fta-2011-011-tri-transitsafetyresearch-rfp.pdf

FTA-2011-011-TRI Page 1

TRANSIT SAFETY RESEARCH PROGRAM

TRANSIT SAFETY RESEARCH ROADMAP PROJECT

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT ACTION: Notice for Request for Proposals (RFP)

SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) research activities are authorized by 49 USC 5312, Research, Development, Demonstration, and Deployment Projects. Safety is one of the U.S. DOT’s five Strategic Goals. Under this goal, FTA seeks to further define its leadership role in the area of surface transportation safety.

Specifically, this role will include performing ongoing assessment of existing transit safety research programs to improve FTA’s assistance to the industry and by undertaking research in support of transit safety, with an emphasis on a) Addressing NTSB safety recommendations to FTA and the transit industry; b) Strengthening the transit industry’s safety culture, as well as safety planning and implementation capabilities and c) Supporting existing transit safety legislative statutory requirements.

The scope of this effort is to provide a safety research roadmap to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation (TRI). The roadmap shall include the following tasks: 1) conducting an assessment of existing safety research models that could be applicable to FTA; 2) background review of transit safety data to identify areas where FTA should prioritize research efforts and; 3) how safety research should support the new FTA-sponsored rail transit safety legislation (if passed) and transit in general.

FTA seeks applications that support the achievement of above objectives and tasks.

DATES: The applicant must submit a proposal electronically to http://www.grants.gov by March 11, 2011 for consideration. All potential applicants are advised to begin the http://www.grants.gov registration process immediately, if they have not previously submitted Federal assistance applications through http://www.grants.gov, in order to be able to meet the deadline. FTA expects to award funds through a Cooperative Agreement by Summer 2011. In the event of a system problem with the application submittal, the applicants should contact the FTA Project Manager for delivery instructions.

ADDRESSES: The website http://www.grants.gov allows applicant organizations to electronically find and apply for competitive opportunities from all Federal agencies that award Federal assistance. This website is the single access point for over 1000 Federal assistance programs administered by 26 Federal agencies.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical, program management and administrative questions should be directed to Roy Chen, Office of Technology (TRI- 20), Room E43-440, Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, http://www.grants.gov/� http://www.grants.gov/� http://www.grants.gov/�

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1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, D.C. 20590; email address:

RoyWeiShun.Chen@dot.gov, or by phone at 202-366-0462.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background In spite of the high level of passenger service, transit remains among the safest modes of transportation in the United States. Rail Transit is more than twice as safe as transit bus, 10 times safer than aviation, 20 times safer than ferry boat, and 70 times safer than travel by automobile. However, the accident rate in U.S. transit rail systems has increased 85%, the fatality rate increased 39% and the injury rate increased 44% comparing 2008 data to the averages of the previous five years (2003-2007).

Rail transit safety-related events over the past few years along with the July 2010 National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report on the WMATA collision have demonstrated the clear and urgent need for increased oversight by DOT of safety at the nation’s urban rail transit systems. FTA’s FY 2011 safety goal seeks to further define its leadership role in the area of surface transportation safety. An effective transit safety research program/portfolio can play a significant role in increasing public confidence in the safety of public transit systems; improve the culture of safety at all transit agencies, nationwide; reduce transit-related injuries and fatalities.

Objectives This Request for Proposal (RFP) seeks proposals that provide a transit safety research roadmap to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation (TRI).

Project Description The outcome/deliverable of this project is the transit safety research roadmap final report. The final report will be developed based on the tasks provided in this RFP.

The roadmap shall include the following tasks: 1) conduct an assessment of existing safety research models that could be applicable to FTA; 2) background review of transit safety data to identify areas where FTA should prioritize research efforts and; 3) how safety research should support the new FTA-sponsored rail transit safety legislation (if passed) and transit in general.

Task 1: Conduct an assessment of different safety research models that could be adopted in the development of transit safety research model for FTA (all transit modes)

a) Identification and review of safety research models and organizations (national, international, regulatory and non-regulatory)

1 2009 Rail Safety Statistics Report., page A-1, A-2, A-3 (http://transit-safety.fta.dot.gov/publications/RailSafety/Rail_Safety_Statistics_Report_2009-FINAL.pdf)

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b) Identification of recommendations and best practices from the models and organizations selected

Task 2: Background review of transit safety statistics and data (all transit modes)

a) Identify the transit safety data sources and the quality associated with those data sources

b) Identify trends and determine the data gaps

c) Identify problematic areas where FTA should prioritize research efforts.

d) Identification of recommendations to improve safety data collection and analysis

Task 3: How safety research should support the new FTA-sponsored rail transit safety legislation (if passed) and transit in general

a) What are the elements needed to develop an adequate safety data management system?

b) Is current voluntary APTA standard development adequate?

c) How research is used to develop safety standards and regulations?

d) Identify research mechanisms to support performance standards, regulations and rulemaking?

e) Identify recommendations and best practices

Cost Sharing or Matching Federal transit funds are available to research projects at up to 100 percent of the project cost. However, priority may be given to projects that receive financial commitments from, or otherwise involve, state and local government, other public entities, or private or nonprofit entities.

Eligibility Information This RFP is only open to Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

Proposal Content This announcement includes all of the information that you need to apply. The following form is available in www.grants.gov and is required to be completed as a part of the response to this announcement.

1. SF 424 Mandatory http://www.grants.gov/agencies/aapproved_standard_forms.jsp#1

SF 424 Mandatory

Most of the SF424 form is self explanatory. The applicant should answer the following items as follows:

1a – application 1b – annual 4a – Leave blank

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4b – 26

Other Attachments Form:

1. The applicant should attach a pre-application (not more than 15 pages in length) as outlined in Chapter II (Item 9.b) of FTA Circular 6100.C: Transit Research and Technology Programs: Application Instructions and Program Management Guidelines.

http://www.fta.dot.gov/laws/circulars/leg_reg_4121.html

This pre-application should also address the six criteria laid out below in the Application Review Information section. The project budget justification should include identification of any matching funds and their source. The Formal Application described in the Circular is not being requested at this time.

2. The applicant should attach information on the qualifications of key personnel, including biographies.

An interested, eligible party intending to apply should initiate the process of registering on http://www.grants.gov as soon as possible. All potential applicants are advised to begin the http://www.grants.gov registration process immediately, if they have not previously submitted Federal assistance applications through http://www.grants.gov, in order to be able to meet the deadline.

Application Evaluation Information A review panel will be convened to review each proposal. Project proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria;

1. Proposed Research, which includes the applicability of the proposal to the requirements and tasks in this RFP.

2. Qualifications of Key Personnel, each proposal will be reviewed for information that shows proposed staff, together, have the education and/or training, knowledge, and experience need to successfully carry out tasks awarded under the contract.

3. Past Performance on activities relevant to the proposed work. The Offerors past performance on similar efforts will be evaluated. Offerors will be evaluated on past performance under existing and prior contracts for similar work. Therefore, past performance results should ensure that a contractor has knowledge of the area/s being proposed.

4. Cost and Cost Sharing and sources of funds.

Distribution of Funds FTA may fund one application under this notice. The total available funding is $100,000.

Grant Administration Information http://www.fta.dot.gov/laws/circulars/leg_reg_4121.html� http://www.grants.gov/�

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The notification date for successful applications is expected to be during the summer of 2011. Following receipt of the notification letters, the successful entities will be required to submit the Formal Application as outlined in Chapter II (Items 10-25) of FTA Circular 6100.C: Transit Research and Technology Programs: Application Instructions and Program Management Guidelines http://www.fta.dot.gov/laws/circulars/leg_reg_4121.html through the FTA Transportation Electronic Award Management (TEAM) system website.

FTA will manage the cooperative agreement through the TEAM system. Before FTA may award Federal financial assistance through a Federal cooperative agreement, the entity must submit all certifications and assurances pertaining to itself and its project as required by Federal laws and regulations. FTA has consolidated the various certifications and assurances that may be required of its awardees and the projects into a single document published in the Federal Register. Fiscal year 2011 Annual List of Certifications and Assurances for FTA Grants and Cooperative Agreements and guidelines was published in the Federal Register and posted on the FTA Web site at:

http://www.fta.dot.gov/funding/apply/grants_financing_7411.html .

Recipients will be required to manage their projects in accordance with FTA Circular 6100.C: Transit Research and Technology Programs: Application Instructions and Program Management Guidelines: http://www.fta.dot.gov/laws/circulars/leg_reg_4121 .

This includes requirements for project management and administration, including quarterly reporting, financial management, and payments.

FTA involvement will include approving key decisions and activities, attending review meetings, reviewing interim and final reports, maintaining frequent contact with the project manager and redirecting activities if needed.

http://www.fta.dot.gov/laws/circulars/leg_reg_4121.html� http://www.fta.dot.gov/funding/apply/grants_financing_7411.html� http://www.fta.dot.gov/laws/circulars/leg_reg_4121�

DATES: The applicant must submit a proposal electronically to http://www.grants.gov by March 11, 2011 for consideration. All potential applicants are advised to begin the http://www.grants.gov registration process immediately, if they have not previously submitted Federal assistance applications through http://www.grants.gov, in order to be able to meet the deadline. FTA expects to award funds through a Cooperative Agreement by Summer 2011. In the event of a system problem with the application submittal, the applicants should contact the FTA Project Manager for delivery instructions.