1. Tribal Transportation Program Safety Funds FY17-18 Grant Application
National Indian Justice Center
Training Module
Tribal Transportation Program Safety Funds FY17-18 Grant Application
Introduction:
Joan Harper w/the National Indian Justice Center aka NIJC
NIJC is an Indian-owned nonprofit organization that has been providing training and technical assistance to tribes for the last 25 years.
I am the NIJC Tribal Transportation Safety Planning Project Coordinator
This powerpoint presentation will provide an overview about the grant application process for the Tribal Transportation Safety Fund Program.
Elisabeth Whitlock, PE
Civil Engineering & Consulting

2. Background Tribal Transportation Safety Funding
As background we’ll hit the highlights about the Tribal Transportation Safety Planning Program.

3. Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act
FAST Act (highway bill) provides a 2% Set Aside for Tribal Safety Funding (~$9 million/year).
The current notice is for two years of funding in the amount of $18 million to be awarded.
Tribes may apply for safety funding each year, and they can apply for more than one project each year.
The intent for the first year of funding is for every Tribe to have a Safety Plan. Then, based upon the completion of your Safety Plan, projects are ranked for funding to implement solutions or strategies to improve safety in your communities.
“A Tribal Safety Plan is the cornerstone for all future Tribal safety activities.”

4. Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act
Funding limited to three categories:
Transportation Safety Plans
Data assessment, improvement, and analysis
Other Eligible Activities as listed in 23 USC 148(a)(4)
Engineering Projects
Road Safety Audits
Pedestrian, Bicycle, and ADA improvements
Systemic safety improvements
Correct or improve a hazardous location or feature
Address a highway safety problem
Consistent with a State Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP)
See complete list in U.S. Code
Safety Plan Program funding is limited to three categories:
To develop or update a safety plan
Road safety data analysis
Other most infrastructure projects.

5. Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act
Previous rounds of funding awards:*
Fiscal Year (FY)
2013
2014
2015
2016 **
Funds Awarded
$8.6 M
$8.5 M
$9 M
>$18 M
Funds Requested
$27 M
$ 27 M
$37 M
$40 M
# Tribes Awarded
183 82 71 74
# of Projects
193 94 90 77
If we look at the history of the program, we can see:
That Funding has ranged from 8.5 to 9 million
You can also that funding requests significantly exceed what has been available.
Total number of tribes that have received awards and the total number of projects funded has decreased over time.
This year’s grant applications will actually cover two years: FY 2017 and and is anticipated to 18 million.
* All values are approximate.
** Both years will be awarded under the current Notice of Funding Opportunity

6. FY 2017 – FY 2018 Grant
Tribal Transportation Safety Funding

7. Complete Application:
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
Notice found at Federal Highway Administration, Federal Lands Highway website:
Apply electronically at same website (not grants.gov)
Online Application Preview Document – fill out before and have it ready
Project Narrative – use guidance and template
(include budget in narrative)
Must be registered in System for Award Management - SAM.gov (registration in process ok)
Complete Application:
Online Application Form
Project Narrative
Itemized Budget
Documentation of SAM registration
During the application process you must click the "next" button or "resume later" button every 20 minutes or less to avoid losing your work.

8. Eligibility and Criteria
Federally recognized tribes identified on the list of “Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible to Receive Services from the Bureau of Indian Affairs” (published at 77 FR 47868) are eligible to apply for TTPSF.
Only routes that are official in the National Tribal Transportation Facility Inventory (NTTFI) (Road Inventory) are eligible for TTPSF.
Applications must be received electronically no later than 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time on December 11, 2017.
Submit through the website:
Same website for all application materials……
Let’s take a look at who is eligible to apply for safety planning grants and some basic criteria:

9. Find NTTFI Reports at https://itims.bia.gov
Choose your Region
Most tribes probably know what roads are on the National Tribal Transportation Facility Inventory (NTTFI) (Road Inventory)
If for any reason you don’t know, you can go to this website and look up the information aand/or contact BIA for assistance. .

10. Tribe ID No./Route No./Route Section No.
Find your Tribe
This is an example from the website of what the list looks like and how you can find the ID, Rrute and Section numbers.
Tribe ID No./Route No./Route Section No.

11. To apply you will need to got to the FHWA Safety Planning website and click on apply to submit your application.

12. Eligibility and Criteria
Selection Criteria
Safety Plan - New or Revised
Expected Outcome?
Age and status of any existing safety plan?
Data Assessment, Improvement, and Analysis Activities
Activity identified in a Tribe’s safety plan, State safety plan, RSA, or other safety document?
Summarize supporting data that clearly demonstrates the need for the project.
Describe how the project compliments a comprehensive approach to safety with a multi-disciplinary (4E) approach.
This is the scoring criteria used by grant reviewers. Each question or statement on the right side must be answered.
For example, age and status of any existing safety plan? “This will be a new plan for the Tribe as no safety plan currently exists.”
Found in Project Narrative example, in Section III. Project Abstract.
Source: TTP Safety Fund Online Application Preview document, page 3 Selection Criteria Table.

13. Eligibility and Criteria
Selection Criteria
Other eligible activities, primarily infrastructure improvement
Expected Outcome?
Activity identified in a Tribe’s safety plan, State safety plan, RSA, or other safety document?
Summarize supporting data that clearly demonstrates the need for the project.
Who owns the facility being improved?
Route number(s) from the National Tribal Transportation Facility Inventory (NTTFI).
Describe how the project compliments a comprehensive approach to safety with a multi-disciplinary (4E) approach.
Source: TTP Safety Fund Online Application Preview document, page 3 Selection Criteria Table.

14. Application Process Tribal Transportation Safety Funding
Let’s talk about the application process

15. Key Steps
Complete System for Award Management (SAM) online registration
Draft Preview Document (application)
Write Project abstract, narrative & budget
Complete online application
Submit application online
Key steps are:
SAM
Draft a Preview Document ..The previe document is available online on the FHWA website…and I’ll pass around a copy to give you an idea of what kind of information you will need to complete the application form.

16. Application Content Tribal Transportation Safety Funding
So let’s look at the application content .and where you can find information you will need to complete an application

17. Application Content
Applicant Identifier – BIA 6-digit code – refer to list for your Tribe
List found at
On the first page the second line you will need an applicant identifier code…You can find your code at this website …and that what you fill-in on the second line of the preview document.

18. Application Content
Congressional District – U.S. House of Representatives
On the 2nd page of the preview document you will need to know your congressional district
Fill in Zip Code and enter;
On the next page fill in address for exact Representative

19. Application Content U.S. Senators https://www.senate.gov/
Use drop down to choose your State
Usig ..and you can find it you will also need to know who your senate representative is, and you can find that ifo from the dropdown menu at this site.

20. Application Content Documentation of SAM.gov registration
Print your Tribe’s detail page and Submit documentation with your Application
To obtain your System Award Management documentation…you can go to this website and just print out the documentation page to attach to your application.

21. Application Content Example Applications/Templates to Use
FHWA Resources
All available on website:
NOFO
Webinar / Training
23 USC 148
BIA Codes
Instructions for SAM documentation
Application Preview
Application Information
Preparing an Abstract
Example Applications/Templates to Use
Project Narrative 2017 TTPSF Grant Tribal Safety Plan.doc
Project Narrative 2017 TTPSF Grant Improvements.doc
On the FHWA website you find some exampes of projective narratives that have been used in successful applicatrions.
These files are for reference only. Each applicant should answer the Selection Criteria questions and include all supporting information.
For projects that are not just for to developer update a safety plan you will alos need:
Cost estimates should be formulated. Ask BIA Regional Staff for cost-per-mile data. Use same method as for TIP planning.
Be sure to include all pre-engineering costs (planning, design, environmental, right-of-way), construction, construction administration, TERO, Indirect Costs, etc.

22. Application Content Make attachment file names descriptive – Examples:
“Project Narrative 2017 TTPSF Grant State Tribe Name Project Name”
“Attach A – Tribe Name Project Name CA SHSP”
“Attach B – Tribe Name Project Name 2016 Safety Plan”
“Attach C – Tribe Name Project Name Maps”
Include identifying information in each attachment document as footer.
Name of State Project Title
Tribe Name Document Type (Narrative, Map, etc.)
Attachment files must be in PDF format.
Also highlight data in attachments if it will make your point clearer.
Put arrows to data, put box around data, etc.
Maps could be crash data maps, project location map, or a map from a prior study. A project map is not necessary and should only be included if it supports the narrative. For example, if a proposed design has been developed and maps or proposed features have been created, then you should include them. Otherwise, a map is not required nor does it help the application simply for a location map. As long as the road is eligible (official route in the NTTFI) and you state that fact, a map will not justify the improvement.

23. Application Content
If the road facility is not owned by the Tribe or the BIA, then a letter from the road facility owner is required. If the road is owned by a Town, County, State, or other Federal Agency, then they must write a letter acknowledging their awareness of the project.
Maps could be crash data maps, project location map, or a map from a prior study. A project map is not necessary and should only be included if it supports the narrative. For example, if a proposed design has been developed and maps or proposed features have been created, then you should include them. Otherwise, a map is not required nor does it help the application simply for a location map. As long as the road is eligible (official route in the NTTFI) and you state that fact, a map will not justify the improvement.
submitted as an attachment.
Read FULL NOFO in detail and follow all instructions.
Read all grant application documents and submit an organized proposal.
Also highlight data in attachments if it will make your point clearer.
Put arrows to data, put box around data, etc.
Maps could be crash data maps, project location map, or a map from a prior study. A project map is not necessary and should only be included if it supports the narrative. For example, if a proposed design has been developed and maps or proposed features have been created, then you should include them. Otherwise, a map is not required nor does it help the application simply for a location map. As long as the road is eligible (official route in the NTTFI) and you state that fact, a map will not justify the improvement.

24. Selection Process
Tribal Transportation Safety Funding

25. Selection Process Safety Plans
Data Assessment, Improvement, and Analysis Activities
Highly Qualified: Development of a new Safety Plan – up to a maximum of $12,500
Update existing Safety Plan that is at least 3 years old – up to a maximum of $7,500
Not Qualified: Do not meet eligibility or requests to update an existing Tribal Safety Plan that is less than 3 years old
Highly Qualified: In a current State SHSP or Tribal Safety Plan not more than 5 yrs. old; submit data demonstrating need; significant leveraging of funds or is part of comprehensive approach to safety which includes other efforts.
Qualified: In current State SHSP or Tribal Safety Plan; submit some data demonstrating need; some leveraging of funds or is part of comprehensive approach to safety which includes other efforts.
Not Qualified: Do not meet eligibility or projects that are not included in a State SHSP or Tribal Safety Plan.

26. Selection Process
Infrastructure Improvements and Other Eligible Activities as Listed in 23 USC 148(a)(4)
Highly Qualified: In a current State SHSP or Tribal Safety Plan not more than 5 yrs. old, or road safety audit, or impact assessment, or other safety engineering study; submit data that directly supports the project; project located on BIA or Tribal facilities; significant leveraging of funds; the project is part of a comprehensive approach to safety which includes three or more other safety efforts.
Qualified: In current State SHSP or Tribal Safety Plan, or a road safety audit, or impact assessment, or other safety engineering study; submit some data that supports the project; project located on facility not owned by a Tribe or BIA; some leveraging of funds or is part of coordinated approach with one or two other safety efforts.
Not Qualified: Do not meet eligibility; projects that are not included in a State SHSP or Tribal Safety Plan or road safety audit, or impact assessment, or other safety engineering study; no data provided to support the request; do not have a comprehensive approach to safety with other partners.

27. Federal Award Administration
All awards will be administered pursuant to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards found in 2 CRF Part 200.
Applicable Federal laws, rules, and regulations set forth in Title 23, USC and Title 23 of CFR apply.
The TTPSF will be administered the same way as all TTP funds: FHWA Agreement, BIA Agreement, or Compact Agreement.
All required reporting follows the requirements for regular TTP funds.

28. Questions or Need Help? National Indian Justice Center 5250 Aero Drive
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Phone: (707)
Joan Harper, AICP, Ph.D.
Safety Planning Coordinator
Civil Engineering & Consulting
Prepared by Elisabeth Whitlock, PE