[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 24 (Friday, February 5, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5854-5859]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-2827]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Cooperative Agreements With National Organizations To Support the
Buckle Up America Campaign
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Announcement of discretionary cooperative agreement program in
conjunction with the Buckle Up America Campaign.
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SUMMARY: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
announces a discretionary cooperative agreement program to solicit
highly visible support for mobilizing America to buckle up children
during special emphasis periods of the Buckle Up America Campaign. The
Campaign is a nationwide call to action in response to the Presidential
Initiative to Increase Seat Belt Use Nationwide. High priority is given
to education and enforcement efforts to buckle up children.
NHTSA seeks the participation and support of national organizations
and their state and local affiliates to take a leadership role in the
Campaign by speaking out in support of the Campaign initiatives, and
mobilizing community level activity. This notice solicits applications
from for-profit or not-for-profit national organizations. In addition,
NHTSA is particularly interested in gaining the interest and
involvement of organizations that represent constituencies who are hard
to reach through mainstream delivery channels and/or have low seat belt
use rates. Only applications submitted by the national office
representing the organization will be considered.
DATES: Applications must be received at the office designated below on
or before March 26, 1999, at 2:00 P.M., Eastern Standard Time.
ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted to the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Contracts and Procurement
(NAD-30), ATTN: Rose Watson, 400 7th Street, S.W., Room 5301,
Washington, D.C. 20590. All applications submitted must include a
reference to NHTSA Program No. NTS-01-9-05068.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: General administrative questions may
be directed to Rose Watson, Office of Contracts and Procurement at
(202-366-9557). Programmatic questions relating to this grant program
should be directed to Ann Mitchell, National Outreach Division (NTS-
22), NHTSA, 400 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590 by e-mail at
amitchell@nhtsa.dot.gov or by phone (202-366-2690). Interested
applicants are advised that no separate application package exists
beyond the contents of this announcement.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
For the last three years, seat belt use has leveled off in the
upper 60's percentile. According to state-reported observational
surveys, seat belt use moved from 68 percent in 1995-96 to 69 percent
as of the end of 1997. In 1996, the President directed the Secretary of
the U.S. Department of Transportation to prepare a plan to increase the
use of seat belts nationwide. In response, the Presidential Initiative
to Increase Seat Belt Use Nationwide was issued and the Buckle Up
America Campaign set into action.
The Buckle Up America Campaign places high priority on the need to
buckle up children. Our children are America's most valuable
investment, therefore it is every American's responsibility to protect
them. Unbuckled drivers endanger kids by setting bad examples for them
to follow. When a driver is unbuckled, 70 percent of the time children
riding in that vehicle are also unbuckled. We all have a stake in this
problem and we are all part of the solution. We must all buckle
ourselves, buckle our children and call upon others to do the same.
The goals of NHTSA's Buckle Up America Campaign are to increase
seat belt use to 85 percent by the year 2000 and 90 percent by 2005;
and to reduce child occupant fatalities (0-4 years) by 15 percent in
2000 and by 25 percent in
[[Page 5855]]
2005. These aggressive goals can have tremendous payoffs, if achieved.
To achieve these goals will require an increase in visible support
coming from the community for buckling up and the need to enforce
occupant protection laws before social change can occur. This will take
the collective efforts of many people and organizations speaking out
from various sectors in the community in a unified voice to help create
a public attitude that ``unbelted is unacceptable'' in our society.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN05FE99.032
The Presidential Initiative to Increase Seat Belt Use Nationwide
calls on all Americans to take an active role--It's everyone's problem
and everyone is a part of the solution. Individuals must take
responsibility for themselves and for their child passengers by making
certain everyone in the vehicle is properly buckled up--every time and
on every trip. This is the bottom line.
The President's Initiative focuses on a strategy composed of four
elements proven to be effective in increasing seat belt use. These are:
(1) Building public-private partnerships of organizations and
individuals committed to taking action, (2) enacting strong legislation
including primary/standard enforcement provisions for seat belt laws
and ``closing the gaps'' in child passenger safety laws, (3) embracing
active, high visibility law enforcement, and (4) conducting well-
coordinated, effective public education. These strategies work and
NHTSA's Buckle Up America Campaign is committed to and focused on
activities that support these proven strategies.
Buckle Up America proposes to harness the efforts of the public,
private, cultural, and ethnic sectors to reach into each State,
community, and household, and to touch each individual. Every new
person buckling up is an important step towards reaching our goal. It
takes approximately two million new users to raise the national average
one percentage point.
Now, the task becomes persuading groups with lower seat belt and
child safety seat usage rates to buckle up. Since teens, young males,
pickup truck drivers, rural residents, low income populations,
Hispanics, African Americans, and Native Americans could protect
themselves and their families better, efforts need to be targeted to
these groups to persuade them to develop a simple habit for life. The
needs and safety of our children are not to be ignored. Although child
safety seat use for infants and toddlers is high overall, low income
populations still have very low use use rates. Misuse of these devices
is a huge problem as well, and use rates drop sharply as children get
older. Many people are unaware that when children outgrow their toddler
seat, they should be riding a booster seat if they are between 40-80
lbs. and under 4'9'' tall. Many are either prematurely using an adult
seat belt or not buckled up at all.
Messages and programs designed for ``mainstream America'' often are
not effective for those populations most at risk or hardest to reach.
Language, cultural, and other barriers need to be considered if we are
to make a significant impact in increasing usage among low use groups
through the development of targeted messages and alternate delivery
channels. This will require the support and cooperation of
organizations that represent these populations to influence their
members and constituencies to buckle up.
Buckle Up America Campaign
The Buckle Up America Campaign is designed to energize, mobilize,
and recognize active participants in the effort to increase seat belt
use nationwide. First, we need to energize ourselves and everyone else
to embrace three simple concepts: (1) this is a problem that touches
the lives of every American, because we all pay the enormous health
care and other societal costs of transportation deaths and injuries;
(2) we all can be part of the solution because we touch the lives of so
many fellow Americans, and we can reach out to energize them, too; and,
(3) in America, we need to change the social norm to make riding
unbuckled socially unacceptable. Next, we need to mobilize ourselves
and everyone else, by informing other Americans of the risks they run
by not buckling up, and also by lending our strong support for more
effective seat belt and child passenger safety laws and aggressive
enforcement. And finally, we have to recognize the good work that
others are doing to increase seat belt use and publicly praise that
good so others will emulate it.
In view of these concepts, Buckle Up America participants are asked
to establish programs and conduct activities that fulfill these needs.
Many public and private sector organizations and agencies have signed
on to the campaign both formally and informally and are already busy
conducting various types of activities. However, much of the activity
to date has centered on isolated public information and education
efforts that have little potential for increasing seat belt usage.
Organizations respected and influential in specific cultures are needed
to take an active role in supporting the campaign and directing
activity towards the hard-to-reach populations and targeting those who
are not buckling up.
To heighten visibility of all the activities associated with the
Buckle Up America Campaign, NHTSA has identified four quarterly
emphasis periods to mobilize coordinated, concentrated activity
synchronized nationwide. Based on the tremendous success of highly
visible enforcement programs conducted during 1998 to increase seat
belt use, two of these emphasis periods will include
[[Page 5856]]
enforcement mobilization efforts (Operation ABC: America Buckles Up
Children) and concentrated Buckle Up America Campaign support by
participating organizations. The critical activity needed from
organizations during these two periods is ``endorsement for
enforcement'' to create public awareness and support for the
enforcement efforts which will be conducted nationwide. The two
alternate emphasis periods are more focused on high visibility public
awareness/education activity throughout the quarter, with concentration
on the specific issue/age groups identified for that particular period.
The four Buckle Up America emphasis periods are:
Buckle Up America (April, May, June) focuses on getting everyone to
wear their seat belt. It peaks with National Buckle Up America! Week,
May 24-31, 1999, and puts an emphasis on enforcement of all occupant
protection laws. (The first of the two Operation ABC enforcement
mobilization periods.)
School Days (July, August, September) targets school aged children
from kindergarten through college. For them, this is the beginning of a
new year and programs are designed to encourage their use of seat belts
and to become advocates for seat belt use. Let's help them graduate
safely by making sure they are always buckled up.
Safe Holiday Travel (October, November, December) concentrates on
the time of year when so many Americans travel to spend time with
family and friends. Enforcement efforts to see that all children are
buckled up will be conducted nationwide. (Operation ABC mobilization
takes place during Thanksgiving Holiday Week, November 22-28, 1999.)
Child Passenger Safety (January, February, March) centers on the
needs of children, ages 0-12 and peaks with National Child Passenger
Safety Week, February 14-20, 1999. Special emphasis will be given to
education about the need to use booster seats for children 50 to 80
lbs. and under 4'9'' tall. These children often ride either
unrestrained because they are no longer covered under the state's child
passenger safety law, or they are placed in an adult seat belt, which
could cause injuries because of improper fit.
As noted above, two of the emphasis periods focus on the Operation
ABC Mobilization America Buckles Up Children--which is organized by the
Air Bag and Seat Belt Safety Campaign in partnership with NHTSA. In
addition to participation by law enforcement agencies, we hope to
engage at least 1,000 organizations across the country to extend their
``endorsement for enforcement'' during these mobilization periods.
High-visibility enforcement occurs during designated periods of time
(waves), and combines intensive enforcement with aggressive publicity
and media outreach efforts. This combination allows law enforcement to
notify the community that officers are stepping up enforcement of the
state's laws and will be issuing tickets to everyone who doesn't
comply: no exceptions, no excuses.
High-visibility enforcement has been used successfully in Canada,
in states like North Carolina, Georgia, Maryland, and Washington, and
in numerous communities throughout the country. Publicizing community
support for the enforcement effort through earned media activities
(i.e., news stories) builds momentum and a sense of urgency among the
community, the media, opinion leaders and policy makers. The effects of
high-visibility campaigns are not short-lived. This proven formula of
highly publicized, aggressive enforcement backed by visible community
support produces higher seat belt and child seat use by the motoring
public. Each mobilization gives law enforcement a better base upon
which to build the next time the model is implemented--and decreases
the overall number of part-time users and non-users of seat belts. The
1998 May mobilization is testament that this approach can be effective
in moving the needle on a national scale. In May 1998, more than 4,200
law enforcement agencies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia
united in a week-long, high visibility enforcement drive to buckle up
children. The combined nationwide media outreach efforts of law
enforcement agencies, organizations and the national Campaign produced
tremendous results and reached an estimated audience of more than 200
million people throughout the week. In one week, these efforts
increased seat belt use by three percentage points nationwide and moved
six million additional drivers to buckle up. Such an increase will
translate into an annual savings of more than 600 lives, both children
and adults. These gains did not dissipate after the mobilization. By
Thanksgiving, national usage had increased by another five percentage
points.
Operation ABC Mobilization is the only nationally coordinated
effort by law enforcement to conduct high-visibility enforcement of
child passenger safety and seat belt use laws. The effort continues to
grow bigger and more effective with each wave. Coordination among
partners is key to this success. Prior to the 1998 May mobilization,
NHTSA's Regional Offices conducted law enforcement summits to solicit
their support and participation in the mobilization. This resulted in
2,700 more law enforcement agencies signing on to participate in 1998
compared to the first mobilization in 1997. Preceding the November 1998
mobilization, NHTSA Regional Offices again held a series of partnership
summits in 23 States. These summits were expanded to include not only
high-ranking law enforcement executives but also business and industry
leaders, local and state government officials, safety advocates,
educators, media spokespersons, state affiliates of national
organizations, prominent members of the clergy and other influential
community leaders. Two national Buckle Up America leadership
conferences were held in Washington, DC as well, where national
organizations were encouraged to lend their support for law enforcement
during the mobilization periods. As a result of these and other efforts
to gain new partners in the Campaign, more than 1,000 organizations
submitted endorsements supporting the 1998 Thanksgiving Week
Mobilization. Similar partnership summits and leadership conferences
will be held for upcoming mobilizations. Grantees and their
participating state and local representatives are encouraged to attend
these regional and national meetings and to work with their State
Highway Safety Offices to coordinate their activities with other groups
in their state supporting the Buckle Up America Campaign.
The goal of this cooperative agreement program is to further expand
participation in and media exposure of the next series of mobilizations
and educational emphasis periods. We are seeking organizations that
will take a leadership role in mobilizing their members and
constituency to provide visible support for law enforcement and to
conduct media outreach activities. The two educational emphasis periods
in between the enforcement mobilizations will help keep the issue in
the forefront of the American public as a reminder and reinforcement of
the importance of buckling up.
Purpose
The primary purpose of this cooperative agreement program is to
generate highly visible support for the Buckle Up America Campaign from
national organizations and their local affiliates in conjunction with
quarterly emphasis periods. The program is designed to generate
specific support for
[[Page 5857]]
Buckle Up America Campaign initiatives, primarily for law enforcement
efforts during the two Operation ABC mobilizations and/or media and
educational initiatives during the Campaign's Child Passenger Safety
and School Days emphasis periods. The objective of this initiative is
to organize and deliver public statements of support from national and
local leaders of respected organizations and community sector
representatives that will provide the support needed by law enforcement
and elected officials and other local leaders to aggressively enforce
occupant protection laws. Concentrated activity in the six identified
opportunity states is encouraged.
One way to stimulate support for efforts to increase seat belt and
child safety seat usage is to stimulate the development of sustained
traffic safety efforts at the local level. For the past three years,
NHTSA has been promoting a community-based motor vehicle injury
prevention program known as Safe Communities. This model encourages
communities to analyze data, consult with citizens and collaborate with
a multi-disciplinary set of partners to prioritize problems and
identify solutions. Applicants are encouraged to coordinate any
proposed Buckle Up America efforts with any existing Safe Communities
programs and use this as the basis for long-term involvement. In those
locations where no Safe Communities exist, applicants are encouraged to
participate in the Buckle Up America program and its enforcement
efforts as an initial activity in the formation of a sustained Safe
Communities program.
Eligibility Requirements
Applications may be submitted by public and private, non-profit and
for-profit organizations. An eligible organization must be national in
scope and have established and effective affiliate relationships at the
state and local level capable of carrying out the effort. Organizations
can satisfy this criterion by showing that they will work through their
own state and local affiliates (i.e., units or chapters specifically
organized to carry out the organization's mission) and/or with other
affiliates participating the Buckle Up America Campaign (i.e. State
Highway Safety Agencies, other national organization(s), law
enforcement associations, etc.), NHTSA is particularly interested in
engaging organizations that represent target populations who have
typically lower seat belt use and/or special needs relative to message
delivery, cultural issues, or other factors. Organizations that assume
a leadership and respected role by hard-to-reach, high risk, and
predominately low belt use constituencies are sought to participate in
this effort. Target organization applications will be competed separate
from other national organization applications. In essence, the
applications will be divided into two categories--(1) target population
and (2) all others, and will be evaluated within the appropriate
category. Therefore, it is important that organizations identify the
category for which they are to be considered on their application.
Interested applicants are advised that no fee or profit will be allowed
under this cooperative agreement program.
Eligible projects will also be limited to specific activity areas
outlined below. The grantee shall design and implement specific
activities throughout its national and affiliate chapters to gain
public awareness of, publicize support for, and generate participation
in 2-4 of the Buckle Up America emphasis periods during 1999, described
in the Buckle Up America section of this Notice, above. Specifically,
the activity shall focus on four key elements:
1. Public statements of support for Operation ABC enforcement
efforts and/or the child passenger safety and school days emphasis
periods. This can include, but is not limited to: writing letters in
support of enforcement and/or educational emphasis efforts to elected
officials, such as, Governors, mayors, and other local leaders, and
heads of law enforcement; publishing editorials and articles in
newspapers, newsletters, and other publications; issuing resolutions
and proclamations in support of Operation ABC and Buckle Up America
Campaign, participating in meetings and conferences on mobilization
efforts. It can also include efforts to make the public aware of
planned enforcement efforts and the rationale for them. This may be
particularly appropriate for target groups whose constituency may be
sensitive to enforcement-related issues.
2. Media Outreach. This can include, but is not limited to:
distribution of sample news releases regarding mobilization/emphasis
period efforts, letters to the Editor/Op Ed pieces, talking points,
etc. to national and local representatives and encouraging their use to
gain national and local media attention and public awareness for the
issues involved.
3. Community action activities and events by local representatives.
This can include, but is not limited to: support to local chapters to
conduct local dialogues or to organize/participate in media events with
law enforcement representatives and/or other community leaders;
conducting/participating in educational initiatives to complement
enforcement efforts, such as participating in checkpoints, conducting/
participating in community educational activities, posting information,
etc.; taking a leadership role in gathering community support and
partners, attending and/or sponsoring meetings to organize
mobilization/emphasis activity.
4. Project Evaluation. The grantee shall also evaluate the quantity
and quality/scope of participation of the national organization and
local affiliates, including: national outreach/support initiatives,
number of editorials and opinion/editorial features published,
information/materials developed/distributed; number of local affiliates
participating and activities conducted in the three areas listed above;
and participation in and promotion of the Safe Communities Program in
conjunction with this effort.
Additional Resources
The following is a list of resources for information on the Buckle
Up America Campaign. All items may be ordered either directly from the
NHTSA web site at: www.nhtsa.dot.gov by E-Mail to Webmaster (see bottom
of home page) or by sending a fax request to: Media and Marketing
Division at 202-493-6062. All requests should include the name,
address, and telephone number of the person to receive the materials.
1. Item # 1P1049 Presidential Initiative to Increase Seat Belt Use
Nationwide, Recommendations from the Secretary of Transportation.*
NHTSA. April 1997. DOT HS 808 576. The Secretary's plan for
implementing President Clinton's directive and attaining seat belt and
child safety seat use goals for years 2000 and 2005.
2. Item # 1P1084 Buckle Up America, The Presidential Initiative for
Increasing Seat Belt Use Nationwide, First Report to Congress. NHTSA.
January 1998. DOT HS 808 667. First Biannual Report to the House and
Senate Appropriations Committees on the progress of the activities
which have been conducted in pursuit of the national goals outlined in
the Presidential Initiative to Increase Seat Belt Use Nationwide.
3. Item # 1P1063 Buckle Up America Campaign Action Kit.* NHTSA.
September 1997. DOT HS 808 628. Information and resource portfolio to
solicit participation in the Buckle Up America Campaign.
4. Item # 1P0837 Operation ABC Mobilization Organizational Action
Kit
[[Page 5858]]
(OAK)*. NHTSA. September 1998. Information, resources, and sample
materials for organizations participating in and supporting November
23-29, 1998, Operation ABC Mobilization: America Buckles Up Children.
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*These items may be found directly on NHTSA's web site at:
www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
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5. Safe Communities Service Center, c/o NHTSA Region VI, 819 Taylor
Street, Room 8A38, Fort Worth, Texas 76102, Phone: 817-978-3633, Fax:
817-978-8339, or E-Mail: [email protected] Also visit
the Safe Communities web site on the Internet (http://
www.nhtsa.dot.gov/safecommunities). These resources provide information
on best practices, Safe Communities and traffic safety materials, and
access to technical assistance sources.
6. Item # 5P0026 Safe Communities folio package. NHTSA. 1997. DOT
HS 808 578. Contains technical assistance materials on various topics
including getting started, coalition building, partnering with traffic
safety specialists and evaluation and monitoring tips.
Application Procedures
Each applicant must submit one original and two copies of the
application package to: NHTSA, Office of Contracts and Procurement
(NAD-30), ATTN: Rose Watson, 400 7th Street, S.W., Room 5301,
Washington, DC 20590. An additional three copies will facilitate the
review process, but are not required. Applications must be typed on one
side of the page only. Applications must include a reference to NHTSA
Program #NTS-01-9-05068, and identify if you are applying as a general
or target population applicant.
Only complete packages received on or before March 26, 1999 at 2:00
P.M. Eastern Standard Time will be considered.
Application Contents
1. The application package must be submitted with OMB Standard Form
424 (Rev. 4-88), Application for Federal Assistance, including 424A,
Budget Information--Nonconstruction Programs, and 424B, Assurances--
Nonconstruction Programs with the required information filled in and
the certified assurances included. The OMB Standard Forms SF-424, SF-
424A, and SF-424B may be downloaded directly from the OMB Internet web
site, http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/EOP/OMB/Grants/. While the Form 424-
A deals with budget information, and section B identifies Budget
Categories, the available space does not permit a level of detail which
is sufficient to provide for a meaningful evaluation of the proposed
costs. A supplemental sheet should be provided which presents a
detailed, itemized breakdown by cost category (such as hourly rates,
unit purchase costs, overhead rates, etc.) of the proposed costs, as
well as any costs which the applicant proposes to contribute in support
of this effort.
2. Applications shall include a program narrative statement which:
A. Identifies the organizational membership, purpose, and
structure; defines the constituency the organization represents and
services; demonstrates the organization's commitment to supporting the
initiatives of the Buckle Up America Campaign, provides examples of how
the organization is involved community outreach activities, and states
how this assistance will enable the organization to augment state and
local affiliate involvement in this effort. Supporting documentation
from concerned interests, partner organizations, and/or affiliates can
be used to show level of commitment and interest.
B. Outlines a plan of action pertaining to the scope and detail on
how the proposed work will be accomplished, noting how many and which
emphasis periods will be targeted, strategies for marketing to state
and local affiliates, seeking participation, and gaining high
visibility public awareness of the effort. The Action Plan should
include a time line of projected activity and milestones including
dissemination of information, product development, targeted event
schedules, reporting dates, and/or other major tasks associated with
the project.
C. Specifies deliverables and due dates including products and
reports. The organization should also identify any specific NHTSA
materials and quantities which will be requested to support the project
and how these will be used and distributed.
D. Describes an Evaluation Plan for determining and documenting
activity conducted. This should include a system or mechanism for
obtaining timely feedback from participating affiliates on their
activities conducted and media coverage obtained during the emphasis
period(s).
Project Review Procedures and Criteria
Upon receipt, applications will be screened to ensure that they
meet the eligibility requirements. Applications meeting the
requirements will be reviewed by a panel using the criteria outlined
below. In preparing the application package, applicants should organize
the package to follow the outline provided by the review criteria.
Application Review Process and Evaluation Factors
Each application package will initially be reviewed to confirm that
the applicant is an eligible recipient and that the application
contains all of the items specified in the Application Contents section
of this announcement. Each complete application from an eligible
recipient will then be evaluated by an evaluation committee. The
applications will be evaluated using the following criteria:
1. Understanding of the Buckle Up America Campaign and the role of
the organization as a partner in the Campaign (20 %)
The degree to which the applicant has demonstrated an understanding
of the Buckle Up America campaign and has described its role as a
partner in the campaign.
2. The organization's ability to disseminate the Campaign
nationwide and influence participation of its membership (20%)
The status of the applicant as a national organization with a
regional, state and/or local chapter structure that covers the nation;
the degree to which the proposed effort is designed to actively engage
regional, state and/or local chapters of the organization in the
proposed effort.
3. Commitment to support the four Buckle Up America emphasis
periods (35%)
The degree to which the proposal describes activities by the
national organization and its field structure for at least two and up
to four emphasis periods that focus on the following key elements:
Public statements of support for Operation ABC
mobilization efforts and/or the child passenger safety and school days
emphasis periods;
Media outreach in support of the mobilizations and the
child passenger safety and school days emphasis periods;
Community action activities and events by local
representatives designed to support and complement law enforcement
efforts, and draw attention to the child passenger safety and school
days emphasis periods.
4. Documentation and Process Evaluation (15%)
The proposal includes a process evaluation design and plans for how
the effort will be documented to facilitate NHTSA efforts to provide
information to other organizations interested in replicating the
proposed activity and to compile Buckle Up America Campaign activity
for required Reports to Congress and the President.
[[Page 5859]]
5. Safe Communities (10%)
The degree to which this project promotes the Safe Communities
model to members of the national organization and encourages them to
utilize this effort as an opportunity to join existing Safe Communities
program, integrate this effort into an existing program, or build a new
Safe Communities program.
Availability of Funds and Period of Support
Contingent on the availability of funds and satisfactory
performance, cooperative agreements will be awarded for a project
period of 12 to 15 months. A total of $590,000 is anticipated to be
awarded. It is anticipated that individual award amounts, based upon
demonstrated need, may range between $10,000 and $50,000. This stated
range does not establish minimum or maximum funding levels.
In each project, some portion of the funding requested must be
dedicated to evaluation activities. Given the amount of funds available
for this effort, applicants are strongly encouraged to seek other
funding opportunities to supplement the federal funds. Preference will
be given to applicants with cost-sharing proposals from within or
outside their organization.
NHTSA Involvement
NHTSA will be involved in all activities undertaken as part of the
cooperative agreement program and will:
1. Provide a Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR)
to participate in the planning and management of this Cooperative
Agreement and to coordinate activities between the Grantee and NHTSA.
2. Provide information and technical assistance from government
sources within available resources and as determined appropriate by the
COTR.
3. Serve as a liaison between NHTSA Headquarters, Regional Offices
and others (Federal, state and local) interested in Buckle Up America
Campaign and the activities of the grantee as appropriate.
4. Stimulate the transfer of information among Cooperative
Agreement recipients and others engaged in Buckle Up America
activities.
5. Provide campaign information and materials to support
activities.
Special Award Selection Factors
While not a requirement of this announcement, applicants are
strongly urged to seek funds from other federal, state, local and
private sources to augment those available under this announcement. For
those applications that are evaluated as meritorious for consideration
for award, preference may be given to those that have proposed cost-
sharing strategies and/or have other proposed funding sources in
addition to those in this announcement. In-kind services provided by
the applicant organization may be included as a contribution.
Terms and Conditions of Award
1. Prior to award, each grantee must comply with the certification
requirements of 49 CFR part 20, Department of Transportation New
Restrictions on Lobbying, and 49 CFR part 29, Department of
Transportation government-wide Debarment and Suspension (Non-
procurement) and Government-wide Requirements for Drug Free Workplace
(Grants).
2. Reporting Requirements and Deliverables:
A. Quarterly Progress Reports should include a summary of the
previous quarter's activities and accomplishments, as well as the
proposed activities for the upcoming quarter. Any decisions and actions
required in the upcoming quarter should be included in the report. The
grantee shall supply the progress report to the Contracting Officer's
Technical Representative (COTR) every ninety (90) days following date
of award.
B. Program Implementation and Evaluation Plan: The grantee shall
submit a revised program implementation and evaluation plan,
incorporating comments received from the NHTSA COTR, no more than 1
month after award of this agreement. The NHTSA COTR will review and
comment, if necessary.
C. Draft Final Report: The grantee shall prepare a Draft Final
Report that includes a description of the project, media outreach
initiatives, and local affiliate participation and activity, results
and findings from the program evaluation. In terms of information
transfer, it is important to know what worked and did not work, under
what circumstances, and what can be done to avoid potential problems in
future projects. The grantee shall submit the Draft Final Report to the
COTR 60 days prior to the end of the performance period. The COTR will
review the draft report and provide comments to the grantee within 30
days of receipt of the document.
D. Final Report: The grantee shall revise the Draft Final Report to
reflect the COTR's comments. The revised final report shall be
delivered to the COTR 15 days before the end of the performance period.
The grantee shall supply the COTR:
--Four hard copies of the final document.
E. A Briefing to NHTSA and a presentation to at least one national
meeting (e.g., Lifesavers * * *).
F. Preparation and submission of a paper for publication in a
professional journal. This paper will be submitted to NHTSA initially
in draft format and will be circulated for review and comment to NHTSA
and others, as appropriate.
3. During the effective performance period of cooperative
agreements awarded as a result of this announcement, the agreement as
applicable to the grantee, shall be subject to the NHTSA's General
Provisions for Assistance Agreements, dated July 1995.
Issued on: February 2, 1999.
Rose A. McMurray,
Associate Administrator for Traffic Safety Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-2827 Filed 2-4-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
