To provide financial assistance for: planning and developing railroad corridors (including environmental studies), purchasing rail equipment, rail line relocation and improvement projects, construction projects that improve rail lines, enhance service, and add capacity to the national rail system, capital

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construction, rehabilitation and improvements benefiting train operations.

This program has assisted the rehabilitation and construction of railroad projects and associate studies. Specific grants are provided for in legislation, usually one application is submitted for each grant. Starting in FY 2008, there might be competition for some grants.

Uses and Use Restrictions

(1) The financial assistance may fund, but is not limited to, rehabilitation or construction of railroads, including planning activities and associated studies.

(2) Specific descriptions are based on the language in the authorizing or appropriating legislation and any associated regulations.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

State governments, Regional and local governments, For-profit organizations, such as railroads.

Beneficiary Eligibility

State governments Regional and local governments For-profit organizations, such as railroads.

Credentials/Documentation

US Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration Assurances and Certification forms http://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/admin/assurancesandcertifications.pdf. Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and Other Responsibility Matters-Primary Covered Transactions o Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion-Lower Tier Covered Transactions o Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements o Certification Regarding Lobbying o Assurances-Non-Construction Programs, SF 424E o Certificate of Indirect Costs Assurances - Construction Programs SF-424D.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

None.The applicant must submit the following information to the FRA through www.grants.gov: Application for Federal Assistance SF-424 Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration Assurances and Certification forms http://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/admin/assurancesandcertifications.pdf: Certification Regarding Debarment, suspension, and other Responsibility Matters Primary Covered Transactions.

o Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion Lower Tier Covered Transactions.

Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements.

o Certification Regarding Lobbying.

o Assurances Non-Construction Programs, SF 424E Certificate of Indirect Costs.

Assurances - Construction Programs SF-424D Statement of Work Budget.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

The applicant must submit the following information to the FRA through www.grants.gov: Application for Federal Assistance SF-424 Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration Assurances and Certification forms http://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/admin/assurancesandcertifications.pdf: Certification Regarding Debarment, suspension, and other Responsibility Matters Primary Covered Transactions. o Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, Ineligibility and Voluntary Exclusion Lower Tier Covered Transactions. Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements. o Certification Regarding Lobbying. o Assurances Non-Construction Programs, SF 424E Certificate of Indirect Costs. Assurances - Construction Programs SF-424D Statement of Work Budget.

Award Procedures

Review the application package to ensure that all required documents are complete and signed by the appropriate person. Review the statement of work (SOW) and budget to ensure the appropriation language requirements are met. Review SOW for technical issues and budget for appropriate costs, including compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and related laws and orders. Competitive comparison o applications to determine relative satisfaction of published selection criteria might occur for some grants. following selection (if applicable) and after the application package is acceptable to both parties, a grant agreement is drafted, reviewed, and signed upon agreement by both parties.

Deadlines

On a case-by-case basis as posted for a project on www.grants.gov.

Authorization

Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Public Law 109-59.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

None.

Appeals

None.

Renewals

None.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Formula and matching Requirements: These programs have no statutory formula. Some grantees will be required to provide a match from non-program funds toward the grant budget. This program has MOE requirements; see funding agency for further details.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

No restriction on period of time the assistance normally is available. Assistance is usually awarded upon request for reimbursement.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

The grantee shall submit the following reports: Quarterly progress reports giving an account of significant progress (findings, events, trends, etc.) made during the reporting period, and a description of any technical and/or cost problems encountered or anticipated that will affect completion of the grant.

Quarterly financial status reports using SF 269 or 269A, Financial Status Report..

Quarterly Federal Cash Transactions reports using SF 272, Federal Cash Transaction Report.

Final report giving details of the results and benefits of the Grantee's improvement efforts.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

The grantee must keep satisfactory records with regard to the use of the property, equipment, and supplies and submit these records to FRA upon request.

Financial Information

Account Identification

21-0730-0-1-401; 21-8083-0-1-401;
21-0715-0-1-401.

Obigations

FY 07 $3,500,000; FY 08 est $66,100,000; and FY 09 est $0.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Grants within this program range from $50,000 to over $700,000,000. The average financial assistance varies considerably.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

These two Acts and associated regulations provide the primary guidance for this program: The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and related laws Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (Public Law 109-59).

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

If necessary to contact a regional office, the contact information will be in a grant agreement.

Headquarters Office

Alice Alexander, Office of Railroad Development, 1200 New Jersey Ave S.E., Washington, DC 20005. Telephone: (202) 493-6363. Fax: (202) 493-6330.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The work and cost estimates are reasonable and are within the scope of the appropriation language. For the grants competed, the selection criteria will be specified in the final regulations, and shall include, but shall not be limited to, prioritizing criteria defined in relevant authorizing and appropriations law, and criteria intended to ensure the timely completion of funding projects.