[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 48 (Wednesday, March 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11513-11518]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6137]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 95-20; Notice 4]
Child Safety Seats; Settlement Agreement Between General Motors
and U.S. Department of Transportation
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice; request for certifications.
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SUMMARY: This notice, the fourth and final of its kind, describes a
settlement agreement between General Motors (GM) and the U.S.
Department of Transportation (DOT), under which GM agreed to donate
funds to one or more qualified national organizations for the purchase
and distribution of child safety seats. Organizations that wish to
receive such funds are required to certify in writing that they are
qualified, in accordance with criteria established in the agreement. To
qualify, organizations must demonstrate that they are national in
scope, and they must submit a plan showing they are prepared to
purchase and distribute child safety seats within 120 days of their
receipt of the funds. They must also meet other requirements.
Organizations are strongly encouraged to form partnerships and work
collaboratively for the purpose of applying for funds. If organizations
plan to work collaboratively, they should submit a single combined
certification.
This notice requests that organizations submit certifications and
it describes the criteria they must meet and the information they must
submit with their certifications to be eligible to receive these funds.
Similar notices were published in the Federal Register on March 31 and
June 29, 1995, and on March 29, 1996. As a result of the March 1995
notice, six organizations were determined by NHTSA to be qualified and
were selected by GM to receive a total of $2 million for the purchase
and distribution of child safety seats. As a result of the June 1995
notice, six organizations were determined by NHTSA to be qualified and
three were selected by GM to receive a total of $2 million for the
purchase and distribution of child safety seats. As a result of the
March 1996 notice, four organizations were determined by NHTSA to be
qualified and were selected by GM to receive a total of $2 million for
the purchase and distribution of child safety seats.
As a result of today's notice, one or more organizations will be
determined by NHTSA to be qualified and will be selected by GM to
receive the final $2 million in donations for the purchase and
distribution of child safety seats under the settlement agreement.
DATE: Certifications must be received no later than May 12, 1997.
ADDRESS: Certifications should be submitted to: Office of Communication
and Outreach, NTS-22, Room 5118, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington,
D.C. 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Cheryl Neverman, National Outreach
Division, NTS-22, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400
Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590. Telephone (202) 366-2683.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DOT/GM Settlement Agreement
On December 2, 1994, then Secretary of Transportation Federico Pena
announced that DOT and GM had agreed in principle to a resolution of
the investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) into an alleged defect related to motor vehicle safety in
certain 1970-1991 GM C/K pickup trucks. The terms of the resolution
were finalized in a separate agreement that was executed between GM and
DOT on March 7, 1995.
Under the terms of the agreement, GM agreed to provide funds over a
period of five years to support highway safety research and programs
that will prevent motor vehicle deaths and injuries.
In the area of child safety, GM agreed to donate $8,000,000 to
qualified organizations for the purchase and distribution of child
safety seats. The agreement provided that, of this amount, $4,000,000
will be donated during the first year after the date of the agreement
(approximately $1,000,000 each quarter) and $4,000,000 will be donated
over the next four years (at approximately the rate at which DOT
expends funds for the development and support of child safety seat
loaner and give-away programs during that period). The seats will be
directed to underserved low income and special needs populations.
The agreement between GM and DOT provides:
DOT shall identify, on an ongoing basis so as to facilitate
timely GM donations, qualified organizations which DOT in its sole
discretion deems appropriate to receive donations from GM for the
purchase and distribution of child safety seats. GM, in its sole
discretion, shall select from the list of qualified organizations
provided by DOT, the organization(s) to which it will donate funds,
and shall decide the exact amount of funds that each such
organization will receive.
The agreement provides further that any organization that is
interested in being identified as a ``qualified organization'' must
certify to DOT in writing that it will meet a number of criteria set
forth in the agreement.
NHTSA estimates that these funds will allow for the purchase and
distribution of between 125,000 and 200,000 child safety seats for
needy families which, in turn, will save at least 50 lives and prevent
approximately 6,000 injuries.
Child Safety
There are approximately 25 million young children under the age of
eight years old who need the protection of child safety seats. One
fourth of these children come from families that are below the poverty
level.
As many as 3 million children in low-income families do not have
access to adequate child safety seats. An additional 3 million children
or more have access to child safety seats but, for a variety of
reasons, are not being secured in these seats properly. Additionally,
children with special transportation needs, such as children with
disabilities, often require uniquely designed child safety seats that
are too expensive for most families of low or average income to afford.
For these and other reasons, millions of children ride each day
either unprotected or inadequately protected by child safety seats. A
disproportionate number of these children are from low income or rural
families or from culturally diverse populations.
To increase child safety seat usage, child safety seats must be
made more readily available, particularly to underserved low income and
special needs families. These families must also be motivated to use
child safety seats and educated about their proper usage.
An effective child safety seat program can reach, and have a major
positive impact on, large numbers of children as well as their
families. To be most effective, however, the program must ensure that
seats are distributed primarily to the populations most at risk,
including underserved low income
[[Page 11514]]
and special needs families. If programs do not target these
populations, the seats could be provided instead to families that could
otherwise afford to purchase them, with little net benefit.
Previous Notices
On March 31 and June 29, 1995, and on March 29, 1996, NHTSA
published notices in the Federal Register describing the agreement
between GM and DOT and requesting that organizations interested in
receiving funds certify in writing that they are qualified. NHTSA
received over 20 certifications in response to the March 1995 notice, 8
certifications in response to the June 1995 notice and 4 certifications
in response to the March 1996 notice.
Copies of these previous notices and the certifications received in
response to them have been placed in NHTSA's Technical Reference
Division (TRD), Docket Section, under Docket Number 95-20; Notices 1, 2
and 3. Individuals that wish to order a copy of these materials may do
so by calling or writing to the TRD at Room 5108, 400 Seventh St., SW,
Washington, D.C. 20590 (telephone number 202-366-2768) and referencing
these docket numbers. A fee may be charged, based on the volume of
material that is requested.
The certifications that NHTSA received in response to the notices
were reviewed by evaluation panels of experienced NHTSA personnel, who
determined whether the certifications met each of the required criteria
and evaluated the certifications based on the evaluation factors
specified in the notice.
The panel that reviewed the certifications responsive to the March
1995 notice determined that six organizations were qualified to receive
donations from GM: National SAFE KIDS Campaign; National Safety Council
(NSC); International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP); National
Easter Seal Society; Safe America Foundation/Operation Baby Buckle; and
the State and Territorial Injury Prevention Directors Association
(STIPDA).
GM decided that each of these organizations would receive donations
for the purchase and distribution of child safety seats under the
settlement agreement. GM donated $1.5 million to SAFE KIDS to
coordinate a major child safety seat program with three other qualified
organizations (NSC, IACP and STIPDA), and specified that half of the
child safety seats purchased by SAFE KIDS would be divided equally
among NSC, IACP and STIPDA, to be distributed through their channels.
GM also donated $400,000 to the National Easter Seal Society for its
``unique program that reaches `special needs' infants and children''
and $100,000 to Operation Baby Buckle for ``the distribution of seats
and its active public education and car safety seat awareness
programs.''
The panel that reviewed the certifications responsive to the June
1995 notice determined that six organizations were qualified to receive
donations from GM.
GM decided that three of these organizations would receive
donations for the purchase and distribution of child safety seats under
the settlement agreement. GM donated $800,000 to National SAFE KIDS
Campaign, which formed a coalition with National Head Start Association
and the National Association of Community Health Centers, ``to reach a
group that was more diverse than during the first phase of the
program.'' GM donated $800,000 to SAFE TEAM, USA, which forged an
alliance that included the Safe America Foundation, the National Safety
Council, the Native American Injury Prevention Network, the National
Association of Community Action Agencies, the National Coalition of
Hispanic Health and Human Services Organizations and the International
Association of Chiefs of Police. GM stated that it expected this
alliance ``to reach deep into many communities.'' The alliance also
proposed ``a unique fund-raising activity to provide more child safety
seats than could ordinarily be purchased with these funds.'' GM also
donated $400,000 to the National Easter Seal Society, which added the
National Shriners Hospitals to its distribution plan for ``an even
greater distribution program during the second phase.'' GM stated that
this organization ``has demonstrated its capability to deliver child
safety seats in a timely manner to ``special needs'' infants and
children.'
The panel that reviewed the certifications responsive to the March
1996 notice determined that four organizations were qualified to
receive donations from GM: the National Easter Seal Society; the
National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions
(NACHRI), in association with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP),
the National Association of Public Hospitals, and the Council of
Women's and Infant's Specialty Hospitals (C-WISH); the Safe Team, which
is comprised of the Safe America Foundation, the National Safety
Council, the Native American Injury Prevention Coalition, the National
Association of Community Action Agencies, the National Coalition of
Hispanic Health and Human Services Organizations, and the International
Association of Chiefs of Police; and the National SAFE KIDS Campaign,
in association with the National Head Start Association and the
National Association of Community Health Centers.
GM decided to donate funds to each of these organizations for the
purchase and distribution of child safety seats under the settlement
agreement. GM decided to donate $400,000 to the National Easter Seal
Society, $600,000 to NACHRI and its associates, $500,000 to the Safe
Team, and $500,000 to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign and its
associates.
Today's Notice
Today's notice describes the criteria that an organization must
meet, and the information it must submit with its certification, to be
identified by DOT as a ``qualified organization.'' Certifications must
be received no later than 60 days after the date of publication of
today's notice in the Federal Register.
NHTSA will again convene a panel of experienced agency personnel to
evaluate the certifications submitted. The members of the panel will
determine whether the certifications meet each of the required criteria
and will evaluate the certifications based on the evaluation factors
specified in this notice. When the panel completes its review of the
certifications, it will prepare a list of organizations it has
determined to be qualified to receive donations for the purchase and
distribution of child safety seats. NHTSA will provide the list to GM
and place the list in the public docket.
This list of organizations will be used by GM to select the
recipients of the final $2 million for the purchase and distribution of
child safety seats under the settlement agreement.
Any organization that wishes to be included on this fourth (and
final) list, whether or not the organization was included on a previous
list, must submit a certification.
Certification Criteria Established in Settlement Agreement
As explained earlier in this notice, the settlement agreement
between GM and DOT provided that DOT would identify, on an ongoing
basis, qualified organizations to be considered to receive GM
donations, and GM would select recipients of donations from DOT's list
of qualified organizations. In order to be considered for inclusion on
[[Page 11515]]
the list as a ``qualified organization,'' the agreement provided that
an organization must certify in writing that it shall meet eleven
separate criteria. Listed below are descriptions of these criteria and
the information that organizations must submit in their certifications
to demonstrate compliance with them. (Following this section of the
notice, in a section entitled ``Certification Procedure,'' this notice
describes the procedure organizations must follow to be considered for
inclusion on the list as a ``qualified organization'' and includes a
summary of the documents and additional information organizations must
submit.)
(1) Work Through Affiliates
The organization must certify in writing that it shall:
work, through its state or local affiliates, with agencies such as
children's hospitals and health agencies to identify families who
could not otherwise afford seats or who have special needs
Organizations must be national in scope and have established and
effective affiliate relationships at the state or local level capable
of carrying out the effort. Organizations can satisfy this criterion by
showing that they will work through their own state or local affiliates
(e.g., units or chapters specifically organized to carry out the
organization's mission) or with other affiliates (e.g., state or
locally-based child safety-related agencies or organizations, such as
children's hospitals or fire and rescue agencies), and by showing that
they have commitments from these state or local affiliates.
Organizations that wish to participate in this program, and are
state or locally-based rather than national in scope, are encouraged to
affiliate with a national organization that plans to submit a
certification or to encourage a national organization with which they
are already affiliated to submit a certification.
Through these affiliates, organizations must have a network that
will enable them to identify families of target populations who have
not been reached through traditional channels, including families who
could not otherwise afford seats or who have special needs, and to
distribute seats and provide education to these families.
Organizations must submit information regarding their structure and
a designation of geographic locations of state and local affiliates
that are expected to be involved in the effort. Organizations must also
submit information regarding the organizations and agencies with which
they will be affiliated for purposes of this program. In addition,
organizations must describe their relationships with affiliates,
including the role that affiliates will play, and they must demonstrate
that they have commitments from affiliates (such as by submitting
letters of commitment).
(2) Existing Program or Trained Staff
The organization must certify in writing that it shall:
have an existing loaner or give-away child safety seat program or
have staff trained in child passenger safety issues
Organizations must have experience, either directly or through
their affiliates, with a loaner or give-away program or staff trained
in child passenger safety issues. Alternatively, organizations may
collaborate with organizations that have such experience or trained
staff, either directly or through their affiliates. National
organizations that have the ability to reach underserved populations,
but do not have experience with a child safety seat program or trained
staff, for example, are strongly encouraged to collaborate with one or
more national organizations that do. The experience or training is
necessary to ensure that organizations, and their affiliates, are able
to operate child safety seat programs, and to meet the deadlines and
requirements established in the agreement for distributing seats and
providing education to the recipients of the seats.
Organizations must describe their existing loaner or give-away
child safety seat programs and their experience in providing education
on the use of child safety seats. They must also describe existing
loaner or give-away programs and experience in providing education of
agencies or organizations that are affiliated with them or with which
they have collaborative relationships.
Organizations must identify the number of current trained staff (of
the organization, its affiliates and its collaborators) and provide a
description of training conducted or taken by the staff and the dates
of last training. If organizations have staff who have not been
trained, but who are capable of being trained in child passenger safety
issues, the organizations should describe their plans for training the
staff.
If organizations plan to work collaboratively, they should submit a
single combined certification. The certification must include letters
of commitment from all collaborators.
Organizations are advised that NHTSA has trained hundreds of
individuals throughout the country in child passenger safety issues. If
organizations are interested in receiving assistance from individuals
who have received NHTSA training, they should contact one of NHTSA's
ten regional offices, or the Governor's Highway Safety Representative
in their State. Organizations must keep in mind, however, that they
must be prepared to purchase and distribute child safety seats within
120 days of their receipt of the funds. Accordingly, their staff must
be trained within the 120-day period.
(3) Low-income or special needs across broad geographic area
The organization must certify in writing that it shall:
distribute the seats to low-income families and/or families with
special needs across a broad geographical area throughout the United
States
The intent of this provision is to assure that underserved children
from culturally diverse populations throughout the United States
receive the benefits of the program. Qualified organizations need not
distribute seats in every state. However, as stated previously, they
must have a program that is national in scope and reaches their target
populations throughout the United States.
Organizations must submit their mission statements, a description
of the method they will use to identify underserved low income or
special needs families, and a list of the geographic locations that
would be targeted for receipt of the seats. They must demonstrate the
ability to identify underserved low income and special needs families,
and the ability to distribute seats to these families at the community
level throughout the United States.
(4) Mix of Child Safety Seats
The organization must certify in writing that it shall:
comply with NHTSA guidelines with respect to the approximate mix of
child safety seats (e.g., infant, toddler, booster, special needs)
Children of differing ages and transportation needs require
different types of child safety seats. The intent of this provision is
to assure that the children who are recipients under this program
receive seats that meet their needs. The provision is also intended to
assure that organizations purchase the correct mix of seats for their
target population.
Organizations will need to identify the ages and transportation
needs of the intended recipients and the types of seats needed to
properly fit the target group. For example, an organization
[[Page 11516]]
targeting special needs children may need very specialized seats, while
a program targeting older children may need convertible toddler and
booster child restraint devices.
Organizations must specify the maximum number of seats they are
capable of distributing to local agencies (their affiliates) within 120
days of their receipt of the funds and the amount of funding they are
requesting from GM to purchase and distribute this number of seats.
Organizations must specify the proposed mix and types of seats needed
to serve the age and needs of the populations to be targeted (i.e., 25%
booster seats, 50% toddler seats, 20% infant seats and 5% special needs
seats), and must describe the method used to derive the mix. They
should indicate whether the mix would change if they receive less
funding than the full amount requested.
Organizations should also indicate whether they plan to operate a
loaner or a give-away program and what fees, if any, they intend to
charge. Both types of programs are acceptable. Any fees charged to
recipients must be nominal, and any income from these fees must be used
for the purchase and distribution of additional child safety seats
under the agreement.
(5) Within 120 Days
The organization must certify in writing that it shall:
distribute all of the seats purchased with the funds provided by GM
to the local agencies within 120 days of the receipt of the funds
Organizations are required, under the agreement, to purchase and
distribute all of the seats to local agencies (their affiliates) within
120 days of receipt of the funds. To satisfy this criterion,
organizations must clearly demonstrate the ability to meet this
requirement.
As stated previously, organizations must submit a plan describing
how they will accomplish the purchase and distribution of seats to
local agencies (their affiliates) within the 120-day period. The plan
must describe how the organization will reach a broad geographical
area, how it will identify the low income and special needs families to
be served by this program, and it must include a proposed schedule for
the purchase and distribution of seats. The plan must clearly
demonstrate that the organization is able and prepared to purchase and
distribute child safety seats to local agencies (their affiliates)
within 120 days of their receipt of the funds and that, if their staff
is not already experienced or trained, that they will be trained within
the 120-day period.
Organizations that were selected by GM to receive donations for the
purchase and distribution of child safety seats under the settlement
agreement as a result of the Federal Register notices published in
March or June 1995, or in March 1996, must also describe the progress
they have made, including the schedule they have followed, the number
of seats they have distributed to local agencies (their affiliates) and
the number of seats that have been provided to recipients, by
geographic location.
Organizations must also demonstrate that the distribution and
education efforts funded under this program will either create new
initiatives or complement (rather than duplicate) existing initiatives,
in the geographic areas to be served. In other words, these
distribution and education efforts should take place in communities
that have either been underserved or not been reached. In addition,
organizations must ensure that their efforts do not conflict with
activities already planned or underway. This may be demonstrated by
including in the plan, a description of new or complementary
initiatives that are planned and either letters of support from the
organizations that are (or would be) responsible for child safety seat
programs in the geographic areas to be served (such as state highway
safety offices and state public health agencies) or a description of
the organization's plans to coordinate with these responsible
organizations.
(6) Educate Recipients
The organization must certify in writing that it shall:
educate recipients of the seats as to methods of proper installation
and use
While the distribution of child safety seats is vitally important,
and can save many children's lives, the effectiveness of those seats in
preventing injury and death increases significantly when recipients are
trained in and follow proper use and installation instructions.
Organizations are required, under the agreement, to provide education
to the recipients of the seats regarding the proper installation and
use of child safety seats. Education is most effective if it is
provided at the time that the seats are being distributed to
recipients, and if it includes a number of components, such as
conducting a hands-on demonstration, showing a video and having
recipients demonstrate that they understand how to properly install and
use their child safety seats.
Organizations must describe the specific means they, their
affiliates or their collaborators will use to educate families about
the proper installation and use of child safety seats.
To assist in this effort, NHTSA will make resources, including
materials and technical assistance, available to the selected
organizations.
(7) Administrative Expenses
The organization must certify in writing that it shall:
not use more than 10 percent of the funds provided by GM for
administrative expenses related to distribution of the seats
Organizations shall use no more than 10 percent of the funds
provided by GM for administrative expenses related to the distribution
of the seats. Examples of administrative expenses include operational
overhead such as secretarial support, telephone expenses, and time of
paid staff to help develop the plans for these efforts.
As stated previously, organizations are strongly encouraged to work
collaboratively for the purpose of applying for funds. If organizations
plan to work collaboratively, they should submit a single combined
certification. Any such certification submitted for a group of
organizations working collaboratively, must include a statement that
provides that the organizations have reached agreement regarding the
manner in which funds that may be used for administrative expenses will
be allocated among the organizations. The actual agreement need not be
provided. No additional information is required to be submitted at this
time in support of this element of the certification.
(8) Added to Existing Funds and No Diversions
The organization must certify in writing that it shall:
add the GM-provided funds to the total of its existing funds spent
on the distribution of child safety seats to low-income families and
not divert any funds currently budgeted to such activities to other
activities
Organizations shall add the GM-provided funds to the total of their
existing funds, if any, spent on the distribution of child safety seats
to low income and special needs families and not divert any funds
currently budgeted to such activities, if any, to other activities. In
other words, the funds provided by GM must represent new and additional
resources, and may not be used to replace other funds, if any, that
otherwise would have been used for the distribution of child safety
seats to low-income families and their related education activities. No
additional information is required to be submitted
[[Page 11517]]
at this time in support of this element of the certification.
(9) Third-Party Audit
The organization must certify in writing that it shall:
allow the activities conducted pursuant to this program to be
audited by such third party as selected by DOT
Organizations shall allow the activities conducted pursuant to this
program to be audited by such third party as may be selected by DOT.
Organizations shall also maintain adequate records to allow an audit to
be conducted. No additional information is required to be submitted at
this time in support of this element of the certification.
(10) Enforceable Commitments and Promises
The organization must certify in writing that it shall:
acknowledge and agree that such commitments and promises shall be
enforceable
Organizations shall acknowledge and agree that the commitments and
promises they make shall be enforceable through legal process or other
appropriate means. No additional information is required to be
submitted at this time in support of this element of the certification.
(11) No Assumption of Responsibility
The organization must certify in writing that it shall:
acknowledge and agree that GM does not assume or bear any
responsibility for the organization's commitments, the selection of
the safety seats actually purchased or distributed, or the education
of recipients of the seats as to proper use
Organizations shall acknowledge and agree that GM does not assume
or bear any responsibility for the organization's commitments, the
selection of the safety seats actually purchased or distributed, or the
education of recipients of the seats as to proper use. No additional
information is required to be submitted at this time in support of this
element of the certification.
Certification Procedures
To be considered, certifications must be received no later than 60
days after the date on which today's notice is published in the Federal
Register. Certifications should be submitted to the Office of
Communication and Outreach, NTS-22, Room 5118, 400 Seventh Street,
S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590.
Organizations are strongly encouraged to work collaboratively for
the purpose of applying for funds. If organizations plan to work
collaboratively, they should submit a single combined certification.
Certifications must address each of the criteria described in
detail above, in the section of this notice entitled ``Certification
Criteria Established in Settlement Agreement,'' and must include each
of the following:
(1) Certification Statement
A written statement, signed by an authorized official of the
organization, certifying that the organization shall:
(i) work, through its state or local affiliates, with agencies such
as children's hospitals and health agencies to identify families who
could not otherwise afford seats or who have special needs; (ii)
have an existing loaner or give-away child safety seat program or
have staff trained in child passenger safety issues; (iii)
distribute the seats to low-income families and/or families with
special needs across a broad geographical area throughout the United
States; (iv) comply with NHTSA guidelines with respect to the
approximate mix of child safety seats (e.g., infant, toddler,
booster, special needs); (v) distribute all of the seats purchased
with the funds provided by GM to the local agencies within 120 days
of the receipt of the funds; (vi) educate recipients of the seats as
to methods of proper installation and use; (vii) not use more than
10 percent of the funds provided by GM for administrative expenses
related to distribution of the seats; (viii) add the GM-provided
funds to the total of its existing funds spent on the distribution
of child safety seats to low-income families and not divert any
funds currently budgeted to such activities to other activities;
(ix) allow the activities conducted pursuant to this program to be
audited by such third party as selected by DOT; (x) acknowledge and
agree that such commitments and promises shall be enforceable; and
(xi) acknowledge and agree that GM does not assume or bear any
responsibility for the organization's commitments, the selection of
the safety seats actually purchased or distributed, or the education
of recipients of the seats as to proper use.
(2) Plan
A plan describing how the organization will accomplish the purchase
and distribution of seats to local agencies (their affiliates) within
120 days of receipt of the funds, how the organization will reach a
broad geographical area, and how it will identify the low income and
special needs families to be served by this program. It must include a
proposed schedule for the purchase and distribution of seats, a
description of new or complementary initiatives that are planned and
either letters of support from the organizations that are (or would be)
responsible for child safety seat programs in the geographic areas to
be served (such as state highway safety offices and state public health
agencies) or a description of the organization's plans to coordinate
with these responsible organizations.
The plan must clearly demonstrate that the organization is able and
prepared to purchase and distribute child safety seats to local
agencies (their affiliates) within 120 days of their receipt of the
funds and that, if their staff is not already experienced or trained,
that they will be trained within the 120-day period.
Organizations that were selected by GM to receive donations for the
purchase and distribution of child safety seats under the settlement
agreement as a result of the Federal Register notices published in
March or June 1995, or in March 1996, must also describe the progress
they have made since they received their donations, including the
schedule they have followed, the number of seats they have distributed
to local agencies (their affiliates) and the number of seats that have
been provided to recipients, by geographic location.
(3) Additional Information
The following additional information to ensure that the
organization is capable of meeting the objectives of the agreement:
Information regarding the organization's structure and a
designation of geographic locations of state and local affiliates to be
involved in the effort;
Information regarding the organizations and agencies with
which the organization will be affiliated for purposes of this program;
A description of their relationships with affiliates,
including the role that affiliates will play, and either letters or
some other demonstration of commitment from their affiliates;
A description of the organization's, its affiliates' or
its collaborators': existing loaner or give-away programs; experience
in providing education on the use of child safety seats; the number of
trained staff; a description of training conducted or taken; and the
dates of last training;
If organizations have staff who have not been trained, but
who are capable of being trained in child passenger safety issues, a
description of their plans for training the staff and an indication
that the training will be completed within 120 days of receipt of the
funds;
If organizations plan to work collaboratively, letters of
commitment from all collaborators and a statement that provides that
the organizations have reached agreement regarding the manner in which
funds that may be
[[Page 11518]]
used for administrative expenses will be allocated among the
organizations (the actual agreement need not be provided);
A mission statement of the organization;
The method to be used to identify underserved low income
or special needs families;
A list of the geographic locations that would be targeted
for receipt of the seats;
The maximum number of seats the organization is capable of
distributing to local agencies (their affiliates) within 120 days of
its receipt of the funds; the amount of funding the organization is
requesting from GM to purchase and distribute this number of seats; the
proposed mix and types of seats needed to serve the age and needs of
the populations to be targeted (i.e., 25% booster seats, 50% toddler
seats, 20% infant seats and 5% special needs seats); the method used to
derive the mix; and, if applicable, any change in mix if the
organization receives less funding than the full amount requested;
In indication of whether the organization plans to operate
a loaner or a give-away program; an identification of the fees, if any,
they intend to charge; and a statement that any income from these fees
will be used for the purchase and distribution of additional child
safety seats under the agreement; and
A description of the specific means to be used by the
organization, its affiliates or its collaborators to educate families
about the proper installation and use of child safety seats.
Organizations must submit one original and two copies of their
certifications. Certifications shall be subject to 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1001,
which prohibits the making of false statements. Organizations are
requested to submit four additional copies to facilitate the review
process, but there is no requirement or obligation to do so.
Organizations that would like to be notified upon receipt of their
certifications should enclose a self-addressed stamped postcard in the
envelope with their certifications. Upon receiving the certifications,
the postcard will be returned by mail.
Evaluation Factors
Certifications will be reviewed by an evaluation panel of
experienced agency personnel. The panel will determine whether the
certifications meet each of the required criteria and will evaluate the
certifications based on the following factors:
1. Understanding of the requirements of the agreement and soundness
of approach as shown by the organization's plan and certification.
2. The ability to purchase and distribute child safety seats to
local agencies (their affiliates) within 120 days of their receipt of
the funds as shown by the organization's plan and certification.
3. The ability to identify underserved low income and special needs
families.
4. The ability to distribute child safety seats to these target
populations at the community level throughout the United States.
The experience of the organization, its affiliates or its
collaborators, in distributing child safety seats
The breadth and diversity of the underserved population
the organization, its affiliates or its collaborators can effectively
reach
5. The ability to provide education to recipients.
The experience of the organization, its affiliates or its
collaborators, in providing education on the use of child safety seats
The level of training of the staff of the organization,
its affiliates or its collaborators
6. The ability to conduct a distribution and education program that
either creates new initiatives, or complements (rather than duplicates)
existing initiatives, in the geographic areas to be served.
Issued on: March 6, 1997.
James Hedlund,
Associate Administrator for Traffic Safety Programs.
[FR Doc. 97-6137 Filed 3-11-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
