Technical Assistance and Workforce Development

 

The goals and objectives for Technical Assistance and Workforce Development projects vary according to the type of project. Eligible activities include: Technical assistance and Standards to more effectively and efficiently provide public transportation service; administer funds received under 49 U.S.C. Chapter 53 in compliance with federal law; and improve public transportation; address Human Resources needs, provide Training; support Innovative Public Transportation Frontline Workforce Development; and operate a National Transit Institute. Technical Assistance can support compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); compliance with human services transportation coordination requirements; meeting the transportation needs of elderly individuals; increasing transit ridership with Metropolitan Planning Organizations; addressing transportation equity; facilitating best practices to promote bus driver safety; meeting the requirements 5323(j) (Buy America) and 5323(m) (Pre and Post-Award Audits); assisting with the development and deployment of low or no emission vehicles; and any other technical assistance activities the Secretary of Transportation determines is necessary to advance the interests of public transportation. Standards: The development of voluntary and consensus-based standards and best practices by the public transportation industry, including standards and best practices for safety, fare collection, Intelligent Transportation Systems, accessibility, procurement, security, asset management to maintain a state of good repair, operations, maintenance, vehicle propulsion, communications, and vehicle electronics. Human Resources and Training may include: 1) Employment training programs; (2) Outreach to specific under-represented populations in the workforce; (3) Research on public transportation personnel and training needs; (4) Training and assistance for veteran and minority business opportunities; and (5) Consensus-based national training standards and certifications in partnership with industry stakeholders. Innovative Public Transportation Frontline Workforce Development Program focuses on: (1) developing apprenticeships, on-the job training, and instructional training for public transportation maintenance and operations occupations; (2) building local, regional, and statewide public transportation training partnerships with local public transportation operators, labor union organizations, workforce development boards, and State workforce agencies to identify and address workforce skill gaps; (3) improving safety, security, and emergency preparedness in local public transportation systems through improved safety culture and workforce communication with first responders and the riding public; and (4) addressing current or projected workforce shortages by developing partnerships with high schools, community colleges, and other community organizations. The National Transit Institute will develop and conduct training and educational programs for Federal, State, and local transportation employees, United States citizens and foreign nationals engaged or to be engaged in Government-aid public transportation work.

Active 20.531 Federal Transit Administration, Department of Transportation B - Project Grants; C - Direct Payments For Specified Use; L - Dissemination of Technical Information; M - Training Fiscal Year 2016 In the Technical Assistance program FTA considered 16 applications for funding and approved up to 3 awards to grant in this area for the Fiscal Year 2016. Project activities to be funded are: the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center, and the National Center for Mobility Management, as well as other essential standards and technical assistance projects in the safety, planning, and disadvantaged business areas. The projects will allow FTA to continue to partner with experienced national nonprofit and other organizations to provide training and guidance on how to effectively implement transit programs and meet federal requirements. Accomplishments for this section are included in CFDA 20.514.
Fiscal Year 2017 Accomplishments data for this section are included in assistance listing 20.514.
Fiscal Year 2018 FUNDED PROJECTS ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN FY 2018 INCLUDE: FTA funded activities in Technical Assistance, Standards, Human Resources and Training. Project/Program accomplishments for FY 2018 include: 1) FTA funded the National Transit Institute program which serves all of FTA funding programs in developing and conducting training for federal, state, and local transportation employees and others in a variety positions relevant to the transit industry. NTI planned to increase training course delivery by 1 percent and number of participants trained; therefore, the goal was delivering 210 training courses to over 7,300 participants. NTI training is conducted throughout the United States for all transit properties and others to attend. 2) FTA funded the TRB Core Program Support at the National Academy of Sciences; the goal was to increase attendance annually and was achieved. The program supports the exchange of transit research information and results at the national level as well as technical assistance for transit entities working at the state and local levels. Research results are made available to the transit industry through the TRB Annual Meeting in January; which served over 13,600 people from 183 transit agencies. 3) The National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM) was being re-competed and a notice of funding opportunity was released in the Summer of FY 2018. 4) FTA funded the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) project to support the partnerships developed and created more technical centers for targeted populations. 5) FTA increased funding for safety standards, safety technical assistance, and safety projects to provide transit agencies with promising practices and volunteer standards that can increase worker and passenger safety.
Fiscal Year 2019 FISCAL YEAR 2019: FTA expects to fund projects: in Technical Assistance, Standards, and Training Projects. Anticipated program accomplishments for FY 2019 include: 1) FTA will fund the National Transit Institute (NTI) to continue serving all of FTA programs by developing and conducting training for federal, state, and local transportation employees and others in a variety positions relevant to the transit industry. It is anticipated NTI will increase delivery of training course by 1 percent annually and conduct a frontline workforce panel meeting in the Winter of FY 2019. 2) Expect to continuously funding the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Core Support Activities so that FTA can attend the January TRB Annual Conference Meeting to highlight what is new or ongoing at FTA, and where over 13,600 people from all over the world and multiple transportation affiliations attend. 3) FTA expects to award a new National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM) to expand awareness of mobility management promising practices. 4) FTA will continue to support technical assistance activities that improve mobility for older adults and people with disabilities.
Fiscal Year 2020 ANTICIPATED ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR FY 2020: FTA anticipates providing resources to : 1) the National Transit Institute (NTI) to continue serving all of FTA programs by developing and conducting training for federal, state, and local transportation employees and others in a variety of positions relevant to the transit industry. It is anticipated that NTI will conduct two Transit Academies courses annually and facilitate a frontline workforce bus maintenance training event in the Fall of FY 2020. 2) Continue to fund FTA research to practice technical assistance center. 3) Extending funding for the National Center for Mobility Center (NCMM) in the future depending on future authorization and appropriations; decisions and program priorities established by the Secretary of Transportation related to the implementation of provisions set forth in 49 U.S.C. 5314 and annual performance reviews. 4) Anticipate funding more activities in technical assistance, standards development, and human resources and frontline workforce development projects. The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (Public Law No. 114-94), signed into law on December 4, 2015, and effective October 11, 2015, 49 U.S.C. Section 5314/FAST Section 3009., Public Law 114-94, 49 U.S.C. 5314
Federal Public Transportation Law authorizes $9 million annually to carry out a range of Technical Assistance, Standards Development and Workforce Development activities (under the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund). An additional $5 million was provided for Section 5314 activities in the FY 2018 Appropriations Act (under the General Fund). Of the $14 million made available in FY 2018, $5 million is provided to continue the operation of the National Transit Institute (NTI) at a public 4-year degree granting institution of higher learning. This section also allows for the Secretary to make grants to fund the development of transit standards, technical assistance provided by qualified national non-profit organizations, employment training programs (including assistance to veterans and minority populations), apprenticeship programs, and other education programs. The law also allows up to 0.5% of funding from Section 5307 to be utilized for workforce development activities. Federal Government departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Government; Metropolitan Planning Organizations; State and local governmental entities; providers of public transportation; and national non-profit organizations (that have the appropriate demonstrated capacity to provide public transportation-related technical assistance); public four-year degree-granting institutions of higher education, as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)) to carry-out the duties of the institute. State, Local, Public nonprofit institution/organization and Private nonprofit institution/organization. Specific applicant eligibility may vary with different program areas within this section. FTA will specify the credentials and documentation in program manager direction and/or in the individual notices of funding opportunity published to support the various sections and programs. At a minimum, the initial proposal should include the standard form required for use as a cover sheet for submission of pre-applications and applications "instructions for application for federal assistance (SF-424) form", project objectives, performance measures, background, and project description, including schedule, budget, and applicant's organizational experience. Applicants approved will have to do a resolution by an authorized body approving the filing of an application; and complete certifications and assurances as compiled in FTA's Annual List of Certifications and Assurances. Legal opinion and compliance with labor requirements are required later. Preapplication coordination is required. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Pre-application coordination may be required. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. To the extent funding is available for discretionary activities, FTA will publish specific application instructions in a notice of funding opportunity or through program manager directed request for an application. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. In addition, FTA guidance for this program can be found in FTA Circular 6100.1E, "Research, Technical Assistance and Training Program: Application Instructions and Program Management Guidelines." Potential applicants should follow the instructions in this Circular, which may be found at the FTA website at https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-guidance/fta-circulars/final-circulars. An FTA agreement award obligating Federal funds is reflected in either a grant agreement, contract, interagency agreement, and/or cooperative agreement. Grants and cooperative agreements are awarded electronically using FTA's online systems - the Transit Award Management System (TrAMS). A pre-requisite to work with the government and apply for Federal funds, includes having a valid Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, must register in grants.gov; be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM) and continue to maintain an active SAM registration with the current information at all times during which the organization has an active Federal award. To access this web-based system, a user name and password are needed and can be obtained by contacting the appropriate FTA staff. The Federal Transit Administrator makes the final decision to approve a project. To access funds, the recipient must execute the Agreement and be set-up in FTA's financial system. Technical assistance and standards activities funded under this section require an evaluation of the project activities and reporting of measurable outcomes and impacts of the programs' results. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines From 30 to 60 days. Varies Not applicable. Not applicable. Selection criteria may vary depending upon the type of program being selected. Competitive selection information is contained in published Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Directed agreement criteria are established by program managers and noted in application instructions. See Objectives. Generally, the program supports technical assistance, training, workforce projects, and standards development not undertaken by the private sector. Funding will provide for training and educational programs which may include courses in recent developments, techniques, and procedures related to intermodal and public transportation planning; management; environmental factors; acquisition and joint use rights-of-way; engineering and architectural design; procurement strategies for public transportation systems; new technologies; emission reduction technologies; way to make public transportation access to individuals with disabilities; construction, construction management, insurance, and risk management, maintenance; contract administration; inspection; innovative finance; workplace safety; and public transportation security. This program funds technical assistance to assist providers of public transportation to: Comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); comply with human services transportation coordination requirements and enhance the coordination of related Federal resources; meet the transportation needs of elderly individuals; and address transportation equity. The program can also fund innovative workforce development activities in the areas with special emphasis on targeting areas with high unemployment; provide advanced training related to maintenance of alternative energy efficient or zero emission vehicle; and address current or projected workforce shortages in areas that require technical expertise. In addition, it will provide for the development of voluntary and consensus-based standards and best practices by the public transportation industry, including standards and best practices for safety, fare collection, Intelligent Transportation Systems, accessibility, procurement, security, asset management to maintain a state of good repair, operations, maintenance, vehicle propulsion, communications, and vehicle electronics. Depending on the specific funding program, the eligibility of recipients, projects, and federal share may vary. To the extent FTA allocates the funding through a competitive notice of funding availability, FTA will specify eligibility and requirements in a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO). Performance Reports: Milestone Progress Reports (MPR). A recipient must submit a quarterly MPR for each active project. The MPR is the primary written communication between the recipient and FTA outlining accomplishments to date. Technical assistance and standards projects must report measurable outcomes and impacts of the programs. Human resources program must report (D) Program outcomes.—A recipient of assistance for workforce or human resources projects shall demonstrate: o outcomes for any program that includes skills training, on-the-job training, and o work-based learning, including— o (i) the impact on reducing public transportation workforce shortages in the area served; o (ii) the diversity of training participants; o (iii) the number of participants obtaining certifications or credentials required for o specific types of employment; o (iv) employment outcomes, including job placement, job retention, and wages, using o performance metrics established in consultation with the Secretary and the o Secretary of Labor and consistent with metrics used by programs under the o Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.); and o to the extent practical, evidence that the program did not preclude workers who are o participating in skills training, on-the-job training, and work-based learning from o being referred to, or hired on, projects funded under this chapter without regard to o the length of time of their participation in the program. • Final Technical Report. At the conclusion of a project, a recipient must submit a final technical report documenting project performance and the final results, outcomes, and impacts of the activities and include a technical evaluation of the project, and include an executive summary. Not applicable. Agreement recipients shall retain records for 3 years following submission of a final expenditure report, pending resolution of audit findings, all project contracts documents, financial records, and supporting records. Statutory Formula: Title Technical Assistance and Workforce Development Public Law Public Law 49 U.S.C. 5314 Technical Assistance and Standards – The government share of the cost of an activity carried out using a grant may not exceed 80 percent. The nongovernment share of the costs of an activity carried out using a grant may be derived from in-kind contributions. Human Resources and Training, including Innovative Public Transportation Frontline Workforce Development Program – The government share of the cost of project carried out using a grant shall be 50 percent. Allow recipients to use up to 0.5 percent of their section 5307, 5337 and 5339 funds to support Workforce Development program activities and partake in NTI training under section 5314, at up to 80 percent.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. The period varies with the complexity of the project. Terms and conditions are contractually agreed on between FTA and the applicant. The Secretary makes decisions regarding what projects will be funded from this section, typically this process occurs yearly through a selection process that begins once appropriations are final. Project agreements will vary depending upon the type of activity and what type of recipient is required. Acquisition strategies include competitive and sole source methods. Agreements can be contracts, cooperative agreements, grants or interagency agreements. None/Not specified. Mary Leary, Deputy Associate Administrator
1200 New Jersey Ave, S.E.
Washington, DC 20590 USA
mary.leary@dot.gov
Phone: (202) 366-2204 http://www.transit.dot.gov/research 69-1137-0-1-401 (Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements or Contracts)) FY 18$5,000,000.00; FY 19 est $9,000,000.00; FY 20 est $9,000,000.00; - $200,000 to $2,000,000. Most Federal transit laws are codified at Title 49, United States Code, Chapter 53 (49 U.S.C. chapter 53). Authorizing legislation is substantive legislation enacted by Congress that establishes or continues the legal operation of a Federal program or agency. FTA's Fiscal Year Annual List of Certifications and Assurances for Federal Transit Administration Grants and Cooperative Agreements; FTA Circular 6100.1E for Research Projects; FTA Circular 4220.1F for Third-Party Contracting Guidance; and FTA Circular 5010.1E for Award Management Requirements. In certain circumstances and in other fiscal years, contact the FTA Office of Research, Demonstration and Innovation as necessary. Also, consult FTA website www.transit.dot.gov. Other information will be made available upon request. Fiscal Year 2016 FY 2016 projects approved for award under the Technical Assistance program for funding in accordance with the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act are: EXAMPLES OF APPROVED FUNDED PROJECTS: • National Aging and Disability Transportation Center: The NADTC’s mission is to promote the availability and accessibility of transportation options that serve the needs of people with disabilities, seniors and caregivers with a focus on effectively leveraging FTA’s Section 5310 Enhance Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities formula grants and other transit investments. Section 5310 (I) requires FTA to collect, review, and disseminate innovative practices, program models, new service delivery options, and findings. NADTC also provides transportation-related technical assistance to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as to meet the transportation needs of elderly individuals. • National Transit Institute: Provides training to the transportation industry across a host of areas to help FTA grantees understand processes and learn tools to remain or become compliant with federal regulations. Target audiences include a broad range of titles and skill sets from paratransit operations managers, to trainers, construction managers, and project finance professionals. • National Center for Mobility Management: Under Section 3006(c) of FAST, FTA is required to implement coordinated mobility, including developing an allocated cost model, convening CCAM, and completing a CCAM strategic plan. The NCMM supports FTA in its role as the CCAM lead agency, including these requirements. In addition, NCMM facilitates the adoption of mobility management strategies and transportation options at the state and community level to leverage transportation resources and fill transportation gaps to empower people to live independently. Project examples for this section are included in CFDA 20.514.
Fiscal Year 2017 Examples of funded projects for FY 2017 are under assistance listing 20.514.
Fiscal Year 2018 FUNDED PROJECTS FOR FY 2018 INCLUDE: 1) The National Transit Institute. 2) The Transportation Research Board Core Support Program. 3) The National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC). 4) Continue funding the National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM). 5) Funding of safety standards. For more information about the types of projects funded see FTA Annual Report on Technical Assistance and Workforce Development for FY 2018 at link https://www.transit.dot.gov/research-innovation/fta-annual-report-technical-assistance-and-workforce-development-fy-2018-report.
Fiscal Year 2019 EXPECT TO FUND PROJECTS FOR FY 2019 INCLUDE: FTA expects to support programs in Technical Assistance, Standards, and Training. Projects planned for FY 2019 include: 1) Expect to award a grant to the National Transit Institute. 2) Expect to continue funding the Transportation Research Board Core Program. 3) Expect to fund Projects that improve mobility for seniors and people with disabilities. 4) Expect to issue a notice of funding opportunity for the National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM). 5) Expect to fund projects for the development of voluntary and consensus-based standards and best practices.
Fiscal Year 2020 ANTICIPATE TO FUND PROJECTS FOR FY 2020 INCLUDE: 1) The National Transit Institute. 2) Scheduled to award a new National Center for Mobility Management (NCMM) in fiscal year 2020. 3) Anticipate releasing a notice of funding opportunity for a research to practice technical assistance center. 4) Anticipate awarding projects that will focus on improving mobility for seniors and people with disabilities. 5) Schedule to release a new workforce consortia program.