Notice of Nondiscrimination Rights and
Protections to Beneficiaries
Federal “Title VI/Nondiscrimination” Protections
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) operates its
programs, services, and activities in compliance with federal nondiscrimination
laws including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), the Civil Rights
Restoration Act of 1987, and related statutes and regulations. Title VI prohibits
discrimination in federally assisted programs and requires that no person in the
United States of America shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin
(including limited English proficiency), be excluded from participation in, be
denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any
program or activity receiving federal assistance. Related federal nondiscrimination
laws administrated by the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Transit
Administration, or both prohibit discrimination on the basis of age, sex, and
disability. These protected categories are contemplated within MassDOT’s Title VI
Programs consistent with federal interpretation and administration. Additionally,
MassDOT provides meaningful access to its programs, services, and activities to
individuals with limited English proficiency, in compliance with US Department of
Transportation policy and guidance on federal Executive Order 13166.
State Nondiscrimination Protections
MassDOT also complies with the Massachusetts Public Accommodation Law,
M.G.L. c 272 §§ 92a, 98, 98a, prohibiting making any distinction, discrimination,
or restriction in admission to or treatment in a place of public accommodation
based on race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation,
disability, or ancestry. Likewise, MassDOT complies with the Governor’s Executive
Order 526, section 4 requiring all programs, activities, and services provided,
performed, licensed, chartered, funded, regulated, or contracted for by the state
shall be conducted without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, age,
gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion,
creed, ancestry, national origin, disability, veteran's status (including Vietnam-era
veterans), or background.
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Additional Information
To request additional information regarding Title VI and related federal and state
nondiscrimination obligations, please contact:
Title VI Specialist
MassDOT, Office of Diversity and Civil Rights
10 Park Plaza
Boston, MA 02116
857-368-8580
TTY: 857-368-0603
MASSDOT.CivilRights@state.ma.us
Complaint Filing
To file a complaint alleging a violation of Title VI or related federal
nondiscrimination law, contact the Title VI Specialist (above) within 180 days of
the alleged discriminatory conduct.
To file a complaint alleging a violation of the state’s Public Accommodation Law,
contact the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination within 300 days of
the alleged discriminatory conduct at:
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD)
One Ashburton Place, 6th Floor
Boston, MA 02109
617-994-6000
TTY: 617-994-6196
Translation
English: If this information is needed in another language, please contact the MassDOT
Title VI Specialist at 857-368-8580.
Portuguese: Caso esta informação seja necessária em outro idioma, favor contar o
Especialista em Título VI do MassDOT pelo telefone 857-368-8580.
Spanish: Si necesita esta información en otro idioma, por favor contacte al especialista de
MassDOT del Título VI al 857-368-8580.
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Chinese Simplified: (mainland & Singapore):
如果需要使用其它语言了解信息，请联系马萨诸塞州交通部（MassDOT）
《民权法案》第六章专员，电话857-368-8580。
Chinese Traditional: (Hong Kong & Taiwan):
如果需要使用其它語言了解信息，請聯繫馬薩諸塞州交通部（MassDOT）
《民權法案》第六章專員，電話857-368-8580。
Russian: Если Вам необходима данная информация на любом другом языке,
пожалуйста, свяжитесь со cпециалистом по Титулу VI Департамента
Транспорта штата Массачусетс (MassDOT) по тел: 857-368-8580.
Haitian Creole: Si yon moun vle genyen enfòmasyon sa yo nan yon lòt lang, tanpri
kontakte Espesyalis MassDOT Title VI la nan nimewo 857-368-8580.
Vietnamese: Nếu quý vị cần thông tin này bằng tiếng khác, vui lòng liên hệ Chuyên viên Luật
VI của MassDOT theo số điện thoại 857-368-8580.
French: Si vous avez besoin d'obtenir une copie de la présente dans une autre langue,
veuillez contacter le spécialiste du Titre VI de MassDOT en composant le
857-368-8580.
Italian: Se ha bisogno di ricevere queste informazioni in un’altra lingua si prega di
contattare lo Specialista MassDOT del Titolo VI al numero 857-368-8580.
Khmer: ប្រសិនបរើបោក-អ្នកប្រូវការរកប្ប្រព័រ៌មានបនេះ
សូមទាក់ទកអ្នកឯកបទសប ើជំពូកទី6 ររស់MassDot តាមរយៈប ខទូរស័ពទ
857-368-8580
Arabic:
‫ﺏﺃﺥﺹﺍﺉﺍﻝﻑﻕﺭﺓﺍﻝﺱﺍﺩﺱﺓ‬
‫ﻱ‬
‫ﺕﺹﺍ‬
‫ﻱُﺭﺝﻯ ﺍال ﻝ‬،‫ﺏﻝﻍﺓ ﺃﺥﺭﻯ‬
‫ﺇﻥ ﻙﻥﺕﺏﺡﺍﺝﺓﺇﻝﻯ ﻩﺫﻩ ﺍﻝﻡﻉﻝﻭﻡﺍﺕ‬
857- 368-8580 ‫ﺍﺕﻑ‬
‫ﻉﻝﻯ ﺍﻝﻩ‬
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Table of Contents
Section 1: Introduction ....................................................................................... 6
1.1 What is BlackCat Grant Management System? ...................................... 6
1.2 This User’s Guide ...................................................................................... 6
Section 2: Getting Started .................................................................................. 7
2.1 User Access ............................................................................................... 7
2.2 Access Location ........................................................................................ 7
Section 3: Dashboard Page ............................................................................... 8
3.1 Overview .................................................................................................... 8
Section 4: Certifications and Assurances ...................................................... 11
4.1 Upload Certifications and Assurances .................................................. 11
Section 5: Needs ............................................................................................... 14
5.1 Creating a New Need ............................................................................... 14
Section 6: Funding Scenarios (Non-Competitive Scenarios)........................ 18
6.1 Creating a Funding Scenario.................................................................. 19
6.2 Allocating Needs to a Funding Scenario ............................................... 21
Section 7: Projects (Competitive Applications) ............................................. 23
7.1 Converting a Need to a Project .............................................................. 23
7.2 Add a Funding Request .......................................................................... 25
7.3 Completing an Application ..................................................................... 27
Additional Information .................................................................................. 33
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User’s Guide
Section 1: Introduction
1.1 What is the BlackCat Grant Management System?
Panther International, LLC is proud to offer the BlackCat Grant Management
System, a grant management application developed specifically for the
transportation industry
GrantsPlus+ is the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT)
implementation of the BlackCat Grant Management System
BlackCat Grants is a secure, web-based system designed and developed to
facilitate the storage, management, and analysis of transportation grants and
funding resource information for agency staff, Department of Transportation
(DOT) personnel, and other governmental entities requiring grant management,
specific funding information and historical archives. This tool will be utilized to
coordinate budget and grant tracking, facilitate project management, and guide
project planning and funding in one easily accessible database
1.2 This User’s Guide
This user’s guide was created to assist transit agencies and other the designated
users with the efficient use and operation of the BlackCat Grants application. If
additional help is needed, a user can contact a system support representative by
selecting the “Online Support” link at the bottom of every page. A representative
will respond to both phone and email inquiries. Additional “Help” features can be
accessed as available throughout the application
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Section 2: Getting Started
2.1 User Access
Please request a username and password from your DOT representative in order
to access and begin using the BlackCat Grants system. Your representative will
provide user access information for authorized users only
Please note: Once you have received your user access information and have
logged into the system, you can select the ‘My Account’ feature (in the upper
right corner of the screen) and change your user access information at anytime
2.2 Access Location
BlackCat Grants is a secure, web-based application. To locate the BlackCat
Grants login screen, go to: http://ma.blackcatgrants.com. Enter your username
and password to gain access to the application
Please note: The website address (URL) is subject to change. Users will be
notified in advance of any URL address changes
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Section 3: Dashboard Page
3.1 Overview
Users will log on and initially access the Dashboard page. (see Figure 3.1a)
The Dashboard page provides key information:

System announcement information

Other components will be added as increased functionality is added to
the system
(Figure 3.1a)
The Announcement section provides information applicable to all users
including critical announcements, bulletins, or upcoming maintenance periods
The application is sub-divided into several tabs. Each agency user will have
access to the Dashboard page, Projects section, Organizations page,
Resources section, and Reports page and each of these sections can be
accessed by the tabs across the top of the application (see Figure 3.1b)
(Figure 3.1b)
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Additional features are located in the upper right corner of the application (see
Figure 3.1c)
(Figure 3.1c)
The My Account feature allows the user to change certain profile information.
Each user is identified by a User Name that is not editable. But other information
such as: first name, last name, phone number, email address, password can be
changed as needed by the user (see Figure 3.1d)
(Figure 3.1d)
Also located in the upper right corner of the application is a Logout option for the
user to properly exit the application. And the Help link will list all available help
information and any new edits (as additional information becomes available) (see
Figure 3.1e)
(Figure 3.1e)
The BlackCat Grants Support Phone Line, Accessibility Info, and Contact
Support options are located at the bottom right corner and should be used to
request any variety of user technical assistance (see Figure 3.1f)
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(Figure 3.1f)
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Section 4: Certifications and Assurances
All needs, project information and requests for funding will be submitted and
stored in the Needs and Projects sections. A user will be able to access these
sections at any time to review any current, open or closed project information for
his/her agency
However, before any project information can be added for the current fiscal year,
an executed version of the federal and state Certifications and Assurances must
be uploaded in the Organizations section (see Figure 4.0a)
(Figure 4.0a)
4.1 Upload Certifications and Assurances
To Upload a current Certification and Assurances document:

Select the Organizations tab

Select the Certification tab in the left hand navigation. (see Figure 4.1a)
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(Figure 4.1a)

Select the Certification and Assurances link to download the current
version of this form (see Figure 4.1b)
(Figure 4.1b)

The Certification and Assurances document will open. It should be
printed, properly executed, and scanned so that it can be uploaded into
the designated area provided (see Figure 4.1c)
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(Figure 4.1c)

Select the current Fiscal Year

Check to attest that this is a properly executed version of the
Certifications and Assurances

Select Upload to upload the document

Once this is complete, you will be able to create needs and projects for
the selected Fiscal Year (see Figure 4.1d)
(Figure 4.1d)
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Section 5: Needs
Needs are considered to be future project needs that will eventually be submitted
with a Funding Request through one of two processes: Competitive
Applications and Non-Competitive Funding Scenarios. Both processes will
be presented below
Select the Needs tab to access the Needs section (see Figure 5.0a)
(Figure 5.0a)
5.1 Creating a New Need
All project requests begin as a Need
To Create a New Need:

Select the Needs tab

Select the Add New button (see Figure 5.1a)
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(Figure 5.1a)

The Needs Details page will appear

A FTA Line Item Code must be selected that closely matches the
description or type of the project or item to be funded. To do this, select
the Lookup button. (see Figure 5.1b)
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(Figure 5.1b)

Select the appropriate Category

Select the corresponding FTA Line Item Code/Description that best
represents the Need

The select the Select Code button to save the option (see Figure 5.1c)
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(Figure 5.1c)

Select the Year this need should be funded

Provide the Total Estimated Cost for this intended project, the project’s
Priority for the year of need, and any related Notes

Then select Save to create the need (see Figure 5.1d)

Repeat this process for every Project Need that will be incorporated into
the Five (5) Year Project List (both competitive and non-competitive
needs)
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(Figure 5.1d)

The resulting view will show this Need in the Needs Listing (see Figure
5.2e)
(Figure 5.1e)

Once all the Needs are created for the current Five (5) Year Project
List, they can be submitted for funding either through the NonCompetitive or Competitive processes
Section 6: Funding Scenarios (Non-Competitive
Scenarios)
The Non-Competitive Scenario is a list of all needs that you will assign funding
from non-competitively, allocated funding sources.
Select the Scenarios button on the Needs Listing page. (see Figure 6.0a)
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(Figure 6.0a)
6.1 Creating a Funding Scenario
To Create a New Scenario:

Select the Add New button (see Figure 6.1a)
(Figure 6.1a)

Provide a name for the Scenario. Use the Fiscal Year Range as a
default (see Figure 6.1b)
(Figure 6.1b)

Once the Scenario is created, select the link to open the new Scenario
(see Figure 6.1c)
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(Figure 6.1c)

The scenario is broken into 3 separate sections. The first section is the
Funding Program Budgets section. Budgeted Amounts for all the
Non-Competitive programs will be provided. When values are added to
the individual needs, the Requested Amounts will be subtracted from
the Budget Amounts to showing the Amounts Remaining that can still
be allocated (see Figure 6.1d)
(Figure 6.1d)

The other two sections are the Need Request and Needs section. The
Need Request section provides access to all the available Needs as
well as the potential funding programs. The Needs section will be the
resulting list for all Allocated Needs (see Figure 6.1e)
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(Figure 6.1e)
6.2 Allocating Needs to a Funding Scenario
To Allocate Needs to a Funding Scenario:

Go to the Need Request section

Select the first Need (see Figure 6.2a)
(Figure 6.2a)

Select a Funding Type

Select a Funding Program. Please note to choose the proper funding
year as many programs are available in multiple years (see Figure 6.2a)

Type in the Requested Amount associated with the Funding Program
selected

Select the Add to Request button to start allocating to the selected
Need (see Figure 6.2b)
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(Figure 6.2b)

Repeat these steps to allocate the primary and matching funds
associated with each Need

Select the Add Need button to complete a Need before moving on to the
next one (see Figure 6.2c)
(Figure 6.2c)

Continue to Allocate funds until all the appropriate Needs requiring
Non-Competitive funds are allocated (see Figure 6.2d)
(Figure 6.2d)

Select Save to save a scenario. A saved scenario can still be edited
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
Select Submit to submit a scenario. Once a scenario is submitted, it can
no longer be edited unless a MassDOT RTD representative reopens
the scenario for edits (see Figure 6.2e)

Once you Submit your scenario and it is approved by RTD, it will be
incorporated into the Five (5) Year Project List
(Figure 6.2e)

Once the Non-Competitive Scenario has been created, remaining or
additional Needs can be submitted for Competitive funding by creating
a Competitive Application (see Figure 6.2f)
(Figure 6.2f)

To Create a Competitive Application, got to Section 7
Section 7: Projects (Competitive Applications)
To submit a Competitive Application for a Competitive Funding Source, you must
first create a Project from a Need
7.1 Creating a Project from a Need
To Create a Project:
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
Select the Needs tab

Locate the Need for which you wish to Create a competitive application

Select the Create link (see Figure 7.1a)
(Figure 7.1a)

The Need will convert to a Project

Confirm the Project details and then select Save (see Figure 7.1b)
(Figure 7.1b)

The resulting view is the Project Summary for the new project (see Figure
7.1c)
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(Figure 7.1c)
7.2 Add a Funding Request

To submit a project for funding consideration, a Funding Request and
Application must be completed and submitted

Select the Add New button in the Funding Requests section (see Figure
7.2a)
(Figure 7.2a)

Select the Add New button in the Requests section to enter the specific
type of funding you are requesting (see Figure 7.2b)
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(Figure 7.2b)

Select the Type of Funding that is being requested

Select the specific Fund Source

Provide the Amount of funds requested from this fund source

Repeat this process to add additional federal, state or local match
amounts until the total amount of all requests equals the total amount of
the project (see Figure 7.2c and 7.2d)
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(Figure 7.2c)
(Figure 7.2d)
7.3 Completing an Application

To submit a project for funding consideration of a competitive funding
program, most funding programs require an application to be fully
completed and submitted. The selection of the funding programs will
determine the type of application required

Once the Funding Request has been created, the appropriate
Application will be served up in a link of the predominate funding
request (see Figure 7.3a)

Select the Application link (see Figure 7.3a)
(Figure 7.3a)

The Application will open in a separate browser. Work can be saved
and user can return to make edits to the application as needed up until it
is submitted for review (see Figure 7.3b)
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(Figure 7.3b)

Users can utilize the navigation on the left hand side to go to specific
sections of the application (see Figure 7.3b above)

Users are encouraged to use the Save buttons at the end of each
section to save all work entered so that no data is lost if the application
needs to be closed (see Figure 7.3c)

Arrow Icons are available to take the user back to the top of the page
when seeking to select another navigation option (see Figure 7.3c)
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(Figure 7.3c)

Most currency and budget sections assist in calculating values and
providing uniform options to assist the applicant and ease the possibility
of error (see Figure 7.3d)
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(Figure 7.3d)

Users will be asked to upload specific supporting documentation to help
justify the funding request (see Figure 7.3e)
(Figure 7.3e)
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
Once the application is complete and ready to submit, check the box in
the Submit Application section to attest that the application has been
properly completed

Select Submit. The browser will close (see Figure 7.3f)
(Figure 7.3f)

When the browser closes, a Submit button will be available in the
Request Summary area

Select Submit to send the application to review. Please note: that once
an application is submitted it can still be viewed but it can no longer be
edited (see Figure 7.3g)
(Figure 7.3g)

Once submitted, the status of the Funding Request will change to
submitted on the Project Summary page. The status field can then be
monitored for further status changes as the request moves through the
funding cycle (see Figure 7.3h)
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(Figure 7.3h)
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Additional Information
For additional information, please contact:
Scott Entin
BlackCat Grants Product Manager
Panther International, LLC
Scott@PantherInternational.com
727.556.0990 x1007
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