80 FR 15053 - Notice of Funding Availability and Solicitation of Applications for Magnetic Levitation Projects

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Railroad Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 54 (March 20, 2015)

This notice of funding availability (NOFA or Notice) details the grant application requirements and submission procedures for obtaining up to $27.8 million in Federal funding, as authorized by sections 1101(a)(18) and 1307 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU, Public Law 109-59 (August 10, 2005)), as amended by section 102 of the SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections Act of 2008, Public Law 110-244 (June 6, 2008), for existing magnetic levitation (maglev) projects located east of the Mississippi River. Pursuant to the Joint Committee statement accompanying the SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections Act, three projects are eligible for funding under this Notice: The ``Pittsburgh project'', the ``Baltimore-Washington project'', and the ``Atlanta- Chattanooga project''. FRA previously announced the availability of funds for maglev projects located east of the Mississippi River pursuant to a NOFA issued on October 16, 2008, but one of the selected applicants has decided not to pursue the project for which the funds were allocated resulting in the availability of the funds for this Notice. Funds awarded under this Notice can be used for preconstruction planning activities and capital costs of a viable maglev project.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 54 (Friday, March 20, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15053-15057]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06542]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Notice of Funding Availability and Solicitation of Applications 
for Magnetic Levitation Projects

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

ACTION: Notice of funding availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice of funding availability (NOFA or Notice) details 
the grant application requirements and submission procedures for 
obtaining up to $27.8 million in Federal funding, as authorized by 
sections 1101(a)(18) and 1307 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, 
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU, 
Public Law 109-59 (August 10, 2005)), as amended by section 102 of the 
SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections Act of 2008, Public Law 110-244 (June 
6, 2008), for existing magnetic levitation (maglev) projects located 
east of the Mississippi River. Pursuant to the Joint Committee 
statement accompanying the SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections Act, three 
projects are eligible for funding under this Notice: The ``Pittsburgh 
project'', the ``Baltimore-Washington project'', and the ``Atlanta-
Chattanooga project''. FRA previously announced the availability of 
funds for maglev projects located east of the Mississippi River 
pursuant to a NOFA issued on October 16, 2008, but one of the selected 
applicants has decided not to pursue the project for which the funds 
were allocated resulting in the availability of the funds for this 
Notice. Funds awarded under this Notice can be used for preconstruction 
planning activities and capital costs of a viable maglev project.

DATES: Applications for funding under this NOFA are due no later than 
5:00 p.m. EST, April 20, 2015. Applications for funding received after 
5:00 p.m. EST on April 20, 2015, will not be considered. See Section 4 
of this Notice for additional information regarding the application 
process.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov. For any 
required or supporting application materials that an applicant is 
unable to submit via Grants.gov (such as oversized engineering 
drawings), an applicant may submit an original and two (2) copies to 
Renee Cooper, Office of Program Delivery, Federal Railroad 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Mail Stop 20, Washington, 
DC 20590. However, due to delays caused by enhanced screening of mail 
delivered via the U.S. Postal Service, applicants are advised to use 
other means of conveyance (such as courier service) to assure timely 
receipt of materials.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information regarding this 
Notice, please contact Renee Cooper, Office of Program Delivery, 
Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Mail Stop 
20, Washington, DC 20590; Email: [email protected]; Phone: (202) 493-
0491; Fax: (202) 493-6333.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FRA strongly suggests that applicants read 
this Notice in its entirety prior to preparing application materials. 
There are programmatic prerequisites and administrative requirements 
described herein that applicants must comply with in order to submit an 
application and be considered for funding.

Table of Contents

1. Funding Opportunity Description
2. Award Information
3. Eligibility and Review Criteria
4. Application and Submission Information
5. Application Review Information
6. Award Administration Information
7. Agency Contact

Section 1: Funding Opportunity Description

    Section 102 of the SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections Act (Public Law 
110-244, June 6, 2008) (the 2008 Act), amended sections 1101(a)(18) and 
1307 of SAFETEA-LU and provided $45 million in contract authority for 
maglev projects located east of the Mississippi River. Of the funding 
available for projects east of the Mississippi River ($45 million), 
approximately $27.8 million in funding is available for award under 
this NOFA.
    In the Joint Explanatory Statement of the House Transportation and 
Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Environmental and Public Works, 
Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, and Commerce, Science and 
Transportation Committees accompanying the 2008 Act (the Joint 
Explanatory Statement), Congress explained that in amending SAFETEA-LU 
to allow FRA discretion to award funds to ``projects'' located east of 
the Mississippi River, ``the intent is to limit the eligible projects 
to three existing

[[Page 15054]]

projects east of the Mississippi River: Pittsburgh, Baltimore-
Washington, and Atlanta-Chattanooga.'' Based upon that clear 
Congressional direction, the solicitation for applications under this 
NOFA is limited to those three projects.
    Through this NOFA, FRA will determine whether any of the three 
eligible projects east of the Mississippi River will receive all or a 
portion of available funds for maglev projects (based upon a review of 
submitted applications) and has the discretion to award funds to one or 
more of those three projects.

Section 2: Award Information

    FRA will make available up to $27.8 million in funding available 
under this NOFA. Should additional funds become available after the 
release of this Notice, FRA may elect to select an additional project 
for award or contribute additional funding to a selected project 
submitted under this NOFA (matching fund requirements would still 
apply). FRA may select one or more of the eligible projects for funding 
and may award less than the amount of project funding requested by the 
applicant based on considerations such as individual project scope and 
total available funding. FRA reserves the right to apportion the 
available funding at its discretion.
    Fund recipients under this NOFA must comply with the requirements 
outlined in Title 2, CFR (particularly 2 CFR part 200, Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements 
for Federal Awards), as required by the grant award conditions, and all 
other applicable Federal and DOT/FRA guidance. The funding provided 
under this NOFA will be made available in the form of a Cooperative 
Agreement between FRA and the selected applicant(s). Cooperative 
agreements allow for greater Federal involvement in carrying out the 
agreed upon investment, including technical assistance, review of 
interim work products, and increased program oversight. Funds will be 
transmitted to selected applicants on a reimbursable basis.

Section 3: Eligibility and Review Criteria

3.1 Applicant Eligibility

    In accordance with the Joint Explanatory Statement, eligible 
projects are limited to three existing projects east of the Mississippi 
River: Pittsburgh, PA; Baltimore, MD-Washington, DC; and Atlanta, GA-
Chattanooga, TN. Applicants must be a State, States, or an authority 
designated by one or more States.
    If the project proponents propose service in more than one State, a 
single State or designated State authority should apply on behalf of 
all participating States. FRA encourages States to submit applications 
through their respective Departments of Transportation.

3.2 Project Eligibility

    Congress established three project eligibility requirements for 
financial assistance under this program. The project must: (1) Involve 
a segment or segments of a high-speed ground transportation corridor; 
(2) result in an operating transportation facility that provides a 
revenue producing service; and (3) be approved by the Secretary based 
on an application submitted to the Secretary by a State or authority 
designated by one or more States. With respect to the second criterion, 
Congress titled section 1307 ``Deployment of Magnetic Levitation 
Transportation Projects'' and the funding provided through section 
1101(a)(18) of SAFETEA-LU, as amended by the 2008 Act, is made 
available for the ``deployment of magnetic levitation projects.'' FRA 
interprets the statute as a whole as evidencing a Congressional intent 
that the Federal funds be used to directly advance and result in the 
construction of a maglev project. Thus, in order to be eligible for 
funding under this program, an application must include evidence that 
an operating transportation facility that provides a revenue producing 
service will be constructed.
    Congress also defined other key terms and program requirements. 
Maglev is defined to mean ``transportation systems employing magnetic 
levitation that would be capable of safe use by the public at a speed 
in excess of 240 miles per hour.''
    Eligible project costs can include costs for preconstruction 
planning work and/or capital costs for fixed guideway infrastructure 
for a maglev project (see SAFETEA-LU section 1307(a)(1) for the 
complete definition).
    These criteria and definitions are prerequisites to FRA evaluating 
an application and the application materials must include data to 
support these eligibility requirements. If the criteria are not met to 
FRA's satisfaction, the project is not eligible for funding.

3.3 Cost Sharing and Matching Fund Requirements

    The Federal share of a selected project or projects shall not 
exceed 80 percent of the total project cost (based on the final project 
scope selected for funding by FRA). The grantee(s) is (are) responsible 
for providing a minimum of 20 percent of the total project cost from 
non-federal sources.

Section 4: Application and Submission Information

4.1 Submission Dates and Times

    Complete applications must be submitted to Grants.gov no later than 
5:00 p.m. EST on April 20, 2015. Applicants are strongly encouraged to 
apply early to ensure that all materials are received before this 
deadline.

4.2 Application Procedures

    This NOFA will be available to the public beginning March 19, 2015. 
To apply for funding through Grants.gov, applicants must be properly 
registered. Complete instructions on how to register and submit an 
application can be found at Grants.gov. Registering with Grants.gov is 
a one-time process; however, it can take up to several weeks for first-
time registrants to receive confirmation and a user password. FRA 
recommends that applicants start the registration process as early as 
possible to prevent delays that may preclude submitting an application 
package by the application deadline. Under no circumstances will 
applications be accepted after the due date. Delayed registration is 
not an acceptable justification for extending the application deadline.
    In order to apply for funding under this announcement and to apply 
for funding through Grants.gov, all applicants are required to complete 
the following:
    1. Acquire a DUNS Number. A Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) 
number is required for Grants.gov registration. The Office of 
Management and Budget requires that all businesses and nonprofit 
applicants for Federal funds include a DUNS number in their 
applications for a new award or renewal of an existing award. A DUNS 
number is a unique nine-digit sequence recognized as the universal 
standard for identifying and keeping track of entities receiving 
Federal funds. The identifier is used for tracking purposes and to 
validate address and point of contact information for Federal 
assistance applicants, recipients, and sub recipients. The DUNS number 
will be used throughout the grant life cycle. Obtaining a DUNS number 
is a free, one-time activity. Applicants may obtain a DUNS number by 
calling 1-866-705-5711 or by applying online at http://www.dnb.com/us.

[[Page 15055]]

    2. Acquire or Renew Registration with the System for Award 
Management (SAM) Database. All applicants for Federal financial 
assistance must maintain current registrations in the System for Award 
Management (SAM) database. An applicant must be registered in SAM to 
successfully register in Grants.gov. The SAM database is the repository 
for standard information about Federal financial assistance applicants, 
recipients, and sub recipients. Organizations that have previously 
submitted applications via Grants.gov are already registered with SAM, 
as it is a requirement for Grants.gov registration. Please note, 
however, that applicants must update or renew their SAM registration at 
least once per year to maintain an active status, so it is critical to 
check registration status well in advance of the application deadline. 
Information about SAM registration procedures can be accessed at 
www.sam.gov.
    3. Acquire an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) and a 
Grants.gov Username and Password. Applicants must complete an AOR 
profile on Grants.gov and create a username and password. Applicants 
must use the organization's DUNS number to complete this step. 
Additional information about the registration process is available at 
www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp.
    4. Acquire Authorization for your AOR from the E-Business Point of 
Contact (E-Biz POC). The Applicant's E-Biz POC must log in to 
Grants.gov to confirm a representative as an AOR. Please note that 
there can be more than one AOR at an organization.
    5. Search for the Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. The Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for this opportunity is 
20.318, titled ``Railroad Development.''
    6. Submit an Application Addressing All of the Requirements 
Outlined in this Funding Availability Announcement. After submitting 
the application through Grants.gov, a confirmation screen will appear 
on the applicant's computer screen. This screen will confirm that the 
applicant has submitted an application and provide a tracking number to 
track the status of the submission. Within 24 to 48 hours after 
submitting an electronic application, an applicant should receive an 
email validation message from Grants.gov. The validation message will 
explain whether the application has been received and validated or 
rejected, with an explanation. Applicants are urged to submit an 
application at least 72 hours prior to the due date of the application 
to allow time to receive the validation message and to correct any 
problems that may have caused a rejection notification.
    If an applicant experiences difficulties at any point during this 
process, please call the Grants.gov Customer Center Hotline at 1-800-
518-4726, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (closed on Federal holidays).
    Note: Please use generally accepted formats such as .pdf, .doc, 
.docx, .xls, .xlsx and .ppt, when uploading attachments. While 
applicants may imbed picture files, such as .jpg, .gif, and .bmp, in 
document files, please do not submit attachments in these formats. 
Additionally, the following formats will not be accepted: .com, .bat, 
.exe, .vbs, .cfg, .dat, .db, .dbf, .dll, .ini, .log, .ora, .sys, and 
.zip.

4.3 Content of Application

    Required documents for the application package are outlined in the 
checklist below. Applicants are encouraged to visit the FRA Web site 
(www.fra.dot.gov) to download the required templates and forms.
FRA Documents and Forms
 Project Narrative
 Statement of Work
 FRA's Additional Assurances and Certifications
OMB Standard Forms
 SF 424: Application for Federal Assistance
 SF 424A: Budget Information--Non Construction (for projects 
with planning costs only)
 SF 424B: Assurances--Non Construction
 SF 424C: Budget Information--Construction
 SF 424D: Assurances--Construction
 SF LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

    Applicants must complete and submit all components of the 
application package. FRA welcomes the submission of other relevant 
supporting documentation that may have been developed by the applicant 
(planning, environmental documentation, engineering and design 
documentation, letters of support, etc.).
    Applicants should submit all application materials through 
Grants.gov. For any required or supporting application materials that 
an applicant is unable to submit via Grants.gov (such as oversized 
engineering drawings), an applicant may submit an original and two (2) 
copies to Renee Cooper, Office of Program Delivery, Federal Railroad 
Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Mail Stop 20, Washington, 
DC 20590. However, due to delays caused by enhanced screening of mail 
delivered via the U.S. Postal Service, applicants are advised to use 
other means of conveyance (such as courier service) to assure timely 
receipt of materials.
4.3.1 Project Narrative
    The following points describe the minimum content which will be 
required in the Project Narrative component of grant applications 
(additionally, FRA recommends that the Project Narrative generally 
adhere to the following outline sequence). These requirements must be 
satisfied through a narrative statement submitted by the applicant, and 
may be supported by spreadsheet documents, tables, maps, drawings, and 
other materials, as appropriate. The Project Narrative may not exceed 
25 pages in length (including any appendices).
    The FRA recommends that applicants read this section carefully and 
submit all required information:
    1. Include a title page that lists the following elements in either 
a table or formatted list: project title, location (city, State, 
district), the applicant organization name, the name of any co-
applicants, and the amount of Federal funding requested and the 
proposed non-Federal match.
    2. Designate a point of contact for the application and provide his 
or her name and contact information, including phone number, mailing 
address, and email address. The point of contact must be an employee of 
an eligible applicant.
    3. Indicate the amount of Federal funding requested, the proposed 
non-Federal match, and total project cost, including the methodology or 
practices deployed for accurately estimating costs (such as the best 
practices cited in the Government Accountability Office's Cost Estimate 
and Assessment Guide). Additionally, identify any other sources of 
Federal funds committed to the project, as well as any pending Federal 
funding requests. Make sure to also note if the requested Federal 
funding must be obligated or expended by a certain date due to 
dependencies or relationships with other Federal or non-Federal funding 
sources, related projects, or other factors. Finally, specify whether 
Federal funding has ever previously been sought for the project and not 
secured, and name the Federal program and fiscal year from which the 
funding was requested.
    4. Explain how the applicant meets the respective applicant and 
project

[[Page 15056]]

eligibility criteria described earlier in Section 3 of this NOFA.
    5. Provide a brief 4-6 sentence summary of the proposed project, 
capturing the transportation challenges the proposed project aims to 
address, the market to be served by the new service, as well as the 
intended outcomes and anticipated benefits that will result from the 
proposed project.
    6. Include a detailed project description that expands upon the 
brief summary required above. This detailed description should provide, 
at a minimum, additional background on the transportation challenges 
the project aims to address, the expected users, beneficiaries, and 
outcomes of the project, and any other information the applicant deems 
necessary to justify the proposed project. Be specific regarding the 
relevance or relationship of the proposed project to other investments 
in the region along the corridor, as well as the operating changes that 
are anticipated to result from the introduction and integration of 
maglev services within existing transportation corridors and assess the 
major risks (including safety risks) or obstacles to maglev's 
successful deployment and operation. Provide a detailed summary of all 
work done to date, including any preliminary engineering work, the 
project's previous accomplishments and funding history, and a 
chronology of key documents produced and funding events (e.g., grants 
and contracts).
    7. Include a thorough discussion of how the project meets all of 
the selection criteria for the respective project type, as outlined in 
Section 5 of this notice. In responding to the criteria, applicants are 
reminded to clearly identify, quantify, and compare expected benefits 
and costs of proposed projects.
    8. Describe proposed project implementation and project management 
arrangements for the full maglev corridor project, including the 
activities proposed in this application. Include descriptions of the 
expected arrangements for project contracting, contract oversight, 
change-order management, risk management, and conformance to Federal 
requirements for project progress reporting.
    9. Describe the plan to finance any planning, land acquisition, 
buildout, testing, and implementation of the project, and specify long 
term financial plans to own, operate and maintain maglev services.
    10. Describe anticipated environmental or historic preservation 
impacts associated with the proposed project, any environmental or 
historic preservation analyses that have been prepared, and any ongoing 
progress toward completing environmental documentation or clearance 
required for the proposed project under the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), 
section 4(f) of the DOT Act, the Clean Water Act, or other applicable 
Federal or State laws, and provide, as available, timeline associated 
with the process to complete these actions. Applicants and grantees 
under FRA's financial assistance programs are encouraged to contact FRA 
and obtain preliminary direction regarding the appropriate NEPA class 
of action and required environmental documentation. Generally, projects 
will be ineligible to receive funding if they have begun construction 
activities prior to the applicant/grantee receiving written approval 
from FRA that all environmental and historical analyses have been 
completed.
4.3.2 Statement of Work
    Applicants are required to submit a Statement of Work (SOW) that 
addresses the scope, schedule, and budget for the proposed project if 
it were to be selected for award. The SOW should contain sufficient 
detail so that both FRA and the applicant can understand the individual 
tasks that comprise the project and the expected outcomes of the 
proposed work to be performed, and monitor progress toward completing 
project tasks and deliverables during a prospective grant's period of 
performance.

Section 5: Application Review Information

5.1 Application Review and Selection Process

    Across all funding programs, FRA awards funds to projects that 
achieve the maximum public benefit possible given the amount of funding 
available for that project. Analysis provided by applicants that 
quantifies the monetary value (whenever possible) of the anticipated or 
potential public benefits of the project is relevant to FRA when 
assessing and evaluating applications for funding.

5.2 Selection Criteria

    FRA will review applications and assess them against the following 
selection criteria:
    1. The extent to which the project will address at least one or 
more serious challenges to the feasibility of integrating maglev 
systems with conventional rail systems.
    2. The extent to which funds awarded under this section will result 
in investments that are beneficial not only to the maglev project, but 
also to other current or near-term transportation projects. Applicants 
should keep in mind, however, that--while project eligibility requires 
three areas of satisfaction, including the project resulting in an 
operating transportation facility that provides a revenue producing 
source--Federal funds may not be used for station construction costs or 
solely for land acquisition pursuant to securing operation right-of-
way.
    3. The degree to which the project demonstrates the potential for a 
public-private partnership for the corridor in which the maglev project 
is involved, and/or for the project independently. Any corridor 
exhibiting partnership potential must meet at least the following 
conditions: (a) Once built and paid for, the corridor will stand alone 
as a complete, self-sustaining operation; (b) the total, fully 
allocated operating expenses of the maglev service are projected to be 
offset by revenues attributable to the service; and (c) the total 
public benefits of a maglev corridor must equal or exceed its total 
societal costs.
    4. The extent of the demonstrated financial commitment to the 
construction of the proposed project from both non-Federal public 
sources and private sources, including any financial contributions or 
commitment the applicant has secured from non-Federal entities that are 
expected to benefit from the project. If applicable, also include the 
extent to which the State or private entities exceed the required 20 
percent match.
    5. The extent to which the project demonstrates the ability to meet 
all applicable Federal and State statutes, regulations, and 
environmental requirements--to include coordination and consistency 
with any ongoing or completed environmental and planning studies for 
passenger rail on or connecting to the geographic route segment being 
proposed for maglev investment (e.g., NEC FUTURE Tier 1 EIS and Service 
Development Plan and Atlanta-Chattanooga High Speed Ground 
Transportation Tier 1 EIS).
    6. The degree to which the project will demonstrate the variety of 
maglev operating conditions which are to be expected in the United 
States. For example, these conditions might include a variety of at-
grade, elevated and depressed guideway structures, extreme 
temperatures, and intermodal connections at terminals.
    7. The feasibility of the project meeting a top speed of at least 
240 miles per hour (MPH). FRA will also consider

[[Page 15057]]

favorably the ability to meet higher speeds as well as the duration 
that speeds of at least 240 MPH can be attained.

Section 6: Award Administration Information

6.1 Award Notices

    Applications selected for funding will be announced after the 
application review period. FRA will contact applicants with successful 
applications after announcement with information and instructions about 
the award process. Notification of a selected application is not an 
authorization to begin proposed project activities.

6.2 Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    Applicants selected for funding (and any subrecipient(s)) must 
comply with all applicable laws and regulations governing the grant 
agreement. A non-exclusive list of administrative and national policy 
requirements that grantees must follow includes: Procurement standards, 
compliance with Federal civil rights laws and regulations, 
disadvantaged business enterprises (DBE), debarment and suspension, 
drug-free workplace, FRA's and OMB's Assurances and Certifications, 
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), labor standards, safety 
oversight, environmental protection, National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), and environmental justice. In addition, FRA expects applicants 
to comply with the Buy America standards in 49 U.S.C. 24405(a). FRA 
expects this to apply to any capital costs funded under this NOFA for 
steel, iron, or manufactured goods used in construction of the Maglev 
project.

6.3 General Requirements

    The grantee must comply with all post-award implementing, 
reporting, auditing, monitoring, and close-out requirements, as 
described in Title 2, CFR (particularly 2 CFR part 200, Uniform 
Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements 
for Federal Awards), as required by the grant award conditions, and all 
other applicable Federal and DOT/FRA guidance.

Section 7: Agency Contact

    For further information regarding this notice and the grants 
program, please contact Renee Cooper, Office of Program Delivery, 
Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Mail Stop 
20, Washington, DC 20590; Email: [email protected]; Phone: (202) 493-
0491; Fax: (202) 493-6333.

    Authority: The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient 
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (Pub. L. 109-59, 
August 10, 2005), and the SAFETEA-LU Technical Corrections Act (Pub. 
L. 110-244, June 6, 2008.)

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 18, 2015.
Corey Hill,
Director, Office of Program Delivery.
[FR Doc. 2015-06542 Filed 3-19-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-06-P