Clean Fuels (20.519)

Program

20.519 Clean Fuels

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Transportation
Office: Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

Authorization

Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), Public Law 109-59, 49 U.S.C 5308.

Program Number

20.519

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To assist in financing the acquisition of clean fuel vehicles and related facilities for agencies providing public transportation and operating in an urbanized area designated as a non-attainment or maintenance area for ozone or carbon monoxide.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Eligible projects include the purchase or lease of clean fuel vehicles, the construction or lease of clean fuel vehicles or electrical recharging facilities and related equipment for such vehicles, and construction or improvement of public transportation facilities to accommodate clean fuel vehicles. A clean fuel vehicle is a passenger vehicle used to provide public transportation that is powered by compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, biodiesel fuels, batteries, alcohol-based fuels, hybrid electric systems, fuel cells, clean diesel (to the extent allowed by law), or another low or zero emissions technology. Vehicles that employ lightweight composite primary structure may also be eligible.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Public agencies, including States; municipalities and other subdivisions of States; public agencies and instrumentalities of one or more States; and public corporations, boards, and commissions established under State law. Applicant must have legal, financial, and technical capacity to carry out proposed project and maintain facilities and equipment purchased with Federal assistance. Applicant must also operate in an urbanized area designated as a non-attainment or maintenance area for ozone or carbon monoxide. If the urbanized area is less than 200,000 in population, the State in which the area is located will act as the recipient.

Beneficiary Eligibility

The general public, both users and non-users of public transportation.

Credentials/Documentation

Resolution by an authorized public body approving the filing for an application; projects must be included in an urbanized area's transportation improvement program (TIP), and in the Statewide transportation improvement program (STIP) approved by FTA and FHWA. Information must be provided on labor agreements and relocation planning; environmental impact; legal capacity; coordinated regional planning; and compliance with certifications and assurances as compiled in FTA's Annual List of Certifications and Assurances. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact assessment is required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Project funds may be allocated by Congress for specific projects. When applicable, a Notice of Funding Availability is published to announce the availability of discretionary funds and application process. The notification and application are also available at http://www.grants.gov.

Award Procedure

An FTA grant award obligating federal funds is reflected in a grant agreement. Grants are awarded electronically using FTA's Transportation Electronic Award Management (TEAM) system, http://ftateamweb.fta.dot.gov/fta-flash2b.html. In order to access this system, a user name and password are needed and can be obtained by contacting the regional offices. Once the funds are reserved in TEAM and the project information has been reviewed and approved by Headquarters, the recipient must execute the grant agreement to access the funds.

Deadlines

Not Applicable.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 30 to 60 days. It is a goal of the Federal Transit Administration to obligate grants within an average of 36 days of the submission of a complete grant application.

Appeals

None. Award recipients are chosen by Congress during the appropriations process.

Renewals

Funds are appropriated annually. Grants may be amended to add newly available funds for a continuing project.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

This program has no matching requirements.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Terms and conditions are delineated in the grant agreement. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. Pursuant to requirements established by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), nonfederal entities that expend $500,000 or more in a year in Federal awards shall have a single or program specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year with certain exceptions as determined by the OMB. The Federal Transit Administration may also conduct its own audits.

Records

Recipient is required to retain intact, for 3 years following submission of final expenditure report, pending resolution of audit findings, all project contract documents, financial records, and supporting documents.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: The program has provided funding for clean fuel projects as directed by Congress. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

69-1137-0-1-401; 69-8350-0-7-401.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $21,714,447; FY 09 est $62,056,000; FY 10 est not reported. - (Clean Fuel Bus Grants) FY 08 act $21,714,447; FY 09 est. $62,056,000; and FY 10 est. not available.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$160,000 - $5,250,000. Average $1,112,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Please visit the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) website or contact the appropriate FTA Region office for more information. See Federal Register/ Vol.70, No. 229/ Wednesday, November 30, 2005/ Notices.

Related Programs

20.500 Federal Transit_Capital Investment Grants; 20.505 Federal Transit_Metropolitan Planning Grants

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. See list of region contacts listed in Appendix IV.

Headquarters Office

Sylvia L. Marion 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E

, Washington, District of Columbia 20590 Phone: (202) 366-6680

Web Site Address

www.fta.dot.gov.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Projects receiving funding under the program include the replacement of existing diesel vehicles with hybrid diesel-electric and other alternative fuel vehicles , as well as the construction of facilities to support vehicles utilizing clean fuel technology. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Per Congressional designation.