FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION

ANNUAL FEDERAL PLANNED AWARDS REPORT ON EXECUTIVE AGENCY ACTIONS TO ASSIST HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (HBCUS)

Executive Summary

The following is a summary of the FHWA's Annual HBCU Plan for FY 2005 regarding its commitment to increasing the capacity of HBCUs to benefit from federally sponsored programs.

Goals:

1. To increase the number of highway research, development and technology contracts, grants and cooperative agreements awarded to HBCUs.
2. To increase the number of HBCU students pursuing transportation careers by participating in programs such as the Dwight David Eisenhower Fellowship Program and the National Summer Transportation Institute Program.

3. To increase the number of States participating in the NSTI from 26 to 50 including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico
4. To increase partnerships while maintaining a good work relationship with our existing HBCU partners and the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education.

Objectives:

1. To increase HBCUs participation and skill level for bidding for research and technology contracts, grants and cooperative agreements. To have HBCUs take advantage of such programs as the Competitive Assistance Program.
2. Through the NSTI Strategic Plan (2004-2008) introduce 5,000 more secondary school students to the transportation industry and transportation-related careers. To expand the number of students participating in the Summer Transportation Internship Program for Diverse Groups. And, to publicize the successes and awardees of the Summer Transportation Institutes, the Internships, Cooperative Education efforts, Fellowships, and other forms of student employment.
3. To expand the number of Universities and Colleges sponsoring a Summer Transportation Institute.
4. To establish a partnership with a HBCU in every State or Territory where a HBCU is located.

The FHWA will continue to focus on expanding opportunities for HBCUs in three categories — Partnerships, Human Resources, and Grants and Contracts.

Partnerships

The goal of the partnerships is to forge a better, ongoing relationship with each HBCU. It is through these agreements that HBCUs are provided technical assistance, curriculum development, exchange of staff and resources. Some of the planned major programs under this category for FY 2005 include the Local Technical Assistance Program, the Entrepreneurial Development Institute, and the On-the-Job Training/Supportive Services (OJT/SS) program. In FY 2005 the FHWA plans to continue establishing partnerships with HBCUs until a partnership agreement is signed in every State or Territory where an HBCU is located.

Human Resources

The Human Resources category involves the funding of scholarships, fellowships and other related activities to HBCU students to pursue transportation careers. Fellowships are awarded to HBCU faculty to increase their understanding of the Federal and Federal-aid programs. The major activities under this category are as follows:

• Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program - For FY 2005, the FHWA plans to administer at least 48 Eisenhower HBCU Fellowships at several HBCUs.
• Summer Transportation Institute (STI)- This 4 to 5-week program is designed to encourage and motivate youth to pursue transportation careers. The students actively participate in a series of academic and practical experiences. Since 1992 nearly 5,000 students and 28 HBCUs have participated in the program. This program continues to draw numerous students each year in;

(Note final figures have not been received for FY 2004)

In FY 2005, the FHWA plans to increase the number of students participating and HBCUs serving as host site while maintaining its sponsorship of all the current institutes.

• On-the-Job Training Supportive Services (OJT/SS) - The provisions* for the program provide annual funding for OJT/SS projects with innovative approaches and nationwide implications to support employment opportunities for people moving from welfare to work, women, and minorities in fields of highway construction and transportation technology. The FHWA plans to expand its efforts to provide HBCUs/Other Minority Institutions of Higher Education (MIHEs) with information about opportunities to partner with State Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide innovative OJT/SS programs. All HBCUs will be encouraged to develop proposals to assist minorities and women in developing job readiness skills and support systems which facilitate acceptance and retention in highway construction trades or related technology fields.

Grants and Contracts

The FHWA is committed to ensuring greater participation by HBCUs in highway research, development, and technology contracts and grants. For FY 2005, the FHWA plans to increase the number of awards to HBCUs for research and technology contracts, grants and cooperative agreements. Some of the activities planned under this category include the following:

• Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) - The purpose of the LTAP Program is to provide the transfer of highway technology and technical assistance to rural and local governments. The LTAP centers conduct a variety of activities that include a communication center that link local highway agencies, tribal governments, States, universities, and the Federal Government.
• Entrepreneurial Development Institute (EDI) - The EDI Program provides training and technical assistance to Disadvantaged Business Enterprises firms to enhance their capability to obtain highway construction and related contracts. Some training and technical assistance topics include: (1) Small Business Management, (2) Computerized Budgeting and Payroll, (3) Construction Estimating and Bidding, and (4) Business Plan Development. The HBCUs will continue their participation in the EDI Program by partnering with FHWA and State Departments of Transportation.
• Competitive Assistance Program for HBCUs and MIHEs - The FHWA has developed the framework for the competitive assistance program, which limits competition to only HBCUs and Other MIHEs. These colleges and universities compete among themselves for grants and cooperative agreements that are relevant to one or more of FHWA's six strategic goals**. The program was introduced in FY 2000. This program is expected to direct over $500,000 dollars in contract/cooperative agreement awards to HBCUs and Other MIHEs in FY 2005.

FY Annual Plan Projected Awards

The FHWA projected awards to HBCUs for FY 2005 is $7,305,619 an estimated decrease of $2,171,954 of the $9,477,513 planned awards to HBCUs for FY 2004. The estimated decrease is due in part to funding levels for all divisions and States not being increased for this program and not knowing the exact amount of projects HBCUs be able to compete for in FY 2005.*