DDETFP GRF NOFO 2020B.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity Summary Information

Federal Agency Name: U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Center for Transportation Workforce Development 1310 North Courthouse Road, Suite 300 Arlington, VA 22201

Attn: Ewa Flom, HIN-CWD

Funding Opportunity Title: “Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program (DDETFP) Grants for Research Fellowship (GRF)”

Announcement Type: This is the initial announcement of this funding opportunity.

Funding Opportunity Number: 693JJ318NF5229

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number:

20.215 Highway Training & Education

Key Dates: Notice Issue Date is June 1, 2018 Question Due Date/Time is June 8, 2018 at 11:59pm Eastern Time Electronic Application Due Date/Time for

• Fiscal year (FY) 2018 is July 16, 2018 at 11:59pm

Eastern Time.

• Subsequent assignment opportunities will specify due dates in the Attachment 1 posted with this Notice.

Primary Point of Contact: Ewa Flom, ewa.flom@dot.gov, 703-235-0532

Secondary Point of Contact: Universities and Grants Program Staff, transportationedu@dot.gov, 703-235-0538 mailto:ewa.flom@dot.gov

693JJ318NF5229

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

G FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACT(S) 17

Pertinent Links:

• https://www.grants.gov/

• General terms, conditions, and governing regulations (Effective March 6, 2015) that will apply to the Agreement are available online at www.fhwa.dot.gov/cfo/contractor_recip/gtandc_generaltermsconditions.cfm

Attachments:

1. DDETFP GRF Assignment 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 four new Grant Agreements, supporting the “Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program (DDETFP) Grants for Research Fellowship (GRF).”

1. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The purpose of these proposed Agreements is to provide DDETFP GRF 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. The DDETFP is intended to enhance the breadth and scope of knowledge of the entire transportation community in the United States. The DDETFP GRF encompasses all modes of transportation.

2. LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY

The current legislation governing the program is found in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, Section 6002(a)(3) (Pub. L. 114-94). Authority is also found in Title 23, United States Code (USC), Section 504(c) and 502 (b)(3).

3. BACKGROUND

The objective of the DDETFP GRF is to acquaint graduate students with transportation research, development, and technology transfer activities at U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) facilities.

Individual students apply for the DDETFP GRF. 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 must be located within the United States 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 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 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) bring and retain top talent in the transportation industry of the United States.

5. STATEMENT OF WORK

The DDETFP GRF stimulates interest among students to conduct transportation-related research, to pursue transportation-related degrees, and to enter the transportation workforce. The DDETFP GRF is structured to provide opportunities with USDOT Program Offices which are interested in attracting workforce ready students. The proposed projects that are available for student applications are listed in Attachment 1 DDETFP GRF Assignment Announcement.

The DDETFP GRF provides funding 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

• Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting travel

Tuition and fees and stipend are paid only for the time period the Student Designee is registered in a full-time academic program at the Recipient institution. 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 $240,000 to be made available for the DDETFP GRF in each fiscal year (FY) 2018 through 2020 from amounts authorized under section 6002 of the FAST Act.

The FHWA anticipates making up to four awards as a result of this Notice of Funding Opportunity in each FY 2018 through 2020.

The FHWA anticipates Federal funding up to a total amount of $720,000 may be made available for these Agreements, subject to the availability of funds. Funding for each award can range from a minimum of $15,000 to a maximum of $60,000.

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

2. TYPE OF AWARD

The planned award type is a Grant Agreement.

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 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 institution 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 the 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 United States or its territories, both administratively as well as the campus the student is attending.

Current U.S. Department of Transportation employees are not eligible for the DDETFP.

In addition to the Program Office prerequisites stated in the assignment announcement, all student applicants of the DDETFP GRF must:

• Possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited IHE within the U.S or its territories;

• Demonstrate confirmation of acceptance in a graduate degree program at an accredited

IHE in the U.S. or its territories;

• 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 identified in the assignment announcement;

• 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 & Immigration Service.

2. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

Cost sharing or matching is not required. Although this program does not require cost sharing or matching, IHEs are encouraged to contribute resources to help leverage Fellowship funding.

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 United States.

Educational institutions issue Form I-20.

SECTION D - APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. ADDRESS TO REQUEST APPLICATION PACKAGE

Applicants may obtain application forms at grants.gov under the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) number cited herein.

The Applicant must complete and submit all forms included in the application package for this Notice as contained at www.grants.gov.

2. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

The DDETFP GRF requires the submission of a complete Application Package through www.grants.gov in response to one of the assignments posted in the DDETFP GRF Assignment Announcement.

General Instructions: Please read Attachment 1 DDETFP GRF Assignment Announcement and this NOFO in their entirety before preparing the application materials.

A complete DDETFP GRF application package includes the following:

• SF 424 Individual

• Completed Student File Information Sheet

• Personal Statement (Relevant Background and Future Goals)

• Project Experience (Relevant Project-Specific Information)

• Official transcripts

• Endorsement letter from the applicant’s Faculty Advisor

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

• Citizenship status o Non-U.S. citizens must provide a valid copy of current Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) 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 USCIS.

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

Applicant must 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

Application Deadline: The DDETFP GRF application must be completely submitted in www.grants.gov Electronic Application due date and time listed on page 1.

http://www.grants.gov/

The deadlines cited herein are the dates and times by which the agency must receive the complete application package.

A late application will not be reviewed or considered unless the FHWA Universities and Grants (U&GP) Program Manager determines that doing so is in the FHWA’s best interest.

In the event of system problems or technical difficulties with the application submittal, Applicants should contact the FHWA point of contact designated on page 1. If Applicants are unable to use the system due to technical difficulties, Applicants must e-mail applications to the FHWA point of contact listed on page 1 no later than the application deadline cited above.

4. UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD (SAM)

The Recipient is required to: (i) be registered in SAM before submitting its application; (ii) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its application; and (iii) continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency.

The Federal awarding agency may not make a Federal award to a Recipient until the Recipient has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements. If a Recipient 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 Recipient is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another Recipient.

5. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

An application under this Notice of Funding Opportunity is not subject to the State review under E.O. 12372.

6. 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 full-time program leading to graduate 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 IHE has the responsibility of administering the funds and for making periodic payments to the Student Designee.

7. TUITION, TRAVEL, STIPEND, AND TAXES

Fellowship awards may not provide a full award (i.e. tuition, stipend, and travel to the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting in Washington, DC). Fellowship awards will be based on selection for an assignment and may include tuition, stipend, and TRB Annual Meeting travel funding.

Fellowship recipients should be advised that the stipend portion of the fellowship is subject to taxation in accordance with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations (Publication 970, dated Jan 31, 2018 available at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf).

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

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

SECTION E - APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. CRITERIA

The Government will evaluate applications on following criteria:

MERIT: FHWA will evaluate and rank the applications against the following technical evaluation criteria. These criteria are distinct from eligibility criteria (see Section C) that are addressed before an application is accepted for review.

The DDETFP GRF will be awarded on the basis of merit. Merit includes (in descending order of importance with the top three criteria being equal in importance):

• Experience in research area identified in the project announcement*

• Unique qualifications for the project in the announcement*

• Academic record*

• Recommendation regarding the applicant's qualifications*

• Potential for outstanding career in transportation*

After applying the above preferences, the FHWA will take into account the following key Departmental objectives:

(A) Supporting economic vitality at the national and regional level;

(B) Utilizing alternative funding sources and innovative financing models to attract non-

Federal sources of infrastructure investment;

(C) Accounting for the life-cycle costs of the project to promote the state of good repair;

(D) Using innovative approaches to improve safety and expedite project delivery; and

(E) Holding grant recipients accountable for their performance and achieving specific, measurable outcomes identified by grant applicants.

Funding availability will also be considered in the award decision.

* more detail provided in Attachment 1 DDETFP GRF Assignment Announcement

2. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

FHWA will evaluate all eligible applications. FHWA will utilize the following merit review process to evaluate applications:

Complete applications from eligible applicants will be provided to the sponsoring Program Office for transportation professionals to evaluate using the merit criteria listed above. The applications will be evaluated, ranked in merit order, and a recommendation submitted to the U&GP Program Manager. The U&GP Program Manager is the official responsible for final award selections.

It is imperative that applicants provide an accurate and current email address for themselves and their faculty advisor as notification of selection will be by email.

The Government is not obligated to make any award as a result of this announcement.

Agency personnel from the 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 Agreement Officer (AO) is the official responsible for final award selection. 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 financial stability;

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

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

(6) Recipient’s potential for conflict of interest if applicable;3 and

(7) Recipient’s eligibility to receive Federal funding. Per the guidelines on government-wide suspension and debarment in 2 CFR Part 180, the Government will confirmation 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 200.205, prior to making a Federal award, the Federal awarding agency is required to review information available through any OMB-designated repositories of government-wide eligibility qualification or financial integrity information, such as Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS), Dun and Bradstreet, 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.

If FHWA does not make a Federal award to a non-Federal entity because the official determines that the non-Federal entity does not meet either or both of the minimum qualification standards as described in 2 CFR 200.205, the FHWA will report that determination in FAPIIS.

3. ANTICIPATED ANNOUNCEMENT AND FEDERAL AWARD DATES

The FHWA anticipates making award on or about September 14, 2018.

3 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 AO may (a) disqualify the Recipient, or (b) determine that it is otherwise in the best interest of the United States to award to the Recipient and include appropriate provisions to mitigate or avoid such conflict in the Agreement pursuant to 2 CFR 200.112.

SECTION F – FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. FEDERAL AWARD NOTICES

If you are selected for award, FHWA will notify you, your faculty advisor, and the identified IHE by email. FHWA will send award documents to the IHE for signature. Applicants not selected for award will be notified by FHWA by email.

Only the Agreement Officer (AO) can commit the 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, the 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 (Effective March 6, 2015) that will apply to the grant 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 the grant 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 the grant Agreement

C. DATA RIGHTS

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

D. PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION (PII)

Personally Identifiable Information (PII) as defined at CFR Part 200.79 and 2 CFR 200.82 at will not be requested unless necessary and only with prior written approval of the AO with concurrence from the AOR.

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

E. AVAILABLE FUNDING

The total estimated amount of Federal funding that may be provided under the grant 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 the grant 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 the grant Agreement.

(3) The FHWA’s liability to make payments to the Recipient is limited to those funds obligated under the grant 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 the grant agreement document and the Applicant's proposal and/or application, the grant Agreement document shall prevail.

H. DESIGNATION AS RESEARCH OR NON-RESEARCH AGREEMENT

The grant agreement is designated as: NON-RESEARCH

I. DISPUTES

The parties to the grant 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 the FHWA and the Recipient concerning questions of fact or law arising from or in connection with the grant Agreement and whether or not involving alleged breach of the grant 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. Within five working days after providing written notice to the other party, the aggrieved party may, in writing, request a decision from one level above the AO.

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 or designee, made within thirty 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, Office of Acquisition and Grants Management. Following the review, the Director, Office of Acquisition and Grants Management, 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 the grant Agreement is intended to prevent the parties from pursuing disputes in a United States Federal Court of competent jurisdiction.

3. REPORTING

The Recipient must submit the following electronically to the FHWA U&GP Program 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 grant 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 Final Performance Progress Report (SF-PPR):

To fulfill Block 10, Performance Narrative requirement, the Recipient can provide summary of Student Designees project report and confirmation that the report was submitted in electronic format to the U&GP Program Manager.

In Block 11, Other Attachments, include the information as attached pages for Federal Financial Report (SF-425) o Federal Financial Report (SF-425) mailto:FHWA_UGP@dot.gov

SECTION G – FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

Address any questions to:

Universities and Grants Programs Staff Federal Highway Administration Center for Transportation Workforce Development

TRANSPORTATIONEDU@DOT.GOV

(703) 235-0538 mailto:transportationedu@dot.gov

693JJ318NF5229-2020B

DWIGHT DAVID EISENHOWER

TRANSPORTATION FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (DDETFP)

GRANTS FOR RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP (GRF)

SECOND ASSIGNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT

2020 AWARD CYCLE (JULY 2020)

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

DWIGHT DAVID EISENHOWER TRANSPORTATION FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

(DDETFP)

Grants or Research Fellowship (GRF)

Second Assignment Announcement for Fiscal Year 2020

Attachment to Notice of Funding Opportunity number 693JJ318NF5229-2020B

Table of Contents

IMPORTANT INFORMATION 3

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 3

DDETFP GRF APPLICATION PACKAGE 4

EVALUATION CRITERIA 5

TENURE 5

FUNDING 5

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD (TRB) ANNUAL MEETING 6

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS 6

PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT 6

U&GP CONTACT INFORMATION 7

NARRATIVE RESPONSE: PERSONAL STATEMENT 9

NARRATIVE RESPONSE: PROJECT EXPERIENCE 10

PROPOSED PROJECT ASSIGNMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS 11

PROJECT A: RIVERINE NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR HIGHWAY RESILIENCE 11

PROJECT B: FROM SCHOOL TO WORK: A STUDY OF TRANSPORTATION EDUCATION AND CAREER READINESS 13

PROJECT C: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) APPLICATION FOR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT (TSMO) AND COOPERATIVE AUTOMATION RESEARCH MOBILITY APPLICATIONS (CARMA)

STUDIES 15

PROJECT D: STEEL BRIDGE BEARING STIFFENER DETAILS TO AVOID CONSTRAINT-INDUCED FRACTURES 16

PROJECT E: DEVELOPING A TOOL FOR ANALYSIS OF RISKS IN PERCENT WITHIN LIMITS ACCEPTANCE PLANS AND

SPECIFICATIONS 18

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• Applicants are students seeking a DDETFP GRF. If selected:

o Students will be referred to as “Student Designees” and “Fellows” o The Institution of Higher Education (IHE) the student is attending will be referred to as the “Recipient” o Applicants will be required to provide necessary documents for a background check before starting proposed project assignment at a USDOT facility.

Applicants will not be selected for award if they do not pass the background check.

• Electronic Application Due Date/Time for Fiscal year (FY) 2020 is September 14, 2020 at 4:00pm Eastern Time.

• The DDETFP GRF requires online submission through www.grants.gov.

• Paper applications will not be accepted.

• By submitting an application, applicants certify that they have read and meet eligibility criteria defined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and the respective annual DDETFP GRF Assignment Announcement.

• Endorsement letter from Faculty Advisor is required.

• 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 or its territories, both administratively as well as the campus the student is attending.

• Reimbursements of IHE administrative or overhead costs are prohibited.

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

• The proposed projects that are available for student applications are listed in this assignment announcement.

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

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

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 United States or its territories, both administratively as well as the campus the student is attending.

Current U.S. Department of Transportation employees are not eligible for the DDETFP.

In addition to the Program Office prerequisites stated in the assignment announcement, all student applicants of the DDETFP GRF must:

• Possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited IHE within the U.S. or its territories;

• Demonstrate confirmation of acceptance in a graduate degree program at an accredited

IHE in the U.S. or its territories;

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

1 The U.S. Department of Education publishes a list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies on

• Be pursuing a graduate degree in a full-time program in a transportation-related discipline identified in the assignment announcement;

• 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 & Immigration Service.

Applications without this information will not be considered complete.

DDETFP GRF APPLICATION PACKAGE

The DDETFP GRF requires the submission of a complete Application Package through www.grants.gov in response to one of the assignments posted this announcement.

General Instructions: Please read the NOFO and this announcement in their entirety before preparing the application materials.

A complete DDETFP GRF application package includes the following:

• Individual SF 424 (available through www.grants.gov)

• Completed Student File Information Sheet

• Personal statement: Narrative of relevant background and future goals

• Project experience: Narrative of relevant personal project specific experience

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

• Endorsement letter from the applicant’s Faculty Advisor regarding the applicant's qualifications for the project specific assignment

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

• Citizenship status o Non-U.S. citizens must provide a valid copy of current Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) 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 USCIS.

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

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 United States.

Educational institutions issue Form I-20.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

The DDETFP GRF applications will be reviewed by the sponsoring Program Office.

Fellowships will be awarded on the basis of merit. Merit includes (in descending order of importance with the top three criteria being equal in importance):

• Experience in research area identified in the proposed project announcement

• Unique qualifications for the proposed project described in the announcement

• Academic record: Class standing and grade point average

• Recommendation regarding the applicant's qualifications: Caliber of Faculty

Advisor endorsement of applicant's qualifications related to project requirements in the announcement

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

TENURE

• The length of assignment (“Period of Performance”) may range from 3 to 12 months depending on the project

• Student Designees are eligible for funding only during the months of full-time enrollment in graduate degree programs and during on-site research projects or internships with approved transportation agencies.

• During the tenure of the award, the Student Designee must maintain satisfactory academic performance as established by the IHE.

FUNDING

The fellowship, if applicable, may cover tuition, fees, and/or program-related expenses. All student designees may not receive a full award (i.e. tuition, stipend, and travel to the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting). Fellowship awards will be based on selection for assignment and available funding.

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

Monthly Stipend Master’s Level Up to $2,000 Doctoral Level Up to $2,500

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.

• Student designees are advised that the stipend portion of the award is taxable3

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

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

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

TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD (TRB) ANNUAL MEETING

Student Designees will be provided a one-time expenditure (up to $1,500) for travel to Washington, D.C. to attend the TRB Annual Meeting held 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 TRB, it is also required that students attend ALL DDETFP Research Showcase events. All students should plan to arrive by Sunday morning, and leave after the Networking Reception on Tuesday evening. If students have other commitments (i.e., presentations or poster sessions) during TRB they must notify the FHWA U&GP staff in advance to be excused from the Showcase session that conflicts with the event they would like to attend. Faculty Advisors are responsible for students securing per diem for their trip.

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 TRB. The abstract shall be submitted by the Student Designees (with a copy to their Faculty Advisor) to FHWA U&PG at FHWA_UGP@dot.gov as indicated in the request. The FHWA U&GP will notify Student Designees if their abstract was selected for presentation. Student Designees selected for TRB presentation will be required to deliver a 10 to 15-minute presentation describing their research project at the TRB Annual Meeting.

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

• Student Designee shall prepare project specific assignment deliverables as indicated in the proposed project announcement.

• The results of all research will be the property of FHWA and a copy must be made available to FHWA and can be used on an unlimited, royalty-free basis.

• GRF Student Designee shall prepare a thesis/dissertation or research paper for submission to the Program Office and the U&GP Program Manager. The Program Office will work with the IHE to ensure a year-end report is submitted.

PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT

The information is required under the authority of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended and Title 49 U.S.C. 332(b) (3) (4) (5). Your request cannot be processed unless all required data is submitted. Disclosure of your race and ethnicity are optional. Refusal to furnish your race and/or ethnicity will not result in the denial of any right, benefit or privilege provided by law.

Records maintained in the system are routinely used to determine eligibility/qualifications for fellowships, and for program evaluation and analysis purposes.

http://www.trb.org/

U&GP CONTACT INFORMATION

Universities and Grants Programs Center for Transportation Workforce Development Federal Highway Administration 1310 North Courthouse Road, Suite 300 Arlington, VA 22201

Web Site:

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/innovativeprograms/centers/workforce_dev/ E-mail: FHWA_UGP@dot.gov https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/innovativeprograms/centers/workforce_dev/

2020 GRANTS FOR RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP (GRF)

STUDENT FILE INFORMATION SHEET

Information MUST be typed and included as an attachment through www.grants.gov

STUDENT NAME

First Name Last Name

ANNOUNCEMENT

PROJECT TITLE

[NOTE: please indicate the project from those listed in the Announcement]

RACE (optional) American Indian Alaskan Native Asian African/African American Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander White Other

ETHNICITY (optional) Hispanic or Latino Not Hispanic or Latino Hispanic or Latino in Puerto Rico Not Hispanic or Latino in Puerto Rico

Check one box and place X to indicate your status as of September 1st of the application year:

Masters Doctoral

1st Year 1st Year 3rd Year 2nd Year 2nd Year 4th Year

Institution of Higher Education (IHE) Applicant’s Major (e.g. Civil Engineering, Urban Planning)

Academic Department Applicant’s Field of Study (e.g. Traffic Studies, Physical Planning)

Faculty Advisor Name:

Title:

Telephone No.:

E-mail Address:

STUDENT APPLICATION CONTENT CHECKLIST

Complete this Student File Information Sheet SF 424 Individual Application Essays

Personal Statement: Should include relevant background and future goals. Please outline your educational and professional development plans as well as your career goals. Describe how your education will prepare you for a career in transportation (Limit 8000 characters).

Project Experience: Describe your unique qualifications for the project. Incorporate educational, personal and work experiences, and accomplishments that substantiate your qualifications. Please propose how you would obtain the identified project outcome. (Limit 8000 characters).

Endorsement Letter from Faculty Advisor Current Resume Official Transcripts

I am applying for funding to support the following degree: I have submitted the following official transcript(s) to complete my application:

Master* Transcript from current institution Transcript from institution that awarded bachelor’s degree

Doctorate*

Transcript from current institution Transcript from institution that awarded bachelor’s degree Transcript from institution that awarded master’s degree

*Individuals applying must possess a baccalaureate degree from an Institution of Higher Education (IHE) which must be accredited by a federally-recognized accrediting agency and must be located within the United States or its territories, both administratively as well as the campus the student attended.

NARRATIVE RESPONSE: PERSONAL STATEMENT

Application MUST be typed and included as attachment through www.grants.gov

Personal Statement

Include relevant background and future goals to outline your educational and professional development plans as well as your career aspirations. Describe how your education will prepare you for a career in transportation.

(Limit 8000 characters)

NARRATIVE RESPONSE: PROJECT EXPERIENCE

Application MUST be typed and included as attachment through www.grants.gov

Project Experience

Please propose how you would obtain the identified proposed project outcome. Describe your unique qualifications for the project. Incorporate educational, personal and work experiences, and accomplishments that substantiate your qualifications. (Limit 8000 characters)

PROPOSED PROJECT ASSIGNMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS

NOTE: For the Student File Information Sheet and application narratives, please include the title of the Proposed Project Assignment for which you are applying from the list below.

Project Title A Riverine Nature-Based Solutions For Highway Resilience B From School to Work: A Study of Transportation Education and Career Readiness C Artificial Intelligence (AI) Application for Transportation System Operations and

Management (TSMO) and Cooperative Automation Research Mobility Applications (CARMA) Studies

D Steel Bridge Bearing Stiffener Details to Avoid Constraint-induced Fractures E Developing a Tool for Analysis of Risks in Percent Within Limits Acceptance Plans and

Specifications

PROJECT A: RIVERINE NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR HIGHWAY RESILIENCE

SPONSOR: FHWA, Office of Infrastructure LENGTH OF ASSIGNMENT: up to 12 months DISCIPLINES: Ecology (River), Environmental Science, Natural Resources, Fluvial Geomorphology DEGREE SUPPORTED: MS or Ph.D. Candidate

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT:

Careful assessment and consideration of river processes is paramount for the safe, resilient, and ecologically sensitive design of roads, bridges and culverts in riverine environments. Structures that do not account for the natural movements of waterways, the sediment and wood material they carry, and the aquatic and terrestrial organisms that call them home may fail to meet one or more of these objectives.

States including Colorado and Vermont relate that incorporating natural river processes and features in project planning, design, and maintenance activities leads to increased infrastructure flood resilience and may result in lower lifecycle maintenance costs and improved natural habitat and recreation opportunities.

To better assist States with these critical considerations, FHWA initiated the Rivers and Roads (R&R) Connection Program in 2020 to develop and deploy visually engaging, intuitive training and river assessment “toolkits” to a broad spectrum of transportation professionals that work on projects within river and stream corridors. Through R&R, FHWA intends to:

1) Demonstrate the importance and practical application of river processes and features for transportation projects to a national audience of Federal, State, and Local transportation agency professionals;

2) Exemplify how transportation projects in river environments can successfully meet multiple design objectives including public safety, preservation/enhancement of natural ecosystem functions, and resilience;

3) Emphasize the importance of clear communication and collaboration among DOT, regulatory, and resource agency staff working in transportation project teams; and

4) Increase interest and excitement in natural sciences and engineering at all levels of education.

FHWA recognizes that nature-based solutions (NBS) can be important components of infrastructure projects. Recently, the FHWA Office of the Natural Environment completed a multi-faceted NBS development and deployment effort focusing on coastal highway resilience. R&R Connection Program developers recognize that a parallel effort focused on roads in river environments is necessary, although it has yet to be planned and initiated. Some State agencies lead efforts to incorporate natural river processes and solutions in transportation project development and delivery. Vermont provides an example of interagency collaboration to this end.

The goal of this project is to support the NBS effort for roads in river environments by conducting research in this area and establishing a strategy and framework (i.e. roadmap) for a FHWA-led development and deployment effort. Results of this and future NBS efforts will target Federal, State, and Local transportation professionals and their project partners in agencies responsible for natural resources management and project permitting. Results of this effort should identify transportation agency missions, goals, and constraints (as established by transportation laws and policies) and best/innovative practices for leveraging inter-agency and inter-disciplinary collaborations to develop and implement NBS in transportation projects.

It is anticipated that the selectee for this effort will work remotely from their current location and will collaborate with the technical panel through virtual meetings. However, if practical, the selectee may be afforded the opportunity to meet with collaborators and stakeholders in the FHWA headquarters office in Washington, DC.

References:

• FHWA’s Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Highway Resilience Resources:

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/sustainability/resilience/ongoing_and_current_research/gre en_infrastructure/

• Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation Watershed and River Resources:

https://dec.vermont.gov/watershed/rivers

ACADEMIC CREDITS: To be determined

OUTPUTS/PRODUCTS:

Project outcomes and deliverables will be negotiated with the selectee during kickoff. Likely deliverables of this project may include:

1. A white paper that: 1) defines nature-based solutions for riverine applications including the potential benefits of such projects to transportation and resource agencies, 2) describes the current state of practice regarding the use of natural and nature-based features for road and river intersections, 3) provides an overview of implementation challenges and knowledge gaps, and 4) presents a case study of inter-agency collaboration to use NBS on a transportation or mitigation project.

2. A framework or strategy for further…