Opportunity Information: Apply for DTFH6116RA00013
Apply for DTFH6116RA00013
- The DOT-FHWA in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Surface Transportation System Funding Alternatives" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.200.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 22, 2016 and posted on Mar 22, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 20, 2016. (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 $7,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Surface Transportation System Funding Alternatives (STSFA) program is a discretionary grant opportunity created under Section 6020 of the Fixing Americas Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2015. It is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Highway Administration (DOT-FHWA) and is designed to help states test and demonstrate new, user-based transportation revenue approaches. The central policy goal is to explore practical alternatives to traditional fuel-tax funding and support the long-term solvency of the Federal Highway Trust Fund by piloting fee structures that charge road users based on use.
Funding under the FAST Act was set at $15 million for FY 2016 and $20 million per year for FY 2017 through FY 2020 for demonstration projects. Individual awards under this 2016 solicitation could be as high as $7.5 million, with an expectation of about five awards. A key financial requirement is the cost share: STSFA funds may cover no more than 50 percent of total project costs. The remaining match must come from non-Federal sources (for example, state funds, local funds, or other eligible non-Federal revenue). While other Federal funds can be used alongside an STSFA award if they follow their own matching rules, those Federal dollars cannot count toward the STSFA match unless another statute specifically allows it. Another structural feature of the program is that unused funds do not linger indefinitely; on August 1 of each year, if there are not enough qualifying applications to use the available STSFA funding, any excess must be transferred back to FHWA for its Highway Research and Development program.
Eligibility is limited to states, but the program encourages collaboration: multiple states can partner on a regional or national demonstration, which fits the program intent of testing scalable approaches. Even in multi-state proposals, the solicitation requires that a State Department of Transportation serve as the lead agency because the funding is administered through the Federal-aid highway program. Other state agencies, including agencies in another participating state, may handle day-to-day oversight. USDOT also signals that a serious proposal should involve all relevant state partners needed to implement a real-world user-fee mechanism, such as Departments of Motor Vehicles and Departments of Revenue, since those entities often manage registration systems, billing, compliance, and revenue collection.
This specific posting (Funding Opportunity Number DTFH6116RA00013, CFDA 20.200) was published March 22, 2016, with an application deadline of May 20, 2016. USDOT scheduled an optional virtual informational session on April 1, 2016 at 1:00 pm Eastern to walk potential applicants through the opportunity and answer questions. Attendance was encouraged but not required to apply.
In practical terms, the opportunity is aimed at helping states move beyond planning studies and into on-the-ground demonstrations of user-fee concepts (such as mileage-based user fees or other road-usage charging models), including the administrative, technical, and interagency coordination work needed to run a pilot that could be expanded later. The program is explicitly framed as a test bed: it funds demonstrations that can show whether alternative user-based revenue systems are workable, enforceable, and scalable enough to contribute to sustainable transportation funding over time.
Surface Transportation System Funding Alternatives (STSFA) Program FAQs
What is the Surface Transportation System Funding Alternatives (STSFA) program?
The STSFA program is a discretionary grant opportunity created under Section 6020 of the Fixing Americas Surface Transportation (FAST) Act of 2015. It is intended to help states test and demonstrate new, user-based transportation revenue approaches.
Which federal agency administers STSFA?
The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Highway Administration (DOT-FHWA).
What is the main purpose of STSFA funding?
The main purpose is to support state demonstrations of user-based revenue approaches that can serve as practical alternatives to traditional fuel-tax funding.
What policy problem is STSFA designed to address?
STSFA is designed to explore alternatives to fuel-tax funding and support the long-term solvency of the Federal Highway Trust Fund by piloting fee structures that charge road users based on use.
What kinds of concepts or approaches can be demonstrated under STSFA?
The opportunity is aimed at real-world demonstrations of user-fee concepts, such as mileage-based user fees or other road-usage charging models, including the administrative, technical, and interagency coordination work needed to run a pilot that could be expanded later.
Is STSFA intended for planning studies or for pilot demonstrations?
The opportunity is framed as helping states move beyond planning studies and into on-the-ground demonstrations of user-fee concepts.
How much funding was available under the FAST Act for STSFA?
Funding under the FAST Act was set at $15 million for FY 2016 and $20 million per year for FY 2017 through FY 2020 for demonstration projects.
What was the maximum individual award amount under the FY 2016 solicitation?
Individual awards under the 2016 solicitation could be as high as $7.5 million.
How many awards were expected under the 2016 solicitation?
The solicitation indicated an expectation of about five awards.
What is the required cost share (match) for STSFA projects?
STSFA funds may cover no more than 50 percent of total project costs. The remaining share must come from non-Federal sources.
What sources can be used for the non-Federal match?
The match must come from non-Federal sources, such as state funds, local funds, or other eligible non-Federal revenue.
Can other federal funding be used on the same project as an STSFA award?
Other federal funds can be used alongside an STSFA award if they follow their own matching rules.
Can federal funds be used to satisfy the STSFA 50 percent non-Federal match requirement?
Federal dollars cannot count toward the STSFA match unless another statute specifically allows it.
Who is eligible to apply for STSFA funding?
Eligibility is limited to states.
Are multi-state applications allowed?
Yes. The program encourages collaboration, including multi-state partnerships on regional or national demonstrations.
In a multi-state proposal, who must serve as the lead agency?
A State Department of Transportation must serve as the lead agency because the funding is administered through the Federal-aid highway program.
Can other state agencies be involved in project oversight or implementation?
Yes. Other state agencies, including agencies in another participating state, may handle day-to-day oversight.
What state partners are expected to be involved for a serious user-fee pilot?
USDOT signaled that serious proposals should involve relevant state partners needed to implement a real-world user-fee mechanism, such as Departments of Motor Vehicles and Departments of Revenue, since those entities often manage registration systems, billing, compliance, and revenue collection.
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number for this posting?
The funding opportunity number is DTFH6116RA00013 and the CFDA number is 20.200.
When was this opportunity posted and what was the application deadline?
This posting was published on March 22, 2016, and the application deadline was May 20, 2016.
Was there an informational session for applicants?
Yes. USDOT scheduled an optional virtual informational session on April 1, 2016 at 1:00 pm Eastern to walk potential applicants through the opportunity and answer questions.
Was attendance at the informational session required to apply?
No. Attendance was encouraged but not required to apply.
What happens to STSFA funds if there are not enough qualifying applications?
On August 1 of each year, if there are not enough qualifying applications to use the available STSFA funding, any excess must be transferred back to FHWA for its Highway Research and Development program.
What does it mean that STSFA is a "test bed" program?
It means STSFA funds demonstrations intended to show whether alternative user-based revenue systems are workable, enforceable, and scalable enough to contribute to sustainable transportation funding over time.
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