HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 27209-10-2024Ordinance No. 27209-10-2024
AN ORDINANCE ADJUSTING ESTIMATED RECEIPTS AND
APPROPRIATIONS BY INCREASING ESTIMATED RECEIPTS AND
APPROPRIATIONS IN THE GRANTS OPERATING FEDERAL FUND, SUBJECT
TO THE RECEIPT OF THE GRANT, IN AN AMOUNT UP TO $1,250,000.00 FOR
THE PURPOSES OF FUNDING THE UPDATE OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT TRANSITION PLAN PROJECT;
PROVIDING FOR A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; MAKING THIS ORDINANCE
CUMULATIVE OF PRIOR ORDINANCES; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN
CONFLICT HEREWITH; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH,
TEXAS:
SECTION 1.
That the budget of the City of Fort Worth for Fiscal Year 2023-2024, as enacted by Ordinance 26453-09-
2023, as amended, is hereby further amended to make the following adjustments to estimated receipts and
appropriations by increasing estimated receipts and appropriations in the Grants Operating Federal Fund,
subject to the receipt of the grant, in an amount up to $1,250,000.00 for the purposes of funding the update of
the City of Fort Worth Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan project.
SECTION 2.
That should any portion, section or part of a section of this ordinance be declared invalid, inoperative or void
for any reason by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision, opinion or judgment shall in no way impair
the remaining portions, sections, or parts of sections of this ordinance, which said remaining provisions shall
be and remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 3.
That this ordinance shall be cumulative of Ordinance 26453-09-2023 and all other ordinances and
appropriations amending the same except in those instances where the provisions of this ordinance are in
direct conflict with such other ordinances and appropriations, in which instance said conflicting provisions of
said prior ordinances and appropriations are hereby expressly repealed.
SECTION 4.
This ordinance shaII take effect upon adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY: CITY SECRETARY
al"w1a.,..
Assistant City Attorney
ADOPTED AND EFFECTIVE: October 15, 2024
r- A . &m.Qta
Jannette S. Goodall
City Secretary
BILLING CODE 4910-9X
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary of Transportation
DOT-SS4A-FY24-01
USDOT FY24 Safe Streets and Roads for All Funding, Amendment
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT or the Department)
ACTION: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), Assistance Listing # 20.9a"9
SUMMARY
SUMMARY OVERVIEW OF
KEY INFORMATION: Safe Streets and Roads for All SS4A
Issuing Agency
Office of the Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Department of
Transportation
Program Overview
Funds for the fiscal year (FY) 2024 SS4A grant program are to be awarded on
a competitive basis to support planning, infrastructure, behavioral, and
operational initiatives to prevent death and serious injury on roads and streets
involving all roadway users, including pedestrians; bicyclists; public
transportation, personal conveyance, and micromobility users; motorists; and
commercial vehicle operators.
Objective
The purpose of this notice is to solicit applications for Safe Streets and Roads
for All SS4A rants.
Eligible Applicants
Metropolitan planning organizations;
Political subdivisions of a State or territory (e.g., cities, towns, counties);
Federally recognized Tribal governments; and
A multijurisdictional group of entities described in any of the aforementioned
three types of entities.
Eligible Project Types
Develop a comprehensive safety action plan (Action Plan).
Conduct supplemental safety planning to enhance an Action Plan.
Carry out demonstration activities to inform the development of, or an update
to, an Action Plan.
Perform planning, design, and development activities for projects and
strategies identified in an Action Plan.
Implement projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan that address
roadway safety problems.
Funding
This Notice makes available up to $1,261,494,000 for FY
2024 grants under the SS4A program. Of the funding made available, up to
&580 million is available to implement projects and strategies. The
remainder, $461,494,000 $656,687,000, must be awarded for developing
Action Plans; conducting supplemental planning to update existing Action
Plans; or carrying out demonstration activities to inform the development of,
or updates to Action Plans.
Deadlines
Planning and Demonstration Grant applicants have three deadlines:
• Thursday, April 4, 2024, 5:00 PM (EDT)
• Thursday, May 16, 2024, 5:00 PM (EDT)
• Thursday, August 29, 2024, 5:00 PM (EDT)
SUMMARY OVERVIEW OF KEY INFORMATION: Safe Streets and Roads for All SS4A
Implementation Grant applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM (EDT) on
Thursday, May 16, 2024.
Funds will be awarded to applications submitted after each deadline.
Funding awards in later deadlines will be contingent on the availability
of remaining funds.
DATES: This NOFO has multiple application deadlines depending on the grant type. See above under "Deadlines"
and in Section D.4.
Late applications received after the deadlines will not be considered under that deadline unless there is a technical
issue directly caused by the online submission proposal system (Valid Eva]), and the applicant contacts Valid Eval
at support&valideval.com describing the technical issue no less than 4 hours before the deadline. Planning and
Demonstration Grant applications that are received after the first deadline (and before the second deadline) will be
treated as being submitted under the second deadline; Planning and Demonstration Grant applications that are
received after the second deadline (and before the third deadline) will be treated as being submitted under the third
deadline.
ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted via Valid Eval, an online submission proposal system used by
USDOT, at httpK./tusg.valideval.com/teams/usdot ss4a 2024_implementation/signup for Implementation Grant
applicants and https:Husg.valideval.com/teams/usdot ss4a 2024 planning derno/signup for Planning and
Demonstration Grants. Customer support for Valid Eval can be reached at support(a?valideval.com.
FOR FURTHER CONTACT INFORMATION: Please contact the SS4A grant program staff via email at
SS4A@dot.gov or call Paul Teicher at 202-366-41 14. A telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) is
available at 202-366-3993. In addition, DOT will regularly post answers to questions and requests for
clarifications, as well as schedule information regarding webinars providing additional guidance, on DOT's
website at https://www.transportation.gov/grants!SS4A. The deadline to submit technical questions is April 24,
2024 and. The deadline to submit pre -application eligibility review requests for Implementation Grants is April
17, 2024. Technical questions applicable to Planning and Demonstration Grant applications made on or before
March la', 2024, will be responded to in advance of the first Planning and Demonstration Grant deadline on April
4. The final deadline to submit technical questions for Planning and Demonstration Grants is April 24 44, 2024.
The NOFO is listed under opportunity number DOT-SS4A-FY24-01 at Grants.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Each section of this Notice of Funding Opportunity contains
information and instructions relevant to the application process for SS4A grants, and all applicants should read this
notice in its entirety so that they have the information they need to submit eligible and competitive applications.
Section
Content
NIA
Summary
N/A
Definitions
A
Program Description
B
Federal Award Information
C
Eligibility Information
D
Application and Submission Information
E
Application Review Information
F
Federal Award Administration Information
G
Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
H
Other Information
2
Section A (Program Description) describes the Department's goals and purpose in making awards, and Section E
(Application Review Information) describes how the Department will select from eligible applications. To support
applicants through the process, the Department will provide technical assistance and resources at
littps://www.transportation.p-ov/grants/SS4A.
DEFINITIONS
Term
Definition
Applicant's Jurisdiction(s)
The U.S. Census tract(s) where the applicant operates or performs
their safety responsibilities. If an applicant is seeking funding for
multiple jurisdictions, they should include all relevant Census tracts
for the jurisdictions covered by the application.
Complete Streets
Standards or policies that ensure the safe and adequate
accommodation of all users of the transportation system, including
pedestrians, bicyclists, personal conveyance and micromobility users,
public transportation users, children, older individuals, individuals
with disabilities, motorists, and freight vehicles.'
Comprehensive Safety Action Plan
A comprehensive safety action plan (referred to as an "Action Plan")
is aimed at preventing roadway fatalities and serious injuries in a
locality or region or on Tribal land. This can be either a plan
developed with a Planning and Demonstration Grant, or a previously
developed plan (e.g., a Vision Zero plan or similar plan) that is
substantially similar to and meets the eligibility requirements of an
Action Plan. See Table 1 for a detailed description.
Equity
The consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all
individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved
communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black,
Latino, indigenous and Native Americans, Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders, and other persons of color; members of religious
minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+)
persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and
persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or
inequality.
Fatal or Serious Injury Crash
A fatal or serious injury crash involves a motor vehicle traveling on a
trafficway customarily open to the public. A fatal crash must result in
the death of at least one person (occupant of a vehicle or a non -
motorist) within 30 days of the crash. This definition aligns with the
definition of a fatal traffic crash in the Fatality Analysis Reporting
System.
High -Injury Network
Identifies the highest concentrations of traffic crashes resulting in
serious injuries and fatalities within a given roadway network or
jurisdiction.
Micromobility
Any small, low -speed, human- or electric -powered transportation
device, including bicycles, scooters, electric -assist bicycles, electric
scooters (e-scooters), and other small, lightweight, wheeled
conveyances.2
'The definition is based on "Moving to a Complete Streets Design Model: A Report to Congress on Opportunities and
Challenges," httt)s://highways.dot.gov/sites/thwa.dot.gov/fles/2022-
03/Com fete%2OStreets%20Re ort%20to%2OCon ress. df. Also see https://highway ovg /complete -streets.
2 Source: FHWA, Public Roads Magazine, Spring 2021, "Micromobility: A Travel Innovation." Publication Number: FHWA-
HRT-21-003.
Term
Definition
Personal Conveyance
A personal conveyance is a device, other than a transport device, used
by a pedestrian for personal mobility assistance or recreation. These
devices can be motorized or human powered, but not propelled by
pedaling (e.g., a wheelchair).3
Political Subdivision of a State
A unit of government created under the authority of State law. This
includes cities, towns, counties, special districts, certain transit
agencies, and similar units of local government. A transit district,
authority, or public benefit corporation is eligible if it was created
under State law, including transit authorities operated by political
subdivisions of a State.
Rural
For the purposes of this NOFO, jurisdictions outside an Urban Area
(UA) or located within Urban Areas with populations fewer than
200,000 will be considered rural. Lists of UAs are available on the
U.S. Census Bureau website at
https://www2.census.gov/p-eo/docs/reference/ua/2020 Census ua list
all.xisx.
Safe System Approach
A guiding principle to address the safety of all road users. It involves
a paradigm shift to improve safety culture, increase collaboration
across all safety stakeholders, and refocus transportation system
design and operation on anticipating human mistakes and lessening
impact forces to reduce crash severity and save lives.','
Underserved Community
An underserved community as defined for this NOFO is consistent
with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and DOT
definitions of a disadvantaged community designation, which
includes any Tribal land; any territory or possession of the United
States; or U.S. Census tracts identified in one of the following tools
(may only select one option to identify underserved communities:
• The USDOT Equitable Transportation Community Explorer
(ETCE)
https://exl)erience.arcI is.coni/experience/0920984aa80a4362
b8778d779b090723/page/Appl icant-Explorer)
• Any subsequent iterations of the ETCE released during the
NOFO period; or
• The Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST)
to identify disadvantaged communities
https://screeninlztool.geoplatform.gov/.
Funds to underserved communities are spent in, and provide benefits
to, underserved communities.
s httus://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/PublicNiewPublication/813251. See page 127 for the full definition as defined in the
2020 FARS/CRSS Coding and Validation Manual.
' See httnsJ/www.transportation.gov/NRSS/SafeSystem.
s Safety culture can be defined as the shared values, actions, and behaviors that demonstrate a commitment to safety over
competing goals and demands.
A. Program Description
Overview
Section 24112 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 1 17-58, November 15, 2021; also referred to
as the "Bipartisan Infrastructure Law" or "BIL") authorized and appropriated $1 billion to be awarded by the
Department of Transportation for fiscal year (FY) 2024 for the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant
program. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) solicits applications for activities to be funded under the
SS4A grant program. The FY 2024 funding will be implemented, as appropriate and consistent with law, in
alignment with the priorities in Executive Order 14052, Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs
Act (86 FR 64355),
The purpose of SS4A grants is to improve roadway safety by significantly reducing or eliminating roadway
fatalities and serious injuries through safety action plan development and refinement and implementation focused
on all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation users, motorists, personal conveyance and
micromobility users, and commercial vehicle operators. The program provides funding to develop the tools to help
strengthen a community's approach to roadway safety and save lives and is designed to meet the needs of diverse
local, Tribal, and regional communities that differ dramatically in size, location, and experience administering
Federal funding.
The FY 2024 NOFO substantively differs from the FY 2023 NOFO in the following ways:
Section D: Clarifies that Tribal Transportation Program and Tribal Transportation Program Safety Funds
may be used as non -Federal match.
Planning and Demonstration Grants had the following substantive changes:
o The NOFO includes three deadlines: April 4, May 16, and August 29. Applications received on or
before each deadline will be reviewed and evaluated separately from applications received at other
deadlines.
o Section C.3 allows an applicant to reapply if not selected as long as the application is received by the
last Planning and Demonstration Grant deadline of August 29.
o Section D.2 permits up to three pages of narrative to respond to the Additional Safety Context
selection criterion if the funding requested is over $1 million.
o Section E the Additional Safety Context selection criterion was modified for applications with
demonstration activities.
o Section E has a new award selection consideration for applicants that have a fatality rate of 17.0
fatalities per 100,000 persons or greater.
Implementation Grants had the following substantive changes:
o Section CA requires funds for project or strategy -level planning, design, and development activities to
be directly connected to the completion of projects and strategies funded through an Implementation
Grant.
o Section D.2 allows pre -application submission and review of a potential applicant's Self -Certification
Eligibility Worksheet to affirm eligibility for an Implementation Grant. Complete pre -application
submissions must be received by April 17.
o Section D.2 permits up to two additional pages for an application's narrative to respond to the
Supplemental Planning and Demonstration Activities selection criterion.
o Section E has minor modifications to the selection criteria Safety Impact; Equity, Engagement, and
Collaboration; Effective Practices and Strategies; Other DOT Strategic Goals; and Supplemental
Planning and Demonstration Activities.
o Section E has new award selection considerations for applicants with a finalized comprehensive safety
action plan (i.e., goes beyond a qualifying plan and meets all the components in Table 1), and
applicants with a killed and serious injury per $1 million in Federal funding rate that is high compared
to other Highly Rated applications.
Grant Options and Deliverables
The SS4A program provides funding for two main types of grants: Planning and Demonstration Grants for
comprehensive safety action plans, including supplemental safety planning, and/or safety demonstration activities;
and Implementation Grants. Planning and Demonstration Grants are used to develop, complete, or supplement a
comprehensive safety action plan, as well as carry out demonstration activities that inform an Action Plan.
Implementation Grants are used to implement strategies or projects that are consistent with an existing Action Plan
and may also bundle funding requests for supplemental planning and demonstration activities that inform an
Action Plan. To apply for an Implementation Grant, an eligible applicant must have a qualifying Action Plan; see
Section C for what constitutes a qualifying Action Plan. Applicants for Implementation Grants can self -certify that
they have one or more plans in place by April 2024 that together are substantially similar to and meet the eligibility
requirements for an Action Plan.
i. Planning and Demonstration Grants
Planning and Demonstration Grants have three different types of activities:
a) Develop an Action Plan;
b) Conduct supplemental safety planning to enhance an Action Plan; and
c) Carry out demonstration activities to inform the development of, or an update to, an Action Plan.
The three different types of activities under Planning and Demonstration Grants can either be bundled together into
one application, or an applicant may choose to request funding for only one of the activities. Applicants may only
apply for a single grant type, but both grant types have the option to include multiple Planning and Demonstration
projects under them. The development of, or updates to, an Action Plan must be the intended end result of each
supplemental planning and demonstration activity. Further information on which activities can be bundled together
are described in Section C.3.i.
a) Action Plan
An Action Plan is the foundation of the SS4A grant program. Grants for Action Plans provide Federal funds to
eligible applicants to develop, complete, or enhance an Action Plan.
The primary deliverable is a publicly available Action Plan. For the purposes of the SS4A grant program, an
Action Plan includes the components in Table 1. DOT considers the process of developing an Action PIan to be
critical for success, and the components reflect a process -oriented set of activities. For applications involving a
multi jurisdictional group, applicants may propose the development of a single Action Plan covering all
jurisdictions, several plans for individual jurisdictions, or a system to administer sub -awards to entities within its
jurisdiction.
Table 1: Action Plan Components
Component
Description
Leadership
An official public commitment (e.g., resolution, policy, ordinance) by a high -
Commitment and
ranking official and/or governing body (e.g., Mayor, City Council, Tribal Council,
Goal Setting
metropolitan planning organization [MPO], Policy Board) to an eventual goal of
zero roadway fatalities and serious injuries. The commitment must include a goal
and timeline for eliminating roadway fatalities and serious injuries achieved
through one, or both, of the foIIowing:
(1) the target date for achieving zero roadway fatalities and serious injuries, OR
(2) an ambitious percentage reduction of roadway fatalities and serious injuries by
a specific date with an eventual goal of eliminating roadway fatalities and serious
injuries.
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Component
Description
Planning Structure
A committee, task force, implementation group, or similar body charged with
oversight of the Action Plan development, implementation, and monitoring.
Safety Analysis
Analysis of existing conditions and historical trends that provides a baseline level
of crashes involving fatalities and serious injuries across a jurisdiction, locality,
Tribe, or region. Includes an analysis of locations where there are crashes and the
severity of the crashes, as well as contributing factors and crash types by relevant
road users (motorists, pedestrians, transit users, etc.). Analysis of systemic and
specific safety needs is also performed, as needed (e.g., high -risk road features,
specific safety needs of relevant road users, public health approaches, analysis of
the built environment, demographics, and structural issues). To the extent
practical, the analysis should include all roadways within the jurisdiction, without
regard for ownership. Based on the analysis performed, a geospatial identification
of higher -risk locations is developed (a high -injury network or equivalent).
Engagement and
Robust engagement with the public and relevant stakeholders, including the
Collaboration
private sector and community groups, that allows for both community
representation and feedback. Information received from engagement and
collaboration is analyzed and incorporated into the Action Plan. Overlapping
jurisdictions are included in the process. Plans and processes are coordinated and
aligned with other governmental plans and planning processes to the extent
practicable.
Equity
Plan development using inclusive and representative processes. Underserved
Considerations
communities are identified through data and other analyses in collaboration with
appropriate partners. Analysis includes both population characteristics and initial
equity impact assessments of the proposed projects and strategies.
Policy and Process
Assessment of current policies, plans, guidelines, and/or standards (e.g., manuals)
Changes
to identify opportunities to improve how processes prioritize transportation safety.
The Action Plan discusses implementation through the adoption of revised or new
policies, guidelines, and/or standards, as appropriate.
Strategy and
Identification of a comprehensive set of projects and strategies —shaped by data,
Project Selections
the best available evidence and noteworthy practices, and stakeholder input and
equity considerations that will address the safety problems described in the
Action Plan. These strategies and countermeasures focus on a Safe System
Approach and effective interventions and consider multidisciplinary activities. To
the extent practicable, data limitations are identified and mitigated.
Once identified, the projects and strategies are prioritized in a list that provides
time ranges for when the strategies and countermeasures will be deployed (e.g.,
short-, mid-, and long-term timeframes). The list should include specific projects
and strategies, or descriptions of programs of projects and strategies, and explain
prioritization criteria used. The list should contain interventions focused on
infrastructure, behavioral, and/or operational safety.
Progress and
Method to measure progress over time after an Action Plan is developed or
Transparency
updated, including outcome data. A means to ensure ongoing transparency is
established with residents and other relevant stakeholders. The approach must
include, at a minimum, annual public and accessible reporting on progress toward
reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries and public posting of the Action
Plan online.
Applicants requesting funds to develop an Action Plan may also request funding for supplemental planning and
demonstration activities subsequently described in Section A.21b and A.21c below. The goal of an Action Plan is
to develop a holistic, well-defined strategy to prevent roadway fatalities and serious injuries in a locality, Tribe, or
region. Further information on eligibility requirements is in Section C.
b) Supplemental Planning
Supplemental action plan activities support or enhance an existing Action Plan. To only fund supplemental Action
Plan activities through the SS4A program, an applicant must have an existing Action Plan; have a plan that is
substantially similar and meets the eligibility requirements for having an existing plan; or be in the process of
completing an Action Plan described in Table 1. Examples of supplemental planning include:
• Topical safety sub -plans focused on topics such as speed management, vulnerable road users, accessibility
for individuals with disabilities, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) transition plans, health
equity, safety -focused Intelligent Transportation System implementation, lighting, or other relevant safety
topics
• Road safety audits
• Additional safety analysis and expanded data collection and evaluation using integrated data
• Targeted equity assessments
• Required supplemental planning as a condition to receiving an Implementation Grant award as described
in Section A.2.ii:
o Updating Action Plans finalized and last updated in 2021 or earlier
o Broadening the road user focus to include all road users
Updating plan components laid out in Table I and missing in an eligible plan
• Follow-up stakeholder engagement and collaboration
• Reporting on the progress from Action Plan implementation for transparency
• Other roadway safety planning activities that enhance an Action Plan
The final deliverable for supplemental planning is a written product that connects to, and enhances, an Action Plan.
Final products shall be made publicly available. Additional information on supplemental planning is located at
https://www.transpprtation.gov/gants/SS4A.
c) Demonstration Activities
Demonstration activities inform an Action Plan by testing proposed project and strategy approaches to determine
their potential benefits and future scope; demonstration activities are temporary. Demonstration activities must
measure potential benefits through data collection and evaluation and inform an Action Plan's list of selected
projects and strategies and their future implementation. To receive funds only for demonstration activities through
the SS4A program, an applicant must have an existing Action Plan, have a plan that is substantially similar and
meets the eligibility requirements for having an existing plan, or be in the process of completing an Action Plan
described in Table 1. Demonstration activities could include:
• Feasibility studies using quick -build strategies that inform permanent projects in the future (e.g., use of
paint and plastic delineator posts to experiment with impermanent roadway design changes, use of
removable barriers to re -allocate roadway space).
• Various MUTCD Engineering Studies that further safety applications of the MUTCD (e.g., evaluating
warrants for high -visibility crosswalk markings, bike lane treatments, etc.).
• Pilot programs for behavioral or operational activities that include at least one element of the Safe System
Approach (e.g., test out a new education campaign's messaging at a small scale, trial changes to how
Emergency Medical Services respond to crashes).
• Pilot programs that demonstrate safety benefits of technologies not yet adopted in the community (e.g.,
variable speed limits, speed safety cameras, technology for adaptive signal timing, adaptive lighting,
9
Intelligent Transportation Systems, vehicle -to -infrastructure technology).6 Eligible technologies must be
commercially available and at a prototype or advanced technological readiness level.'
Demonstration activities and pilot programs must inform Action Plans through small-scale tests with finite trial
periods intended to gauge potential project and strategy effectiveness that will lead to project and strategy selection
at a systemic level. The final deliverable is an assessment of the demonstration activities and an updated Action
Plan that incorporates the information gathered from the demonstration activities into the Action Plan's list of
projects or strategies and/or informs another part of the Action Plan. DOT expects demonstration activities to be
set up within 18 months of executing a grant agreement (e.g., quick -builds on the roadway, pilot project
established), and the benefits of the demonstration activity to be evaluated during the execution of the grant
agreement_
ii. Implementation Grants
Implementation Grants fund projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan that address roadway safety
problems. Implementation Grants may also fund supplemental planning and demonstration activities as described
in Section A.2.i, as well as planning, design, and development activities for projects and strategies identified in an
Action Plan (e.g., project -level National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA compliance, environmental review
activities, permits and approvals, construction design, etc.). DOT encourages Implementation Grant applicants to
include supplemental planning and demonstration activities in their application. Applicants must have an existing
Action Plan to apply for Implementation Grants or have an existing plan that is substantially similar and meets the
eligibility requirements of an Action Plan. If applicants do not have an existing Action Plan, they should apply for
Planning and Demonstration Grants and NOT Implementation Grants.
The Action Plan components may be contained within several plans. Applicants may use existing Action Plans
produced by other jurisdictions to apply for an Implementation Grant (e.g., a political subdivision uses an existing
regional plan with projects and strategies within its jurisdiction) as long as the projects and strategies in the
application are included in the existing Action Plan. DOT requires applicants who have an Action Plan that is
missing components required in Table 1 but still have a substantially similar plan based on the Self -Certification
Eligibility Worksheet outlined in Section C to update the Action Plan to contain all components in a
Comprehensive Safety Action Plan as outlined in Table 1. Updating an existing Plan to address missing
components is a condition to receive Implementation Grant funding, and applicants applying for Implementation
Grants can request to use SS4A supplemental planning funds to update an existing Action Plan to conform with all
the components in Table 1. Additional information on eligibility requirements and eligible activities is in Section C
below.
SS4A Grant Priorities
This section discusses priorities specific to SS4A and those related to the Department's overall mission, which are
reflected in the selection criteria and NOPO requirements. Successful grant applications will:
• Promote safety to prevent death and serious injuries on public roadways;
• Employ low-cost, high -impact strategies that can improve safety over a wide geographic area;
• Ensure equitable investment in the safety needs of underserved communities, which includes both
underserved urban and rural communities;
• Incorporate evidence -based projects and strategies and adopt innovative technologies and strategies;
• Demonstrate engagement with a variety of public and private stakeholders; and
b Eligible vehicle -to -infrastructure demonstrations use interoperable vehicle -to -infrastructure (V2X) communications
capabilities using 4G LTE cellular V2X (C-V2X) technology in the 5.905 — 5.925 GHz spectrum frequency band to enable
safety applications for public fleet vehicles.
' The corresponding level would be "Development," level 7 Prototype demonstrated in operational environment. See
https://www.tbwa,dot.9-ov/publications/research/car/i 7047/ 17047,pdf.
10
• Align with the Department's mission and Strategic Goals such as safety; climate change and sustainability;
equity and Justice40; and workforce development, job quality, and wealth creation.8
The Department seeks to award Planning and Demonstration Grants based on safety impact, equity, and other
safety considerations. Additional award consideration will be made for Planning and Demonstration Grant
applicants that have a fatality rate per 100,000 persons equal to or greater than 17.0 fatalities per 100,000
population.
For Implementation Grants, DOT seeks to make awards to projects and strategies that save lives and reduce
roadway fatalities and serious injuries; incorporate equity, engagement, and collaboration into how projects and
strategies are executed; use effective practices and strategies; consider climate change, sustainability, and
economic competitiveness in project and strategy implementation; and will be able to complete the full scope of
funded projects and strategies within 5 years after the establishment of a grant agreement. Additional award
consideration will be made for Implementation Grant applicants that have a high percentage of funds that benefit
underserved communities, are in rural areas, request less than $10 million in Federal funds, support geographic
diversity amongst the Implementation Grant award recipients, have a finalized comprehensive safety action plan
(i.e., goes beyond a qualifying plan requirements in the Self -Certification Eligibility Worksheet and meets all the
components in Table 1), and/or have a high Killed and Serious Injuries (KSI) per $1 million in Federal funding
rate. Section D provides more information on the specific measures an application should demonstrate to support
these goals.
The Department seeks to fund projects that advance the Departmental priorities of safety, climate and
sustainability, equity, and workforce development, job quality, and wealth creation as described in the DOT
Strategic Plan, the DOT Research, Development and Technology Strategic Plan, and in executive orders. See
Section E of this NOFO for safety, climate, equity, and workforce -related selection criteria, and Section F for
related award administration requirements.
The National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS, issued January 27, 2022) commits the Department to respond to
the current crisis in roadway fatalities by "taking substantial, comprehensive action to significantly reduce serious
and fatal injuries on the Nation's roadways," in pursuit of the goal of achieving zero roadway deaths through a
Safe System Approach.9 DOT recognizes that zero is the only acceptable number of deaths on our roadways, and
SS4A program outcomes align with the NRSS and support the FY 2022-2026 DOT Strategic Plan safety
performance goals such as a medium -term goal of a two-thirds reduction in roadway fatalities by 2040.10 DOT also
incentivizes communities to adopt and implement Complete Streets policies that prioritize the safety of all users in
transportation network planning, design, construction, and operations, and encourages applicants to use a Complete
Streets design model on roadways where adjacent land use suggests that trips could be served by varied modes."
For applicants seeking to use innovative technologies and strategies, the Department's Innovation Principles serve
as a guide to ensure innovations reduce deaths and serious injuries while committing to the highest standards of
safety across technologies.k2
Consistent with the Department's implementation of Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home
and Abroad (86 FR 7619), the Department seeks to fund applications that address equity and environmental justice,
particularly for communities that have experienced decades of underinvestment and are most impacted by climate
change, pollution, and environmental hazards.13 Additionally, DOT seeks to fund projects that reduce greenhouse
gas emissions in the transportation sector, including those that improve safety for low- and zero -emission modes of
travel. Applicants should also consider the incorporation of evidence -based climate resilience measures and
8 FY 2022-2026 USDOT Strategic Plan https://www.transpgrtation.2ov/dot-strategic-121an. _
9 https:/Aw"A .transWrtation.gov/NRSS.
10 https://wwtiv.transportation.gov/dot-strategic-plan.
" More information on Complete Streets can be found at https://highwgys.dot.gov/complete-streets.
12 https`/lw-"Av.transportation.gov/priorities/innovation/us-dot-innovation-principles. Released January 6, 2022.
33 See the definition of an underserved community, which includes Census tracts identified in the OMB CEJST and DOT
ETCE tools.
features; reduce the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from project materials; avoid adverse environmental
impacts to air or water quality, wetlands, and endangered species; and address the disproportionate negative
environmental impacts of transportation on disadvantaged communities.
Consistent with Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities
Through the Federal Government (86 FR 7009), the Department seeks to award funds under the SS4A grant
program that will create proportional impacts to all populations in a project area, remove transportation related
disparities to all populations in a project area, and increase equitable access to project benefits. An important area
for DOT's focus is the disproportionate, adverse safety impacts that affect certain groups on our roadways,
particularly people walking, biking, and rolling in underserved communities. In accordance with the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), awards focused on infrastructure and demonstration activities must ensure
that newly constructed facilities in the public right-of-way are accessible to, and usable by, individuals with
disabilities to the extent that it is not structurally impracticable to do so. The ADA also requires that, when an
existing facility is altered, the altered facility be made accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities to
the maximum extent feasible (28 CFR 35.151 [a] and 35.151 [b]).
The Department intends to use the SS4A program to support the creation of good -paying jobs with the free and fair
choice to join a union and the incorporation of strong labor standards and training and placement programs,
especially registered apprenticeships, in project planning stages, consistent with Executive Order 14025, Worker
Organizing and Empowerment (86 FR 22829), and Executive Order 14052, Implementation of the Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act (86 FR 64335). The Department also intends to use the SS4A program to support wealth
creation, consistent with the Department's Equity Action Plan through the inclusion of local inclusive economic
development and entrepreneurship such as the utilization of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, Minority -owned
Businesses, Women -owned Businesses, or 8(a) firms.
B. Federal Award Information
1. Total Funding Available
The BIL established the SS4A program with $5,000,000,000 in advanced appropriations in Division J, including
$1,000,000,000 for FY 2024. Additionally, DOT has $261,494,000 $256,687,000 in FY 2023 carryover funds set
aside for Planning and Demonstration Grants as well as certain eligible safety planning and demonstrative
activities that may be included under an Implementation Grant request. Therefore, this Notice makes available up
to $I 61 494 000 $1,256,687,0 for FY 2024 grants under the SS4A program. Refer to Section D for greater
detail on additional funding considerations and Section D.5 for funding restrictions.
2. Availability of Funds
Grant funding obligation occurs when a selected applicant and DOT enter into a written grant agreement after the
applicant has satisfied applicable administrative requirements. Unless authorized by DOT in writing after DOT's
announcement of FY 2024 SS4A grant awards, any costs incurred prior to DOT's obligation of funds for activities
("pre -award costs") are ineligible for reimbursement and may not be used as matching funds. If authorized by DOT
in writing, Implementation Grant award recipients may incur pre -award costs for National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) and design activities, and these expenses may count toward match or cost share. Applicants who
expect to request pre -award authority must clearly articulate such a request in the application. DOT will determine
whether such pre -award costs may be counted toward match or cost share on a case -by -case basis. All SS4A funds
must be expended within 5 years after the grant agreement is executed and DOT obligates the funds.
3. Award Size and Anticipated Quantity
In FY 2024, DOT expects to award hundreds of Planning and Demonstration Grants and up to fifty
Implementation Grants. The Department reserves the right to make more, or fewer, awards. DOT reserves the
discretion to alter minimum and maximum award sizes upon receiving the full pool of applications and assessing
12
the needs of the program in relation to the SS4A grant priorities in Section A.3. Federal funding requests must be
made in whole dollar amounts (no cents).
iii. Planning and Demonstration Grants
For Planning and Demonstration Grants, award amounts will be based on total estimated project costs, with an
expected minimum of $100,000 in SS4A funding and an expected maximum of $10,000,000 in SS4A funding for
all applicants. The Department expects larger award amounts for a metropolitan planning organization (MPO), an
application comprised of a multijurisdictional group of entities that is regional in scope (e.g., a multijurisdictional
group of counties, a council of governments and cities within the same region), or those who are conducting
activities in a large geographic area. The Department will consider applications with funding requests under the
expected minimum award amount but reserves the right to not award applicants requesting less than $100,000 if
the budget is determined to be inadequate for the scope of the activities. DOT reserves the right to make Planning
and Demonstration Grant awards less than the total amount requested by the applicant.
iv. Implementation Grants
For Implementation Grants, DOT expects the minimum award will be $2,500,000 in SS4A funding and the
maximum award will be $25,000,000 in SS4A funding. DOT reserves the right to make Implementation Grant
awards less than the total amount requested by the applicant.
4. Start Dates and Period of Performance
DOT expects to obligate SS4A award funding via a signed grant agreement between the Department and the
recipient, as flexibly and expeditiously as possible, within I2 months after awards have been announced. In support
of award recipients with Iess familiarity with administering a Federal grant, the Department established a SS4A
Technical Assistance Center to assist award recipients with Federal requirements. Applicants who have never
received Federal funding from DOT before are also encouraged to partner with eligible applicants within the same
region, such as an MPO, that have established financial relationships with DOT and knowledge of Federal grant
administration requirements. While States are not eligible applicants and cannot be a co -applicant (which includes
State Departments of Transportation and similar State-Ievel entities), eligible applicants are encouraged to
separately coordinate with States and other entities experienced with administering Federal grants, outside of the
SS4A grant award process, to ensure effective administration of a grant award. The expected period of
performance for Planning and Demonstration Grant agreements is between 12 months and 5 years, depending on
the scope and extent of the grant activities. The period of performance for Planning and Demonstration Grant and
Implementation Grant agreements may not exceed 5 years.
5. Data Collection Requirements
Under BIL, the Department shall post on a publicly available website best practices and Iessons Iearned for
preventing roadway fatalities and serious injuries pursuant to strategies or interventions implemented under SS4A.
Additionally, DOT shall evaluate and incorporate, as appropriate, the effectiveness of strategies and interventions
implemented under the SS4A grant program.14 The Department intends to measure safety outcomes through a
combination of grant agreement activities and data collections, DOT data collections already underway, and
program evaluations separate from the individual grant agreements in accordance with Section F.3.iii. The grant
data -collection requirements reflect the need to build evidence of noteworthy strategies and what works. The
Department expects to use the data and outcome information collected before and after evaluations. See Section F
for more information about post -award reporting requirements.
14 BIL specifically cites Countermeasures That Work. 4 Highway Safety Countermeasure Guide for Stare Highway Safety
Offices, Ninth Edition or any successor document, but DOT also is to consider applied research focused on infrastructure and
operational projects and strategies.
13
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants for SS4A grants are:
(1) a metropolitan planning organization (MPO);
(2) a political subdivision of a State or territory;
(3) a federally recognized Tribal government; and
(4) a multijurisdictionai group of entities described in any of the aforementioned three types of entities.
A multijurisdictional group of entities described in (4) should identify a lead applicant as the primary point of
contact. For the purposes of this NOFO, a political subdivision of a State under (2), above, is defined as a unit of
government under the authority of State law. This includes cities, towns, counties, special districts such as public
universities, and similar units of local government. A transit district, authority, or public benefit corporation is
eligible if it was created under State law, including transit authorities operated by political subdivisions of a State.
Non -profits are not eligible applicants unless created under State law with roadway safety and/or planning
responsibilities equivalent to a political subdivision of a State. States are not eligible applicants.
An eligible applicant for an Implementation Grant must also meet at least one of these conditions:
(1) have ownership and/or maintenance responsibilities over a roadway network;
(2) have safety responsibilities that affect roadways; or
(3) have agreement from the agency that has ownership and/or maintenance responsibilities for the roadway
within the applicant's jurisdiction.
For the purposes of this NOFO, an applicant's jurisdiction is defined as the U.S. Census tracts where the applicant
operates or performs their safety responsibilities.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
The Federal share of an SS4A grant may not exceed 80 percent of total eligible project costs. Recipients are
required to contribute a local matching share of no less than 20 percent of total eligible project costs. Unless
otherwise authorized by statute, all matching funds must be from non -Federal sources. Tribal Transportation
Program and Tribal Transportation Program Safety Funds may be used as non -Federal match. Matching funds may
include funding from the applicant, or other eligible non -Federal sources. Applicants that intend to combine SS4A
funds with Title 23, U.S.C. funds should expect a significant delay in executing a grant agreement. Up to $200,000
in non -Federal match is waived for eligihie applicants located in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American
Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands per Public Law 96-205 Title VI Section
601, as amended and consistent vvith OMB Controller Alert_23-04, Waiving Matching Fund Requirements
for Insular Areas.
In accordance with 2 CFR § 200.306, grant recipients may use in -kind or cash contributions toward local match
requirements so long as those contributions meet the requirements under 2 CFR § 200.306(b). Any in -kind
contributions used to fulfill the cost -share requirement for both Planning and Demonstration Grants and
Implementation Grants must:
• Be in accordance with the cost principles in 2 CFR § 200 Subpart E;
• Include documented evidence of completion within the period of performance; and
• Support the execution of the eligible activities in Section CA.
SS4A funds will reimburse recipients only after a grant agreement has been executed, allowable expenses are
incurred, and valid requests for reimbursement are submitted. Grant agreements are expected to be administered on
14
a reimbursement basis, and at the Department's discretion alternative funding arrangements may be established on
a case -by -case basis.
3. Grant Eligibility Requirements
If an applicant is eligible for both a Planning and Demonstration Grant and an Implementation Grant, the applicant
must choose between applying for a Planning and Demonstration Grant or an Implementation Grant net beth�
An eligible Implementation Grant applicant may submit only one Implementation Grant
application to the funding opportunity. Implementation Grant applicants may request funds to bundle supplemental
planning and demonstration activities as described in Section A.2.i to update an Action Plan, with funds to
implement projects and strategies. if an impleme t fie" nr^ t Applicant ; t se,eesed F r- fi-Rding then ^lien^'
befe Fe the last Dl......iiig end fly... enstr- afien !'_..ant deadline of August ,st 29
An eligible Planning and Demonstration Grant applicant may apply multiple times but can receive only one award
from the funding opportunity. Planning and Demonstration Grant applicants that applied in earlier deadlines and
were not selected for an award may reapply again to this NOFO as long as they submit their application on or
before the last Planning and Demonstration Grant deadline of August 29. Planning and Demonstration Grant
funding recipients are not precluded from applying in future funding rounds. SS4A award recipients from FY 2022
and 2023 are eligible to apply in FY 2024.
i. Planning and Demonstration Grant Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility requirements are contingent on whether an applicant is requesting funds to develop a new Action Plan,
conduct supplemental planning to update an existing Action Plan, and/or carry out demonstration activities to
inform the development of or update to an Action Plan. Any applicant that meets the eligibility requirements may
apply for a Planning and Demonstration Grant to develop an Action Plan. Applicants applying to develop an
Action Plan may also bundle supplemental planning and demonstration activities into their funding request.
Applicants with an existing Action Plan may also apply to update their Action Plan. The development of an Action
Plan must include all relevant road users and be at a broad, systemic geographic level (e.g., the entire eligible
applicant's jurisdiction, and cannot be for a few road segments within a jurisdiction). Corridor -level or site -specific
studies are considered to be supplemental planning and are not a comprehensive safety action plan.
If a higher -level jurisdiction (e.g., an MPO or county would be a higher -level jurisdiction for a city or town) has an
existing plan in place, or is in the process of completing an Action Plan, an eligible applicant can apply for
supplemental planning or demonstration activities without its own plan as long as: 1) the higher -level jurisdiction's
Action Plan's geographic boundaries covers the eligible applicant's jurisdiction; 2) the proposed activities are
coordinated with the high-level jurisdiction, and the application demonstrates such coordination; and 3) the
activities will inform the Action Plan of the higher -level jurisdiction. An application may be deemed duplicative if
requesting funds to either develop a new Action Plan when another jurisdiction is already preparing an Action Plan
in the same area using FY22 or FY23 funding or is developing a new Action Plan in the same area as another
FY24 application. Duplicative funding requests to develop a new Action Plan will be identified and assessed for
merit within the context of other jurisdictions and their planning activities. The Department encourages
complementary but distinctive activities, including but not limited to demonstration activities that will help inform
the development of an Action Plan.
ii. Implementation Grant Eligibility Requirements
To apply for an Implementation Grant, the applicant must certify that they have an existing plan that is
substantially similar to an Action Plan. The plan or plans must be uploaded as an attachment to the application or
provided as web links to publicly available sites. Applicants should use the Self -Certification Eligibility W_ orkshect
to determine eligibility. is The existing plan must be focused, at least in part, on the roadway network within the
applicant's jurisdiction. The components required for an existing plan to be substantially similar to an Action Plan
is https:H%k-wi%.transportation.ctiv/grantsiss4a/self-certification-workshect.
15
may be found in multiple plans. State -level Action Plans (e.g., a Strategic Highway Safety Plan required in 23
U.S.C. § l48, State Highway Safety Plans required in 23 U.S.C. § 402, Commercial Vehicle Safety Plans required
in 49 U.S.C. § 31102) as well as Public Transportation Agency Safety Plans in 49 U.S.C. § 5329 cannot be used as
an established plan to apply for an Implementation Grant. If another jurisdiction (e.g., an MPO, county) has an
existing plan in place that meets the plan eligibility requirements, an eligible applicant covered within the Action
Plan's geographic boundaries could apply without its own plan as long as the other eligibility requirements are
met.
Further, Implementation Grant applicants who meet any of the following conditions must update their Action Plan
during the execution of a grant agreement to align with all the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan components in
Table 1 as a condition to receiving SS4A funds:
• Self -Certification Eligibility Worksheet areas that include a "no" response;
• Safety focus in the qualifying Action Plan does not include all road users, including pedestrians,
bicyclists, and motor vehicle safety; or
• Action Plans last updated more than 3 years ago (to apply in the first place, applicants must have a plan
that was finalized and/or last updated between 2019 and April 2024)
Implementation Grant applicants are encouraged to request supplemental planning funding in their application to
complete missing components of an existing plan but may choose to complete such activities without Federal
funding.
4. Eligible Activities and Costs
i. Eligible Activities
Broadly, eligible activity costs must comply with the cost principles set forth in 2 CFR, Subpart E (i.e., 2 CFR §
200.403 and § 200.405). DOT reserves the right to make cost eligibility determinations on a case -by -case basis.
Eligible activities for grant funding include the following three elements:
A. Developing a comprehensive safety action plan or Action Plan (i.e., the activities in Table 1, as well as the
supplemental planning and demonstration activities described in Section A.2);
B. Conducting planning, design, and development activities for projects and strategies identified in an Action
Plan; and
C. Carrying out projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan.
For Implementation Grants, activities must include element (C) "carrying out projects and strategies identified in
an Action Plan," and may include element (B) "conducting planning, design, and development activities for
projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan" and/or element (A) "supplemental planning or demonstration
activities." Projects and strategies identified in element (C) must be either infrastructure, behavioral, or operational
activities identified in the Action Plan, and must be directly related to addressing the safety problem(s) identified in
the application and Action Plan. Applicants may "bundle" different projects, strategies, supplemental planning,
and/or demonstration activities into one Implementation Grant application, even if they address different safety
problems or are located in different areas. Funding requests for (B) planning, design, and development activities
for a project or strategy must be directly connected to the completion of the (C) projects and strategies funded
through the Implementation Grant application. Examples of eligible Implementation Grant activities are listed on
the SS4A website located at hM2s://www.tran.sportation,gov/arants/SS4A. The following activities are not eligible
for element (C) "projects and strategies" nor demonstration activity funding:
• Projects and strategies whose primary purpose is not roadway safety.
l6
• Projects and strategies exclusively focused on non -roadway modes of transportation, including air, rail,
marine, and pipeline. Roadway intersections with other modes of transportation (e.g., at -grade highway rail
crossings) are eligible activities.
• Capital projects to construct new roadways used for motor vehicles. New roadway facilities exclusively for
non -motorists (e.g., a shared use path) is an eligible activity if the primary purpose is safety related.
• Infrastructure projects primarily intended to expand capacity to improve Levels of Service for motorists on
an existing roadway, such as the creation of additional lanes.
• Maintenance activities for an existing roadway primarily to maintain a state of good repair. However,
roadway modifications on an existing roadway in support of specific safety -related projects identified in an
Action Plan are eligible activities.
• Development or implementation of a public transportation agency safety plan (PTASP) required by 49
U.S.C. § 5329. However, a PTASP that identifies and addresses risks to pedestrians, bicyclists, personal
conveyance and micromobility users, transit riders, and others may inform Action Plan development.
Projects, strategies, and demonstration activities must have equity —the consistent, fair, just, and impartial
treatment of all people —at their foundation. This includes traffic enforcement strategies. As part of the Safe
System Approach adopted in the USDOT's National Roadway Safety Strategy, any activities related to compliance
or enforcement efforts to make our roads safer should affirmatively improve equity outcomes as part of a
comprehensive approach to achieve zero roadway fatalities and serious injuries. The SS4A program can be used to
support safety projects and strategies that address serious safety violations of drivers (e.g., speeding, alcohol and
drug -impaired driving), so long as the proposed strategies are data -driven and demonstrate a process in alignment
with goals around community policing and in accordance with Federal civil rights laws and regulations.16 Funds
may not be used, either directly or indirectly, to support or oppose union organizing.
ii. Project and Strategy Location
For Implementation Grants, applications must identify the problems to be addressed, the relevant geographic
locations (e.g., corridors, intersections), and the projects and strategies they plan to implement based on their
Action Plan or established plan. This should include specific intervention types, address common safety risk
characteristics, and be located on the Action Plan's high -injury network to the extent practicable. To provide
flexibility in the implementation of projects and strategies that involve systemic safety strategies or bundling of
similar countermeasures, an applicant may wait to finalize site locations as part of executing the grant agreement, if
necessary, upon approval of the Department, and as long as the identified site locations are primarily on the high -
injury network and designs remain consistent with the intent of the award.
D. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package
All grant application materials can be accessed at Grants.gov under opportunity number DOT-SS4A-FY24-01.
Applicants must submit their applications via Valid Eval at
https://usg.valideval.com/teams/usdot ss4a 2024_imp lementation/signup for Implementation Grant applicants,
and https://usg.valideval.com/teams/usdot_ss4a 2024 planning demo/si ng_gp for Planning and Demonstration
Grants under the Notice of Funding Opportunity Number cited herein. Potential applicants may also request paper
copies of materials at:
Telephone: 202-366-4114
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
16 For one such example, see https://cops.usdoi gov/RtC /Publications/cops-p 157-pub.pdf.
17
W84-322
Washington, DC 20590
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
The Planning and Demonstration Grant, and the Implementation Grant, respectively, have different application
submission and supporting document requirements.
i. implementation Grant Pre -Application Submissions
A potential Implementation Grant applicant may submit a pre -application that consists of a Self -Certification
Eligibility Worksheet and links or attachments to any referenced plan(s) to determine an applicant's eligibility to
apply for an Implementation Grant. A pre -application eligibility review request must submit all needed materials,
including relevant documentation, to receive an eligibility determination by DOT. Pre -application submissions
must be received on or before April 17, 2024, by emailing SS4A@dot.p-ov with the subject "Implementation Grant
Eligibility Review: Applicant Name." DOT expects to provide an affirmation response, or provide details as to why
the plan(s) do not meet eligibility requirements, to the applicant within two weeks of receipt. Each applicant may
request only one pre -application submission review. DOT will not perform pre -application reviews of full
application materials nor provide feedback on the quality of the overall application.
Planning and Demonstration Grant applicants are not eligible for pre -application submission reviews.
H. Planning and Demonstration Grant Application Submissions
The application must include the following: Standard Forms (SF); Key Information Questions; Project Narrative
and Planning and Demonstration Grant Supplemental Estimated Budget. This information must be submitted via
Valid Eval at https://usg.valideval.com/teams/usdot_ss4a 2024 planning_demo/signup. More detailed information
about each application material is provided below. The necessary file formats for each application component will
be displayed on the Valid Eva] intake site.
Standard forms: All applicants must submit the following Standard Forms: Application for Federal
Assistance (SF-424), Budget Information for Non -Construction Programs (SF-424A), Assurances for Non -
Construction Programs (SF-424B), and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL). If the Federal
funding amounts requested differ between forms, the amount in the SF-424 will be used to award funding.
Funding requests must be in whole numbers (no cents). For the SF-424A form, portions of Section D and
Section E are optional as described in the SF-424A instructions.
Key Information Questions; Below is a preview list of the questions that are asked on USDOT's
automated proposal website at https://usg.valideval.com/teams/usdot_ss4a 2024 planning demo/signup.
After registering in the system, the applicant will be prompted to answer these questions on the website.
Table 2: Example Planning and Demonstration Application Key Information Table
Title
Instructions
Lead A licant Name
This should be consistent with Q. 8.a. of the SF-424.
Lead Applicant Unique Entity Identifier
See Section D.3 below for more information about
(UEI)
obtaining a UEI from SAM.gov.
Eligible Entity Type
See Section C.1.
Total Applicant Jurisdiction Population
2020 U.S. Census American Community Survey.
Total Count Motor Vehicle -Involved
From the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) for
Roadway Fatalities that includes the last 5
the applicant jurisdiction. Use 2017-2021 data.
years of data made available in the Fatality
Analysis Reporting System (FARS) during
the NOFO period
18
Title
Instructions
Total Average Annual Fatality Rate (per
The fatality rate calculated using the 5-year annual
100,000 population)
average from the total count offatalities based on FARS
data from 2017-2021, divided by the population of the
applicant's jurisdiction based on 2020 U.S. Census ACS
population data.
Total Percent of Population in Underserved
The population in underserved communities should be a
Communities Census Tract(s)
percentage obtained by dividing the population living in
Census tracts with an Underserved Community
designation divided by the total population living in the
jurisdiction.
Project Title
A concise, descriptive title for the project. This should be
the same title used in the SF-424 form and the application
narrative.
Application Type (select all that apply)
Develop a new Action Plan;
Conduct Supplemental Planning to update an Action Plan;
Demonstration Activities to inform development of an
Action Plan.
Description of Supplemental Planning and
See Section A.2.i.
Demonstration Activities if relevant
Total Federal Funding Request
Must be a whole number (no cents).
Total Non -Federal Share
Must be equal to, or greater than, 20% of total project
cost.
Total SS4A Funds Requested
Must be a whole number (no cents).'
Total Other Federal Funds Used
Must be a whole number (no cents).
Total Project Cost
Sum of Total Federal Funding Request and Total Local
share/Match.
Coordination
Questions on your application in relation to overlapping
jurisdictions that received an award in FY 2022/FY 2023
or are applying for a grant in FY 2024.
Required for those requesting funding to develop a new
Action Plan only.
• Narrative: In narrative form, the applicant must respond to the Planning and Demonstration Grant
selection criteria described in Section E.1.i to affirm its alignment with SS4A safety considerations and
address the criteria. The narrative must be no longer than 2 pages if requesting less than $1,000,000 in
Federal funds. If requesting $1,000,000 or more in Federal funds, the narrative must be no longer than
3 pages.
For applicants requesting funding for demonstration activities to inform an Action Plan: you must
provide a brief schedule showing when the activities will be in place (e.g., hardware installed, when
the pilot would begin), and the start/end dates of the work. If anticipated to be a schedule constraint,
applicants should include in the narrative any potential timeline implications of meetings
administration requirements in Section F such as domestic preference and any required waivers, the
National Environmental Policy Act requirements, as well as any applicable permitting and approval
timeframes.
19
Self -Certification Eligibility Worksheet: If only applying for supplemental planning and/or
demonstration activities that will inform the update of an existing plan, applications must either
demonstrate their existing plan is eligible by attaching the filled out Self -Certification Eligibility
Worksheet, or be in the process of developing a comprehensive safety action plan. If applying to
develop a new Action Plan, applicants do not need to include the worksheet even if supplemental
planning and/or demonstration activities are included.
• Map: The applicant must submit a map in PDF format that shows the location of the jurisdiction and
highlights the roadway network under the applicant's jurisdiction.
Planning and Demonstration Grant Supplemental Estimated Budget: Applicants are required to
show how different funding sources will share in each activity and present the data in whole dollars in
a table similar to Table 3. The Planning and Demonstration Grant Supplemental Estimated Budget
should summarize the amount of funding going toward each of the three eligible activities for a
Planning and Demonstration Grant (developing a new Action Plan, conducting supplemental planning
to update an existing plan, and carrying out demonstration activities to inform the development or
update of an Action Plan). Applicants requesting less than $100,000 in funding must also explain how
the scope of activities will be completed with the funding amount proposed.
Table 3: Planning and Demonstration Grant Supplemental Estimated Budget
Activities
SS4A Funding Re uest
Total Project Cost
Itemized Estimated Costs to Develop an Action Plan
Subtotal Budget to Develop an Action
Plan $0.00 $0.00
Itemized Estimated Costs to Conduct Supplemental Planning
Supplemental Planning Activity,#1
$O,00
$0.00
Supplemental Planning Activity #2
$0.00
$0.00
Supplemental Planning Activity 43
$0.00
$0.00
Subtotal Budget to Conduct
Supplemental Planning
$0.00
$0.00
Itemized Estimated Costs to Cagy Out Demonstration Activities
Demonstration Activity # l
$0,00
$0.00
Demonstration Activity Q
$0.00
$0.00
Subtotal Budget to Carry Out
Demonstration Activities
$0.00
$0.00
iii. Implementation Grant Application Submissions
The application must include the following: Standard Forms (SF); Key Information Questions; Project Narrative
and Implementation Grant Supplemental Estimated Budget. This information must be submitted via Valid Eva[ at
https://usg.valideval.com/teams/usdot_ss4a 2024_implementation/signup. More detailed information about each
20
application material is provided below. The necessary file formats for each application component will be
displayed on the Valid Eva] intake site.
• Standard forms: All applicants must submit the following Standard Forms: Application for Federal
Assistance (SF-424), Budget Information for Construction Programs (SF-424C), Assurances for
Construction Programs (SF-424D), and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL). If the Federal
funding amounts requested differ between forms, the amount in the SF-424 will be used to award funding.
Funding amounts must be in whole dollars (no cents).
• Key Information Questions: This is a preview list of the questions that are asked on USDOT's automated
proposal website at https://usp..valideval.com/teams/usdot ss4a 2024 implementation/signvp. After
registering in the system, the applicant will be prompted to answer these questions on the website.
Table 4: Example Implementation Grant Application Key Information Table
Title
Instructions
Lead Applicant Name
This should be consistent with Q. $.a. of the SF-424.
Lead Applicant Unique Entity
See Section D.3 below for more information about obtaining a UEI
Identifier UEl
from SAM, ov."
Eligible Entity Type
See Section C.1.
Do you have additional
List of additional applicants.
applicants as part of a
multijurisdictional group of
eligible entities?
Total Applicant Jurisdiction
2020 U.S. Census American Community Survey.
Population
Percent of Population in
The population in underserved communities should be a percentage
Underserved Communities in the
obtained by dividing the population living in project area Census
project area Census Tract(s)
tracts with an Underserved Community designation divided by the
total o ulation living in the project area(s).
Project Area Fatalities 2017-2021
Count of fatalities in the project area(s). May use source other than
FARS.
Project Area Serious Injuries
Count of serious injuries in the project area(s). Applicants without
2017-2021 OR
reliable serious injury data may use suspected serious injury figures.
Project Area Injuries Severity
Please cite source.
Unknown 2017-2021
Project Title
A concise, descriptive title for the project. This should be the same
title used in the SF-424 form and the application narrative.
Applicant roadway safety
• Ownership and/or maintenance responsibilities over a
responsibility (select all that
roadway network;
apply):
• Safety responsibilities that affect roadways;
• Have an agreement from the agency that has ownership
and/or maintenance responsibilities for the roadway within
the a licant's jurisdiction
Roadway users that this project
• Pedestrian and Bicycle
will significantly benefit (check
• Roadway
one that best applies)
. Transit
Does your project include
See Section A.2.i.
Demonstration Activities?
k' httt)s://samgpov/content/home
21
Title
Instructions
Would you consider accepting
Yes, no, n/a.
funding for only demonstration
activities and/or supplemental
planning?
Total Federal Funding Request
Must be a whole number (no cents).
Total Non -Federal Share
Must be equal to, or greater than, 20% of total project cost.
Total SS4A Funds Requested
Must be a whole number (no cents).
Total Other Federal Funds Used
Must be a whole number (no cents).
Total Project cost
Sum of Total Federal Funding Request and Total Local
share/Match.
Total Federal Funds Allocated to
Funds to be spent in Census tracts identified as underserved through
Underserved Communities
the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool.
Supplemental Planning Activities
A Federal Funding Request
Supplemental Planning Activities
A Total Project Costs
Planning, Design, and
Development Activities for
Projects/Strategies (B) Federal
Funding Request
Planning, Design, and
Development Activities for
Projects/Strategies (B) Total
Project Costs
Carrying Out Projects and
Strategies (C) Federal Funding
Request
Carrying Out Projects and
Strategies C Total Project Costs
Existing Comprehensive Safety
Link to or attachment
Action Plan orequivalent)
a) Narrative
The Department recommends that the narrative follows the outline below to address the program requirements and
assist evaluators in locating relevant information. The narrative may not exceed 12 pages in length, excluding
cover pages and the table of contents. The Self -Certification Eligibility Worksheet and Budget sections do not
count toward the 12-page limit. Appendices may include documents supporting assertions or conclusions made in
the 12-page narrative and also do not count toward the 12-page limit. Implementation Grant applications that
include supplemental planning and demonstration activities may submit up to 2 additional pages 14 pages total
if they are focused solely on responding the Supplemental Planning and Demonstration Activities selection
criterion (see Section E. Lii). If possible, website links to supporting documentation should be provided rather than
copies of these supporting materials. If supporting documents are submitted, applicants should clearly identify
within the narrative the relevance of each supporting document. Letters of support will only be considered if they
are submitted with the application as one consolidated set of support letters in one supporting attachment.
22
1. Overview
See D.2.ii.a.1
II. Location
See D.2.ii.a.II
III. Response to Selection Criteria
See D.2.ii.a.111 and Section E. Lii
IV. Project Readiness
See D.2.ii.a.IV
I. Overview
This section should provide an introduction and describe the safety context, jurisdiction, and any high-level
background information that would be useful to understand the rest of the application.
II. Location
This section of the application should describe the jurisdiction's location, the jurisdiction's high -injury network or
equivalent geospatial identification (geographic or locational data using maps) of higher risk locations, and
potential locations and corridors of the projects and strategies. Note that the applicant is not required to provide
exact locations for each project or strategy; rather, the application should identify which geographic locations are
under consideration for projects and strategies to be implemented and what analysis will be used in a final
determination.
III. Response to Selection Criteria
This section should respond to the criteria for evaluation and selection in Section E.1.ii of this Notice and include a
compelling narrative to highlight how the application aligns with criteria #1 Safety Impact; #2 Equity,
Engagement, and Collaboration; #3 Effective Practices and Strategies; #4 Other DOT Strategic Goals; #5
Supplemental Planning and Demonstration Activities (only if applying for supplemental planning and/or
demonstration activities).
The applicant must respond to each of the four criteria #1-4 and respond to criterion #5 if applying for
supplemental planning and/or demonstration activities. Applicants are not required to follow a specific narrative
format, but the structure should clearly identify the narrative associated with each selection criterion. Note,
criterion #1 Safety Impact includes "implementation cost" information, which will be described in the Budget
Table and Key Information Table. The Federal funding requested per person(s) killed or seriously injured from
2017-2021 is determined through information provided in the Key Information Table.
IV. Project Readiness
The applicant must provide information to demonstrate the applicant's ability to substantially execute and
complete the full scope of work in the application proposal within 5 years of when the grant agreement is executed,
with a particular focus on design and construction, as well as environmental, permitting, and approval processes.
Applicants should indicate if they will be seeking permission to use roadway design standards that are different
from those generally applied by the State in which the project is located. As part of this portion of the narrative, the
applicant must include a detailed activity schedule that identifies all major project and strategy milestones.
Examples of such milestones include State and local planning approvals; start and completion of National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other Federal environmental reviews and approvals including permitting;
design completion; right of way acquisition; approval of plans, specifications, and estimates; procurement; State
and local approvals; public involvement; partnership and implementation agreements; and construction.
Environmental review documentation should describe in detail known project impacts and possible mitigation for
those impacts. When a project results in impacts, an award recipient must take steps to engage the public. At a
minimum, the project readiness narrative and detailed project activity schedule must include the applicability and
disposition of: NEPA and Federal environment reviews and approvals; utility relocation; and right-of-way
acquisition. For additional guidance and resources, visit hlWs://www.transi)ortation.pov/jzrants/SS4A.
23
b) Self-Certificotion Eligibility Worksheet
Attach a completed Self -Certification Eligibility Worksheet.
cj Implementation Grant Supplemental Estimated Budget
This section of the application should describe the budget for the SS4A proposal. Applicants are required to submit
an Implementation Grant Supplemental Estimated Budget that provides a high-level overview of estimated activity
costs, as organized by all major cost elements. The budget shall provide itemized estimates of the costs by
separating different locations and/or different sets of proposed projects and strategies that address a similar safety
problem. This information should include capital costs for infrastructure safety improvements and costs associated
with behavioral and operational safety projects and strategies. The section should also distinguish between the
three eligible activity areas: (A) supplemental planning and demonstration activities in support of an existing
Action Plan; (B) conducting planning, design, and development activities for projects and strategies identified in an
Action Plan; and (C) carrying out projects and strategies identified in an Action Plan.
Implementation Grant Supplemental Estimated Budgets should show how different funding sources will share in
each activity and present the data in whole dollars. Funding sources should be grouped into three categories: non -
Federal, SS4A funds, and other Federal, with specific amounts for each funding source. Estimated costs or value of
in -kind matches should also be provided. The budget should show how each source of funds will be spent. This
budget should not include any previously incurred expenses, or costs to be incurred before the time of award and
obligation because these expenses are not eligible for reimbursement or cost -sharing. DOT requires applicants use
form SF-424C, and the applicant must also provide the information in Table 4 below. This table should be
completed in a manner consistent with the SF-424 and SF-424C in terms of total project cost, federal share, and
cost sharing/match.
Table 5: Supplemental Estimated Budget Table
Other
SS4A Funds to
SS4A Funding
Federal
Total Project
Underserved
Activities
Request
Funding
Cost
Communities
Itemized Estimated Costs of the Lksupplemental action plan activities
Item # I
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Item #2
50.00
$0.00
$0.00
Subtotal Budget for (A)
supplemental action plan
activities
50.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Itemized Estimated Costs of the (B) planning, design, and development
activities
Location or Project #1
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Individual
Component for # 1
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Individual
Component for # 1
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Location or Project #2
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Individual
Component for #2
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
24
Other
SS4A Funds to
SS4A Funding
Federal
"Total Project
Underserved
Activities
Request
Funding
Cost
Communities
Individual
Component for #2
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Subtotal Budget for (B)
conducting planning,
design, and development
activities
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Itemized Estimated Costs of the proposed projects and strategies
$0.00
Location or Project # 1
$0.00
$0.00
$Q.00
Individual
Component for # 1
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Individual
Component for # 1
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Location or Project #2
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Individual
Component for #2
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Individual
Component for #2
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
Subtotal Budget for (C)
carrying out projects and
strategies
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
$0.00
3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)
Each applicant is required to (i) be registered in SAM (https:Hsam. eov/content/home) before submitting its
application; (ii) provide a valid unique entity identifier in its application; and (iii) continue to maintain an active
SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an
application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. DOT may not make a Federal award to an
applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements and, if
an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time DOT is ready to make an award, DOT may
determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award and use that determination as a basis for making an
award to another applicant.
4. Submission Dates and Times
This NOFO has multiple application deadlines depending on the grant type.
Planning and Demonstration Grant applicants have three deadlines:
• Thursday, April 4, 2024, 5:00 PM (EDT)
• Thursday, May 16, 2024, 5:00 PM (EDT)
• Thursday, August 29, 2024, 5:00 PM (EDT)
Implementation Grant applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM EDT on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Pre -
application submissions to review an applicant's Self -Certification Eligibility Worksheet must be received on or
before April 17, 2024
25
Late applications received after the deadlines will not be considered under that deadline unless there is a technical
issue directly caused by the online submission proposal system (Valid Eval), and the applicant contacts Valid Eval
at support@valideval.com describing the technical issue no less than 4 hours before the deadline. Planning and
Demonstration Grant applications that are received after the first deadline (and before the second deadline) will be
treated as being submitted under the second deadline; Planning and Demonstration Grant applications that are
received after the second deadline (and before the third deadline) will be treated as being submitted under the third
deadline.
S. Funding Restrictions
Per BIL requirements, not more than 15 percent of the $1 billion in FY 2024 funds made available to carry out the
SS4A program may be awarded to eligible applicants in a single State." In addition, 30 percent of the total funds
made available in FY 2024 and $161,494,000 of the $261,494,000 all $256,68:7,0 of the funds carried over from
FY 2023 must be awarded for developing an Action Plan, including supplemental planning to update an existing
Action Plan, or demonstration activities to inform the development or update of an Action Plan. Thus,, total of
$461,494,000 $656,687,000 is available for Planning and Demonstration grants under this NOFO. Due in part
to these restrictions, in FY 2023, most eligible applicants requesting funds for a Planning and Demonstration Grant
were awarded, while about 20 percent of Implementation Grant applications were awarded funds to implement
projects and strategies.
This NOFO contains multiple deadlines. Funds will be awarded to applications submitted after each
deadline. Funding awards in later deadlines will be contingent on the availability of remaining funds.
6. Other Submission Requirements
The format of the Section D.2 application submission should be in PDF format, with font size no less than 12-point
Times New Roman, margins a minimum of I inch on all sides, and include page numbers. The necessary file
formats for each application component will be displayed on the Valid Eval intake site.
The complete application must be submitted via Valid Eval, an online submission proposal system used by
USDOT at https://usg.valideval.com/teams/usdot ss4a 2024_implementation/signup for Implementation Grant
applicants, and fittps:Husg.valideval.com/teams/usdot_ss4a_2024 planning demo/sig_nup for Planning and
Demonstration Grant applicants.
E. Application Review Information
1. Selection Criteria
This section specifies the criteria DOT will use to evaluate and select applications for SS4A grant awards. The
Department will review merit criteria for all complete applications from eligible applicants. Planning and
Demonstration Grants, and Implementation Grants, respectively, each have their own set of application review and
selection criteria.
i. Planning and Demonstration Grant Selection Criteria
For Planning and Demonstration Grants, the Department will use three evaluation criteria. The Department will
evaluate quantitative data in two selection criteria areas: 91 Safety Impact; and #2 Equity. The Department will
also assess the narrative for #3 Additional Safety Context. Costs will also be considered.
" Funding for Tribal lands will be treated as their own State and will not count toward a State's 15% limit.
26
Selection Criterion #1: Safety Impact
The activities are in jurisdictions that will likely support a significant reduction or elimination of roadway fatalities
and serious injuries involving various road users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation users,
personal conveyance and micromobility users, motorists, and commercial operators, within the timeframe proposed
by the applicant. The Department will assess safety impact using two quantitative ratings:
• The count of roadway fatalities from 2017-2021 data based on DOT'S FARS data, an alternative traffic
crash dataset, or a comparable data set with roadway fatality information.19
• The fatality rate, which is calculated using 5-year annual average from the total count of fatalities (based
on FARS data or an alternative traffic crash dataset from 2017-2021) divided by the population of the
applicant's jurisdiction based on 2020 ACS population data from the U.S. Census. The rate should be
normalized per 100,000 persons.
Selection Criterion #2: Equity
The activities will ensure equitable investment in the safety needs of underserved communities in preventing
roadway fatalities and injuries, including rural communities. The Department will assess the equity criterion using
one quantitative rating:
• The percentage of the population in the applicant's jurisdiction that resides in an Underserved Community
Census tract.20 Population of a Census tract, either a tract that is Underserved Community or not, must be
based on 2020 ACS population data from the U.S. Census.
Selection Criterion #3: Additional Safety Content
The applicant must address these considerations in narrative form. The Department will assess whether the
applicant has: described the scope of work to be performed; the roadway safety issues that necessitate further
Action Plan development, supplemental planning, and /or demonstration activities, as applicable; and how the
funded activities will inform an Action Plan and support the identification of projects and strategies that will:
• Lead to a significant reduction or elimination of roadway fatalities and serious injuries involving various
road users;
• Employ low-cost, high -impact strategies that can improve safety over a wider geographical area;
• Involve engaging with a variety of public and private stakeholders;
• Adopt innovative technologies to promote safety and equity; and
• Be evidence -based or build evidence around what works.
Applicants applying to carry out demonstration activities to inform the development of an Action Plan will also be
assessed as to whether their approach to measuring the potential benefits of the demonstration activities through
data collection and evaluation are described.
Additional Consideration: Budget Costs
The Department will assess the extent to which the budget and costs to perform the activities required to execute
the Planning and Demonstration Grant are reasonable, necessary, and allocable based on 2 CFR § 200.404 and 405,
and the extent to which the application delineates the breakdown of Federal funds requested between developing
an Action Plan, conducting supplemental planning to update an existing plan, and/or carrying out demonstration
activities to inform the development or update of an Action Plan. The Department will also review whether costs
are reasonable and adequate if the amount requested is under $100,000.
19 htt2s;//cdan.dot.gov/quern_
20 https://experience.aregis.com/experience/0920984aa8Oa4362b8778d779bO9O723/page/Applicant-Explorer/
A
Award Consideration: High Fatality Rates
In support of the legislative consideration to fund activities that will significantly reduce fatalities and serious
injuries the Department may prioritize SS4A Planning and Demonstration Grant applications with a quantitative
fatality rate of 17.0 fatalities per 100,000 persons or greater. A non -exhaustive list of eligible applicants that would
receive this award consideration is located here: https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A/fatality-rate-
consideration.
H. Implementation Grant Selection Criteria
Implementation Grants have five merit criteria: #I Safety Impact; 42 Equity, Engagement, and Collaboration; #3
Effective Practices and Strategies; 94 Other DOT Strategic Goals; and 95 Supplemental Planning and
Demonstration Activities. DOT will only evaluate selection criterion #5 Supplemental Planning and Demonstration
Activities for Implementation Grant applicants requesting funds to conduct supplemental planning and/or carry out
demonstration activities. Two considerations will also be used in the selection process: Project Readiness, and
Additional Considerations. The response to each criterion, to the extent practicable, should be aligned with the
applicant's Action Plan. Below describes the specific content the applicant should respond to for each of these
criteria.
Selection Criterion ##1: Safety Impact
DOT will assess whether the proposal is likely to: significantly reduce or eliminate roadway fatalities and serious
injuries; employ low-cost, high -impact strategies over a wide geographic area; and include evidence -based projects
and strategies. Safety impact is the most important criterion and will be weighed more heavily in the review and
selection process. The Department will assess the applicant's description of the safety problem, safety impact
assessment, and costs as part of the Safety Impact criterion:
Description of the safety problem. DOT will assess the extent to which:
o The safety problem to be addressed is described, including historical trends, fatal and serious injury
crash locations, contributing factors, and crash types by category of road user.
o Crashes and/or crash risk are displayed in a high -injury network, hot spot analysis, or similar
geospatial risk visualization.
o Project and strategy locations are described in relation to the high -injury network and geospatial
information.
o Safety risk is summarized from risk models, hazard analysis, the identification of high -risk roadway
features, road safety audits/assessments, near miss data, and/or other proactive safety analyses.
Safety impact assessment. DOT will assess the extent to which projects and strategies:
o Align with and comprehensively address the identified safety problems.
o Are primarily on a high -injury network or address high -risk roadway features correlated with severe
crash types.
o Significantly reduce or eliminate roadway fatalities and serious injuries involving various road users.
o Use low-cost, high -impact strategies and projects over a wide geographical area.
o Use evidence -based, Proven Safety Countermeasures or other effective safety countermeasures to
significantly improve existing roadways.21
o Use evidence -based Countermeasures that Work with four or five stars to address persistent behavioral
safety issues and consider equity in their implementation.22
21 https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/provencountermeasures/
12 httt)s://www.nhtsa.gov/sit&nhtsa.govtfiles/2021-09/Countermeasures-10th 080621 v5 ta.of
28
o Measure safety impact through models, studies, reports, proven noteworthy practices, Crash
Modification Factors (CMF), and other information on project and strategy effectiveness.
o Will have safety benefits that persist overtime.2'
Implementation Costs. DOT will assess the extent to which the projects and strategies:
o Efficaciously address past traffic fatalities and serious injuries per $1 million in funds requested, with
data clearly tied to the location and relevant crash type(s). Injuries will be weighted and combined with
fatalities to assess this figure in relation to the Federal funding request.24
o Are itemized and summarized in a logical manner, including capital costs for infrastructure,
behavioral, and operational safety improvements.
Selection Criterion r 2 Equity, Engagement, and Collaboration
This criterion supports the legislative requirements to assess the extent to which the application ensures the
equitable investment in the safety needs of underserved communities and demonstrates engagement with a variety
of public and private stakeholders. The response to this criterion should focus on equity, engagement, and
collaboration in relation to the implementation of the projects and strategies. DOT will assess the extent to which
projects and strategies:
• Ensure equitable investment in underserved communities in preventing roadway fatalities and serious
injuries, including rural communities.
• Consider key population groups (e.g., people in underserved communities, children, seniors, Black, Latino,
Indigenous and Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, other persons of color, persons
with disabilities, persons who live in rural areas) to ensure the impact to these groups is understood and
addressed.
• Include equity analysis, both quantitative and qualitative, and stakeholder engagement in underserved
communities as part of the development and implementation process.25
• Included or will include meaningful engagement with the public, including with disadvantaged
communities, during all phases of the project such as planning, design, construction, and implementation.
• Leverage partnerships within their jurisdiction, with other government entities, non -governmental
organizations, the private sector, academic institutions, and/or other relevant stakeholders to achieve safety
benefits while preventing unintended consequences for persons living in the jurisdiction.
• Align with the equity analysis performed as part of the development of an existing Action Plan, and
decrease existing disparities identified through equity analysis.
• Are location areas with cumulative burden experiences as identified through the DOT's Equitable
Transportation Community Explorer five component areas.26
htt s://hi hways.dot. ov/safety/data-unalvsis-tools
24 The weighting will use the Benefit Cost Analysis Guidance: https:lhav4tiv.transportation.gov/mission/otiice-secretary/oflice-
policy/transportation-Mlicy/benefit-cost—analysis-yuidance. One fatality equals 20.9 serious injuries, or 55.2 injured severity
unknowns.
21 See Table I under "Equity Considerations" for what equity analysis entails.
26 The DOT Equitable Transportation Community Explorer can be found at
https:HexMrience.arcizis.com/experience/0920984aa8Oa4362b8778d779bO9O723/paize/ETC-Explorer---National-Results/. The
five components are climate & disaster risk burden; environmental burden; health vulnerability; social vulnerability; and
transportation insecurity.
29
Selection 07tenon #3. Effectim Practices and Strategies
DOT will assess the extent to which the applicant demonstrates how the projects and strategies are reflective of
established policies, guidelines, standards, and practices to promote systemic safety improvements. DOT will
assess the extent to which the projects and strategies:
• Reflect established policies, guidelines, and standards that improve safety decision making.
• Incorporate an existing Complete Streets Policy that prioritizes safety in standard agency procedures and
guidance, or other roadway safety policies that have eliminated barriers to prioritizing the safety of all
users.
• Consider the impacts of land use and the built environment to promote safe transportation design.
• Encompass at least three of the five Safe System Approach elements in the National Roadway Safety
Strategy (Safer People, Safer Roads, Safer Speeds, Safer Vehicles, and Post -Crash Care) to address the
identified safety problem.
• Include a mix of infrastructure, behavioral, operational, and/or post -crash safety activities.
• Incorporate technologies that promote safety and/or equity.
• Improve safety for all road users along a roadway by providing accessible facilities (e.g., Public -Rights -of -
Way Accessibility Guidelines [PROWAG]) and correcting barriers to individuals with disabilities.27
• Are coordinated with, or support, State -identified safety priorities in the State Strategic Highway Safety
Plan and its Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment.
Selection Criterion #4: Other DOTStrategic Goals
This program's focus on equity and safety is also advanced by considerations of how applications address climate
and sustainability considerations, as well as whether applications support economic competitiveness. DOT will
assess the extent to which the projects and strategies use safety strategies to support the Departmental strategic
goals of climate change, sustainability, workforce, and economic competitiveness, and the extent to which the
proposal is expected to:
Climate and SustainahihtN
• Reduce motor vehicle -related pollution such as air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Increase safety of lower -carbon travel modes such as public transit, micromobility and active
transportation (e.g., people biking and walking).
• Improve multimodal transportation systems that incorporate affordable transportation options such as
public transit, micromobility, and active transportation such as walking and biking to transit stops and
stations.
• Reduce the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from the project materials such as the use of lower -carbon
pavement and construction materials.
• Support fiscally responsible land use and transportation efficient design to make it convenient to take
fewer or shorter trips, and/or reduces greenhouse gas emissions through land use and zoning reform.
• Includes evidence -based climate resilience measures or features such as enhanced storm water
management practices, and nature -based solutions that improve the built and/or natural environment.
• Benefit communities most vulnerable to climate change impacts, and follows the Federal Flood Risk
Management Standard.
Economic Competitiveness
• Lead to increased economic or business activity due to enhanced safety features for all road users.
27 https://www.access-board.gov/prowap/
30
• Increase mobility and expand connectivity for all road users to critical community services such as
education and healthcare, jobs, and business opportunities, especially for people in underserved
communities.
• Address the unique challenges rural and Tribal communities face related to mobility and economic
development, including isolation and transportation cost burden.
Workforce
• For skilled construction labor needed on the project, incorporate strong labor standards (e.g., wages and
benefits at or above prevailing; use of project labor agreements, registered apprenticeship programs).
• For non -construction work on the project, commit to supporting training opportunities as part of the
project, including pre -apprenticeship or apprenticeship readiness programs and youth service, with a
description of how training and job opportunities on the project will lead into registered apprenticeship or
good -paying jobs.
• Track and publish aggregate workforce data, including information on demonstrating that employment
opportunities are available to historically underserved workers in the community.
• Include Local inclusive economic development and entrepreneurship such as utilization of Disadvantaged
Business Enterprises, Minority -owned Businesses, Women -owned businesses, or 8(a) firms.
Selection Criterion #5: Supplemental Planning and Demonstration Activities
Implementation Grant applicants should only respond to this selection criterion if supplemental planning and/or
demonstration activities are included in the application. DOT will assess whether the applicant has described the
scope of supplemental planning or demonstration work to be performed; the roadway safety issues that necessitate
further Action Plan development, including supplemental planning, and /or demonstration activities, as applicable;
and how the funded activities will inform an Action Plan and support the identification of projects and strategies
that will:
• Lead to a significant reduction or elimination of roadway fatalities and serious injuries involving various
road users;
• Employ low-cost, high -impact strategies that can improve safety over a wider geographical area;
• Involve engaging with a variety of public and private stakeholders;
• Adopt innovative technologies to promote safety and equity; and
• Be evidence -based or build evidence around what works.
Applicants applying to carry out demonstration activities will also be assessed as to whether their approach to
measuring the potential benefits of the demonstration activities through data collection and evaluation are
described.
Consideration. Project Readiness
Applications will be reviewed for Project Readiness, which will be a consideration for application selection.
Project Readiness focuses on the extent to which the applicant will be able to substantially execute and complete
the full scope of work in the Implementation Grant application within 5 years of when the grant agreement is
executed. This includes information related to required design and construction standards, as well as
environmental, permitting, and approval processes. DOT will evaluate the extent to which the application:
• Documents all applicable local, State, and Federal requirements.
• Includes information on activity schedule, required permits and approvals, the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) class of action and status, State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) status (if applicable), public involvement, right-of-way
31
acquisition plans, procurement schedules, multi -party agreements, utility relocation plans and risk and
mitigation strategies, as appropriate.
• Is reasonably expected to begin any construction -related projects in a timely manner consistent with all
applicable local, State, and Federal requirements.
Award Considerations. -
The Department may consider the following when selecting SS4A Implementation Grant awards:
• The percentage of Implementation Grant funds that will be spent in, and provide safety benefits to,
locations in Census tracts designated as underserved communities as defined by this NOFO.",
• Whether the applicant is in a rural area.
• Whether the applicant is identified as a priority community within the federal Thriving Communities
Network. 29
• Whether the applicant would enhance the geographic diversity of Implementation Grant award recipients.
• Federal funding requests for project and strategy activities totaling $10 million or less (i.e., the
supplemental planning and demonstration activities do not count toward the $10 million total).
• Whether the applicant has a finalized comprehensive safety action plan that includes all components in
Table I by April 2024.
• Whether the applicant has a Killed and Serious Injuries per $l million in Federal funding rate is high
compared to other Highly Rated applications.
2. Review and Selection Process
This section addresses the BIL requirement to describe the methodology for evaluation in the NOFO, including
how applications will be rated according to selection criteria and considerations, and how those criteria and
considerations will be used to assign an overall rating. The SS4A grant program review and selection process
consists of eligibility reviews, merit criteria review, and Senior Review. The Secretary makes the final selections.
Among well -rated applicants, the Secretary may prioritize Implementation Grant applicants and jurisdictions that
did not receive an SS4A Implementation Grant in previous funding rounds over applicants that did receive an FY
2022 or FY 2023 Implementation Grant award.
i. Planning and Demonstration Grant Review and Selection Process
a) Overall Selection Process and Ratings
The process for the application review is described below:
Teams of Department and contractor support staff will review all applications to determine eligibility based on the
eligibility information in Section C.
• An eligible Planning and Demonstration Grant application received by one of the three deadlines will be
reviewed for its merit based on the selection criteria in Section E.I J.
• Planning and Demonstration Grant applications will have three different groups that are each reviewed and
evaluated separately depending on when the application was submitted versus the deadline dates.
• If multiple applications are received from the same applicant, the last one submitted will be reviewed.
• Applications are rated numerically based on Merit Criteria #1 Safety Impact and #2 Equity Criteria.
28 See the definition of an underserved community, which includes Census tracts identified in the OMB CEIST and DOI'
ETCE tools.
' Thriving Community Networks include the Rural Partner Network, Energy Communities, or DOT Thriving Communities
Initiative
32
• The #3 Additional Safety Context criterion narrative will be reviewed and assessed, and then receive a
rating of "High," "Medium," "Low," or "Not Qualified." Applications that do not address the #3
Additional Safety Context are deemed "not qualified" and will not be considered for award.
• The Teams will note which of the three Planning and Demonstration Grant activities --develop a new
Action Plan, conduct supplemental planning to update an existing plan, and carry out demonstration
activities to inform the development or update of an Action Plan —are requested in an application.
• To ensure that final selections will meet the statutory requirement that no more than 15 percent of program
funds may be awarded to eligible applicants in one State, applications will have their State location
denoted. Awards to Federally recognized Tribal governments are not counted toward this 15 percent
maximum.
• The Teams will examine the locations of the applicants to identify if an applicant is requesting funds to
develop an Action Plan in a geographic area that received funds to develop an Action Plan in a FY 2022 or
FY 2023 grant, as well as any potential overlap in geographic boundaries in funding requests for FY 2024.
DOT will assess the extent to which the application to develop an Action Plan is duplicative of existing or
proposed activities and reserves the right to request applicants with duplicative funding requests to
consolidate their efforts as one multijurisdictional group prior to receiving an award. DOT may decline to
fund duplicative applications irrespective of their individual merits.
b) Additional Safety Context Criterion Rating Methodology
For the #3 Additional Safety Context, the Department will assess the narrative's alignment to the selection
criterion, and will determine a rating of "high," "medium," "low," or "non -responsive."
High
Medium
Low
Non -Responsive
The application is
The application is
very responsive to
responsive to the
the criteria and is
criteria and is
expected to advance
performing safety
The narrative
safety planning. The
planning activities.
The application is
indicates the proposal
narrative has clear
The narrative has
minimally responsive
is counter to the
descriptions of the
descriptions of the
to the criteria. The
criteria, does not
work scope and the
work scope and the
Proposed approach is
contain sufficient
roadway safety
roadway safety
weakly tied to an
information, or is not
problem to be
problem to be
Action Plan.
connected to an
Rating
addressed. The
addressed. The
Action Plan.
Scale
proposed approach
proposed approach
For demonstration
will strongly inform
will inform an Action
activities only: The
For demonstration
an Action Plan.
Plan.
narrative provides
activities only: Detail
minimal detail on how
on how the activities
For demonstration
For demonstration
the activities will be
will be measured and
activities only: The
activities only: The
measured and
evaluated are not
narrative clearly
narrative describes
evaluated.
included.
describes how the
how the activities will
activities will be
be measured and
measured and
evaluated.
evaluated.
33
ii. Implementation Grant Review and Selection Process
a) Overall Selection Process and Ratings
Teams of Department and contractor support staff review all applications to determine whether they are eligible
applicants based on the eligibility information in Section C. If multiple applications are received from the same
applicant, the last one submitted will be reviewed. All eligible Implementation Grant applications received by the
deadline will be reviewed and receive ratings for each of these criteria: # 1 Safety Impact; #2 Equity, Engagement,
and Collaboration; #3 Effective Practices and Strategies; 94 Other DOT Strategic Goals. Based on the criteria
ratings, the Department will assign an overall application rating of "Highly Recommended," "Recommended,"
"Acceptable," or "Not Recommended" as a result of evaluation team consensus discussion. The selection criteria
are considered in numeric order of most to least important (e.g., criterion #1 Safety Impact will be considered most
heavily, followed by 42 Equity, Engagement, and Collaboration as the second most important).
Implementation Grant applications that include supplemental planning or demonstration activities will also be
reviewed for criterion #5 Supplemental Planning and Demonstration Activities, but it will not affect the overall
Implementation Grant rating. Instead, DOT will use the information to determine whether the supplemental
planning and/or demonstration activities should be funded as part of the overall project. DOT is more likely to
fund, as part of an overall implementation project, supplemental planning and demonstration activities that rate
well on criterion #5. Alternatively, DOT may award an Implementation Grant but exclude proposed supplemental
planning or demonstration activities from the scope of the award if those activities were not rated well under
criterion #5.
b) Safety Impact Criterion Rating Methodology
For the # 1 Safety Impact criterion, the Department will assess three subcomponents, and for each determine a
rating of "high," "medium," and "low," or "non -responsive." The three subcomponents are: the description of the
safety problem; the safety impact assessment; and the implementation costs.
The sub -ratings will use the guidelines below:
High
Medium
Low
Non -responsive
The narrative and
The narrative and
The narrative and
The narrative and
supporting
supporting
supporting
supporting
information
information
information
information do not
demonstrate the
demonstrate the
demonstrate the
address a safety
proposal is addressing
proposal is
proposal is
problem.
a substantial safety
addressing an
addressing a safety
problem. The
existing safety
problem more
narrative is well-
problem. Narrative
minor in scope.
articulated and is
articulates the
The narrative is not
Description of
strongly supported by
description, is
well -articulated,
the Safety
data and analysis. The
generally
and the supporting
Problem
narrative links the
supported by data
data and analysis
specific safety
and analysis. The
are limited. The
problem to relevant
narrative links the
narrative provides
historical data at
specific safety
an overall
intervention locations
problem to relevant
connection
and describes whether
historical data and
between the safety
the locations are on
refers to the high-
problem and the
their high -injury
injury network or
jurisdiction's
network or
equivalent.
historical data.
equivalent.
34
High
Medium
Low
Non -responsive
The projects and
The projects and
The projects and
The projects and
strategies have
strategies address
strategies address
strategies do not
comprehensively
the safety problem.
the safety problem
address the safety
addressed the safety
Most of the
to a limited degree.
problem.
problem. The projects
projects and
Some or none of
and strategies
strategies proposed
the projects and
proposed are highly
are effective
strategies proposed
Safety Impact
effective, based on
measures, based on
are effective
evidence, use a
evidence, use a
measures, based on
systemic approach,
systemic approach,
evidence, use a
are mostly on a high-
are at Ieast partially
systemic approach,
injury network, and
on a high -injury
or have benefits
have benefits that
network, and have
that persist over
persist over time.
benefits that persist
time.
over time.
The costs for the
The costs for the
The costs for the
Cost information
implementation of the
implementation of
implementation of
and/or fatality and
projects and strategies
the projects and
the projects and
serious injury
are clearly articulated,
strategies are
strategies are not
information are not
well -summarized, and
summarized and
well -articulated or
provided.
reasonable. The
appear to be
missing key
projects and strategies
reasonable. The
details, and it is
address locations that
projects and
uncertain whether
have many historical
strategies address
the costs are
fatalities and serious
locations that have
reasonable. The
Implementation
injuries, and the
some historical
projects and
Costs
supporting data are
fatalities and
strategies address
clearly relevant to the
serious injuries,
locations that have
crash location and
and the supporting
very few to no
type. The projects and
data are clearly tied
historical fatalities
strategies are
to the location. The
and serious
expected to prevent a
projects and
injuries, and the
significant number of
strategies are
supporting data is
fatalities and serious
expected to prevent
general in nature.
injuries per funds
some fatalities and
The projects and
requested.
serious injuries per
strategies may have
funds re uested.
minimal impact.
c) Other Criteria Rating Methodology
For the merit criteria #2 Equity, Engagement, and Collaboration, #3 Effective Practices and Strategies, and #4
Other DOT Strategic Goals, the Department will consider whether the application narrative is clear, direct,
responsive to the selection criterion focus areas, logical, and includes specific details and examples, which will
result in a rating of "high, "medium," "low," or "non -responsive."
35
High
Medium
Low
Non -Responsive
The application is
substantively
responsive to the
criteria, with clear,
The application is
The application is
direct, and logical
moderately responsive
minimally responsive
The narrative indicates
Rating
narrative. Compelling,
to the criteria, with
to the criteria and is
the proposal is counter
Scale
specific details
mostly clear, direct,
somewhat addressed in
to the criteria or does
directly connected to
and logical narrative.
the narrative. General
not contain sufficient
the project, as well as
Some details and
information is
information.
quantified or
examples are provided.
provided.
illustrative examples,
are provided.
All applications will receive a Project Readiness evaluation, as described below. The reviewers will use the
application materials outlined in Section D to assess the applicant's Project Readiness and will provide a rating of
either "Likely" or "Unlikely."
Likely
Unlikely
Based on the information provided in the
Based on the information provided in the
application and the proposed scope of the
application and the proposed scope of the
projects and strategies, it is likely the applicant
projects and strategies, it is uncertain whether
Rating
can complete all projects and strategies within
the applicant can complete aII projects and
Scale
a 5-year time horizon. Application provides
strategies within a 5-year time horizon.
information on NEPA status, utility relocation,
Application is missing information on NEPA
and right-of-way acquisition.
status, and whether utility relocation and/or
right -of- aacquisition is required.
Implementation Grant applications that include supplemental planning and/or demonstration activities will be
assessed on the extent to which the narrative aligns with the selection criterion #5 Supplemental Planning and
Demonstration Activities and will be evaluated to determine a rating of "high," "medium," "low," or "non-
responsive."
36
High
Medium
Low
Non -Responsive
The application is
The application is
very responsive to
responsive to the
the criteria and is
criteria and is
expected to advance
performing safety
safety planning. The
planning activities.
The application is
narrative has clear
The narrative has
minimally responsive
descriptions of the
descriptions of the
to the criteria. The
The narrative
work scope and the
work scope and the
proposed approach is
indicates the proposal
roadway safety
roadway safety
weakly tied to an
is counter to the
problem to be
problem t. be
Action Plan.
criteria, does not
Rating
addressed. The
addressed. The
contain sufficient
Scale
proposed approach
proposed approach
For demonstration
information, or is not
will strongly inform
will inform an Action
activities only: The
connected to an
an Action Plan.
Plan'
narrative provides
Action Plan.
minimal detail on how
For demonstration
For demonstration
the activities will be
activities only: The
activities only: The
measured and
narrative clearly
narrative describes
evaluated.
describes how the
how the activities will
activities will be
be measured and
measured and
evaluated.
evaluated.
iii. Senior Review Team Phase
a) Planning and Demonstration Grant Senior Review Team Phase
For the Planning and Demonstration Grants, the Secretary will review the three quantitative criteria ratings as well
as the rating from the Additional Safety Context and select projects that are most advantageous to the U.S.
Government's interest. The Secretary will consult with a Senior Review Team (SRT) to make the determinations.
This process will occur separately three times based on when the application is received. If a Planning and
Demonstration Grant is not selected for an award, the applicant may receive a debrief from DOT and then reapply
for a later deadline on or before August 29.
b) implementation Grant Senior Review Team Phase
Once every Implementation Grant application has been assigned an overall rating based on the methodology
above, all "Highly Recommended" applications will be included in a list of Applications for Consideration. The
SRT will also review all "Highly Recommended" applications that received an "Unlikely" project readiness rating,
and either remove those applicants from the Applications for Consideration or recommend a reduced scope to
remove components that reduced the project's readiness, so that if awarded the applicant would be likely to
complete the scope of work within 5 years of the grant agreement execution. The Secretary will consider the
applications with a reduced scope due to the Unlikely project readiness in the same way as applications with a
"Likely" rating.
Additionally, to ensure the funding awards align to the extent practicable to the program goal of equitable
investment in the safety needs of underserved communities, the SRT may review "Recommended" applications
and set a threshold based on the percentage of funds that will be spent in, and provide safety benefits to, locations
within underserved communities. Any "Recommended" applications at or above that threshold will be included in
the proposed list of Applications for Consideration. Any "Recommended" applications that would otherwise be
added to the Applications for Consideration will also receive a SRT project readiness review similar to all "Highly
Recommended" applications.
37
For applications that would not otherwise be included on the list of Applications for Consideration, the SRT may
include applications with supplemental planning and demonstration activity funding that received a "High" or
"Medium" rating for selection criterion #5 Supplemental Planning and Demonstration Activities. The SRT may
recommend the Secretary to fund a reduced scope of only the supplemental planning and demonstration activities
for these applications.
For each grant type, the SRT will present the list of Applications for Consideration to the Secretary, either
collectively or through a representative of the SRT. The SRT may advise the Secretary on any application on the
list of Applications for Consideration, including options for reduced awards; the Secretary makes final selections.
If an Implementation Grant application includes supplemental planning and demonstration activities, DOT may
award just those activities as a standalone Planning and Demonstration Grant based on the rating received in
selection criterion #5 Supplemental Planning and Demonstration Activities. The Secretary's final selections
identify the applications that best address program requirements and are most worthy of funding.
3. Additional Information
Prior to entering into a grant agreement, each selected applicant will be subject to a risk assessment as required by
2 CFR § 200.206. As part of the risk assessment, the Department must review and consider any information about
the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently the
Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System [FAPIIS]). An applicant may review information
in FAPIIS and comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding agency previously entered. The
Department will consider comments by the applicant, in addition to the other information in FAPIIS, in making a
judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when
completing the review of risk posed by applicants.
Because award recipients under this program may be first-time recipients of Federal funding, DOT is committed to
implementing the program as flexibly as permitted by statute and to provide assistance to help award recipients
through the process of securing a grant agreement and delivering both Planning and Demonstration Grant activities
and Implementation Grant projects and strategies. Award recipients are encouraged to identify any needs for
assistance in delivering the Implementation Grant projects and strategies so that DOT can provide directly, or
through a third party, sufficient support and technical assistance to mitigate potential execution risks.
4. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates
The Department anticipates making three rounds of awards for this NOFO: a first round in May only focused on
applications requesting Planning and Demonstration Grant awards; a second round that will encompass
Implementation Grant as well as Planning and Demonstration Grant awards; and a final round by November 17
only focused on Planning and Demonstration Grant awards. .
F. Federal Award Administration Information
1. Federal Award Notices
Following the evaluation outlined in Section E, the Secretary will announce awarded applications by posting a list
of selected recipients at https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A.The posting of the list of selected award
recipients will not constitute an authorization to begin performance. Following the announcement, the Department
will contact the point of contact listed in the SF-424 to initiate negotiation of a grant agreement unless the applicant
notifies DOT of a changed contact via SS4A.FH WA(a-),dot.goy.
38
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
Climate Change and Environmental Justice
Each applicant selected for SS4A grant funding must demonstrate effort to consider climate change and
environmental justice impacts as described in Section A. Projects that have not sufficiently considered climate
change and environmental justice in their planning, as determined by the Department, will be required to do so
before receiving funds, consistent with Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad
(86 FR 7619).
ii. Equity and Barriers to Opportunity
Each applicant selected for SS4A grant funding must demonstrate effort to improve equity and reduce barriers to
opportunity as described in Section A. Projects that have not sufficiently considered equity and barriers to
opportunity in their planning, as determined by the Department, will be required to do so before receiving funds,
consistent with Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities
Through the Federal Government (86 FR 7009).
iii. Civil Rights and Title VI
As a condition of a grant award, grant recipients should demonstrate that the recipient has a plan for compliance
with civil rights obligations and nondiscrimination laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and
implementing regulations (49 CFR § 21), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act, all other civil rights requirements, and accompanying regulations. This should include a
current Title VI plan, completed Community Participation Plan, and a plan to address any legacy infrastructure or
facilities that are not compliant with ADA standards. DOT's and the applicable Operating Administrations' Office
of Civil Rights may work with awarded grant recipients to ensure full compliance with Federal civil rights
requirements.
iv. National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)
Funding recipients must comply with NEPA under 42 U.S.C. § 4321 et seq. and the Council on Environmental
Quality's NEPA implementing regulations at 40 CFR §§ 1500-1508, where applicable. Obligation of Federal funds
for final design, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, and/or construction will not occur until NEPA approval
is received. In these cases, the grant agreement will require phasing, adding time delays and additional signature
approvals when new phases begin.
v. Domestic Preference Requirements
As expressed in Executive Order 14005, Ensuring the Future 1s Made in All of America by All of America's
Workers (86 FR 7475), the executive branch should maximize, consistent with law, the use of goods, products, and
materials produced in, and services offered in, the United States. Infrastructure projects and demonstration
activities are subject to the Build America, Buy America Act (Pub. L. No 1 17-58, div. G §§ 70901-70927) as
clarified in OMB Memorandum M-22-1 1.30 The Department expects all recipients to comply with this
requirement. Projects under this notice will be subject to the domestic preference requirements at § 70914 of the
Build America, Buy America Act..
vi. Labor and Workforce
Each applicant selected for SS4A grant funding must demonstrate, to the full extent possible consistent with the
taw, an effort to create good -paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and incorporation of high
Iabor standards. To the extent that applicants have not sufficiently considered job quality and labor rights in their
planning, as determined by the Department of Labor, the applicants will be required to do so before receiving
" Pub. L. No. 117-58, division. G, Title IX, Subtitle A, 135 Stat. 429, 1298 (202.1). For additional information on § 70914, see
OMB-22-11. https://www.whitchouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/M-22-11.pdf
39
funds, consistent with Executive Order 14025, Worker Organizing and Empowerment (86 FR 22829), and
Executive Order 14052, Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (86 FR 64335).
vii. Federal Contract Compliance
As a condition of grant award and consistent with EO 11246, Equal Employment Opportunity (30 FR 12319, and
as amended), all Federally assisted contractors are required to make good faith efforts to meet the goals of 6.9
percent of construction project hours being performed by women, in addition to goals that vary based on
geography for construction work hours and for work being performed by people of color. Under Section 503 of the
Rehabilitation Act and its implementing regulations, affirmative action obligations for certain contractors include
an aspirational employment goal of 7 percent workers with disabilities.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) is charged with
enforcing Executive Order 11246, Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Vietnam Era Veterans'
Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974. OFCCP has a Mega Construction Project Program through which it engages
with project sponsors as early as the design phase to help promote compliance with non-discrimination and
affirmative action obligations. OFCCP will identify projects that receive an award under this notice and are
required to participate in OFCCP's Mega Construction Project Program from a wide range of Federally- assisted
projects over which OFCCP has jurisdiction and that have a project cost above $35 million. DOT will require
project sponsors with costs above $35 million that receive awards under this funding opportunity to partner with
OFCCP, if selected by OFCCP, as a condition of their DOT award.
viii.Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience
It is the policy of the United States to strengthen the security and resilience of its critical infrastructure against all
hazards, including physical and cyber threats, consistent with Presidential Policy Directive 21, Critical
Infrastructure Security and Resilience and the National Security Presidential Memorandum on Improving
Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure Control Systems. Each applicant selected for SS4A grant funding must
demonstrate, prior to the signing of the grant agreement, effort to consider and address physical and cyber security
risks relevant to the transportation mode and type and scale of the activities. Award recipients that have not
appropriately considered and addressed physical and cyber security and resilience in their planning, design, and
oversight, as determined by the Department and the Department of Homeland Security, will be required to do so
before receiving Implementation Grant funds.
ix. Project Signage and Public Acknowledgements
Recipients are encouraged for construction and non -construction projects to post project signage and to include
public acknowledgments in published and other collateral materials (e.g., press releases, marketing materials,
website) satisfactory in form and substance to DOT, that identifies the nature of the project and indicates that "the
project is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law." In addition, recipients employing project signage are
required to use the official Investing in America emblem in accordance with the Official Investing in America
Emblem Style Guide. Costs associated with signage and public acknowledgments must be reasonable and limited.
Signs or public acknowledgments should not be produced, displayed, or published if doing so results in
unreasonable cost, expense, or recipient burden. The Recipient is encouraged to use recycled or recovered
materials when procuring signs.
x. Other Administrative and Policy Requirements
All awards will be administered pursuant to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit
Requirements for Federal Awards found in 2 CFR § 200 as adopted by the Department at 2 CFR § 1201.
Additionally, as permitted under the requirements described above, applicable Federal laws, rules, and regulations
of the relevant operating administration (e.g., the Federal Highway Administration) administering the activities
will apply to the activities that receive SS4A grants, including planning requirements, Stakeholder Agreements,
and other requirements under the Department's other highway and transit grant programs. DOT anticipates grant
recipients to have varying levels of experience administering Federal funding agreements and complying with
40
Federal requirements, and DOT will take a risk -based approach to SS4A program grant agreement administration
to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
In connection with any program or activity conducted with or benefiting from funds awarded under this notice,
recipients of funds must comply with all applicable requirements of Federal law, including, without limitation, the
Constitution of the United States; the conditions of performance, nondiscrimination requirements, and other
assurances made applicable to the award of funds in accordance with regulations of the Department of
Transportation; and applicable Federal financial assistance and contracting principles promulgated by the Office of
Management and Budget. In complying with these requirements, recipients, in particular, must ensure that no
concession agreements are denied, or other contracting decisions made on the basis of speech or other activities
protected by the First Amendment. If the Department determines that a recipient has failed to comply with
applicable Federal requirements, the Department may terminate the award of funds and disallow previously
incurred costs, requiring the recipient to reimburse any expended award funds.
3. Reporting
i. Progress Reporting on Grant Activity
Reporting responsibilities include quarterly program performance reports using the Performance Progress Report
(PPR) and quarterly financial status using the SF-425 (also known as the Federal Financial Report or SF-FFR)."
Budget and recipient performance information will be gathered on a quarterly basis in a Performance Progress
Report (PPR). To fulfill the data collection requirements and in accordance with the USDOT Public Access Plan,
award recipients must consider, budget for, and implement appropriate data management, for data and information
outputs acquired or generated during the course of the grant.3 , 3s Federally recognized Tribal governments
receiving grants may request alternative data collection requirements during grant agreement formulation, as
appropriate. Applicants are expected to account for data and performance reporting in their budget submission.
ii. Post Award Reporting Requirements/Reporting of Matters Related to Integrity and
Performance
All award recipients shall submit a report by the end of the period of performance that describes:
• The costs of each eligible project and strategy carried out using the grant;
• The roadway safety outcomes and any additional benefits (e.g., increased walking, biking, or transit use
without a commensurate increase in serious and fatal crashes) that each such project and strategy has
generated, as—
o Identified in the grant application; and
o Measured by data, to the maximum extent practicable;
• The percent of funds spent in, and providing benefits to, underserved communities; and
• The lessons learned and any recommendations relating to future projects or strategies to prevent death and
serious injury on roads and streets.
Implementation Grant recipients must also provide: geo-coordinate information identifying specific project
location(s); crash data on serious injury and fatalities in the locations where projects and strategies are
implemented on an annual basis and at the end of the period of performance, which are expected to include crash
characteristics and contributing factor information associated with the safety problems being addressed; and
quantitative and qualitative project benefits documented in a final report.
31 https://www grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/post-award-reporting-forms
32 https;//doi.org/10.21949/1520559
33 United States. Department of Transportation. (2022) DOTPublic Access [Home page]. httvs://doi.or_/10.21949/1503647
41
Award recipients carrying out demonstration activities must also measure potential benefits through data collection
and evaluative activities and report to the Department how the demonstration activities informed an Action Plan's
list of projects and strategies and future implementation.
If the total value of a selected applicant's currently active grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement
contracts from all Federal awarding agencies exceeds $10,000,000 for any period of time during the period of
performance of this Federal award, then the applicant during that period of time must maintain the currency of
information reported in SAM that is made available in the designated integrity and performance system (currently
the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS)) about civil, criminal, or
administrative proceedings described in paragraph 2 of this award term and condition. This is a statutory
requirement under section 872 of Pub. L. No.110-417, as amended (41 U.S.C. § 2313). As required by section
3010 of Pub. L. No. 111 212, all information posted in the designated integrity and performance system on or after
April 15, 2011, except past performance reviews required for Federal procurement contracts, will be publicly
available. Additionally, if applicable funding recipients must be in compliance with the audit requirements in 2
CFR § 200, Subpart F.
M. Program Evaluation
As a condition of grant award, SS4A grant recipients may be required to participate in an evaluation undertaken by
DOT, or another agency or partner. The evaluation may take different forms such as an implementation assessment
across grant recipients, an impact and/or outcomes analysis of all or selected sites within or across grant recipients,
or a benefit/cost analysis or assessment of return on investment. The Department may require applicants to collect
data elements to aid the evaluation and/or use information available through other reporting. As a part of the
evaluation, as a condition of award, grant recipients must agree to: (1) make records available to the evaluation
contractor; (2) provide access to program records, and any other relevant documents to calculate costs and benefits;
(3) in the case of an impact analysis, facilitate the access to relevant information as requested; and (4) follow
evaluation procedures as specified by the evaluation contractor or DOT staff.
Recipients and sub -recipients are also encouraged to incorporate program evaluation including associated data
collection activities from the outset of their program design and implementation to meaningfully document and
measure the progress toward meeting the agency's safety priority goal. Title I of the Foundations for Evidence -
Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (Evidence Act), Pub. L. No. 115-435 (2019) urges Federal awarding agencies
and Federal assistance recipients and sub -recipients to use program evaluation as a critical tool to learn, to improve
equitable delivery, and to elevate program service and delivery across the program lifecycle. Evaluation means "an
assessment using systematic data collection and analysis of one or more programs, policies, and organizations
intended to assess their effectiveness and efficiency" (codified at 5 U.S.C. § 311). Credible program evaluation
activities are implemented with relevance and utility, rigor, independence and objectivity, transparency, and ethics
(OMB Circular A -I I, Part 6 Section 290).
G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
For further information concerning this notice, please contact the Office of the Secretary via email at
SS4A@dot,92v. In addition, up to the application deadline, the Department will post answers to common questions
and requests for clarifications on the Department's website at https://www.transportation.gov/,grants/SS4A. To
ensure applicants receive accurate information about eligibility or the program, the applicant is encouraged to
contact the Department directly, rather than through intermediaries or third parties, with questions. Department
staff may also conduct briefings on the SS4A grant selection and award process upon request.
42
H. Other Information
1. Publication of Application Information
Following the completion of the selection process and announcement of awards, the Department intends to publish
a list of all applications received along with the names of the applicant organizations and a few relevant data fields
from the application. This includes unsuccessful applicants. The Department may share application information
within the Department or with other Federal agencies if the Department determines the applicant could benefit
from Federal technical assistance programs, or that sharing is relevant to the respective program's objectives.
2. Department Feedback on Applications
The Department will not review applications in advance, but Department staff are available for technical questions
and assistance.
The deadline to submit technical questions is April 24 4-7, 2024. Technical questions made on or before March 13,
2024, will be responded to in advance of the first Planning and Demonstration Grant deadline on April 4. The
NOFO is listed under opportunity number DOT-SS4A-FY24-01 at grants.gov.
The Department strives to provide as much information as possible to assist applicants with the application
process. Unsuccessful applicants may request a debrief up to 30 days after the selected funding recipients are
publicly announced on https://www.transpgrtation.gov/grants/SS4A. Unsuccessful Planning and Demonstration
Grant applicants that are not selected are eligible to receive a debrief prior to applying again in this NOFO.
Program staff will address questions to SS4A dot.g_ov throughout the application period.
3. Grant Application Resources
The Department will provide resources to help interested applicants understand the different DOT discretionary
grant programs through webinars, frequently asked questions, and other materials provided such as the SS4A
program website https://www.transportation.p-ov/grants/SS4A. Additional grant applications resources for this and
other Departmental grant programs can be found on the DOT Navigator at www.tranWrtation.Qov/dot-navigator.
User-friendly information and resources regarding DOT's discretionary grant programs relevant to rural applicants
can be found on the Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) website at
www.transportation.p-ov/rural.
43
City of Fort Worth, Texas
Mayor and Council Communication
DATE: 10/15/24 M&C FILE NUMBER: M&C 24-0859
LOG NAME: 08SS4A GRANT APPLICATION TO UPDATE ADA TRANSITION PLAN
SUBJECT
(ALL) Ratify the Application for Federal Funds and, if Awarded, Authorize Execution of the Safe Streets for America Planning and
Demonstration Grant from the United States Department of Transportation in the Amount Up to $1,250,000.00 for the Development of an Updated
Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan and Adopt Appropriation Ordinance
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Ratify the application for federal funds and, if awarded, authorize execution of the Federal Grant Agreement with the United States
Department of Transportation for the Safe Streets for America Planning and Demonstration Grant in the amount up to $1,250,000.00.
2. Adopt the attached appropriation ordinance increasing estimated receipts and appropriations in the Grants Operating Federal Fund, subject
to the receipt of the grant, in an amount up to $1,250,000,00 for the purposes of funding the update of the City of Fort Worth Americans with
Disabilities -Act Transition Plan project.
DISCUSSION:
The purpose of this Mayor and Council Communication (M&C) is to: (1) ratify the application of and, if awarded, authorize acceptance of the
United States Department of Transportation (US DOT) Safe Streets for America (SS4A) Planning and Demonstration Grant (hereinafter the
"SS4A Grant'). The grant agreement details the responsibilities of both the City and the US DOT in the development of the SS4A Grant
project; and (2) authorize adoption of the appropriation ordinance to accept federal grant funds for the project. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, there will
be a subsequent M&C authorizing the appropriation of $250,000.00 as the City's cash match.
The Diversity and Inclusion Department plans to apply for the SS4A Grant through the US DOT in August 2024. The SS4A is.a reimbursement -
based program requiring a 20% local match. The City match will come from FY2025 funds. The SS4A Grant is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure
Bill and funds Planning and Demonstration Grants to local government agencies to develop, enhance, or update a comprehensive safety action
plan. The City's need to update the City of Fort Worth's 1992 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan meets the definition of
comprehensive safety plan under the Grant and the application will.ask for funding to update the plan.
Ratification of SS4A matching grant (if awarded) will allow the City to complete the following next steps after the acceptance of the ADA
Compliance Plan towards an updated City of Fort Worth Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan:
I. Finalize the prioritized list of programs, services, activities, and facilities to be evaluated in the first phase of the Self -Evaluation. Phase 1
will begin in fiscal year 2025 with a $1 M budget to begin evaluations and develop a Transition Plan.
2. Complete a Self -Evaluation for all City programs, services, activities, and facilities. Facility evaluations should include the following:
1. Facility reports with the compliance status of each element evaluated based on the applicable ADA Standards and PROWAG;
2. Possible solutions to remove any barriers and bring the element into compliance;
3. Conceptual budget estimates to implement each possible solution; and
4. Prioritization of the individual facility or element, independent of other facilities or elements of the same type, so that severity of non-
compliance can be compared.
3. Develop an Implementation Plan, including a schedule for completing the recommended facility improvements and funding sources to be
used.
4. Update the City's Accessibility & Accommodations webpage (https:/A ww.fortworthtexas.gov/departments/diversity-lnclusionlaccessibility-
accommodations) to clearly document the City's efforts toward ADA compliance.
5. Complete remaining Self -Evaluation phases and update the City's ADA Transition Plan after each additional phase.
6. Continue to update the City's ADA Transition Plan as projects are implemented and citizen requests/complaints are received and
addressed.'At a minimum the ADA Transition Plan will be updated every three to four years.
7. Determine the best approach for receiving public input on the Self -Evaluation and ADA Transition Plan.
Appropriations for the Grants Operating Federal Fund are depicted below:
Fund Amount
�21001-Grants Operating Federal $1,250,000.00
Funding will be budgeted in the Grants Operating Federal Fund, subject to the receipt of the grant, for the purposes of funding the US DOT SS4A
Planning and Demonstration Grant project and upon approval of the above recommendations and adoption of the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget by the
City Council, funds will also be available in the Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget, as appropriated for the City match. If the US DOT SS4A grant
funds are not received, Diversity and Inclusion will be responsible for all costs incurred. Since City salaries will be charged, indirect cost recovery
does apply.
Funding for this matching grant project was included in the 2025 Fiscal Year budget development.
Diversity and Inclusion Department staff will initiate the procurement of contractor services to complete the SS4A Grant Project. The SS4A Grant
Project is expected to begin in Quarter 1 of 2025 and be completed by Quarter 12026.
The project impacts all COUNCIL DISTRICTS.
A Form 1295 is not required because: This contractwill be with a govemmental entity, state agency or public institution of higher education: US
DOT
FISCAL. INFORMATION ICERTIFICATION:
The Director of Finance certifies that upon approval of the above recommendations and adoption of the attached appropriation ordinance, funds
will be available in the operating budget, as appropriated, in the Grants Operating Federal Fund. Diversity and Inclusion (and Financial
Management Services) will be responsible for the collection and deposit of funds due to the City. Prior to an expenditure being incurred, Diversity
and Inclusion has the responsibility to validate the availability of funds. This is a reimbursement grant.
Submitted
for Cijy Manager's Office b:
Femando Costa
6122
Originating
Business Unit Head:
Christina A. Brooks
8988
Additional Information Contact: