Opportunity Information: Apply for FTA 2016 002 TPM
Apply for FTA 2016 002 TPM
- The DOT-FTA in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Solicitation of Project Proposals for the 5339(b) Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities (Bus) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.526.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 29, 2016 and posted on Mar 29, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 13, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 100 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), within the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), issued this discretionary grant opportunity under the 5339(b) Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program (often referred to as the "Bus Program"). The solicitation invites project proposals focused on strengthening public transportation bus service by improving the physical condition of bus fleets and the facilities that support them, while also expanding practical access to key destinations like jobs, schools, and healthcare. The overall intent is to make bus transit more reliable and useful in both rural and urban settings, especially where better mobility can directly affect economic opportunity and quality of life.
A central theme of the program is state of good repair. Because the statute requires FTA to consider the age and condition of buses, fleets, equipment, and bus-related facilities, the agency places strong emphasis on proposals that clearly document need and demonstrate that federal funding will address major repair, replacement, rehabilitation, or maintenance backlogs. In practice, that means projects that replace aging buses, overhaul worn fleets, modernize maintenance equipment, rehabilitate deteriorating facilities, or otherwise correct significant deficiencies tend to align closely with the program's priorities, so long as the application explains the condition problems and shows how the project will measurably improve them.
Safety and system resilience are also explicitly prioritized. FTA signals preference for proposals that improve the safety of transit systems, which can include investments that reduce breakdowns and failures associated with aging vehicles and facilities, improve maintenance capabilities, or modernize infrastructure in ways that reduce operational risk. Alongside basic repair and replacement work, the agency highlights interest in "connective" projects that deploy advanced technologies to better link bus systems with other networks. This can be understood as encouraging modernization that improves coordination, integration, and connectivity across transportation modes or services, such as technology-enabled connections that help riders move more smoothly between routes, services, or regional systems.
The solicitation also frames the program as a way to support "ladders of opportunity," meaning projects that help people reach employment, education, and healthcare more effectively and consistently. Applications that show how bus investments translate into improved access for riders, particularly in areas where transit access is limited or where improved service could meaningfully expand opportunity, are positioned to match this priority. The underlying policy logic is that better buses and facilities are not just capital assets; they are tools to improve everyday mobility and economic participation.
Administratively, this is a grant competition (Opportunity Category: Discretionary) using a grant funding instrument. The funding activity category is transportation, and the program is listed under CFDA 20.526. The opportunity number is FTA 2016 002 TPM, and it was posted on March 29, 2016, with an application deadline of May 13, 2016 (the original and current closing dates are the same). Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments, with additional eligible entities potentially covered under the notice's "additional information on eligibility" section. The notice indicates an expectation of around 100 awards, while the award ceiling field is not specified in the provided data.
In short, this solicitation is aimed at funding capital projects that repair, replace, or modernize bus fleets and bus-supporting facilities, with selection preferences leaning toward demonstrable state-of-good-repair needs, safety improvements, technology-forward connectivity investments, and projects that clearly expand access to essential destinations and economic opportunity in communities across the country.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary (competitive) grant opportunity issued by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) within the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) under the 5339(b) Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program (often called the "Bus Program"). It supports capital projects that strengthen public transportation bus service by improving bus fleets and the facilities that support them, and by expanding practical access to key destinations such as jobs, schools, and healthcare.
Which federal agency is offering the funding?
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), is offering this funding.
Is this a competitive grant or a formula award?
This solicitation is a grant competition. The opportunity category is listed as Discretionary, meaning projects are selected competitively based on the program's stated priorities and evaluation factors described in the notice.
What is the purpose of the Bus Program solicitation described here?
The solicitation is intended to make bus transit more reliable and useful in both rural and urban settings by funding projects that improve the condition of buses and bus-related facilities and that expand access to essential destinations. The program emphasizes that better bus assets can improve everyday mobility, economic opportunity, and quality of life.
What kinds of projects does the program generally want to fund?
Based on the solicitation description, the program targets capital projects such as replacing aging buses, overhauling worn fleets, modernizing maintenance equipment, rehabilitating deteriorating facilities, and addressing significant deficiencies that affect bus service and supporting infrastructure.
What does "state of good repair" mean in this solicitation?
"State of good repair" is a central theme. The statute requires FTA to consider the age and condition of buses, fleets, equipment, and bus-related facilities. Proposals that clearly document asset condition problems and show how federal funding will address major repair, replacement, rehabilitation, or maintenance backlogs align closely with this priority.
How does an applicant show a strong "state of good repair" need?
The solicitation indicates that strong proposals clearly document need by describing the age and condition of buses, fleets, equipment, and/or facilities, and by demonstrating how the project will correct deficiencies or reduce backlogs through repair, replacement, rehabilitation, or modernization.
Are safety-related projects prioritized?
Yes. Safety is explicitly prioritized. FTA indicates a preference for proposals that improve transit system safety, including investments that reduce breakdowns and failures linked to aging assets, improve maintenance capabilities, or modernize infrastructure in ways that reduce operational risk.
What does the solicitation mean by "system resilience"?
The solicitation highlights resilience alongside safety and signals preference for projects that modernize or improve assets and infrastructure in ways that reduce operational risk and help systems perform more reliably (for example, by reducing breakdowns and failures associated with aging vehicles and facilities).
What are "connective" projects in this solicitation?
The solicitation expresses interest in "connective" projects that deploy advanced technologies to better link bus systems with other networks. This is framed as modernization that improves coordination, integration, and connectivity across transportation modes or services, helping riders move more smoothly between routes, services, or regional systems.
Does the program support projects that improve access to jobs, school, and healthcare?
Yes. The solicitation emphasizes expanding practical access to key destinations such as jobs, schools, and healthcare. It also frames this as supporting "ladders of opportunity," meaning bus investments that help people reach employment, education, and healthcare more effectively and consistently.
How does the solicitation define or describe "ladders of opportunity"?
"Ladders of opportunity" is described as projects that help people reach employment, education, and healthcare more effectively and consistently, particularly in areas where transit access is limited or where improved service could meaningfully expand opportunity.
Is the program intended for rural areas, urban areas, or both?
Both. The solicitation describes an intent to improve bus transit in rural and urban settings, especially where improved mobility can directly affect economic opportunity and quality of life.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is Transportation.
What is the CFDA number listed for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA 20.526.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is FTA 2016 002 TPM.
When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on March 29, 2016.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline is May 13, 2016. The information provided indicates the original and current closing dates are the same.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. The notice also indicates that additional eligible entities may be covered under an "additional information on eligibility" section.
How many awards does FTA expect to make?
The notice indicates an expectation of around 100 awards.
Is there a maximum (ceiling) award amount listed?
The award ceiling field is not specified in the provided information.
What are the main selection preferences described in the solicitation summary?
Selection preferences highlighted in the provided summary include: (1) demonstrable state-of-good-repair needs backed by asset condition information and clear benefits, (2) safety improvements and investments that reduce operational risk and failures, (3) technology-forward connectivity and integration projects, and (4) projects that clearly expand access to essential destinations and economic opportunity (jobs, education, and healthcare).
What is the overall focus of this solicitation in plain terms?
In plain terms, the solicitation focuses on capital investments that repair, replace, or modernize buses and bus-supporting facilities so service becomes more reliable and useful, while also improving safety, strengthening system performance, and helping communities connect people to opportunity and essential services.
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