Strategic Innovation for Revenue Collection (SIRC) Program - FY 2022-2024
| Agency: | U.S. Department of Transportation |
|---|---|
| CFDA: | 20.200 |
| Federal FON: | 693JJ324NF00014 |
| Office: | Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Operations |
| Multipart Grant: | No |
| Next Due: | 05/27/2024 (Multiple) |
|---|---|
| Solicitation Date: | 03/27/2024 |
| Match Required: | Yes |
| Match Type: | Cash/In-Kind |
| Actual Funds: | Unspecified |
| Range: | $45,000,000 (Max) |
Summary:
The purpose of this program is to test the feasibility of a road usage fee and other user-based alternative revenue mechanisms to help maintain the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund. Funding must be used to carry out a pilot project that addresses one or more of the following objectives:
- Testing the design, acceptance, equity, and implementation of user-based revenue mechanisms, including among differing income groups, and rural and urban drivers, as applicable
- Providing recommendations regarding adoption and implementation of user-based alternative revenue mechanisms
- Quantifying and minimizing the administrative costs of any potential user-based alternative revenue mechanisms
- Testing a variety of solutions, including the use of independent and private third-party vendors, for the collection of data and fees from user-based alternative revenue mechanisms, including the reliability and security of those solutions and vendors
- Testing solutions to ensure the privacy and security of data collected for the purpose of implementing a user-based alternative revenue mechanism
- Conducting public education and outreach to increase public awareness regarding the need for user-based alternative revenue mechanisms for surface transportation programs
- Evaluating the ease of compliance and enforcement of a variety of implementation approaches for different users of the surface transportation system
- Ensuring, to the greatest extent practicable, the use of innovation
- Considering, to the greatest extent practicable, the potential for revenue collection along a network of alternative fueling stations
- Evaluating the impacts of the imposition of a user-based alternative revenue mechanism on transportation revenues; personal mobility, driving patterns, congestion, and transportation costs; and freight movement and costs
- Evaluating options for the integration of user-based alternative revenue mechanisms with nationwide transportation revenue collections and regulations; toll revenue collection platforms; transportation network company fees; and any other relevant transportation revenue mechanisms
The focus of the program is on broad-based alternative revenue mechanisms that could ultimately be scaled to a national level to help maintain the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund, as opposed to localized solutions that are not scalable.
Projects should be designed to demonstrate effective collection of federal user fee revenue, but also be used to collect state or local user fee revenue. During the project period, federal user fee revenue will not actually be collected; rather, the project will demonstrate how the mechanism could be used to collect federal user fee revenue.
Award recipients must participate in a kick-off meeting with the funding agency at a mutually agreed-upon location within four weeks after the effective date of the fully executed award agreement.
An optional webinar is scheduled for this program. Refer to the Application section for details.
Last Updated: May 02, 2024
Eligibility Notes:
Eligible entities include:
- States or groups of states
- Local governments or groups of local governments
- Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) or groups of MPOs
- Multijurisdictional groups
A multijurisdictional group is any combination of states, local governments, or MPOs for which each member of the group has signed a written agreement to participate in the project across jurisdictional boundaries.
If a state has previously proven the viability of an alternative revenue mechanism in a limited capacity through its own research, it may still be a candidate for funding through this program.
Applicants may submit applications for either deadline. Applications to the FY 2022/2023 deadline that are not selected for funding may be automatically reconsidered with the FY 2024 submissions. However, applicants are recommended to update their applications and resubmit them for the FY 2024 deadline.
There is no limitation on the number of applications that may be submitted by an eligible applicant; however, only one project may be included in each application. There is no restriction on submitting applications to multiple federal programs. A single project, however, cannot receive federal funding under multiple programs.
Eligible Applicants:
Local GovernmentConsortia
State Government
Application Notes:
Applications must be submitted by one of the following deadlines:
- FY 2022/2023: 11:59 p.m. ET on May 27, 2024
- FY 2024: to be determined
Applications must be submitted online at www.ecivis.com/grants.gov.
Applications must contain:
- Volume I: technical application:
- Cover page
- Project narrative
- Responsiveness to project objectives and additional selection considerations
- Management structure
- Staffing description (5 pages max)
- Exhibits and attachments (if applicable)
- Resumes (4 pages max each)
- Volume II: budget application:
- SF 424
- SF 424A
- SF 424B
- SF LLL
- Summary budget information
- Cost share information, including letters of commitment
- Other business information
Volume I, excluding the cover page and resumes, is limited to 30 pages. Volume I should be formatted as a single document using standard-sized, single-space pages, with 1-inch margins and a standard 12-point font. Applications may include appropriately-sized pages for conveying detailed information, such as maps. All pages must be consecutively numbered. Volume II should be submitted as a single file.
The following are required in order to submit an application:
- Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number
- SAM (System for Award Management) registration
Applicants may obtain a UEI number and verify or renew SAM registration status at www.ecivis.com/sam.
Applicants are encouraged to email optional letters of intent (LOIs) to the address provided in the Contact section no later than 30 days prior to the appropriate submission deadline.
An optional webinar is scheduled for this program as follows:
April 17, 2024
2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET
Registration: usdot.zoomgov.com
A recording of the webinar is available online at:
URL: usdot.zoomgov.com/rec
Passcode: ^U7cv.H2
Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Technical merit
- Staffing
- Cost
The technical merit criterion has the most importance, while the staffing and cost criteria are approximately equally important. Refer to pages 35-36 of the NOFA file for additional information on evaluation criteria.
Refer to the NOFA and FAQ files for additional application information.
| Match Required: | Yes |
|---|---|
| Match Type: | Cash/In-Kind |
| Actual Funds: | Unspecified |
| Range: | $45,000,000 (Max) |
Match Notes:
Applicants must provide a portion of the total project cost via nonfederal cash and/or in-kind matching contributions, as follows:
- At least 20 percent for first-time applicants
- At least 30 percent for applicants that previously received funding through this program
Matching funds may include toll credits under 23 U.S.C.
Other federal funds using their appropriate matching share may be leveraged for a pilot program, but may not be considered as part of the required matching funds for this program, unless otherwise allowed by statute.
Program income must not be used to offset the federal or recipient contribution to this project.
Matching funds may not include:
- Funds already expended prior to execution of the award agreement or project agreement, or otherwise encumbered
- Funds for which the source is ultimately a federal program, unless otherwise allowed by statute
Funding Notes:
Up to $45 million is available to support awards through this program, with up to $15 million available to support at least five awards for each of the three fiscal years covered. Currently, the estimated amount available for FY 2022 is $13,695,000, and the estimated amount available for FY 2023 is $13.17 million.
Funding will be provided on a reimbursement basis.
Notifications for FY 2022 and FY 2023 awards are expected to be issued by September 2024. Notifications for FY 2024 awards are expected to be issued by September 2025.
The period of performance is limited to five years. Proposals may include multiyear phases, but each phase must have independent utility to be considered, and future phases must apply for a new award in future years.
Costs for conference support require prior written approval by the funding agency.
Funds may not be used for:
- Pre-award costs
- Application preparation costs
- Supporting or opposing union organizing, whether directly or as an offset for other funds
- Food and beverage costs for conferences
Contacts:
Ryan Buck
Agreement Officer
(202) 366-4229
SIRCFHWA@dot.gov
Robin Hobbs
Agreement Officer/Team Leader
(202) 366-4004
SIRCFHWA@dot.gov
Agency Address
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
Contact Notes:
Questions should be directed to the program staff. Email communication is preferred.
Applications must be submitted online at www.ecivis.com/grants.gov.
Optional letters of intent (LOIs) must be emailed to the address provided.
The agency address provided is for reference purposes only.
Files:
NOFA File: US17629_NOFA_FY2022-24.pdf (571.8 Kb)Other Pre-Award File: US17629_FAQ_FY2022-24.pdf (173.8 Kb)
Other Pre-Award File: US17629_Amendment_FY2022-24.pdf (138.4 Kb)
Other Pre-Award File: US17629_Amendment2_FY2022-24.pdf (56.0 Kb)
File Notes:
The NOFA file contains the full solicitation for this program. The FAQ file contains a list of answers to frequently asked questions regarding this program. The Amendment file contains an amendment to the solicitation with details regarding the webinar scheduled for this program. The Amendment2 file contains an amendment to the solicitation with information regarding how to access the recording of the webinar held for this program.
May 2, 2024
An amendment to the solicitation containing a link to the recording of the webinar held for this program has been released and attached as the Amendment2 file. The Application section has been updated accordingly.
April 8, 2024
An amendment to the solicitation containing details regarding the webinar scheduled for this program has been released and attached as the Amendment file. The Application section has been updated accordingly.