FY23 - FY24 ATTAIN NOFO 693JJ324NF00005 - 11.20.2023.pdf

U.S. Department of Transportation

Federal Highway Administration

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Number 693JJ324NF00005

“Advanced Transportation Technologies and

Innovative Mobility Deployment (ATTIMD) Program” also known as

“Advanced Transportation Technology and Innovation (ATTAIN) Program”

Issue Date: November 20, 2023

Application Due Date: February 02, 2024

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR

SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES FROM FISCAL YEAR 2022 ATTAIN 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 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.

This notice contains collection-of-information requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction

Act. This information collection has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) under 2125-0666. The use of Standard Forms 424, 424A, 424B, and SF-LLL has been approved by OMB under 2105-0520. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection displays a currently valid OMB control number.

http://www.grants.gov/

Summary Information

Funding Opportunity

Summary:

Up to $120 million, $60 million for each of Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024, 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: Jim Garling

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 second notice for the ATTAIN Program. Note: The

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:

693JJ324NF00005

Type of Award: Cooperative Agreements or

Allocations to State departments of transportation

Assistance Listing

Number:

20.200 Highway Research & Development

Application Due Date: Submission Deadline: Applications Due by date February 02, 2024 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time through www.Grants.gov

Questions: Submit Questions to: ATTAIN@dot.gov mailto:ATTAIN@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: Virtual Webcast: Background and Application Information for the ATTAIN

Program

DATE: TBD

TIME: 1:00 pm Eastern Time

INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION: To Be Determined

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For further information concerning this notice, please contact the ATTAIN Program staff via email at ATTAIN@dot.gov.

A Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) is available for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing at 202-366-3993.

In addition, FHWA will post answers to questions and requests for clarifications on Grants.gov.

To ensure applicants receive accurate information about eligibility or the program, the applicant is encouraged to contact FHWA directly, rather than through intermediaries or third parties, with questions.

Substantive Changes from Fiscal Year 2022 ATTAIN 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.

This NOFO is for both Fiscal Years (FY) 2023 and 2024.

The Program Vision, Program Goals, and Administration’s Priorities on page 11 have been revised from the 2022 NOFO.

The table identifying which technologies, ATTAIN Program goals, the Administration’s

Priorities, and DOT Focus Areas are addressed, as applicable, in the application, beginning on page 25, has been revised from the 2022 NOFO.

Additional Selection Considerations, beginning on page 40, have been added since the 2022

NOFO.

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. The FHWA intends for these technology deployments to 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.

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

1. Statement of Purpose

The 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 (e.g., public transportation, shared-use mobility, traffic incident management, construction, parking, congestion pricing/tolls or other costs) to allow travelers, service providers, and shippers to make informed decisions regarding destinations, when to travel, routes, or modes. This information should be accessible to all users;

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, transportation systems management and operations (TSMO), 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 (e.g., asset management) 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 the 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;

http://www.safercar.gov/ https://www.its.dot.gov/index.htm

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. The

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 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 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 on managing congestion, environmental impacts, and other external costs. The 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, 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. 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 491.

4. Program Vision, Program Goals, the Administration’s Priorities, and DOT Focus Areas

The 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 the

Program Vision, Program Goals, the Administration’s Priorities, and DOT 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:

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

• 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;

• 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;

• Improve the mobility of people and goods;

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:49%20section:6503%20edition:prelim)%20OR%20(granuleid:USC-prelim-title49-section6503)&f=treesort&edition=prelim&num=0&jumpTo=true

• 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;

• 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;

• 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;

• 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.

Alignment with the Administration’s Priorities:

The FHWA seeks to fund projects under this NOFO that advance the following the

Administration’s Priorities, where applicable.

Safety: The DOT is committed to advancing safe, efficient transportation, including in the

ATTAIN Program.

The National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS), issued January 27, 2022, commits the

Department to respond to the current crisis in roadway fatalities by “taking substantial, comprehensive action to significantly reduce serious and fatal injuries on the Nation’s roadways,” in pursuit of the goal of achieving zero roadway deaths through a Safe System

Approach.2 The outcomes that are anticipated from the projects funded by ATTAIN Program should align with the NRSS.

2 https://www.transportation.gov/NRSS https://www.transportation.gov/NRSS

Climate Change and Sustainability: The Department seeks to fund projects under the

ATTAIN Program that reduce greenhouse gas and criteria pollutant emissions in the transportation sector, incorporate evidence-based climate resilience measures and features, reduce the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from the project materials, and avoid adverse environmental impacts to air or water quality, wetlands, and endangered species, and address the disproportionate negative environmental impacts of transportation on disadvantaged communities, consistent with Executive Order (E.O.) 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at

Home and Abroad (86 FR 7619).

Equity: The Department seeks to award projects under the ATTAIN Program that will create proportional impacts to all populations in a project area, remove transportation related disparities to all populations in a project area, and increase equitable access to project benefits, consistent with E.O. 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government (86 FR 70093).

Workforce Development, Job Quality, and Wealth Creation: The Department intends to use the ATTAIN Program 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 training and placement programs, especially registered apprenticeships, in project planning stages, consistent with E.O.

14025, Worker Organizing and Empowerment (86 FR 22829), and E.O. 14052, Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (86 FR 64335). The Department also intends to use the ATTAIN Program to support wealth creation, consistent with the Department’s Equity

Action Plan (https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2022-

04/Equity_Action_Plan.pdf) through the inclusion of local inclusive economic development and entrepreneurship such as the utilization of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, Minority-owned

Businesses, Women-owned Businesses, or 8(a) firms.

Section E of this NOFO, which outlines the FY 2023 and FY 2024 ATTAIN Program awards selection criteria, describes the process for selecting projects that further these goals. Section F.2 describes progress and performance reporting requirements for selected projects, including the relationship between that reporting and the program’s selection criteria, and the Administration’s

Priorities, as appropriate.

DOT Focus Areas:

Although not a requirement, 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

3 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/04/21/executive-order-on-revitalizing-our-nations-commitment-to-environmental-justice-for-all/ https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2022-04/Equity_Action_Plan.pdf https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2022-04/Equity_Action_Plan.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/04/21/executive-order-on-revitalizing-our-nations-commitment-to-environmental-justice-for-all/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/04/21/executive-order-on-revitalizing-our-nations-commitment-to-environmental-justice-for-all/ 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.

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.

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's 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.

Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (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. The FHWA is interested in emerging technologies that support the Complete Trip Program.

Data Availability:

The 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.

SECTION B – FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Award Amount Available

Up to $120 million ($60 million for FY 2023 and $60 million for FY 2024) is set aside per section 503(c)(4)(I) of Title 23, U.S.C., for the ATTAIN Program to fund grants under this

NOFO. The amount of ATTAIN funding available for award and obligation is reduced from the authorized set-aside level based on the imposition of the Federal-aid Highway Program obligation limitation contained in each fiscal year’s annual appropriations act. The amount is also subject to a set-aside of up to $2 million for FHWA administrative expenses each fiscal year. For FY 2023, based on the obligation limitation calculations, the amount available for award is up to $52,680,000 prior to the administrative expenses set-aside (up to $50,680,000 with the full administrative expenses set-aside). The amount available for award for FY 2024 will be determined upon enactment of the FY 2024 annual appropriations act.

The FHWA previously issued the FY 2022 NOFO for the ATTAIN Program, as also authorized by Section 13006 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58, also known as the BIL).

*Please note that FY 2024’s funding for this program is subject to availability. The

Government’s obligation under any resulting award is contingent upon the availability of funding. No legal liability on the part of the Government for any payment may arise until funds are available and obligated to an award. The FHWA is not obligated to make any award because of this notice.

RURAL SET-ASIDE: At least 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 an area with a population of less than 50,000 residents according to the 2020 Census population estimates.

2. Award Size

A single recipient may not receive more than $12 million in Federal funding made available in a single fiscal year (i.e., a maximum of $12 million from FY 2023 ATTAIN funding & a maximum of $12 million from FY 2024 ATTAIN funding). Federal funding may not exceed 80 percent of project costs.

The FHWA anticipates making at least 5 but no more than 10 awards of up to $12 million individually for each FY in which funding is authorized. Since this NOFO combines authorized funding for FY 2023 and FY 2024, FHWA anticipates making at least 10 but no more than 20 awards from this opportunity.

3. Type of Award

The award type is a cost-reimbursement cooperative agreement with cost-sharing. If a recipient will be a State DOT or if a State DOT will serve as a pass-through entity to a non-State DOT entity, funds will be awarded upon the execution of a project agreement, which is a type of agreement for administration of funds to a State DOT using the DOT Payment System referred to as the Fiscal Management Information System (FMIS). If the recipient is a non-State DOT, funds will be awarded upon the execution of a cooperative agreement with FHWA.

4. Period of Performance

The estimated period of performance is between 2 and 4 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.

5. Degree of Federal Involvement

The FHWA anticipates substantial Federal involvement with the ATTAIN recipients during 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.

SECTION C – ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Eligible applicants are State or local governments, transit agencies, metropolitan planning organizations (MPO), 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 under an ATTAIN Program award. The ATTAIN Program award shall not exceed 80 percent of the total cost of the project funded through Section 13006 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58, also known as the BIL).

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 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, including section 200.306 on Cost Sharing or Matching. Other Federal funds using their appropriate matching share may be leveraged for selected projects but cannot be considered as part of the ATTAIN matching funds unless otherwise supported by statute. The FHWA will not consider costs incurred prior to award or funds expended or encumbered prior to award towards the matching requirement for any project. Matching funds are subject to the same Federal requirements described in Section F.2. as awarded funds.

3. OTHER INFORMATION

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

The 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.

SECTION D – APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. ADDRESS TO REQUEST APPLICATION PACKAGE

Applicants may obtain application forms on Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov under the

NOFO Number cited herein.

Once at Grants.gov, select the Search Grants tab. Then enter one of the following:

• Opportunity Number: 693JJ324NF00005

• Opportunity Name: Advanced Transportation Technology and Innovation Program

• Assistance Listing Number: 20.200

When at one of these pages, select Opportunity, which will open a page with several tabs. The first tab is a synopsis of the opportunity. Select the Application Package tab to download the forms needed to submit an FY 2023-2024 ATTAIN Program application. The applicant must complete and submit all forms included in the application package for this notice as contained at www.Grants.gov.

Should applicants have any difficulties in accessing any standard forms and require paper copies, please contact one of the individuals by either of the means below:

Primary:

Ryan Buck

Phone: 202-366-4229

Email: Ryan.Buck@dot.gov

Alternate:

Robin Hobbs

Phone: 202-366-4004

Email: Robin.Hobbs@dot.gov

For a Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD), please call (202) 366-3993.

2. CONTENT AND FORM OF APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Content and Form of Applications

Applicants shall submit an application that includes the following information:

1. Volume 1: Technical Application;

2. Volume 2: Budget Application, including the Standard Form (SF) 424 (Application for

Federal Assistance); SF-424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction Projects); and

SF-LLL (Disclosure of Lobbying Activities).

http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ mailto:Ryan.Buck@dot.gov mailto:Robin.Hobbs@dot.gov

A more detailed description of the technical application and budget application submission elements is shown below:

Table D.2 – Application Volumes

Volume Section Overall Page Limits

Volume 1.

Technical

Application

I – Cover Page and Table of Contents No page limit

II – Project Narrative

Sections II, III, and IV, total 30-page limit

III – Management

Structure

IV – Staffing Description*

Appendix – Résumés**

Exhibits and attachments in support of Sections II-

IV***

Volume 2. Budget

Application

I – Application Standard

Forms Separate files, no page limit

II – Summary Budget

Narrative

One (1) file, no page limit

III – Cost Share

Information (including letters of commitment)

IV – Other Federal

Funding Received or

Requested

V – Organizational

Information

*Staffing Description: Section IV Shall not exceed 5 pages.

**Key Personnel: Resumes for Key Personnel do NOT count toward the 30-page limitation for Volume 1. Individual resumes shall not exceed 4 pages, and only 5 Key Personnel may be proposed.

***Exhibits: Total exhibits and attachments shall not exceed 30 pages.

Note: Applicants shall provide letters of commitment and/or support 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 application files 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-

2023 and 2024-ATTAIN-fileID (e.g., Vol-1, Vol-2) where “Applicant_organization” reflects the applicant’s legal name. It is recommended that applicants abbreviate their name for the purposes of this naming convention due to file character limits. 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)-2023 and 2024-ATTAIN.” If necessary, the workspace title can be edited per the instructions on Grants.gov.

The FHWA is committed to considering project funding decisions holistically among the various discretionary grant programs available in BIL. The 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 program 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. The 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.

Sharing of Application Information

The Department may share application information within the Department or with other Federal

Agencies if the Department determines that sharing is relevant to the respective program’s objectives.

VOLUME 1 – TECHNICAL APPLICATION

a) Section I – Cover Page and Table of Contents

Cover Page including the following Table:

Table 1. Example of Table of Contents

Project Name

Eligible Entity Applying to Receive Federal Funding

Total Project Cost (from all sources) $

Advanced Transportation Technology and Innovation

Program 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

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

• Statewide Transportation Improvement Program

• MPO Long Range Transportation Plan

• 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 2020

Census population estimates.

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

Yes/No

Include a table of contents for Volume I Technical Application.

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 of this NOFO and for FHWA to evaluate the project in relation to the selection criteria specified in Section E.1 of this NOFO. To the extent practicable, applicants should provide data and evidence of project merits in a form that is verifiable or publicly available. The FHWA expects applications to be complete upon submission.

The FHWA recommends that the Project Narrative, at a minimum, provide the information listed below. Include any appropriate exhibits or attachments that will aid in the review and assessment of the application. All exhibits and attachments must clearly identify what technical area of the project narrative the document supports. See Section D.2 for information on the page limit applicable to exhibits and attachments.

1. A short (50-70 words) summary of the proposed project at the beginning of the Project

Narrative section and a table or other summary that clearly identifies which of the

Program technologies in Section A.3 of this NOFO and Program Goals, the

Administration’s Priorities, and DOT Focus Areas in Section A.4 of this NOFO will be addressed by the proposed project (see below for an example table format).

2. A description of the geographic area or jurisdiction the deployment will service, including whether or not the area in question is considered rural.

3. A description of the real-world issues and challenges to be addressed by the proposed technology deployments. Applicants should discuss how the proposed technology deployments address the goals of the program and any applicable technology focus area.

4. A discussion of how the proposed project addresses the requirements contained in

Section A.4 of this NOFO, including, as applicable, Program Vision, Program Goals, the

Administration’s Priorities, and DOT Focus Areas.

5. A description of transportation systems and services to be included in the project. Please note operational improvements eligible to receive Federal funding for implementation are defined in 23 U.S.C. 101(a)(19).

6. A deployment plan that includes providing long-term operation and maintenance of advanced transportation and congestion management technologies to achieve implementation goals.

7.