PR-2021-064

This is an FFY 2021 Section 5311 Rural Application in the amount of $2,229,733 federal share. This application utilizes CARES Act funding to help respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The application is for operating assistance from February 2020 to December 2022, which includes salaries for approximately 15 administrative and operational employees of Island Service.

The PRMTA is the public ferry operator under the Puerto Rico Integrated Transit Authority (PRITA). PRMTA provides the only public transportation method that connects the municipal islands of Vieques and Culebra with the mainland (Island Service), as well as the Metro Service which connects the Catao Terminal with the San Juan Pier II Terminal. The PRMTA operates scheduled ferry services for cargo and passengers running seven days a week. During the COVID-19 emergency, the PRMTA has continued providing services for the Vieques-Culebra-Ceiba routes. CARES Act funding would help the agency to respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

This application includes the following activity: Project 1 - Section 5311 Rural CARES Act funds operating assistance. A total of $2,229,733 (100% federal) will be requested under this project.

FEMA statement or other federal agency statement: The PRMTA agrees that if they receive federal funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or through a pass-through entity through the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, a different federal agency, or insurance proceeds for any portion of a project activity approved for FTA funding under this grant agreement, it will provide written notification to FTA and reimburse FTA for any federal share that duplicates funding provided by FEMA, another federal agency, or an insurance company.

Prior federal funding: None. FEMA or other federal funds have not been received for these projects.

Identification of operating expenses: The operational expenses requested in this application were determined by PRMTA and were reviewed by PRITA based on the costs and expenses of the previous fiscal year and projected budget. We are going to use operating assistance for salaries incurred during the emergency of COVID-19. This expense falls into one category of operating assistance. The PRMTA and PRHTA understand that the expenses requested in this application are subject to review for their reasonableness as part of the agency's next triennial/state management review. The recipient certifies that it and its subrecipients and contractors that are providers of public transportation have not furloughed any employees since March 27, 2020 (the enactment date of the CARES Act).

Insurance statement: The authority has not filed any claim to the insurance company. Insurance is non-applicable for this project.

Designated or direct recipient statement: The authority is a sub-recipient through PRHTA of the 5311 funds. The PRMTA is a sub-recipient of the PRHTA. For additional information, please refer to the attached documents on the application. *An amendment will be submitted to add more funds if needed.* No capital items are included in this grant. We are not contemplating the use of a third-party contract; however, in the case that we use a third party, the PRMTA will follow all third-party procurement policies as defined in C4220.1F (Third Party Contracting Guidance) and will ensure contractors procured will not be on the FTA Suspension and Debarment List. *This project only includes operating assistance expenses; it does not include substantial functional location or capacity changes to the asset or system. Therefore, no additional TIP/STIP documentation is needed. *This project will not include research and development activities. We requested pre-award authority in the grant application. No indirect costs will be applied to this application and its scope of work.

Puerto Rico Highway & Transportation Authority

20.509 - Formula Grants for Rural Areas and Tribal Transit Program

FTA Region 4 [DOT - FTA]

FTA Office of Budget and Policy [DOT - FTA]

Puerto Rico United States

State-Wide

None

COVID-19 $1,052,240 (32%) percent of this Project Grant was funded by COVID-19 emergency acts including the CARES Act.
Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 03/30/25 to 03/30/29 and the total obligations have increased 47% from $2,229,733 to $3,281,973.