Tribal High Priority Projects Program 21st Alaska BIA Providers Conference

1. Tribal High Priority Projects Program21st Alaska BIA Providers Conference

2. Outline • PROGRAM DESCRIPTION - AUTHORITY • DISASTERS / EMERGENCIES • BIADOT/FLH DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY AND RANK • RANKING: NUMERICAL SCORING • APPLICATION PROCESS • PROGRAM RESULTS

3. Tribal High Priority Projects • MAP-21 Sec. 1123 • Adopted from IRRHPP: 25 CFR 170.205 – 170.214 and Appendix A to Subpart C. • A special funding pool for: • tribes or governmental subdivision whose annual allocation is insufficient to complete its highest priority project; • Emergency/disaster on any IRR facility

4. Tribal High Priority Projects • Eligibility requirements • Application deadline – TBD (Postmarked by Dec. 31st)* • Applicant’s annual allocation insufficiency will be based on previous year’s RNDF allocation amount • Tribe can have only one application pending (including emergency projects) • Previously awarded applicants must have their awarded construction project “substantially complete” before application for another project. • Projects must be ready for construction and must have completed and approved PS&E as defined in 25 CFR 170.460(a)&(b). * Denotes changes from IRRHPP

5. Tribal High Priority Projects • Eligibility requirements (Cont.) • $1.0 Million limitation (includes design and construction of the same project)* • Any Indian Tribe, regardless of RNDF funding amount may apply for an emergency/disaster funding. The cap for an emergency/disaster application is $1.0 Million. • (Eligibility for an non-emergency IRRHPP is limited to tribes receiving less than $1.0 Million in RNDF funding annually. The cap for a non-emergency IRRHPP is $1.0 Million)* * Denotes changes from IRRHPP

6. Tribal High Priority Projects • Project must meet minimum IRR requirements • Identified as Highest Priority by Tribe • Documentation is required for the project to meet the definition of an IRR transportation and is in the IRR inventory (25 CFR 170.210(d)). Inventory accuracy in regards to a submitted construction project must match what is identified in the Official Inventory. • Emergency/Disaster Projects

7. Tribal HPP Emergency / Disaster • HPP Emergency / Disaster related projects given highest priority. • HPP Emergency / Disaster related projects NOT scored in same manner as non-emergency HPP projects. • HPP Provides funding for emergency / disasters based on ERFO guidelines. HPP program accepts projects that would otherwise have met the ERFO requirements but did not meet the funding minimum – currently @ $700,000. If a project is accepted by ERFO and is less than $700,000 HPP program WILL fund project and will assign higher priority.

8. Tribal HPP Emergency / Disaster • Notify the ERFO coordinator @ FLH • The ERFO Program offers amounts that exceed the IRRHPP $1 Million limitation • HPP Project (Site) may trigger others (Agencies) to meet the dollar threshold. • Requirements • Inventory • Tribal Resolution

9. Tribal HPP Project Scoring • HPP projects scored numerically based on Appendix A Subpart C matrix • Disaster projects – NOT scored according to matrix. • Scoring methodology based on rule and intent of program.

11. Tribal HPP Application Process • BIADOT/FHWA has provided application procedures and identified the process with the following: • Application Form w/ instructions • HPP Application Process Flow-Chart • HPP Application Check-list • HPP First Level Review at the Regional Level – Coordinate applications with your Regional HPP Coordinator.

12. IRRHPP Application Process • HPP Application / Proposal must include the following: • Project description and scope of work. • Budget break-down and amount of funds requested. • Supporting Tribal Documents that includes a Tribal Resolution supporting the proposal AND establishing project as the HIGHEST priority for the tribe AND authorizing the project to be placed on the HPP TIP. • Supporting IRR documents – Inventory verification – PS&E verification (if applicable) – any verifiable documents for scoring requirements (matching funds, accident data, strip map to address all weather access element )

13. Tribal HPP Scoring/Ranking Process • Submit applications • Provide notice of receipt • Prepare an application list for the review • Check and Identify applications that do not qualify for the following reasons: • Not in IRR Inventory • Sufficient Annual Allocation • PS&E Incomplete • Previously awarded project not “substantially complete”

14. Tribal HPP Scoring/Ranking Process • Identify the applications containing accident data • March – Execute scoring and ranking process as a group • Verify the applications as ineligible • Individually review and score applications in groups of 4 – 5 • Display each team member’s scores, as a group any discrepancies are discussed until a consensus is reached on that scoring element. • Apply the accident data to the Weighted Highway Index

15. Tribal HPP Scoring/Ranking Process • Apply the funding amount to the running total of requested funds, defining the number of projects that will be funded. • Enter the Emergency projects to top of the priority list, along with dollars requested.

16. Contacts Robert Frazier, Highway Engineer BIA-DOT 1001 Indian School NW, Suite 249 Albuquerque, NM 87104 (505) 563-3319 Minerva Chavez AK – BIA –DOT