95-15987. Child Safety Seats; Agreement Between General Motors and U.S. Department of Transportation  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 125 (Thursday, June 29, 1995)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 33904-33909]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-15987]
    
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
    National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
    [Docket No. 95-20; Notice 2]
    
    
    Child Safety Seats; 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 describes an agreement between General Motors (GM) 
    and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), under which GM has 
    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. 
    A similar notice was published in the Federal Register on March 31, 
    1995. As a result of that 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 
    
    [[Page 33905]]
    result of today's notice, organizations will be determined by NHTSA to 
    be qualified and selected by GM to receive additional donations for the 
    purchase and distribution of child safety seats under the settlement 
    agreement.
    
    DATES: Certifications must be received no later than September 27, 
    1995.
    
    ADDRESSES: Certifications should be submitted to: Office of Occupant 
    Protection, NTS-11, Room 5118, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, 
    D.C. 20590.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Susan Gorcowski, National 
    Organizations Division, NTS-11, 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, 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 (approximately $1,000,000 in each year). 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 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.
    
    First Notice
    
        On March 31, 1995, NHTSA published a notice 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 notice.
        Copies of the March 31 notice and the certifications received in 
    response have been placed in NHTSA's Technical Reference Library (TRL), 
    Docket Section, under Docket Number 95-20; Notice 1. Individuals that 
    wish to order a copy of these materials may do so by calling or writing 
    to the TRL at Room 5108, 400 Seventh St., SW, Washington, D.C. 20590 
    (telephone number 202-366-2768) and referencing this docket number. A 
    fee may be charged, based on the volume of material that is requested.
        The certifications that NHTSA received in response to the notice 
    were reviewed by an evaluation panel 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 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 will 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.
    
    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 90 days after the date of publication of 
    today's notice in the Federal Register.
    
    [[Page 33906]]
    
        NHTSA will 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 are qualified and appropriate to receive donations for the 
    purchase and distribution of child safety seats. NHTSA will provide the 
    list to GM and place it in the public docket.
        This list of organizations will be used by GM during the third and 
    fourth quarters of the first year after the date of the agreement, 
    during which time GM will donate approximately $2 million for the 
    purchase and distribution of child safety seats.
        Within approximately six months from the date of publication of 
    today's notice, NHTSA plans to publish a third notice in the Federal 
    Register requesting certifications from organizations that wish to 
    receive donations after the first year. Any organization that wishes to 
    be included on the third list, whether or not the organization was 
    included on the first and/or the second list, must submit a 
    certification. NHTSA reserves the right to request at that time the 
    submission of additional information, not identified in today's Federal 
    Register notice, from organizations seeking to be included on the third 
    list.
        Based on its review of the certifications received in response to 
    the third Federal Register notice, NHTSA will prepare a revised list of 
    organizations that have been determined to be qualified and appropriate 
    to receive future donations from GM. (As explained earlier, GM will 
    donate a total of approximately $4 million during the following four-
    year period, $1 million during each year.)
        NHTSA may, from time to time, publish additional notices requesting 
    certifications and prepare additional revised lists of qualified 
    organizations, if it determines it is appropriate to do so.
    
    Certification Criteria
    
        In order to be identified as a ``qualified organization,'' an 
    organization must certify in writing that it shall meet eleven separate 
    criteria. It must also provide information demonstrating that it meets 
    these criteria. The criteria, and the information that organizations 
    must submit to demonstrate compliance, are described below:
    
    (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 
    (i.e., units or chapters specifically organized to carry out the 
    organization's mission) or with other affiliates (i.e., 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:
    
    
    [[Page 33907]]
    
        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 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 notice published on March 
    31, 1995, 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 
    
    [[Page 33908]]
    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 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.
    
    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.
    
    Certification Procedures
    
        To be considered, certifications must be received no later than 90 
    days after the date on which today's notice is published in the Federal 
    Register. Certifications should be submitted to Office of Occupant 
    Protection, NTS-11, 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 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 
    
    [[Page 33909]]
    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 notice published on March 
    31, 1995, 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 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;
         An 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. 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.
    
        Issued on: June 26, 1995.
    James Hedlund,
    Acting Associate Administrator for Traffic Safety Programs.
    [FR Doc. 95-15987 Filed 6-28-95; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
    
    

Document Information

Published:
06/29/1995
Department:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice; request for certifications.
Document Number:
95-15987
Dates:
Certifications must be received no later than September 27, 1995.
Pages:
33904-33909 (6 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 95-20, Notice 2
PDF File:
95-15987.pdf