81_FR_24252 81 FR 24173 - Funding Opportunity for America's Marine Highways Projects

81 FR 24173 - Funding Opportunity for America's Marine Highways Projects

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Maritime Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 79 (April 25, 2016)

Page Range24173-24176
FR Document2016-09563

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 (Pub. L. 114-113), signed by the President on December 18, 2015, appropriated $5,000,000 for the Short Sea Transportation Program (America's Marine Highways). The purpose of the appropriation is to make grants for projects related to documented vessels and port and landside infrastructure. This notice announces the availability of funding for Marine Highway grants and establishes selection criteria and application requirements. The Department of Transportation (Department) will award Marine Highway Grants to implement projects or components of projects designated under America's Marine Highway Program. Eligible applicants must be sponsors of Marine Highway Projects formally designated by the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary). The current list of designated Marine Highway Projects, and sponsors thereof, can be found on the Marine Highway Web site at: http://www.marad.dot.gov/wp-content/ uploads/pdf/Marine-Highway-Project-Description-Pages.pdf. Only sponsors of designated Marine Highway Projects are eligible to apply for a Marine Highway Grant as described in this notice. MARAD invites applications for projects that have the added benefit of mitigating the negative impact of freight movement on communities. Projects should also provide additional public benefit by addressing access to training and job opportunities, where applicable and appropriate.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 79 (Monday, April 25, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 79 (Monday, April 25, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24173-24176]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09563]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration


Funding Opportunity for America's Marine Highways Projects

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of funding opportunity.

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

SUMMARY: The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 (Pub. L. 114-113), 
signed by the President on December 18, 2015, appropriated $5,000,000 
for the Short Sea Transportation Program (America's Marine Highways). 
The purpose of the appropriation is to make grants for projects related 
to documented vessels and port and landside infrastructure. This notice 
announces the availability of funding for Marine Highway grants and 
establishes selection criteria and application requirements.
    The Department of Transportation (Department) will award Marine 
Highway Grants to implement projects or components of projects 
designated under America's Marine Highway Program. Eligible applicants 
must be sponsors of Marine Highway Projects formally designated by the 
Secretary of Transportation (Secretary). The current list of designated 
Marine Highway Projects, and sponsors thereof, can be found on the 
Marine Highway Web site at: http://www.marad.dot.gov/wp-content/uploads/pdf/Marine-Highway-Project-Description-Pages.pdf. Only sponsors 
of designated Marine Highway Projects are eligible to apply for a 
Marine Highway Grant as described in this notice.
    MARAD invites applications for projects that have the added benefit 
of mitigating the negative impact of freight movement on communities. 
Projects should also provide additional public benefit by addressing 
access to training and job opportunities, where applicable and 
appropriate.

DATES: Applications must be received by 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time 
(EDT) on Friday, May 27, 2016. Applications received later than this 
time will not be considered.

ADDRESSES: Grant applications must be submitted electronically using 
www.Grants.gov. Please be aware that you must complete the Grants.gov 
registration process before submitting an application, and that the 
registration process usually takes 2 to 4 weeks to complete. 
Applications must be submitted by 8:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, May 27, 
2016.

Application Process

    Applicants are strongly encouraged to make submissions in advance 
of the deadline. Applications received after the deadline will not be 
considered except in the case of unforeseen technical difficulties as 
outlined below. Late applications that are the result of failure to 
register or comply with Grants.gov applicant requirements in a timely 
manner will not be considered. Applicants experiencing technical issues 
with Grants.gov that are beyond the applicant's control must contact 
[email protected] or Tim Pickering at 202-366-0704 prior to the deadline with 
the user name 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 issue 
experienced along with corresponding ``Grant tracking number'' 
(Grants.gov); 3. The ``Legal Business Name'' for the applicant that was 
provided in the SF-424; 4. The AOR name submitted in the SF-424 
(Grants.gov); 5. The DUNS number associated with the Application; and 
6. The Grants.gov Help Desk Tracking Number.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information concerning 
this notice, please contact Tori Collins, Office of Marine Highways and 
Passenger Service, Room W21-315, Maritime Administration, 1200 New 
Jersey Ave. SE., Washington, DC 20590. Phone (202) 366-0795 or email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

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

A. Program Description

    Section 55601 of Title 46 of the United States Code directs the 
Secretary to establish a short sea transportation grant program to 
implement projects or components of designated projects. The grant 
funds currently available are for projects related to documented 
vessels, and port and landside infrastructure.

B. Federal Award Information

    Under the Marine Highways Grant Program there is currently 
$5,000,000 available for designated Marine Highway Projects. Only 
projects proposed by a project sponsor that have been formally 
designated by the Secretary under the America's Marine Highway Program 
are eligible. The Secretary, through the Maritime Administration 
(MARAD), intends to award the available funding through grants to the 
extent that there are worthy applications. MARAD will seek to obtain 
the maximum benefit from the available funding by awarding grants to as 
many of the most worthy projects as possible. However, MARAD reserves 
the right to award all funds to just one project. MARAD may partially 
fund applications by selecting parts of various discrete projects. The 
start date and period of performance for each award will depend on the 
specific project and must be agreed to by MARAD.

[[Page 24174]]

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants
    Applicants eligible for Marine Highway Grants are sponsors of 
projects that the Secretary has designated as a specific Marine Highway 
Project under the America's Marine Highway Program. Project sponsors 
are public entities including metropolitan planning organizations 
(MPOs), State governments (including State Departments of 
Transportation), port authorities and tribal governments. Project 
sponsors are encouraged to develop coalitions and public/private 
partnerships, which include vessel owners and operators; third-party 
logistics providers; trucking companies; shippers; railroads; port 
authorities; State, regional and local transportation planners; 
environmental interests; impacted communities; or any combination of 
entities working in collaboration under a single application.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
    An applicant must provide at least 20 percent of project costs from 
non-Federal sources. In awarding grants under the program, MARAD will 
give preference to those projects or components that present the most 
financially viable transportation services and require the lowest total 
percentage of the Federal share of the costs.
3. Eligible Projects
    The intent of this grant program is to expand the use of water 
transportation using designated projects to create new or expanded 
services along designated Marine Highway Routes. Components of projects 
that are eligible for this round of grant funding include the 
following:

--Port and terminal infrastructure including wharves, docks, terminals 
and paving, etc.,
--Cargo, passenger and/or vessel handling equipment,
--Efficiency or capacity improvements in ports, terminals, aboard 
vessels and intermodal connectors, etc.,
--Investments that improve environmental sustainability,
--New or used vessel purchase, lease, or modification,
--Marine Highway demonstration projects of a limited duration, and
--Planning, preparation and design efforts in support of Marine Highway 
Projects.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Application Process
    Applications must be filed on Application for Federal Assistance, 
SF-424, which is available on the Grants.gov Web site.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
    Grant applications should be submitted using Grants.gov. The 
application should include all of the information requested below. 
MARAD reserves the right to ask any applicant for supplemental data, 
but expects applications to be complete upon submission. To the extent 
practical, MARAD encourages applicants to provide data and evidence of 
project merits in a form that is verifiable.
    a. Length of Application. The narrative portion of an application 
should be in standard academic format (i.e. 12 pt. font, double spaced) 
and not exceed 10 pages. Documentation supporting assertions made in 
the narrative portion may also be provided, but should be limited to 
relevant information. If possible, Web site links to supporting 
documentation should be provided instead of copies of these materials. 
In the applicant's discretion, relevant materials provided previously 
in support of a Marine Highway Project application may be referenced 
and described as unchanged. To the extent referenced, this information 
need not be resubmitted in support of a Marine Highway grant 
application.
    b. First Page of Application. The first page of the application 
should provide the following items of information:
    (i.) Marine Highway Project name (as stated in the Department's 
Letter of Designation);
    (ii.) Primary point of contact for applicant;
    (iii.) Total amount of the project cost in dollars and the amount 
of grant funds the applicant is seeking, along with sources, and share 
of other matching funds;
    (iv.) Summary statement of how the grant funding will be applied;
    (v.) Project parties; and
    (vi.) Unique entity identifier number. Recipients of Marine Highway 
grants and their first-tier sub-awardees must have Unique Entity 
Identifier numbers (https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform) and current 
registrations in the System for Award Management (SAM).
    c. Contact Information. An application should include the name, 
phone number, email address and organization address of the primary 
point of contact for the applicant. MARAD will use this information to 
inform applicants of our decision regarding selection of grantees, as 
well as to contact them in the event that we need additional or 
supplemental information regarding an application.
    d. Grant Funds and Sources and Uses of Project Funds. An 
application should include specific information about the amount of 
grant funding requested, sources and uses of all project funds, total 
project costs, percentage of project costs that would be paid with 
Marine Highway grant funds and the identity and percentage shares of 
all parties providing funds for the project.
    e. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Requirement. Should a 
project be selected for grant award, the project must comply with NEPA. 
If the NEPA process is underway but not complete at the time of the 
application, the application must detail where the project is in the 
process, indicate the anticipated date of completion, and provide a Web 
site link or other reference to copies of any environmental documents 
prepared.
    f. Other Federal, State and Local Actions. An application must 
indicate whether the proposed project is likely to require actions by 
other agencies (e.g., permits), indicate the status of such actions, 
and provide a Web site link or other reference to materials submitted 
to the other agencies, and demonstrate compliance with other Federal, 
State, or local regulations and permits as applicable.
    g. Certification Requirements. In order for an application to be 
considered for a grant award, the Chief Executive Officer or equivalent 
of the applicant is required to certify, in writing, the following:
    (i.) That, except as noted in this grant application, nothing has 
changed from the original application for formal designation as a 
Marine Highway Project;
    (ii.) The project sponsor will administer the project and any funds 
received will be spent efficiently and effectively; and
    (iii.) Applicant will provide information, data, and reports as 
required.
    h. Protection of Confidential Commercial Information. Applicants 
should submit, as part of or in support of an application, publicly 
available data or data that can be made public and methodologies that 
are accepted by industry practice and standards, to the extent 
possible. If the application includes information that the applicant 
considers to be a trade secret or confidential commercial or financial 
information, the applicant should do the following: (1) Note on the 
front cover that the submission ``Contains Confidential Commercial 
Information (CCI)''; (2) mark each affected page ``CCI''; and (3) 
highlight or otherwise denote the CCI portions. MARAD will

[[Page 24175]]

protect such information from disclosure to the extent allowed under 
applicable law. In the event MARAD receives a Freedom of Information 
Act (FOIA) request for the information, procedures described in the 
Department's FOIA regulation at 49 CFR 7.29 will be followed. Only 
information that is ultimately determined to be confidential under that 
procedure will be exempt from disclosure under FOIA.
3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)
    MARAD will not make an award to an applicant until the applicant 
has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM 
requirements, if applicable. Each applicant must be registered in SAM 
before submitting an application, and maintain an active SAM 
registration with current information throughout the period of the 
award. Applicants may register with the SAM at www.SAM.gov. Applicants 
can obtain a Unique Entity Identifier number at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.
4. Submission Dates and Times
    Applications must be received by 8:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, May 27, 
2016. Applications received later than this time will not be 
considered.
5. Funding Restrictions
    While Marine Highway Grant funds may be used for demonstration 
projects, they will not be used as an operating subsidy.

E. Application Review Information

1. Selection Criteria
    MARAD will consider the following criteria in the evaluation 
process: (1) Reduction of external cost and public benefit; (2) whether 
the project offers a lower-cost alternative to increasing land-based 
capacity; and (3) demonstration of the likelihood of financial 
viability. Applicants will have provided this information during the 
project designation process. As certain elements of the original 
project application may have changed, applicants must provide more 
detailed information regarding market information and cost modeling 
with the grant application.
    Applicants may opt to provide additional information specific to 
the above criteria if they desire. While not mandatory, this additional 
information will help ensure that MARAD has as much information as 
possible to evaluate the applications against the selection criteria 
identified below. In deciding whether to do so, applicants should 
consider the application requirements set out at 46 U.S.C. 
55601(g)(2)(B) that state in order to receive a grant under the 
program, the applicants must demonstrate that: (A) The project is 
financially viable; (B) the funds received will be spent efficiently 
and effectively; and, (C) a market exists for the services of the 
proposed project as evidenced by contracts or written statements of 
intent from potential customers.
2. Review and Selection Process
    Upon receipt, MARAD will evaluate the application using the 
criteria outlined above during a technical review and environmental 
analysis. The review will assess project scope, impact, public-benefit, 
environmental effects, offsetting costs, cost to the Government (if 
any), the likelihood of long-term self-supporting operations, market/
customer commitment, operational costs, and its relationship with 
designated Marine Highway Routes.
    Upon completion of the technical review, MARAD will forward the 
applications to a Department inter-agency review team (Intermodal 
Team). The Office of the Secretary of Transportation will lead the 
evaluation team and will include members of MARAD, other Department 
Operating Administrations, and as appropriate, representation from 
other Federal agencies and other representatives, as needed. The 
Intermodal Team will evaluate applications using criteria that 
establish the degree to which a proposed project can: Reduce external 
cost and provide public benefit, offer a lower-cost alternative to 
increasing capacity on the Route, and demonstrate the likelihood the 
service associated with the project will become self-supporting in a 
specified and reasonable timeframe. The Intermodal Team will assign 
ratings of ``highly recommended,'' ``recommended'' or ``not 
recommended'' for each application based on the criteria set forth 
above. The Intermodal Team will provide recommendations to the Maritime 
Administrator and subsequently to the Secretary.

F. Federal Award Administration

1. Federal Award Notices
    Following the evaluation outlined in Section E, MARAD will announce 
grant awards by posting a list of selected projects on the MARAD Web 
site at www.marad.dot.gov. Following the announcement, MARAD will 
communicate to the point of contact for each successful applicant 
listed in the SF-424 to initiate development of the grant agreement.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
    All awards must 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 the Department at 
2 CFR part 1201. Additionally, all applicable Federal laws and 
regulations will apply to projects that receive Marine Highway grants. 
The period of time following award that a project is expected to expend 
grant funds and start construction, acquisition, or procurement will be 
considered on a case-by-case basis and will be specified in the 
project-specific grant agreement. MARAD reserves the right to revoke 
any award of Marine Highway grant funds and to award such funds to 
another project to the extent that such funds are not expended in a 
timely or acceptable manner and in accordance with the project 
schedule. Federal wage rate requirements included at 40 U.S.C. Sections 
3141 to 3148 apply to all projects receiving funds under this program, 
and apply to all parts of the project, whether funded with other 
Federal funds or non-Federal funds.
3. Reporting
    Grantees must submit quarterly reports to the Office of Marine 
Highways to keep MARAD informed of all activities during the reporting 
period. The reports will indicate progress made, planned activities for 
the next period, and a listing of any supplies and/or equipment 
purchased with grant funds during the reporting period. In addition, 
the report will include an explanation of any deviation from the 
projected budget and timeline. Quarterly status reports will also 
contain, at a minimum, the following: (1) A statement as to whether 
Grantee has used the Grant Funds consistent with the terms contemplated 
in the Grant Agreement; (2) if applicable, a description of the 
budgeted activities not procured by Grantee; (3) if applicable, the 
rationale for Grantee's failure to execute the budgeted activities; (4) 
if applicable, explanation as to how and when Grantee intends to 
accomplish the purposes of the Grant Agreement; and (5) a budget 
summary showing funds expended since commencement, anticipated 
expenditures for the next reporting period, and expenditures compared 
to overall budget.

[[Page 24176]]

4. Requirements for Products Produced in the United States
    Consistent with the requirements of Section 410 of Division L--
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 2016, of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 
2016 (Pub. L. 114-113), the Buy American requirements of 41 U.S.C. 8303 
apply to funds made available under this Notice of Funding Opportunity.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

    For further information concerning this notice please contact Tori 
Collins, Office of Marine Highways and Passenger Services, Maritime 
Administration, Room W21- 315, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Washington, DC 
20590. Phone (202) 366-0951 or fax: (202) 366-6988.
    To ensure applicants receive accurate information about eligibility 
or the program, or in response to other questions, you are encouraged 
to contact MARAD directly, rather than through intermediaries or third 
parties.

    Dated: April 20, 2016.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-09563 Filed 4-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-81-P



                                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 79 / Monday, April 25, 2016 / Notices                                            24173

                                                    submitted by any of the following                       of funding for Marine Highway grants                  ‘‘Grant tracking number’’ (Grants.gov);
                                                    methods:                                                and establishes selection criteria and                3. The ‘‘Legal Business Name’’ for the
                                                       • Web site: http://                                  application requirements.                             applicant that was provided in the SF–
                                                    www.regulations.gov. Follow the online                     The Department of Transportation                   424; 4. The AOR name submitted in the
                                                    instructions for submitting comments.                   (Department) will award Marine                        SF–424 (Grants.gov); 5. The DUNS
                                                       • Fax: 202–493–2251.                                 Highway Grants to implement projects                  number associated with the
                                                       • Mail: Docket Operations Facility,                  or components of projects designated                  Application; and 6. The Grants.gov Help
                                                    U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200                 under America’s Marine Highway                        Desk Tracking Number.
                                                    New Jersey Avenue SE., W12–140,                         Program. Eligible applicants must be
                                                    Washington, DC 20590.                                   sponsors of Marine Highway Projects                   FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:     For
                                                       • Hand Delivery: 1200 New Jersey                     formally designated by the Secretary of               further information concerning this
                                                    Avenue SE., Room W12–140,                               Transportation (Secretary). The current               notice, please contact Tori Collins,
                                                    Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m.                    list of designated Marine Highway                     Office of Marine Highways and
                                                    and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,                      Projects, and sponsors thereof, can be                Passenger Service, Room W21–315,
                                                    except Federal Holidays.                                found on the Marine Highway Web site                  Maritime Administration, 1200 New
                                                       Communications received by June 9,                   at: http://www.marad.dot.gov/wp-                      Jersey Ave. SE., Washington, DC 20590.
                                                    2016 will be considered by FRA before                   content/uploads/pdf/Marine-Highway-                   Phone (202) 366–0795 or email
                                                    final action is taken. Comments received                Project-Description-Pages.pdf. Only                   Tori.Collins@dot.gov.
                                                    after that date will be considered as far               sponsors of designated Marine Highway
                                                    as practicable.                                         Projects are eligible to apply for a                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                       Anyone is able to search the                         Marine Highway Grant as described in
                                                    electronic form of any written                                                                                Table of Contents
                                                                                                            this notice.
                                                    communications and comments                                MARAD invites applications for                     A. Program Description
                                                    received into any of our dockets by the                 projects that have the added benefit of               B. Federal Award Information
                                                    name of the individual submitting the                   mitigating the negative impact of freight             C. Eligibility Information
                                                    comment (or signing the document, if                    movement on communities. Projects                     D. Application and Submission Information
                                                    submitted on behalf of an association,                  should also provide additional public                 E. Application Review Information
                                                    business, labor union, etc.). In                        benefit by addressing access to training              F. Federal Award Administration
                                                    accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT                    and job opportunities, where applicable                    Information
                                                    solicits comments from the public to                    and appropriate.                                      G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
                                                    better inform its processes. DOT posts
                                                                                                            DATES: Applications must be received                  A. Program Description
                                                    these comments, without edit, including
                                                                                                            by 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time
                                                    any personal information the                                                                                    Section 55601 of Title 46 of the
                                                                                                            (EDT) on Friday, May 27, 2016.
                                                    commenter provides, to                                                                                        United States Code directs the Secretary
                                                                                                            Applications received later than this
                                                    www.regulations.gov, as described in                                                                          to establish a short sea transportation
                                                                                                            time will not be considered.
                                                    the system of records notice (DOT/ALL–                                                                        grant program to implement projects or
                                                    14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at                      ADDRESSES: Grant applications must be
                                                                                                            submitted electronically using                        components of designated projects. The
                                                    www.dot.gov/privacy. See also http://                                                                         grant funds currently available are for
                                                    www.regulations.gov/#!privacyNotice                     www.Grants.gov. Please be aware that
                                                                                                            you must complete the Grants.gov                      projects related to documented vessels,
                                                    for the privacy notice of regulations.gov.
                                                                                                            registration process before submitting an             and port and landside infrastructure.
                                                    Robert C. Lauby,                                        application, and that the registration                B. Federal Award Information
                                                    Associate Administrator for Railroad Safety,            process usually takes 2 to 4 weeks to
                                                    Chief Safety Officer.                                   complete. Applications must be                           Under the Marine Highways Grant
                                                    [FR Doc. 2016–09444 Filed 4–22–16; 8:45 am]             submitted by 8:00 p.m. EDT on Friday,                 Program there is currently $5,000,000
                                                    BILLING CODE 4910–06–P                                  May 27, 2016.                                         available for designated Marine
                                                                                                            Application Process                                   Highway Projects. Only projects
                                                                                                                                                                  proposed by a project sponsor that have
                                                    DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION                               Applicants are strongly encouraged to              been formally designated by the
                                                                                                            make submissions in advance of the
                                                    Maritime Administration                                                                                       Secretary under the America’s Marine
                                                                                                            deadline. Applications received after
                                                                                                                                                                  Highway Program are eligible. The
                                                                                                            the deadline will not be considered
                                                    Funding Opportunity for America’s                                                                             Secretary, through the Maritime
                                                                                                            except in the case of unforeseen
                                                    Marine Highways Projects                                                                                      Administration (MARAD), intends to
                                                                                                            technical difficulties as outlined below.
                                                                                                            Late applications that are the result of              award the available funding through
                                                    AGENCY: Maritime Administration,                                                                              grants to the extent that there are worthy
                                                    Department of Transportation.                           failure to register or comply with
                                                                                                            Grants.gov applicant requirements in a                applications. MARAD will seek to
                                                    ACTION: Notice of funding opportunity.                                                                        obtain the maximum benefit from the
                                                                                                            timely manner will not be considered.
                                                    SUMMARY:   The Consolidated                             Applicants experiencing technical                     available funding by awarding grants to
                                                    Appropriations Act of 2016 (Pub. L.                     issues with Grants.gov that are beyond                as many of the most worthy projects as
                                                    114–113), signed by the President on                    the applicant’s control must contact                  possible. However, MARAD reserves the
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    December 18, 2015, appropriated                         MH@dot.gov or Tim Pickering at 202–                   right to award all funds to just one
                                                    $5,000,000 for the Short Sea                            366–0704 prior to the deadline with the               project. MARAD may partially fund
                                                    Transportation Program (America’s                       user name of the registrant and details               applications by selecting parts of
                                                    Marine Highways). The purpose of the                    of the technical issue experienced. The               various discrete projects. The start date
                                                    appropriation is to make grants for                     applicant must provide: 1. Details of the             and period of performance for each
                                                    projects related to documented vessels                  technical issue experienced; 2. Screen                award will depend on the specific
                                                    and port and landside infrastructure.                   capture(s) of the technical issue                     project and must be agreed to by
                                                    This notice announces the availability                  experienced along with corresponding                  MARAD.


                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014   19:02 Apr 22, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00122   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\25APN1.SGM   25APN1


                                                    24174                          Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 79 / Monday, April 25, 2016 / Notices

                                                    C. Eligibility Information                              424, which is available on the                           d. Grant Funds and Sources and Uses
                                                                                                            Grants.gov Web site.                                  of Project Funds. An application should
                                                    1. Eligible Applicants
                                                                                                                                                                  include specific information about the
                                                       Applicants eligible for Marine                       2. Content and Form of Application
                                                                                                                                                                  amount of grant funding requested,
                                                    Highway Grants are sponsors of projects                 Submission
                                                                                                                                                                  sources and uses of all project funds,
                                                    that the Secretary has designated as a                     Grant applications should be                       total project costs, percentage of project
                                                    specific Marine Highway Project under                   submitted using Grants.gov. The                       costs that would be paid with Marine
                                                    the America’s Marine Highway Program.                   application should include all of the                 Highway grant funds and the identity
                                                    Project sponsors are public entities                    information requested below. MARAD                    and percentage shares of all parties
                                                    including metropolitan planning                         reserves the right to ask any applicant               providing funds for the project.
                                                    organizations (MPOs), State                             for supplemental data, but expects                       e. National Environmental Policy Act
                                                    governments (including State                            applications to be complete upon                      (NEPA) Requirement. Should a project
                                                    Departments of Transportation), port                    submission. To the extent practical,                  be selected for grant award, the project
                                                    authorities and tribal governments.                     MARAD encourages applicants to                        must comply with NEPA. If the NEPA
                                                    Project sponsors are encouraged to                      provide data and evidence of project                  process is underway but not complete at
                                                    develop coalitions and public/private                   merits in a form that is verifiable.                  the time of the application, the
                                                    partnerships, which include vessel                         a. Length of Application. The                      application must detail where the
                                                    owners and operators; third-party                       narrative portion of an application                   project is in the process, indicate the
                                                    logistics providers; trucking companies;                should be in standard academic format                 anticipated date of completion, and
                                                    shippers; railroads; port authorities;                  (i.e. 12 pt. font, double spaced) and not             provide a Web site link or other
                                                    State, regional and local transportation                exceed 10 pages. Documentation                        reference to copies of any
                                                    planners; environmental interests;                      supporting assertions made in the                     environmental documents prepared.
                                                    impacted communities; or any                            narrative portion may also be provided,                  f. Other Federal, State and Local
                                                    combination of entities working in                      but should be limited to relevant                     Actions. An application must indicate
                                                    collaboration under a single application.               information. If possible, Web site links              whether the proposed project is likely to
                                                                                                            to supporting documentation should be                 require actions by other agencies (e.g.,
                                                    2. Cost Sharing or Matching                                                                                   permits), indicate the status of such
                                                                                                            provided instead of copies of these
                                                       An applicant must provide at least 20                materials. In the applicant’s discretion,             actions, and provide a Web site link or
                                                    percent of project costs from non-                      relevant materials provided previously                other reference to materials submitted to
                                                    Federal sources. In awarding grants                     in support of a Marine Highway Project                the other agencies, and demonstrate
                                                    under the program, MARAD will give                      application may be referenced and                     compliance with other Federal, State, or
                                                    preference to those projects or                         described as unchanged. To the extent                 local regulations and permits as
                                                    components that present the most                        referenced, this information need not be              applicable.
                                                    financially viable transportation                       resubmitted in support of a Marine                       g. Certification Requirements. In order
                                                    services and require the lowest total                   Highway grant application.                            for an application to be considered for
                                                    percentage of the Federal share of the                     b. First Page of Application. The first            a grant award, the Chief Executive
                                                    costs.                                                  page of the application should provide                Officer or equivalent of the applicant is
                                                                                                            the following items of information:                   required to certify, in writing, the
                                                    3. Eligible Projects
                                                                                                               (i.) Marine Highway Project name (as               following:
                                                       The intent of this grant program is to               stated in the Department’s Letter of                     (i.) That, except as noted in this grant
                                                    expand the use of water transportation                  Designation);                                         application, nothing has changed from
                                                    using designated projects to create new                    (ii.) Primary point of contact for                 the original application for formal
                                                    or expanded services along designated                   applicant;                                            designation as a Marine Highway
                                                    Marine Highway Routes. Components of                       (iii.) Total amount of the project cost            Project;
                                                    projects that are eligible for this round               in dollars and the amount of grant funds                 (ii.) The project sponsor will
                                                    of grant funding include the following:                 the applicant is seeking, along with                  administer the project and any funds
                                                    —Port and terminal infrastructure                       sources, and share of other matching                  received will be spent efficiently and
                                                       including wharves, docks, terminals                  funds;                                                effectively; and
                                                       and paving, etc.,                                       (iv.) Summary statement of how the                    (iii.) Applicant will provide
                                                    —Cargo, passenger and/or vessel                         grant funding will be applied;                        information, data, and reports as
                                                       handling equipment,                                     (v.) Project parties; and                          required.
                                                    —Efficiency or capacity improvements                       (vi.) Unique entity identifier number.                h. Protection of Confidential
                                                       in ports, terminals, aboard vessels and              Recipients of Marine Highway grants                   Commercial Information. Applicants
                                                       intermodal connectors, etc.,                         and their first-tier sub-awardees must                should submit, as part of or in support
                                                    —Investments that improve                               have Unique Entity Identifier numbers                 of an application, publicly available
                                                       environmental sustainability,                        (https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform) and                  data or data that can be made public and
                                                    —New or used vessel purchase, lease, or                 current registrations in the System for               methodologies that are accepted by
                                                       modification,                                        Award Management (SAM).                               industry practice and standards, to the
                                                    —Marine Highway demonstration                              c. Contact Information. An                         extent possible. If the application
                                                       projects of a limited duration, and                  application should include the name,                  includes information that the applicant
                                                    —Planning, preparation and design                       phone number, email address and                       considers to be a trade secret or
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                       efforts in support of Marine Highway                 organization address of the primary                   confidential commercial or financial
                                                       Projects.                                            point of contact for the applicant.                   information, the applicant should do the
                                                    D. Application and Submission                           MARAD will use this information to                    following: (1) Note on the front cover
                                                    Information                                             inform applicants of our decision                     that the submission ‘‘Contains
                                                                                                            regarding selection of grantees, as well              Confidential Commercial Information
                                                    1. Application Process                                  as to contact them in the event that we               (CCI)’’; (2) mark each affected page
                                                       Applications must be filed on                        need additional or supplemental                       ‘‘CCI’’; and (3) highlight or otherwise
                                                    Application for Federal Assistance, SF–                 information regarding an application.                 denote the CCI portions. MARAD will


                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014   19:02 Apr 22, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00123   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\25APN1.SGM   25APN1


                                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 79 / Monday, April 25, 2016 / Notices                                            24175

                                                    protect such information from                           requirements set out at 46 U.S.C.                     2. Administrative and National Policy
                                                    disclosure to the extent allowed under                  55601(g)(2)(B) that state in order to                 Requirements
                                                    applicable law. In the event MARAD                      receive a grant under the program, the
                                                    receives a Freedom of Information Act                   applicants must demonstrate that: (A)                   All awards must be administered
                                                    (FOIA) request for the information,                     The project is financially viable; (B) the            pursuant to the Uniform Administrative
                                                    procedures described in the                             funds received will be spent efficiently              Requirements, Cost Principles and
                                                    Department’s FOIA regulation at 49 CFR                  and effectively; and, (C) a market exists             Audit Requirements for Federal Awards
                                                    7.29 will be followed. Only information                 for the services of the proposed project              found in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted by
                                                    that is ultimately determined to be                     as evidenced by contracts or written                  the Department at 2 CFR part 1201.
                                                    confidential under that procedure will                  statements of intent from potential                   Additionally, all applicable Federal
                                                    be exempt from disclosure under FOIA.                   customers.                                            laws and regulations will apply to
                                                    3. Unique Entity Identifier and System                  2. Review and Selection Process                       projects that receive Marine Highway
                                                    for Award Management (SAM)                                                                                    grants. The period of time following
                                                                                                               Upon receipt, MARAD will evaluate                  award that a project is expected to
                                                       MARAD will not make an award to an                   the application using the criteria                    expend grant funds and start
                                                    applicant until the applicant has                       outlined above during a technical
                                                    complied with all applicable unique                                                                           construction, acquisition, or
                                                                                                            review and environmental analysis. The                procurement will be considered on a
                                                    entity identifier and SAM requirements,                 review will assess project scope, impact,
                                                    if applicable. Each applicant must be                                                                         case-by-case basis and will be specified
                                                                                                            public-benefit, environmental effects,
                                                    registered in SAM before submitting an                                                                        in the project-specific grant agreement.
                                                                                                            offsetting costs, cost to the Government
                                                    application, and maintain an active                                                                           MARAD reserves the right to revoke any
                                                                                                            (if any), the likelihood of long-term self-
                                                    SAM registration with current                           supporting operations, market/customer                award of Marine Highway grant funds
                                                    information throughout the period of                    commitment, operational costs, and its                and to award such funds to another
                                                    the award. Applicants may register with                 relationship with designated Marine                   project to the extent that such funds are
                                                    the SAM at www.SAM.gov. Applicants                      Highway Routes.                                       not expended in a timely or acceptable
                                                    can obtain a Unique Entity Identifier                      Upon completion of the technical                   manner and in accordance with the
                                                    number at http://fedgov.dnb.com/                        review, MARAD will forward the                        project schedule. Federal wage rate
                                                    webform.                                                applications to a Department inter-                   requirements included at 40 U.S.C.
                                                    4. Submission Dates and Times                           agency review team (Intermodal Team).                 Sections 3141 to 3148 apply to all
                                                                                                            The Office of the Secretary of                        projects receiving funds under this
                                                       Applications must be received by 8:00                                                                      program, and apply to all parts of the
                                                                                                            Transportation will lead the evaluation
                                                    p.m. EDT on Friday, May 27, 2016.
                                                                                                            team and will include members of                      project, whether funded with other
                                                    Applications received later than this
                                                                                                            MARAD, other Department Operating                     Federal funds or non-Federal funds.
                                                    time will not be considered.
                                                                                                            Administrations, and as appropriate,
                                                    5. Funding Restrictions                                 representation from other Federal                     3. Reporting
                                                       While Marine Highway Grant funds                     agencies and other representatives, as                   Grantees must submit quarterly
                                                    may be used for demonstration projects,                 needed. The Intermodal Team will                      reports to the Office of Marine
                                                    they will not be used as an operating                   evaluate applications using criteria that             Highways to keep MARAD informed of
                                                    subsidy.                                                establish the degree to which a
                                                                                                                                                                  all activities during the reporting
                                                                                                            proposed project can: Reduce external
                                                    E. Application Review Information                                                                             period. The reports will indicate
                                                                                                            cost and provide public benefit, offer a
                                                                                                            lower-cost alternative to increasing                  progress made, planned activities for the
                                                    1. Selection Criteria                                                                                         next period, and a listing of any
                                                                                                            capacity on the Route, and demonstrate
                                                       MARAD will consider the following                    the likelihood the service associated                 supplies and/or equipment purchased
                                                    criteria in the evaluation process: (1)                                                                       with grant funds during the reporting
                                                                                                            with the project will become self-
                                                    Reduction of external cost and public                                                                         period. In addition, the report will
                                                                                                            supporting in a specified and reasonable
                                                    benefit; (2) whether the project offers a                                                                     include an explanation of any deviation
                                                                                                            timeframe. The Intermodal Team will
                                                    lower-cost alternative to increasing                                                                          from the projected budget and timeline.
                                                                                                            assign ratings of ‘‘highly
                                                    land-based capacity; and (3)                                                                                  Quarterly status reports will also
                                                                                                            recommended,’’ ‘‘recommended’’ or
                                                    demonstration of the likelihood of                                                                            contain, at a minimum, the following:
                                                                                                            ‘‘not recommended’’ for each
                                                    financial viability. Applicants will have                                                                     (1) A statement as to whether Grantee
                                                                                                            application based on the criteria set
                                                    provided this information during the
                                                                                                            forth above. The Intermodal Team will                 has used the Grant Funds consistent
                                                    project designation process. As certain
                                                                                                            provide recommendations to the                        with the terms contemplated in the
                                                    elements of the original project
                                                                                                            Maritime Administrator and                            Grant Agreement; (2) if applicable, a
                                                    application may have changed,
                                                                                                            subsequently to the Secretary.                        description of the budgeted activities
                                                    applicants must provide more detailed
                                                    information regarding market                            F. Federal Award Administration                       not procured by Grantee; (3) if
                                                    information and cost modeling with the                                                                        applicable, the rationale for Grantee’s
                                                                                                            1. Federal Award Notices                              failure to execute the budgeted
                                                    grant application.
                                                       Applicants may opt to provide                          Following the evaluation outlined in                activities; (4) if applicable, explanation
                                                    additional information specific to the                  Section E, MARAD will announce grant                  as to how and when Grantee intends to
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    above criteria if they desire. While not                awards by posting a list of selected                  accomplish the purposes of the Grant
                                                    mandatory, this additional information                  projects on the MARAD Web site at                     Agreement; and (5) a budget summary
                                                    will help ensure that MARAD has as                      www.marad.dot.gov. Following the                      showing funds expended since
                                                    much information as possible to                         announcement, MARAD will                              commencement, anticipated
                                                    evaluate the applications against the                   communicate to the point of contact for               expenditures for the next reporting
                                                    selection criteria identified below. In                 each successful applicant listed in the               period, and expenditures compared to
                                                    deciding whether to do so, applicants                   SF–424 to initiate development of the                 overall budget.
                                                    should consider the application                         grant agreement.


                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014   19:02 Apr 22, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00124   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\25APN1.SGM   25APN1


                                                    24176                          Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 79 / Monday, April 25, 2016 / Notices

                                                    4. Requirements for Products Produced                   DATE/TIME: Monday, April 25, 2016                     Marriott, Jr. ASAE Conference Center,
                                                    in the United States                                    (10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.)                                1575 I St. NW., Washington, DC 20005.
                                                       Consistent with the requirements of                  LOCATION: 2301 Constitution Avenue                    The meeting will convene at 8:30 a.m.
                                                    Section 410 of Division L—                              NW., Washington, DC 20037.                            and end by 6:00 p.m. (EDT) on May 9
                                                    Transportation, Housing and Urban                       STATUS: Open Session—Portions may be                  and 10. The meeting will convene at
                                                    Development, and Related Agencies                       closed pursuant to Subsection (c) of                  8:30 a.m. and end by 4:00 p.m. (EDT) on
                                                    Appropriations Act, 2016, of the                        Section 552(b) of Title 5, United States              May 11. The meetings are open to the
                                                    Consolidated Appropriations Act of                      Code, as provided in subsection                       public.
                                                    2016 (Pub. L. 114–113), the Buy                         1706(h)(3) of the United States Institute                The purpose of the Commission, as
                                                    American requirements of 41 U.S.C.                      of Peace Act, Public Law 98–525.                      described in section 202 of the Veterans
                                                    8303 apply to funds made available                      AGENDA: April 25, 2016 Board Meeting;                 Access, Choice, and Accountability Act
                                                    under this Notice of Funding                            Approval of Minutes of the One                        of 2014, is to examine the access of
                                                    Opportunity.                                            Hundred Fifty-seventh Meeting (October                veterans to health care from the
                                                    G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts                     23, 2015) of the Board of Directors;                  Department of Veterans Affairs and
                                                      For further information concerning                    Chairman’s Report; Vice Chairman’s                    strategically examine how best to
                                                    this notice please contact Tori Collins,                Report; President’s Report; Reports from              organize the Veterans Health
                                                    Office of Marine Highways and                           USIP Board Committees; USIP Myanmar                   Administration, locate health care
                                                    Passenger Services, Maritime                            Team Presentation; USIP Preventing                    resources, and deliver health care to
                                                    Administration, Room W21- 315, 1200                     Electoral Violence Presentation.                      veterans during the next 20 years.
                                                    New Jersey Ave. SE., Washington, DC                     CONTACT: Nick Rogacki, Special
                                                                                                                                                                     Any members of the public wishing to
                                                    20590. Phone (202) 366–0951 or fax:                     Assistant to the President, Email:
                                                                                                            nrogacki@usip.org.                                    attend the meeting may register their
                                                    (202) 366–6988.
                                                                                                                                                                  intentions by emailing the Designated
                                                      To ensure applicants receive accurate                   Dated: April 18, 2016.
                                                    information about eligibility or the                                                                          Federal Officer, John Goodrich, at
                                                                                                            Nicholas Rogacki,                                     john.goodrich@va.gov. Remote attendees
                                                    program, or in response to other                        Special Assistant to the President.
                                                    questions, you are encouraged to contact                                                                      joining by telephone must email Mr.
                                                                                                            [FR Doc. 2016–09484 Filed 4–22–16; 8:45 am]           Goodrich by 12:00 p.m. (EDT) on
                                                    MARAD directly, rather than through
                                                    intermediaries or third parties.                        BILLING CODE 6820–AR–P                                Friday, May 6, 2016, to request dial-in
                                                                                                                                                                  information. The public may also
                                                      Dated: April 20, 2016.
                                                                                                                                                                  submit written statements at any time
                                                      By Order of the Maritime Administrator.               DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS                                for the Commission’s review to
                                                    T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.,                                AFFAIRS                                               commissiononcare@va.gov.
                                                    Secretary, Maritime Administration.
                                                    [FR Doc. 2016–09563 Filed 4–22–16; 8:45 am]             Commission on Care                                      Dated: April 20, 2016.
                                                    BILLING CODE 4910–81–P                                                                                        John Goodrich,
                                                                                                            ACTION:   Notice of meeting.                          Designated Federal Officer, Commission on
                                                                                                                                                                  Care.
                                                                                                               In accordance with the Federal
                                                    UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF                              Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C., App.                [FR Doc. 2016–09583 Filed 4–22–16; 8:45 am]
                                                    PEACE                                                   2, the Commission on Care gives notice                BILLING CODE 8320–01–P

                                                                                                            that it will meet on Monday, May 9,
                                                    Notice of Meeting; Open Session
                                                                                                            2016, Tuesday, May 10, 2016, and
                                                    AGENCY:    United States Institute of Peace.            Wednesday, May 11, 2016, at the J.W.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014   19:02 Apr 22, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00125   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 9990   E:\FR\FM\25APN1.SGM   25APN1



Document Created: 2016-04-23 01:38:25
Document Modified: 2016-04-23 01:38:25
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of funding opportunity.
DatesApplications must be received by 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on Friday, May 27, 2016. Applications received later than this time will not be considered.
ContactFor further information concerning this notice, please contact Tori Collins, Office of Marine Highways and Passenger Service, Room W21-315, Maritime Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE., Washington, DC 20590. Phone (202) 366-0795 or email [email protected]
FR Citation81 FR 24173 

2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR