Opportunity Information: Apply for FR AMT 15 004
Apply for FR AMT 15 004
- The DOT/Federal Railroad Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY15 Supplemental Capital and Debt Service Grants and Americans with Disabilities Act Grant to Amtrak" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.315 National Railroad Passenger Corporation Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 30, 2015 and posted on Jan 29, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 6, 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 $924,270,974.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Only the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) is eligible to apply to this grant.
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Opportunity Summary:
This grant opportunity, titled "FY15 Supplemental Capital and Debt Service Grants and Americans with Disabilities Act Grant to Amtrak" (Funding Opportunity Number FR-AMT-15-004), is a U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) earmark-style grant that provided Fiscal Year 2015 federal funding to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) for capital investment, debt service, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance needs tied to intercity passenger rail service. The funding was made available through two linked appropriations actions: first, the FY 2015 Continuing Appropriations Resolution (Public Law 113-164), and then the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Public Law 113-235), specifically DOT Appropriations Act language in Title I of Division K. Together, these laws ensured Amtrak had continued support early in FY 2015 under a continuing resolution and then received full-year supplemental capital funding once the full appropriations bill was enacted.
The opportunity reflects how Congress initially funded Amtrak at a temporary rate for the start of FY 2015 (covering October 1, 2014 through December 11, 2014), based on the prior year Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations structure (Division L of Public Law 113-76, enacted January 17, 2014). Under that continuing resolution period, FRA identified capital and debt service assistance totaling $205,029,026 after certain authorized withholdings. Those withholdings included $985,953 related to implementation expenses for Section 212 of Division B of Public Law 110-432 (Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, or PRIIA, including amendments to 49 USC 24905) and $1,035,251 for project management and oversight activities authorized under PRIIA provisions. Within the continuing resolution tranche, FRA set specific funding constraints: no more than $39,240,948 could be used for Amtrak debt service payments; at least $9,859,535 had to be used for ADA-related capital expenditures to bring served facilities and stations into compliance; and up to $7,887,628 could be used by the Secretary to subsidize Amtrak operating losses if operating grant amounts proved insufficient during FY 2015.
After the continuing resolution period, Congress enacted full FY 2015 appropriations via Public Law 113-235 (enacted December 16, 2014). This action provided an additional $924,270,974, which is also listed as the award ceiling for this posted opportunity. When combined with the earlier continuing resolution amounts, the notice states total FY 2015 Capital, Debt Service, and ADA funding reached $1,129,300,000, again after factoring in authorized withholdings. Under the full-year appropriations, the notice cites $5,000,000 withheld for Section 212 implementation expenses and $5,700,000 withheld for project management and oversight activities under PRIIA. The capital investment funding was authorized under PRIIA sections 101(c), 102, and 219(b), and it was made available to remain available until expended, meaning the funds did not expire at the end of the fiscal year in the way many annual appropriations do.
The notice also spells out how Congress directed the use of the full-year funding through set-asides and caps. Specifically, not more than $175,000,000 could be used for Amtrak debt service obligations (as authorized by PRIIA Section 102). At least $50,000,000 had to be dedicated to ADA improvements to bring facilities and stations Amtrak serves into compliance. In addition, up to $50,000,000 could be used by the Secretary to subsidize operating losses if Amtrak's operating grant funding was not enough to cover FY 2015 operating costs, creating a limited backstop to address operational shortfalls using these funds if needed.
Administratively, this was a grant (Funding Instrument Type: Grant) under CFDA 20.315, "National Railroad Passenger Corporation Grants," with no cost sharing or matching requirement. Eligibility was explicitly limited: only the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) could apply, which aligns with the listing of the opportunity category as "Earmark" and the structure of the funding as a direct federal assistance mechanism to the national intercity passenger rail provider rather than a competitive program open to multiple applicants. The opportunity was posted January 29, 2015, created January 30, 2015, and had a closing date of February 6, 2015, after which it was archived March 8, 2015. For applicants experiencing access issues, the announcement directed users to the GrantSolutions Help Desk via phone or email, indicating the application and administrative workflow ran through the GrantSolutions platform.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant?
The opportunity is titled "FY15 Supplemental Capital and Debt Service Grants and Americans with Disabilities Act Grant to Amtrak" and has Funding Opportunity Number FR-AMT-15-004.
Which federal agency offered this grant?
The grant was offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
What type of grant opportunity is this?
This was an earmark-style grant described as an "Earmark" opportunity, structured as direct federal assistance to Amtrak rather than a competitive program.
What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument type is a Grant.
What is the CFDA program number and name?
The notice identifies CFDA 20.315, "National Railroad Passenger Corporation Grants."
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was explicitly limited to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak). No other applicants were eligible under this posting.
What was the overall purpose of the funding?
The funding supported Amtrak needs tied to intercity passenger rail service, specifically capital investment, debt service, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance.
How was the FY 2015 funding made available (what laws provided it)?
The funding was provided through two linked appropriations actions: the FY 2015 Continuing Appropriations Resolution (Public Law 113-164) and then the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Public Law 113-235), specifically DOT Appropriations Act language in Title I of Division K.
What time period did the continuing resolution cover?
The continuing resolution funding covered the start of FY 2015, from October 1, 2014 through December 11, 2014.
How much capital and debt service assistance was identified during the continuing resolution period?
During the continuing resolution period, FRA identified capital and debt service assistance totaling $205,029,026 after certain authorized withholdings.
What withholdings were taken from the continuing resolution tranche?
The notice describes two withholdings from the continuing resolution tranche: $985,953 for Section 212 implementation expenses (PRIIA-related, including amendments to 49 USC 24905) and $1,035,251 for project management and oversight activities authorized under PRIIA.
Were there limits or set-asides during the continuing resolution tranche?
Yes. The notice lists constraints during the continuing resolution tranche: (1) no more than $39,240,948 for Amtrak debt service payments; (2) at least $9,859,535 for ADA-related capital expenditures to bring served facilities and stations into compliance; and (3) up to $7,887,628 that could be used by the Secretary to subsidize Amtrak operating losses if operating grant amounts proved insufficient during FY 2015.
How much additional funding was provided once full FY 2015 appropriations were enacted?
After the continuing resolution period, Public Law 113-235 provided an additional $924,270,974.
What was the award ceiling listed for this posted opportunity?
The award ceiling listed for the posted opportunity is $924,270,974.
What total FY 2015 funding amount is stated when combining the continuing resolution and full-year amounts?
When combined, the notice states total FY 2015 Capital, Debt Service, and ADA funding reached $1,129,300,000 (after factoring in authorized withholdings).
What withholdings were cited under the full-year appropriations?
Under the full-year appropriations, the notice cites $5,000,000 withheld for Section 212 implementation expenses and $5,700,000 withheld for project management and oversight activities under PRIIA.
Which PRIIA sections are cited as authorizing the capital investment funding?
The notice states the capital investment funding was authorized under PRIIA sections 101(c), 102, and 219(b).
Did the FY 2015 capital investment funding expire at the end of the fiscal year?
No. The notice states the funds were made available to remain available until expended.
What were the debt service limits under the full-year appropriations?
The notice states that not more than $175,000,000 could be used for Amtrak debt service obligations (authorized by PRIIA Section 102).
What ADA funding set-aside applied under the full-year appropriations?
The notice states that at least $50,000,000 had to be dedicated to ADA improvements to bring facilities and stations Amtrak serves into compliance.
Could any of these funds be used to subsidize operating losses?
Yes. The notice states that up to $50,000,000 could be used by the Secretary to subsidize operating losses if Amtrak's operating grant funding was not enough to cover FY 2015 operating costs. (A similar, smaller allowance was also listed for the continuing resolution tranche.)
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The notice states there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted January 29, 2015, created January 30, 2015, and had a closing date of February 6, 2015.
When was the opportunity archived?
The posting was archived March 8, 2015.
Which platform was used for application and administrative workflow?
The announcement indicates the application and administrative workflow ran through the GrantSolutions platform.
What should an applicant do if they experienced access issues?
The notice directed users to contact the GrantSolutions Help Desk via phone or email for assistance with access issues.
How does this opportunity relate to earlier FY 2014 appropriations?
The notice explains that during the early FY 2015 continuing resolution, funding was provided at a temporary rate based on the prior year Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations structure (Division L of Public Law 113-76, enacted January 17, 2014).
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