Opportunity Information: Apply for FTA 2014 002 TPM
Apply for FTA 2014 002 TPM
- The DOT/Federal Transit Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Rural Transportation Assistance Program Solicitation for Proposals" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.509 Formula Grants for Rural Areas.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 15, 2014 and posted on Jan 15, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 10, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,794,903.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,794,903.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- Eligible proposers are non profit organizations with rural and tribal transportation experience that have the capacity to provide public transportation related technical assistance and the ability to deliver national technical assistance and training programs.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Rural Transportation Assistance Program Solicitation for Proposals (Funding Opportunity Number FTA 2014 002 TPM) was a discretionary funding opportunity released by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration (FTA), to select an organization to operate and deliver the National RTAP under the Formula Grants for Rural Areas program authorized by 49 U.S.C. 5311. The purpose of National RTAP is to strengthen public transportation in rural areas by funding training, technical assistance, and other support services designed specifically for the realities of rural and tribal transit providers. In practical terms, the program is meant to help rural transit operators improve service quality, safety, compliance, management capacity, and overall effectiveness by giving them access to targeted expertise, learning tools, and hands-on support that might be difficult to afford or coordinate locally.
The funding was offered through a cooperative agreement, meaning the recipient would not only receive federal funds but would also work closely with FTA throughout the period of performance, with federal involvement in shaping, guiding, or collaborating on key program elements. The total estimated funding available was $1,794,903, and the award ceiling matched that amount, indicating FTA anticipated a single award up to the full amount. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement stated, which lowered the barrier to participation for eligible nonprofit organizations and emphasized that the focus of the competition was on qualifications, experience, and the ability to deliver a national-level assistance program rather than on securing non-federal contributions.
Eligibility was limited to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education) and, importantly, organizations needed to demonstrate rural and tribal transportation experience along with the capacity to provide public transportation technical assistance. The solicitation emphasized the ability to deliver national technical assistance and training programs, which signals that FTA was looking for a lead organization capable of operating at scale: developing training content, coordinating outreach, supporting a wide range of rural stakeholders across different regions, and ensuring that materials and assistance are relevant to the varied operating environments found in rural and tribal communities. The “Others (see text)†category in the listing reflects that eligibility was defined more specifically in the narrative, but the core requirement was a qualified, experienced 501(c)(3) nonprofit with demonstrated capability to serve rural and tribal transit operators nationwide.
From an applicant standpoint, this opportunity sat within the transportation funding activity category and was associated with CFDA number 20.509 (Formula Grants for Rural Areas). Although the overall 5311 program is a formula program for states, this particular notice was a discretionary solicitation to support the national technical assistance function (National RTAP). The listing directs applicants to the full Federal Register Notice as the controlling document for the complete set of requirements and evaluation criteria, signaling that the summary announcement was not intended to capture every compliance obligation, scope detail, or submission instruction. Applicants were expected to review that full notice to ensure their proposal addressed all required components, which typically include a detailed work plan, project management approach, staffing, demonstrated expertise, past performance, deliverables, and an approach to meeting the needs of rural transit systems.
Key timing details show the opportunity was posted on January 15, 2014, with a closing date of February 10, 2014. The archive date was March 12, 2014, indicating the competition window had ended and the notice was later moved into an archived status for recordkeeping. Because the solicitation is time-bound and tied to a specific fiscal/competition cycle, those dates matter for historical context and for understanding that this particular notice is no longer open, even though it provides a clear model of how FTA structures National RTAP solicitations.
For questions and support, the point of contact listed was Lorna Wilson at the FTA Office of Transit Programs, reachable at lorna.wilson@dot.gov. The notice also indicated that if prospective applicants had difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, they could contact the same individual, which highlights that FTA viewed access to the complete Federal Register Notice as essential for a compliant submission. An additional information link referenced the FTA website, specifically current Notices of Funding Availability, which is where related postings, updates, and supporting materials are typically maintained.
Overall, the solicitation’s core goal was to select a capable nonprofit partner to deliver a national rural transit training and technical assistance backbone under National RTAP, using cooperative agreement funding to design and implement support that is practical, targeted, and responsive to rural and tribal transit operator needs.
National Rural Transportation Assistance Program (National RTAP) Solicitation FAQs
What is this funding opportunity?
This was a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to select an organization to operate and deliver the National Rural Transportation Assistance Program (National RTAP). It was issued under the Formula Grants for Rural Areas program authorized by 49 U.S.C. 5311.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this solicitation?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed for this solicitation is FTA 2014 002 TPM.
What is National RTAP intended to do?
National RTAP is intended to strengthen public transportation in rural areas by funding training, technical assistance, and other support services tailored to rural and tribal transit providers. The goal is to help rural transit operators improve service quality, safety, compliance, management capacity, and overall effectiveness by providing targeted expertise, learning tools, and hands-on support that may be difficult to fund or organize locally.
What kind of award instrument was used?
The funding was offered through a cooperative agreement. This means the recipient would receive federal funds and also work closely with FTA during the period of performance, with federal involvement in shaping, guiding, or collaborating on key program elements.
How much funding was available?
The total estimated funding available was $1,794,903.
What was the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling matched the estimated total funding available: $1,794,903. This indicates FTA anticipated making a single award for up to the full amount.
Was a cost share or matching funds requirement stated?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement was stated in the provided opportunity summary.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education. Applicants also needed to demonstrate rural and tribal transportation experience and the capacity to provide public transportation technical assistance.
Are institutions of higher education eligible?
No. The eligibility description specifically excludes institutions of higher education.
What kinds of experience or capabilities did FTA emphasize in applicants?
The solicitation emphasized rural and tribal transportation experience and the capacity to provide public transportation technical assistance. It also stressed the ability to deliver national-level technical assistance and training, suggesting the selected organization needed to operate at scale by developing training content, coordinating outreach, supporting rural stakeholders across regions, and ensuring materials and assistance fit varied rural and tribal operating environments.
What program and authority is this tied to?
The solicitation was connected to the Formula Grants for Rural Areas program under 49 U.S.C. 5311, with CFDA number 20.509.
If 49 U.S.C. 5311 is typically a formula program, why was this posted as a competition?
While the broader 5311 program is a formula program for states, this notice was described as a discretionary solicitation specifically to support the national technical assistance function (National RTAP).
What activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity was within the transportation funding activity category.
What does the eligibility category "Others (see text)" mean here?
It indicates the eligibility rules were defined more specifically in the narrative text of the solicitation. Based on the provided summary, the core eligible applicant was a qualified and experienced 501(c)(3) nonprofit (excluding institutions of higher education) with demonstrated capability to serve rural and tribal transit operators nationwide.
Where were the full requirements and evaluation criteria described?
The listing directed applicants to the full Federal Register Notice as the controlling document for complete requirements and evaluation criteria. The summary announcement was not intended to include every compliance obligation, scope detail, or submission instruction.
What kinds of proposal components were applicants expected to address?
Applicants were expected to review the full Federal Register Notice and ensure proposals addressed all required components, which typically include a detailed work plan, project management approach, staffing, demonstrated expertise, past performance, deliverables, and an approach to meeting the needs of rural transit systems.
When was the solicitation posted?
The opportunity was posted on January 15, 2014.
What was the application closing date?
The closing date was February 10, 2014.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The archive date was March 12, 2014, indicating the competition had ended and the notice was moved into archived status for recordkeeping.
Who was the point of contact for questions?
The point of contact listed was Lorna Wilson at the FTA Office of Transit Programs.
How could applicants contact the point of contact?
The email provided for the point of contact was lorna.wilson@dot.gov.
What if an applicant had trouble accessing the full announcement electronically?
The notice indicated that prospective applicants who had difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically could contact Lorna Wilson for assistance, reinforcing that access to the complete Federal Register Notice was essential for a compliant submission.
Was there a link for additional information?
Yes. An additional information link referenced the FTA website, specifically current Notices of Funding Availability, where related postings, updates, and supporting materials are typically maintained.
In plain terms, what was FTA trying to fund through this solicitation?
FTA was aiming to fund a capable nonprofit partner to serve as the national backbone for rural transit training and technical assistance under National RTAP, delivering practical and targeted support responsive to rural and tribal transit operator needs, under a cooperative agreement with active collaboration from FTA.
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