Opportunity Information: Apply for RS TEC 10 001
Apply for RS TEC 10 001
- The DOT/Federal Railroad Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2010 Railroad Safety Technology Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.321 Railroad Safety Technology Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 26, 2010 and posted on Mar 28, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 3, 2010 Due date for this announcement is being extended until Friday, September 3 (1159PM EST). (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Passenger and freight carriers, railroad suppliers, and State and local governments. Entities required to submit Technology Implementation Plans or PTC Implementation plans required by 49 USC 20156(e)(2) and 20157 must have either received approval of the Technology Implementation Plan (TIP) and PTC implementation (PTCIP) plan or demonstrate to the satisfaction of FRA that they are currently developing the required plan.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY 2010 Railroad Safety Technology Grant Program (Funding Opportunity Number RS TEC 10 001) was a discretionary funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), under CFDA 20.321. It was authorized by Section 105 of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-432), codified at 49 U.S.C. 20158. The central aim of the program was to fund the execution of railroad safety technology projects that deliver a clear public benefit by improving both railroad safety and operational efficiency. In practical terms, the program was designed to help accelerate real-world deployment of advanced train control and related safety technologies, rather than purely conceptual or research-only efforts.
A major emphasis of the program was on train control technology, especially projects that support interoperability and faster deployment in higher-risk operating environments. FRA stated that priority would be given to collaborative proposals involving partnerships among railroad carriers, railroad suppliers, and state or local governments (including public benefit corporations created to provide rail service). Within those partnerships, two categories of projects were explicitly highlighted as priorities: first, projects that make train control technologies interoperable between different railroad systems (which matters because trains and equipment often cross boundaries between railroads, regions, or service types), and second, projects that accelerate the rollout of train control technology on high-risk corridors. FRA described high-risk corridors as lines with high volumes of hazardous materials shipments or corridors where commuter or passenger trains operate, reflecting the potentially higher consequences of incidents in those settings.
The funding instrument types available under the opportunity included both grants and cooperative agreements. This is an important detail because cooperative agreements typically imply more substantial federal involvement during project execution compared with a traditional grant, often through oversight, coordination, or technical involvement. The opportunity also required cost sharing or matching, meaning applicants were expected to contribute non-federal resources to support the project budget. The listing provided an award ceiling of $50,000,000 and an award floor of $0, signaling that awards could range widely in size depending on project scope, available funds, and competitiveness, with $50 million being the maximum amount for a single award under the announcement.
Eligibility covered passenger and freight rail carriers, railroad suppliers, and state and local governments. The notice also included a key compliance-related eligibility condition tied to federal Positive Train Control (PTC) planning requirements. Entities that were required to submit Technology Implementation Plans (TIPs) or PTC Implementation Plans (PTCIPs) under 49 U.S.C. 20156(e)(2) and 20157 had to meet a readiness threshold: they either needed to have already received approval of the required TIP and PTCIP, or they had to be able to demonstrate to FRA's satisfaction that they were actively developing the required plan. This requirement effectively screened for applicants who were positioned to implement train control technology in a structured way consistent with federal mandates.
In terms of timing, the opportunity was posted on March 28, 2010, with an original closing date of July 1, 2010. The closing date was later extended, and the final application deadline became September 3, 2010, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. The archive date was listed as October 3, 2010. For applicants needing assistance accessing or submitting the announcement electronically, the notice directed them to the Grants.gov Contact Center, including a phone number and email, indicating that Grants.gov was the primary submission and support channel for the application process.
Overall, this grant program was essentially a federal push to move safety-critical railroad technologies from planning into deployment, with a special focus on interoperable train control and rapid implementation in corridors where risk and public exposure are highest. The structure of the program, particularly its preference for collaborative projects and its cost-sharing requirement, suggests FRA was aiming to leverage federal dollars to catalyze broader multi-stakeholder investment and coordination across the rail industry and public sector partners.
FY 2010 Railroad Safety Technology Grant Program (RS TEC 10 001) - FAQs
What is the FY 2010 Railroad Safety Technology Grant Program?
The FY 2010 Railroad Safety Technology Grant Program (Funding Opportunity Number RS TEC 10 001) was a discretionary funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), under CFDA 20.321.
What law authorized this grant program?
The program was authorized by Section 105 of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-432), codified at 49 U.S.C. 20158.
What was the main purpose of the program?
The central aim was to fund the execution of railroad safety technology projects that deliver a clear public benefit by improving railroad safety and operational efficiency, with a focus on accelerating real-world deployment rather than purely conceptual or research-only work.
What types of projects were emphasized?
A major emphasis was on train control technology, particularly projects that support interoperability and faster deployment in higher-risk operating environments.
Did FRA prioritize collaboration or partnerships in proposals?
Yes. FRA stated that priority would be given to collaborative proposals involving partnerships among railroad carriers, railroad suppliers, and state or local governments (including public benefit corporations created to provide rail service).
What specific project categories were explicitly highlighted as priorities?
Two categories were explicitly highlighted: (1) projects that make train control technologies interoperable between different railroad systems, and (2) projects that accelerate the rollout of train control technology on high-risk corridors.
Why was interoperability important under this opportunity?
Interoperability matters because trains and equipment often cross boundaries between railroads, regions, or service types, and interoperable train control technologies help support operations across those boundaries.
What did FRA mean by "high-risk corridors"?
FRA described high-risk corridors as lines with high volumes of hazardous materials shipments or corridors where commuter or passenger trains operate.
What kinds of federal funding instruments were available?
The opportunity allowed for awards in the form of grants and cooperative agreements.
What is the significance of a cooperative agreement versus a grant in this program?
The notice indicated that cooperative agreements typically imply more substantial federal involvement during project execution than a traditional grant, often through oversight, coordination, or technical involvement.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The opportunity required cost sharing or matching, meaning applicants were expected to contribute non-federal resources to support the project budget.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listing provided an award ceiling of $50,000,000 for a single award under the announcement.
What was the minimum award amount (award floor)?
The award floor was listed as $0, indicating award sizes could vary widely depending on project scope, available funds, and competitiveness.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility included passenger rail carriers, freight rail carriers, railroad suppliers, and state and local governments.
Were there any eligibility or compliance conditions related to Positive Train Control (PTC) planning?
Yes. Entities required to submit Technology Implementation Plans (TIPs) or PTC Implementation Plans (PTCIPs) under 49 U.S.C. 20156(e)(2) and 20157 had to either (1) have already received approval of the required TIP and PTCIP, or (2) demonstrate to FRA's satisfaction that they were actively developing the required plan.
What was the original posting date for the opportunity?
The opportunity was posted on March 28, 2010.
What was the original application deadline?
The original closing date was July 1, 2010.
Was the deadline extended?
Yes. The closing date was later extended.
What was the final application deadline after the extension?
The final application deadline was September 3, 2010, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
What was the archive date?
The archive date was listed as October 3, 2010.
How were applications submitted and where could applicants get submission help?
The notice indicated that Grants.gov was the primary submission and support channel, and applicants needing help accessing or submitting the announcement electronically were directed to the Grants.gov Contact Center (phone and email were provided in the notice).
What public benefits was FRA looking for from funded projects?
FRA sought projects that deliver a clear public benefit by improving railroad safety and operational efficiency, especially through accelerated deployment of advanced train control and related safety technologies.
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