[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 64 (Friday, April 3, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18283-18292]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07711]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary of Transportation

Notice of Funding Availability for the Department of
Transportation's National Infrastructure Investments Under the
Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary of Transportation, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of funding availability.

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SUMMARY: The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act,
2015 (Pub. L. 113-235, December 16, 2014) (``FY 2015 Appropriations
Act'' or the ``Act'') appropriated $500 million to be awarded by the
Department of Transportation (``DOT'' or the ``Department'') for
National Infrastructure Investments. This appropriation is similar, but
not identical, to the program funded and implemented pursuant to the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the ``Recovery Act'')
known as the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or
``TIGER Discretionary Grants,'' program. Because of the similarity in
program structure, DOT will continue to refer to the program as ``TIGER
Discretionary Grants.'' Funds for the FY 2015 TIGER program (``TIGER FY
2015'') are to be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will
have a significant impact on the Nation, a metropolitan area, or a
region. The purpose of this final notice is to solicit applications for
TIGER Discretionary Grants.

DATES: Pre-applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. E.D.T. on May
4, 2015. Final applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. E.D.T. on
June 5, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Pre-applications must be submitted electronically through
www.dot.gov/TIGER. Final applications must be submitted through
Grants.gov. Only applicants who comply with all submission requirements
described in this notice and electronically submit both valid pre-
applications to DOT and final applications through Grants.gov will be
eligible for award.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information concerning
this notice, please contact the TIGER Discretionary Grant program staff
via email at<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or call Howard Hill at<PHONE_NUMBER>.
A TDD is available for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing at
202-366-3993. In addition, DOT will regularly post answers to questions
and requests for

clarifications on DOT's Web site at www.dot.gov/TIGER

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice is substantially similar to the
final notice published for the TIGER Discretionary Grant program in the
Federal Register on March 3, 2014. However, the FY 2015 Appropriations
Act does not provide dedicated funding for the planning, preparation,
or design of capital projects (``TIGER Planning Grants''); these
activities may be eligible to the extent that they are part of an
overall construction project that receives TIGER Discretionary Grant
funding. Additionally, unlike the past two rounds of TIGER
Discretionary Grants, a pre-application must be submitted for an
application to be considered. The pre-application helps DOT allocate
staff resources for the evaluation process, allows applicants to
provide identifying information about their project, and assists DOT in
clarifying eligibility questions before the final application is
submitted. In addition to the differences above, and minor edits for
clarification and those made to conform the notice to the statutory
circumstances of this round of TIGER Discretionary Grant funding, this
notice's format has changed to conform to Appendix I to 2 CFR part 200.
Each section of this notice contains information and instructions
relevant to the application process for these TIGER Discretionary
Grants, and you should read this notice in its entirety so that you
have the information you need to submit eligible and competitive
applications.

Table of Contents

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

A. Program Description

    Since the TIGER Discretionary Grants program was first created,
$4.1 billion has been awarded for capital investments in surface
transportation infrastructure over six rounds of competitive grants.
The TIGER Discretionary Grant program seeks to award projects that
advance DOT's long-term priorities for the nation's transportation
system found in DOT's Strategic Plan for FY 2014-FY 2018 (http://www.dot.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/2014-2018-strategic-plan_0.pdf).
Section E, Application Review, of this notice describes the TIGER
Discretionary Grant selection criteria based on these priorities.
Please see DOT's Web site at www.dot.gov/TIGER for background on
previous rounds of TIGER Discretionary Grants.
    Throughout the TIGER program, TIGER Discretionary Grant awards have
supported innovative projects, including multimodal and
multijurisdictional projects which are difficult to fund through
traditional Federal programs. Successful TIGER projects leverage
resources, encourage partnership, catalyze investment and growth, fill
a critical void in the transportation system or provide a substantial
benefit to the nation, region or metropolitan area in which the project
is located. The FY 2015 TIGER program will continue to make
transformative surface transportation investments that dramatically
improve the status quo by providing significant and measurable
improvements over existing conditions. Transformative improvements
anchor broad and long-lasting, positive changes in economic
development, safety, quality of life, environmental sustainability, or
state of good repair. Because each TIGER project is unique, applicants
are encouraged to present, in measurable terms, how TIGER investment
will lead to transformative change(s) in their community.
    The FY 2015 TIGER program will fund transformative projects of all
eligible types, including projects that promote Ladders of Opportunity,
to the extent permitted by law. The FY 2014 TIGER program gave
consideration to projects that sought to improve access to reliable,
safe, and affordable transportation for disconnected communities in
urban, suburban, and rural areas. This included, but was not limited
to, capital projects that better connected people to jobs, removed
physical barriers to access, and strengthened communities through
neighborhood redevelopment. The FY 2015 TIGER program clearly
identifies this concept as Ladders of Opportunity. Ladders of
Opportunity projects may increase connectivity to employment,
education, services and other opportunities, support workforce
development, or contribute to community revitalization, particularly
for disadvantaged groups: low income groups, persons with visible and
hidden disabilities, elderly individuals, and minority persons and
populations.

B. Federal Award Information

    The FY 2015 Appropriations Act appropriated $500 million to be
awarded by DOT for the TIGER Discretionary Grants program. The FY 2015
TIGER Discretionary Grants are for capital investments in surface
transportation infrastructure and are to be awarded on a competitive
basis for projects that will have a significant impact on the Nation, a
metropolitan area, or a region. The Act also allows DOT to use a small
portion of the $500 million for oversight and administration of grants.
If this solicitation does not result in the award and obligation of all
available funds, DOT may publish additional solicitations.
    The FY 2015 Appropriations Act specifies that TIGER Discretionary
Grants may not be less than $10 million and not greater than $200
million, except that for projects located in rural areas (as defined in
Section C.3) the minimum TIGER Discretionary Grant size is $1 million.
    Pursuant to the FY 2015 Appropriations Act, no more than 25 percent
of the funds made available for TIGER Discretionary Grants (or $125
million) may be awarded to projects in a single State. The FY 2015
Appropriations Act directs that not less than 20 percent of the funds
provided for TIGER Discretionary Grants (or $100 million) shall be used
for projects located in rural areas. Further, pursuant to the FY 2015
Appropriations Act, DOT must take measures to ensure an equitable
geographic distribution of grant funds, an appropriate balance in
addressing the needs of urban and rural areas, and investment in a
variety of transportation modes.
    The FY 2015 Appropriations Act requires that FY 2015 TIGER funds
are only available for obligation through September 30, 2017. No FY
2015 TIGER funds may be expended after September 30, 2022. As part of
the review and selection process described in Section E.2., DOT will
consider whether a project is ready to proceed with an obligation of
grant funds from DOT within the statutory time provided. Under the FY
2015 Appropriations Act, no waiver is possible for these deadlines.
    The FY 2015 Appropriations Act allows for up to 20 percent of
available funds (or $100 million) to be used by the Department to pay
the subsidy and administrative costs for a project receiving credit
assistance under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and
Innovation Act of 1998 (``TIFIA'') program, if it would further the
purposes of the TIGER Discretionary Grant program.
    Recipients of prior TIGER Discretionary Grants may apply for
funding to support additional phases of a project awarded funds in
earlier rounds of this program. However, to be competitive, the
applicant should

demonstrate the extent to which the previously funded project phase has
been able to meet estimated project schedules and budget, as well as
the ability to realize the benefits expected for the project.
    DOT expects that each TIGER Discretionary Grant will be
administered by one of the relevant modal administrations, pursuant to
a grant agreement between the TIGER Discretionary Grant recipient and
the relevant modal administration.

C. Eligibility Information

    To be selected for a TIGER Discretionary Grant, an applicant must
be an Eligible Applicant and the project must be an Eligible Project.

1. Eligible Applicants

    Eligible Applicants for TIGER Discretionary Grants are State,
local, and tribal governments, including U.S. territories, transit
agencies, port authorities, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs),
and other political subdivisions of State or local governments.
    Multiple States or jurisdictions may submit a joint application and
must identify a lead applicant as the primary point of contact. Each
applicant in a joint application must be an Eligible Applicant. Joint
applications must include a description of the roles and
responsibilities of each applicant and must be signed by each
applicant.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

    TIGER Discretionary Grants may be used for up to 80 percent of the
costs of a project. \1\ DOT may increase the Federal share above 80
percent only for projects located in rural areas, in which case DOT may
fund up to 100 percent of the costs of a project.
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    \1\ To meet match requirements, the minimum total project cost
for a project located in an urban area must be $12.5 million.
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    DOT will consider non-Federal funds, as well as funds from the
Tribal Transportation Program (23 U.S.C. 202), as a local match for
purposes of this program. DOT cannot consider any funds already
expended (or otherwise encumbered) towards the matching requirement.
Please note that matching funds provided by an applicant will not be
considered as matching funds if the source of those funds is ultimately
a Federal program, nor can Federal funds be used as match for other
Federal funds, unless authorized in statute. Matching funds are subject
to the same Federal requirements described in Section F.2. as awarded
funds.

3. Other

    i. Eligible Projects--Eligible projects for TIGER Discretionary
Grants are capital projects that include, but are not limited to: (1)
Highway or bridge projects eligible under title 23, United States Code
(including bicycle and pedestrian related projects); (2) public
transportation projects eligible under chapter 53 of title 49, United
States Code; (3) passenger and freight rail transportation projects;
(4) port infrastructure investments (including inland port
infrastructure); and (5) intermodal projects. This description of
eligible projects is identical to the description of eligible projects
under earlier rounds of the TIGER Discretionary Grant program.\2\
Research, demonstration, or pilot projects are eligible only if they
result in long-term, permanent surface transportation infrastructure
that has independent utility as defined in Section C.3.iii.
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    \2\ Please note that the Department may use a TIGER
Discretionary Grant to pay for the surface transportation components
of a broader project that has non-surface transportation components,
and applicants are encouraged to apply for TIGER Discretionary
Grants to pay for the surface transportation components of these
projects.
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    ii. Rural/Urban Definition--For purposes of this notice, DOT
defines ``rural area'' as any area not in an Urbanized Area, as such
term is defined by the Census Bureau,\3\ and will consider a project to
be in a rural area if all or the majority of a project (determined by
geographic location(s) where the majority of project money is to be
spent) is located in a rural area. In this notice ``urban'' means not
rural. This definition affects three aspects of the program. First, the
FY 2015 Appropriations Act directs that not less than $100 million of
the funds provided for TIGER Discretionary Grants are to be used for
projects in rural areas. Second, for a project in a rural area the
minimum award is $1 million instead of $10 million. Third, up to 100
percent of the costs of a project in a rural area may be paid for with
Federal funds.
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    \3\ For Census 2010, the Census Bureau defined an Urbanized Area
(UA) as an area that consists of densely settled territory that
contains 50,000 or more people. Updated lists of UAs are available
on the Census Bureau Web site at http://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/UAUC_RefMap/ua/. Urban Clusters (UCs) are rural areas for
purposes of the TIGER Discretionary Grant program. Please note that
while individual jurisdictions might have a population of fewer than
50,000, if they are included as part of an UA, they will be
classified as urban for purposes of the TIGER program.
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    To the extent more than a de minimis portion of a project is
located in an Urbanized Area, applicants should identify the estimated
percentage of project costs that will be spent in Urbanized Areas and
the estimated percentage that will be spent in rural areas.
    iii. Project Components--An application may describe a project that
contains more than one component. DOT may award funds for a component,
instead of the larger project, if that component (1) meets minimum
award amounts described in Section B and all eligibility requirements
described in Section C; (2) has independent utility; and (3)
independently aligns well with the selection criteria specified in
Section E.1 (Selection Criteria). Independent utility means that the
component provides transportation benefits in and of itself and will be
ready for intended use upon completion of the component's construction.
All project components that are presented in a single application must
demonstrate a strong relationship or connection between them (please
see Section E.1.iii.d. for Required Approvals.)
    DOT strongly encourages applicants to identify in their
applications the project components that have independent utility and
separately detail the costs and requested TIGER funding for those
components. If the application identifies an independent project
component, the application must clearly identify the benefits that the
component would produce on its own, in addition to describing the
benefits from the full proposal.
    iv. Limit on Number of Applications--Each lead applicant may submit
no more than three applications. Unrelated project components should
not be bundled in an application for the purpose of avoiding the three
applications per lead applicant limit. Please note that the three-
application limit applies only to applications where the applicant is
the lead applicant. There is no limit on applications for which an
applicant can be listed as a partnering agency. If a lead applicant
submits more than three applications as the lead applicant, only the
first three received will be considered.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Address

    Pre-application instructions and information will be available at
www.dot.gov/TIGER, and will include details for submitting the pre-
application electronically to DOT. Final applications must be submitted
to Grants.gov. Instructions for submitting pre-applications and final
applications through Grants.gov can be found at www.dot.gov/TIGER.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

    i. Pre-Application: The pre-application requires applicants to
submit identifying information about their project and qualifies
applicants to submit a final application. If an applicant does not
submit a pre-application, the final application will not be considered.
Pre-applications will not be reviewed until after the pre-application
deadline.
    Applicants must complete the pre-application form and send it to
DOT electronically on or prior to the pre-application deadline, in
accordance with the instructions specified at www.dot.gov/TIGER.
    ii. Final Application: Final applications will not be considered
unless a pre-application is submitted by the applicant. Any changes
from the pre-application should be clearly identified in the final
application. DOT may ask any applicant to supplement data in its
application, but expects applications to be complete upon submission.
To the extent practicable, applicants should provide data and evidence
of project merits in a form that is verifiable or publicly available.
The final application must include the Standard Form 424 (Application
for Federal Assistance) and the Project Narrative. Additional
clarifying guidance and FAQs to assist applicants in completing the SF-
424 will be available at www.dot.gov/TIGER by May 5, 2015, when the
``Apply'' function within Grants.gov opens to accept applications under
this notice.
    The Project Narrative (attachment to SF-424) must respond to the
application requirements outlined below. The application must include
information required for DOT to assess each of the criteria specified
in Section E.1 (Selection Criteria). Applicants must demonstrate the
responsiveness of a project to any pertinent selection criteria with
the most relevant information that you can provide, regardless of
whether such information has been specifically requested, or
identified, in this notice. An application should provide evidence of
the feasibility of achieving project milestones, and of financial
capacity and commitment in order to support project readiness.
    An application should also include a description of how the project
addresses the needs of the area, creates economic opportunity, and
sparks community revitalization, particularly for disadvantaged groups.
    DOT recommends that the project narrative adhere to the following
basic outline and, in addition to a detailed statement of work,
detailed project schedule, and detailed project budget, should include
a table of contents, maps, and graphics as appropriate that make the
information easier to review:
    a. Project Description (including a description of what TIGER funds
will support, information on the expected users of the project, a
description of the transportation challenges that the project aims to
address, how the project will address these challenges, and if, and
how, the project promotes Ladders of Opportunity. The description
should include relevant data, such as passenger or freight volumes,
congestion levels, infrastructure condition, and safety experience.);
    b. Project Location (a detailed description of the proposed project
and geospatial data for the project, including a map of the project's
location and its connections to existing transportation infrastructure,
as well as a description of the national, regional, or metropolitan
area in which the project is located, including economic information
such as population size, median income for transportation facility
users, or major industries affected, and project map);
    c. Project Parties (information about the grant recipient and other
project parties);
    d. Grant Funds and Sources/Uses of Project Funds (information about
the amount of grant funding requested, availability/commitment of fund
sources and uses of all project funds, total project costs, percentage
of project costs that would be paid with TIGER Discretionary Grant
funds, and the identity of all parties providing funds for the project
and their percentage shares.) Include any other pending or past Federal
funding requests for the project as well as Federal funds already
provided under other programs and the size, nature/source of the
required match for those funds, to clarify that these are not the same
funds counted under the matching requirement for this grant request;
    e. Selection Criteria (information about how the project aligns
with each of the primary and secondary selection criteria):

(i) Primary Selection Criteria
    (a) State of Good Repair
    (b) Economic Competitiveness
    (c) Quality of Life
    (d) Environmental Sustainability
    (e) Safety
(ii) Secondary Selection Criteria
    (a) Innovation
    (b) Partnership

    f. Results of Benefit-Cost Analysis;
    g. Project Readiness, including planning approvals, NEPA and other
environmental reviews/approvals, (including information about
permitting, legislative approvals, State and local planning, and
project partnership and implementation agreements); and
    h. Federal Wage Rate Certification (an application must include a
certification, signed by the applicant(s), stating that it will comply
with the requirements of subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40,
United States Code [Federal wage rate requirements], as required by the
FY 2015 Appropriations Act).
    The purpose of this recommended format is to ensure that
applications clearly address the program requirements and make critical
information readily apparent.
    DOT recommends that the project narrative be prepared with standard
formatting preferences (i.e., a single-spaced document, using a
standard 12-point font, such as Times New Roman, with 1-inch margins).
The project narrative may not exceed 30 pages in length. Documentation
supporting the assertions made in the narrative portion may also be
provided, but should be limited to relevant information. Cover pages,
tables of contents, and the federal wage rate certification do not
count towards the 30-page limit for the narrative portion of the
application. Otherwise, the only substantive portions of the
application that may exceed the 30-page limit are any supporting
documents (including a more detailed discussion of the benefit-cost
analysis) provided to support assertions or conclusions made in the 30-
page narrative section. If possible, Web site links to supporting
documentation (including a more detailed discussion of the benefit-cost
analysis) should be provided rather than copies of these materials.
Otherwise, supporting documents should be included as appendices to the
application. It is helpful if applicants' references to supporting
documentation clearly identify the relevant portion of that document.
At the applicant's discretion, relevant materials provided previously
to a relevant modal administration in support of a different DOT
discretionary financial assistance program (for example, New Starts or
TIFIA) may be referenced and described as unchanged. This information
need not be resubmitted for the TIGER Discretionary Grant application
but may be referenced as described above; Web site links to the
materials are highly recommended. DOT recommends using appropriately
descriptive file names (e.g., ``Project Narrative,'' ``Maps,''
``Memoranda of Understanding and Letters of Support,'' etc.) for all
attachments.

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

    DOT may not make a TIGER Discretionary Grant award to an applicant
until the applicant has complied with all applicable DUNS and SAM
requirements. 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:
    i. Obtain a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number;
    ii. Register with the System for Award Management (SAM) at
www.SAM.gov;
    iii. Create a Grants.gov username and password; and
    iv. The E-Business Point of Contact (POC) at your organization must
respond to the registration email from Grants.gov and login at
Grants.gov to authorize you as an Authorized Organization
Representative (AOR). Please note that there can be more than one AOR
for an organization.
    For information and instructions on each of these processes, please
see instructions at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html.
    If an applicant is selected for an award, the applicant will be
required to maintain an active SAM registration with current
information throughout the period of the award.

4. Submission Dates and Times

    i. Deadline: Pre-applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m.
E.D.T. on May 4, 2015. Final applications must be submitted by 11:59
p.m. E.D.T. on June 5, 2015. The Grants.gov ``Apply'' function will
open on May 5, 2015.
    The Department has determined that a pre-application deadline fewer
than 60 days after this notice is appropriate because (1) this notice
is substantially similar to notices used for previous rounds of TIGER
Discretionary Grants, (2) minimal work is required to submit the pre-
application, and (3) the accelerated timeframe helps the Department
ensure that it can timely obligate the available funds.
    ii. Only applicants who comply with all submission deadlines
described in this notice and electronically submit valid pre-
applications to DOT and final applications through Grants.gov will be
eligible for award.
    Applicants are strongly encouraged to make submissions in advance
of the deadline. Please be aware that you must complete the Grants.gov
registration process before submitting the final application, and that
this process usually takes 2-4 weeks to complete. If interested parties
experience difficulties at any point during the registration or
application process, please call the Grants.gov Customer Support
Hotline at 1-800-518-4726, Monday-Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
EDT.
    iii. Late Applications: Applications received after the deadline
will not be considered except in the case of unforeseen technical
difficulties outlined in Section 4.iv. Late applications that are the
result of failure to register or comply with Grants.gov applicant
requirements in a timely manner will not be considered.
iv. a. Pre-Application
    Applicants experiencing technical issues due to the pre-application
submission site that are beyond the applicant's control must contact
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or Howard Hill at<PHONE_NUMBER> prior to the pre-
application deadline with the user name of the registrant and details
of the technical issue experienced.
    DOT will consider late pre-applications on a case-by-case basis.
DOT encourages applicants to submit additional information documenting
the reason for the late submissions.
b. Final Application
    Applicants experiencing technical issues with Grants.gov that are
beyond the applicant's control must contact<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or
Howard Hill at<PHONE_NUMBER> prior to the corresponding deadline with
the user name of the registrant and details of the technical issue
experienced. The applicant must provide:
    (i) Details of the technical issue experienced.
    (ii) Screen capture(s) of the technical issue experienced along
corresponding ``Grant tracking number'' (Grants.Gov).
    (iii) The ``Legal Business Name'' for the applicant that was
provided in the SF-424 or pre-application.
    (iv) The AOR name submitted in the SF-424 (Grants.gov).
    (v) The DUNS number associated with the pre-application/
application.
    (vi) The Grants.gov or Pre-Application Help Desk Tracking Number.
    To ensure a fair competition for limited discretionary funds, the
following conditions are not valid reasons to permit late submissions:
(1) Failure to complete the registration process before the deadline
date; (2) failure to follow Grants.gov instructions on how to register
and apply as posted on its Web site; (3) failure to follow all of the
instructions in this notice of funding availability; and (4) technical
issues experienced with the applicant's computer or information
technology (IT) environment. After DOT staff review all of the
information submitted and contacted the Grants.gov Help Desk to
validate the technical issues you reported, DOT staff will contact you
to either approve or deny your request to submit a late application
through Grants.gov. If the technical issues you reported cannot be
validated, your application will be rejected as untimely.

5. Funding Restrictions

    There is no specific set aside funding solely for pre-construction
activities \4\ in the FY 2015 TIGER Discretionary Grant program.
However, these activities may be eligible to the extent that they are
part of an overall construction project that receives TIGER
Discretionary Grant funding. For TIGER funds to be considered for pre-
construction activities, the applicant must clearly state, in the
application, the pre-construction activity and amount of TIGER funds
that will be expended on the activity.
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    \4\ Pre-Construction activities are activities related to the
planning, preparation, or design of surface transportation projects.
These activities include but are not limited to environmental
analysis, feasibility studies, design, and engineering of surface
transportation projects as described in Section C.3.
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E. Application Review

1. Selection Criteria

    This section specifies the criteria that DOT will use to evaluate
and award applications for TIGER Discretionary Grants. The criteria
incorporate the statutory eligibility requirements for this program,
which are specified in this notice as relevant. There are two
categories of selection criterion, ``Primary Selection Criteria'' and
``Secondary Selection Criteria.'' Within each relevant selection
criteria, applicants are encouraged to present in measurable terms how
TIGER investment will lead to transformative change(s) in their
community. Projects will also be evaluated for demonstrated project
readiness, benefits and costs, and cost share.
i. Primary Selection Criteria
    Applications that do not demonstrate a likelihood of significant
long-term benefits based on these criteria will not proceed in the
evaluation process. DOT does not consider any primary selection
criterion more important than the others. The primary selection
criteria, which will receive equal consideration, are:
    a. Safety. Improving the safety of U.S. transportation facilities
and systems for all modes of transportation and users. DOT will assess
the project's ability to

reduce the number, rate, and consequences of surface transportation-
related accidents, serious injuries, and fatalities among
transportation users, the project's contribution to the elimination of
highway/rail grade crossings, and the project's contribution to
preventing unintended releases of hazardous materials. DOT will
consider the project's ability to foster a safe, connected, accessible
transportation system for the multimodal movement of goods and people.
    b. State of Good Repair. Improving the condition and resilience of
existing transportation facilities and systems. DOT will assess whether
and to what extent: (1) The project is consistent with relevant plans
to maintain transportation facilities or systems in a state of good
repair and address current and projected vulnerabilities; (2) if left
unimproved, the poor condition of the asset will threaten future
transportation network efficiency, mobility of goods or accessibility
and mobility of people, or economic growth; (3) the project is
appropriately capitalized up front and uses asset management approaches
that optimize its long-term cost structure; (4) a sustainable source of
revenue is available for operations and maintenance of the project; and
(5) the project improves the transportation asset's ability to
withstand probable occurrence or recurrence of an emergency or major
disaster or other impacts of climate change. Additional consideration
will be given to a project's contribution to improve the overall
reliability of a multimodal transportation system that serves all
users, and to projects that offer significant transformational
improvements to the condition of existing transportation systems and
facilities.
    c. Economic Competitiveness. Contributing to the economic
competitiveness of the United States over the medium- to long-term,
revitalizing communities, and creating and preserving jobs. DOT will
assess whether the project will (1) Decrease transportation costs and
improve access for Americans with transportation disadvantages through
reliable and timely access to employment centers, education and
training opportunities, and other basic needs of workers; (2) improve
long-term efficiency, reliability or costs in the movement of workers
or goods; (3) increase the economic productivity of land, capital, or
labor at specific locations, and through community revitalization
efforts; (4) result in long-term job creation and other economic
opportunities; or (5) help the United States compete in a global
economy by facilitating efficient and reliable freight movement,
including border infrastructure and projects that have a significant
effect on reducing the costs of transporting export cargoes. DOT will
prioritize projects that exhibit strong leadership and vision, and are
part of a larger strategy to significantly revitalize communities and
increase economic opportunities.
    d. Quality of Life. Increasing transportation choices and access to
essential services for people in communities across the United States,
particularly for disadvantaged groups. DOT will assess whether the
project furthers the six ``Livability Principles'' developed by DOT
with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of the Partnership for
Sustainable Communities.\5\ DOT will focus on the first principle, the
creation of affordable and convenient transportation choices.\6\
Further, DOT will prioritize projects developed in coordination with
land-use planning and economic development decisions, including through
programs like TIGER Planning Grants, the Department of Housing and
Urban Development's Regional Planning Grants, the Environmental
Protection Agency's Brownfield Area-Wide Planning Pilot Program, and
technical assistance programs focused on quality of life or economic
development planning. DOT will assess the extent to which the project
will anchor transformative, positive and long-lasting quality of life
changes at the national, regional or metropolitan level.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ http://www.sustainablecommunities.gov/index.html.
    \6\ In full, this principle reads: ``Provide more transportation
choices. Develop safe, reliable and economical transportation
choices to decrease household transportation costs, reduce our
nations' dependence on foreign oil, improve air quality, reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and promote public health.''
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    e. Environmental Sustainability. Improving energy efficiency,
reducing dependence on oil, reducing greenhouse gas emissions,
improving water quality, avoiding and mitigating environmental impacts
and otherwise benefitting the environment. DOT will assess the
project's ability to: (i) Reduce energy use and air or water pollution;
(ii) avoid adverse environmental impacts to air or water quality,
wetlands, and endangered species; or (iii) provide environmental
benefits, such as brownfield redevelopment, ground water recharge in
areas of water scarcity, wetlands creation or improved habitat
connectivity, and stormwater mitigation, including green
infrastructure. Applicants are encouraged to provide quantitative
information, including baseline information that demonstrates how the
project will reduce energy consumption, stormwater runoff, or achieve
other benefits for the environment.
ii. Secondary Selection Criteria
    a. Innovation. Use of innovative strategies to pursue the long-term
outcomes outlined above. DOT will also assess the extent to which the
project uses innovative technology to pursue one or more of the long-
term outcomes outlined above or to significantly enhance the
operational performance of the transportation system. DOT will also
assess the extent to which the project incorporates innovations in
transportation funding and finance and leverages both existing and new
sources of funding through both traditional and innovative means.
Further, DOT will consider the extent to which the project utilizes
innovative practices in contracting, congestion management, safety
management, asset management, or long-term operations and maintenance.
DOT is interested in projects that apply innovative strategies to
improve the efficiency of project development or to improve project
delivery.
    b. Partnership. Demonstrating strong collaboration among a broad
range of stakeholders, and the product of a robust, inclusive planning
process.
    (i) Jurisdictional and Stakeholder Collaboration. DOT will consider
the extent to which projects involve multiple partners in project
development and funding, such as State and local governments, other
public entities, and/or private or nonprofit entities. DOT will also
assess the extent to which the project application demonstrates
collaboration among neighboring or regional jurisdictions to achieve
national, regional, or metropolitan benefits. In the context of public-
private partnerships, DOT will assess the extent to which partners are
encouraged to ensure long-term asset performance, such as through pay-
for-success approaches.
    (ii) Disciplinary Integration. DOT will consider the extent to
which projects include partnerships that bring together diverse
transportation agencies and/or are supported, financially or otherwise,
by non-transportation public agencies that are pursuing similar
objectives. For example, DOT will give priority to transportation
projects that are coordinated with economic development, housing, water
infrastructure, and land use plans and policies or other public service
efforts.

Similarly, DOT will give priority to transportation projects that are
coordinated with housing, social services, or education agencies.
Projects that grow out of a robust planning process--such as those
conducted with DOT's various planning programs and initiatives, the
Department of Housing and Urban Development's Regional Planning Grants
and Choice Neighborhood Planning Grants, or the Environmental
Protection Agency's Brownfield Area-Wide Planning Pilot Program, as
well as technical assistance programs focused on livability or economic
development planning--will also be given priority.
iii. Demonstrated Project Readiness
    Projects that receive funding in this round of TIGER must obligate
funds by September 30, 2017, or the funding will expire. Therefore, DOT
will assess every application to determine whether the project is
likely to proceed to obligation by the statutory deadline (see
Additional Information on Project Readiness Guidelines located at
www.dot.gov/TIGER for further details), as evidenced by:
    a. Technical Feasibility. The technical feasibility of the project
should be demonstrated by engineering and design studies and
activities; the development of design criteria and/or a basis of
design; the basis for the cost estimate presented in the TIGER
application, including the identification of contingency levels
appropriate to its level of design; and any scope, schedule, and budget
risk-mitigation measures. Applicants must include a detailed statement
of work that focuses on the technical and engineering aspects of the
project and describes in detail the project to be constructed;
    b. Financial Feasibility. The viability and completeness of the
project's financing package (assuming the availability of the requested
TIGER Discretionary Grant funds) should be demonstrated including
evidence of stable and reliable capital and (as appropriate) operating
fund commitments sufficient to cover estimated costs; the availability
of contingency reserves should planned capital or operating revenue
sources not materialize; evidence of the financial condition of the
project sponsor; and evidence of the grant recipient's ability to
manage grants. The applicant must include a detailed project budget in
this section of the application containing a breakdown of how the funds
will be spent. That budget must estimate--both dollar amount and
percentage of cost-- the cost of work for each project component and
provide examples. If the project will be completed in individual
segments or phases, a budget for each individual segment or phase must
be included. Budget spending categories must be broken down between
TIGER, other Federal, and non-Federal sources \7\, and identify how
each funding source will share in each activity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ Non-Federal sources include State funds originating from
State revenue funded programs, local funds originating from State or
local revenue funded programs, private funds or other funding
sources of non-Federal origins.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    c. Project Schedule. The applicant must include a detailed project
schedule that includes all major project milestones--such as start and
completion of environmental reviews and approvals; design; right of way
acquisition; approval of plan, specification and estimate (PS&E);
procurement; and construction-- with sufficiently detailed information
to demonstrate that:
    (i) all necessary pre-construction activities will be complete to
allow grant funds to be obligated no later than June 30, 2017, to give
DOT reasonable assurance that the TIGER Discretionary Grant funds will
be obligated sufficiently in advance of the September 30, 2017,
statutory deadline, and that any unexpected delays will not put the
funds at risk of expiring before they are obligated;
    (ii) the project can begin construction quickly upon receipt of a
TIGER Discretionary Grant, and that the grant funds will be spent
steadily and expeditiously once construction starts; and
    (iii) any applicant that is applying for a TIGER Discretionary
Grant and does not own all of the property or right-of-way required to
complete the project should provide evidence that the property and/or
right-of-way acquisition can and will be completed expeditiously.
    DOT may revoke any award of TIGER Discretionary Grant funds and
award those funds to another project if the funds cannot be timely
expended or construction does not begin in accordance with the project
schedule established in the grant agreement.
d. Required Approvals
    (i) Environmental Permits and Reviews. An application for a TIGER
Discretionary Grant must detail whether the project will significantly
impact the natural, social and/or economic environment. The application
should demonstrate receipt (or reasonably anticipated receipt) of all
environmental approvals and permits necessary for the project to
proceed to construction on the timeline specified in the project
schedule and necessary to meet the statutory obligation deadline,
including satisfaction of all Federal, State and local requirements and
completion of the National Environmental Policy Act (``NEPA'') process.
Although Section C.3.iii (Project Components) of this notice encourages
applicants to identify independent project components, those components
may not be separable for the NEPA process. In such cases, the NEPA
review for the independent project component may have to include
evaluation of all project components as connected, similar, or
cumulative actions, as detailed at 40 CFR 1508.25. The applicant should
submit the information listed below with your application:
    (1) Information about the NEPA status of the project. If the NEPA
process is completed, an applicant must indicate the date of, and
provide a Web site link or other reference to the final Categorical
Exclusion, Finding of No Significant Impact or Record of Decision. If
the NEPA process is underway but not complete, the application must
detail the type of NEPA review underway, where the project is in the
process, and indicate the anticipated date of completion. You must
provide a Web site link or other reference to copies of any NEPA
documents prepared.
    (2) Information on reviews by other agencies. An application for a
TIGER Discretionary Grant must indicate whether the proposed project
requires reviews or approval actions by other agencies,\8\ indicate the
status of such actions, and provide detailed information about the
status of those reviews or approvals and/or demonstrate compliance with
any other applicable Federal, State, or local requirements.
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    \8\ Projects that may impact protected resources such as
wetlands, species habitat, cultural or historic resources require
review and approval by Federal and State agencies with jurisdiction
over those resources. Examples of these reviews and approvals can be
found at www.dot.gov/TIGER.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (3) Environmental studies or other documents--preferably through a
Web site link--that describe in detail known project impacts, and
possible mitigation for those impacts.
    (4) A description of discussions with the appropriate DOT modal
administration field or headquarters office regarding compliance with
NEPA and other applicable environmental reviews and approvals.
    (ii) Legislative Approvals. The applicant should demonstrate
receipt of state and local approvals on which the project depends.
Additional support

from relevant State and local officials is not required; however, an
applicant should demonstrate that the project is broadly supported.
    (iii) State and Local Planning. The planning requirements of the
modal administration administering the TIGER project will apply.\9\ You
should demonstrate that a project that is required to be included in
the relevant State, metropolitan, and local planning documents has been
or will be included. If the project is not included in the relevant
planning documents at the time the application is submitted, you should
submit a certification from the appropriate planning agency that
actions are underway to include the project in the relevant planning
document. Because projects have different schedules, the construction
start date for each TIGER Discretionary Grant will be specified in the
project-specific grant agreements signed by relevant modal
administration and the grant recipients and will be based on critical
path items identified by applicants in response to items (i)(1) through
(4) above.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \9\ All projects requiring an action by the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) or the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in
accordance with 23 CFR part 450, must be in the metropolitan
transportation plan, transportation improvement program (TIP) and
statewide transportation improvement program (STIP). Further, in air
quality non-attainment and maintenance areas, all regionally
significant projects, regardless of the funding source, must be
included in the conforming metropolitan transportation plan and TIP.
To the extent a project is required to be on a metropolitan
transportation plan, TIP, and/or STIP, it will not receive a TIGER
Discretionary Grant until it is included in such plans. Projects not
currently included in these plans can be amended by the State and
metropolitan planning organization (MPO). Projects that are not
required to be in long range transportation plans, STIPs, and TIPs
will not need to be included in such plans in order to receive a
TIGER Discretionary Grant. Port, freight and passenger rail projects
are not required to be on the State Rail Plans called for in the
Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008. This is
consistent with the exemption for high-speed and intercity passenger
rail projects under the Recovery Act. However, applicants seeking
funding for freight and passenger rail projects are encouraged to
demonstrate that they have done sufficient planning to ensure that
projects fit into a prioritized list of capital needs and are
consistent with long-range goals. To the extent possible, freight
projects should be included in a state freight plan and supported by
a state freight advisory committee (see MAP-21 Sec. Sec.  1117-
1118). Further information and guidance information on
transportation planning and is available from the following FHWA and
FTA sites respectively--http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning and http://www.fta.dot.gov/about/12347.html. Port planning guidelines are
available at StrongPorts.gov.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    e. Assessment of Project Risks and Mitigation Strategies. The
applicant should identify the material risks to the project and the
strategies that the lead applicant and any project partners have
undertaken or will undertake in order to mitigate those risks. In past
rounds of TIGER Discretionary Grants, certain projects have been
affected by procurement delays, environmental uncertainties, and
increases in real estate acquisition costs. The applicant must assess
the greatest risks to the projects and identify how the project parties
will mitigate those risks. DOT will consider projects that contain
risks so long as the applicant clearly and directly describe achievable
mitigation strategies.
    The applicant, to the extent they are unfamiliar with the Federal
program, should contact DOT modal field or headquarters offices for
information on what steps are pre-requisite to the obligation of
Federal funds in order to ensure that their project schedule is
reasonable and that there are no risks of delays in satisfying federal
requirements.
    Contacts for the Federal Highway Administration Division offices--
which are located in all 50 States, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico--
can be found at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/about/field.cfm. Contacts for
the ten Federal Transit Administration regional offices can be found at
http://www.fta.dot.gov/12926.html. Contacts for the nine Maritime
Administration Gateway Offices can be found at http://www.marad.dot.gov/about_us_landing_page/gateway_offices/Gateway_Presence.htm. For Federal Railroad Administration Contacts,
please contact TIGER program staff via email at<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or
call Howard Hill at<PHONE_NUMBER>.
iv. Project Costs and Benefits
    An applicant for TIGER Discretionary Grants is generally required
to identify, quantify, and compare expected benefits and costs, subject
to the following qualifications: \10\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ DOT has a responsibility under Executive Order 12893,
Principles for Federal Infrastructure Investments, 59 FR 4233, to
base infrastructure investments on systematic analysis of expected
benefits and costs, including both quantitative and qualitative
measures.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    An applicant should prepare and submit an analysis of benefits and
costs; however, DOT understands that the appropriate level of detail of
analysis (for items such as surveys, travel demand forecasts, market
forecasts, and statistical analyses) is less for smaller projects than
for larger projects. The level of sophistication of the benefit-cost
analysis (BCA) should be reasonably related to the size of the overall
project and the amount of grant funds requested in the application. Any
subjective estimates of benefits and costs should be quantified, and
the applicant should provide appropriate evidence to lend credence to
their subjective estimates. Estimates of benefits should be presented
in monetary terms whenever possible; if a monetary estimate is not
possible, then at least one non-monetary quantitative estimate (in
physical, non-monetary terms, such as crash rates, ridership estimates,
emissions levels, or energy efficiency improvements) should be
provided.
    Based on feedback over previous rounds of TIGER, DOT recognizes
that the benefit-cost analysis can be particularly burdensome on Tribal
governments. Therefore, the Department is providing additional
flexibility to Tribal governments for the purposes of this notice. At
their discretion, Tribal applicants may elect to provide raw data to
support the need for a project (such as crash rates, ridership
estimates, and the number of people who will benefit from the project),
without additional analysis. This data will then be used to allow DOT
economists to make the best estimates they can develop (given the data
provided) of benefits and costs. Examples of BCAs by successful Tribal
applicants are also available online at http://www.dot.gov/policy-initiatives/tiger/tribal-tiger-bca-examples.
    The lack of a useful analysis of expected project benefits and
costs may be the basis for not selecting a project for award of a TIGER
Discretionary Grant. If it is clear to DOT that the total benefits of a
project are not reasonably likely to justify the project's costs, DOT
will not award a TIGER Discretionary Grant to the project.
    Detailed guidance for the preparation of benefit-cost analyses is
provided in the 2015 Benefit-Cost Analyses Guidance for TIGER Grant
Applicants and in the BCA Resource Guide (available at www.dot.gov/TIGER). A recording of the Benefit-Cost Analysis Practitioner's
Workshop (2010) and two BCA-related webinars are also available for
viewing at www.dot.gov/TIGER, along with examples of benefit-cost
analyses that have been submitted in previous rounds of TIGER.
    Spreadsheets supporting the benefit-cost analysis should be
original Excel spreadsheets, not PDFs of those spreadsheets. Benefits
should be presented, whenever possible, in a tabular form showing
benefits and costs in each year for the useful life of the project. The
application should include projections for both the build and no-build
scenarios for the project for each year between the completion of the
project and a point in time at least 20 years beyond the project's
completion date or the lifespan of the project, whichever is closer to
the present.

Benefits and costs should both be discounted to the year 2015, and
calculations should be presented for discounted values of both the
stream of benefits and the stream of costs. If the project has multiple
components, each of which has independent utility, the benefits and
costs of each component should be estimated and presented separately.
The results of the benefit-cost analysis should be summarized in the
Project Narrative section of the application itself, but the details
should be presented in an attachment to the application if the full
analysis cannot be included within the page limit for the project
narrative.
v. Cost Share
    The FY 2015 Appropriations Act directs DOT to prioritize projects
that require a contribution of Federal funds to complete an overall
financing package, and all projects can increase their competitiveness
for purposes of the TIGER program by demonstrating significant non-
Federal financial contributions. The applicant should clearly
demonstrate the extent to which the project cannot be readily and
efficiently completed without a TIGER Discretionary Grant, and the
extent to which other sources of funds, including Federal, State, or
local funding, may or may not be readily available for the project. DOT
recognizes that applicants have varying abilities and resources to
contribute non-Federal contributions, especially those communities that
are not routinely receiving and matching Federal funds. DOT recognizes
certain communities with fewer financial resources may struggle to
provide cost-share that exceeds the minimum requirements and will,
therefore, consider an applicant's broader fiscal constraints when
evaluating non-Federal contributions. In the first six rounds, on
average, projects attracted more than 3.5 matching dollars for every
TIGER grant dollar.

2. Review and Selection Process

    DOT reviews all eligible applications received before the deadline.
The TIGER review and selection process consists of three phases:
Technical Review, Tier 2 Analysis consisting of project readiness and
economic analysis, and Senior Review.
    In the Technical Evaluation phase, teams comprising staff from the
Office of the Secretary (OST) and modal administrations review all
eligible applications and rate projects as Highly Recommended,
Recommended, Acceptable, or Not Recommended based on how well the
projects align with the selection criteria.
    Tier 2 Analysis consists of (1) an Economic Analysis and (2) a
Project Readiness Analysis. The Economic Analysis Team, comprising OST
and modal administration economic staff, assess whether total benefits
of the proposed projects are likely to outweigh costs. The Project
Readiness Team, comprising Office of the Secretary Office of Policy
(OST-P) and modal administration staff, evaluates the proposed
project's technical and financial feasibility, potential risks and
mitigation strategies, and project schedule, including the status of
environmental approvals and readiness to proceed.
    In the third review phase, the Senior Review Team, which includes
senior leadership from OST and the modal administrations, consider all
projects that were rated Acceptable, Recommended, or Highly Recommended
and determine which projects to advance to the Secretary as Highly
Rated. The Secretary selects from the Highly Rated projects for final
award.

F. Federal Award Administration

1. Federal Award Notice

    Following the evaluation outlined in Section E, the Secretary will
announce awarded projects by posting a list of selected projects at
www.dot.gov/TIGER. Following the announcement, the relevant modal
administration will contact the point of contact listed in the SF 424
to initiate negotiation of the grant agreement.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    All awards will be administered pursuant to the Uniform
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for
Federal Awards found in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted by DOT at 2 CFR
part. 1201. Additionally, applicable Federal laws, rules and
regulations of the relevant modal administration administering the
project will apply to the projects that receive TIGER Discretionary
Grant awards, including planning requirements, Service Outcome
Agreements, Stakeholder Agreements, Buy America compliance, and other
requirements under DOT's other highway, transit, rail, and port grant
programs.
    For projects administered by the Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA), applicable Federal laws, rules, and regulations set forth in
Title 23 U.S.C. and Title 23 CFR apply. For an illustrative list of the
applicable laws, rules, regulations, executive orders, polices,
guidelines, and requirements as they relate to a TIGER project
administered by the FHWA, please see [http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/infrastructure/tiger/fy2014_gr_exhbt_c/index.htm]. For TIGER
projects administered by the Federal Transit Administration and
partially funded with Federal transit assistance, all relevant
requirements under chapter 53 of title 49 U.S.C. apply. For transit
projects funded exclusively with TIGER discretionary funds, some
requirements of chapter 53 of title 49 U.S.C. and chapter VI of title
49 CFR apply. For projects administered by the Federal Railroad
Administration, FRA requirements described in 49 U.S.C. Subtitle V,
Part C apply.
    Federal wage rate requirements included in subchapter IV of chapter
31 of title 40, United States Code, apply to all projects receiving
funds under this program, and apply to all parts of the project,
whether funded with TIGER Discretionary Grant funds, other Federal
funds, or non-Federal funds.

3. Reporting

    i. Performance Reporting--Each applicant selected for TIGER
Discretionary Grant funding must collect information and report on the
project's performance with respect to the relevant long-term outcomes
that are expected to be achieved through construction of the project.
Performance indicators will not include formal goals or targets, but
will include baseline measures as well as post-project outcomes for an
agreed-upon timeline, and will be used to evaluate and compare projects
and monitor the results that grant funds achieve to ensure that grant
funds achieve the intended long-term outcomes of the TIGER
Discretionary Grant program.
    ii. Progress Reporting --Each applicant selected for TIGER
Discretionary Grant funding must submit quarterly progress reports and
Federal Financial Report (SF-425) on the financial condition of the
project and the project's progress, as well as an Annual Budget Review
and Program Plan to monitor the use of Federal funds and ensure
accountability and financial transparency in the TIGER program.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

    For further information concerning this notice please contact the
TIGER Discretionary Grant program staff via email at
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or call Howard Hill at<PHONE_NUMBER>. A TDD is
available for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing at 202-366-
3993. In addition, DOT will post answers to questions and requests for
clarifications on DOT's Web site at www.dot.gov/

TIGER. To ensure applicants receive accurate information about
eligibility or the program, the applicant is encouraged to contact DOT
directly, rather than through intermediaries or third parties, with
questions. DOT staff may also conduct briefings on the TIGER
Discretionary Grants selection and award process upon request.

H. Other Information

1. Protection of Confidential Business 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 you consider 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. DOT
protects such information from disclosure to the extent allowed under
applicable law. In the event DOT receives a Freedom of Information Act
(FOIA) request for the information, DOT will follow the procedures
described in its FOIA regulations at 49 CFR 7.17. Only information that
is ultimately determined to be confidential under that procedure will
be exempt from disclosure under FOIA.

    Issued On: March 30, 2015.
Anthony R. Foxx,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-07711 Filed 4-2-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P


[Federal Register: January 30, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 20)]
[Notices]
[Page 5528-5529]
[DOCID:fr30ja08-43]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC08-516A-000; FERC-516A]

Commission Information Collection Activities, Proposed
Collection; Comment Request; Extension

January 22, 2008.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(a)
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13), the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public
comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described
below.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due March 31,
2008.

ADDRESSES: Copies of sample filings of the proposed collection of
information can be obtained from the Commission's Web site (http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filings/elibrary.asp
) or from the Federal Energy

Regulatory Commission, Attn: Michael Miller, Office of the Executive
Director, ED-34, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. Comments
may be filed either in paper format or electronically. Those parties
filing electronically do not need to make a paper filing. For paper
filing, the original and 14 copies of such comments should be submitted
to the Secretary of the Commission, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426 and refer to
Docket No. IC08-516A-000.
    Documents filed electronically via the Internet must be prepared in
WordPerfect, MS Word, Portable Document Format, or ASCII format. To
file the document, access the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov
, choose the Documents & Filings tab, click on eFiling,

then follow the instructions given. First time users will have to
establish a user name and password. The Commission will send an
automatic acknowledgement to the sender's e-mail address upon receipt
of comments.
    All comments may be viewed, printed or downloaded remotely via the
Internet through FERC's homepage using the eLibrary link. For user
assistance, contact<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or toll-free at (866)
208-3676 or for TTY, contact<PHONE_NUMBER>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Miller may be reached by
telephone at<PHONE_NUMBER>, by fax at<PHONE_NUMBER>, and by e-mail at
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the
requirements of FERC-516A ``Small Generator Interconnection
Agreements'' (OMB No. 1902-2003) is used by the Commission to enforce
the statutory provisions of sections 205 and 206 of the Federal Power
Act (FPA), as amended by Title II, section 211 of the Public Utility
Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) (16 U.S.C. 825d). FPA sections
205 and 206 require the Commission to remedy undue discriminatory
practices within interstate electric utility operations.
    The Commission amended its regulations in 2005 with Order No. 2006
to require public utilities that own, control, or operate facilities
used for the transmission of electric energy in interstate commerce to
amend their Open Access Transmission Tariffs (OATTs) to include a
Commission-approved pro forma interconnection procedures document and a
standard interconnection agreement for the interconnection of
generating facilities having a capacity of no more than 20 MW (Small
Generators).\1\
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    \1\ Standardization of Small Generator Interconnection
Agreements and Procedures, Order No. 2006, 70 FR 34189 (May 12,
2005), FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,180 (2005).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Prior to Order No. 2006, the Commission's policy had been to
address interconnection issues on a case-by-case basis. Although a
number of transmission providers had filed interconnection procedures
as part of their OATTs, many industry participants remained
dissatisfied with existing interconnection policies and procedures.
With an increasing number of interconnection-related disputes, it
became apparent that the case-by-case approach was an inadequate and
inefficient means to address interconnection issues. This prompted the
Commission to adopt, in Order No. 2006, a single set of procedures for
jurisdictional transmission providers and a single uniformly applicable

interconnection agreement for transmission providers to use in
interconnecting with Small Generators.
    With the incorporation of these documents in their OATTs, there is
no longer a need for transmitting utilities to file case-by-case
interconnection agreements and procedures with the Commission. However,
on occasion, circumstances warrant non-conforming agreements or a
situation-specific set of procedures. These non-conforming documents
must be filed in their entirety with the Commission for review and
action.
    The information collected is in response to a mandatory
requirement. The Commission implements these filing requirements in the
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR Part 35, Sec.  35.28(f).
    Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the
current expiration date, with no changes to the existing collection of
data.
    Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection is
estimated as:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Number of        Average
                 Number of respondents annually                    responses per   burden hours    Total annual
                                                                    respondent     per response    burden hours
(1)                                                                          (2)             (3)     (1)x(2)x(3)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
238 (maintenance of documents)..................................               1               1             238
40 (filing of conforming agreements)............................               1              25           1,000
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Totals......................................................  ..............  ..............           1,238
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    There was a one-time start-up cost to comply with Order No. 2006
requirements that was included when the Commission first sought
authorization for this information in 2005. The estimated burden of the
continued requirement to maintain the procedures and agreement
documents in transmission providers' OATTs is reflected herein as is
the filing of non-conforming interconnection procedures and agreements
that occur on occasion.
    The estimated total cost to respondents is $75,222.78. [1,238 hours
divided by 2080 hours \2\ per year, times $126,384 \3\ equals
$75,222.78]. The average cost per respondent is $316.06.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Number of hours an employee works each year.
    \3\ Average annual salary per employee.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial
resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, disclose, or provide
the information including: (1) Reviewing instructions; (2) developing,
acquiring, installing, and utilizing technology and systems for the
purposes of collecting, validating, verifying, processing, maintaining,
disclosing and providing information; (3) adjusting the existing ways
to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements;
(4) training personnel to respond to a collection of information; (5)
searching data sources; (6) completing and reviewing the collection of
information; and (7) transmitting, or otherwise disclosing the
information.
    The estimate of cost for respondents is based upon salaries for
professional and clerical support, as well as direct and indirect
overhead costs. Direct costs include all costs directly attributable to
providing this information, such as administrative costs and the cost
for information technology. Indirect or overhead costs are costs
incurred by an organization in support of its mission. These costs
apply to activities which benefit the whole organization rather than
any one particular function or activity.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the Commission, including whether the information will have practical
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality,
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are
to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms
of information technology e.g. permitting electronic submission of
responses.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E8-1593 Filed 1-29-08; 8:45 am]

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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 7, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 75062]
[FR Doc No: 2022-26524]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Internal Agency Docket No. FEMA-3588-EM; Docket ID FEMA-2022-0001]

Seminole Tribe of Florida; Emergency and Related Determinations

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of an
emergency for the Seminole Tribe of Florida (FEMA-3588-EM), dated
November 9, 2022, and related determinations.

DATES: The declaration was issued November 9, 2022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dean Webster, Office of Response and
Recovery, Federal Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street SW,
Washington, DC 20472,<PHONE_NUMBER>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given that, in a letter
dated November 9, 2022, the President issued an emergency declaration
under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5207 (the Stafford Act), as
follows:

    I have determined that the emergency conditions in lands
associated with the Seminole Tribe of Florida resulting from
Tropical Storm Nicole beginning on November 7, 2022, and continuing,
are of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant an emergency
declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. (``the Stafford
Act''). Therefore, I declare that such an emergency exists for the
Seminole Tribe of Florida.
    You are authorized to provide appropriate assistance for
required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the
Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public
health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a
catastrophe in the designated areas. Specifically, you are
authorized to provide assistance for emergency protective measures
(Category B), including direct Federal assistance, under the Public
Assistance program.
    Consistent with the requirement that Federal assistance be
supplemental, any Federal funds provided under the Stafford Act for
Public Assistance will be limited to 75 percent of the total
eligible costs. In order to provide Federal assistance, you are
hereby authorized to allocate from funds available for these
purposes such amounts as you find necessary for Federal emergency
assistance and administrative expenses.
    Further, you are authorized to make changes to this declaration
for the approved assistance to the extent allowable under the
Stafford Act.

    The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hereby gives notice
that pursuant to the authority vested in the Administrator, Department
of Homeland Security, under Executive Order 12148, as amended, Thomas
J. McCool, of FEMA is appointed to act as the Federal Coordinating
Officer for this declared emergency.
    The following areas of the Seminole Tribe of Florida have been
designated as adversely affected by this declared emergency:

    Emergency protective measures (Category B), including direct
federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program for the
Seminole Tribe of Florida.

    The following Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Numbers
(CFDA) are to be used for reporting and drawing funds: 97.030,
Community Disaster Loans; 97.031, Cora Brown Fund; 97.032, Crisis
Counseling; 97.033, Disaster Legal Services; 97.034, Disaster
Unemployment Assistance (DUA); 97.046, Fire Management Assistance
Grant; 97.048, Disaster Housing Assistance to Individuals and
Households In Presidentially Declared Disaster Areas; 97.049,
Presidentially Declared Disaster Assistance--Disaster Housing
Operations for Individuals and Households; 97.050, Presidentially
Declared Disaster Assistance to Individuals and Households--Other
Needs; 97.036, Disaster Grants--Public Assistance (Presidentially
Declared Disasters); 97.039, Hazard Mitigation Grant.

Deanne Criswell,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2022-26524 Filed 12-6-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-23-P


[Federal Register: May 4, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 85)]
[Notices]
[Page 23781-23782]
[DOCID:fr04my10-94]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0199]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Administrative Procedures for the Clinical Laboratory
Improvement Amendments of 1988 Categorization

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an
opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain
information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(the PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the
Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information
including each proposed extension of an existing collection of
information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the
notice. This notice solicits comments on administrative procedures for
the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA)
categorization.

DATES: Submit written or electronic comments on the collection of
information by July 6, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Submit electronic comments on the collection of information
to http://www.regulations.gov. Submit written comments on the
collection of information to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-
305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061,
Rockville, MD 20852. All comments should be identified with the docket
number found in brackets in the heading of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Gittleson, Office of
Information Management, Food and Drug Administration, 1350 Piccard Dr.,
PI50-400B, Rockville, MD 20850,<PHONE_NUMBER>,
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal
agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor.
``Collection of information'' is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR
1320.3(c) and includes agency requests or requirements that members of
the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a
third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A))
requires Federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal
Register concerning each proposed collection of information including
each proposed extension an existing collection of information, before
submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this
requirement, FDA is publishing notice of the proposed collection of
information set forth in this document.
    With respect to the following collection of information, FDA
invites comments on these topics: (1) Whether the proposed collection
of information is necessary for the proper performance of FDA's
functions, including whether the information will have practical
utility; (2) the accuracy of FDA's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents,
including through the use of automated collection techniques, when
appropriate, and other forms of information technology.

Administrative Procedures for CLIA Categorization--42 CFR 493.17 (OMB
Control Number 0910-0607-Extension)

    A guidance document entitled ``Guidance for Administrative
Procedures for CLIA Categorization'' was released on May 7, 2008. The
document describes procedures FDA will use to assign the complexity
category to a device. Typically, FDA assigns complexity categorizations
to devices at the time of clearance or approval of the device. In this
way, no additional burden is incurred by the manufacturer since the
labeling (including operating instructions) is included in the 510(k)
or PMA. In some cases, however, a manufacturer may request CLIA
categorization even if FDA is not simultaneously reviewing a 510(k) or
PMA. One example is when a manufacturer requests that FDA assign CLIA
categorization to a previously cleared device that has changed names
since the original CLIA categorization. Another example is when a
device is exempt from premarket review. In such cases, the guidance
recommends that manufacturers provide FDA with a copy of the package
insert for the device and a cover letter indicating why the
manufacturer is requesting a categorization (e.g. name change, exempt
from 510(k) review). The guidance recommends that in the correspondence
to FDA the manufacturer should identify the product code and
classification as well as reference to the original 510(k) when this is
available.
    FDA estimates the burden of this collection of information as
follows:

                                                     TABLE 1.--Estimated Annual Reporting Burden\1\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          No. of       Annual Frequency       Total Annual         Hours per                          Total Operating &
            CFR  Section                Respondents      per Response           Responses          Responses        Total Hours       Maintenance Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
42 CFR 493.17                                     60                  15                   900            1 hr              900 hr               $46,800
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ There are no capital costs associated with this collection of information.

    The number of respondents is approximately 60. On average, each
respondent will request categorizations (independent of a 510(k) or
PMA) 15 times per year. The cost, not including personnel, is estimated
at $52 per hour (52 x 900) totaling $46,800. This includes the cost of
copying and mailing copies of package inserts and a cover letter, which
includes a statement of the reason for the request and reference to the
original 510(k) numbers, including regulation numbers and product
codes. The burden hours are based on FDA familiarity with the types of
documentation typically included in a sponsor's categorization
requests, and costs for basic office supplies (e.g. paper). The costs
have been updated based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates of
inflation.

    Dated: April 28, 2010.
Leslie Kux,
Acting Assistant Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2010-10358 Filed 5-3-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-S