Opportunity Information: Apply for FR RLD 10 004
Apply for FR RLD 10 004
- The DOT/Federal Railroad Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Northern Lights Express Engineering Study of Twin Cities, Duluth Route" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.314 Railroad Development.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 3, 2011 and posted on Aug 3, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 5, 2011 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 $500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Minnesota Department of Transportation is the only entity eligible to apply.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Northern Lights Express Engineering Study of the Twin Cities, Duluth Route was a discretionary federal grant opportunity issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), under CFDA 20.314 (Railroad Development). The purpose of the funding was narrowly defined and project-specific: to support engineering advancement for the Northern Lights Express passenger rail corridor between the Twin Cities and Duluth, Minnesota by collecting high-quality corridor data and producing mapping products that would feed directly into further engineering work and the completion of a Service Development Plan. The announcement indicates these were FY 2010 funds that had been transferred from the Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST) to the FRA for this use.
The core funded activity was a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) flight of the corridor. LiDAR is a remote sensing method that uses laser pulses to generate detailed three-dimensional measurements of terrain and features. In this context, the LiDAR effort was intended to produce aerial and terrestrial data and mapping across the rail corridor. Those datasets typically help with tasks such as establishing accurate topography, identifying and measuring existing infrastructure and constraints, supporting preliminary design and engineering decisions, and improving the accuracy and efficiency of subsequent field investigations. The end goal described in the opportunity was to use these mapping and data outputs to further engineering on the route and to complete a Service Development Plan, a planning document commonly used in passenger rail development to outline service concepts, infrastructure needs, phasing, costs, and implementation approaches.
The funding opportunity number was FR RLD 10 004, and the opportunity title was "Northern Lights Express Engineering Study of Twin Cities, Duluth Route." It was posted and created on August 3, 2011, with an original and final closing date of September 5, 2011, and it was archived on October 5, 2011. The award ceiling was listed as $500,000 and the award floor was $0, and the announcement stated there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement. While the general eligible applicant category was listed as "Others" in the system, the eligibility language in the announcement clarified that the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) was the only entity eligible to apply, meaning this was effectively a sole-eligible-applicant competitive or directed discretionary grant opportunity intended to place federal funds with the state agency leading the corridor work.
For applicant support and technical access issues, the notice directed users to the Grant Solutions Help Desk, providing a phone number (1-866-577-0771), hours of operation (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern), and an email address (help@grantsolutions.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Northern Lights Express Engineering Study of Twin Cities, Duluth Route."
2) Who issued this funding opportunity?
It was a discretionary federal grant opportunity issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
3) What program or CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity was issued under CFDA 20.314, Railroad Development.
4) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is FR RLD 10 004.
5) What is the purpose of the grant?
The purpose was narrowly defined and project-specific: to support engineering advancement for the Northern Lights Express (NLX) passenger rail corridor between the Twin Cities and Duluth, Minnesota by collecting high-quality corridor data and producing mapping products that feed directly into further engineering work and the completion of a Service Development Plan.
6) What corridor or route does this grant relate to?
The grant relates to the Northern Lights Express passenger rail corridor between the Twin Cities and Duluth, Minnesota.
7) What activities were intended to be funded?
The core funded activity described was a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) flight of the corridor, intended to produce aerial and terrestrial data and mapping across the rail corridor.
8) What is LiDAR in the context of this opportunity?
LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a remote sensing method that uses laser pulses to generate detailed three-dimensional measurements of terrain and features. For this opportunity, the LiDAR effort was intended to generate corridor datasets and mapping products for engineering and planning work.
9) What kinds of outputs were expected from the LiDAR work?
The opportunity describes producing high-quality corridor data and mapping products, including aerial and terrestrial data and mapping across the rail corridor, to feed into additional engineering work and a Service Development Plan.
10) How were the LiDAR datasets expected to be used?
The notice describes these datasets as supporting engineering advancement by helping establish accurate topography, identify and measure existing infrastructure and constraints, support preliminary design and engineering decisions, and improve the accuracy and efficiency of subsequent field investigations.
11) What is the end goal of the funded work?
The end goal described was to use the mapping and data outputs to further engineering on the route and to complete a Service Development Plan.
12) What is a Service Development Plan in this context?
In passenger rail development, a Service Development Plan is a planning document commonly used to outline service concepts, infrastructure needs, phasing, costs, and implementation approaches. This opportunity references completing such a plan for the corridor.
13) What fiscal year funds supported this opportunity?
The announcement indicates these were FY 2010 funds.
14) Where did the funds come from and how were they administered?
The announcement indicates the FY 2010 funds had been transferred from the Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST) to the FRA for this specific use.
15) What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was listed as $500,000.
16) What was the minimum award amount (award floor)?
The award floor was listed as $0.
17) Was there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?
No. The announcement stated there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
18) Who was eligible to apply?
Although the general eligible applicant category was listed as "Others" in the system, the announcement clarified that the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) was the only entity eligible to apply.
19) Does this mean the opportunity was effectively limited to a single applicant?
Yes. The eligibility language indicated MnDOT was the only eligible entity, meaning it functioned as a sole-eligible-applicant (directed) discretionary grant opportunity intended to place federal funds with the state agency leading the corridor work.
20) When was the opportunity posted and created?
It was posted and created on August 3, 2011.
21) What was the application deadline?
The original and final closing date was September 5, 2011.
22) When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity was archived on October 5, 2011.
23) Where could applicants get help with technical issues or system access?
The notice directed users to the Grant Solutions Help Desk for applicant support and technical access issues.
24) What is the Grant Solutions Help Desk phone number?
The phone number provided was 1-866-577-0771.
25) What are the Grant Solutions Help Desk hours?
The hours listed were Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern.
26) What is the Grant Solutions Help Desk email address?
The email address provided was help@grantsolutions.gov.
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