[Federal Register: November 9, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 217)]
[Notices]
[Page 65792-65793]
[DOCID:fr09no06-64]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. RP98-18-023]

Iroquois Gas Transmission System, L.P.; Notice of Negotiated Rate

November 3, 2006.
    Take notice that on November 1, 2006, Iroquois Gas Transmission
System, L.P. (Iroquois) tendered for filing the following revised
sheets to its FERC Gas Tariff, First Revised Volume No. 1, to be
effective on November 1, 2006: Second Revised Sheet No. 6G, Second
Revised Sheet No. 6H.
    Iroquois states that copies of its filing were served on all
jurisdictional customers and interested state regulatory agencies and
all parties to the proceeding.
    Any person desiring to intervene or to protest this filing must
file in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission's Rules of
Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214). Protests will be
considered by the Commission in determining the appropriate action to
be taken but will not serve to make protestants parties to the
proceeding. Any person wishing to become a party must file a notice of
intervention or motion to intervene, as appropriate. Such notices,
motions, or protests must be filed in accordance with the provisions of
Section 154.210 of the Commission's regulations (18 CFR 154.210).
Anyone filing an intervention or protest must serve a copy of that
document on the Applicant. Anyone

filing an intervention or protest on or before the intervention or
protest date need not serve motions to intervene or protests on persons
other than the Applicant.
    The Commission encourages electronic submission of protests and
interventions in lieu of paper using the ``eFiling'' link at http://www.ferc.gov.
 Persons unable to file electronically should submit an

original and 14 copies of the protest or intervention to the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC
20426.
    This filing is accessible on-line at http://www.ferc.gov, using the

``eLibrary'' link and is available for review in the Commission's
Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. There is an ``eSubscription''
link on the Web site that enables subscribers to receive e-mail
notification when a document is added to a subscribed docket(s). For
assistance with any FERC Online service, please e-mail
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or call<PHONE_NUMBER> (toll free). For

TTY, call<PHONE_NUMBER>.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E6-19008 Filed 11-8-06; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 50 (Thursday, March 14, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9316-9317]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04679]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Project No. 1894-211]

South Carolina Electric & Gas Company; Notice Soliciting Scoping
Comments

    Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been
filed with the Commission and is available for public inspection.
    a. Type of Application: New Major License.
    b. Project No.: P-1894-211.
    c. Date filed: June 28, 2018.
    d. Applicant: South Carolina Electric and Gas Company.
    e. Name of Project: Parr Hydroelectric Project.
    f. Location: The existing project is located on the Broad River, in
Newberry and Fairfield Counties, South Carolina. The project occupies
162.61 acres of federal lands administered by the U.S. Forest Service.
    g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act 16 U.S.C. 791 (a)-825(r).
    h. Applicant Contact: Mr. William Argentieri, P.E., Manager of
Civil Engineering, South Carolina Electric & Gas Company, 220 Operation
Way, Mail Code A221, Cayce, SC 29033-3701;<PHONE_NUMBER>; or email at
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>    i. FERC Contact: Monte TerHaar at<PHONE_NUMBER>; or
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>    j. Deadline for filing scoping comments: April 5, 2019.
    The Commission strongly encourages electronic filing. Please file
scoping comments using the Commission's eFiling system at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. Commenters can submit brief
comments up to 6,000 characters, without prior registration, using the
eComment system at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ecomment.asp. You
must include your name and contact information at the end of your
comments. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>(866) 208-3676 (toll free), or (202) 502-
8659 (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please send a paper copy to:
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE,
Washington, DC 20426. The first page of any filing should include
docket number P-1894-211.
    The Commission's Rules of Practice require all intervenors filing
documents with the Commission to serve a copy of that document on each
person on the official service list for the project. Further, if an
intervenor files comments or documents with the Commission relating to
the merits of an issue that may affect the responsibilities of a
particular resource agency, they must also serve a copy of the document
on that resource agency.

    k. This application is not ready for environmental analysis at this
time.
    l. Project Description: The project consists of two developments;
the 14.88 Megawatt (MW) Parr Shoals Development and the 511.2-MW
Fairfield Pumped Storage Development.
    The Parr Shoals Development consists of: (1) The 15-mile-long,
4,250-acre Parr Reservoir, at full pond elevation 265.3 feet North
American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88); (2) the 2,690-foot-long Parr
Shoals Dam, which includes a non-overflow section, spillway section
with 10 gates, and powerhouse intake section; (3) a powerhouse integral
with the dam, with six generating units; and (4) transmission
facilities that consist of three 950-foot-long, 13.8-kilovolt lines
extending from the hydro station to the non-project Parr sub-station.
    The Fairfield Pumped Storage Development consists of: (1) Parr
Reservoir which serves as the lower pool; (2) the 6,800-acre Monticello
Reservoir (upper reservoir), at normal maximum elevation 424.3 feet
NAVD 88, formed by four earthen dams (A, B, C, and D); (3) a 265-foot-
long gated intake channel, located between dams B and C; (4) four 800-
foot-long surface penstocks bifurcating into eight penstocks; (5) an
underground generating station, which houses eight pumped-turbine
units; and (6) transmission facilities that consist of three 7,000-
foot-long lines extending from the Fairfield switch station to the non-
project V.C. Summer switchyard.
    The Fairfield Pumped Storage Development is operated to generate
during peak demand periods. Generation usually occurs during the day,
with the upper reservoir replenished by pumping water at night (non-
peak period). The Parr Shoals Development serves as the lower reservoir
for the pumped storage project.
    m. A copy of the application is available for review at the
Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on the
Commission's website at http://www.ferc.gov using the ``eLibrary''
link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the
docket number field to address the document. For assistance, contact
FERC Online Support. A copy is available for inspection and
reproduction at the address in Item H above.
    n. You may also register online at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp to be notified via email of new filings and issuances
related to this or other pending projects. For assistance, contact FERC
Online Support.
    o. Scoping Process.
    The Commission staff intends to prepare a single Environmental
Assessment (EA) for the project in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act. The EA will consider both site-specific and
cumulative environmental impacts and reasonable alternatives to the
proposed action.
    At this time, we do not anticipate holding on-site public or agency
scoping meetings. Instead, we are soliciting your comments and
suggestions on the preliminary list of issues and alternatives to be
addressed in the EA, as described in scoping document 1 (SD1), issued
March 6, 2019.
    Copies of the SD1 outlining the subject areas to be addressed in
the EA were distributed to the parties on the Commission's mailing list
and the applicant's distribution list. Copies of SD1 may be viewed on
the web at http://www.ferc.gov using the ``eLibrary'' link. Enter the
docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number
field to access the document. For assistance, call 1-866-208-3676 or
for TTY,<PHONE_NUMBER>.

    Dated: March 6, 2019.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-04679 Filed 3-13-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 140 (Monday, July 24, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47363-47365]
[FR Doc No: 2023-15585]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0244; Airspace Docket No. 19-AAL-48]
RIN 2120-AA66

Establishment of United States Area Navigation Route (RNAV) T-379
in the Vicinity of Discovery, AK

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This action establishes United States Area Navigation (RNAV)
T-route T-379, in the vicinity of Discovery, AK, in support of a large
and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of
Alaska.

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, October 5, 2023. The Director of the
Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference action under
1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual revision of FAA Order JO 7400.11
and publication of conforming amendments.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), all
comments received, this final rule, and all background material may be
viewed online at www.regulations.gov using the FAA Docket number.
Electronic retrieval help and guidelines are available on the website.
It is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points,
and subsequent amendments can be viewed online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. You may also contact the Rules and
Regulations Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration,
800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Roff, Rules and Regulations
Group, Office of Policy, Federal Aviation Administration, 800
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267-
8783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority for This Rulemaking

    The FAA's authority to issue rules regarding aviation safety is
found in Title 49 of the United States Code. Subtitle I, Section 106
describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII,
Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the agency's
authority. This rulemaking is promulgated under the authority described
in Subtitle VII, Part A,

Subpart I, Section 40103. Under that section, the FAA is charged with
prescribing regulations to assign the use of the airspace necessary to
ensure the safety of aircraft and the efficient use of airspace. This
regulation is within the scope of that authority as it expands the
availability of RNAV in Alaska and improve the efficient flow of air
traffic within the National Airspace System by lessoning the dependency
on ground-based navigation.

History

    The FAA published a notice of proposed rulemaking for Docket No.
FAA-2022-0244 in the Federal Register (87 FR 16670; March 24, 2022),
establishing RNAV T-route T-379, in the vicinity of Discovery, AK, in
support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for
the state of Alaska. Interested parties were invited to participate in
this rulemaking effort by submitting comments on the proposal. No
comments were received.

Incorporation by Reference

    United States Area Navigation Routes are published in paragraph
6011 of FAA Order JO 7400.11, Airspace Designations and Reporting
Points, which is incorporated by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 on an annual
basis. This document amends the current version of that order, FAA
Order JO 7400.11G, dated August 19, 2022, and effective September 15,
2022. FAA Order JO 7400.11G is publicly available as listed in the
ADDRESSES section of this document. These amendments will be published
in the next update to FAA Order JO 7400.11.
    FAA Order JO 7400.11G lists Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas,
air traffic service routes, and reporting points.

The Rule

    This action amends 14 CFR part 71 by establishing RNAV route T-379
in the vicinity of Discovery, AK, in support of a large and
comprehensive T-route modernization project in the state of Alaska. The
new route is described below.
    T-379: T-379 extends from a new waypoint (WP), MAYHW, located
southeast of Bethel, AK, to the UTICE, AK, WP, located southwest of
McGrath, AK.

Regulatory Notices and Analyses

    The FAA has determined that this regulation only involves an
established body of technical regulations for which frequent and
routine amendments are necessary to keep them operationally current.
It, therefore: (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under
Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034; February 26, 1979);
and (3) does not warrant preparation of a regulatory evaluation as the
anticipated impact is so minimal. Since this is a routine matter that
only affects air traffic procedures and air navigation, it is certified
that this rule, when promulgated, does not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of
the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Environmental Review

    The FAA has determined that this airspace action of establishing
RNAV route T-379 in the vicinity of Discovery, AK, qualifies for
categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its implementing regulations at 40 CFR part
1500, and in accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, Environmental Impacts:
Policies and Procedures, paragraph 5-6.5a, which categorically excludes
from further environmental impact review rulemaking actions that
designate or modify classes of airspace areas, airways, routes, and
reporting points (see 14 CFR part 71, Designation of Class A, B, C, D,
and E Airspace Areas; Air Traffic Service Routes; and Reporting
Points), and paragraph 5-6.5i, which categorically excludes from
further environmental review the establishment of new or revised air
traffic control procedures conducted at 3,000 feet or more above ground
level (AGL); procedures conducted below 3,000 feet AGL that do not
cause traffic to be routinely routed over noise sensitive areas;
modifications to currently approved procedures conducted below 3,000
feet AGL that do not significantly increase noise over noise sensitive
areas; and increases in minimum altitudes and landing minima. As such,
this action is not expected to result in any potentially significant
environmental impacts. In accordance with FAA Order 1050.1F, paragraph
5-2 regarding Extraordinary Circumstances, the FAA has reviewed this
action for factors and circumstances in which a normally categorically
excluded action may have a significant environmental impact requiring
further analysis. Accordingly, the FAA has determined that no
extraordinary circumstances exist that warrant preparation of an
environmental assessment or environmental impact study.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 71

    Airspace, Incorporation by reference, Navigation (air).

The Amendment

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Federal Aviation
Administration amends 14 CFR part 71 as follows:

PART 71--DESIGNATION OF CLASS A, B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR
TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND REPORTING POINTS

0
1. The authority citation for 14 CFR part 71 continues to read as
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g); 40103, 40113, 40120; E.O.
10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR, 1959-1963 Comp., p. 389.

Sec.  71.1  [Amended]

0
2. The incorporation by reference in 14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order JO
7400.11G, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated August 19,
2022, and effective September 15, 2022, is amended as follows:

Paragraph 6011 United States Area Navigation Routes

* * * * *

T-379 MAYHW, AK to UTICE, AK [New]

MAYHW, AK                     WP                  (Lat. 59[deg]48'11.94'' N, long. 159[deg]16'08.97'' W)
MUPVE, AK                     WP                  (Lat. 60[deg]05'25.37'' N, long. 159[deg]08'14.30'' W)
HIBNA, AK                     WP                  (Lat. 60[deg]24'56.24'' N, long. 159[deg]17'15.44'' W)
JEKBO, AK                     WP                  (Lat. 60[deg]40'19.55'' N, long. 159[deg]01'38.87'' W)
JEBDA, AK                     WP                  (Lat. 61[deg]20'23.35'' N, long. 158[deg]40'34.12'' W)
AMEDE, AK                     WP                  (Lat. 61[deg]34'17.31'' N, long. 158[deg]25'46.86'' W)
ZARUM, AK                     WP                  (Lat. 61[deg]41'59.81'' N, long. 158[deg]20'27.59'' W)
TIRIE, AK                     WP                  (Lat. 61[deg]54'19.63'' N, long. 158[deg]14'19.53'' W)
UTICE, AK                     WP                  (Lat. 62[deg]18'35.36'' N, long. 157[deg]37'56.78'' W)

* * * * *

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 18, 2023.
Karen L. Chiodini,
Manager, Airspace Rules and Regulations Group.
[FR Doc. 2023-15585 Filed 7-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


[Federal Register: January 19, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 12)]
[Notices]
[Page 2505]
[DOCID:fr19ja07-39]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. EL07-31-000]

DTE Pontiac North LLC; Notice of Filing

January 11, 2007.
    Take notice that on January 4, 2007, DTE Pontiac North LLC filed a
request for declaratory order regarding exempt wholesale generator
status, pursuant to section 366.1 of the Commission's regulations, 18
CFR 366.1 (2006).
    Any person desiring to intervene or to protest this filing must
file in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission's Rules of
Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211, 385.214). Protests will be
considered by the Commission in determining the appropriate action to
be taken, but will not serve to make protestants parties to the
proceeding. Any person wishing to become a party must file a notice of
intervention or motion to intervene, as appropriate. Such notices,
motions, or protests must be filed on or before the comment date. On or
before the comment date, it is not necessary to serve motions to
intervene or protests on persons other than the Applicant.
    The Commission encourages electronic submission of protests and
interventions in lieu of paper using the ``eFiling'' link at http://www.ferc.gov.
 Persons unable to file electronically should submit an

original and 14 copies of the protest or intervention to the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC
20426.
    This filing is accessible online at http://www.ferc.gov, using the

``eLibrary'' link and is available for review in the Commission's
Public Reference Room in Washington, DC. There is an ``eSubscription''
link on the Web site that enables subscribers to receive e-mail
notification when a document is added to a subscribed docket(s). For
assistance with any FERC Online service, please e-mail
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or call<PHONE_NUMBER> (toll free). For

TTY, call<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Comment Date: 5 pm eastern time on February 5, 2007.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-663 Filed 1-18-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 1, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39664-39671]
[FR Doc No: 2020-14142]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration

Notice of Funding Opportunity for Magnetic Levitation Deployment
Projects

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO or notice).

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SUMMARY: This notice details the application requirements and
procedures to obtain grant funding for eligible projects under the
Magnetic Levitation Technology Deployment Program (Maglev Grants
Program). This notice solicits applications for $2,000,000 in Maglev
Grants Program funds. The opportunity described in this notice is made
available under Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number
20.318, ``Maglev Project Selection Program--SAFETEA-LU.''

DATES: Applications for funding under this solicitation are due no
later than 5 p.m. ET July 31, 2020. Applications for funding, or
supplemental material in support of an application, received after 5
p.m. ET on July 31, 2020 will not be considered for funding. Incomplete
applications will not be considered for funding. See Section D of this
notice for additional information on the application process.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted via www.Grants.gov. Only
applicants who comply with all submission requirements described in
this notice and submit applications through www.Grants.gov will be
eligible for award. For any supporting application materials that an
applicant is unable to submit via www.Grants.gov, an applicant may
submit an original and two (2) copies to Ruthie Americus, Office of
Policy and Planning, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey
Avenue SE, Room W36-412, Washington, DC 20590. However, due to delays
caused by enhanced screening of mail delivered via the U.S. Postal
Service, applicants are advised to use other means of conveyance (such
as courier service) to assure timely receipt of materials.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information related to
this notice, please contact Ruthie Americus, Office of Policy and
Planning, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Room W36-403, Washington, DC 20590; email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
phone:<PHONE_NUMBER>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice to applicants: FRA recommends that
applicants read this notice in its entirety prior to preparing
application materials. The definitions of key terms used throughout the
NOFO are provided in Section 2(A). These key terms are capitalized
throughout the NOFO. There are several administrative prerequisites and
specific eligibility requirements described herein that applicants must
comply with to submit an application. Additionally, applicants should
note that the required Project Narrative component of the application
package may not exceed 25 pages in length.

Table of Contents

A. Program Description
B. Federal Award Information
C. Eligibility Information
D. Application and Submission Information
E. Application Review Information
F. Federal Award Administration Information
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
H. Other Information

A. Program Description

1. Overview

    The purpose of this notice is to solicit applications for grants
for eligible capital project costs and preconstruction planning
activities for the deployment of magnetic levitation transportation
projects, authorized under and funded in the Further Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2020, Div H, Tit I, Public Law 116-94 (2020
Appropriation), consistent with the language in section 1307(a) through
(c) of Public Law 109-59 (SAFETEA-LU), as amended by section 102 of
Public Law 110-244 (Technical Corrections Act) (23 U.S.C. 322 note).

2. Definitions of Key Terms

    a. ``Full Project Cost'' means the total capital costs of a Maglev
project including eligible project costs and the cost of stations,
vehicles and equipment.
    b. ``Magnetic Levitation'' or ``Maglev'' means transportation
systems employing magnetic levitation that would be capable of safe use
by the public at a speed in excess of 240 miles per hour.
    c. ``National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)'' is a Federal law
that requires Federal agencies to analyze the environmental impacts of
a proposed action, in consultation with appropriate Federal, State, and
local authorities, and with the public. The NEPA class of action
depends on the nature of the proposed action, its complexity, and the
potential impacts. For purposes of this NOFO, NEPA also includes all
related Federal laws and regulations including: the Clean Air Act,
section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act, section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act, and section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act. Additional information regarding FRA's environmental
processes and requirements are located at https://www.fra.dot.gov/environment.
    d. ``State'' has the meaning such term has under 23 U.S.C. 101(a).

B. Federal Award Information

1. Available Award Amount

    The total funding available for awards under this NOFO is
$2,000,000. Should additional Maglev funds become available after the
release of this NOFO, FRA may elect to award such additional funds to
applications received under this NOFO.

2. Award Size

    There are no predetermined minimum or maximum dollar thresholds for
awards. FRA may not be able to award grants to all eligible
applications, or even those applications that meet or exceed the stated
evaluation criteria (see Section E, Application Review Information).
    Projects may require more funding than is available. FRA encourages
applicants to propose projects or components of projects that have
operational independence that can be completed and implemented with the
level of funding available together with other sources.
    FRA strongly encourages applicants to identify and include State,
local, public, or private funding or financing to support the proposed
project to maximize competitiveness.

3. Award Type

    FRA will make awards for projects selected under this notice
through grant

agreements and/or cooperative agreements. Grant agreements are used
when FRA does not expect to have substantial Federal involvement in
carrying out the funded activity. Cooperative agreements allow for
substantial Federal involvement in carrying out the agreed upon
investment, including technical assistance, review of interim work
products, and increased program oversight under 2 CFR 200.24. The term
``grant'' is used throughout this document and is intended to reference
funding awarded through a grant agreement, as well as funding awarded
through a cooperative agreement. The funding provided under this NOFO
will be made available to grant recipients on a reimbursable basis.
Applicants must certify that their expenditures are allowable,
allocable, reasonable, and necessary to the approved project before
seeking reimbursement from FRA. Additionally, the grant recipient is
expected to expend matching funds at the required percentage concurrent
with Federal funds throughout the life of the project. See an example
of standard terms and conditions for FRA grant awards at: https://railroads.dot.gov/elibrary/notice-grant-award-example. This template is
subject to revision.

C. Eligibility Information

    This section of the notice explains applicant eligibility, cost
sharing and matching requirements, and project eligibility.
Applications that do not meet the requirements in this section will be
ineligible for funding. Instructions for submitting eligibility
information to FRA are detailed in Section D of this NOFO.

1. Eligible Applicants

    Applicants must be a State, States, or an authority designated by
one or more States.\1\ If the proposed Maglev service would operate in
more than one State, a single State or designated State authority
should apply on behalf of all participating States. FRA encourages
States to submit applications through their respective State
Departments of Transportation. Eligible applicants may reference
entities that are not eligible applicants in an application as a
project partner.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See section D(2)(a)(iv) for supporting documentation
required to demonstrate eligibility under this eligibility category.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    The Federal share of Full Project Costs will not exceed 80 percent.
The funds available under this NOFO are available only for eligible
project costs of eligible Maglev projects. As a result, under this NOFO
the Federal share of the estimated total eligible project costs will
not exceed 80 percent. The estimated total cost of a project must be
based on the best available information, including engineering studies,
studies of economic feasibility, environmental analyses, and
information on the expected use of equipment and/or facilities.
Additionally, in preparing estimates of total project costs, applicants
should refer to FRA's cost estimate guidance documentation, ``Capital
Cost Estimating: Guidance for Project Sponsors,'' which is available
at: https://www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P0926.
    The minimum 20 percent non-Federal share may be composed of public
sector (e.g., state or local) and/or private sector funding. FRA will
not consider any Federal financial assistance, nor any non-Federal
funds already expended (or otherwise encumbered) toward the matching
requirement, unless compliant with 2 CFR 200.306. FRA will give
preference to applications proposing cash contributions for the
required 20 percent of the non-Federal share. Eligible in-kind
contributions may also be accepted for any non-Federal matching beyond
the required 20 percent. In-kind contributions, including the donation
of services, materials, and equipment, may be credited as a project
cost, in a uniform manner consistent with 2 CFR 200.306. Moreover, FRA
encourages applicants to broaden their funding table in applications.
FRA will give preference to applications proposing a non-Federal share
exceeding the required 20 percent, providing the required 20 percent
non-Federal share as a cash contribution, and consisting of funding
from multiple sources to demonstrate broad participation and cost
sharing from affected stakeholders.
    Before applying, applicants should carefully review the principles
for cost sharing or matching in 2 CFR 200.306. See Section D(2)(a)(iii)
for required application information on non-Federal match and Section E
for further discussion of FRA's consideration of matching funds in the
review and selection process. FRA will only approve pre-award costs
consistent with 2 CFR 200.458, as applicable. See Section D(6).

3. Project Eligibility

    Eligible Maglev projects must: (1) Involve a segment or segments of
a high-speed ground transportation corridor; (2) result in an operating
transportation facility that provides a revenue producing service; (3)
and be approved by the Secretary based on an application submitted to
the Secretary of Transportation by a State or authority designated by
one or more States. With respect to the second criterion, Congress
titled section 1307 of SAFETEA-LU ``Deployment of Magnetic Levitation
Transportation Projects'' and provided funding through section
1101(a)(18) of SAFETEA-LU, as amended by the Technical Corrections Act,
for the ``deployment of magnetic levitation projects.'' Congress also
provided funding through the 2020 Appropriation for the ``deployment of
magnetic levitation projects.'' FRA interprets this language to mean
that the Federal funds be used to directly advance and result in the
construction of a Maglev project.
    Funding under this NOFO is available for eligible project costs for
eligible Maglev projects. Eligible project costs are: (1) The capital
cost of the fixed guideway infrastructure of a Maglev project including
land, piers, guideways, propulsion equipment and other components
attached to guideways, power distribution facilities (including
substations), control and communications facilities, access roads, and
storage, repair, and maintenance facilities and (2) preconstruction
planning activities. Eligible project costs exclude new stations and
rolling stock, as well as costs incurred solely for land or right-of-
way acquisition (even if such acquisition is to secure operational
right-of-way).
    Funding under this NOFO may not be used for costs that are included
in or used to meet cost sharing or matching requirements of, any other
Federally-financed award or program. If the applicant is seeking
additional funding for a project that has already received Federal
financial assistance, costs associated with the scope of work for the
existing Federal award are not eligible for funding under this NOFO.
Only new scope (e.g., new deliverables) is eligible for funding under
this NOFO.

D. Application and Submission Information

    Required documents for the application are outlined in the
following paragraphs. Applicants must complete and submit all
components of the application. See Section D(2) for the application
checklist. FRA welcomes the submission of other relevant supporting
documentation that the applicant would like to submit, such as
planning, environmental documentation, engineering and design
documentation, letters of support, etc. that will not count against the
Project Narrative 25-page limit. In particular, applications
accompanied by completed feasibility studies and cost estimates

may be more favorably considered during the evaluation process, as they
demonstrate that an applicant has a greater understanding of the scope
and cost of the project.

1. Address To Request Application Package

    Applicants must submit all application materials in their entirety
through http://www.Grants.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. ET, on July 31,
2020. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early to ensure that
all materials are received before the application deadline. FRA
reserves the right to modify this deadline. General information for
submitting applications through Grants.gov can be found at: https://www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P0270. FRA is committed to ensuring that
information is available in appropriate alternative formats to meet the
requirements of persons who have a disability. If you require an
alternative version of files provided, please contact Ruthie Americus,
Office of Policy and Planning, Federal Railroad Administration, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W36-403, Washington, DC 20590; email:
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Content and Form of Application Submission
    FRA strongly advises applicants to read this section carefully.
Applicants must submit all required information and components of the
application package to be considered for funding.
    Required documents for an application package are outlined in the
checklist below.

 Project Narrative (see D.2.a)
 Statement of Work (see D.2.b.i)
 SF424--Application for Federal Assistance
 Either: SF 424A--Budget Information for Non-Construction
projects or SF 424C--Budget Information for Construction
 Either: SF 424B--Assurances for Non-Construction projects or
SF 424D--Assurances for Construction
 FRA's Additional Assurances and Certifications
 SF LLL--Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
a. Project Narrative
    This section describes the minimum content required in the Project
Narrative of the grant application. The Project Narrative must follow
the basic outline below to address the program requirements and assist
evaluators in locating relevant information.

I. Cover Page..........................  See D.2.a.i
II. Project Summary....................  See D.2.a.ii
III. Project Funding Summary...........  See D.2.a.iii
IV. Applicant Eligibility Criteria.....  See D.2.a.iv
V. Project Eligibility Criteria........  See D.2.a.v
VI. Detailed Project Description.......  See D.2.a.vi
VII. Project Location..................  See D.2.a.vii
VIII. Evaluation and Selection Criteria  See D.2.a.viii
IX. Project Implementation and           See D.2.a.ix
 Management.
X. Planning Readiness..................  See D.2.a.x
XI. Environmental Readiness............  See D.2.a.xi

    The above content must be provided in a narrative statement
submitted by the applicant. The Project Narrative may not exceed 25
pages in length (excluding cover pages, table of contents, and
supporting documentation). FRA will not review or consider Project
Narratives beyond the 25-page limitation. If possible, applicants
should submit supporting documents via website links rather than hard
copies. If supporting documents are submitted, applicants must clearly
identify the page number of the relevant portion of the supporting
documentation in the Project Narrative. The Project Narrative must
adhere to the following outline.
    i. Cover Page: Include a cover page that lists the following
elements in either a table or formatted list:

Project Title..........................
Applicant..............................
The amount of Federal funding requested
The amount of non-Federal match........
The total project cost.................
City(ies), State(s) where the project
 is located.
Congressional district(s) where the
 project is located.

    ii. Project Summary: Provide a brief 4-6 sentence summary of the
proposed project and what the project will entail. Include challenges
the proposed project aims to address, and summarize the intended
outcomes and anticipated benefits that will result from the proposed
project.
    iii. Project Funding Summary: Indicate in table format the amount
of Federal funding requested, the proposed non-Federal match,
identifying contributions from the private sector if applicable, and
total project cost. Describe the non-Federal funding arrangement,
including multiple sources of non-Federal funding if applicable.
Include funding commitment letters outlining funding agreements, as
attachments or in an appendix. Identify any other sources of Federal
funds committed to the project and any pending Federal requests. If
Federal funding is proposed as match, demonstrate the applicant's
determination of eligibility for such use and the legal basis for that
determination. Also, note if the requested Federal funding must be
obligated or spent by a certain date due to dependencies or
relationships with other Federal or non-Federal funding sources,
related projects, law, or other factors. Include funding commitment
letters outlining funding agreements, as attachments or in an appendix.
If applicable, provide the type and estimated value of any proposed in-
kind contributions, and demonstrate how the in-kind contributions meet
the requirements in 2 CFR 200.306.
    Example Project Funding Table:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Task name/Project                                             Percentage of
            Task No.                   component                                 Cost             total cost
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1
2
-----------------------------------------------------
Total Project Cost
Federal Funds Received from Previous Grants
Maglev Federal Funding Request
Non-Federal Funding/Match                                                 Cash:.............  ..................
                                                                          In-Kind:
Portion of Non-Federal Funding from the Private
 Sector
Portion of Non-Federal Funding from the Public
 Sector
Pending Federal Funding Requests
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    iv. Applicant Eligibility Criteria: Explain how the applicant meets
the applicant eligibility criteria outlined in Section C of this
notice. For authorities designated by one or more States, the
explanation must include citations to the applicable enabling
legislation and references to applicable documentation.
    v. Project Eligibility Criteria: Explain how the project meets the
project eligibility criteria in Section C(3) of this notice.
    vi. Detailed Project Description: Include a detailed project
description that expands upon the summary required above. This detailed
description should provide, at a minimum: additional background on the
transportation challenges the project aims to address, the expected
users, beneficiaries, and outcomes of the project, and any other
information the applicant deems necessary to justify the proposed
project. Be specific regarding the relevance or relationship of the
proposed project to other investments in the region along the corridor,
as well as the operating changes that are anticipated to result from
the introduction and integration of Maglev services within existing
transportation corridors and assess the major risks (including safety
risks) or obstacles to Maglev's successful deployment and operation.
Provide a detailed summary of all work completed to date, including any
preliminary engineering work, the project's previous accomplishments
and funding history including Federal financial assistance, and a
chronology of key documents produced and funding events (e.g., grants
and financing). An applicant should specify whether it is seeking
funding for a project that has already received Federal financial
assistance, and if applicable, explain how the new scope proposed to be
funded under this NOFO relates to the previous scope. Consistent with
the Department's R.O.U.T.E.S. Initiative (https://www.transportation.gov/rural), the Department encourages applicants to
describe how activities proposed in their application would address the
unique challenges facing rural transportation networks, regardless of
the geographic location of those activities.
    vii. Project Location: Include geospatial data for the project, as
well as a map of the project's location. Include the Congressional
districts in which the project will take place.
    viii. Evaluation and Selection Criteria: Include a thorough
discussion of how the proposed project meets all the evaluation and
selection criteria, as outlined in section E of this notice. If an
application does not sufficiently address the evaluation criteria and
the selection criteria, it is unlikely to be a competitive application.
For the life-cycle cost selection criteria, applicants should
demonstrate a credible plan to maintain their asset without having to
rely on Federal funding including a description of the applicants'
approach to ensuring operations and maintenance will not be underfunded
in future years.
    ix. Project Implementation and Management: Describe proposed
project implementation and project management arrangements for the full
Maglev corridor project, including the activities proposed in this
application. Include descriptions of the expected arrangements for
project contracting, contract oversight, change-order management, risk
management, and conformance to Federal requirements for project
progress reporting (see https://www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P0274). Identify
key personnel involved in the implementation and management of the
project and describe their qualifications and functional
responsibilities associated with the project. Describe experience in
managing and overseeing similar projects.
    x. Planning Readiness: Provide information about the planning
process that analyzed the investment needs and service objectives of
the project. If applicable, cite sources of this information from a
service development plan, State or regional rail plan, or similar
planning document where the project has been identified for solving a
specific existing transportation problem, and makes the case for
investing in the proposed solution. Describe the plan to pay for any
planning, land acquisition, buildout, testing, and implementation of
the project, and specify long term financial plans to own, operate and
maintain Maglev services.
    xi. Environmental Readiness: Describe anticipated environmental or
historic preservation impacts associated with the proposed project, any
environmental or historic preservation analyses that have been
prepared, and any ongoing progress toward completing environmental
documentation or clearance required for the proposed project under NEPA
as defined in this NOFO. Provide, as available, a schedule to complete
these actions. Applicants are encouraged to contact FRA and obtain
preliminary direction regarding the appropriate NEPA class of action
and required environmental documentation. Generally, projects will be
ineligible to receive funding if they have begun construction
activities prior to the applicant/grant recipient receiving written
approval from FRA that all environmental and historical analyses have
been completed.
b. Additional Application Elements
    Applicants must submit:
    i. A Statement of Work (SOW) addressing the scope, schedule, and
budget for the proposed project if it were selected for award. The SOW
must contain sufficient detail so FRA, and the applicant, can
understand the expected outcomes of the proposed work to be performed
and can monitor progress toward completing project tasks and
deliverables during a prospective grant's period of performance.
Applicants must use FRA's standard SOW, schedule, and budget templates
to be considered for award. The templates are located at https://www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P0325. When preparing the budget, the total cost
of a project must be based on the best available information as
indicated in cited references that include engineering studies, studies
of economic feasibility, environmental analyses, and information on the
expected use of equipment or facilities
    ii. SF424--Application for Federal Assistance.
    iii. Either: SF 424A--Budget Information for Non-Construction
projects or SF 424C--Budget Information for Construction.
    iv. Either: SF 424B--Assurances for Non-Construction projects or SF
424D--Assurances for Construction.
    v. FRA's Additional Assurances and Certifications; and
    vi. SF LLL--Disclosure of Lobbying Activities.
    vii. A statement that the lead applicant has a system for procuring
property and services under a Federal award under this NOFO that
supports the provisions in 2 CFR 200 Subpart D-Procurement Standards at
2 CFR 200.317-326 and 2 CFR 1201.317.
    viii. A statement indicating whether the applicant or any of its
principals:
    a. Is presently suspended, debarred, voluntarily excluded, or
disqualified;
    b. has been convicted within the preceding 3 years of any of the
offenses listed in 2 CFR 180.800(a); or had a civil judgment rendered
against the organization or the individual for one of those offenses
within that time period;
    c. is presently indicted for, or otherwise criminally or civilly
charged by a governmental entity (Federal, state or local) with,
commission of any of the offenses listed in 2 CFR 180.800(a); or,
    d. has had one or more public transactions (Federal, state, or
local) terminated within the preceding 3 years for cause or default
(including material failure to comply).

    Forms needed for the electronic application process are at
www.Grants.gov.
c. Post-Selection Requirements
    See Section F(2) of this notice for post-selection requirements.

3. Unique Entity Identifier, System for Award Management (SAM), and
Submission Instructions

    To apply for funding through Grants.gov, applicants must be
properly registered in SAM before submitting an application, provide a
valid unique entity identifier, and continue to maintain an active SAM
registration all as described in detail below. Complete instructions on
how to register and submit an application can be found at
www.Grants.gov. Registering with Grants.gov is a one-time process;
however, it can take up to several weeks for first-time registrants to
receive confirmation and a user password. FRA recommends that
applicants start the registration process as early as possible to
prevent delays that may preclude submitting an application package by
the application deadline. Applications will not be accepted after the
due date. Delayed registration is not an acceptable justification for
an application extension.
    FRA may not make a grant award to an applicant until the applicant
has complied with all applicable Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS)
and SAM requirements, and if an applicant 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 applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that
determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another
applicant. (Please note that if a Dun & Bradstreet DUNS number must be
obtained or renewed, this may take a significant amount of time to
complete.) Late applications that are the result of a failure to
register or comply with Grants.gov applicant requirements in a timely
manner will not be considered. If an applicant has not fully complied
with the requirements by the submission deadline, the application will
not be considered. To submit an application through Grants.gov,
applicants must:
a. Obtain a DUNS Number
    A DUNS number is required for Grants.gov registration. The Office
of Management and Budget requires that all businesses and nonprofit
applicants for Federal funds include a DUNS number in their
applications for a new award or renewal of an existing award. A DUNS
number is a unique nine-digit sequence recognized as the universal
standard for the government in identifying and keeping track of
entities receiving Federal funds. The identifier is used for tracking
purposes and to validate address and point of contact information for
Federal assistance applicants, recipients, and sub-recipients. The DUNS
number will be used throughout the grant life cycle. Obtaining a DUNS
number is a free, one-time activity. Applicants may obtain a DUNS
number by calling 1-866-705-5711 or by applying online at http://www.dnb.com/us.
b. Register With SAM at www.SAM.gov
    All applicants for Federal financial assistance must maintain
current registrations in the SAM database. An applicant must be
registered in SAM to successfully register in Grants.gov. The SAM
database is the repository for standard information about Federal
financial assistance applicants, recipients, and subrecipients.
Organizations that have previously submitted applications via
Grants.gov are already registered with SAM, as it is a requirement for
Grants.gov registration. Please note, however, that applicants must
update or renew their SAM registration at least once per year to
maintain an active status. Therefore, it is critical to check
registration status well in advance of the application deadline. If an
applicant is selected for an award, the applicant must maintain an
active SAM registration with current information throughout the period
of the award. Information about SAM registration procedures is
available at www.sam.gov.
c. Create a Grants.gov Username and Password
    Applicants must complete an Authorized Organization Representative
(AOR) profile on www.Grants.gov and create a username and password.
Applicants must use the organization's DUNS number to complete this
step. Additional information about the registration process is
available at: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html.
d. Acquire Authorization for Your AOR From the E-Business Point of
Contact (E-Biz POC)
    The E-Biz POC at the applicant's organization must respond to the
registration email from Grants.gov and login at www.Grants.gov to
authorize the applicant as the AOR. Please note there can be more than
one AOR for an organization.
e. Submit an Application Addressing All Requirements Outlined in This
NOFO
    If an applicant experiences difficulties at any point during this
process, please call the Grants.gov Customer Center Hotline at 1-800-
518-4726, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (closed on Federal holidays).
For information and instructions on each of these processes, please see
instructions at: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html

4. Submission Dates and Times

    Applicants must submit complete applications in their entirety to
www.Grants.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. ET, July 31, 2020. FRA reviews
www.Grants.gov information on dates/times of applications submitted to
determine timeliness of submissions. Late applications will be neither
reviewed nor considered. Delayed registration is not an acceptable
reason for late submission. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply
early to ensure that all materials are received before this deadline.
    To ensure a fair competition of limited discretionary funds, the
following conditions are not valid reasons to permit late submissions:
(1) Failure to complete the registration process before the deadline;
(2) failure to follow Grants.gov instructions on how to register and
apply as posted on its website; (3) failure to follow all instructions
in this NOFO; and (4) technical issues experienced with the applicant's
computer or information technology environment.
    If an applicant experiences difficulties at any point during this
process, please call the Grants.gov Customer Center Hotline at 1-800-
518-4726, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (closed on Federal holidays).
For information and instructions on each of these processes, please see
instructions at: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.

5. Intergovernmental Review

    Executive Order 12372 requires applicants from State and local
units of government or other organizations providing services within a
State to submit a copy of the application to the State Single Point of
Contact (SPOC), if one exists, and if this program has been selected
for review by the State. Applicants must contact their State SPOC to
determine if the program has been selected for State review.

6. Funding Restrictions

    Consistent with 2 CFR 200.458, FRA will only approve pre-award
costs if such costs are incurred pursuant to the negotiation and in
anticipation of the grant agreement and if such costs are necessary for
efficient and timely performance of the scope of work. Under 2 CFR
200.458, grant recipients must seek written approval from FRA for pre-
award activities to be eligible for reimbursement under the grant.
Activities initiated prior to the execution of a grant or without
written approval may not be eligible for reimbursement or included as a
grant recipient's matching contribution. Cost sharing or matching may
be used only for authorized Federal award purposes.
    As stated in Section C(3), funding under this NOFO is not available
for costs incurred for new stations and rolling stock, as well as costs
incurred for land or right-of-way acquisition (even if such acquisition
is to secure operational right-of-way).

7. Other Submission Requirements

    For any supporting application materials that an applicant cannot
submit via Grants.gov, an applicant may submit an original and two (2)
copies to Ruthie Americus, Office of Policy and Planning, Federal
Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W36-412,
Washington, DC 20590. However, due to delays caused by enhanced
screening of mail delivered via the U.S. Postal Service, FRA advises
applicants to use other means of conveyance (such as courier service)
to assure timely receipt of materials before the application deadline.
Additionally, if documents can be obtained online, providing
instructions to FRA on how to access files on a referenced website may
also be sufficient.
    Note: Please use generally accepted formats such as .pdf, .doc,
.docx, .xls, .xlsx and .ppt, when uploading attachments. While
applicants may embed picture files, such as .jpg, .gif, and .bmp, in
document files, applicants should not submit attachments in these
formats. Additionally, the following formats will not be accepted:
.com, .bat, .exe, .vbs, .cfg, .dat, .db, .dbf, .dll, .ini, .log, .ora,
.sys, and .zip.

E. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

a. Eligibility, Completeness and Applicant Risk Review
    FRA will first screen each application for eligibility (eligibility
requirements are outlined in Section C of this notice), completeness
(application documentation and submission requirements are outlined in
Section D of this notice), applicant risk and the 20 percent minimum
match in determining whether the application is eligible.
b. Evaluation Criteria
    FRA subject-matter experts will evaluate all eligible and complete
applications against the following evaluation criteria:
    i. The extent to which the project would feasibly integrate Maglev
systems with conventional rail systems, such as establishing efficient
connections and transfers.
    ii. The extent to which funds awarded under this section would
result in investments that are beneficial not only to the Maglev
project, but also to other current or near-term transportation
projects.
    iii. The degree to which the project demonstrates: (a) The
potential for public-private partnerships and (b) that the project will
stand alone as a complete, self-sustaining operation where fully
allocated operating expenses of the Maglev service are projected to be
offset by revenues attributable to the service.
    iv. The extent of the demonstrated financial commitment to the
construction of the proposed project from both non-Federal public and
private sources.
    v. The extent to which the project demonstrates coordination and
consistency with any applicable ongoing or completed environmental and
planning studies for passenger rail on or connecting to the geographic
route segment being proposed for Maglev investment.
    vi. The degree to which the project will successfully operate in
the variety of Maglev operating conditions which are to be expected in
the United States. For example, these conditions might include a
variety of at-grade, elevated and depressed guideway structures,
extreme temperatures, and intermodal connections at terminals.
    vii. The feasibility of the project meeting a top speed of at least
240 miles per hour (MPH). FRA will also consider the ability to meet
higher speeds as well as the duration that speeds of at least 240 MPH
can be attained.
c. Selection Criteria
    In addition to the eligibility and completeness review and the
evaluation criteria outlined in this section, FRA will apply the
following selection criteria.
    i. FRA will take into account the following key Departmental
objectives:
    a. Supporting economic vitality at the national and regional level;
    b. Leveraging Federal funding to attract other, non-Federal sources
of infrastructure investment;
    c. Preparing for future operations and maintenance costs associated
with the project's life-cycle, as demonstrated by a credible plan to
maintain assets without having to rely on future Federal funding;
    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.
    ii. In determining the allocation of program funds, FRA may also
consider geographic diversity, diversity in the size of the systems
receiving funding, the applicant's receipt of other competitive awards,
projects located in or that support transportation service in a
qualified opportunity zone designated pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 1400Z-1,
the percentage of non-Federal share provided, the percentage of non-
Federal share provided as a cash contribution, and whether such non-
Federal share is provided by multiple sources.
    iii. Consistent with the Department's R.O.U.T.E.S. Initiative
(https://www.transportation.gov/rural), the Department recognizes that
rural transportation networks face unique challenges. To the extent
that those challenges are reflected in the merit criteria listed in
this section, the Department will consider how the activities proposed
in the application will address those challenges, regardless of the
geographic location of those activities.

2. Review and Selection Process

    FRA will conduct a four-part application review process, as
follows:
    a. Screen applications for completeness and eligibility;
    b. Evaluate eligible applications (completed by technical panels
applying the evaluation criteria);
    c. Review, apply selection criteria and recommend initial selection
of projects for the FRA Administrator's review (completed by a non-
career Senior Review Team, which includes senior leadership from the
Office of the Secretary and FRA); and
    d. Select awards for the Secretary's review and approval (completed
by the FRA Administrator).

3. Reporting Matters Related to Integrity and Performance

    Before making a Federal award with a total amount of Federal share
greater

than the simplified acquisition threshold (see 2 CFR 200.88 Simplified
Acquisition Threshold), FRA will review and consider any information
about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance
system accessible through SAM (currently the Federal Awardee
Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS)). See 41 U.S.C.
2313.
    An applicant, at its option, may review information in the
designated integrity and performance systems accessible through SAM and
comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding agency
previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and
performance system accessible through SAM.
    FRA will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the
other information in the designated integrity and performance system,
in making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics,
and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the
review of risk posed by applicants as described in 2 CFR 200.205.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Federal Award Notice

    FRA will announce applications selected for funding in a press
release and on the FRA website after the application review period. FRA
will contact applicants with successful applications after announcement
with information and instructions about the award process. This
notification is not an authorization to begin proposed project
activities. FRA requires satisfaction of applicable requirements by the
applicant and a formal agreement signed by both the grant recipient and
FRA, including an approved scope, schedule, and budget, to obligate the
grant.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    In connection with any program or activity conducted with or
benefiting from funds awarded under this notice, grant recipients must
comply with all applicable requirements of Federal law, including,
without limitation, the Constitution of the United States; the
conditions of performance, nondiscrimination requirements, and other
assurances made applicable to the award of funds in accordance with
regulations of the Department of Transportation; and applicable Federal
financial assistance and contracting principles promulgated by the
Office of Management and Budget. In complying with these requirements,
grant recipients must ensure that no concession agreements are denied
or other contracting decisions made based on speech or other activities
protected by the First Amendment. If the Department determines that a
grant recipient has failed to comply with applicable Federal
requirements, the Department may terminate the award of funds and
disallow previously incurred costs, requiring the grant recipient to
reimburse any expended award funds.
    Examples of administrative and national policy requirements
include: 2 CFR 200 Subpart D--Procurement Standards, 2 CFR 1207.317 and
2 CFR 200.401; compliance with Federal civil rights laws and
regulations; disadvantaged business enterprises; debarment and
suspension; drug-free workplace; FRA's and OMB's Assurances and
Certifications; Americans with Disabilities Act; safety requirements;
NEPA; environmental justice and the Buy American Act, 41 U.S.C. 8301-
8305. Financial assistance made available under this NOFO, and projects
assisted with such assistance, are subject to 49 U.S.C. 5333(a). Unless
otherwise stated in statutory or legislative authority, or
appropriations language, all financial assistance awards follow the
Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit
Requirements for Federal Awards at 2 CFR 200 and 2 CFR 1201.
    Grant recipients must comply with applicable appropriations act
requirements and all relevant requirements of 2 CFR part 200. Rights to
intangible property under grants awarded under this NOFO are governed
in accordance with 2 CFR 200.315. Unless otherwise stated in the
Federal award, FRA will not consider non-federal entities as that term
is used in 2 CFR part 200 to include for-profit entities.
    See an example of standard terms and conditions for FRA grant
awards at https://www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/details/L05285. This template is
subject to revision.

3. Reporting

a. Progress Reporting on Grant Activity
    Each applicant selected for a grant will be required to comply with
all standard FRA reporting requirements, including quarterly progress
reports, quarterly Federal financial reports, and interim and final
performance reports, as well as all applicable auditing, monitoring and
close out requirements. Reports may be submitted electronically.
b. Additional Reporting
    Applicants selected for funding are required to comply with all
reporting requirements in the standard terms and conditions for FRA
grant awards including 2 CFR 180.335 and 2 CFR 180.350. See an example
of standard terms and conditions for FRA grant awards at: https://www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/details/L05285.
    If the Federal share of any Federal award under this NOFO may
include more than $500,000 over the period of performance, applicants
are informed of the post award reporting requirements reflected in 2
CFR part 200, Appendix XII--Award Term and Condition for Recipient
Integrity and Performance Matters.
c. Performance Reporting
    Each applicant selected for funding must collect information and
report on the project's performance using measures mutually agreed upon
by FRA and the grant recipient to assess progress in achieving
strategic goals and objectives.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

    For further information regarding this notice and the grants
program, please contact Ruthie Americus, Office of Policy and Planning,
Federal Railroad Administration,1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Room W36-
403, Washington, DC 20590; email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
H. Other Information

    All information submitted as part of or in support of any
application shall use publicly available data or data that can be made
public and methodologies that are accepted by industry practice and
standards, to the extent possible. If the application includes
information the applicant considers to be a trade secret or
confidential commercial or financial information, the applicant should
do the following: (1) Note on the front cover that the submission
``Contains Confidential Business Information (CBI)''; (2) mark each
affected page ``CBI''; and (3) highlight or otherwise denote the CBI
portions.
    The DOT regulations implementing the FOIA are found at 49 CFR 7
Subpart C--Availability of Reasonably Described Records under the
Freedom of Information Act which sets forth rules for FRA to make
requested materials, information and, and records publicly available
under FOIA. Unless prohibited by law and to the extent permitted under
the FOIA, contents of application and proposals submitted by successful

applicants may be released in response to FOIA requests.

Quintin Kendall,
Deputy Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2020-14142 Filed 6-30-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P