A. Background The City of Clemson is the designated recipient for FTA grant funds in the Anderson Clemson Area Studies (MPO) region. Therefore, the City manages all FTA grant funds in the region, including funds for the Clemson Area Transit services, as well as the various Sub-recipients. There are currently five sub-recipients, which include the following: ● Town of Pendleton ● Town of Central ● University of Clemson ● Pier ● Clemson Community Recreation Center The Clemson Area Transit operates a fixed-route service that comprises 8 routes. The City contracts its ADA complementary paratransit service to Senior Solutions. The City and sub-recipients primarily receive 5307, 5310, 5311, and 5339. Additionally, the City has been recently awarded discretionary grants for transit planning and capital projects. As the designated recipient, Clemson Area Transit is responsible for the on-going management of existing FTA grants, processing new grant awards through and with FTA, closing out or consolidating grants, revising or amending grants, and ensuring compliance with grant regulations, also Title VI, ADA, purchasing and Buy America, etc. for itself, but also Sub-recipients. B. General Scope and Consultant Experience Requirements It is the intent of the Transportation Department to acquire a qualified and experienced consultant to provide administration and management of the City’s FTA grant program. Additional support related to FTA regulatory programs such as DBE, Title VI, ADA, TAM, may also be required. Consulting firms to be considered for this contract shall be highly experienced with FTA grant programs, regulations, and compliance. This includes formula funding programs such as 5307, 5339, and 5310, and 5311 as well as competitive programs stemming from these funding sources. Consulting firms must have a deep working knowledge of TRAMS and be capable of utilizing TRAMS on behalf of the City. Training of City staff on the use of TRAMS and all associated procedures, regulations, and work flows for managing grants may also be required. Firms should be able to demonstrate this knowledge and provide examples of previous training programs, SOPs, compliance check-lists, and other training materials and resources used. Administration of FTA Grants The Transportation Department has a number of FTA grants that are in various phases within the TRAMS software system. This includes applications in progress, executed and active grants, and active grants that need to be closed out or amended. It is expected that significant coordination will be required between the chosen consultant and the Transit division staff, the City Finance Department, as well as the Region 4 FTA grant management staff. The breakdown of existing grants is as follows: ● 1 Active executed grants ● 1 In-Progress grants 5-6 new grants yet-to-be created in TRAMS To assist with the management and administration of the City’s grant program, the City will require the following types of activities to be completed by the consultant (not limited to): ● Creation of applications in TRAMS, including grants with multiple funding sources and multiple fiscal years ● Creation of projects in TRAMS ● ALI identification and use ● Milestones and Financial Reports (identification and reporting) ● Budget amendments and revisions and applicability ● Consolidation and/or close-out of awards ● Draw downs (process and requirements) It will be necessary for the chosen firm to coordinate heavily with the City’s Transportation and Finance Departments to ensure that all appropriate internal reviews and sign-offs are completed prior to submissions to FTA on behalf of the City. Additional Services The Transportation Department’s Transit Division may also seek for the consultant to provide additional, optional services related to other FTA regulatory programs. For example, additional services may include, but not be limited to the following: ● Update to the 3-year Title VI Program Plan ● Bi-annual DBE report submissions and/or update to the 3-year DBE Program Plan ● Annual NTD report submission ● TAM Plan updates ● 5303 Applications and OPSTATs Reports to SCDOT ● Assistance with preparation of Requests for Proposals or BIDs for transit related procurements of services or goods ● Preparation of training resources, or handbooks/guides for regulatory compliance (e.g. checklists for sub-recipient compliance, preventative maintenance forms, procurement guides, etc.) ● Provide on-site and virtual training opportunities for staff and managers.
