[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 4 (Thursday, January 6, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 793-801]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28552]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

Regional Infrastructure Accelerator Demonstration Program

AGENCY: Build America Bureau, Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of funding opportunity.

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SUMMARY: The Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act,
enacted in December 2015, authorized the establishment of a Regional
Infrastructure Accelerators Demonstration Program (the Program) to
assist entities in developing improved infrastructure priorities and
financing strategies for the accelerated development of a project that
is eligible for funding under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance
and Innovation Act (TIFIA) Credit Program. The Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2021,

enacted on December 27, 2020, appropriated $5 million for this Program.
A NOFO was issued in December 2020 and five accelerators were selected
from the initial round of applicants. The Build America Bureau (the
Bureau) is issuing a second NOFO to further expand the Program and
solicit applications for designating and funding Regional
Infrastructure Accelerators (RIA) that: (1) Serve a defined geographic
area; (2) act as a resource to qualified entities in the geographic
area in accordance with the FAST Act; and (3) demonstrate the
effectiveness of an RIA to expedite the delivery of projects eligible
for the TIFIA credit program. Projects are not required to apply for or
receive TIFIA credit assistance to be eligible; however, applicants who
are considering the appropriateness of innovative financing methods
such as TIFIA, the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing
(RRIF) credit program, Private Activity Bonds (PABs), project bundling,
private investment, and other innovative financing methods to
accelerate the delivery of eligible projects are strongly encouraged to
apply.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Each section of this notice contains
information and instructions relevant to the application process for
the RIA grants. All applicants should read this notice in its entirety
so that they have the information they 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 Information
F. Federal Award Administration Information
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
H. Other Information

A. Program Description

    1. Background: The Bureau is responsible for driving transportation
infrastructure development projects in the United States through
innovative financing programs. Its mission is to provide access to the
Bureau's credit programs in a streamlined, expedient, and transparent
manner. In accomplishing its mission, the Bureau also provides
technical assistance and encourages innovative best practices in
project planning, financing, delivery, and monitoring. The Bureau draws
upon the full resources of DOT to best utilize the expertise of DOT's
Operating Administrations while promoting a culture of innovation and
customer service.
    Section 1441 of the FAST Act \1\ authorized the Program. On
December 31, 2020, the Bureau issued a NOFO (85 FR 86983) following the
Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020.\2\ The Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2021,\3\ appropriated $5 million to continue the
Program, which is the source of this funding opportunity.
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    \1\ Public Law 114-94, 129 Stat. 1312, 1435 (Dec. 4, 2015).
    \2\ Public Law 116-94, div. H, tit. I, 133 Stat. 2946 (Dec. 20,
2019).
    \3\ Public Law 116-260, div. L, tit. I (as enrolled Dec. 27,
2020).
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    The intent of this Program is to demonstrate and evaluate the
viability and effectiveness of a small number of accelerators in
expediting the development and delivery of specific transportation
projects within the geographic area of each RIA designated by the
Bureau. It is the intent of the Bureau to expand the Program coverage
building on the earlier designation of five RIAs in Cleveland, Chicago,
Fresno, San Diego, and Seattle as result of the NOFO issued in December
31, 2020. Therefore, the Bureau continues to be keenly interested in
testing several RIA models to address needs based on common
transportation infrastructure make-up and challenges within regions,
particularly those with less capacity or experience in using innovative
financing and project delivery methods, and those supporting eligible
entities that are likely to be first time users of the Bureau's credit
programs, such as the TIFIA credit program. The Bureau plans to select
between one and five RIAs for awards under this program based on
proposals submitted by eligible applicants in response to this notice.
Ideally, when considering both the first and the second rounds of
awards under this program, there will be a diversity of RIAs selected
for awards based on geography (e.g., rural, urban, disadvantaged
community), organizational structure (e.g., within a State or
Metropolitan Planning Organization), operational business model and
focus.
    2. Regional Designation: For the purpose of this Program, the
Bureau will consider regional designation as broadly defined in the
following categories:
    a. State or Multi-State: An RIA that serves one State or a group of
State entities with common interest in transportation projects being
delivered.
    b. Urban or Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO): An RIA that
serves a local government or group of local jurisdictions with
transportation functions within a metropolitan area. For this Program,
if the RIA serves MPOs sharing State boundaries, it would be considered
under this category.
    c. Rural: An RIA that serves a region of rural communities as
defined in this notice. An RIA serving multiple rural communities
across state lines would be considered under this category. To be
considered a rural RIA, most of the projects listed in the proposal
must meet the definition of rural in Section C.5 of this notice.
    d. Other: Any proposal that includes multiple jurisdictions with
shared priorities and interest, such as a river basin, transportation
corridor, etc.
    3. Program Goals: The primary intent for the Program is to
establish regional infrastructure accelerators to assist entities in
accelerating TIFIA-eligible projects through innovative financing
strategies. This assistance can be in the form of any of the following,
based on the needs of the project(s) that the applicant proposes to
assist:
    a. Project planning;
    b. Studies and analysis, including feasibility, market analysis,
project costs, cost-benefit analysis, value for money, public benefit,
economic assessments, and environmental reviews;
    c. Revenue forecasting, funding and financing options analyses,
application of best practices, innovative financing/procurement, and
public-private partnerships, where appropriate:
    d. Preliminary engineering and design work;
    e. Statutory and regulatory compliance analyses;
    f. Evaluation of opportunities for private financing, project
bundling and/or phasing;
    g. Enhancement of rural project sponsors' capacity to use the TIFIA
credit program and to the extent applicable, the RRIF credit program,
PABs, and other innovative financing methods, helping to bundle
projects across multiple smaller jurisdictions to create a project at a
scale that is more appropriate for the Bureau's credit assistance, and
pool the jurisdictions' resources to apply for TIFIA credit assistance
and, to the extent applicable, RRIF credit assistance and PABs, as well
as leveraging DOT's Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for
Economic Success (ROUTES) Initiatives' \4\ products and offerings; and
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    \4\ https://www.transportation.gov/rural.
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    h. Other direct, project-specific support as appropriate.
    Funding, in the form of and pursuant to a cooperative agreement,
will be provided for a single year, with an

option for a second year for an RIA that meets or exceeds agreed-upon
performance targets. Competitive proposals that demonstrate long-term
self-sustainability will be given greater consideration. The Bureau
intends to work closely with grant recipients in developing and, as
applicable, financing projects within the RIA's geographic area.
    4. Changes from the FY 2020 NOFO: This FY 2021 Regional
Infrastructure Accelerator Demonstration Program NOFO updates the FY
2020 NOFO to reflect this Administration's priorities for creating
good-paying jobs, improving safety, applying transformative technology,
and explicitly addressing climate change and advancing racial equity.
Therefore, the Bureau added the Transformative Projects criterion to
clarify how the long-term project outcomes should align with the
Administration's priorities in a competitive application. Applicants
should refer to Section E of this NOFO for descriptions of the
selection criteria, including the new Transformative Projects
criterion. Additionally, this NOFO clarifies what would be required of
the Applicant to receive a STRONG rating for evaluation Criteria, where
applicable, as further described in Section E.1.

B. Federal Award Information

    The Bureau hereby requests applications from all interested parties
to result in the award of between one and five cooperative
agreement(s), each containing substantial involvement on the part of
the Federal government in accordance with Section 6305 of title 31,
United States Code. The Bureau anticipates substantial Federal
involvement between it and the recipient during this Program will
include among others:
    a. Technical assistance and guidance to the recipients;
    b. Close monitoring of performance;
    c. Involvement in technical decisions; and
    d. Participation in status meetings including kick off meeting and
annual technical and budget reviews.
    1. Program Funding and Awards:
    a. Number of Awards: The Bureau intends to select between one and
five RIAs, based on the number and viability of applications.
    b. Size of Award: A total of $5 million is available for this
Program. The size of individual awards will be determined by the number
of RIAs selected and the funding needed for each to meet the Program
objectives.
    2. Funding Period: The Bureau intends to award funds on a yearly
basis for a period of two years under a cooperative agreement with the
second year as an option year. A third option year of funding may be
provided if the selected RIA is achieving agreed-upon performance
objectives, subject to the availability of funds.

C. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants: To be selected as an RIA, an applicant must
be an eligible applicant. An eligible applicant is: A U.S. public
entity, including a state, multi-state or multi-jurisdictional group,
municipality, county, a special purpose district or public authority
with a transportation function including a port authority, a tribal
government or consortium of tribal governments, MPO, regional
transportation planning organization (RTPO), Regional Transportation
Commission, or a political subdivision of a State or local government,
or combination of two or more of the foregoing.
    If more than one public entity is applying in a single proposal,
one of the entities must be designated as the lead applicant. Such
applicant will be authorized to negotiate and enter into a cooperative
agreement with the Government on behalf of the entities, will be
responsible for performance, and will be accountable for Federal funds.
Applications will be accepted from a partnership between one or more
eligible applicants and another U.S. party, such as a private entity,
consulting or engineering firms, etc., as long as one of the eligible
public entities is designated as the lead applicant and that entity
will enter into the cooperative agreement, with the shared goal of
establishing and operating the RIA. The location of all RIA application
parties, their entire jurisdictions and all proposed projects must be
located solely in the United States and its territories. Proposed
projects and project sponsors must meet the eligibility requirements
for TIFIA credit assistance as further defined in Chapter 3 of the
Bureau's Credit Program Guide (https://www.transportation.gov/sites/buildamerica.dot.gov/files/2019-08/Bureau%20Credit%20Programs%20Guide_March_2017.pdf#page=29). In
addition, the Bureau will consider the extent to which an applicant
demonstrates the capacity to accelerate projects eligible for the TIFIA
credit program through the use of innovative financing strategies,
including but not limited to the TIFIA and RRIF credit programs, PABs,
project bundling, and private investment. Further, the Bureau will
consider applications from any RIA that was designated pursuant to the
prior NOFO to the extent that funding is available, and only after
giving primary consideration to applicants who have not received any
funding under this Program.
    2. Cost sharing or Matching: There is no requirement for cost
sharing or matching the grant funds.
    3. Other: For the purposes of this Program, the following terms
apply:
    a. Rural Infrastructure Project: Consistent with the definition of
``rural infrastructure project'' for the TIFIA credit program,
``rural'' for the purposes of this notice is defined as a surface
transportation infrastructure project located outside of an urbanized
area with a population greater than 150,000 individuals, as determined
by the Bureau of the Census.
    b. A proposed region whose geographic authority is in both an urban
and a rural area will be designated as urban if the majority of the
projects listed in the proposal are located in urban areas. Conversely,
a proposed region located in both an urban area and a rural area will
be designated as rural if the majority of the projects listed in the
proposal are in rural areas.
    c. Urban/Rural Project determination: A project located in both an
urban and a rural area will be designated as urban if less than \1/2\
of the project's costs are spent in a rural area. If \2/3\ or more of a
project's costs are spent in a rural area, the project will be
designated as rural. For projects where between \1/2\ and \2/3\ of
their costs are in a rural area, the project will be designated as
rural if the applicant demonstrates that \2/3\ or more of the project's
benefits accrue to users in rural areas; if the applicant does not make
such demonstration, the project will be designated as urban.

D. Application and Submission Information

    1. The Application Package: Applicants must submit all applications
through www.Grants.gov. Instructions for submitting applications can be
found at https://www.transportation.gov/buildamerica/financing/tifia/regional-infrastructure-accelerators-program.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: The application must
include the Standard Form 424 (Application for Federal Assistance),
cover page, and the application narrative.
    a. Cover Page: Each application should include a cover page that
contains, at minimum, name of the applicant and sponsor, if applicable,
the location; the region of designation; category of designation for
which the applicant is to be considered; and RIA budget amount.

    b. Application Narrative: The application narrative should follow
the basic outline below to address the Program requirements and assist
evaluators in locating relevant information.

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                 Section                         Section explained
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I. Applicant.............................  See D.2.I.
II. Description of Proposed Geographic/    See D.2.II.
 Jurisdictional Region.
III. Accelerator Proposal................  See D.2.III.
IV. Budget, Sources and Uses for Full      See D.2.IV.
 Accelerator Funds.
V. Selection Criteria....................  See D.2.V.
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    The application narrative should include the information necessary
for the Bureau to determine that the applicant(s) proposed regional
focus, the overall accelerator proposal, list of intended projects,
budget, and other information satisfy the eligibility requirements set
forth in this notice as described in Section C and to assess the
selection criteria specified in Section E.1. To the extent practicable,
applicants should provide supporting data and documentation in a form
that is directly verifiable by the Bureau. The Bureau may ask any
applicant to supplement data in its application but expects
applications to be complete upon submission.
    In addition to the information requested elsewhere in this notice,
the proposal should include a table of contents, maps, and graphics, as
appropriate, to make the information easier to review. The Bureau
recommends that the proposal be prepared with standard formatting
preferences (a single-spaced document, using a standard 12-point font
such as Times New Roman, with 1-inch margins). The proposal narrative
may not exceed 30 pages in length, excluding cover pages and table of
contents. The only substantive portions that may exceed the 30-page
limit are documents supporting assertions or conclusions made in the
30-page project narrative. If possible, applicants should provide
website links to supporting documentation rather than copies of these
supporting materials. If supporting documents are submitted, applicants
should clearly identify within the project narrative the relevant
portion of the project narrative that each supporting document
supports. The Bureau recommends using appropriately descriptive file
names (e.g., ``Project Narrative,'' ``Maps,'' ``Memoranda of
Understanding'' and ``Letters of Support,'' etc.) for all attachments.
    I. Applicant: This section of the narrative should include
information describing the organizational structure and formal/informal
relationships between parties associated with the RIA application. It
should directly address the eligibility requirements discussed in
section C.1 of this notice. The applicant should use this section to
explain the organization's history, qualifications, and experience of
key individuals who will be working in the proposed RIA. This section
should also include descriptions of previous projects relevant to the
RIA's activities envisioned in this notice that the organization or its
individuals completed. The narrative should place the projects into a
broader context of transportation infrastructure investments being
pursued by the proposed RIA and its sponsors, and how it will benefit
communities within the region.
    II. Description of Proposed Geographic/Jurisdictional Region: This
portion of the narrative should precisely identify the geographic
region, the jurisdictions, and the agencies the RIA would serve and
identify which of the four categories of RIA identified in Section A.2
that this proposal falls under, and explain why. The narrative should
explain the commonalities and shared interests of parties in the
proposed region as the rationale for establishing a region of this
construct, along with the affiliations within the proposed region.
Consistent with the Department's ROUTES 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.
    III. Accelerator Proposal: This section of the narrative should
explain how the applicant(s) propose to establish the RIA and the
concept of how it would operate, and provide the project-specific
services identified in Section A of this notice, along with a proposed
timeline for establishing the RIA, with key milestones and suggested
performance targets during its operational phase. The applicant should
describe, in sufficient detail, the applicant's approach to identifying
and building the pipeline of projects to be undertaken and how they
will develop such projects utilizing their experience and expertise,
and identify an initial pipeline of projects that are eligible for
TIFIA credit assistance and, to the extent applicable, RRIF credit
assistance, PABs, and other innovative financing methods. The narrative
should also contain a list of projects that the applicant(s) propose to
assist under the RIA. This list, to the extent possible, should
include, at a minimum:
    a. Project name and location;
    b. Project sponsor;
    c. Description;
    d. Bureau program most likely to apply (TIFIA, RRIF, PABs);
    e. Support activities the applicant envisions the RIA would provide
    f. Project costs; and
    g. Project timeline.
    IV. Budget, Sources, and Uses for Full Accelerator Funds: The
applicant should include a proposed financial plan and budget including
the Federal grant amount requested, non-Federal matching funds, in-kind
contributions, and other sources. The proposed plan should also include
a list of activities and projects as well as all associated costs of
the proposed RIA. For non-Federal matching funds, the application
should identify the sources as well as supporting documentation
indicating the degree to which those funds are committed and dates of
their availability. If the applicant proposes that the RIA will reach a
point of long-term self-sustainability, the narrative should include a
description of how this would happen, and where the long-term funds
would be generated.
    V. Selection Criteria: This section of the application should
demonstrate how the application aligns with the criteria described in
Section E.1 of this notice. The Bureau intends to select and designate
RIA that demonstrate in their proposal the ability to effectively
assist entities in developing improved infrastructure priorities and
financing strategies for the accelerated development of one or more
projects eligible for funding under the TIFIA program. DOT will
consider the extent to which an RIA is likely to effectively promote
investment in eligible projects, develop a pipeline of regional
transportation projects, and result in the implementation of projects
with innovative financing methods.
    The Bureau encourages applicants to either address each criterion
or expressly state that the project does not address the criterion.
Applicants are not required to follow a specific format, but the
outline suggested addresses each criterion separately and promotes a
clear discussion that assists project evaluators. To minimize redundant
information in the application, the Bureau encourages applicants to
cross-reference from this section of their application to relevant
substantive information in other sections of the application. The
guidance in this section is about how the applicant should organize
their application.

Guidance describing how the Bureau will evaluate projects against the
Selection Criteria is in Section E.1 of this notice. Applicants also
should review that section before considering how to organize their
application.
    3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM):
Each applicant must: (1) Be registered in SAM before submitting its
application; (2) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its
application; and (3) continue to maintain an active SAM registration
with current information at all times during which it has an active
Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a
Federal awarding agency. The Department may not make an RIA grant to an
applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique
entity identifier and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not
fully complied with the requirements by the time the Department is
ready to make a grant, the Department may determine that the applicant
is not qualified to receive a grant and use that determination as a
basis for making a grant to another applicant.
    4. Submission Dates and Timelines:
    a. Deadline: Applications in response to this NOFO must be
submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. EST 90 days after
publication of this notice. The Grants.gov ``Apply'' function will open
on the date of publication. The Bureau may hold NOFO information
session(s) before the due date.
    To apply through Grants.gov, applicants must:
    (1) Obtain a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number;
    (2) Register with the System Award for Management (SAM) at
www.sam.gov; and
    (3) Create a Grants.gov username and password; and
    (4) The E-business Point of Contact (POC) at the applicant's
organization must also respond to the registration email from
Grants.gov and login at Grants.gov to authorize the POC as an
Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). Please note that there
can only be one AOR per organization.
    Please note that the Grants.gov registration process usually takes
2-4 weeks to complete and that the Department will not consider late
applications that are the result of failure to register or comply with
Grants.gov applicant requirements in a timely manner. For information
and instruction on each of these processes, please see instructions at
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html. If
interested parties experience difficulties at any point during the
registration or application process, please call the Grants.gov
Customer Service Support Hotline at 1(800) 518-4726, Monday-Friday from
7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST.
    5. Other Submission Requirements:
    (a) Submission Location: Application must be submitted to
Grants.gov.
    (b) Consideration of Application: Only applicants who comply with
all submission deadlines described in this notice and submit
applications through Grants.gov will be eligible for award. Applicants
are strongly encouraged to make submissions in advance of the deadline.
    (c) Late Applications: Applicants experiencing technical issues
with Grants.gov that are beyond the applicant's control must contact
[email protected] prior to the application deadline with the username of the
registrant and details of the technical issue experienced. The
applicant must provide:
    (1) Details of the technical issue experienced;
    (2) Screen capture(s) of the technical issues experienced along
with corresponding Grants.gov ``Grant tracking number'';
    (3) The ``Legal Business Name'' for the applicant that was provided
in the SF-424;
    (4) The AOR name submitted in the SF-424;
    (5) The DUNS number associated with the application; and
    (6) The Grants.gov Help Desk Tracking Number.
    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 the
instructions in this notice of funding opportunity; and (4) technical
issues experienced with the applicant's computer or information
technology environment. After the Department reviews all information
submitted and contacts the Grants.gov Help Desk to validate reported
technical issues, USDOT staff will contact late applicants to approve
or deny a request to submit a late application through Grants.gov. If
the reported technical issues cannot be validated, late applications
will be rejected as untimely.
    6. Applications under this NOFO are not subject to the State review
under E.O. 12372.
    7. Funding Restrictions: The DOT will not reimburse any pre-award
costs or application preparation costs under this proposed agreement.
Construction of any project being contemplated or aided by the proposed
RIA is not an allowable activity under this grant. All non-domestic
travel must be approved in writing by the DOT designated agreement
officer prior to incurring costs. Travel requirements under the
cooperative agreement will be met using the most economical form of
transportation available. If economy class transportation is not
available, the request for payment vouchers must be submitted with
justification for use of higher-class travel indicating dates, times,
and flight numbers.

E. Application Review Information

    1. Criteria: This section specifies the criteria that the Bureau
will use to evaluate and award applications for Program grants. The
criteria incorporate statutory eligibility requirements. For each
proposed RIA, the Bureau will review the application for the criteria
described in this section. The Bureau does not consider any criterion
more important than the others.
    A. Experience/Qualifications: The Bureau will assess whether and to
what extent the applicant(s):
    (1) Possess the ability to evaluate and promote innovative
financing methods for local projects including the use of TIFIA and
RRIF and other Federal assistance programs where applicable;
    (2) Possess the ability to provide technical assistance on best
practices with respect to financing projects;
    (3) Have experience in increasing transparency with respect to
infrastructure project analysis and using innovative financing for
public infrastructure projects;
    (4) Have experience in deploying predevelopment capital programs
designed to facilitate the creation of a pipeline of infrastructure
projects available for investment;
    (5) Have a history of successfully bundling smaller-scale and rural
projects into larger proposals that may be more attractive for private
investment;
    (6) Have demonstrated success in reducing transaction costs for
public project sponsors;
    (7) Demonstrate the capacity to accelerate projects eligible for
the TIFIA credit program through the use of innovative financing
strategies such as the TIFIA and RRIF credit programs, and PABs, but
also other strategies such as project bundling, grant anticipation
revenue vehicles, and incorporating private capital;
    (8) Have experience in the development of project financial plans,
including developing capital structures

and identifying funding and financing sources, as well as a
demonstrated track record for achieving financial close and
    (9) Have experience in working with private sector project sponsors
disadvantaged communities, including but not limited to rural and low
resources communities as well as working on revitalization projects.
    An applicant that demonstrates substantial experience of 10 years
or more in the development and delivery of projects, including the use
of alternative delivery methods such as design-build and/or public
private partnerships (P3) as related to items (1) through (9) above,
and innovative financing particularly the use of TIFIA and RRIF or PABs
will receive a STRONG rating in this criterion.
    B. Partnerships: The Bureau will consider the extent to which
applicant(s) demonstrate strong collaboration among a broad range of
stakeholders in the proposed geographic area of the RIA. Applications
with strong partnerships typically involve multiple partners in project
development, funding, and finance. The Bureau will consider applicants
that partner with State, local, and private entities for the
development, funding, financing, and delivery of transportation
projects to have strong partnerships. Evaluators will also consider the
relationship of the RIA with its constituencies and authorities granted
by them. The Bureau will assess the ability of the proposed RIA to
develop projects quickly and effectively by having the support of its
members and working across jurisdictions.
    An applicant that can demonstrate effective partnerships with
public, private sector and/or academic entities will receive a STRONG
rating in this criterion.
    C. Regional Viability: The Bureau will evaluate the proposed
region, geographically, organizationally, and functionally, as well as
its jurisdictional relevance. In evaluating this criterion, the Bureau
will consider the geographic make-up of the proposed RIA and the
transportation needs of the region.
    D. Business Model: The Bureau will assess the thoroughness,
viability, and efficiency that the applicant(s) can establish the RIA,
commence operations, and deliver project-specific outcomes. In
conducting this assessment, evaluators will consider:
    (1) The effort, cost, and actions necessary to initially establish
the proposed RIA, including workspaces, fixed and variable costs,
staffing, and the development of relationships necessary to function
effectively in the proposed region.
    (2) How the proposed RIA will operate once established, including
costs, organization, efficiency, availability of the technical
expertise and resources needed to accelerate project delivery, work
plan, and time required to achieve operational status.
    An applicant that can demonstrate the ability to stand up the RIA
and achieve operations status within 6 months of executing a
cooperative agreement will receive a STRONG rating in this criterion.
    E. Pipeline: The Bureau will consider the proposed pipeline of
projects and assess whether and to what extent they are likely to be
eligible projects and appropriate for development activities as set
forth in this notice. The proposed pipeline must include one or more
projects likely to be eligible for TIFIA credit assistance. In
evaluating this criterion, the Bureau will consider the number of
eligible projects in the pipeline, the degree of local/regional support
of the projects, and the project status and timeline as they relate to
the likelihood the RIA can impact the project during the performance
period of the cooperative agreement. Evaluators will also assess the
degree to which the skills/experience of the applicant(s) are
appropriate for the proposed projects. The Bureau will also evaluate
the viability and proposed approach the applicant(s) have developed for
attracting new projects into the RIA's pipeline of projects and how
they propose to assist and monitor the development of those projects.
    F. Readiness: The Bureau will consider the extent to which the
proposed RIA is prepared to commence operations and begin achieving
project-specific results. Evaluators will also assess the viability of
the proposed budget as it relates to the establishment and successful
operations of the RIA as proposed. In considering this criterion,
evaluators will also determine the likelihood that proposed milestones
will be subject to delay and/or cost overruns and the risk that key
milestones might be missed due to internal or external factors.
Evaluators will also consider the readiness of the proposed RIA to
commence operations, including but not limited to:
    (1) Availability of facilities and equipment necessary to function;
    (2) Existing governance structure as compared to proposed future
structure; and
    (3) Ability of existing relationships to rapidly deliver results.
    G. Value: The Bureau will evaluate the relative value of the
proposal to individual projects and the taxpayer, including but not
limited to: The number of projects likely to measurably be accelerated
as a result of the proposed technical assistance of the RIA, the number
of projects reasonably expected to utilize innovative financing, and
the asset class(es) most prevalent in the proposed project portfolio.
In considering this criterion, evaluators will also consider the
applicant's proposed performance targets (Section III of the
application) and how they compare to the overall proposed cost of the
RIA (Section IV of the application).
    H. Rural Assistance: In support of Executive Order 13985, Advancing
Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the
Federal Government (86 FR 7009), the Department encourages applicants
to consider how the project will address the challenges faced by
individuals and underserved communities in rural areas.
    Where applicable, the Bureau will evaluate the degree to which the
proposal can support individual rural project sponsors. The Bureau will
consider opportunities proposed to overcome common barriers to using
TIFIA and RRIF credit assistance and other innovative financing methods
for rural project sponsors, such as project size or type, financial or
institutional capabilities, and other issues. Consistent with the
Department's ROUTES 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.
This can include delivering innovative technical assistance and
leveraging the DOT ROUTES Initiative to provide user-friendly
information and other assistance to rural project sponsors.
    I. Self-Sustainability: The Bureau will consider whether and to
what extent the proposed RIA will achieve self-sustainability during
the Program's effective period of receipt of Federal funding. In the
event that a proposed RIA will not achieve self-sustainability, the
Bureau will evaluate the extent to which the termination of the RIA
might deliver long-term benefits as the result of projects delivered
during the funding period.
    An applicant that can demonstrate a model of self-sustainability
and continued benefits beyond the effective period of Federal funding
will receive a STRONG rating in this criterion.

    J. Risk: The Bureau will assess the risks to successful
implementation and operation of the proposed RIA, and the degree to
which proposed mitigation activities might address/offset those risks.
Evaluators will also assess the practicality of proposed mitigation
activities in terms of cost, complexity, and time required to implement
the actions.
    An applicant that can demonstrate the development of, at minimum,
qualitative risk assessments of proposed projects in meeting Federal
eligibility requirements (see Chapter 3 of the Bureau Credit Programs
Guide: https://www.transportation.gov/sites/buildamerica.dot.gov/files/2019-08/Bureau%20Credit%20Programs%20Guide_March_2017.pdf#page=29) will
receive a STRONG rating in this criterion.
    K. Transformative Projects: The Bureau will consider the extent to
which the proposed project to be aided by the RIA will address the
following Department priorities:
    (1) Safety: DOT will assess the project's ability to foster a safe
transportation system for the movement of goods and people, consistent
with the Department's strategic goal to reduce transportation-related
fatalities and serious injuries across the transportation system.
    (2) Environmental Sustainability: DOT will consider the extent to
which the project incorporates considerations of climate change,
resilience, and environmental justice in the planning stage and in
project delivery, such as through incorporation of specific design
elements that address climate change impacts.
    (3) Equity and Accessibility: DOT will consider the extent to which
the project: (i) Increases transportation choices and equity for
individuals; (ii) expands access to essential services for communities
across the United States, particularly for underserved or disadvantaged
communities; (iii) improves connectivity for citizens to jobs, health
care, and other critical destinations, or (iv) proactively addresses
racial equity \5\ and barriers to opportunity, through the planning
process or through incorporation of design elements.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ Definitions for ``racial equity'' and ``underserved
communities'' are found in Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial
Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal
Government, Sections 2 (a) and (b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (4) Innovative Technology: Consistent with DOT's objectives to
encourage transformative projects that take the lead in deploying
innovative technologies and practices that drive outcomes in terms of
safety, environmental sustainability, quality of life, and state of
good repair, DOT will assess the extent to which the applicant uses
innovative strategies, including: (i) Innovative technologies, (ii)
innovative project delivery, or (iii) innovative financing.
    (5) State of Good Repair: Consistent with the Department's
strategic objective to maintain and upgrade existing transportation
systems, DOT will assess whether and to what extent: (i) 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; (ii) 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;
(iii) the project is appropriately capitalized, including whether
project sponsor has conducted scenario planning and/or fiscal impact
analysis to understand the future impact on public finances; (iv) a
sustainable source of revenue is available for operations and
maintenance of the project and the project will reduce overall life-
cycle costs; (v) the project will maintain or improve transportation
infrastructure that supports border security functions; and (vi) the
project includes a plan to maintain the transportation infrastructure
in a state of good repair. DOT will prioritize projects that ensure the
good condition of transportation infrastructure, including rural
transportation infrastructure, that support commerce and economic
growth.
    An applicant that can demonstrate a pipeline of viable projects
that address at least four of the above listed Department priorities
(in this Section E.1.K(1) through (5)) will receive a STRONG rating in
this criterion.
    2. Review and Selection Process: A Review Team will review all
eligible applications received by the deadline. This Review Team will
consist of Modal Liaisons from the Federal Highway Administration
(FHWA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) and Bureau employees designated by the Executive
Director. The Program grants review and selection process consists of
two steps: (1) The Review Team will evaluate each proposal and make a
determination of eligibility based on criteria outlined in Section C.1
of this notice and, if deemed eligible; and (2) the Review Team will
evaluate the proposal based on the Selection Criteria in Section E.1 of
this notice. In reviewing the application, each criterion will be given
one of the following qualitative ratings: STRONG, MODERATE, or
MARGINAL. These ratings are based on the proposal's alignment with the
criteria. No one criterion is weighted higher or lower than the others.
A collective overall assessment rating will be assigned to each
application based on the qualitative ratings assigned for each
evaluation criterion. The collective overall assessment will ultimately
reflect how well the proposal meets the goals of the Program as stated
in Section A.3. of the NOFO. Each application will be given an overall
assessment rating of ``high'' if it receives a rating of STRONG in at
least 6 of the evaluation criteria; an overall assessment rating of
``medium'' if it receives a rating of MODERATE or a combination of
STRONG and MODERATE in at least 6 of the evaluation criteria; and an
overall assessment rating of ``low'' if it does not meet the
requirements for a ``medium'' or ``high''. The Review Team will present
its findings to the Senior Review Team, which consists of Bureau
Leadership, including the Executive Director. The Executive Director
will finalize recommendations and present them to the Secretary. The
final award decisions will be made by the Secretary of Transportation.
    3. Additional Information: Prior to award, each selected applicant
will be subject to a risk assessment as required by 2 CFR 200.205. The
Department must 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)). An applicant may review information in
FAPIIS and comment on any information about itself. The Department will
consider comments by the applicant, in addition to the other
information in FAPIIS, 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.

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Federal Award Notice

    Following the evaluation process outlined in Section E.2, the
Secretary will announce awarded projects by posting a list of selected
RIA at https://www.transportation.gov/buildamerica/financing/tifia/regional-infrastructure-accelerators-program. Notice of selection is
not authorization to begin performance or to incur costs for the

proposed RIA. Following that announcement, the Bureau will contact the
point of contact listed in the SF 424 to initiate negotiation of the
cooperative agreement.

2. Administration and National Policy Requirements

    Performance under the cooperative agreement will be governed by and
in compliance with the following requirements as applicable to the type
of organization of the recipient and any applicable sub-recipients:
    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.
    Other terms and condition as well as performance requirements will
be addressed in the cooperative agreement with the recipient. The full
terms and conditions of the resulting cooperative agreements may vary
and are subject to discussions and negotiations.
    In connection with any program or activity conducted with or
benefiting from funds awarded under this notice, recipients of funds
must comply with all applicable requirements of Federal law, including,
without limitation, the Constitution of the United States, statutory,
regulatory, and public policy requirements, including without
limitation, those protecting free speech, religious liberty, public
welfare, the environment, and prohibiting discrimination; the
conditions of performance, non-discrimination 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,
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 Bureau determines that a
recipient has failed to comply with applicable Federal requirements,
the Bureau may terminate the award of funds and disallow previously
incurred costs, requiring the recipient to reimburse any expended award
funds. Additionally, Executive Order 13858 directs the Executive Branch
Departments and agencies to maximize the use of goods, products, and
materials produced in the United States through the terms and
conditions of Federal financial assistance awards. If selected for an
award, grant recipients must be prepared to demonstrate how they will
maximize the use of domestic goods, products, and materials, as
applicable, in establishing and operating the RIA.

3. Reporting

a. Progress Reporting on Grant Activities
    Each applicant selected for RIA grant funding must submit semi-
annual progress reports as agreed to in the cooperative agreement to
monitor RIA progress and ensure accountability and financial
transparency in the RIA grant program.
b. Performance Reporting
    Each applicant selected for RIA grant funding must collect and
report to the Bureau information on the RIA's performance. The specific
performance information and reporting period will be determined on an
individual basis. It is anticipated that the Bureau and the grant
recipient will hold monthly progress meetings or calls during which the
Bureau will review project activities, schedule, and progress toward
mutually agreed upon performance targets in the cooperative agreement.
If the award is greater than $500,000 over the period of performance,
applicants must adhere to the post award reporting requirements
reflected in 2 CFR part 200 Appendix XII--Award Term and Condition for
Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters.
c. Reporting of Matters Related to Recipient Integrity and Performance
    If the total value of a selected applicant's currently active
grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from all
Federal awarding agencies exceeds $10,000,000 for any period of time
during the period of performance of this Federal award, then the
applicant during that period of time must maintain the currency of
information reported to the SAM that is made available in the
designated integrity and performance system (currently FAPIIS) about
civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings described in paragraph 2
of this award term and condition. This is a statutory requirement under
section 872 of Public Law 110-417, as amended (41 U.S.C. 2313). As
required by section 3010 of Public Law 111-212, all information posted
in the designated integrity and performance system on or after April
15, 2011, except past performance reviews required for Federal
procurement contracts, will be publicly available.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

    For further information concerning this notice please contact the
Bureau via email at [email protected], or call Carl Ringgold at<PHONE_NUMBER>.
A TDD is available for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing at
202-366-3993. In addition, the Bureau will post answers to questions
and requests for clarifications on the Bureau's website at https://www.transportation.gov/buildamerica/financing/tifia/regional-infrastructure-accelerators-program. To ensure applicants receive
accurate information about eligibility or the Program, the applicant is
encouraged to contact the Bureau directly, rather than through
intermediaries or third parties, with questions. Bureau staff may also
conduct briefings on the Program grant 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 applicant submits information that the
applicant considers to be a trade secret or confidential commercial or
financial information, the applicant must provide that information in a
separate document, which the applicant may cross-reference from the
application narrative or other portions of the application. For the
separate document containing confidential information, the applicant
must do the following: (1) State on the cover of that document that it
``Contains Confidential Business Information (CBI)''; (2) mark each
page that contains confidential information with ``CBI''; (3) highlight
or otherwise denote the confidential content on each page; and (4) at
the end of the document, indicate whether the CBI is information the
applicant keeps private and is of the type of information the applicant
regularly keeps private. The Bureau/DOT will protect confidential
information complying with these requirements to the extent required
under applicable law. If the Bureau receives a Freedom of Information
Act (FOIA) request for the information that the applicant has marked in
accordance with this section, the Bureau will follow the procedures
described in its FOIA regulations at 49 CFR 7.29.
    2. Publication/Sharing of Application Information: Following the
completion of the selection process and announcement of awards, the
Bureau intends to publish a list of all applications received along
with the names of the applicant organizations and funding amounts
requested. Except for the information properly marked as

described in Section H.1, the Bureau may make application narratives
publicly available or share application information within DOT or with
other Federal agencies if DOT determines that sharing is relevant to
the respective program's objectives.
    3. Department Feedback on Application: The Bureau strives to
provide as much information as possible to assist applicants with the
application process. The Bureau will not review applications in
advance, but Bureau staff are available for technical questions and
assistance.
    4. Rural Opportunities: User-friendly information and resources
regarding DOT's discretionary grant programs relevant to rural
applicants can be found on the Rural Opportunities to Use
Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) website at
transportation.gov/rural.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 27, 2021.
Peter Paul Montgomery Buttigieg,
Secretary of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 2021-28552 Filed 1-5-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P


[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 137 (Thursday, July 17, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 41661-41664]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16811]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0447; Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-019-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc. Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Bombardier Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This proposed AD
was prompted by a report of several cracks found on the forward
passenger airstair door step assembly. This proposed AD would require
an inspection to determine the serial number of the airstair step
assembly, and if necessary, an electronic tap test, re-identification
of the airstair step assembly, and replacement of the airstair step
assembly. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the
forward passenger airstair door step assembly, which could propagate
and result in the structural failure of the steps and impede the
evacuation of passengers in the event of an emergency egress situation.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 2,
2014.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax:<PHONE_NUMBER>.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.

    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact
Bombardier, Inc., Q-Series Technical Help Desk, 123 Garratt Boulevard,
Toronto, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada; telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax 416-375-
4539; email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Internet http://www.bombardier.com. You may view this referenced service information at
the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton,
WA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA,
call<PHONE_NUMBER>.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
0447; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket
contains this proposed AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments
received, and other information. The street address for the Docket
Operations office (telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>) is in the ADDRESSES section.
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Zimmer, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe and Mechanical Systems Branch, ANE-171, FAA, New York Aircraft
Certification Office, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY
11590; telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax<PHONE_NUMBER>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2014-0447;
Directorate Identifier 2014-NM-019-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD based on those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation
authority for Canada, has issued Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-
2013-20R1, dated December 30, 2013 (referred to after this as the
Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or ``the MCAI''), to
correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The MCAI
states:

    There has been one in-service report of several cracks being
found on the forward passenger airstair door step assembly between
the steps and the sidewall panels. The investigation revealed that
the application of potting compound may have been omitted during the
bonding at the joint of the airstair door steps and the sidewalls.
The omission of potting compound could cause the bonding sealant to
crack. The cracks, if not detected, could propagate to result in the
structural failure of the steps.
    In the event of an emergency egress situation, the failure of
the airstair step assembly could impede the evacuation of
passengers.
    This [Canadian] AD mandates the replacement of the affected
forward passenger airstair step assembly with a new or reworked step
assembly.
    Revision 1 of this [Canadian] AD provides additional
instructions for performing an electronic tap test of the airstair
step assembly if the Serial Number (S/N) of the airstair step
assembly cannot be found.

    The actions in this AD include an inspection to determine the
serial number of the airstair step assembly, and if necessary, an
electronic tap test, re-identification of the airstair step assembly,
and replacement of the airstair step assembly. You may examine the MCAI
in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-0447.

Relevant Service Information

    Bombardier has issued Service Bulletin 84-52-77, Revision B, dated
October 31, 2013. The actions described in this service information are
intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in the MCAI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, we have
been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service
information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we
evaluated all pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same
type design.

``Contacting the Manufacturer'' Paragraph in This Proposed AD

    Since late 2006, we have included a standard paragraph titled
``Airworthy Product'' in all MCAI ADs in which the FAA develops an AD
based on a foreign authority's AD.
    The MCAI or referenced service information in an FAA AD often
directs the owner/operator to contact the manufacturer for corrective
actions, such as a repair. Briefly, the Airworthy Product paragraph
allowed owners/operators to use corrective actions provided by the
manufacturer if those actions were FAA-approved. In addition, the
paragraph stated that any actions approved by the State of Design
Authority (or its delegated agent) are considered to be FAA-approved.
    In another NPRM, Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-101-AD (78 FR
78285, December 26, 2013), we proposed to prevent the use of repairs
that were not specifically developed to correct the unsafe condition,
by requiring that the repair approval provided by the State of Design
Authority or its delegated agent specifically refer to the FAA AD. This
change was intended to clarify the method of compliance and to provide
operators with better visibility of repairs that are specifically
developed and approved to correct the unsafe condition. In addition, we
proposed to change the phrase ``its delegated agent'' to include a
design approval holder (DAH) with State of Design Authority design
organization approval (DOA), as applicable, to refer to a DAH
authorized to approve required repairs for the proposed AD.
    One commenter to the other NPRM, Directorate Identifier 2012-NM-
101-AD (78 FR 78285, December 26, 2013), stated the following: ``The
proposed wording, being specific to repairs, eliminates the
interpretation that Airbus messages are acceptable for approving minor
deviations (corrective actions) needed during accomplishment of an AD
mandated Airbus service bulletin.''
    This comment has made the FAA aware that some operators have
misunderstood or misinterpreted the Airworthy Product paragraph to
allow the owner/operator to use messages provided by the manufacturer
as approval of deviations during the accomplishment of an AD-mandated
action. The Airworthy Product paragraph does not approve messages or
other information provided by the manufacturer for deviations to the
requirements of the AD-mandated actions. The Airworthy Product
paragraph only addresses the

requirement to contact the manufacturer for corrective actions for the
identified unsafe condition and does not cover deviations from other AD
requirements. However, deviations to AD-required actions are addressed
in 14 CFR 39.17, and anyone may request the approval for an alternative
method of compliance to the AD-required actions using the procedures
found in 14 CFR 39.19.
    To address this misunderstanding and misinterpretation of the
Airworthy Product paragraph, we have changed that paragraph and
retitled it ``Contacting the Manufacturer.'' This paragraph now
clarifies that for any requirement in this proposed AD to obtain
corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must be accomplished
using a method approved by the FAA, TCCA, or Bombardier's TCCA Design
Approval Organization (DAO).
    The Contacting the Manufacturer paragraph also clarifies that, if
approved by the DAO, the approval must include the DAO-authorized
signature. The DAO signature indicates that the data and information
contained in the document are TCCA-approved, which is also FAA-
approved. Messages and other information provided by the manufacturer
that do not contain the DAO-authorized signature approval are not TCCA-
approved, unless TCCA directly approves the manufacturer's message or
other information.
    This clarification does not remove flexibility previously afforded
by the Airworthy Product paragraph. Consistent with long-standing FAA
policy, such flexibility was never intended for required actions. This
is also consistent with the recommendation of the Airworthiness
Directive Implementation Aviation Rulemaking Committee to increase
flexibility in complying with ADs by identifying those actions in
manufacturers' service instructions that are ``Required for
Compliance'' with ADs. We continue to work with manufacturers to
implement this recommendation. But once we determine that an action is
required, any deviation from the requirement must be approved as an
alternative method of compliance.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD affects 76 airplanes of U.S.
registry.
    We also estimate that it would take about 1 work-hour per product
to comply with the basic requirements of this proposed AD. The average
labor rate is $85 per work-hour. Required parts would cost about $0 per
product. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this proposed
AD on U.S. operators to be $6,460, or $85 per product.
    In addition, we estimate that any necessary follow-on actions would
take up to 9 work-hours and require parts costing $206,175, for a cost
of $206,940 per product. We have no way of determining the number of
aircraft that might need these actions.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. 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.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
``Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not
have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship
between the national Government and the States, or on the distribution
of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify this proposed
regulation:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);
    3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska; and
    4. Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):

Bombardier, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2014-0447; Directorate Identifier
2014-NM-019-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by September 2, 2014.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400, -401, and -
402 series airplanes, certificated in any category, serial numbers
4001 and subsequent.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 52, Doors.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a report of several cracks found on the
forward passenger airstair door step assembly. We are issuing this
AD to detect and correct cracks in the forward passenger airstair
door step assembly, which could propagate and result in the
structural failure of the steps and impede the evacuation of
passengers in the event of an emergency egress situation.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.

(g) Inspection, Electronic Tap Test, Re-Identification, and Replacement
of the Airstair Step Assembly

    For airplanes having serial numbers 4001 through 4393: Within
320 days after the effective date of this AD, do an inspection to
determine the serial number of the airstair step assembly, in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier
Service Bulletin 84-52-77, Revision B, dated October 31, 2013.
    (1) If the serial number of the airstair step assembly cannot be
found, or if the serial number is illegible: Before further flight,
do an electronic tap test to determine the existence of epoxy
compound, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of
Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-52-77, Revision B, dated October 31,
2013.
    (i) If the existence of epoxy compound is confirmed, before
further flight, re-identify the airstair step assembly, in
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier
Service Bulletin 84-52-77, Revision B, dated October 31, 2013.

    (ii) If the existence of epoxy compound is not confirmed: Within
6,000 flight hours after the effective date of this AD, replace the
airstair step assembly, in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-52-77, Revision B,
dated October 31, 2013.
    (2) If the serial number of the airstair step assembly is in the
affected range specified in paragraph 1.A. ``Effectivity'' of
Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-52-77, Revision B, dated October 31,
2013: Within 6,000 flight hours after the effective date of this AD,
replace the airstair step assembly, in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-52-77,
Revision B, dated October 31, 2013.

(h) Parts Installation Prohibition

    As of the effective date of this AD, no person may install on
any airplane an airstair step assembly with part number 85217008-001
containing a serial number in the affected range specified in
paragraph 1.A. ``Effectivity'' of Bombardier Service Bulletin 84-52-
77, Revision B, dated October 31, 2013.

(i) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for actions required by paragraph
(g) of this AD if the serial number is known, and if those actions
were performed before the effective date of this AD using Bombardier
Service Bulletin 84-52-77, Revision A, dated April 24, 2013, which
is not incorporated by reference in this AD.

(j) Other FAA AD Provisions

    The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, New
York Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), ANE-170, FAA, has the
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19,
send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information
directly to the If sending information directly to the ACO, send it
to ATTN: Program Manager, Continuing Operational Safety, FAA, New
York ACO, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax<PHONE_NUMBER>. Before using any approved
AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a
principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards
district office/certificate holding district office. The AMOC
approval letter must specifically reference this AD.
    (2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any requirement in this AD
to obtain corrective actions from a manufacturer, the action must be
accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, New York ACO,
ANE-170, Engine and Propeller Directorate, FAA; or Transport Canada
Civil Aviation (TCCA); or Bombardier, Inc.'s TCCA Design Approval
Organization (DAO). If approved by the DAO, the approval must
include the DAO-authorized signature.

(k) Related Information

    (1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information
(MCAI) Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-2013-20R1, dated December
30, 2013, for related information. This MCAI may be found in the AD
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-0447.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Bombardier, Inc., Q-Series Technical Help Desk, 123 Garratt
Boulevard, Toronto, Ontario M3K 1Y5, Canada; telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>;
fax<PHONE_NUMBER>; email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Internet
http://www.bombardier.com. You may view this service information at
the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW.,
Renton, WA. For information on the availability of this material at
the FAA, call<PHONE_NUMBER>.

    Issued in Renton, Washington, on July 3, 2014.
Dionne Palermo,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-16811 Filed 7-16-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 55 (Thursday, March 21, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 17393]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06464]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. EL13-52-000]

Western Electricity Coordinating Council; Notice of Petition for
Declaratory Order

    Take notice that on March 12, 2013, pursuant to section 207(a)(2)
of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (Commission) Rules of
Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.207(a)(2), the Western Electricity
Coordinating Council (WECC) filed a petition for declaratory order
requesting that the Commission issue a declaratory order confirming the
funding arrangements proposed by WECC in connection with its plan to
establish a separate, independent company to perform the Reliability
Coordinator functions within the WECC footprint that are currently
performed by WECC.
    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 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 email
notification when a document is added to a subscribed docket(s). For
assistance with any FERC Online service, please email
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or call<PHONE_NUMBER> (toll free). For
TTY, call<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Comment Date: 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 11, 2013.

    Dated: March 14, 2013.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-06464 Filed 3-20-13; 8:45 am]
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 5, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 536-537]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28517]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

Youth Access to American Jobs in Aviation Task Force; Notice of
Public Meeting

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a meeting of the Youth Access to
American Jobs in Aviation Task Force (YIATF).

DATES: The meeting will be held on January 20, 2022, from 9:00 a.m.-
11:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
    Requests for accommodations to a disability must be received by
January 10, 2022.
    Requests to submit written materials to be reviewed during the
meeting must be received no later than January 10, 2022.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held virtually. Members of the public
who wish to observe the virtual meeting may access the event live on
the FAA's Twitter, Facebook and YouTube channels. For copies of meeting
minutes along with all other information, please visit the YIATF
internet website at https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/rulemaking/committees/documents/index.cfm/committee/browse/committeeID/797.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Aliah Duckett, Federal Aviation
Administration, by email at [email protected] or phone at 202-
267-8361. Any committee-related request should be sent to the person
listed in this section.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On October 3, 2019, FAA established the Task Force under the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) in accordance with section 602 of
the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-254). The Task Force
is required by statute to develop and provide independent
recommendations and strategies to the FAA Administrator to: (1)
Facilitate and encourage high school students in the United States to
enroll in and complete career and technical education courses,
including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM),
that will prepare them to pursue a course of study related to an
aviation career at an institution of higher education, a community
college, or trade school; (2) facilitate and encourage these students
to enroll in a course of study related to an aviation career, including
aviation manufacturing, engineering and maintenance, at an institution
of higher education, including a community college or trade school; and
(3) identify and develop pathways for students to secure registered
apprenticeships, workforce development programs, or careers in the
aviation industry of the United States.
    The charter was renewed on October 4, 2021.

II. Agenda

    At the meeting, the agenda will cover the following topics:

 Welcome/Opening Remarks
 Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
 Subcommittee Presentations
 Review of Action Items
 Closing Remarks

    A detailed agenda will be posted on the YIATF internet website
address listed in the ADDRESSES section at least 15 days in advance of
the meeting. Copies of the meeting minutes will also be available on
the YIATF internet website.

III. Public Participation

    The meeting will be open to the public and livestreamed. Members of
the public who wish to observe the virtual meeting can access the
livestream on the FAA social media platforms listed in the ADDRESSES
section on the day of the event.
    The U.S. Department of Transportation is committed to providing
equal access to this meeting for all participants. If you need
alternative formats or services because of a disability, such as sign
language, interpretation, or other ancillary aids, please contact the
person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
    The FAA is not accepting oral presentations at this meeting due to
time constraints. However, the public may present written statements to
the Task Force by providing a copy to the Designated Federal Officer
via the email listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Timothy R. Adams,
Acting Executive Director, Office of Rulemaking, Federal Aviation
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2021-28517 Filed 1-4-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P