FY2020 HP-ITD NOFO Funding Presentation.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Summary Information

Federal Agency Name:

U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT)

Federal Motor Carrier Safety

Administration (FMCSA)

Grants Management Office (GMO); MC-BG

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE

West Building

Washington, DC 20590

Funding Opportunity Title:

High Priority Program – Innovative Technology

Deployment (HP-ITD)

Announcement Type:

Initial

Funding Opportunity Number: FM-MHP-20-002

Catalog of Federal Domestic

Assistance (CFDA) Number:

20.237

Key Dates: Application Due Date –

February 24, 2019

5:00pm EST

Point of Contact:

Financial/Application:

Rikita Jarrett

202-366-4186

Rikita.jarrett@dot.gov

Programmatic:

Bettina Conroy

518-810-2985

Bettina.conroy@dot.gov

HP-ITD APPLICATIONS

ONLY!!

ITD Programmatic contact:

Thomas Kelly

(202) 480-5240

Thomas.kelly@dot.gov mailto:Rikita.jarrett@dot.gov mailto:Bettina.conroy@dot.gov mailto:Thomas.kelly@dot.gov

SECTION A - PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1) Overview.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety

Administration (FMCSA) announces the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 High Priority grant program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications from eligible entities to support the High Priority - Innovative Technology Deployment (HP-ITD) activities.

The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act Pub. L. No. 114-94, § 5101

(2015) authorized FY 2019 HP-ITD program funding, and 49 U.S.C. §§ 31102(l) and

31104 and 49 C.F.R. part 350 govern the HP-ITD financial assistance program.

As the lead government agency responsible for the regulation and safety oversight of commercial motor vehicles (CMV), FMCSA awards HP-ITD funds to support innovative and impactful projects that advance its mission to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. Funding is available for the support of innovative projects that improve safety and compliance with CMV regulations, are national in scope, demonstrate new technologies, and reduce the number of CMV crashes.

These activities are supported in alignment with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s strategic goals of:

SAFETY: Reduce transportation-related fatalities and serious injuries across the transportation system.

INFRASTRUCTURE: Invest in infrastructure to ensure safety, mobility and accessibility and to stimulate economic growth, productivity and competitiveness for American workers and businesses.

INNOVATION: Lead in the development and deployment of innovative practices and technologies that improve the safety and performance of the Nation’s transportation system.

ACCOUNTABILITY: Serve the Nation with reduced regulatory burden and greater efficiency, effectiveness and accountability.

This NOFO provides important information about the HP-ITD safety priorities, highlighting the critical information related to preparing and submitting an application.

2) Project Type.

HP-ITD projects include the deployment of intelligent transportation system applications for CMV operations; support/maintenance of CMV information systems/networks, the linking of FMCSA and State information systems, the improvement of safety and productivity of CMVs and commercial drivers and the reduction of costs associated with CMV operations and regulatory requirements.

Note: A project consists of one or more activities that work towards achieving a defined goal and objective(s). If an applicant chooses to propose multiple HP-ITD projects within a single application, each application must contain separate and distinct project narratives, budget narratives, line item budgets, and project subtitles for each subproject proposed in that

3) National Priorities Descriptions.

Below are descriptions of the programmatic activities listed in order of priority.

Please note that additional information regarding cost eligibility may be found within the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) Grant

Comprehensive Policy (MCP). An electronic copy of the MCP may be found at:

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mission/grants/motor-carrier-safety-assistance-program-grant-comprehensive-policy

i) General

States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the

U.S. Virgin Islands are eligible to apply for this program.

The HP-ITD program provides financial assistance to advance technological capability and promote the deployment of intelligent transportation system applications. Projects funded under ITD support FMCSA’s safety initiatives for

CMV operations, commercial drivers, and carrier-specific information systems and networks; support and maintain CMV information systems and networks; link

FMCSA information systems with State CMV information systems; improve the safety and productivity of CMVs and drivers; and reduce the costs associated with

CMV operations, and Federal and State CMV regulatory requirements.

ii) Consideration for Funding.

The applications received for HP-ITD projects will be given consideration for funding as follows:

a) Applications received from State agencies to meet Core compliance (as defined within Section 6 of the MCSAP Comprehensive Policy), which includes, but is not limited to, a Commercial Vehicle Information Exchange Window (CVIEW), and/or the development or updating of a Program Plan/Top Level Design

(PP/TLD) that describes the various systems and networks that must be refined, revised, upgraded or built to accomplish Core capabilities as defined in the MCP.

CVIEW is a key mechanism to share CMV credential and safety information within the State and with other jurisdictions across the country. This interstate data exchange enables numerous critical safety programs to check for high risk motor carriers and Federal out-of-service orders. This also provides real-time electronic screening of interstate vehicles for safety, International Fuel Tax

Agreement, International Registration Plan, oversize/overweight permits, and other compliance information critical to a State’s safety program.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mission/grants/motor-carrier-safety-assistance-program-grant-comprehensive-policy https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/mission/grants/motor-carrier-safety-assistance-program-grant-comprehensive-policy

b) Applications that improve credentialing data quality when information is uploaded from the State to FMCSA’s Safety and Fitness Electronic Records

(SAFER) system. Grant application should include projects that ensure CVIEW systems capture updates sent to and from the SAFER system in real-time, or near real-time. Such applications should describe the performance measures used to ensure the accuracy and quality of the data exchanged, promote efficient system communication, and prevent system corruption or performance degradation, and the ability to tie the electronic screening of CVIEW data to inspection results. All

Core ITD performance measures related to electronic credential administration and safety information exchange must be maintained to remain Core certified.

c) Applications for Innovative Technologies for States that have met

Core ITD requirements that include, but are not limited to:

(1) Deploying a work-zone and/or incident electronic notification system that will safely notify the driver within the cab of the

CMV of an active work zone, traffic congestion, or an incident ahead. The alert system must be able to be safely broadcasted through the CMVs’ transponders, electronic on-board systems, cell phones, and/or motor carrier routing and dispatching systems.

(2) Deploying a CMV parking project that safely demonstrates real-time dissemination to a CMV driver of parking space availability by using dynamic message signs, interactive voice recognition, smartphone app, or other proven technology.

(3) Deploying electronic screening technology used in detecting Federal Out-of-Service

(OOS) orders; vehicle out-of-service issues, including, but not limited to; inoperable, defective, or deficient brakes, tires, exhaust systems, or any defect that may cause an unsafe condition. This electronic screening technology would be used while the vehicle is in motion and would provide the ability to alert or provide an indicator to an electronic screening system.

d) Other typical projects and costs associated with HP-ITD funded by

FMCSA are outlined in section 6 and Appendix H of the MCP. Any innovative technology solutions meeting the goals established within the

ITD program, but not listed in the MCP, may be submitted for consideration if the particular project is in the approved PP/TLD. A project in an approved PP/TLD is not an indication that any funding requested for that project within an application will be approved.

ii) Cost Matching under this Priority.

FMCSA will reimburse approved costs at the rate of 100 percent (no match/cost-share required) in the deployment of an HP-ITD CVIEW for States that have not achieved

Core ITD certification and have not been reimbursed for a CVIEW project previously

HP-ITD is a DEPLOYMENT grant program. All research or development projects should consider HP-CMV or other funding opportunities.

by FMCSA. All other approved projects will be reimbursed at the rate of 85 percent of eligible costs, requiring a match/cost share of 15 percent.

Any award for funds to develop or revise an ITD PP/TLD shall not exceed $150,000 of

Federal funding.

SECTION B – FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1) Funding and Number of Awards.

FMCSA anticipates making approximately 35 award(s) totaling $20,000,000 subject to the availability of funds, as a result of this Notice of Funding Opportunity. The

FMCSA reserves the right to allocate additional funds for awards based on the volume and quality of applications. Awards under the HP-ITD program are subject to the availability of funds under the Continuing Resolution or FY 2020 Appropriation Act.

2) Type of Award.

The planned award type(s) under this Notice will be issued as a grant or cooperative agreement. The FMCSA will determine the appropriate award type based on the proposed project.

These award types are for new FMCSA awards only. Applications for renewal or supplementation of existing awards are not eligible.

3) Period of Performance.

The period of performance is the Federal fiscal year in which the award is made plus four additional fiscal years.

4) Degree of Federal Involvement.

i) Cooperative Agreement: In accordance with 31 U.S.C. § 6305, FMCSA will award a cooperative agreement when substantial involvement between FMCSA and the recipient is anticipated when carrying out the activity outlined in the

Notice of Grant Agreement. FMCSA will outline the degree and nature of

Federal involvement at the time of award (e.g., the degree in which FMCSA employees are directly participating in the award activities).

ii) Grant: Substantial involvement is not expected between FMCSA and the recipient when carrying out the activity outlined in the agreement. FMCSA provides financial assistance, technical expertise, and oversight. Recipients provide the effort and expertise necessary to carry out the approved activities to improve CMV safety. FMCSA recipients are responsible for achieving the work described in their grant award, complying with the grant requirements laid out in the grant award’s terms and conditions, the local administration of the grant, and monitoring and oversight of any sub-recipients and/or sub-contractors.

EXAMPLE: Award occurs in August 2020. The max period of performance would include remainder of FY20 (Aug & Sept) + 4 additional Fiscal Years

SECTION C – ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION.

1) Eligible Applicants. The following section includes the applicants eligible for award.

The HP-ITD awards are available to States, the District of Columbia, the

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FMCSA may award HP-ITD funds to eligible applicants that have an approved program plan as outlined in the Fixing

America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. Individuals and businesses are not eligible to apply for HP-ITD funding.

To be eligible for HP-ITD funding, the State applicant must:

a) Certify that they are the lead agency responsible for the Program Plan and

Top-level Design (PP/TLD), or the applicant has a Memorandum of

Understanding, or other agreement with the ITD lead agency.

b) If the applicant is not the ITD lead agency as outlined in the approved

PP/TLD, the applicant must confirm that they have coordinated with the ITD lead agency regarding all projects requested in the application to ensure State-wide effectiveness and efficiency and to avoid any duplication of effort or other wastefulness in Federal funding initiatives.

c) Each HP-ITD applicant shall submit a Program Plan approval letter indicating the Program Plan previously approved includes the projects in which funds are being requested.

Note: The above does not apply if the applicant is requesting funding to develop a Program Plan only.

2) Cost-Sharing and Matching Requirements.

Applicants are reminded that FMCSA has identified certain items as reimbursable at 100 percent (requiring no matching funds) and others at the level of 85 percent (requiring a

15 percent match on the part of the awardee) for projects in Section A (3) under National

Priorities, and any other projects that fall within the scope of the ITD program. As such, applicants should pay close attention to matching requirements when completing their

HP-ITD proposals.

Cash, in-kind and third-party contributions are acceptable in meeting the matching share if they represent necessary, reasonable, allowable and allocable costs as established by 2

C.F.R. part 200 and FMCSA policy.

To be eligible for an HP-ITD grant, the State shall have an approved Program Plan (PP/TLD) approved by the Secretary as outlined in FAST Act (Pub. L. No. 114-94).

i) Budget Narrative. 5-page maximum

A budget narrative is a description, by budget category (object class), that details the costs necessary to complete the proposed projects. A well-written budget narrative ensures that the applicant has properly documented proposed costs. The level of detail must be sufficient to justify the funding requested. Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the sample budget narrative format included in Appendix B.

All costs in the budget narrative, SF-424 and SF-424-A must be rounded to the nearest whole dollar amount.

Please ensure all values are consistent throughout the http://our.dot.gov/office/fmcsa.mc-e/State%20Programs/FY2019/FY%202019%20High%20Priority%20Grant/NOFO/HP-CMV%20-%20DRAFT%20NOFO%20-%20FY2019%20High%20Priority.docx#_bookmark2

APPENDIX A: Application Package Requirement Checklist

Below is a non-exhaustive list of documents necessary for a responsive grant application announcement. Please note that this list is intended to assist applicants in compiling their application. However, because the required documents may differ slightly based on the nature of the grant application, applicants should not rely solely on this checklist and must still read the entire NOFO to ensure that they have included all required documents.

FMCSA reserves the right to request additional documentation or information to confirm compliance with applicable laws.

Document Name Document Description and Location

Information

Submit in:

Brief Introduction Include a description of the goal(s) of the application and the applicable program priority(s) met by the application’s projects.

Grants.gov

Problem Statement A quantitative description of the identified problem.

Include details on the data used to identify the problem and to establish the baseline.

Grants.gov

Performance

Objective

A description of the applicant’s quantifiable goal related to the above problem statement.

Grants.gov

Program Activity

Plan

A description of the activities the applicant believes will help mitigate the problem.

Grants.gov

Performance

Measurement Plan

A description of how the applicant will measure progress towards the performance objective goal, such as quantifiable and measurable outputs.

Grants.gov

Monitoring and

Reporting Plan A description of the applicant’s method for ongoing monitoring of the progress of the project. This should include who will conduct the monitoring, the frequency with which it will be carried out, and how and to whom reports will be made.

Grants.gov

Budget Narrative A budget narrative is a description, by budget category (object class) that details the costs necessary to complete the proposed projects.

SF-424 Application for

Federal Assistance

Required standard application form for all requests for Federal assistance. Form requests contact information for: 1) Lead Principal Investigator or

Program Director (program/project manager) [enter in

Box 8f]; and 2) Authorized Representative (AR)

Official (authorized signer) [enter in AR section following Box 21]. Available in the Grants.gov

SF-424A Budget

Information for Non-

Construction

Programs

Required standard budget form for requests for

Federal assistance. Available in the Grants.gov application package.

Grants.gov

SF-424B Assurances for

Non-Construction

Programs

Standard assurances form associated with accepting

Federal assistance funds. This document indicates that the organization is in substantial compliance with various programs, regulations, and Federal laws for a non-construction program. Available in the

Grants.gov application package.

Grants.gov

Grants.gov Lobbying

Form

Required form that allows organizations to indicate that they do not engage in lobbying activities.

Available in the Grants.gov application package.

Grants.gov

SF-LLL Disclosure of

Lobbying Activities

(if applicable)

Standard form to report their lobbying activities if applicable. Available in the Grants.gov application package.

Grants.gov

Key Contacts Form Required form requests contact information for:

1) Additional Persons for the role of Authorized

Representative Official (authorized signer);

2) Additional Persons for the role of Principal

Investigator or Program Director (program/project manager); and 3) the lead role of Financial Official

(Grants Manager).

NOTE: If more than one individual is designated in the same role, one individual must be identified as primary. Available in the Grants.gov application package.

Attachment Form Form used to submit supplemental attachments to support the grant application. Available in the

Grants.gov application package.

Grants.gov

Indirect Cost

Rate Agreement

(If Indirect Costs are included in applicant budget)

Organization’s signed current approved indirect cost rate from the cognizant Federal agency or letter of request to cognizant agency for rate establishment or adjustment.

Grants.gov

Standard Title VI/Non-

Discrimination Program

Assurance and Plan

Required self-certification assurance ensures that the applicant will comply with Title VI of the Civil

Rights Act of 1964 and related Nondiscrimination authorities (including other related directives, circulars, policy, memoranda, and/or guidance) to ensure that no person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, low-income, or limited English proficiency be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination.

A draft Title VI Program Assurance and Plan is available in Grants.gov under the “Related

Documents” tab.

Use the “Attachments Form” located in the

Grants.gov application package to attach the various files that make up your grant application.

Grants.gov

ITD Program Plan / Top

Level Design (PP/TLD) approval letter

To be eligible for an HP-ITD grant, the State shall have an approved Program Plan (PP/TLD) approved by the Secretary as outlined in FAST Act (Pub. L. No.

114-94).