Opportunity Information: Apply for FR RRD 15 013
Apply for FR RRD 15 013
- The DOT/Federal Railroad Administration in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY15 Evaluate Loading and Unloading Operations for Sulphuric Acid Rail Tank Cars" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.313 Railroad Research and Development.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 1, 2015 and posted on Jul 1, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 10, 2015 No Explanation. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Only the The Sulphur Institute is eligible to apply for this grant.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY15 "Evaluate Loading and Unloading Operations for Sulphuric Acid Rail Tank Cars" grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number FR RRD 15 013) was a U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) discretionary research award designed to improve the safety and effectiveness of rail tank car operations involving sulphuric acid and spent sulphuric acid. The core purpose of the project was to develop a practical report that identifies and documents leading practices that can be used as guidance by industry stakeholders when loading, transporting, and unloading these corrosive commodities. In other words, the intended deliverable was not new equipment procurement or infrastructure construction, but a research-based guidance product that consolidates best practices to reduce risk and promote consistent, high-quality handling across the rail supply chain.
The opportunity was offered under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category through a Cooperative Agreement, indicating that FRA expected to have substantial involvement during the project rather than providing a hands-off grant. The relevant CFDA program listing was 20.313, Railroad Research and Development. The award had an estimated ceiling of $100,000 with no stated award floor, and it did not require cost sharing or matching, which typically lowers barriers to participation and focuses competition on technical merit and project approach rather than the applicant's ability to contribute additional funds.
Eligibility was narrowly limited: only The Sulphur Institute was permitted to apply. That restriction suggests the agency sought to leverage a specific organization's subject-matter expertise, industry relationships, and access to operational data and practices across shippers, receivers, and carriers handling sulphuric acid movements. Because sulphuric acid rail shipments involve specialized tank cars, strict hazardous materials controls, and operational procedures that vary by facility and railroad, the work implied collecting and synthesizing input from multiple parts of the industry to identify common risk points and the most effective controls.
Key dates reflect a short application window. The opportunity was posted on July 1, 2015, with the original and current closing date set for July 10, 2015, and it was archived on August 9, 2015. The short turnaround is consistent with a targeted, single-eligible-applicant cooperative agreement where the sponsor and the eligible organization may already have had a clear scope in mind and needed a timely award to support near-term safety research priorities.
For applicants needing technical help accessing the full announcement, the notice directed them to the GrantSolutions Help Desk (help@grantsolutions.gov, 1-866-577-0771 or 202-401-5282) during standard weekday business hours (9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern). Overall, the grant was a focused FRA research effort aimed at producing actionable, industry-facing guidance to strengthen safe operating practices for the loading, transportation, and unloading of sulphuric acid and spent sulphuric acid in rail tank cars.
FAQs: FY15 "Evaluate Loading and Unloading Operations for Sulphuric Acid Rail Tank Cars" (FR RRD 15 013)
1) What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled FY15 "Evaluate Loading and Unloading Operations for Sulphuric Acid Rail Tank Cars."
2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is FR RRD 15 013.
3) Which federal agency sponsored this opportunity?
This was a U.S. Department of Transportation opportunity administered by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
4) What type of award instrument was used?
The award was offered through a Cooperative Agreement, meaning FRA expected to have substantial involvement in the project rather than issuing a fully hands-off grant.
5) What was the main purpose of the project?
The core purpose was to improve the safety and effectiveness of rail tank car operations involving sulphuric acid and spent sulphuric acid by developing a practical report that identifies and documents leading practices.
6) What deliverable was the grant designed to produce?
The intended deliverable was a research-based guidance product: a practical report consolidating leading practices to guide industry stakeholders during loading, transporting, and unloading operations for sulphuric acid and spent sulphuric acid rail movements.
7) Was this funding intended for buying equipment or building infrastructure?
No. The description indicates the project focus was not equipment procurement or infrastructure construction, but a research effort culminating in guidance (a best-practices report).
8) What topic area or activity category did this fall under?
The opportunity was offered under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.
9) What CFDA program was associated with the award?
The relevant CFDA listing was 20.313, Railroad Research and Development.
10) What was the estimated maximum award amount?
The estimated award ceiling was $100,000.
11) Was there a minimum (floor) award amount stated?
No award floor was stated in the provided information.
12) Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching.
13) Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was narrowly limited: only The Sulphur Institute was permitted to apply.
14) Why was eligibility restricted to The Sulphur Institute?
Based on the description, the restriction suggests FRA wanted to leverage a specific organization's subject-matter expertise, industry relationships, and access to operational data and practices across stakeholders involved in sulphuric acid rail movements.
15) Which commodities and operations were in scope?
The project focused on sulphuric acid and spent sulphuric acid handled in rail tank cars, specifically the operational phases of loading, transporting, and unloading.
16) Who were the intended users of the guidance report?
The report was intended as guidance for industry stakeholders across the rail supply chain involved in handling these commodities (including parties involved in loading, transportation, and unloading).
17) When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on July 1, 2015.
18) What was the application closing date?
The original and current closing date was July 10, 2015.
19) Was the application window short?
Yes. Based on the provided dates, the time between posting (July 1, 2015) and closing (July 10, 2015) was very short.
20) When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity was archived on August 9, 2015.
21) Where could applicants get technical help accessing the full announcement?
Applicants needing technical help were directed to the GrantSolutions Help Desk.
22) What are the GrantSolutions Help Desk contact details listed?
Email: help@grantsolutions.gov
Phone: 1-866-577-0771 or 202-401-5282
23) What were the Help Desk hours?
The Help Desk hours were standard weekday business hours, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern.
24) What safety problem was this opportunity trying to address?
The grant targeted safety and effectiveness challenges in rail tank car operations for corrosive commodities (sulphuric acid and spent sulphuric acid), aiming to reduce risk and promote consistent, high-quality handling practices.
25) What does the cooperative agreement structure imply for project execution?
It implies FRA expected substantial involvement during the project, rather than simply funding work and waiting for a final deliverable.
26) Does the description suggest the project would involve collecting information from multiple stakeholders?
Yes. The description implies collecting and synthesizing input across shippers, receivers, and carriers to identify common risk points and effective controls for these shipments.
27) What kind of output was emphasized: technical innovation or operational consistency?
The emphasis was on operational consistency and risk reduction through documented leading practices (guidance), not on developing or procuring new equipment.
28) Is this opportunity still open?
No. It closed on July 10, 2015 and was archived on August 9, 2015.
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