Opportunity Information: Apply for FR RRD 15 003
Apply for FR RRD 15 003
- The DOT/Federal Railroad Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY15 Rail Safety IDEA Co operative Research Program" 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 Dec 19, 2014 and posted on Dec 19, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 16, 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 $400,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Only the National Academy of Sciences is eligible to apply for this grant.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FY15 Rail Safety IDEA Cooperative Research Program (Funding Opportunity Number FR RRD 15 003) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), designed to support the Safety Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) program run through the Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). The IDEA concept is meant to cultivate early-stage, high-potential transportation innovations that are promising but not yet proven, helping move exploratory ideas toward practical safety and performance improvements in surface transportation. In this case, the focus is on rail safety, while also recognizing the broader Safety IDEA scope that includes intercity buses and trucks.
The program exists to identify and test novel concepts, tools, methods, and technologies that could make railroads and other surface transportation modes safer and more effective. Rather than limiting participation to the traditional transportation research community, the IDEA model is explicitly intended to draw in ideas from a wide mix of sources, including researchers, inventors, universities, and private companies. The underlying goal is to create a pathway for unconventional or emerging solutions to receive structured exploratory analysis, generating evidence about feasibility, potential benefits, and next steps for development.
This opportunity reflects an ongoing federal partnership and history of support. FMCSA has supported the Safety IDEA program since it began in October 2001, and FRA has provided funding since October 2002, later joining FMCSA as a joint sponsor. The FY15 grant continues this long-running effort by providing FRA funding to TRB/NAS so the Safety IDEA program can keep operating and funding exploratory work aligned with safety and performance needs in the rail and related sectors.
From an administrative standpoint, the award is offered as a grant under the transportation funding activity category and is associated with CFDA 20.313 (Railroad Research and Development). The maximum potential award amount (award ceiling) is listed as $400,000, with no stated minimum (award floor of $0), and there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The opportunity was posted on December 19, 2014, with an application closing date of January 16, 2015, and an archive date of February 15, 2015.
Eligibility is highly restricted: only the National Academy of Sciences is eligible to apply. While the program aims to attract proposals from many types of innovators, this particular federal award functions as the mechanism for funding NAS/TRB to administer or carry out the Safety IDEA program, rather than a direct-to-public competition where universities or companies apply straight to FRA.
For applicants or stakeholders needing assistance accessing the full announcement, the listing provides the GrantSolutions Help Desk as the support contact, including phone numbers (1-866-577-0771 or 202-401-5282), operating hours (Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern), and email (help@grantsolutions.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is titled the FY15 Rail Safety IDEA Cooperative Research Program.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is FR RRD 15 003.
Which federal agency is offering this grant?
The grant is offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
Is this a discretionary grant?
Yes. It is described as a discretionary grant opportunity.
What program does this grant support?
This funding supports the Safety Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) program, which is run through the Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS).
What does "IDEA" mean in this context?
IDEA refers to Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis, a concept intended to cultivate early-stage, high-potential transportation innovations that are promising but not yet proven.
What is the main purpose of the Safety IDEA concept?
The purpose is to move exploratory ideas toward practical safety and performance improvements in surface transportation by supporting structured exploratory analysis that builds evidence about feasibility, potential benefits, and next steps.
What is the focus area for this FY15 opportunity?
The focus for this opportunity is rail safety, while also recognizing the broader Safety IDEA scope that includes intercity buses and trucks.
What kinds of projects or innovations is the program meant to identify and test?
The program is intended to identify and test novel concepts, tools, methods, and technologies that could make railroads and other surface transportation modes safer and more effective.
Who is the program trying to attract ideas from?
The IDEA model is designed to attract ideas from a wide mix of sources, including researchers, inventors, universities, and private companies, rather than only the traditional transportation research community.
If the program wants ideas from many sources, can universities or companies apply directly to FRA under this listing?
No. Eligibility for this specific federal award is highly restricted: only the National Academy of Sciences is eligible to apply. This award functions as the mechanism for funding NAS/TRB to administer or carry out the Safety IDEA program, rather than a direct-to-public competition.
Who is eligible to apply for this specific grant opportunity?
Only the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is eligible to apply.
How is this award administered or implemented?
The information indicates that FRA funding is provided to TRB/NAS so the Safety IDEA program can keep operating and funding exploratory work aligned with safety and performance needs in the rail and related sectors.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling (maximum potential award amount) is $400,000.
Is there a minimum award amount?
No minimum is stated. The award floor is listed as $0.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 20.313 (Railroad Research and Development).
What funding activity category is this grant listed under?
It is offered as a grant under the transportation funding activity category.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on December 19, 2014.
What is the application closing date?
The application closing date is January 16, 2015.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date is February 15, 2015.
What is the history of federal support for the Safety IDEA program mentioned here?
The information notes that FMCSA has supported the Safety IDEA program since it began in October 2001, and FRA has provided funding since October 2002, later joining FMCSA as a joint sponsor.
Who should be contacted for help accessing the full announcement?
The listing provides the GrantSolutions Help Desk as the support contact for assistance accessing the full announcement.
How can the GrantSolutions Help Desk be reached?
You can contact the GrantSolutions Help Desk by phone at 1-866-577-0771 or 202-401-5282, or by email at help@grantsolutions.gov.
What are the GrantSolutions Help Desk hours of operation?
The hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern.
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