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

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construction, rehabilitation and improvements benefiting train operations.

Selected Recipients for this Program

Fiscal Year 2016: One project was obligated in FY 16 to construct a new station building that will be fully ADA-compliant and better meet the needs of the traveling public. Fiscal Year 2017: Five projects are projected to be completed in FY 17. Fiscal Year 2018: No Current Data Available

Uses and Use Restrictions

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

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

Yes, as stated in each funding solicitation.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

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

Beneficiary Eligibility

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

Credentials/Documentation

For more information visit the FRA website at: http://www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P0021. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. At a minimum, the applicant must submit the following information: Application for Federal Assistance SF-424; US Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration Assurances and Certification forms(https://www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/Details/L05284); Certification Regarding Debarment, suspension, and other Responsibility Matters - Primary Covered Transactions; Certification Regarding Drug-Free Workplace Requirements; Certification Regarding Lobbying; Assurances - Non-Construction Programs, SF 424E or Assurances ? Construction, SF424D (whichever is specified in the announcement); Certificate of Indirect Costs; Detailed project descriptions, statement of work, and budgets; Description of work completed to date; and description of type and source of matching funds.

Award Procedures

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

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Authorization

Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Public Law 109-59; Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (aka - MAP-21), , Public Law 112-141; Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (aka - RSIA 2008), Public Law 110-432.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Not Applicable.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching Requirements: Matching is determined by each award. This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

The restriction is based on the period of performance as outlined in the grant award. Grant award assistance for expenditures is awarded on a reimbursable basis. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: ACH reimbursement.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

The grantee shall submit the following reports: Quarterly progress reports giving an account of significant progress (findings, events, trends, etc.) made during the reporting period, and a description of any technical and/or cost problems encountered or anticipated that will affect completion of the grant and; Final report giving details of the results and benefits of the Grantee's improvement efforts.

SF-270 Request for Advance or Reimbursement.

Quarterly progress reports.

Quarterly financial status reports using SF-425 Federal Financial Report.

Grant recipients will be monitored periodically by FRA to ensure that the project goals, objectives, performance requirements, timelines, milestones, budgets, and other related program criteria are being met.

Monitoring may include onsite visits or detailed, interactive desk reviews.

In addition, grantees are provided with intensive technical assistance from grants staff on a daily basis.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503. In accordance with the provisions of 2 C.F.R. Part 200, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 C.F.R. Part 200.

Records

During the course of its activities under a grant agreement and for three years thereafter, the applicant must agree to retain intact and to provide any data, documents, reports, records, contracts, and supporting materials relating to its performance under the agreement as FRA may require. Reporting and record-keeping requirements are set forth in 2 C.F.R. Part 200 for private non-profit and for-profit Grantees. Closeout does not alter these requirements.

Financial Information

Account Identification

69-0702-0-1-401; 69-0722-0-1-401; 69-8083-0-1-401; 69-0125-0-1-401.

Obigations

(Cooperative Agreements) FY 16 $31,561,467; FY 17 est $26,965,000; and FY 18 est $0

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Grants within these programs ranged from $500,000 to $16,000,000 in FY 2016, with an average of $3,945,183.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

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

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Mary Ann McNamara 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., Washington, District of Columbia 20590 Phone: (202) 493-6393.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

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