Detailed Justification for Salaries and Administrative Expenses

FY 2008 Request: $5,964,000
FTE: 36 (+3)

Overview

The Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) was established by the Norman Y. Mineta Research and Special Programs Improvement Act, November 2004.  The component functions transferred into RITA were the following:  the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the Transportation Safety Institute, the Volpe Center, the Office of Innovation, Research and Education (formerly in RSPA) and staff from the Office of Intermodalism (formerly in OST Policy).

FY 2007 Base

Base funding for salaries and administrative expenses provides for 33 FTE:  the FTE mix consists of overhead staff supporting the RITA administrative functions, as well as direct program staff supporting the office of Research, Development and Technology (RD&T).  In addition, funding provides for administrative expenses, including travel, training, rent, working capital, IT support and E-government initiatives.

Anticipated FY 2007 Accomplishments

RITA’s accomplishments will include meeting the goals associated with the President’s Management Agenda in the areas of Budget and Performance Integration, Human Capital, Competitive Sourcing, E-government, Improved Financial Management and Research and Development. 

E-Government

RITA supports the following E-Government initiatives through a Department-wide distribution based on a specified algorithm.  The RITA contribution to E-Government in FY 2007 is $30,670.  The contribution supports the following Department-wide initiatives:  Business Gateway, $7,043; E-Rulemaking, $428; Integrated Acquisition, $12,224; Grants.gov, $126; LOB:FM, $3,525; LOB: Grants, $12; LOB:HRM, $1,688; GovBenefits, $2,822; LOB: Geo Spatial, $2,254; and IT Infrastructure, $548.

The overall benefit provided from these E-Government initiatives is more efficient RITA-wide business process improvements. The E-Government initiatives serve citizens, businesses, and federal employees by delivering high quality services more efficiently and at a lower price.  Instead of expensive “stove-piped” operations, agencies work together to develop common solutions which achieve mission requirements at a reduced cost, thereby making resources available for higher priority needs.  

FY 2008 Budget Request

In addition to our base FTE level of 33, RITA requests 3 additional FTE for a total of 36 FTE:  1 FTE to manage the Nationwide Differential Global Positioning System (NDGPS) Program, proposed for transfer to RITA in FY 2008; and 2 FTE to support the RD&T Coordination program.  

+1 FTE:  This FTE will manage the NDGPS program that currently resides in the Federal Railroad Administration.  In FY 2008 the Department proposes to transfer the NDGPS program to RITA.

+2 FTE: – The requested FTE will support the RD&T Coordination Program.

• 1 FTE will be focused on conducting technical assessments of modal research programs of national interest, such as Global Positioning System (GPS) Augmentation, Digital Short-Range Communications, and electronic manifesting and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technologies.
• 1 FTE will focus on DOT efforts to identify program redundancies and support emerging cross-modal research priorities, such as congestion reduction, human automation interaction, machine safety performance, alternative fuels and energy efficiency.  In addition, this resource will assist with deployment to support intermodal and interagency teams in areas such as alternative fuels and multi-modal congestion.

E-Government

RITA supports the following E-Government initiatives through a Department-wide distribution based on a specified algorithm.  The RITA contribution to E-Government in FY 2008 is $60,664.  The contribution supports the following Department-wide initiatives:  Business Gateway, $6,843; E-Authentication, $25,824; E-Rulemaking, $357; Integrated Acquisition, $12,224; GovBenefits, $5; LOB: Geo Spatial, $10,043; Grants.gov, $105; LOB: FM, $3,523; LOB: Grants, $10; LOB: HRM, $1,688; LOB: Case Mgmt, $10; LOB: Budget Formulation and Execution, $10; LOB: IT Security, $10; and LOB: IT Infrastructure, $10. 

The overall benefit provided from these E-Government initiatives is more efficient RITA-wide business process improvements.  The E-Government initiatives serve citizens, businesses, and federal employees by delivering high quality services more efficiently and at a lower price.  Instead of expensive “stove-piped” operations, agencies work together to develop common solutions which achieve mission requirements at a reduced cost, thereby making resources available for higher priority needs. 

Explanation of Funding Changes for Salaries and Administrative Expenses

Amount:  +$717,000

Funding provides for 36 FTE to support the Research and Development account, an increase of 3 FTE over the FY 2007 base program.  This funding increase provides for the FY 2007 annualization of pay raise (2.2%; $16,000); FY 2008 pay raise (3.0%; $64,000); inflation (2.0%; $53,000) and cost increase to rent ($95,000) and support of 3 FTE ($489,000) for NDGPS and RD&T Coordination programs.