Since 1964, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has partnered with state and local governments to create and enhance public transportation systems, investing more than $13 billion annually to support the transportation arteries of cities, such as buses, subways, light rain, and ferries. FTA provides annual formula grants and discretionary grants to transit agencies nationwide.

The FTA is responsible for conducting oversight activities to ensure that recipients of grants use the funds in a manner consistent with their intended purpose and in compliance with regulatory and statutory requirements. The Office of Program Oversight develops and implements a comprehensive national oversight program to ensure that funding recipients remain compliant with the requirements of FTA’s assistance programs. To foster stewardship of federal funds, the office institutes oversight performance metrics, analyzes nationwide recipient compliance trends, and develops and implements technical assistance and training tools and events based on grantee oversight trend analysis.

The FTA engaged the expertise of BMRA to develop custom e-courses aimed at elevating the expertise and understanding of grant recipients based on the findings of FTA comprehensive reviews.

BMRA started by identifying what training and education already existed and what was needed related to each of the top findings. We determined that the highest priority content was cost and price analysis, and that was the first e-course we developed. We researched cost and price analysis procedures and regulations and created an outline to structure the course. We also developed specific and measurable learning objectives. From the outline, we developed a course document that included all the training content.

We then developed the course using an online platform. We incorporated activities, videos, and graphics to engage the learners and increase retention. We tested the course to ensure it was working functionally, and FTA reviewed the content to ensure accuracy.

Finally, we delivered the course to the FTA. We provided both URLs and SCORM files, so the FTA can provide the course to their learners in the way that works best for them.

BMRA completed the first course, Cost and Price Analysis: Regulations and Best Practices, which is now available for free to all FTA grant recipients. BMRA is continuing work on the next courses, Procurement 101, Written Documentation of Procurement History, and Responsibility Determination, which will be available in late spring 2024.