, B, and C, and for FHWA to evaluate the project in relation to the selection criteria specified in Section E.1.