81 FR 67051 - FY16 Discretionary Funding Opportunity: Low or No Emission Component Assessment Program (LoNo-CAP)

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 189 (September 29, 2016)

Page Range		67051-67056
FR Document		2016-23504
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is requesting proposals from qualified institutions of higher education to conduct testing, evaluation, and analysis of low or no emission components intended for use in low or no emission transit buses used to provide public transportation. FTA is authorized to pay 50 percent of the established assessment fees, up to $3.0 million annually. A total of $15.0 million is authorized at $3.0 million per year starting in FY 2016 through FY2020 to carry out the Low and No Emission Component Assessment Program (LoNo-CAP). Funds awarded under the LoNo-CAP program will be used to reimburse the cost of assessing eligible components.
Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 189 (Thursday, September 29, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 189 (Thursday, September 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67051-67056]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23504]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Transit Administration


FY16 Discretionary Funding Opportunity: Low or No Emission 
Component Assessment Program (LoNo-CAP)

AGENCY: Federal Transit Administration (FTA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and Request for Proposals 
(RFP).

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SUMMARY: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is requesting 
proposals from qualified institutions of higher education to conduct 
testing, evaluation, and analysis of low or no emission components 
intended for use in low or no emission transit buses used to provide 
public transportation. FTA is authorized to pay 50 percent of the 
established assessment fees, up to $3.0 million annually. A total of 
$15.0 million is authorized at $3.0 million per year starting in FY 
2016 through FY2020 to carry out the Low and No Emission Component 
Assessment Program (LoNo-CAP). Funds awarded under the LoNo-CAP program 
will be used to reimburse the cost of assessing eligible components.

DATES: Complete proposals must be submitted electronically through the 
GRANTS.GOV ``APPLY'' function by 11:59 EDT on November 28, 2016. 
Prospective applicants should initiate the process by registering on 
the GRANTS.GOV Web site promptly to ensure completion of the 
application process before the submission deadline.
    This announcement is also available at FTA's Web site at: https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grants/notices and in the ``FIND'' module 
of GRANTS.GOV. The funding opportunity ID is FTA-2016-009-TRI-LoNoCAP 
and the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for 
Section 5312 is 20.514. Mail and fax submissions will not be accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marcel Belanger, Bus Testing Program 
Manager, FTA Office of Research, Demonstration, and Innovation at: 
(202) 366-0725 or [email protected]. A TDD is available for individuals 
who are deaf or hard of hearing at 1-800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents

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

A. Program Description

    FTA recognizes that a significant transformation is occurring in 
the transit bus industry, with the increasing availability and 
deployment of low and zero emission transit buses for revenue 
operations. The adoption of these technologically advanced transit 
buses will allow the country's transportation systems to move toward a 
cleaner and more energy-efficient future, as described in the U.S. 
Department of Transportation's recent report, Beyond Traffic 2045. FTA 
remains committed to the deployment of low or no emission transit buses 
to support the transition of the nation's transit fleet to the lowest 
polluting and most energy-efficient transit bus technologies, thereby 
reducing local air pollution and direct carbon emissions by way of the 
Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), Public Law 
112-141, July 6, 2012, Section 5312 Low or No Emission Vehicle 
Deployment Program (LoNo) and the Fixing America's Surface 
Transportation (FAST) Act, Public Law 114-94, December 4, 2015, 5339(c) 
Low or No Emission Grant Program (Low-No). Since 2014, FTA has provided 
over $100 million in competitive funds to support the introduction of 
low and no emission transit buses into transit system fleets. LoNo-CAP 
directly supports the mission of FTA's ongoing LoNo programs.
    FTA's goals for LoNo-CAP, in general, are to:
     Provide unbiased assessments of low or no emission vehicle 
components, documenting (at a minimum) the maintainability, 
reliability, performance, structural integrity, efficiency, and noise 
of the tested components
     Increase the quality and lower the overall cost of low or 
no emission vehicle components
     Expand the supply chain for low or no emission vehicle 
components
     Increase the deployment of the cleanest and most energy-
efficient transit buses into transit agency fleets
     Advance the development of materials, technologies, and 
safer designs
     Support the development of applicable standards, 
protocols, and best practices

[[Page 67052]]

     Reduce the risk to Transit Vehicle Manufacturers (TVM) of 
using low or no emission vehicle components from unfamiliar 
manufacturers
     Complement, not replace, the testing of complete transit 
buses performed under the FTA Section 5318 Bus Testing Program
     Complement, not replace, existing Federal government 
testing (e.g., Environmental Protection Agency testing of engine 
emissions, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration testing of 
crash safety, etc.)
     Continue FTA's legacy of supporting the transit industry 
in the introduction of advanced technologies to reduce the energy 
consumption and emissions of transit buses.
    Section 5312(h) of Title 49, United States Code, as amended by the 
FAST Act, authorizes LoNo-CAP. FTA is authorized to competitively 
select at least one testing facility at an ``institution of higher 
education'' as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002) to conduct testing, evaluation, analysis, and 
reporting of testing results of low or no emission components intended 
for use in low or no emission transit vehicles. LoNo-CAP will focus on 
transit buses and provide unbiased information on LoNo components used 
in those buses. LoNo-CAP differs from the Section 5318 Bus Testing 
Program in that LoNo-CAP testing is voluntary, it will only test 
components, and it will not assign passing or failing scores. FTA may 
select one institution that is able to test all components, or it may 
select a small number of individual institutions, or a consortium of 
complementary institutions, each specializing in testing different LoNo 
components. The FAST Act requires that the institution(s) selected 
under LoNo-CAP must be separate and distinct from the facility operated 
and maintained under Section 5318. The low or no emission component 
testing performed under LoNo-CAP complements the Section 5318 Bus 
Testing Program, under which FTA will continue to test complete buses 
as a condition of eligibility for FTA grant funding.
    For the purpose of LoNo-CAP, the term ``low or no emission 
component'' means an item that is separately installed in and removable 
from a low or no emission transit bus. Furthermore, the components to 
be tested under LoNo-CAP should enable or significantly support low or 
zero emissions transit bus operation. FTA is limiting the LoNo-CAP to 
assessing components for transit buses due to limited program 
resources. Compared to transit buses, zero-emission components for 
transit rail vehicles are technologically mature. Examples of LoNo 
components for transit buses include, but are not limited, to: 
Batteries, fuel cells, electric motors and generators, power 
electronics, battery management systems, air compressors, HVAC systems, 
gaseous fuel storage systems, and DC/DC converters.
    For the purpose of LoNo-CAP, the term ``transit bus'' means a 
rubber-tired vehicle used for the provision of public transportation 
service by or for an FTA recipient. Components for trolley buses 
powered by overhead wires will be eligible for testing under LoNo-CAP.
    All component assessments conducted under the program will be 
considered public information and the results of LoNo-CAP assessments 
will be published online and summarized in an annual report to 
Congress. Private component assessments may be performed by mutual 
agreement of the parties, but will not receive a subsidy from FTA.
    The Federal Government's participation in the cost of component 
assessments is limited to 50 percent of the established individual 
component assessment fee, and is further limited to a total of $3 
million per year. Any party interested in having an assessment 
performed can submit a LoNo component to an appropriate FTA-funded 
facility selected under this announcement and that party will pay the 
remaining 50 percent of the assessment fee.
    A selected institution may use the collected fees to operate and 
maintain the program to include reasonable equipment maintenance and 
upkeep of the physical plant. LoNo-CAP funds are not meant to build new 
infrastructure or enhance existing facilities to add a capability that 
did not exist at the time of the award, however minor capital equipment 
purchases may be needed to support the ongoing operations and should be 
accounted for in the development of the testing fees, subject to FTA 
approval prior to award.

B. Federal Award Information

    A total of $15.0 million has been authorized at $3.0 million per 
year starting in FY 2016 through FY 2020 to carry out LoNo-CAP. Program 
funds are not eligible to directly cover costs of capital improvements 
or equipment that a facility does not have at the time of selection. 
FTA will enter into a grant, contract or cooperative agreement with one 
or more institutions of higher education for component testing. FTA 
will fund $3 million per year through FY 2020, dependent on annual 
performance reviews.
    Estimated fiscal funding by year is:

FY 16: $3 million
FY 17: $3 million
FY 18: $3 million
FY 19: $3 million
FY 20: $3 million
----------------
Total $15 million

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

    As specified in Section 5312(h), FTA will consider proposals only 
from ``institutions of higher education'' as defined in section 102 of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002). Eligible 
institution(s) of higher education must have capacity to carry out 
transportation-related advanced component testing and evaluation, with 
laboratories capable of testing and evaluation, and direct access to or 
a partnership with a testing facility capable of emulating real-world 
circumstances in order to test low or no emission components. The 
facility operated and maintained under the Section 5318 FTA Bus Testing 
Program is specifically excluded from eligibility for LoNo-CAP.

2. Cost Sharing

    Traditional cost sharing or matching is not required for awards 
resulting from this funding opportunity. Pursuant to Section 5312(h), 
FTA will pay 50 percent of the established testing fee of low or no 
emission transit bus components, up to a maximum of $3 million per year 
for each of FY2016 through FY2020. The remainder of the testing cost 
will be recovered from fees collected from the entities having the 
tests performed.

3. Eligible Projects

    Under the LoNo-CAP, eligible projects are limited to assessments of 
low or no (LoNo) emission components to be used on low or no transit 
buses used to provide public transportation. FTA will fund up to 50 
percent of the established fees for assessing maintainability, 
reliability, performance, structural integrity, efficiency and noise. 
FTA will fund these eligible projects through a grant, contract, or 
cooperative agreement awarded to the facility(s) selected to perform 
these assessments. Qualified applicants' proposals must demonstrate 
current capacity to perform and report on assessments of LoNo transit 
bus components. As a result, applications must contain the following 
information in sufficient detail to be eligible for funding 
consideration:
     Evidence that demonstrates the experience and current 
capacity to carry

[[Page 67053]]

out transportation-related advanced LoNo component assessments
     Evidence that the applicant has a current laboratory or 
laboratories capable of testing and evaluation that contain appropriate 
measuring instrumentation, data collection and storage devices, and 
other equipment, as deemed appropriate by the applicant
     Evidence that applicant has direct access to or a 
partnership with a testing facility capable of emulating real-world 
circumstances such as a vehicle test track in order to test low or no 
emission components

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Address and Form of Application Submission

    Project proposals must be submitted electronically through 
GRANTS.GOV (www.grants.gov) by November 28, 2016. Mail and fax 
submissions will not be accepted. A complete proposal submission will 
consist of at least two files: (1) The SF 424 Mandatory form 
(downloaded from GRANTS.GOV) and (2) the Applicant and Proposal Profile 
for the ``Low or No Emission Component Assessment Program'' 
(supplemental form) found on the FTA Web site at https://www.transit.dot.gov/research-innovation/lonocap. The Supplemental Form 
provides guidance and a consistent format for proposers to respond to 
the criteria outlined in this NOFO.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

(i) Proposal Submission
    A complete proposal submission consists of a minimum of two forms: 
The SF424 Mandatory Form and the Supplemental Form. The Supplemental 
Form must be placed in the attachments section of the SF424 Mandatory 
Form. Proposers must use the Supplemental Form designated for LoNo-CAP 
and attach it to the submission in GRANTS.GOV to successfully complete 
the application process.
    A proposal submission may contain additional supporting 
documentation as attachments. If an applicant elects to attach an 
additional proposal narrative, it must not exceed 10 numbered pages. 
Submissions must be presentable and use standard fonts, font sizing, 
and margins so reviewers can easily read the information.
    Within 48 hours after submitting an electronic application, the 
applicant should receive three email messages from GRANTS.GOV: (1) 
Confirmation of successful transmission to GRANTS.GOV, (2) confirmation 
of successful validation by GRANTS.GOV, and (3) confirmation of 
successful validation by FTA. If confirmations of successful validation 
are not received or a notice of failed validation or incomplete 
materials is received, the applicant must address the reason for the 
failed validation, as described in the email notice, and resubmit 
before the submission deadline. If making a resubmission for any 
reason, include all original attachments regardless of which 
attachments were updated and check the box on the supplemental form 
indicating this is a resubmission.
    The FTA urges proposers to submit applications at least 72 hours 
prior to the due date to allow time to receive the validation messages 
and to correct any problems that may have caused a rejection 
notification. The FTA will not accept submissions after the stated 
deadline. GRANTS.GOV scheduled maintenance and outage times are 
announced on the GRANTS.GOV Web site. Deadlines will not be extended 
due to scheduled Web site maintenance.
    Proposers are encouraged to begin the process of registration on 
the GRANTS.GOV site well in advance of the submission deadline. 
Registration is a multi-step process, which may take several weeks to 
complete before an application can be submitted. Registered proposers 
may still be required to take steps to keep their registration up to 
date before submissions can be made successfully: (1) Registration in 
the System for Award Management (SAM) is renewed annually; and, (2) 
persons making submissions on behalf of the Authorized Organization 
Representative (AOR) must be authorized in GRANTS.GOV by the AOR to 
make submissions. Instructions on the GRANTS.GOV registration process 
are provided in the Appendix.
    Information such as proposer name, Federal amount requested, etc. 
may be requested in varying degrees of detail on both the SF424 form 
and Supplemental Form. Proposers must fill in all fields unless stated 
otherwise on the forms. The Supplemental Form template supports pasting 
copied text with limited formatting from other documents; applicants 
should verify that pasted text is fully captured on the Supplemental 
Form and has not been truncated by the character limits built into the 
form. Proposers should use both the ``Check Package for Errors'' and 
the ``Validate Form'' validation buttons on both forms to check all 
required fields on the forms.
(ii) Application Content
    The SF424 Mandatory Form and the Supplemental Form will prompt 
applicants for the required information, including:

a. Applicant name
b. Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) 
number if available (Note: If selected, applicant will be required to 
provide DUNS number prior to award)
c. Key contact information (including contact name, address, email 
address, and phone)
d. Congressional district(s) where the component assessments will take 
place
e. A list of team organizational members, by organization name and 
address
f. Documentation of the commitment of each organizational member of the 
team (e.g., memorandum of understanding, letter of commitment, or other 
documentation)
g. A description of the technical, legal, and financial capacity of the 
applicant and organizational team member to carry out the proposed 
LoNo-CAP component assessments and reporting
h. A description of the component tests proposed to be performed and 
how they support the program purpose
i. A description of any related facilities and projects including those 
funded under other sources
j. A description of LoNo-CAP support facilities and infrastructure in 
existence, being procured through other programs, and/or being proposed 
using non-FTA funds to support this project
k. A detailed program management plan
l. A schedule outlining steps and milestones leading to the start of 
testing and reporting (overall, or for specific components, if 
different)
m. A schedule of fees for the tests the applicant institution proposes 
to perform
n. A detailed description of the approach for using industry standards, 
certification, and accreditation processes for assessing LoNo 
components
o. Evidence that establishes the applicant's capacity and capability to 
take on a project of this magnitude, including executive commitment, 
workforce capacity, and description of facilities and associated 
infrastructure readiness
p. A description of the content, format, and dissemination method(s) 
for the public component evaluation reports. FTA desires that the 
component testing reports be published to a user-friendly Section 508-
compliant online searchable database
q. Details on types of data that will be generated and how the project 
team

[[Page 67054]]

will provide access for FTA and its designee to this project-related 
data for purposes of evaluation and performance management

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

Registration in Brief
    Registration can take as little as 3-5 business days, but since 
there could be unexpected steps or delays (for example, if you need to 
obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)), FTA recommends 
allowing ample time, up to several weeks, for completion of all steps.
STEP 1: Obtain DUNS Number
    Same day. If requested by phone (1-866-705-5711) DUNS is provided 
immediately. If your organization does not have one, you will need to 
go to the Dun & Bradstreet Web site at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform to 
obtain the number. *Information for Foreign Registrants. *Webform 
requests take 1-2 business days.
STEP 2: Register With SAM
    Three to five business days or up to two weeks. If you already have 
an EIN, your SAM registration will take 3-5 business days to process. 
If you are applying for an EIN please allow up to two weeks. Ensure 
that your organization is registered with the System for Award 
Management (SAM). If your organization is not, an authorizing official 
of your organization must register.
STEP 3: Username & Password
    Same day. Complete your AOR (Authorized Organization 
Representative) profile on Grants.gov and create your username and 
password. You will need to use your organization's DUNS Number to 
complete this step. https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/OrcRegister.
STEP 4: AOR Authorization
    *Same day. The E-Business Point of Contact (E-Biz POC) at your 
organization must login to Grants.gov to confirm you as an Authorized 
Organization Representative (AOR). Please note that there can be more 
than one AOR for your organization. In some cases the E-Biz POC is also 
the AOR for an organization. *Time depends on responsiveness of your E-
Biz POC.
STEP 5: Track AOR Status
    At any time, you can track your AOR status by logging in with your 
username and password. Login as an Applicant (enter your username & 
password you obtained in Step 3) using the following link: 
applicant_profile.jsp.

4. Submission Dates and Times

    Project proposals must be submitted electronically through 
GRANTS.GOV by 11:59 p.m. EDT on November 28, 2016. Mail and fax 
submissions will NOT be accepted.

5. Funding Restrictions

    Funds under this opportunity cannot be used to reimburse projects 
for otherwise eligible expenses incurred prior to FTA award of a Grant 
Agreement, Contract, or Cooperative Agreement unless FTA has issued a 
``Letter of No Prejudice'' for the project before the expenses are 
incurred.

E. Application Review

1. Review and Selection Process

    A technical evaluation panel (TEP) will evaluate all eligible 
applications based on the applications' responses to information 
requested in this notice, plus supporting documentation. The TEP will 
collectively assign a rating to each eligible application using the 
following ratings: Recommended or Not Recommended.
    The TEP will evaluate all eligible proposals received and may seek 
clarification from any proposer about any ambiguous statement in the 
proposal. FTA may request additional documentation or information to be 
considered during the evaluation process, and may conduct pre-selection 
site visits. After a thorough evaluation of all eligible proposals, the 
TEP will recommend the selected institution(s) to the FTA Administrator 
or designee. The FTA Administrator or designee will determine the 
institution(s) that will receive award(s) under LoNo-CAP through FY 
2020, dependent on annual reviews, and in the event that more than one 
institution is selected, the amount of funding allocated to each.

2. Evaluation Criteria

    Applications will be evaluated based on the quality and extent to 
which the following evaluation criteria are addressed:

Program Approach

 Description of and rationale for the types of tests and 
specific components to be tested; at a minimum, tests must assess 
maintainability, reliability, performance, structural integrity, 
efficiency, and noise
 Which tests will not be offered and why
 How the tests included in the proposed program support the 
LoNo-CAP Program goals, in particular how they support deployment of 
the cleanest and most energy-efficient buses
 Description of testing procedures
 Projected schedule for performing tests in the first year, and 
subsequent years; highlighting any plans for phasing-in new tests
 Plan for coordinating with FTA, Altoona, bus OEMs, suppliers, 
transit industry, and other testing facilities and programs including 
any other LoNo-CAP testing facility(s)
 Proposed outreach and industry coordination efforts to 
encourage use of the facility and testing capabilities
 Descriptions of any innovative aspects of the proposed 
approach, their benefits, and risks

Organizational Capacity

 Qualifications and experience of key staff
 Commitment of key staff to testing center
 Description of existing and planned facilities and equipment. 
Applicants must demonstrate that they have direct access to or a 
partnership with a testing facility capable of emulating real-world 
circumstances in order to test low or no emission components installed 
on the intended transit bus
 Skills and availability of supporting staff
 Workforce development plan
 Executive commitment of institution to supporting the testing 
activity/center
 Technical, legal, and financial capacity
 Sufficiency of commitment of organizational team members 
(attach memorandum of understanding, letters of commitment, or other 
documentation)

Program and Risk Management Plan

 Proposed schedule of test fees, and process for reviewing and 
updating fees throughout the program to account for new equipment needs 
and changing costs
 Projections for anticipated types and quantities of tests per 
year, and if applicable, maximum and minimum number of tests that can 
be performed per year
 Rationale for establishing the fees to account for maintaining 
and operating the facility
 Additional funding that may be available to support the 
program

Data Reporting and Dissemination

 Description of component test reports content and format
 Description of method(s) of component test reports 
dissemination

[[Page 67055]]

 Method of preparing Annual Report to Congress
 Description of searchable 508-compatible Database (if 
proposed)

Commitment to Accreditation, Codes, and Standards

 Description of accreditations now held, being pursued, or 
planned
 Description of use of codes and standards for test 
standardization
 Description of use of codes and standards to promote safety
 Commitment to participation in developing future codes and 
standards

F. Federal Award Administration

1. Federal Award Notice

    Subsequent to an announcement by the FTA Administrator or designee 
of the final selection(s) posted on the FTA Web site, FTA will publish 
a list of the selected facility or facilities.
    All information submitted as part of or in support of LoNo-CAP 
shall use publicly available data or data that can be made public and 
methodologies that are accepted by industry practice and standards, to 
the extent possible. If the submission includes information the 
applicant considers to be trade secret or confidential commercial or 
financial information, the applicant should do the following: (1) Note 
on the front cover that the submission ``Contains Confidential Business 
Information (CBI)''; (2) mark each affected page ``CBI''; and (3) 
highlight or otherwise denote the CBI portions. FTA protects such 
information from disclosure to the extent allowed under applicable law. 
In the event that FTA receives a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 
request for the information, FTA will follow the procedures described 
in the U.S. DOT FOIA regulations at 49 CFR 7.17. Only information that 
is ultimately determined to be confidential under that procedure will 
be exempt from disclosure under FOIA. Should FTA receive an order from 
a court of competent jurisdiction ordering the release of the 
information, FTA will provide applicant timely notice of such order to 
allow the applicant the opportunity to challenge such an order. FTA 
will not challenge a court order on behalf of applicant.

2. Award Administration

    The successful applicant(s) will receive an award through FTA's 
Transit Award Management System (TrAMS) as either a Cooperative 
Agreement, Grant Agreement, or Contract, at FTA's discretion. The FTA 
Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation will manage project 
agreements. The selected institution(s) will submit itemized quarterly 
invoices for the tests performed during the previous quarter, and FTA 
will reimburse the institution(s) for 50 percent of the established 
testing fees for those tests performed and properly documented. FTA 
reserves the right to monitor and review awards quarterly to ensure 
awarded funds are commensurate with level of testing being conducted 
and amend awarded funds, as needed.
    Applicants must sign and submit current Certifications and 
Assurances before FTA may award funding under a Cooperative Agreement, 
Grant Agreement, or Contract for a competitively selected project. If 
the applicant has already submitted the annual Certifications and 
Assurances for the fiscal year in which the award will be made in 
TrAMS, they do not need to be resubmitted.
    FTA reserves the right to request an adjustment of the project 
scope and budget of any proposal selected for funding. Such adjustments 
shall not constitute a material alteration of any aspect of the 
proposal that influenced the proposal evaluation or decision to fund 
the project.
    Further, FTA reserves the right to name any or all proposed 
organizational team members as a ``Key Partner'' and to make any award 
conditional upon the participation of the ``Key Partner.'' A ``Key 
Partner'' is essential to the project as approved by FTA and, is, 
therefore, eligible for a noncompetitive award by the project sponsor 
to provide the goods or services described in the proposal. 
Participation by members of the ``Key Partner'' on a selected project 
may not later be substituted without FTA's approval.

3. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    Except as otherwise provided in this NOFO, grants, contracts or 
cooperative agreements are subject to the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 
5312 as described in the latest FTA Research Circular, currently 
6100.1E, ``Research, Technical Assistance and Training Program: 
Application Instructions and Program Management Guidelines.'' In 
particular, the recipient(s) of a LoNo-CAP award must submit quarterly 
Federal Financial Reports and Milestone Progress Reports in TrAMS.

4. Reporting, Data and Information Exchange, and Data Requirements

    In order to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the impacts 
and implications of LoNo-CAP, FTA, or its designated independent 
evaluator, will require direct access to project data. Projects should 
include a data capture component that allows for the reliable and 
consistent collection of information relevant to gauging the impact and 
outcomes of the component assessments.
    At any time during the period of performance, the project team may 
be requested to coordinate data collection activities in order to 
provide interim information under the requirements of this award. A 
project team may be asked to provide the data directly to FTA or to a 
designated independent evaluator. This information, if requested, will 
be used to conduct program evaluations during the execution of the 
project and after it has been completed.
    LoNo-CAP awardees may be asked to participate in and/or host 
transit industry-related information exchange meetings, conferences, 
webinars, or outreach events at their own expense to share information 
with the transit industry and stakeholders on the progress and results 
of component assessments and related impacts.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

    For further information concerning this NOFO, please contact 
Research Office staff via email at [email protected], or directly call 
Marcel Belanger, Bus Testing Program Manager, at (202) 366-0725. A TDD 
is available for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing at 1-800-
877-8339. In addition, FTA will post answers to questions and requests 
for clarifications on FTA's Web site. To ensure applicants receive 
accurate information about eligibility or the program, the applicant is 
encouraged to contact FTA directly, rather than through intermediaries 
or third parties, with questions. FTA staff may also conduct briefings 
on the LoNo-CAP discretionary selection and award process upon request.

H. Other Information

    The applicant assures that it will comply with all applicable 
Federal statutes, regulations, executive orders, FTA Circulars, and 
other Federal administrative requirements in carrying out any project 
supported by the FTA agreement. The applicant acknowledges that it is 
under a continuing obligation to comply with the terms and conditions 
of the agreement executed with FTA for its project. The applicant 
understands that Federal laws, regulations, policies, and 
administrative practices might be modified from time-to-time and may 
affect the implementation of the project. The applicant agrees that the 
most recent Federal requirements will apply to the

[[Page 67056]]

project, unless FTA issues a written determination otherwise.

Carolyn Flowers,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2016-23504 Filed 9-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P
67052 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 189 / Thursday, September 29, 2016 / Notices

• Reduce the risk to Transit Vehicle for transit rail vehicles are Estimated fiscal funding by year is:
Manufacturers (TVM) of using low or no technologically mature. Examples of FY 16: $3 million
emission vehicle components from LoNo components for transit buses FY 17: $3 million
unfamiliar manufacturers include, but are not limited, to: FY 18: $3 million
• Complement, not replace, the Batteries, fuel cells, electric motors and FY 19: $3 million
testing of complete transit buses generators, power electronics, battery FY 20: $3 million
performed under the FTA Section 5318 management systems, air compressors, ————————
Bus Testing Program HVAC systems, gaseous fuel storage Total $15 million
• Complement, not replace, existing systems, and DC/DC converters.
Federal government testing (e.g., For the purpose of LoNo-CAP, the C. Eligibility Information
Environmental Protection Agency term ‘‘transit bus’’ means a rubber-tired 1. Eligible Applicants
testing of engine emissions, National vehicle used for the provision of public
Highway Traffic Safety Administration transportation service by or for an FTA As specified in Section 5312(h), FTA
testing of crash safety, etc.) recipient. Components for trolley buses will consider proposals only from
• Continue FTA’s legacy of powered by overhead wires will be ‘‘institutions of higher education’’ as
supporting the transit industry in the eligible for testing under LoNo-CAP. defined in section 102 of the Higher
introduction of advanced technologies All component assessments Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002).
to reduce the energy consumption and conducted under the program will be Eligible institution(s) of higher
emissions of transit buses. considered public information and the education must have capacity to carry
Section 5312(h) of Title 49, United results of LoNo-CAP assessments will be out transportation-related advanced
States Code, as amended by the FAST published online and summarized in an component testing and evaluation, with
Act, authorizes LoNo-CAP. FTA is annual report to Congress. Private laboratories capable of testing and
authorized to competitively select at component assessments may be evaluation, and direct access to or a
least one testing facility at an performed by mutual agreement of the partnership with a testing facility
‘‘institution of higher education’’ as parties, but will not receive a subsidy capable of emulating real-world
defined in section 102 of the Higher from FTA. circumstances in order to test low or no
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002) The Federal Government’s emission components. The facility
to conduct testing, evaluation, analysis, participation in the cost of component operated and maintained under the
and reporting of testing results of low or assessments is limited to 50 percent of Section 5318 FTA Bus Testing Program
no emission components intended for the established individual component is specifically excluded from eligibility
use in low or no emission transit assessment fee, and is further limited to for LoNo-CAP.
vehicles. LoNo-CAP will focus on a total of $3 million per year. Any party
2. Cost Sharing
transit buses and provide unbiased interested in having an assessment
information on LoNo components used performed can submit a LoNo Traditional cost sharing or matching
in those buses. LoNo-CAP differs from component to an appropriate FTA- is not required for awards resulting from
the Section 5318 Bus Testing Program in funded facility selected under this this funding opportunity. Pursuant to
that LoNo-CAP testing is voluntary, it announcement and that party will pay Section 5312(h), FTA will pay 50
will only test components, and it will the remaining 50 percent of the percent of the established testing fee of
not assign passing or failing scores. FTA assessment fee. low or no emission transit bus
may select one institution that is able to A selected institution may use the components, up to a maximum of $3
test all components, or it may select a collected fees to operate and maintain million per year for each of FY2016
small number of individual institutions, the program to include reasonable through FY2020. The remainder of the
or a consortium of complementary equipment maintenance and upkeep of testing cost will be recovered from fees
institutions, each specializing in testing the physical plant. LoNo-CAP funds are collected from the entities having the
different LoNo components. The FAST not meant to build new infrastructure or tests performed.
Act requires that the institution(s) enhance existing facilities to add a 3. Eligible Projects
selected under LoNo-CAP must be capability that did not exist at the time
separate and distinct from the facility of the award, however minor capital Under the LoNo-CAP, eligible projects
operated and maintained under Section equipment purchases may be needed to are limited to assessments of low or no
5318. The low or no emission support the ongoing operations and (LoNo) emission components to be used
component testing performed under should be accounted for in the on low or no transit buses used to
LoNo-CAP complements the Section development of the testing fees, subject provide public transportation. FTA will
5318 Bus Testing Program, under which to FTA approval prior to award. fund up to 50 percent of the established
FTA will continue to test complete fees for assessing maintainability,
buses as a condition of eligibility for B. Federal Award Information reliability, performance, structural
FTA grant funding. A total of $15.0 million has been integrity, efficiency and noise. FTA will
For the purpose of LoNo-CAP, the authorized at $3.0 million per year fund these eligible projects through a
term ‘‘low or no emission component’’ starting in FY 2016 through FY 2020 to grant, contract, or cooperative
means an item that is separately carry out LoNo-CAP. Program funds are agreement awarded to the facility(s)
installed in and removable from a low not eligible to directly cover costs of selected to perform these assessments.
or no emission transit bus. Furthermore, capital improvements or equipment that Qualified applicants’ proposals must
the components to be tested under a facility does not have at the time of demonstrate current capacity to perform
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES

LoNo-CAP should enable or selection. FTA will enter into a grant, and report on assessments of LoNo
significantly support low or zero contract or cooperative agreement with transit bus components. As a result,
emissions transit bus operation. FTA is one or more institutions of higher applications must contain the following
limiting the LoNo-CAP to assessing education for component testing. FTA information in sufficient detail to be
components for transit buses due to will fund $3 million per year through eligible for funding consideration:
limited program resources. Compared to FY 2020, dependent on annual • Evidence that demonstrates the
transit buses, zero-emission components performance reviews. experience and current capacity to carry

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Document Created: 2016-09-29 04:14:22
Document Modified: 2016-09-29 04:14:22
Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and Request for Proposals (RFP).
Dates		Complete proposals must be submitted electronically through the GRANTS.GOV ``APPLY'' function by 11:59 EDT on November 28, 2016. Prospective applicants should initiate the process by registering on the GRANTS.GOV Web site promptly to ensure completion of the application process before the submission deadline.
Contact		Marcel Belanger, Bus Testing Program Manager, FTA Office of Research, Demonstration, and Innovation at: (202) 366-0725 or [email protected] A TDD is available for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing at 1-800-877-8339.
FR Citation		81 FR 67051
81 FR 67051 - FY16 Discretionary Funding Opportunity: Low or No Emission Component Assessment Program (LoNo-CAP)

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIONFederal Transit Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 189 (September 29, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Transit Administration
