Opportunity Information: Apply for FR RRD 15 005
Apply for FR RRD 15 005
- The DOT/Federal Railroad Administration in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY15 LOCOMOTIVE PERFORMANCE AND ENGINE DURABILITY ASSESSMENT OF B5 TO B20 BIODIESEL FUEL USAGE" 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 Mar 11, 2015 and posted on Mar 11, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 20, 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 $12,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Only the Southwest Research Institute is eligible to apply for this grant.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY15 Locomotive Performance and Engine Durability Assessment of B5 to B20 Biodiesel Fuel Usage grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number FR RRD 15 005) was issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), under the Railroad Research and Development program (CFDA 20.313). It is a discretionary, science and technology research and development grant focused on understanding how biodiesel blends in the B5 through B20 range affect locomotive performance and long-term engine durability, with the results intended to be directly usable by both railroads and locomotive manufacturers.
This specific FY15 action is essentially a targeted augmentation of an existing project rather than a brand-new open competition. The FRA’s purpose in offering this increment of funding was to add resources so the research team could respond to major comments and concerns raised by the railroad industry after reviewing a draft final report. In practical terms, the additional funds were meant to support deeper engagement with industry stakeholders, gather additional operational information from railroads, and incorporate that input to strengthen and improve the final report. The underlying message is that the project had reached a stage where real-world feedback revealed gaps, questions, or disagreements significant enough that the FRA wanted a more robust final deliverable before closing the effort.
The original scope of the broader grant (to which this funding was an add-on) centered on building an evidence-based understanding of biodiesel use in rail. That included documenting and analyzing relevant railroad experience with biodiesel blends, compiling information on existing biodiesel usage across the industry, and setting expectations about performance and risks. A key part of the effort was troubleshooting: identifying fuel-related problems when they occur, investigating those issues in a systematic way, and then defining root causes and potential solutions. Beyond collecting field experience, the project also aimed to design and develop a comprehensive, systematic engine durability assessment program specifically suited to locomotives operating on biodiesel blends, recognizing that locomotives have unique duty cycles, storage practices, and maintenance realities compared with on-road engines. The culmination of that work was a report summarizing findings and recommendations in a way that could inform railroad operating decisions and manufacturer guidance.
Administratively, the opportunity was offered as a grant with no cost sharing or matching requirement. The award ceiling listed was $12,000, with an award floor of $0, reflecting that this was a small supplemental amount intended to cover the incremental tasks of addressing industry comments and improving the final product. The opportunity was posted on March 11, 2015, with a closing date of March 20, 2015, and it was archived on April 19, 2015, indicating a short application window consistent with a narrowly targeted, non-competitive add-on.
Eligibility was highly restricted. The announcement specified that only the Southwest Research Institute was eligible to apply, which aligns with the nature of the action as additional funding to an existing research team already performing the work. For applicants or stakeholders needing access help, the announcement directed users to the GrantSolutions Help Desk (help@grantsolutions.gov, 1-866-577-0771 or 202-401-5282) during standard weekday business hours (Eastern Time).
FAQs: FY15 Locomotive Performance and Engine Durability Assessment of B5 to B20 Biodiesel Fuel Usage (FR RRD 15 005)
What is the official name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "FY15 Locomotive Performance and Engine Durability Assessment of B5 to B20 Biodiesel Fuel Usage."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is FR RRD 15 005.
Which federal agency issued this opportunity?
This opportunity was issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
What program is this grant associated with?
It was offered under the Railroad Research and Development program.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 20.313.
What type of grant is this (competitive vs. targeted/discretionary)?
It is a discretionary science and technology research and development grant. This FY15 action was described as a targeted augmentation of an existing project rather than a brand-new open competition.
What is the research focus of the project?
The project focuses on understanding how biodiesel blends in the B5 through B20 range affect locomotive performance and long-term engine durability, with results intended to be directly usable by both railroads and locomotive manufacturers.
What biodiesel blend range does the opportunity cover?
The opportunity specifically addresses biodiesel blends from B5 through B20.
Why did FRA offer this FY15 funding increment?
The purpose of this increment was to add resources so the research team could respond to major comments and concerns raised by the railroad industry after reviewing a draft final report.
What kinds of activities were the additional funds intended to support?
The additional funds were intended to support deeper engagement with industry stakeholders, gathering additional operational information from railroads, and incorporating stakeholder input to strengthen and improve the final report.
Is this opportunity funding a brand-new project?
No. The FY15 action was described as an add-on to an existing project (a supplemental, targeted augmentation), not a new open solicitation for a new project.
What was the broader scope of the underlying project that this funding supplemented?
The broader scope centered on building an evidence-based understanding of biodiesel use in rail, including documenting and analyzing railroad experience with biodiesel blends, compiling information on existing biodiesel usage across the industry, and setting expectations about performance and risks.
Did the underlying project include troubleshooting fuel-related issues?
Yes. A key part of the effort involved identifying fuel-related problems when they occur, investigating issues systematically, and defining root causes and potential solutions.
Did the project include development of an engine durability assessment approach?
Yes. The project aimed to design and develop a comprehensive, systematic engine durability assessment program suited to locomotives operating on biodiesel blends, recognizing that locomotive duty cycles, storage practices, and maintenance realities differ from on-road engines.
What was the expected deliverable or end product?
The culmination of the work was a report summarizing findings and recommendations intended to inform railroad operating decisions and manufacturer guidance.
Is there a cost sharing or matching requirement?
No. The opportunity was offered as a grant with no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed was $12,000.
What was the minimum award amount (award floor)?
The award floor was $0.
What do the ceiling and floor suggest about the nature of this funding?
The small ceiling amount and the context indicate this was a small supplemental increment intended to cover incremental tasks related to addressing industry comments and improving the final product.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on March 11, 2015.
What was the application deadline?
The closing date was March 20, 2015.
How long was the application window?
Based on the posted and closing dates, the application window was short (March 11, 2015 to March 20, 2015), consistent with a narrowly targeted, non-competitive add-on.
When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity was archived on April 19, 2015.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was highly restricted. Only the Southwest Research Institute was eligible to apply.
Why was eligibility limited to a single organization?
The restriction aligned with the nature of the action as additional funding for an existing research team already performing the work.
Who should railroads or locomotive manufacturers expect to use the results?
The results were intended to be directly usable by both railroads and locomotive manufacturers.
What prompted the need for additional stakeholder engagement?
Industry review of a draft final report produced major comments and concerns, indicating gaps, questions, or disagreements that FRA wanted addressed before finalizing the deliverable.
Where could applicants or stakeholders get technical help accessing the application system?
The announcement directed users to the GrantSolutions Help Desk for access help.
What is the GrantSolutions Help Desk email address?
The email address is help@grantsolutions.gov.
What phone numbers were provided for the GrantSolutions Help Desk?
The phone numbers provided were 1-866-577-0771 and 202-401-5282.
When is the GrantSolutions Help Desk available?
The Help Desk was listed as available during standard weekday business hours (Eastern Time).
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