States, groups of States, or designated authorities that have Maglev projects are invited to submit applications in Phase I of the Maglev Deployment Program, the competition for preconstruction planning grants. The applications shall contain:

(a)(1) If submitted by a State: name, address, responsible party, telephone, fax number, and e-mail address of the State agency submitting the application; or

(2) If submitted by a designated authority: name, address, responsible party, telephone, fax number, and e-mail address of the designated authority and of the State agency or agencies on whose behalf the designated authority is submitting the application, together with letters from the State(s) evidencing all such designations;

(b) A description of the project concept, identifying its likely location, market area, length, and the transportation service that it would perform, and a preliminary estimate of the time that would be required—if funds are made available—to bring the project to the start of construction and then to the initiation of full revenue service. At its option, the applicant may include any reports already completed on the project as well as any additional descriptive material that would assist the FRA in evaluating the application;

(c) Whatever information the applicant has to demonstrate that the project meets the project eligibility standards in § 269.11(a), and the project selection criteria in § 268.17. together with a certification that the applicant fully intends to comply with the requirements in § 269.11 should its project be selected by FRA for final design, engineering and construction financing.

(d) A statement of work for the preconstruction planning activities to be accomplished under the planning grant. The statement shall describe the work to be performed, including but not necessarily limited to:

(1) Preconstruction planning work as is needed to develop a Maglev project, and project description that will satisfy the project eligibility standards in § 268.11(b), and the project selection criteria in § 268.17; and

(2) Preparation of EAs, as described in § 268.11(b)(6)(i);

(e) Management plan, schedule, and financial plan for accomplishing the preconstruction planning work under the planning grant;

(f) Letters supporting the application from the heads of all State departments of transportation involved, as well as from responsible officials of the Metropolitan Planning Organizations of all metropolitan areas to be served by the proposed project;

(g) A certification from the State, or from the authority designated by one or more States, that the 1/3 matching funds required for work under the planning grant are, or will be, available by the time the grants are announced. The source(s) of the matching must be shown in the financial plan under paragraph (e); and

(h) If the applicant has made a definitive choice of the particular Maglev technology proposed to be included, a description of that technology and the degree to which it has been produced and tested should be submitted. Further, if the applicant has identified organizations that would form members of the team that would implement the project, the names of those organizations and the persons representing them should also be submitted.