Q: What is a regional project in the context of this Notice of Funding Opportunity?

A: A regional project is one that serves more than one community or area.  Examples of communities include cities, counties, and tribal areas. Applicants proposing regional projects should clearly explain the scope of the region that the project would serve.

Q: Who is not an eligible applicant? 

A: Applicants who are not eligible for the Section 5310 Formula Program such as for-profit organizations. Applicants who are eligible for the Section 5310 Formula Program but who do not have the authority or technical capacity to implement a regional or statewide cost allocation pilot.  

Q: What is a regional or statewide consortium?

A: A consortium is an association of two or more companies, organizations or governments (or any combination of these entities) with the objective of participating in a common activity or pooling their resources for achieving a common goal. 

For purposes of this funding opportunity, an eligible applicant must serve as the lead agency in the consortium, and the members of the consortium can be subrecipients of program funding if they are eligible subrecipients of the Section 5310 Program. The consortium must exist before the application is submitted, and additional partners can be added and roles can be clarified as the pilot progresses. 

As an example, the lead agency could be a State DOT, with a statewide consortium between transportation, healthcare, and human service providers.  At a regional level, the lead agency might be a designated 5310 recipient with a consortium of transportation, healthcare, and human service providers in the region.  

Q: Is it necessary to have a regional or statewide project? 

A: Yes, the Notice of Funding Opportunity states that FTA intends to target funding for regional and statewide mobility management projects that support coordination and enable comprehensive community access, including access to non-emergency medical transportation, for underserved groups.   

Q: Are operating funds available?

A: No, only capital funds are available.