[Federal Register: August 27, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 166)] [Notices] [Page 46966-46967] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr27au99-108] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Highway Administration Assistance Program for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Other Minority Institutions of Higher Education (MIHE) AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of restricted eligibility for a competitive assistance program. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The FHWA is considering the establishment of a competitive assistance program which will be limited to HBCUs and MIHE. Under the assistance program envisioned, these schools and universities would be competing amongst themselves for grants and cooperative agreements that are relevant to one or more of the FHWA's five strategic goals. This notice seeks Expressions of Interest from HBCUs and other MIHE that would like to participate in such a program. DATES: Expressions of Interest must be received on or before November 10, 1999. ADDRESSES: Your Expressions of Interest may be mailed or hand-carried to the Federal Highway Administration, Office of Acquisition Management, 400 7th Street, SW., Room 4410, Washington, DC 20590-0001, Mail Stop HAAM-20, or submitted electronically to: Debbie.Ridgely@fhwa.dot.gov in WordPerfect 6.1 or higher. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Debbie Ridgely, Office of Acquisition Management, HAAM-10, (202)-366-4233, or Mr. Wilbert Baccus, Office of the Chief Counsel, HCC-32, (202) 366-1396, Federal Highway Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Office hours are from 7:45 am to 4:15 pm, e.t., Monday through Friday except Federal Holidays. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Electronic Access An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded using a modem and suitable communications software from the Government Printing Office's Electronic bulletin Board Service at (202) 512-1661. Internet users may reach the Office of the Federal Register's home page at: http://www.nara.gov/fedreg and the Government Printing Office's database at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara. Internet users may access the FHWA Strategic Plan by going to: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov (select Major Program Areas, then FHWA Strategic Plan). Users may also review major program areas of the FHWA from this home page. Internet users may also access the pertinent Executive Orders for HBCUs and MIHE at www.whitehouse.gov (select Virtual Library, then Executive Orders). Background The National Task Force on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority Institutions of Higher Education (MIHE) was formed to make recommendations to the Administrator which would facilitate, enhance and increase the participation of these schools in all phases of the FHWA Federal and Federal-aid programs with a special emphasis on research and technology programs. The Task Force made numerous recommendations to the Acting Federal Highway Administrator in December 1997. As a result of those recommendations, the Office of Acquisition Management has proposed the establishment of the assistance program as a viable method of matching the capabilities of the HBCUs and MIHE, with the needs of the FHWA. The purpose of this program is to foster the HBCUs/MIHE* research and development activities which contribute substantially to the FHWA's mission and to prepare the faculty and students at HBCUs/MIHE to successfully participate in the competitive research arena. *A HBCUs is defined in 34 CFR 608.2 as an accredited college or university, established prior to 1964, whose principle mission was and is, the education of African-Americans. An Indian Serving Institution, which includes Tribal Colleges, as well as, Bureau of Indian Affairs affiliated institutions must have a student body of at least 51% American Indian to acquire and maintain Tribal College status. A Hispanic Serving Institution, as defined by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), must have at least a 25% Hispanic student body. This entitles the school to a full membership in HACU. The HACU accepts associate memberships from institutions with a smaller percentage, of not less than 10% Hispanic students. Under the program envisioned by the FHWA, all assistance program awards would be required to be relevant to one or more of the FHWA's five strategic goals of mobility, safety, productivity, human and natural environment, and national security. The mobility goal concerns the continual improvement of the public's access to activities, goods, and services through the preservation, improvement, and expansion of the highway transportation system and enhancement of its operations, efficiency, and intermodal connections. The safety goal concerns continual improvement of highway safety by reducing the number of fatalities and injuries. The productivity goal concerns the continual improvement of the economic efficiency of the Nation's transportation system to enhance America's position in the global economy. The human and natural environment goal concerns the protection and enhancement of the natural environment and communities affected by highway transportation. The [[Page 46967]] national security goal seeks the improvement of the capacity and operation of the highway system to support defense mobilization. The assistance program envisioned would be an annual program under which awards would be made on a competitive basis, predicated on merit review, typically for a period of three years. Funding beyond the first year would be based on an annual evaluation of documented progress, availability of funds, and the amount of funds reported as unexpended by the awardee at the end of each year's period of performance. A preliminary estimate of total award amounts would be approximately $100,000 on an annual basis. The HBCUs and the MIHE that are interested in participating in such an assistance program are invited to submit an ``Expression of Interest.'' Your submission should include: 1. Full name and address of school/university, point of contact, phone number, fax number and E-Mail address, 2. Specific FHWA goal(s) that your institution would be interested in participating under and your actual recent (past three years) experience in the area, 3. A list of your institution's current curriculum/majors as they relate to the FHWA strategic goals, 4. Any laboratories/research facilities that you currently have access to, and 5. Any specific future plans you have for expanding your curriculum and or research facilities. Provided that a sufficient number of relevant ``Expressions of Interest'' are received in response to this notice, the FHWA would issue a program-based solicitation calling for submission of applications. The application process would be open to all HBCUs and MIHE and is not dependent upon submitting an initial ``Expression of Interest.'' Applications would be assessed according to specific criteria that relate to the goals of the FHWA's National Strategic Plan and would be awarded to a limited number of applicants according to the merit of the application and the availability of funds in each fiscal year. The target date for initial awards would be FY 2000. Authority: 23 U.S.C. 307 and 403; E.O. No. 12876, 58 FR 58735, 3 CFR, 1994 Comp., p. 671; E.O. No. 13021, 61 FR 54929, 3 CFR, 1997 Comp., p. 221; 49 CFR 1.48. Issued on August 18, 1999. Gloria J. Jeff, Federal Highway Deputy Administrator. [FR Doc. 99-22289 Filed 8-26-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-22-P