82_FR_10205 82 FR 10179 - Notice of Funding Availability for the Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC) Program

82 FR 10179 - Notice of Funding Availability for the Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC) Program

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary of Transportation

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 26 (February 9, 2017)

Page Range10179-10184
FR Document2017-02665

The Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of the Secretary (OST), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) announces the opportunity for business centered community-based organizations, transportation-related trade associations, colleges and universities, community colleges, or chambers of commerce, registered with the Internal Revenue Service as 501 C(6) or 501 C(3) tax-exempt organizations, to compete for participation in OSDBU's Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC) program in the South Atlantic Region (Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and Kentucky).

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 26 (Thursday, February 9, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 26 (Thursday, February 9, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10179-10184]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-02665]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary of Transportation


Notice of Funding Availability for the Small Business 
Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC) Program

AGENCY: Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU), 
Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of funding availability for the South Atlantic Region 
SBTRC.

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SUMMARY:  The Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of the 
Secretary (OST), Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization 
(OSDBU) announces the opportunity for business centered community-based 
organizations, transportation-related trade associations, colleges and 
universities, community colleges, or chambers of commerce, registered 
with the Internal Revenue Service as 501 C(6) or 501 C(3) tax-exempt 
organizations, to compete for participation in OSDBU's Small Business 
Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC) program in the South Atlantic 
Region (Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and Kentucky).

DATES: Complete Proposals must be received on or before March 3, 2017, 
6:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). Proposals received after the 
deadline will be considered non-responsive and will not be reviewed.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be electronically submitted through 
Grants.gov. Only applicants who comply with all submission requirements 
described in this notice and electronically submit valid applications 
through Grants.gov will be eligible for award.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information concerning 
this notice, contact Ms. Steronica Mattocks, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: (202) 366-
0658. Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OSDBU will enter into Cooperative Agreements 
with these organizations to provide outreach to the small business 
community in their designated region and provide financial and 
technical assistance, business training programs, business assessment, 
management training, counseling, marketing and outreach, and the 
dissemination of information, to encourage and assist small businesses 
to become better prepared to compete for, obtain, and manage DOT funded 
transportation-related contracts and subcontracts at the federal, state 
and local levels. Throughout this notice, the term ``small business'' 
will refer to: 8(a), small disadvantaged businesses (SDB), 
disadvantaged business enterprises (DBE), women owned small businesses 
(WOSB), HubZone, service disabled veteran owned businesses (SDVOB), and 
veteran owned small businesses (VOSB). Throughout this notice, 
``transportation-related'' is defined as the maintenance, 
rehabilitation, restructuring, improvement, or revitalization of any of 
the nation's modes of transportation.
    Funding Opportunity Number: USDOT-OST-OSDBU/SBTRCSA-2017-1.
    Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 20.910 
Assistance to Small and Disadvantaged Businesses.
    Type of Award: Cooperative Agreement Grant.
    Award Ceiling: $135,000.
    Award Floor: $150,000.
    Program Authority: DOT is authorized under 49 U.S.C. 332(b)(4), (5) 
& (7) to design and carry out programs to assist small disadvantaged 
businesses in getting transportation-related contracts and 
subcontracts; develop support mechanisms, including management and 
technical services, that will enable small disadvantaged businesses to 
take advantage of those business opportunities; and to make 
arrangements to carry out the above purposes.

Table of Contents

A. Program Description and Goals
B. Federal Award Information
C. Eligibility Information
    1. Eligible Applicant
    2. Program/Recipient Requirements
    3. Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization 
(OSDBU) Responsibilities
D. Application and Submission Information
E. Application Review
    1. Selection Criteria
    a. Approach and Strategy
    b. Linkages
    c. Organizational Capability
    d. Staff Capabilities and Experience
    e. Cost Proposal (Budget)
    f. Scoring Application
    g. Conflicts of Interest
    2. Review and Selection Process
F. Federal Award Administration
    a. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
    b. Reporting
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
H. Protection of Confidential Business Information

[[Page 10180]]

A. Program Description and Goals

    The national SBTRC program utilizes Cooperative Agreements with 
chambers of commerce, trade associations, educational institutions and 
business-centered community based organizations to establish SBTRCs to 
provide business training, technical assistance and information to DOT 
grantees and recipients, prime contractors and subcontractors. In order 
to be effective and serve their target audience, the SBTRCs must be 
active in the local transportation community in order to identify and 
communicate opportunities and provide the required technical 
assistance. SBTRCs must already have, or demonstrate the ability to, 
establish working relationships with the state and local transportation 
agencies and technical assistance agencies (i.e., The U.S. Department 
of Commerce's Minority Business Development Centers (MBDCs), Small 
Business Development Centers (SBDCs), and Procurement Technical 
Assistance Centers (PTACs), SCORE and State DOT highway supportive 
services contractors in their region. Utilizing these relationships and 
their own expertise, the SBTRCs are involved in activities such as 
information dissemination, small business counseling, and technical 
assistance with small businesses currently doing business with public 
and private entities in the transportation industry.
    Effective outreach is critical to the success of the SBTRC program. 
In order for their outreach efforts to be effective, SBTRCs must be 
familiar with DOT's Operating Administrations, its funding sources, and 
how funding is awarded to DOT grantees, recipients, contractors, 
subcontractors, and its: Financial assistance programs. SBTRCs must 
provide outreach to the regional small business transportation 
community to disseminate information and distribute DOT-published 
marketing materials, such as Short Term Lending Program (STLP) 
Information, Bonding Education Program (BEP) information, SBTRC 
brochures and literature, DOT Procurement Forecasts; Contracting with 
DOT booklets, Women and Girls in Transportation Initiative (WITI) 
information, and any other materials or resources that DOT or OSDBU may 
develop for this purpose. To maximize outreach, the SBTRC may be called 
upon to participate in regional and national conferences and seminars. 
Quantities of DOT publications for on-hand inventory and dissemination 
at conferences and seminars will be available upon request from the 
OSDBU office.

B. Federal Award Information

    The DOT established OSDBU in accordance with Public Law 95-507, an 
amendment to the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment 
Act of 1958. The mission of OSDBU at DOT is to ensure that the small 
and disadvantaged business policies and goals of the Secretary of 
Transportation are developed and implemented in a fair, efficient and 
effective manner to serve small and disadvantaged businesses throughout 
the country.
    The OSDBU also administers the provisions of Title 49, Section, 
332, the Minority Resource Center (MRC) which includes the duties of 
advocacy, outreach and: Financial services on behalf of small and 
disadvantaged business and those certified under 49 CFR parts 23 and 26 
as Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) and the development of 
programs to encourage, stimulate, promote and assist small businesses 
to become better prepared to compete for, obtain and manage 
transportation-related contracts and subcontracts.
    The Regional Assistance Division of OSDBU, through the SBTRC 
program, allows OSDBU to partner with local organizations to offer a 
comprehensive delivery system of business training, technical 
assistance and dissemination of information, targeted towards small 
business transportation enterprises in their regions. The SBTRCs are 
established and funded through Cooperative Agreements between eligible 
applicants and OSDBU. The SBTRCs function as regional offices of OSDBU 
and fully execute the mission of the OSDBU nationally.
    OSDBU enters into Cooperative Agreements with recipients to 
establish and fund a regional SBTRC. Under the Cooperative Agreement 
OSDBU will be ``substantially involved'' with the overall operations of 
the SBTRC. This involvement includes directing SBTRC staff to travel 
and represent OSDBU on panels and events. OSDBU will make one award 
under this announcement. Award ceiling for this announcement is 
$150,000. The recipient will begin performing on the award on April 1, 
2017 and the period of performance (POP) will be April 1, 2017 to March 
30, 2018. This is a 1 year grant with an option to renew for 2 
additional years at the discretion of U.S. DOT.
    Cooperative agreement awards will be distributed to the region(s) 
as follows:

South Atlantic Region
    Ceiling: $135,000 per year
    Floor: $150,000 per year

    Cooperative agreement awards by region are based upon an analysis 
of DBEs, Certified Small Businesses, and U.S. DOT transportation 
dollars in each region.
    It is OSDBU's intent to maximize the benefits received by the small 
business transportation community through the SBTRC. Funding will 
reimburse an on-site Project Director for 100% of salary plus fringe 
benefits, an on-site Executive Director up to 20% of salary plus fringe 
benefits, up to 100% of a Project Coordinator salary plus fringe 
benefits, the cost of designated SBTRC space, other direct costs, and 
all other general and administrative expenses. Selected SBTRC partners 
will be expected to provide in-kind administrative support. Submitted 
proposals must contain an alternative funding source with which the 
SBTRC will fund administrative support costs. Preference will be given 
to proposals containing in-kind contributions for the Project Director, 
the Executive Director, the Project Coordinator, cost of designated 
SBTRC space, other direct costs, and all other general and 
administrative expenses. The SBTRC will furnish all labor, facilities 
and equipment to perform the services described in this announcement.

C. Eligibility Information

I. Eligible Applicant

    To be eligible, an organization must be an established, nonprofit, 
community-based organization, transportation-related trade association, 
chamber of commerce, college or university, community college, and any 
other qualifying transportation-related non-profit organization which 
has the documented experience and capacity necessary to successfully 
operate and administer a coordinated delivery system that provides 
access for small businesses to prepare and compete for transportation-
related contracts.
    In addition, to be eligible, the applicant organization must:
    (a) Be an established 501 C (3) or 501 C (6) tax-exempt 
organization and provide documentation as verification. No application 
will be accepted without proof of tax-exempt status;
    (b) Have at least one year of documented and continuous experience 
prior to the date of application in providing advocacy, outreach, and 
technical assistance to small businesses within the region in which 
proposed services will be provided. Prior performance providing 
services to the transportation community is preferable, but not 
required; and
    (c) Have an office physically located within the proposed city in 
the designated headquarters state in the

[[Page 10181]]

region for which they are submitting the proposal that is readily 
accessible to the public.

2. Program Requirements/Recipient Responsibilities

(a) Assessments, Business Analyses
    Conduct an assessment of small businesses in the SBTRC region to 
determine their training and technical assistance needs, and use 
information that is available at no cost to structure programs and 
services that will enable small businesses to become better prepared to 
compete for and receive transportation-related contract awards.
(b) General Management & Technical Training and Assistance
    Utilize OSDBU's Intake Form to document each small business 
assisted by the SBTRC and type of service(s) provided. A complete list 
of businesses that have filled out the form shall be submitted as part 
of the SBTRC report, submitted via email to the Regional Assistance 
Division on a regular basis (using the SBTRC report). This report will 
detail SBTRC activities and performance results. The data provided must 
be supported by the narrative (if asked).
    Ensure that an array of information is made available for 
distribution to the small business transportation community that is 
designed to inform and educate the community on DOT/OSDBU services and 
opportunities.
    Coordinate efforts with OSDBU in order to maintain an on-hand 
inventory of DOT/OSDBU informational materials for general 
dissemination and for distribution at transportation-related 
conferences and other events.
(c) Business Counseling
    Collaborate with agencies, such as State, Regional, and Local 
Transportation Government Agencies, SBA, U.S. Department of Commerce's 
Minority Business Development Centers (MBDCs), Service Corps of Retired 
Executives (SCORE), Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs), 
and Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), to offer a broad range 
of counseling services to transportation-related small business 
enterprises.
    Create a technical assistance plan that will provide each counseled 
participant with the knowledge and skills necessary to improve the 
management of their own small business to expand their transportation-
related contracts and subcontracts portfolio.
    Provide a minimum of 20 hours of individual or group counseling 
sessions to small businesses per month. This counseling includes in-
person meetings or over the phone, and does not include any time taken 
to do email correspondence.
(d) Planning Committee
    Establish a Regional Planning Committee consisting of at least 10 
members that includes representatives from the regional community and 
federal, state, and local agencies. The highway, airport, and transit 
authorities for the SBTRCs region; additionally, the state DOT must 
have representation on the planning committee. The committee shall be 
established no later than 60 days after the execution of the 
Cooperative Agreement between the OSDBU and the selected SBTRC.
    Provide a forum for the federal, state, and local agencies to 
disseminate information about upcoming DOT procurements and SBTRC 
activities. Hold either monthly or quarterly meetings at a time and 
place agreed upon by SBTRC and planning committee members (conference 
calls and/or video conferences are acceptable).
    Use the initial session hosted by the SBTRC to explain the mission 
of the committee and identify roles of staff and the members of the 
group. Responsibility for the agenda and direction of the Planning 
Committee should be handled by the SBTRC Project Director or his/her 
designee.
(e) Outreach Services/Conference Participation
    Utilize the services of the System for Award Management (SAM) and 
other sources to construct a database of regional small businesses that 
currently are or may in the future participate in DOT direct and DOT 
funded transportation related contracts, and make this database 
available to OSDBU upon request.
    Utilize a database of regional transportation-related small 
businesses to match opportunities identified through the planning 
committee forum, FedBiz Opps (a web-based system for posting 
solicitations and other Federal procurement related documents on the 
Internet), and other sources to eligible small businesses and inform 
the small business community about those opportunities.
    Develop a ``targeted'' database of firms (100-150) that have the 
capacity and capabilities, and are ready, willing and able to 
participate in DOT contracts and subcontracts immediately. This control 
group will receive ample resources from the SBTRC, i.e., access to 
working capital, bonding assistance, business counseling, management 
assistance and direct referrals to DOT agencies at the state and local 
levels, and to prime contractors as effective subcontractor firms.
    Identify regional, state and local conferences where a significant 
number of small businesses, with transportation related capabilities, 
are expected to be in attendance. Maintain and submit a list of those 
events to the regional Assistance Division for review and posting on 
the OSDBU Web site on a regular basis. Clearly identity the events 
designated for SBTRC participation and include recommendations for 
OSDBU participation. This information can be submitted as part of the 
SBTRC report.
    Conduct outreach and disseminate information to small businesses at 
Regional transportation-related conferences, seminars, and workshops. 
In the event that the SBTRC is requested to participate in an event, 
the OSDBU will provide DOT materials, the OSDBU banner and other 
information that is deemed necessary for the event.
    Submit a conference summary report within the ``Events'' section of 
the SBTRC Report. The conference summary report should summarize the 
activity, contacts made, outreach results, and recommendations for 
continued or discontinued participation in future similar events 
sponsored by that organization.
    Upon request by OSDBU, coordinate efforts with DOT's grantees and 
recipients at the state and/or local levels to sponsor or cosponsor and 
OSDBU transportation related conference in the region (commonly 
referred to as ``Small Business Summits'').
    Participate in the SBTRC Monthly teleconference call, hosted by the 
OSDBU Regional Assistance Division.
(f) Short Term Lending Program (STLP)
    Work with STLP participating banks and if not available, other 
institutions to deliver a minimum of five (5) seminars/workshops per 
year on the STLP, and/or other financial assistance programs, to the 
transportation related small business community. Seminars/workshops 
must cover the entire STLP/loan process, form completion of STLP/loan 
applications and preparation of the loan package.
    Provide direct support, technical support, and advocacy services to 
potential STLP applicants to increase the probability of STLP loan 
approval and generate a minimum of four (4) completed STLP applications 
per year. Provide direct support, technical support, and advocacy 
services to Small and Disadvantaged Businesses interested in obtaining 
a loan from another type of Government Lending

[[Page 10182]]

Program. Government Lending Programs include Federal, State, and Local 
level programs. The SBTRC will be required to generate a minimum of 
three (3) completed Government Lending Program applications per year.
(g) Bonding Education Program (BEP)
    Work with OSDBU, bonding industry partners, local small business 
transportation stakeholders, and local bond producers/agents in your 
region to deliver a minimum of two (2) complete Bonding Education 
Programs and secure 3% of the total DBE contract value for each 
transportation project. The BEP consists of the following components; 
(1) the stakeholder's meeting; (2) the educational workshops component; 
(3) the bond readiness component; and (4) follow-on assistance to BEP 
participants to provide technical and procurement assistance based on 
the prescriptive plan determined by the BEP. For each BEP event, work 
with the local bond producers/agents in your region and the 
disadvantaged business participants to deliver a minimum of ten (10) 
disadvantaged business participants in the BEP with either access to 
bonding or an increase in the bonding capacity. The programs will be 
funded separately and in addition to the amount listed in 1.3 of the 
solicitation.
(h) Women and Girls in Transportation Initiative (WITI)
    The SBTRC shall implement the WITI program as defined in the WITI 
Policy. The WITI program is designed to identify, educate, attract, and 
retain women and girls from a variety of disciplines in the 
transportation industry.
    The SBTRC shall also be responsible for outreach activities in the 
implementation of this program and advertising the WITI program to all 
colleges and universities and transportation enemies in their region. 
The WITI program shall be developed in conjunction with the skill needs 
of the U.S. DOT, state and local transportation agencies and 
appropriate private sector transportation-related participants 
including, S/WOBs/DBEs, and women organizations involved in 
transportation. Emphasis shall be placed on establishing partnerships 
with transportation-related businesses. The SBTRC will be required to 
host 1 WITI event and attend at least 5 events where WITI is presented 
and marketed.
    Each region will establish a Women In Transportation Advisory 
Committee. The committee will provide a forum to identify and provide 
workable solutions to barriers that women-owned businesses encounter in 
transportation-related careers. The committee will have 5 members 
(including the SBTRC Project Director) with a 1 year membership. 
Meetings will be conducted on a quarterly basis at an agreeable place 
and time.

3. Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) 
Responsibilities

    (a) Provide consultation and technical assistance in planning, 
implementing, and evaluating activities under this announcement.
    (b) Provide orientation and training to the applicant organization.
    (c) Monitor SBTRC activities, cooperative agreement compliance, and 
overall SBTRC performance.
    (d) Assist SBTRC to develop or strengthen its relationships with 
federal, state, and local transportation authorities, other technical 
assistance organizations, and DOT grantees.
    (e) Facilitate the exchange and transfer of successful program 
activities and information among all SBTRC regions.
    (f) Provide the SBTRC with DOT/OSDBU materials and other relevant 
transportation related information for dissemination.
    (g) Maintain effective communication with the SBTRC and inform them 
of transportation news and contracting opportunities to share with 
small businesses in their region.
    (h) Provide all required forms to be used by the SBTRC for 
reporting purposes under the program.
    (i) Perform an annual performance evaluation of the SBTRC. 
Satisfactory performance is a condition of continued participation of 
the organization as an SBTRC and execution of all option years.

D. Application and Submission Information

    (a) Format for Proposals
    Each proposal must be submitted to Grants.gov in the format set 
forth in the application form attached as Appendix A to this 
announcement.
    (b) Address; Number of Copies; Deadlines for Submission
    Any eligible organization, as defined in Section C of this 
announcement, will submit only one proposal per region for 
consideration by OSDBU. Applications must be double spaced, and printed 
in a font size not smaller than 12 points. Applications will not exceed 
35 single-sided pages, not including any requested attachments. All 
pages should be numbered at the top of each page. All documentation, 
attachments, or other information pertinent to the application must be 
included in a single submission. Proposal packages must be submitted 
electronically to Grants.gov.
    (c) Each applicant must be registered in System for Award 
Management (SAM) and provide their unique Entity Identifier with the 
proposal.
    (d) Each application must include the most recent two years of the 
applying organization's financial statements. We prefer to receive 
audited, but reviewed financial statements are acceptable.
    (e) Applications will not be accepted if they do not include all 
required information.
    (f) Proposals must be received in Grants.gov no later than 
September 16, 2016, 6:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).

E. Application Review

1. Selection Criteria

    OSDBU will award the cooperative agreement on a best value basis, 
using the following criteria to rate and rank applications:
    Applications will be evaluated using a point system (maximum number 
of points = 100);

[cir] Approach and strategy (25 points)
[cir] Linkages (25 points)
[cir] Organizational Capability (25 points)
[cir] Staff Capabilities and Experience (15 points)
[cir] Cost Proposal (10 points)
(a) Approach and Strategy (25 Points)
    The applicant must describe their strategy to achieve the overall 
mission of the SBTRC as described in this solicitation and service the 
small business community in their entire geographic regional area. The 
applicant must also describe how the specific activities outlined in 
Section C will be implemented and executed in the organization's 
regional area. OSDBU will consider the extent to which the proposed 
objectives are specific, measurable, time specific, and consistent with 
OSDBU goals and the applicant organization's overall mission. OSDBU 
will give priority consideration to applicants that demonstrate 
innovation and creativity in their approach to assist small businesses 
to become successful transportation contractors and increase their 
ability to access DOT contracting opportunities and financial 
assistance programs. Applicants must also submit the estimated direct 
costs, other than labor, to execute their proposed strategy. OSDBU will 
consider the quality of the applicant's plan for conducting program 
activities and the likelihood that the proposed methods will be 
successful in achieving proposed objectives at the proposed cost.

[[Page 10183]]

(b) Linkages (25 Points)
    The applicant must describe their established relationships within 
their geographic region and demonstrate their ability to coordinate and 
establish effective networks with DOT grant recipients and local/
regional technical assistance agencies to maximize resources. OSDBU 
will consider innovative aspects of the applicant's approach and 
strategy to build upon their existing relationships and establish 
networks with existing resources in their geographical area. The 
applicant should describe their strategy to obtain and collaboration on 
SBTRC from DOT grantees and recipients, transportation prime 
contractors and subcontractors, the SBA, U.S. Department of Commerce's 
Minority Business Development Centers (MBDCs), Service Corps of Retired 
Executives (SCORE), State DOTs, and State Highway supportive services 
contractors. In rating this factor, OSDBU will consider the extent to 
which the applicant demonstrates ability to multidimensional. The 
applicant must demonstrate that they have the ability to access a broad 
range of supportive services to effectively serve a broad range of 
transportation-related small businesses within their respective 
geographical region. Emphasis will also be placed on the extent to 
which the applicant identifies a clear outreach strategy related to the 
identified needs that can be successfully carried out within the period 
of this agreement and a plan for involving the Planning Committee in 
the execution of that strategy.
(c) Organizational Capability (25 Points)
    The applicant must demonstrate that they have the organizational 
capability to meet the program requirements set forth in Section C. The 
applicant organization must have sufficient resources and past 
performance experience to successfully provide outreach to 
transportation-related small businesses in their geographical area and 
carry out the mission of the SBTRC. In rating this factor, OSDBU will 
consider the extent to which the applicant's organization has recent, 
relevant and successful experience in advocating for and addressing the 
needs of small businesses. Applicants will be given points for 
demonstrated past transportation-related performance. The applicant 
must also describe technical and administrative resources it plans to 
use in achieving proposed objectives. In their description, the 
applicant must describe their facilities, computer and technical 
facilities, ability to tap into volunteer staff time, and a plan for 
sufficient matching alternative financial resources to fund the general 
and administrative costs of the SBTRC. The applicant must also describe 
their administrative and financial staff. It will be the responsibility 
of the successful candidate to not only provide the services outlined 
herein to small business in the transportation industry, but to also 
successfully manage and maintain their internal financial, payment, and 
invoicing process with their financial management offices. OSDBU will 
place an emphasis on capabilities of the applicant's financial 
management staff. Additionally, a site visit will be required prior to 
award for those candidates that are being strongly considered. A member 
of the OSDBU team will contact those candidates to schedule the site 
visits prior to the award of the agreement.
(d) Staff Capability and Experience (15 Points)
    The applicant organization must provide a list of proposed 
personnel for the project, with salaries, fringe benefit burden 
factors, education levels and previous experience clearly delineated. 
The applicant's project team must be well-qualified, knowledgeable, and 
able to effectively serve the diverse and broad range of small 
businesses in their geographical region. The Executive Director and the 
Project Director shall be deemed key personnel. Detailed resumes must 
be submitted for all proposed key personnel and outside consultants and 
subcontractors. Proposed key personnel must have detailed demonstrated 
experience providing services similar in scope and nature to the 
proposed effort. The proposed Project Director will serve as the 
responsible individual for the program. 100% of the Project Director's 
time must be dedicated to the SBTRC. Both the Executive and Project 
Directors must be located on-site. In this element, OSDBU will consider 
the extent to which the applicant's proposed Staffing Plan; (a) clearly 
meets the education and experience requirements to accomplish the 
objectives of the cooperative agreement; (b) delineates staff 
responsibilities and accountability for all work required and; (c) 
presents a clear and feasible ability to execute the applicant's 
proposed approach and strategy.
(e) Cost Proposal (10 Points)
    Applicants must submit the total proposed cost of establishing and 
administering the SBTRC in the applicant's geographical region for a 12 
month period, inclusive of costs funded through alternative matching 
resources. The applicant's budget must be adequate to support the 
proposed strategy and costs must be reasonable in relation to project 
objectives. The portion of the submitted budget funded by OSDBU cannot 
exceed the ceiling outlined in Section B. Applicants are encouraged to 
provide in-kind costs and other innovative cost approaches.
(f) Scoring Applications
    A review panel will score each application based upon the 
evaluation criteria listed above. Points will be given for each 
evaluation criteria category, not to exceed the maximum number of 
points allowed for each category. Proposals which are deemed non-
responsive, do not meet the established criteria, or incomplete at the 
time of submission will be disqualified. OSDBU will perform a 
responsibility determination of the prospective awardee in the region, 
which will include a site visit, before awarding the cooperative 
agreement.
(g) Conflicts of Interest
    Applicants must submit signed statements by key personnel and all 
organization principals indicating that they, or members of their 
immediate funded transportation project, nor any relationships with 
local or state transportation agencies that may have the appearance of 
a conflict of interest.

2. Review and Selection Process

    A team of people will evaluate the proposals. Those proposals 
meeting the mandatory criteria will be assessed based on the above 
mentioned criteria. The proposals demonstrating the organization's 
capacity to fully execute the requirements of this grant will be 
considered. The proposal receiving the highest overall score will be 
awarded.

F. Federal Award Administration

    Following the evaluation outlined in Section E, the OSDBU will 
announce the awarded applicant with a written Notice of Funding Award. 
The NOFA will also include the cooperative agreement for signature.

(a) Administrative and National Policy Requirements

    All awards will be administered pursuant to the Uniform 
Administrative Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal 
Awards found in 2 CFR part 200, as adopted by DOT as 2 CFR part 1201.

(b) Reporting

    Performance Reporting--The recipient of this cooperative agreement

[[Page 10184]]

must collect information and report on the cooperative agreement 
performance with respect to the relevant deliverables that are expected 
to be achieved through the cooperative agreement. Performance 
indicators will include formal goals or targets, but will include 
baseline measures for an agreed-upon timeline, and will be used to 
evaluate and monitor the results that the cooperative agreement funds 
achieve to ensure that funds achieve the intended long-term outcomes of 
the cooperative agreement program.
    Progress Reporting--The recipient for this cooperative agreement 
funding must submit quarterly progress reports and annual Federal 
Financial Report (SF-425) on the financial condition of the cooperative 
agreement and its progress, as well as an Annual Budget Review and 
Implementation Plan to monitor the use of Federal funds and ensure 
accountability and financial transparency in the program.

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contracts

    For further information this notice please contact the OSDBU 
program staff via email at [email protected]. or call Ms. Steronica 
Mattocks at 202-366-0658. To ensure applicants receive accurate 
information about eligibility or the program, the applicant is 
encouraged to contact DOT directly, rather than through intermediaries 
or third parties, with questions.

H. Protection of Confidential Business Information

    All information submitted as part of or in support of any 
application shall use publicly available data or data that can be made 
public and methodologies that are accepted by industry practice and 
standards, to the extent possible. If the application includes 
information you consider to be a trade secret or confidential 
commercial or financial information, the applicant should do the 
following: (1) Note on the front cover that the submission ``Contains 
Confidential Business Information (CBI)''; (2) mark each affected page 
``CBI''; and (3) highlight or otherwise denote the CBI portions. DOT 
protects such information from disclosure to the extent allowed under 
applicable law. In the event DOT received a Freedom of Information Act 
(FOIA) request for the information, DOT will follow the procedures 
described in its FOIA regulation as 49 CFR 7.17. Only information that 
is ultimately determined to be confidential under that procedure will 
be exempt from disclosure under FOIA.

    Issued On: February 1, 2017.
DeVera Redmond,
Acting Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business 
Utilization, United States of Department of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 2017-02665 Filed 2-8-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P



                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 26 / Thursday, February 9, 2017 / Notices                                           10179

                                                applicability and future effect ‘‘that sets             DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION                          prepared to compete for, obtain, and
                                                forth a policy on a statutory, regulatory,                                                                    manage DOT funded transportation-
                                                or technical issue or an interpretation of              Office of the Secretary of                            related contracts and subcontracts at the
                                                a statutory or regulatory issue.’’ Given                Transportation                                        federal, state and local levels.
                                                that FTA circulars and other guidance                                                                         Throughout this notice, the term ‘‘small
                                                                                                        Notice of Funding Availability for the                business’’ will refer to: 8(a), small
                                                documents generally set forth policy                    Small Business Transportation
                                                and provide guidance to grantees                                                                              disadvantaged businesses (SDB),
                                                                                                        Resource Center (SBTRC) Program                       disadvantaged business enterprises
                                                regarding how to comply with statutes
                                                and regulations, FTA has determined                     AGENCY:  Office of Small and                          (DBE), women owned small businesses
                                                that the memorandum applies to FTA                      Disadvantaged Business Utilization                    (WOSB), HubZone, service disabled
                                                guidance documents published but not                    (OSDBU), Office of the Secretary of                   veteran owned businesses (SDVOB), and
                                                yet in effect as of January 20, 2017.                   Transportation (OST), Department of                   veteran owned small businesses
                                                                                                        Transportation (DOT).                                 (VOSB). Throughout this notice,
                                                   The delay of effective date(s) applies                                                                     ‘‘transportation-related’’ is defined as
                                                                                                        ACTION: Notice of funding availability
                                                to the following guidance documents:                    for the South Atlantic Region SBTRC.                  the maintenance, rehabilitation,
                                                Award Management Requirements—                                                                                restructuring, improvement, or
                                                Final Circular (82 FR 4455, Jan. 13,                    SUMMARY:   The Department of                          revitalization of any of the nation’s
                                                2017). The original effective date was                  Transportation (DOT), Office of the                   modes of transportation.
                                                February 13, 2017 and the new effective                 Secretary (OST), Office of Small and                     Funding Opportunity Number:
                                                date is March 21, 2017; and Buy                         Disadvantaged Business Utilization                    USDOT–OST–OSDBU/SBTRCSA–
                                                America Handbook—Conducting Pre-                        (OSDBU) announces the opportunity for                 2017–1.
                                                Award and Post-Delivery Audits of                       business centered community-based
                                                                                                                                                                 Catalog of Federal Domestic
                                                Rolling Stock Procurements (82 FR                       organizations, transportation-related
                                                                                                                                                              Assistance (CFDA) Number: 20.910
                                                4959, Jan. 17, 2017). The original                      trade associations, colleges and
                                                                                                                                                              Assistance to Small and Disadvantaged
                                                effective date was February 16, 2017                    universities, community colleges, or
                                                                                                                                                              Businesses.
                                                                                                        chambers of commerce, registered with
                                                and the new effective date is March 21,                                                                          Type of Award: Cooperative
                                                                                                        the Internal Revenue Service as 501 C(6)
                                                2017. These guidance documents                                                                                Agreement Grant.
                                                                                                        or 501 C(3) tax-exempt organizations, to
                                                initially were published as proposed                    compete for participation in OSDBU’s                     Award Ceiling: $135,000.
                                                guidance and the public was provided                    Small Business Transportation Resource                   Award Floor: $150,000.
                                                notice and an opportunity to comment                    Center (SBTRC) program in the South                      Program Authority: DOT is authorized
                                                on the proposed documents. The final                    Atlantic Region (Virginia, West Virginia,             under 49 U.S.C. 332(b)(4), (5) & (7) to
                                                documents reflect consideration of                      North Carolina and Kentucky).                         design and carry out programs to assist
                                                comments received.                                      DATES: Complete Proposals must be                     small disadvantaged businesses in
                                                   FTA’s implementation of the White                    received on or before March 3, 2017,                  getting transportation-related contracts
                                                House memorandum without                                6:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).                and subcontracts; develop support
                                                opportunity for public comment is                       Proposals received after the deadline                 mechanisms, including management
                                                based in the good cause exceptions in 5                 will be considered non-responsive and                 and technical services, that will enable
                                                U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B) and 553(d)(3), in that              will not be reviewed.                                 small disadvantaged businesses to take
                                                seeking public comment is                               ADDRESSES: Applications must be                       advantage of those business
                                                impracticable, unnecessary, and                         electronically submitted through                      opportunities; and to make
                                                contrary to public interest. Given the                  Grants.gov. Only applicants who                       arrangements to carry out the above
                                                imminence of the effective date, seeking                comply with all submission                            purposes.
                                                public comment on this temporary                        requirements described in this notice                 Table of Contents
                                                delay is impractical, as well as contrary               and electronically submit valid
                                                                                                        applications through Grants.gov will be               A. Program Description and Goals
                                                to the public interest in the orderly                                                                         B. Federal Award Information
                                                promulgation and implementation of                      eligible for award.
                                                                                                                                                              C. Eligibility Information
                                                guidance documents. The imminence of                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For                    1. Eligible Applicant
                                                the effective date also is good cause for               further information concerning this                     2. Program/Recipient Requirements
                                                making this action effective                            notice, contact Ms. Steronica Mattocks,                 3. Office of Small and Disadvantaged
                                                immediately upon publication. The                       U.S. Department of Transportation,                         Business Utilization (OSDBU)
                                                                                                        Office of Small and Disadvantaged                          Responsibilities
                                                temporary delay in effective dates until                                                                      D. Application and Submission Information
                                                                                                        Business Utilization, 1200 New Jersey
                                                March 21, 2017, is necessary to give                                                                          E. Application Review
                                                                                                        Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
                                                administration officials the opportunity                                                                        1. Selection Criteria
                                                                                                        Telephone: (202) 366–0658. Email:
                                                for further review and consideration of                 sbtrc@dot.gov.
                                                                                                                                                                a. Approach and Strategy
                                                these guidance documents.                                                                                       b. Linkages
                                                                                                        SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OSDBU                        c. Organizational Capability
                                                Matthew J. Welbes,                                      will enter into Cooperative Agreements                  d. Staff Capabilities and Experience
                                                Executive Director.                                     with these organizations to provide                     e. Cost Proposal (Budget)
                                                                                                        outreach to the small business                          f. Scoring Application
                                                [FR Doc. 2017–02612 Filed 2–8–17; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                        community in their designated region                    g. Conflicts of Interest
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                                                BILLING CODE P                                                                                                  2. Review and Selection Process
                                                                                                        and provide financial and technical
                                                                                                        assistance, business training programs,               F. Federal Award Administration
                                                                                                                                                                a. Administrative and National Policy
                                                                                                        business assessment, management                            Requirements
                                                                                                        training, counseling, marketing and                     b. Reporting
                                                                                                        outreach, and the dissemination of                    G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
                                                                                                        information, to encourage and assist                  H. Protection of Confidential Business
                                                                                                        small businesses to become better                          Information



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                                                10180                       Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 26 / Thursday, February 9, 2017 / Notices

                                                A. Program Description and Goals                        B. Federal Award Information                          DBEs, Certified Small Businesses, and
                                                   The national SBTRC program utilizes                     The DOT established OSDBU in                       U.S. DOT transportation dollars in each
                                                Cooperative Agreements with chambers                    accordance with Public Law 95–507, an                 region.
                                                of commerce, trade associations,                        amendment to the Small Business Act                      It is OSDBU’s intent to maximize the
                                                educational institutions and business-                  and the Small Business Investment Act                 benefits received by the small business
                                                centered community based                                of 1958. The mission of OSDBU at DOT                  transportation community through the
                                                organizations to establish SBTRCs to                    is to ensure that the small and                       SBTRC. Funding will reimburse an on-
                                                provide business training, technical                    disadvantaged business policies and                   site Project Director for 100% of salary
                                                assistance and information to DOT                       goals of the Secretary of Transportation              plus fringe benefits, an on-site Executive
                                                grantees and recipients, prime                          are developed and implemented in a                    Director up to 20% of salary plus fringe
                                                contractors and subcontractors. In order                fair, efficient and effective manner to               benefits, up to 100% of a Project
                                                to be effective and serve their target                  serve small and disadvantaged                         Coordinator salary plus fringe benefits,
                                                audience, the SBTRCs must be active in                  businesses throughout the country.                    the cost of designated SBTRC space,
                                                the local transportation community in                      The OSDBU also administers the                     other direct costs, and all other general
                                                order to identify and communicate                       provisions of Title 49, Section, 332, the             and administrative expenses. Selected
                                                opportunities and provide the required                  Minority Resource Center (MRC) which                  SBTRC partners will be expected to
                                                technical assistance. SBTRCs must                       includes the duties of advocacy,                      provide in-kind administrative support.
                                                already have, or demonstrate the ability                outreach and: Financial services on                   Submitted proposals must contain an
                                                to, establish working relationships with                behalf of small and disadvantaged                     alternative funding source with which
                                                the state and local transportation                      business and those certified under 49                 the SBTRC will fund administrative
                                                agencies and technical assistance                       CFR parts 23 and 26 as Disadvantaged                  support costs. Preference will be given
                                                agencies (i.e., The U.S. Department of                  Business Enterprises (DBE) and the                    to proposals containing in-kind
                                                Commerce’s Minority Business                            development of programs to encourage,                 contributions for the Project Director,
                                                Development Centers (MBDCs), Small                      stimulate, promote and assist small                   the Executive Director, the Project
                                                Business Development Centers (SBDCs),                   businesses to become better prepared to               Coordinator, cost of designated SBTRC
                                                and Procurement Technical Assistance                    compete for, obtain and manage                        space, other direct costs, and all other
                                                Centers (PTACs), SCORE and State DOT                    transportation-related contracts and                  general and administrative expenses.
                                                highway supportive services contractors                 subcontracts.                                         The SBTRC will furnish all labor,
                                                in their region. Utilizing these                           The Regional Assistance Division of                facilities and equipment to perform the
                                                relationships and their own expertise,                  OSDBU, through the SBTRC program,                     services described in this
                                                the SBTRCs are involved in activities                   allows OSDBU to partner with local                    announcement.
                                                such as information dissemination,                      organizations to offer a comprehensive                C. Eligibility Information
                                                small business counseling, and                          delivery system of business training,
                                                technical assistance with small                         technical assistance and dissemination                I. Eligible Applicant
                                                businesses currently doing business                     of information, targeted towards small                   To be eligible, an organization must
                                                with public and private entities in the                 business transportation enterprises in                be an established, nonprofit,
                                                transportation industry.                                their regions. The SBTRCs are                         community-based organization,
                                                   Effective outreach is critical to the                established and funded through                        transportation-related trade association,
                                                success of the SBTRC program. In order                  Cooperative Agreements between                        chamber of commerce, college or
                                                for their outreach efforts to be effective,             eligible applicants and OSDBU. The                    university, community college, and any
                                                SBTRCs must be familiar with DOT’s                      SBTRCs function as regional offices of                other qualifying transportation-related
                                                Operating Administrations, its funding                  OSDBU and fully execute the mission of                non-profit organization which has the
                                                sources, and how funding is awarded to                  the OSDBU nationally.                                 documented experience and capacity
                                                DOT grantees, recipients, contractors,                     OSDBU enters into Cooperative                      necessary to successfully operate and
                                                subcontractors, and its: Financial                      Agreements with recipients to establish               administer a coordinated delivery
                                                assistance programs. SBTRCs must                        and fund a regional SBTRC. Under the                  system that provides access for small
                                                provide outreach to the regional small                  Cooperative Agreement OSDBU will be                   businesses to prepare and compete for
                                                business transportation community to                    ‘‘substantially involved’’ with the                   transportation-related contracts.
                                                disseminate information and distribute                  overall operations of the SBTRC. This                    In addition, to be eligible, the
                                                DOT-published marketing materials,                      involvement includes directing SBTRC                  applicant organization must:
                                                such as Short Term Lending Program                      staff to travel and represent OSDBU on                   (a) Be an established 501 C (3) or 501
                                                (STLP) Information, Bonding Education                   panels and events. OSDBU will make                    C (6) tax-exempt organization and
                                                Program (BEP) information, SBTRC                        one award under this announcement.                    provide documentation as verification.
                                                brochures and literature, DOT                           Award ceiling for this announcement is                No application will be accepted without
                                                Procurement Forecasts; Contracting                      $150,000. The recipient will begin                    proof of tax-exempt status;
                                                with DOT booklets, Women and Girls in                   performing on the award on April 1,                      (b) Have at least one year of
                                                Transportation Initiative (WITI)                        2017 and the period of performance                    documented and continuous experience
                                                information, and any other materials or                 (POP) will be April 1, 2017 to March 30,              prior to the date of application in
                                                resources that DOT or OSDBU may                         2018. This is a 1 year grant with an                  providing advocacy, outreach, and
                                                develop for this purpose. To maximize                   option to renew for 2 additional years at             technical assistance to small businesses
                                                outreach, the SBTRC may be called                       the discretion of U.S. DOT.                           within the region in which proposed
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                                                upon to participate in regional and                        Cooperative agreement awards will be               services will be provided. Prior
                                                national conferences and seminars.                      distributed to the region(s) as follows:              performance providing services to the
                                                Quantities of DOT publications for on-                  South Atlantic Region                                 transportation community is preferable,
                                                hand inventory and dissemination at                        Ceiling: $135,000 per year                         but not required; and
                                                conferences and seminars will be                           Floor: $150,000 per year                              (c) Have an office physically located
                                                available upon request from the OSDBU                      Cooperative agreement awards by                    within the proposed city in the
                                                office.                                                 region are based upon an analysis of                  designated headquarters state in the


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                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 26 / Thursday, February 9, 2017 / Notices                                            10181

                                                region for which they are submitting the                counseling includes in-person meetings                direct referrals to DOT agencies at the
                                                proposal that is readily accessible to the              or over the phone, and does not include               state and local levels, and to prime
                                                public.                                                 any time taken to do email                            contractors as effective subcontractor
                                                                                                        correspondence.                                       firms.
                                                2. Program Requirements/Recipient                                                                                Identify regional, state and local
                                                Responsibilities                                        (d) Planning Committee                                conferences where a significant number
                                                (a) Assessments, Business Analyses                        Establish a Regional Planning                       of small businesses, with transportation
                                                                                                        Committee consisting of at least 10                   related capabilities, are expected to be
                                                   Conduct an assessment of small                       members that includes representatives                 in attendance. Maintain and submit a
                                                businesses in the SBTRC region to                       from the regional community and                       list of those events to the regional
                                                determine their training and technical                  federal, state, and local agencies. The               Assistance Division for review and
                                                assistance needs, and use information                   highway, airport, and transit authorities             posting on the OSDBU Web site on a
                                                that is available at no cost to structure               for the SBTRCs region; additionally, the              regular basis. Clearly identity the events
                                                programs and services that will enable                  state DOT must have representation on                 designated for SBTRC participation and
                                                small businesses to become better                       the planning committee. The committee                 include recommendations for OSDBU
                                                prepared to compete for and receive                     shall be established no later than 60                 participation. This information can be
                                                transportation-related contract awards.                 days after the execution of the                       submitted as part of the SBTRC report.
                                                (b) General Management & Technical                      Cooperative Agreement between the                        Conduct outreach and disseminate
                                                Training and Assistance                                 OSDBU and the selected SBTRC.                         information to small businesses at
                                                                                                          Provide a forum for the federal, state,             Regional transportation-related
                                                  Utilize OSDBU’s Intake Form to                        and local agencies to disseminate                     conferences, seminars, and workshops.
                                                document each small business assisted                   information about upcoming DOT                        In the event that the SBTRC is requested
                                                by the SBTRC and type of service(s)                     procurements and SBTRC activities.                    to participate in an event, the OSDBU
                                                provided. A complete list of businesses                 Hold either monthly or quarterly                      will provide DOT materials, the OSDBU
                                                that have filled out the form shall be                  meetings at a time and place agreed                   banner and other information that is
                                                submitted as part of the SBTRC report,                  upon by SBTRC and planning                            deemed necessary for the event.
                                                submitted via email to the Regional                     committee members (conference calls                      Submit a conference summary report
                                                Assistance Division on a regular basis                  and/or video conferences are                          within the ‘‘Events’’ section of the
                                                (using the SBTRC report). This report                   acceptable).                                          SBTRC Report. The conference
                                                will detail SBTRC activities and                          Use the initial session hosted by the               summary report should summarize the
                                                performance results. The data provided                  SBTRC to explain the mission of the                   activity, contacts made, outreach
                                                must be supported by the narrative (if                  committee and identify roles of staff and             results, and recommendations for
                                                asked).                                                 the members of the group.                             continued or discontinued participation
                                                  Ensure that an array of information is                Responsibility for the agenda and                     in future similar events sponsored by
                                                made available for distribution to the                  direction of the Planning Committee                   that organization.
                                                small business transportation                           should be handled by the SBTRC Project                   Upon request by OSDBU, coordinate
                                                community that is designed to inform                    Director or his/her designee.                         efforts with DOT’s grantees and
                                                and educate the community on DOT/                                                                             recipients at the state and/or local levels
                                                OSDBU services and opportunities.                       (e) Outreach Services/Conference
                                                                                                                                                              to sponsor or cosponsor and OSDBU
                                                  Coordinate efforts with OSDBU in                      Participation
                                                                                                                                                              transportation related conference in the
                                                order to maintain an on-hand inventory                     Utilize the services of the System for             region (commonly referred to as ‘‘Small
                                                of DOT/OSDBU informational materials                    Award Management (SAM) and other                      Business Summits’’).
                                                for general dissemination and for                       sources to construct a database of                       Participate in the SBTRC Monthly
                                                distribution at transportation-related                  regional small businesses that currently              teleconference call, hosted by the
                                                conferences and other events.                           are or may in the future participate in               OSDBU Regional Assistance Division.
                                                (c) Business Counseling                                 DOT direct and DOT funded
                                                                                                        transportation related contracts, and                 (f) Short Term Lending Program (STLP)
                                                   Collaborate with agencies, such as                   make this database available to OSDBU                    Work with STLP participating banks
                                                State, Regional, and Local                              upon request.                                         and if not available, other institutions to
                                                Transportation Government Agencies,                        Utilize a database of regional                     deliver a minimum of five (5) seminars/
                                                SBA, U.S. Department of Commerce’s                      transportation-related small businesses               workshops per year on the STLP, and/
                                                Minority Business Development Centers                   to match opportunities identified                     or other financial assistance programs,
                                                (MBDCs), Service Corps of Retired                       through the planning committee forum,                 to the transportation related small
                                                Executives (SCORE), Procurement                         FedBiz Opps (a web-based system for                   business community. Seminars/
                                                Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs),                   posting solicitations and other Federal               workshops must cover the entire STLP/
                                                and Small Business Development                          procurement related documents on the                  loan process, form completion of STLP/
                                                Centers (SBDCs), to offer a broad range                 Internet), and other sources to eligible              loan applications and preparation of the
                                                of counseling services to transportation-               small businesses and inform the small                 loan package.
                                                related small business enterprises.                     business community about those                           Provide direct support, technical
                                                   Create a technical assistance plan that              opportunities.                                        support, and advocacy services to
                                                will provide each counseled participant                    Develop a ‘‘targeted’’ database of firms           potential STLP applicants to increase
                                                with the knowledge and skills necessary                 (100–150) that have the capacity and                  the probability of STLP loan approval
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                                                to improve the management of their                      capabilities, and are ready, willing and              and generate a minimum of four (4)
                                                own small business to expand their                      able to participate in DOT contracts and              completed STLP applications per year.
                                                transportation-related contracts and                    subcontracts immediately. This control                Provide direct support, technical
                                                subcontracts portfolio.                                 group will receive ample resources from               support, and advocacy services to Small
                                                   Provide a minimum of 20 hours of                     the SBTRC, i.e., access to working                    and Disadvantaged Businesses
                                                individual or group counseling sessions                 capital, bonding assistance, business                 interested in obtaining a loan from
                                                to small businesses per month. This                     counseling, management assistance and                 another type of Government Lending


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                                                10182                       Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 26 / Thursday, February 9, 2017 / Notices

                                                Program. Government Lending Programs                    related careers. The committee will have              submission. Proposal packages must be
                                                include Federal, State, and Local level                 5 members (including the SBTRC                        submitted electronically to Grants.gov.
                                                programs. The SBTRC will be required                    Project Director) with a 1 year                          (c) Each applicant must be registered
                                                to generate a minimum of three (3)                      membership. Meetings will be                          in System for Award Management
                                                completed Government Lending                            conducted on a quarterly basis at an                  (SAM) and provide their unique Entity
                                                Program applications per year.                          agreeable place and time.                             Identifier with the proposal.
                                                                                                                                                                 (d) Each application must include the
                                                (g) Bonding Education Program (BEP)                     3. Office of Small and Disadvantaged                  most recent two years of the applying
                                                   Work with OSDBU, bonding industry                    Business Utilization (OSDBU)                          organization’s financial statements. We
                                                partners, local small business                          Responsibilities                                      prefer to receive audited, but reviewed
                                                transportation stakeholders, and local                     (a) Provide consultation and technical             financial statements are acceptable.
                                                bond producers/agents in your region to                 assistance in planning, implementing,                    (e) Applications will not be accepted
                                                deliver a minimum of two (2) complete                   and evaluating activities under this                  if they do not include all required
                                                Bonding Education Programs and secure                   announcement.                                         information.
                                                3% of the total DBE contract value for                     (b) Provide orientation and training to               (f) Proposals must be received in
                                                each transportation project. The BEP                    the applicant organization.                           Grants.gov no later than September 16,
                                                consists of the following components;                      (c) Monitor SBTRC activities,                      2016, 6:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
                                                (1) the stakeholder’s meeting; (2) the                  cooperative agreement compliance, and                 (EST).
                                                educational workshops component; (3)                    overall SBTRC performance.
                                                the bond readiness component; and (4)                      (d) Assist SBTRC to develop or                     E. Application Review
                                                follow-on assistance to BEP participants                strengthen its relationships with federal,            1. Selection Criteria
                                                to provide technical and procurement                    state, and local transportation
                                                assistance based on the prescriptive                                                                            OSDBU will award the cooperative
                                                                                                        authorities, other technical assistance
                                                plan determined by the BEP. For each                                                                          agreement on a best value basis, using
                                                                                                        organizations, and DOT grantees.
                                                BEP event, work with the local bond                        (e) Facilitate the exchange and                    the following criteria to rate and rank
                                                producers/agents in your region and the                 transfer of successful program activities             applications:
                                                disadvantaged business participants to                  and information among all SBTRC                         Applications will be evaluated using
                                                deliver a minimum of ten (10)                           regions.                                              a point system (maximum number of
                                                disadvantaged business participants in                     (f) Provide the SBTRC with DOT/                    points = 100);
                                                the BEP with either access to bonding or                OSDBU materials and other relevant                    Æ Approach and strategy (25 points)
                                                an increase in the bonding capacity. The                transportation related information for                Æ Linkages (25 points)
                                                programs will be funded separately and                  dissemination.                                        Æ Organizational Capability (25 points)
                                                in addition to the amount listed in 1.3                    (g) Maintain effective communication               Æ Staff Capabilities and Experience (15
                                                of the solicitation.                                    with the SBTRC and inform them of                       points)
                                                                                                        transportation news and contracting                   Æ Cost Proposal (10 points)
                                                (h) Women and Girls in Transportation
                                                                                                        opportunities to share with small                     (a) Approach and Strategy (25 Points)
                                                Initiative (WITI)
                                                                                                        businesses in their region.
                                                   The SBTRC shall implement the WITI                      (h) Provide all required forms to be                  The applicant must describe their
                                                program as defined in the WITI Policy.                  used by the SBTRC for reporting                       strategy to achieve the overall mission
                                                The WITI program is designed to                         purposes under the program.                           of the SBTRC as described in this
                                                identify, educate, attract, and retain                     (i) Perform an annual performance                  solicitation and service the small
                                                women and girls from a variety of                       evaluation of the SBTRC. Satisfactory                 business community in their entire
                                                disciplines in the transportation                       performance is a condition of continued               geographic regional area. The applicant
                                                industry.                                               participation of the organization as an               must also describe how the specific
                                                   The SBTRC shall also be responsible                  SBTRC and execution of all option                     activities outlined in Section C will be
                                                for outreach activities in the                          years.                                                implemented and executed in the
                                                implementation of this program and                                                                            organization’s regional area. OSDBU
                                                advertising the WITI program to all                     D. Application and Submission                         will consider the extent to which the
                                                colleges and universities and                           Information                                           proposed objectives are specific,
                                                transportation enemies in their region.                    (a) Format for Proposals                           measurable, time specific, and
                                                The WITI program shall be developed in                     Each proposal must be submitted to                 consistent with OSDBU goals and the
                                                conjunction with the skill needs of the                 Grants.gov in the format set forth in the             applicant organization’s overall mission.
                                                U.S. DOT, state and local transportation                application form attached as Appendix                 OSDBU will give priority consideration
                                                agencies and appropriate private sector                 A to this announcement.                               to applicants that demonstrate
                                                transportation-related participants                        (b) Address; Number of Copies;                     innovation and creativity in their
                                                including, S/WOBs/DBEs, and women                       Deadlines for Submission                              approach to assist small businesses to
                                                organizations involved in                                  Any eligible organization, as defined              become successful transportation
                                                transportation. Emphasis shall be placed                in Section C of this announcement, will               contractors and increase their ability to
                                                on establishing partnerships with                       submit only one proposal per region for               access DOT contracting opportunities
                                                transportation-related businesses. The                  consideration by OSDBU. Applications                  and financial assistance programs.
                                                SBTRC will be required to host 1 WITI                   must be double spaced, and printed in                 Applicants must also submit the
                                                                                                        a font size not smaller than 12 points.               estimated direct costs, other than labor,
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                                                event and attend at least 5 events where
                                                WITI is presented and marketed.                         Applications will not exceed 35 single-               to execute their proposed strategy.
                                                   Each region will establish a Women In                sided pages, not including any                        OSDBU will consider the quality of the
                                                Transportation Advisory Committee.                      requested attachments. All pages should               applicant’s plan for conducting program
                                                The committee will provide a forum to                   be numbered at the top of each page. All              activities and the likelihood that the
                                                identify and provide workable solutions                 documentation, attachments, or other                  proposed methods will be successful in
                                                to barriers that women-owned                            information pertinent to the application              achieving proposed objectives at the
                                                businesses encounter in transportation-                 must be included in a single                          proposed cost.


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                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 26 / Thursday, February 9, 2017 / Notices                                            10183

                                                (b) Linkages (25 Points)                                volunteer staff time, and a plan for                  through alternative matching resources.
                                                   The applicant must describe their                    sufficient matching alternative financial             The applicant’s budget must be
                                                established relationships within their                  resources to fund the general and                     adequate to support the proposed
                                                geographic region and demonstrate their                 administrative costs of the SBTRC. The                strategy and costs must be reasonable in
                                                ability to coordinate and establish                     applicant must also describe their                    relation to project objectives. The
                                                effective networks with DOT grant                       administrative and financial staff. It will           portion of the submitted budget funded
                                                recipients and local/regional technical                 be the responsibility of the successful               by OSDBU cannot exceed the ceiling
                                                assistance agencies to maximize                         candidate to not only provide the                     outlined in Section B. Applicants are
                                                resources. OSDBU will consider                          services outlined herein to small                     encouraged to provide in-kind costs and
                                                innovative aspects of the applicant’s                   business in the transportation industry,              other innovative cost approaches.
                                                                                                        but to also successfully manage and
                                                approach and strategy to build upon                                                                           (f) Scoring Applications
                                                                                                        maintain their internal financial,
                                                their existing relationships and establish
                                                                                                        payment, and invoicing process with                     A review panel will score each
                                                networks with existing resources in
                                                                                                        their financial management offices.                   application based upon the evaluation
                                                their geographical area. The applicant
                                                                                                        OSDBU will place an emphasis on                       criteria listed above. Points will be
                                                should describe their strategy to obtain
                                                                                                        capabilities of the applicant’s financial             given for each evaluation criteria
                                                and collaboration on SBTRC from DOT
                                                                                                        management staff. Additionally, a site                category, not to exceed the maximum
                                                grantees and recipients, transportation
                                                                                                        visit will be required prior to award for             number of points allowed for each
                                                prime contractors and subcontractors,
                                                                                                        those candidates that are being strongly              category. Proposals which are deemed
                                                the SBA, U.S. Department of
                                                                                                        considered. A member of the OSDBU                     non-responsive, do not meet the
                                                Commerce’s Minority Business                            team will contact those candidates to                 established criteria, or incomplete at the
                                                Development Centers (MBDCs), Service                    schedule the site visits prior to the                 time of submission will be disqualified.
                                                Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE),                    award of the agreement.                               OSDBU will perform a responsibility
                                                State DOTs, and State Highway
                                                                                                        (d) Staff Capability and Experience (15               determination of the prospective
                                                supportive services contractors. In
                                                                                                        Points)                                               awardee in the region, which will
                                                rating this factor, OSDBU will consider
                                                                                                                                                              include a site visit, before awarding the
                                                the extent to which the applicant                          The applicant organization must                    cooperative agreement.
                                                demonstrates ability to                                 provide a list of proposed personnel for
                                                multidimensional. The applicant must                    the project, with salaries, fringe benefit            (g) Conflicts of Interest
                                                demonstrate that they have the ability to               burden factors, education levels and                     Applicants must submit signed
                                                access a broad range of supportive                      previous experience clearly delineated.               statements by key personnel and all
                                                services to effectively serve a broad                   The applicant’s project team must be                  organization principals indicating that
                                                range of transportation-related small                   well-qualified, knowledgeable, and able               they, or members of their immediate
                                                businesses within their respective                      to effectively serve the diverse and                  funded transportation project, nor any
                                                geographical region. Emphasis will also                 broad range of small businesses in their              relationships with local or state
                                                be placed on the extent to which the                    geographical region. The Executive                    transportation agencies that may have
                                                applicant identifies a clear outreach                   Director and the Project Director shall               the appearance of a conflict of interest.
                                                strategy related to the identified needs                be deemed key personnel. Detailed
                                                that can be successfully carried out                    resumes must be submitted for all                     2. Review and Selection Process
                                                within the period of this agreement and                 proposed key personnel and outside                      A team of people will evaluate the
                                                a plan for involving the Planning                       consultants and subcontractors.                       proposals. Those proposals meeting the
                                                Committee in the execution of that                      Proposed key personnel must have                      mandatory criteria will be assessed
                                                strategy.                                               detailed demonstrated experience                      based on the above mentioned criteria.
                                                                                                        providing services similar in scope and               The proposals demonstrating the
                                                (c) Organizational Capability (25 Points)
                                                                                                        nature to the proposed effort. The                    organization’s capacity to fully execute
                                                   The applicant must demonstrate that                  proposed Project Director will serve as               the requirements of this grant will be
                                                they have the organizational capability                 the responsible individual for the                    considered. The proposal receiving the
                                                to meet the program requirements set                    program. 100% of the Project Director’s               highest overall score will be awarded.
                                                forth in Section C. The applicant                       time must be dedicated to the SBTRC.
                                                organization must have sufficient                       Both the Executive and Project Directors              F. Federal Award Administration
                                                resources and past performance                          must be located on-site. In this element,               Following the evaluation outlined in
                                                experience to successfully provide                      OSDBU will consider the extent to                     Section E, the OSDBU will announce
                                                outreach to transportation-related small                which the applicant’s proposed Staffing               the awarded applicant with a written
                                                businesses in their geographical area                   Plan; (a) clearly meets the education and             Notice of Funding Award. The NOFA
                                                and carry out the mission of the SBTRC.                 experience requirements to accomplish                 will also include the cooperative
                                                In rating this factor, OSDBU will                       the objectives of the cooperative                     agreement for signature.
                                                consider the extent to which the                        agreement; (b) delineates staff
                                                applicant’s organization has recent,                    responsibilities and accountability for               (a) Administrative and National Policy
                                                relevant and successful experience in                   all work required and; (c) presents a                 Requirements
                                                advocating for and addressing the needs                 clear and feasible ability to execute the               All awards will be administered
                                                of small businesses. Applicants will be                 applicant’s proposed approach and                     pursuant to the Uniform Administrative
                                                given points for demonstrated past
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                                                                                                        strategy.                                             Cost Principles and Audit Requirements
                                                transportation-related performance. The                                                                       for Federal Awards found in 2 CFR part
                                                applicant must also describe technical                  (e) Cost Proposal (10 Points)                         200, as adopted by DOT as 2 CFR part
                                                and administrative resources it plans to                   Applicants must submit the total                   1201.
                                                use in achieving proposed objectives. In                proposed cost of establishing and
                                                their description, the applicant must                   administering the SBTRC in the                        (b) Reporting
                                                describe their facilities, computer and                 applicant’s geographical region for a 12                Performance Reporting—The
                                                technical facilities, ability to tap into               month period, inclusive of costs funded               recipient of this cooperative agreement


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                                                10184                       Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 26 / Thursday, February 9, 2017 / Notices

                                                must collect information and report on                    Issued On: February 1, 2017.                        may make an irrevocable election to
                                                the cooperative agreement performance                   DeVera Redmond,                                       apply the exceptions retroactively.
                                                with respect to the relevant deliverables               Acting Director, Office of Small and                     Current Actions: There is no change to
                                                that are expected to be achieved through                Disadvantaged Business Utilization, United            this existing regulation.
                                                the cooperative agreement. Performance                  States of Department of Transportation.                  Type of Review: Extension of a
                                                indicators will include formal goals or                 [FR Doc. 2017–02665 Filed 2–8–17; 8:45 am]            currently approved collection.
                                                targets, but will include baseline                      BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P
                                                                                                                                                                 Affected Public: Business or other for-
                                                measures for an agreed-upon timeline,                                                                         profit organizations.
                                                and will be used to evaluate and                                                                                 Estimated Number of Respondents: 1.
                                                                                                                                                                 Estimated Time per Respondent: 1 hr.
                                                monitor the results that the cooperative                DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY                               Estimated Total Annual Burden
                                                agreement funds achieve to ensure that                                                                        Hours: 1.
                                                funds achieve the intended long-term                    Internal Revenue Service                                 The following paragraph applies to all
                                                outcomes of the cooperative agreement                   [TD 8490]                                             of the collections of information covered
                                                program.                                                                                                      by this notice:
                                                   Progress Reporting—The recipient for                 Proposed Collection; Comment                             An agency may not conduct or
                                                this cooperative agreement funding                      Request for Regulation Project                        sponsor, and a person is not required to
                                                must submit quarterly progress reports                                                                        respond to, a collection of information
                                                                                                        AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS),
                                                and annual Federal Financial Report                                                                           unless the collection of information
                                                                                                        Treasury.
                                                (SF–425) on the financial condition of                                                                        displays a valid OMB control number.
                                                                                                        ACTION: Notice and request for                        Books or records relating to a collection
                                                the cooperative agreement and its
                                                                                                        comments.                                             of information must be retained as long
                                                progress, as well as an Annual Budget
                                                Review and Implementation Plan to                       SUMMARY:    The Department of the                     as their contents may become material
                                                monitor the use of Federal funds and                    Treasury, as part of its continuing effort            in the administration of any internal
                                                ensure accountability and financial                     to reduce paperwork and respondent                    revenue law. Generally, tax returns and
                                                transparency in the program.                                                                                  tax return information are confidential,
                                                                                                        burden, invites the general public and
                                                                                                                                                              as required by 26 U.S.C. 6103.
                                                                                                        other Federal agencies to take this
                                                G. Federal Awarding Agency Contracts                                                                             Request for Comments: Comments
                                                                                                        opportunity to comment on proposed                    submitted in response to this notice will
                                                  For further information this notice                   and/or continuing information                         be summarized and/or included in the
                                                please contact the OSDBU program staff                  collections, as required by the                       request for OMB approval. All
                                                via email at sbtrc@dot.gov. or call Ms.                 Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,                      comments will become a matter of
                                                Steronica Mattocks at 202–366–0658. To                  Public Law 104–13 (44 U.S.C.                          public record. Comments are invited on:
                                                ensure applicants receive accurate                      3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is                 (a) Whether the collection of
                                                information about eligibility or the                    soliciting comments concerning an                     information is necessary for the proper
                                                program, the applicant is encouraged to                 existing final regulation, CO–99–91 (TD               performance of the functions of the
                                                contact DOT directly, rather than                       8490), Limitations on Corporate Net                   agency, including whether the
                                                through intermediaries or third parties,                Operating Loss (section 1.382–3).                     information shall have practical utility;
                                                with questions.                                         DATES: Written comments should be                     (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate
                                                                                                        received on or before April 10, 2017 to               of the burden of the collection of
                                                H. Protection of Confidential Business                  be assured of consideration.
                                                Information                                                                                                   information; (c) ways to enhance the
                                                                                                        ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments                quality, utility, and clarity of the
                                                   All information submitted as part of                 to Gerald J. Shields, Internal Revenue                information to be collected; (d) ways to
                                                or in support of any application shall                  Service, Room 6129, 1111 Constitution                 minimize the burden of the collection of
                                                use publicly available data or data that                Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20224.                     information on respondents, including
                                                can be made public and methodologies                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      through the use of automated collection
                                                that are accepted by industry practice                  Requests for additional information or                techniques or other forms of information
                                                and standards, to the extent possible. If               copies of the regulations should be                   technology; and (e) estimates of capital
                                                the application includes information                    directed to Tuawana Pinkston at                       or start-up costs and costs of operation,
                                                you consider to be a trade secret or                    Internal Revenue Service, Room 6526,                  maintenance, and purchase of services
                                                confidential commercial or financial                    1111 Constitution Avenue NW.,                         to provide information.
                                                information, the applicant should do the                Washington, DC 20224, or through the                    Approved: January 30, 2017.
                                                following: (1) Note on the front cover                  internet at Lanita.VanDyke@irs.gov.                   Tuawana Pinkston,
                                                that the submission ‘‘Contains                          SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            Supervisory IRS Tax Analyst.
                                                Confidential Business Information                          Title: Limitations on Corporate Net                [FR Doc. 2017–02696 Filed 2–8–17; 8:45 am]
                                                (CBI)’’; (2) mark each affected page                    Operating Loss.                                       BILLING CODE 4830–01–P
                                                ‘‘CBI’’; and (3) highlight or otherwise                    OMB Number: 1545–1345.
                                                denote the CBI portions. DOT protects                      Regulation Project Number: CO–99–
                                                such information from disclosure to the                 91 (TD 8490).                                         DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
                                                extent allowed under applicable law. In                    Abstract: This regulation modifies the
                                                the event DOT received a Freedom of                     application of the segregation rules                  Internal Revenue Service
                                                Information Act (FOIA) request for the                  under Internal Revenue Code section
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                                                information, DOT will follow the                        382 in the case of certain issuances of               Proposed Collection; Comment
                                                procedures described in its FOIA                        stock by a loss corporation. The                      Request for Regulation Project
                                                regulation as 49 CFR 7.17. Only                         regulation provides exceptions to the                 AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS),
                                                information that is ultimately                          segregation rules for certain small                   Treasury.
                                                determined to be confidential under that                issuances of stock and for certain other
                                                                                                                                                              ACTION: Notice and request for
                                                procedure will be exempt from                           issuances of stock for cash. The
                                                                                                                                                              comments.
                                                disclosure under FOIA.                                  regulation also provides that taxpayers


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Document Created: 2017-02-09 01:02:45
Document Modified: 2017-02-09 01:02:45
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 availability for the South Atlantic Region SBTRC.
DatesComplete Proposals must be received on or before March 3, 2017, 6:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). Proposals received after the deadline will be considered non-responsive and will not be reviewed.
ContactFor further information concerning this notice, contact Ms. Steronica Mattocks, U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: (202) 366- 0658. Email: [email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 10179 

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