Opportunity Information: Apply for FTA 2011 007 TRI
Apply for FTA 2011 007 TRI
- The DOT/Federal Transit Administration in the science and technology and other research and development transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rail Transit Signal and Control Systems (RTSCS) Research Technology to Enforce Temporal Separation for Shared Track Operations" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.514 Public Transportation Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 18, 2011 and posted on Dec 2, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 25, 2011 Closing Date extended until Jan 25, 2011.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $450,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $450,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
- Any responsible source, including, but limited to, public transit agencies, organizations of state and local governments, universities or institutions of higher education, non profit organizations, private individuals, corporations, and business or commercial organizations, except that any business owned in whole or in part by the Federal Government is not eligible.
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Opportunity Summary:
This funding opportunity is a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) research solicitation focused on improving safety and operational efficiency in U.S. rail transit through better signal and control technology. Specifically, it calls for research proposals on "Technology to Enforce Temporal Separation for Shared Track Operations," meaning tools and methods that can reliably ensure passenger and freight trains are kept separated in time when they use the same track infrastructure. The work is framed as part of the Rail Transit Signal and Control Systems (RTSCS) research program and is authorized under 49 USC 5312, which supports research, development, demonstration, and deployment projects intended to advance public transportation.
A central technical emphasis of the solicitation is Positive Train Control (PTC) and its ability to automatically enforce temporal separation in shared-track environments. In practical terms, the research is expected to evaluate how existing PTC technologies can be used (or adapted) to prevent conflicts between freight and passenger movements by enforcing timing windows, movement authorities, and other operational constraints. The overarching goal is to reduce risk and improve the efficiency and reliability of rail operations where different types of rail service must coexist, using technology rather than relying only on procedures or manual controls.
The opportunity is offered as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement, indicating that FTA expects to be actively involved in the project through collaboration, oversight, and coordination rather than simply issuing a grant with minimal ongoing interaction. The total estimated funding is $450,000, and the award ceiling and floor are both listed as $450,000, which strongly suggests FTA anticipated making a single award at that amount (or an award structured to equal the full posted amount). There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement stated for applicants, which lowers the barrier for participation by entities that may not have additional funds to contribute.
Eligibility is broad and essentially unrestricted, open to any responsible source unless otherwise limited in the full announcement details. Eligible applicants include public transit agencies, state and local government organizations, universities and other higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, private individuals, corporations, and other business or commercial organizations. One clear exclusion is that businesses owned in whole or in part by the Federal Government are not eligible. The funding is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, and is associated with CFDA number 20.514 (Public Transportation Research).
Applications were required to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. The original proposal deadline was January 19, 2011, with a later extension showing the current closing date as January 25, 2011. The notice advises applicants to start the Grants.gov registration process early if they have not previously used the system, reflecting the common reality that registration and credentialing can take time. FTA indicated it expected to award funds to successful contractor(s) through a cooperative agreement by approximately February 19, 2011, setting a relatively fast timeline from closing to award.
Administrative identifiers for the opportunity include Funding Opportunity Number FTA 2011 007 TRI and the title "Rail Transit Signal and Control Systems (RTSCS) Research - Technology to Enforce Temporal Separation for Shared Track Operations." The activity category is listed under science and technology and other research and development, as well as transportation. For questions or access issues related to the full announcement, the listed point of contact is Patrick Centolanzi, Program Manager at the FTA Office of Technology (TRI-20), located at 1200 New Jersey Ave SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the focus of this funding opportunity?
This is a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) research solicitation aimed at improving safety and operational efficiency in U.S. rail transit by advancing signal and control technology. The specific research topic is "Technology to Enforce Temporal Separation for Shared Track Operations."
What does "temporal separation for shared track operations" mean in this solicitation?
It refers to tools and methods that can reliably ensure passenger and freight trains are separated in time when they use the same track infrastructure. The research is intended to help prevent conflicts by enforcing timing windows, movement authorities, and other operational constraints through technology.
Which research program is this solicitation associated with?
The work is framed as part of the Rail Transit Signal and Control Systems (RTSCS) research program.
What is the statutory authority for this research funding?
The solicitation is authorized under 49 USC 5312, which supports research, development, demonstration, and deployment projects intended to advance public transportation.
What is the central technical emphasis of the solicitation?
A central technical emphasis is Positive Train Control (PTC) and its ability to automatically enforce temporal separation in shared-track environments.
How is Positive Train Control (PTC) expected to be used in this research?
The research is expected to evaluate how existing PTC technologies can be used or adapted to prevent conflicts between freight and passenger movements by enforcing timing windows, movement authorities, and related constraints in shared-track operations.
What is the overarching goal of the proposed research?
The goal is to reduce risk and improve the efficiency and reliability of rail operations where freight and passenger services must coexist, using technology rather than relying only on procedures or manual controls.
What type of award will be used for this opportunity?
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement indicates that FTA expects to be actively involved in the project through collaboration, oversight, and coordination, rather than issuing a grant with minimal ongoing interaction.
How much funding is available?
The total estimated funding amount is $450,000.
What are the award ceiling and floor?
Both the award ceiling and the award floor are listed as $450,000.
Does the award ceiling and floor being the same imply anything about the number of awards?
Yes. With both the ceiling and floor at $450,000, it strongly suggests FTA anticipated making a single award at that amount, or structuring the award to equal the full posted amount.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement is stated for applicants in the provided information.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as broad and essentially unrestricted, open to any responsible source unless otherwise limited in the full announcement details. Eligible applicants include public transit agencies, state and local government organizations, universities and other higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, private individuals, corporations, and other business or commercial organizations.
Are any applicants explicitly ineligible?
Yes. Businesses owned in whole or in part by the Federal Government are not eligible.
Which federal agency administers this funding?
The funding is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 20.514, titled Public Transportation Research.
How were applications required to be submitted?
Applications were required to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov.
What was the application deadline?
The original proposal deadline was January 19, 2011, and a later extension listed the closing date as January 25, 2011.
Why does the notice recommend starting Grants.gov registration early?
The notice advises starting early because Grants.gov registration and credentialing can take time, especially for applicants who have not previously used the system.
When did FTA expect to make an award?
FTA indicated it expected to award funds to successful contractor(s) through a cooperative agreement by approximately February 19, 2011.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is FTA 2011 007 TRI.
What is the full title of the opportunity?
The title is "Rail Transit Signal and Control Systems (RTSCS) Research - Technology to Enforce Temporal Separation for Shared Track Operations."
What activity categories are listed for this opportunity?
The activity category is listed under science and technology and other research and development, as well as transportation.
Who is the point of contact for questions or access issues related to the full announcement?
The listed point of contact is Patrick Centolanzi, Program Manager at the FTA Office of Technology (TRI-20).
What is the contact address for the program manager listed in the notice?
The address provided is 1200 New Jersey Ave SE, Washington, DC 20590.
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