Real-Time Transit Infrastructure and Rolling Stock Condition Assessment Research and Demonstration Program FY2020 Notice of Funding

Details:

Notice of Funding Opportunity for Real-Time Transit Infrastructure and Rolling Stock Condition Assessment Research and Demonstration Program. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of $1.25 million in Public Transportation Innovation funding for the Real-Time Transit Infrastructure and Rolling Stock Condition Assessment Research and Demonstration Program to fund projects that demonstrate innovative approaches, practices, partnerships, and technologies to enhance public transportation effectiveness, increase efficiency, expand quality, promote safety, and improve the traveler’s experience. 

FTA intends to award multiple projects under this announcement. Synopses and full announcement are posted on Grants.gov site as opportunity FTA-2020-013-TRI-TIR Proposals must be submitted electronically through the Grants.gov website by midnight Eastern Time on July 17, 2020.

Summary:

FTA announces the availability of $1,250,000 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 research funds for Real-Time Transit Infrastructure and Rolling Stock Condition Assessment Research and Demonstration Program. FTA’s Public Transportation Innovation program is authorized by federal public transportation law (49 U.S.C § 5312). FTA is seeking to fund cooperative agreements to allow transit agencies to explore advanced cutting-edge technologies that can provide real-time condition assessment of their infrastructures to assess, detect, monitor and track deficiencies and defects of their infrastructure and rolling stocks.

The Real-Time Transit Infrastructure and Rolling Stock Condition Assessment Research and Demonstration Program objectives are intended to help transit agencies:

• Explore advanced cutting-edge technologies that can provide real-time condition assessment of transit capital and facilities
• Allow a more effective way for transit agencies to assess, detect, monitor and track deficiencies and defects related to infrastructure and rolling stock
• Evaluate the cost-effectiveness and the practicality of proposed state-of-the art solutions

Eligible Applicants:

To be eligible for funding under this notice, applicants must demonstrate that their proposed projects are supported by a lead applicant in partnership with one or more strategic partner(s) with a substantial interest and involvement in the project. The lead applicant must have the ability to carry out the proposed agreement and procurements with strategic partners in compliance with its respective state and local laws. FTA may determine that any named strategic partner in the proposal is a key party and make any award conditional upon the participation of that key party. An application must clearly identify the eligible lead applicant and all project partners on the team. Eligible lead applicants must be one of the listed entities prescribed below. Additionally, project partners and subrecipients under this program may include, but are not limited to:

• Public transportation systems;
• Private for profit and not-for-profit organizations, including technology system suppliers and bus manufacturers;
• Operators of transportation, such as employee shuttle services or airport connector services or university transportation systems;
• State or local government entities; and
• Other organizations that may contribute to the success of the project team including consultants, research consortia or not-for-profit industry organizations, and institutions of higher education.

Link and Instructions for attaching the supplemental form to the SF-424:

All applicants must complete the supplemental form specific to the Real-Time Transit Infrastructure and Rolling Stock Condition Assessment program and attach it to their submission in Grants.gov. Applicants should refer to section D of the NOFO for further information about required application contents. The supplemental form is also available on Grants.gov.

Webinar:

FTA held a webinar on June 8, 2020 and provided details on the program funding opportunity.

Dates: Applicants must submit proposals electronically by midnight Eastern Time July 17, 2020. Any applicant intending to apply should initiate the process of registering on the Grants.gov site immediately to ensure completion of registration before the submission deadline.

For Further Information Contact:

Please send any questions on this notice to samuel.yimer@dot.gov or contact Sam Yimer, General Engineer, Office of Research, Demonstration, and Innovation (TRI), (202) 366-1321.