Opportunity Information: Apply for FTA 2012 005 TPM BLIV
Apply for FTA 2012 005 TPM BLIV
- The DOT/Federal Transit Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bus and Bus Facilities Livability Initiative Solicitation of Project Proposals" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.500 Federal TransitCapital Investment Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 7, 2012 and posted on Feb 7, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 29, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $125,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $125,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 60 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) City or township governments County governments.
- Direct Recipients under the Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula program, States, and Indian Tribes. Proposals for funding eligible projects in rural (nonurbanized) areas must be submitted as part of a consolidated State proposal with the exception of nonurbanized projects to Federally Recognized Tribes. States, Direct Recipients, and Tribes may also submit consolidated proposals for projects in urbanized areas. Proposals shall contain projects to be implemented by the Recipient or its subrecipients. Eligible subrecipients include public agencies, private non profit organizations, and private providers engaged in public transportation.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Bus and Bus Facilities Livability Initiative Solicitation of Project Proposals (Funding Opportunity Number FTA-2012-005-TPM-BLIV) was a discretionary Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant opportunity under the U.S. Department of Transportation aimed at helping transit agencies and public entities improve bus service and related infrastructure with a focus on livability outcomes. The program made federal transit capital funds available primarily to state and local governmental authorities as direct recipients, while also allowing other public transportation providers to participate as subrecipients through an eligible recipient. The intent was to invest in projects that strengthen bus systems and facilities in ways that improve the rider experience and community access, while also supporting broader state of good repair goals.
In total, FTA estimated about $125,000,000 in funding for this solicitation, with an expected 60 awards. A notable feature of the opportunity was that it did not set a specific minimum (award floor of $0) or maximum grant amount for any single award; instead, FTA signaled that it planned to fund as many high-quality, competitive proposals as possible. At the same time, award decisions were not purely based on project merit alone. FTA indicated it would consider geographic diversity and how these awards fit alongside other discretionary awards, which means selection could also be influenced by the overall distribution of funding across regions and communities.
The solicitation also tied selection considerations to statutory direction in 49 U.S.C. Section 5309(m)(8). Consistent with that law, the Secretary of Transportation was required to consider the age and condition of an applicant's buses, bus fleets, and bus-related facilities and equipment when making awards under related discretionary programs, including State of Good Repair, Bus Livability, and Clean Fuels grants. Practically, that emphasis favors proposals that address clearly documented needs such as aging fleets, deteriorating maintenance facilities, outdated passenger amenities, or other conditions that negatively affect reliability, safety, or service quality.
Eligible applicants were defined relatively narrowly to align with core FTA program structures. The eligible proposers and eventual grant applicants were: (1) direct recipients under the Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula program, (2) States, and (3) Federally recognized Indian Tribes. For projects in rural (nonurbanized) areas, the solicitation required proposals to be submitted as part of a consolidated State proposal, with one key exception: nonurbanized projects sponsored by federally recognized Tribes could be submitted outside of the State consolidation process. For urbanized areas, States, direct recipients, and Tribes also had the option to submit consolidated proposals, which can be useful for packaging multiple related projects or multiple subrecipient projects under a single application strategy.
While only those entities could be the formal applicants, the program was structured to support implementation by recipients or their subrecipients. Proposals were expected to include projects that would be carried out either directly by the recipient or by eligible subrecipients. The solicitation explicitly recognized several types of subrecipients as eligible, including public agencies, private nonprofit organizations, and private providers engaged in public transportation. This approach reflects how many bus capital projects are delivered in practice, where a designated recipient applies for and manages the grant while local operators or partner entities execute parts of the work.
This funding opportunity was categorized as a discretionary grant in the transportation activity area, with the CFDA number listed as 20.500 (Federal Transit Capital Investment Grants). It also required cost sharing or matching, meaning federal funds were not intended to cover 100 percent of project costs and applicants needed to identify non-federal match sources consistent with FTA requirements. Key dates included a posted and creation date of February 7, 2012, and an original and current closing date of March 29, 2012, with an archive date of April 28, 2012, indicating it was a time-limited solicitation rather than an open, continuously available program.
For additional details and the official solicitation language, FTA pointed applicants to the Federal Register notice (Volume 77, Number 25, Tuesday, February 7, 2012), and to FTA's current Notices of Funding Availability resources. The notice also provided a point of contact for access issues: Bryce McNitt in FTA's Office of Program Management at (202) 366-2618.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Bus and Bus Facilities Livability Initiative Solicitation of Project Proposals?
It was a discretionary Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant opportunity under the U.S. Department of Transportation, issued as the "Bus and Bus Facilities Livability Initiative Solicitation of Project Proposals" (Funding Opportunity Number FTA-2012-005-TPM-BLIV). It was intended to help improve bus service and bus-related facilities and infrastructure with a focus on livability outcomes, while also supporting broader state of good repair goals.
What was the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The solicitation aimed to invest in projects that strengthen bus systems and facilities in ways that improve the rider experience and community access, with an emphasis on improving conditions tied to state of good repair (for example, addressing aging fleets or deteriorating facilities that affect reliability, safety, or service quality).
Which federal agency administered this opportunity?
The opportunity was administered by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), within the U.S. Department of Transportation.
What type of grant was this?
This was a discretionary transportation grant. It made federal transit capital funds available through a competitive solicitation process rather than by formula distribution alone.
What was the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number was FTA-2012-005-TPM-BLIV.
What was the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed was 20.500 (Federal Transit Capital Investment Grants).
How much total funding was FTA expecting to make available?
FTA estimated approximately $125,000,000 in total funding available under this solicitation.
About how many awards were anticipated?
FTA expected approximately 60 awards.
Was there a minimum or maximum award amount per grant?
No specific minimum or maximum award amount was set. The award floor was described as $0, and no award ceiling was specified. FTA indicated it planned to fund as many high-quality, competitive proposals as possible.
Were awards based only on project merit?
No. In addition to project competitiveness, FTA indicated it would consider geographic diversity and how awards fit alongside other discretionary awards. That means selection could also be influenced by overall distribution across regions and communities.
What statutory considerations influenced selection?
The solicitation referenced 49 U.S.C. Section 5309(m)(8). Under that statutory direction, the Secretary of Transportation was required to consider the age and condition of an applicant's buses, bus fleets, and bus-related facilities and equipment when making awards under related discretionary programs, including State of Good Repair, Bus Livability, and Clean Fuels grants.
How did the age and condition of buses and facilities affect competitiveness?
Because the statute required consideration of asset condition, proposals that addressed clearly documented needs (such as aging fleets, deteriorating maintenance facilities, outdated passenger amenities, or other deficiencies affecting reliability, safety, or service quality) were aligned with the stated emphasis in the solicitation.
Who was eligible to submit proposals as the formal applicant?
Eligible proposers and eventual grant applicants were limited to: (1) direct recipients under the Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula program, (2) States, and (3) Federally recognized Indian Tribes.
Could entities that are not States, Tribes, or Section 5307 direct recipients still participate?
Yes, but not as the formal applicant. Other public transportation providers could participate as subrecipients through an eligible recipient. The structure anticipated that projects could be implemented by recipients or their eligible subrecipients.
What types of subrecipients were recognized as eligible under the solicitation?
The solicitation explicitly recognized eligible subrecipients such as public agencies, private nonprofit organizations, and private providers engaged in public transportation.
How were rural (nonurbanized) area projects supposed to be submitted?
For projects in rural (nonurbanized) areas, the solicitation required proposals to be submitted as part of a consolidated State proposal.
Was there an exception to the State consolidation requirement for rural projects?
Yes. Nonurbanized projects sponsored by federally recognized Indian Tribes could be submitted outside of the State consolidation process.
Were consolidated proposals allowed for urbanized area projects?
Yes. For urbanized areas, States, direct recipients, and Tribes could also submit consolidated proposals. This could be used to package multiple related projects or multiple subrecipient projects under a single application strategy.
Did this solicitation require matching funds?
Yes. The opportunity required cost sharing or matching. Federal funds were not intended to cover 100 percent of project costs, and applicants needed to identify non-federal match sources consistent with FTA requirements.
What were the key dates for this solicitation?
The posted/creation date was February 7, 2012. The original and current closing date was March 29, 2012. The archive date was April 28, 2012.
Was this an ongoing program with rolling applications?
No. The dates indicate it was a time-limited solicitation with a defined closing date, and it was later archived.
Where could applicants find the official solicitation language?
FTA pointed applicants to the Federal Register notice: Volume 77, Number 25, Tuesday, February 7, 2012. FTA also referenced its current Notices of Funding Availability resources for additional context and related materials.
Who was the point of contact for access issues related to the notice?
The notice provided a point of contact for access issues: Bryce McNitt, FTA Office of Program Management, (202) 366-2618.
What kinds of outcomes were emphasized by the term "livability" in this solicitation?
Based on the solicitation description, the livability focus centered on improving the rider experience and community access through investments in bus service and supporting facilities, alongside improvements that advance state of good repair.
What kinds of needs did the solicitation imply were important to document?
The solicitation highlighted the importance of documenting needs related to the age and condition of buses, fleets, and bus-related facilities and equipment. Examples mentioned included aging fleets, deteriorating maintenance facilities, outdated passenger amenities, and other conditions that reduce reliability, safety, or service quality.
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