Opportunity Information: Apply for FTA 2010 002 TPM
Apply for FTA 2010 002 TPM
- The DOT/Federal Transit Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FTA Bus and Bus Facilities Livability Initiative" 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 Dec 22, 2009 and posted on Dec 22, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 10, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $150,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: County governments State governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) City or township governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Eligible applicants under this program are 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 application with the exception of nonurbanized projects to Indian Tribes. Tribes, States, and Direct Recipients may also submit consolidated proposals for projects in urbanized areas. Proposals may contain projects to be implemented by the Recipient or its subrecipients. Eligible subrecipients include public agencies, private nonprofit organizations, and private providers engaged in public transportation.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FTA Bus and Bus Facilities Livability Initiative (Funding Opportunity Number FTA 2010 002 TPM) was a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration to support the Department of Transportation Livability Initiative through targeted investments in bus transit. The program, often referred to in the notice as the Livability Bus Program, made available $150 million in unallocated Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities discretionary funds authorized under 49 U.S.C. 5309(b) of SAFETEA-LU (Public Law 109-59). The notice also made clear that FTA could add more money later if additional Bus and Bus Facilities funds became available for discretionary allocation. In other words, this was a one-time competitive funding opportunity built around a defined pot of funding, with the possibility of expansion if funds opened up.
At a practical level, the grant was designed to help public transit providers modernize and strengthen bus service through capital projects. Eligible uses focused on replacing older buses, rehabilitating existing buses, purchasing new buses, and buying related equipment. It also supported construction and improvement of bus-related facilities, which can include items like maintenance facilities, storage/parking facilities, and other infrastructure needed to operate and maintain bus fleets. The notice emphasized that projects could be carried out directly by the main applicant (the recipient) or through subrecipients, allowing a single application to cover multiple related projects or multiple implementing partners.
Eligibility was anchored in the standard FTA recipient structure. Eligible applicants included direct recipients under the Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula program, state governments, and federally recognized Indian Tribes. For projects located in rural (nonurbanized) areas, proposals generally had to be submitted through a consolidated state application, except for nonurbanized projects sponsored by Indian Tribes, which could be submitted independently. The program also allowed consolidated proposals for urbanized area projects from tribes, states, and direct recipients. While the prime applicants had to be eligible recipients, the projects themselves could be implemented by subrecipients such as public agencies, private nonprofit organizations, or private companies that provide public transportation, reflecting the reality that bus service and supporting facilities are often delivered through a mix of public and contracted operators.
FTA described this opportunity as competitive and merit-based, with priorities and evaluation criteria laid out in the Federal Register notice. The announcement stated that it included the specific priorities FTA established for these discretionary funds, the criteria FTA would apply to identify the strongest projects, and detailed instructions on how to apply. Applicants were directed to consult the Federal Register notice for the exact eligibility rules, required application contents, and submission procedures, since those details govern how FTA screens and scores proposals and what documentation is required to be considered complete.
The funding instrument was a grant, and the opportunity included a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants needed to provide a local share consistent with FTA capital program rules. The total estimated funding amount and the maximum possible award were both listed as $150,000,000, with no stated minimum award (award floor of $0), which typically signals that award sizes could vary widely depending on project scope and national demand. The opportunity was categorized under transportation and tied to CFDA number 20.500 (Federal Transit Capital Investment Grants).
The solicitation timeline shows it was posted on December 22, 2009, with an application deadline of February 10, 2010, and an archive date of March 12, 2010. Applications could be submitted electronically either by email to buslivability@dot.gov or through the Grants.gov APPLY function. Applicants who used the email option were told to expect a confirmation email within two business days, which functioned as a basic receipt that the submission had arrived. FTA planned to announce final selections both on its website and in the Federal Register, and a synopsis of the opportunity was to be posted through the Grants.gov system.
For applicants needing help accessing the announcement or navigating the materials, the notice provided a point of contact at FTA: Kimberly Sledge in the Office of Transit Programs, with phone and email contact information. Overall, the opportunity was aimed at accelerating tangible, on-the-ground improvements to bus fleets and bus infrastructure, using discretionary federal capital dollars to advance broader livability goals through better, more reliable, and better-supported bus transit service.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the FTA Bus and Bus Facilities Livability Initiative?
The FTA Bus and Bus Facilities Livability Initiative (Funding Opportunity Number FTA 2010 002 TPM) was a discretionary, competitive grant program run by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA). It supported the Department of Transportation Livability Initiative through targeted capital investments in bus transit. The Federal Register notice often referred to it as the "Livability Bus Program."
2) How much funding was made available under this opportunity?
The notice made available $150 million in unallocated Section 5309 Bus and Bus Facilities discretionary funds authorized under 49 U.S.C. 5309(b) of SAFETEA-LU (Public Law 109-59).
3) Could the total funding amount increase beyond $150 million?
Yes. The notice stated that FTA could add more money later if additional Bus and Bus Facilities funds became available for discretionary allocation.
4) What type of funding instrument was used?
The funding instrument was a grant.
5) Was there a local match or cost-share requirement?
Yes. The opportunity included a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants needed to provide a local share consistent with FTA capital program rules.
6) What kinds of projects were eligible for funding?
The grant was designed to support bus transit capital projects, including:
- Replacing older buses
- Rehabilitating existing buses
- Purchasing new buses
- Purchasing related equipment
- Constructing and improving bus-related facilities (such as maintenance facilities and storage/parking facilities, and other infrastructure needed to operate and maintain bus fleets)
7) Were projects limited to bus purchases, or did facilities also qualify?
Facilities also qualified. The notice specifically supported construction and improvement of bus-related facilities, including maintenance and storage/parking facilities and other infrastructure needed to operate and maintain bus fleets.
8) Who was eligible to apply as the primary applicant?
Eligible applicants included:
- Direct recipients under the Section 5307 Urbanized Area Formula program
- State governments
- Federally recognized Indian Tribes
9) How were rural (nonurbanized) area projects supposed to be submitted?
For projects located in rural (nonurbanized) areas, proposals generally had to be submitted through a consolidated state application, except for nonurbanized projects sponsored by Indian Tribes, which could be submitted independently.
10) Could Indian Tribes submit applications for nonurbanized (rural) projects without going through a state?
Yes. The notice stated that nonurbanized projects sponsored by Indian Tribes could be submitted independently rather than through a consolidated state application.
11) Were consolidated applications allowed?
Yes. The program allowed consolidated proposals for urbanized area projects from tribes, states, and direct recipients. The notice also emphasized that a single application could cover multiple related projects or multiple implementing partners.
12) Could subrecipients carry out the funded projects?
Yes. Projects could be carried out directly by the recipient (the main applicant) or through subrecipients.
13) What types of organizations could serve as subrecipients?
While prime applicants had to be eligible recipients, the projects could be implemented by subrecipients such as:
- Public agencies
- Private nonprofit organizations
- Private companies that provide public transportation
14) Was this a competitive opportunity or a formula allocation?
This was a competitive, merit-based discretionary funding opportunity. The notice indicated that priorities and evaluation criteria were laid out in the Federal Register notice.
15) Where were the evaluation priorities and selection criteria described?
FTA stated that the Federal Register notice included the specific priorities established for these discretionary funds and the criteria FTA would apply to identify the strongest projects.
16) Where could applicants find the detailed application instructions and required contents?
Applicants were directed to consult the Federal Register notice for exact eligibility rules, required application contents, and submission procedures, since those details govern screening, scoring, and completeness requirements.
17) What was the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity was tied to CFDA number 20.500 (Federal Transit Capital Investment Grants).
18) What was the estimated total funding amount and the maximum award?
The total estimated funding amount and the maximum possible award were both listed as $150,000,000.
19) Was there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
No. The opportunity listed an award floor of $0, indicating that award sizes could vary depending on project scope and demand.
20) When was the opportunity posted?
The solicitation was posted on December 22, 2009.
21) What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was February 10, 2010.
22) When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was March 12, 2010.
23) How could applicants submit an application?
Applications could be submitted electronically either:
- By email to buslivability@dot.gov, or
- Through the Grants.gov APPLY function
24) If an application was submitted by email, was there a receipt confirmation?
Yes. Applicants using the email option were told to expect a confirmation email within two business days, which served as a receipt that the submission had arrived.
25) How and where were final selections announced?
FTA planned to announce final selections on its website and in the Federal Register. A synopsis of the opportunity was also to be posted through the Grants.gov system.
26) Who was the point of contact for help with the announcement or materials?
The notice provided an FTA point of contact: Kimberly Sledge in the Office of Transit Programs, with phone and email contact information.
27) What was the overall purpose of the program?
The opportunity aimed to accelerate tangible improvements to bus fleets and bus infrastructure using discretionary federal capital dollars, supporting broader livability goals through better supported bus transit service.
28) Was this described as a one-time opportunity?
It was described as a one-time competitive funding opportunity built around a defined pot of funding, with the possibility of expansion if additional discretionary funds became available.
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