Rail Fixed Guideway Public Transportation System State Safety Oversight Formula Grant Program
The Department of Transportation's mission is to ensure fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation that meets vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people, today and into the future.
Program Accomplishments
Not Applicable.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Grant funds may be used by eligible States for State Safety Oversight program operational and administrative expenses, including employee training activities, to develop or carry out these State programs.
The funds may only be used to provide grants to States for State safety oversight program expenses.
The Federal grants shall be for 80 percent of the reasonable cost to develop or carry out such a program, and the matching fund shall include in-kind contributions by an eligible State.
The match may not be met by any Federal funds, any funds received from a public transportation agency or any revenues earned by a public transportation agency.
The use of the funds shall be subject to uniform administrative requirements for grants and cooperative agreements to State and local governments under part 18 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, as well as other requirements for funds provided under Chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, except to the extent that the Secretary of Transportation determines that the requirements are inconsistent with the purpose of the grants.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible States are those with a rail fixed guideway public transportation system within the jurisdiction of the State that is not subject to regulation by the Federal Railroad Administration; or a rail fixed guideway public transportation system in the engineering or construction phase of development within the jurisdiction of the State that will not be subject to regulation by the Federal Railroad Administration.
Subrecipients must be public agencies that are eligible to become Federal Transit Administration recipients.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Eligible States are those with a rail fixed guideway public transportation system within the jurisdiction of the State that is not subject to regulation by the Federal Railroad Administration; or a rail fixed guideway public transportation system in the engineering or construction phase of development within the jurisdiction of the State that will not be subject to regulation by the Federal Railroad Administration. Subrecipients must be public agencies that are eligible to become Federal Transit Administration recipients.
Credentials/Documentation
Recipients must complete certifications and assurances as compiled in FTA"s Annual List of Certifications and Assurances. Cost will be in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments. Federal Register Notice FTA Fiscal Year Apportionments, Allocations, and Program Information, published annually contain the capital investment apportionments. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program. Grant requirements will also be published in the Federal Register along with the program s Fiscal Year 2013 apportionment, which is expected in July 2013. Apportionment notices and other grant information is available on the FTA website: www.fta.dot.gov/. Subrecipients State Safety Oversight Agencies must be included in the State Safety Oversight Program submission. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
In order to ensure a new State to the program is considered eligible and included in the formula apportionment, new states to this formula program must contact their regional office sixty days in advance of FTA s annual apportionment notice.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Given the applicant and beneficiary eligibility, OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program and OMB Circular No. A-110 does not. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-87 and 49 CFR Part 18 and FTA Circulars 4220 and 5010.
Award Procedures
An FTA grant award obligating Federal funds is reflected in a grant agreement. Grants are awarded electronically using FTA"s Transportation Electronic Award Management (TEAM) system, http://ftateamweb.fta.dot.gov/fta-flash2b.html. In order to access this system, a user name and password are needed and can be obtained by contacting the regional offices. Once the funds are reserved in TEAM and the project information has been reviewed and approved by Headquarters, the recipient must execute the grant agreement to access the funds.
Deadlines
Not Applicable.
Authorization
Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21).
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Not Applicable.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
Funding is made available annually through the appropriation process. A separate grant application is executed for each fiscal year as funds are appropriated by Congress.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory Formula: Title USC 49, Part 5329(e)(6). USC 49, Section 5329(e)(6).
CFR Part 659.
Matching Requirements: Percent: 20.%. 80% Federal / 20% State. Matching fund shall include in-kind contributions by an eligible State. The match may not be met by any Federal funds, any funds received from a public transportation agency or any revenues earned by a public transportation agency.
This program does not have MOE requirements.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Funds are available until spent. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Applicant is required to submit grant applications in FTA s grant management system, Transportation Electronic Award Management System (TEAM). Awards are made within the grant management system.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Annual State Safety Oversight program reports.
No cash reports are required.
Quarterly Milestone status reports are required.
Quarterly Federal Financial Reports (FFR) are required.
FTA staff must review and sign off on all quarterly FFRs.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 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 record and maintain all financial transactions for a period of 3 years after the close of a grant. The grantee must maintain an asset inventory for the useful life of capital acqusitions.
Financial Information
Account Identification
69-1128-0-1-401.
Obigations
(Salaries) FY 12 $0; FY 13 est $21,945,771; and FY 14 est $22,000,000
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
No Data Available.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
FTA Circular 5010.1D for Grants Management
FTA Circular 4220.1F for Third-Party Procurements
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices.
Headquarters Office
Sylvia Marion 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, District of Columbia 20590 Email: sylvia.marion@dot.gov Phone: (202) 366-6680
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Proposed grant activities must be used to develop or carry out State Safety Oversight programs that comply with the statutory requirements and advance a Safety Management Systems approach.
Social Entrepreneurship
Spotlight
The Social Innovators of 2014
For 2014, the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship has recognized 37 individuals for their outstanding work in the field of social enterprise.
