Opportunity Information: Apply for FTA 2013 003 TRI
Apply for FTA 2013 003 TRI
- The DOT/Federal Transit Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BUS EFFICIENCY ENHANCEMENTS RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATIONS" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.514 Public Transportation Research, Technical Assistance, and Training.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 2, 2013 and posted on Jun 28, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 20, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $3,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Government, including Federal laboratories State and local governmental entities providers of public transportation private or non profit organizations institutions of higher education and technical and community colleges. Teams must include key roles by individuals representing both (1) a public transportation agency and (2) a bus manufacturer or supplier of relevant systems or components. Teaming and collaboration is encouraged with other organizations that can add value.
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Opportunity Summary:
The BUS EFFICIENCY ENHANCEMENTS RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATIONS opportunity is a discretionary research funding announcement from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under the FY 2012 FTA National Research Program (authorized through Sections 5312/5314). The program sets aside a total of $3,000,000 to support innovative research, development, and demonstration efforts aimed at reducing energy use in transit buses while also advancing broader public transportation goals such as improved service effectiveness, lower operating and capital costs, better state of good repair, enhanced safety, reduced harmful emissions, and stronger deployment of advanced vehicle technologies. The funding is administered through cooperative agreements, which typically implies an active partnership between the award recipient and the federal agency during the life of the project, rather than a hands-off grant relationship.
The technical focus is narrow and specific: projects must target bus efficiency enhancements through (1) enhanced electrification of accessories and/or (2) improvements in thermal management of bus bodies. In practical terms, "electrification of accessories" generally refers to shifting auxiliary bus loads that have traditionally been mechanically or hydraulically driven (or otherwise inefficiently powered) into more efficient electrically driven systems, potentially enabling smarter control strategies, reduced engine loading, and better overall fuel economy or energy consumption. "Thermal management of bus bodies" points to approaches that reduce heating and cooling demands and improve how a bus handles heat transfer, which can include better insulation, glazing improvements, reflective or advanced coatings, improved HVAC integration, reduced thermal leakage, waste heat recovery concepts, or other body and cabin design changes that lower the energy needed to keep passengers comfortable. The intent is not only to produce promising concepts on paper, but to move technologies toward real-world validation through development and demonstration in the transit environment.
FTA anticipated making up to six awards from the $3.0 million available, with individual awards expected to range from a floor of $250,000 up to a ceiling of $3,000,000 (meaning a single project could, in theory, consume the entire available amount, although the expectation of multiple awards suggests a competitive spread across several projects). A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, so applicants should be prepared to contribute non-federal resources in accordance with the program's terms. The funding is tied to CFDA 20.514 (Public Transportation Research, Technical Assistance, and Training), and the activity category is Transportation.
Eligibility is broad but structured around collaboration. Eligible applicants include government departments, agencies, and instrumentalities (including federal laboratories), state and local governmental entities, public transportation providers, private or nonprofit organizations, and higher education institutions including technical and community colleges. However, the program places a clear requirement on team composition: project teams must include key roles filled by representatives from both (1) a public transportation agency and (2) a bus manufacturer or a supplier of relevant systems or components. This is meant to ensure that proposed work is grounded in operational realities and has a direct pathway to manufacturability, integration, and eventual deployment. Beyond those required partners, FTA explicitly encourages teaming with additional organizations that can add value, such as universities, labs, component manufacturers, software and controls firms, or other specialists who can strengthen testing, modeling, validation, and commercialization planning.
From a timeline standpoint, the opportunity was posted on June 28, 2013, with an application closing date of September 20, 2013, and it was archived on October 20, 2013. The funding opportunity number is FTA 2013 003 TRI, and the administering office is within FTA's Office of Mobility Innovation. For applicants who needed help accessing the full announcement, the listed point of contact was Marcel Belanger, General Engineer/Program Manager, at FTA in Washington, DC.
BUS EFFICIENCY ENHANCEMENTS RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATIONS (FTA) - FAQs
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled BUS EFFICIENCY ENHANCEMENTS RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATIONS.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a discretionary research funding announcement from the U.S. Department of Transportation, specifically the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
What program is this funding associated with?
The funding is offered under the FY 2012 FTA National Research Program, authorized through Sections 5312/5314.
What is the overall purpose of the program?
The program supports innovative research, development, and demonstration efforts aimed at reducing energy use in transit buses while also advancing broader public transportation goals such as improved service effectiveness, lower operating and capital costs, improved state of good repair, enhanced safety, reduced harmful emissions, and stronger deployment of advanced vehicle technologies.
How much total funding is available?
A total of $3,000,000 is set aside for this opportunity.
How many awards did FTA anticipate making?
FTA anticipated making up to six awards.
What is the expected award size?
Individual awards were expected to range from $250,000 to $3,000,000.
Can a single project receive all available funding?
Yes. Since the stated maximum individual award is $3,000,000, a single award could theoretically use the full amount available, although FTA anticipated multiple awards.
What kind of funding instrument is used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The funding is administered through cooperative agreements, which typically implies an active partnership between the award recipient and FTA during the project, rather than a hands-off grant relationship.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. A cost sharing/matching requirement applies, so applicants should be prepared to contribute non-federal resources according to the program terms.
What is the technical scope of eligible projects?
The technical focus is narrow: projects must target bus efficiency enhancements through at least one of the following areas:
- Enhanced electrification of accessories
- Improvements in thermal management of bus bodies
What does "enhanced electrification of accessories" mean in this context?
It generally refers to shifting auxiliary bus loads that have traditionally been mechanically or hydraulically driven (or otherwise inefficiently powered) into more efficient electrically driven systems, potentially enabling smarter control strategies, reduced engine loading, and improved fuel economy or reduced energy consumption.
What does "thermal management of bus bodies" include?
It refers to approaches that reduce heating and cooling demands and improve how a bus handles heat transfer. Examples mentioned include improved insulation, glazing improvements, reflective or advanced coatings, improved HVAC integration, reduced thermal leakage, waste heat recovery concepts, and other body/cabin design changes that reduce the energy needed for passenger comfort.
Does the program fund only research, or also real-world demonstrations?
It supports research, development, and demonstration, with an intent to move technologies toward real-world validation in the transit environment, not just concept development on paper.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- Government departments, agencies, and instrumentalities (including federal laboratories)
- State and local governmental entities
- Public transportation providers
- Private organizations
- Nonprofit organizations
- Higher education institutions, including technical and community colleges
Are there required project partners or team roles?
Yes. Project teams must include key roles filled by representatives from both:
- A public transportation agency, and
- A bus manufacturer or a supplier of relevant systems or components.
Why does FTA require both a transit agency and a manufacturer/supplier on the team?
The stated intent is to ensure proposed work is grounded in operational realities and has a clear pathway to manufacturability, integration, and eventual deployment.
Are additional partners encouraged beyond the required team members?
Yes. FTA explicitly encourages teaming with additional organizations that can strengthen the work, such as universities, laboratories, component manufacturers, software and controls firms, and other specialists who can support testing, modeling, validation, and commercialization planning.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 20.514 (Public Transportation Research, Technical Assistance, and Training).
What is the activity category?
The activity category is Transportation.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is FTA 2013 003 TRI.
Which FTA office administers this opportunity?
The administering office is within FTA's Office of Mobility Innovation.
When was the opportunity posted?
It was posted on June 28, 2013.
What was the application closing date?
The application closing date was September 20, 2013.
When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity was archived on October 20, 2013.
Who was the listed point of contact for questions or access to the full announcement?
The listed point of contact was Marcel Belanger, General Engineer/Program Manager, FTA (Washington, DC).
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