Opportunity Information: Apply for D2008 WCSP TRI
Apply for D2008 WCSP TRI
- The DOT/Federal Transit Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Wireless Communications with Subway Passengers" 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 Sep 30, 2008 and posted on Sep 30, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 12, 2008. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $200,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) State governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education City or township governments County governments.
- nonprofits for profit companies Public entities (e.g., transit agencies, state and local governments) nonprofit organizations for profit companies Public Transit Agencies
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Opportunity Summary:
The Wireless Communications with Subway Passengers grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number D2008 WCSP TRI) was a discretionary, transportation-focused research award from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Its core purpose was to fund the development, real-world operational testing, and evaluation of a wireless communications system that can reliably reach people inside transit vehicles traveling through tunnels, where normal wireless coverage is often weak or unavailable. The emphasis was not just on building a prototype, but on proving that the technology works in realistic subway or rail tunnel environments and can be assessed for performance, practicality, and operational usefulness.
A key requirement of the project was the ability to transmit messages among multiple groups who need to communicate during routine operations and, especially, during emergencies. That includes passengers on board, vehicle operators, transit control center staff, and first responders. In practical terms, the intended system would help enable two-way or multi-party communications in tunnel segments where conventional cellular service, radio coverage, or other common channels can fail. This suggests the FTA was targeting improved safety, incident response, and coordination by closing the communication gap that often exists underground.
The award was offered as a cooperative agreement, meaning the FTA expected to be involved beyond simply issuing funds, typically through collaboration, oversight, or active participation in shaping deliverables and evaluation. The total estimated funding for the opportunity was $200,000, with an award ceiling of $200,000 and no minimum award floor specified. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement, so applicants were not required to contribute their own funds as a condition of receiving the award.
Eligibility was broad and included public transit agencies and other public entities such as state and local governments, as well as city/township and county governments. State governments and public or state-controlled institutions of higher education were also eligible. The announcement also indicated eligibility for nonprofit organizations and for-profit companies, which implies the FTA was open to proposals from technology vendors, system integrators, research organizations, universities, and public agencies, either individually or in partnership, as long as the applicant could meet the project goals and carry out testing and evaluation in relevant tunnel conditions.
The opportunity was posted on September 30, 2008, with an original and final closing date of November 12, 2008, and it was later archived on December 12, 2008. It fell under CFDA 20.514, Public Transportation Research, reinforcing that the effort was positioned as applied research and demonstration rather than routine procurement. For applicants who needed assistance accessing the full announcement, the listed point of contact was Terrell Williams, Senior Engineer at the Federal Transit Administration Office of Technology, located at DOT headquarters in Washington, DC (phone 202-366-0232).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Wireless Communications with Subway Passengers (D2008 WCSP TRI)
What is the Wireless Communications with Subway Passengers grant opportunity?
The Wireless Communications with Subway Passengers grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number D2008 WCSP TRI) was a discretionary, transportation-focused research award from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA). It was intended to support applied research and demonstration work related to wireless communications in underground transit environments.
What was the main purpose of this funding?
The core purpose was to fund the development, real-world operational testing, and evaluation of a wireless communications system that can reliably reach people inside transit vehicles traveling through tunnels, where normal wireless coverage is often weak or unavailable.
Was the project focused on building a prototype or proving performance in real conditions?
The emphasis was not just on building a prototype. The opportunity prioritized proving that the technology works in realistic subway or rail tunnel environments and can be assessed for performance, practicality, and operational usefulness.
What problem was this grant trying to solve?
The opportunity targeted the communication gap that often exists underground, where conventional cellular service, radio coverage, or other common communication channels can fail or be unreliable in tunnel segments.
Who needed to be able to communicate using the system?
A key requirement was the ability to transmit messages among multiple groups that need to communicate during routine operations and especially during emergencies. Those groups included:
- Passengers on board
- Vehicle operators
- Transit control center staff
- First responders
Did the opportunity call for two-way or multi-party communications?
Yes. In practical terms, the intended system would help enable two-way or multi-party communications in tunnel segments where conventional wireless coverage can fail.
What outcomes was the FTA likely aiming for?
Based on the stated requirements, the opportunity suggests the FTA was aiming to improve safety, incident response, and operational coordination by enabling reliable communications with passengers and operational stakeholders in tunnel environments.
What type of award was used for this opportunity?
The award was offered as a cooperative agreement. This generally means the FTA expected involvement beyond simply issuing funds, typically through collaboration, oversight, or active participation in shaping deliverables and evaluation.
How much funding was available?
The total estimated funding for the opportunity was $200,000.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $200,000.
Was there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
No minimum award floor was specified in the provided information.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement, so applicants were not required to contribute their own funds as a condition of receiving the award.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad. The opportunity included:
- Public transit agencies
- Other public entities such as state and local governments
- City/township governments
- County governments
- State governments
- Public or state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Nonprofit organizations
- For-profit companies
What kinds of applicants did the FTA appear to be open to?
Because eligibility included nonprofits, for-profits, universities, and public agencies, the FTA appeared open to proposals from technology vendors, system integrators, research organizations, universities, and public agencies, either individually or in partnership, as long as the applicant could meet the project goals and carry out testing and evaluation in relevant tunnel conditions.
Was this a procurement for routine operations?
No. The opportunity fell under CFDA 20.514, Public Transportation Research, indicating it was positioned as applied research and demonstration rather than routine procurement.
When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on September 30, 2008.
What was the application deadline?
The original and final closing date was November 12, 2008.
Is this grant opportunity still open?
No. It was later archived on December 12, 2008.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number was D2008 WCSP TRI.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity was listed under CFDA 20.514 (Public Transportation Research).
Who was the point of contact for help with the full announcement?
The listed point of contact was Terrell Williams, Senior Engineer at the Federal Transit Administration Office of Technology (DOT headquarters, Washington, DC).
How could applicants contact the point of contact?
The provided phone number for the point of contact was 202-366-0232.
What kind of testing environment did the project need to address?
The project needed to support real-world operational testing and evaluation in realistic subway or rail tunnel environments, specifically focusing on communications for transit vehicles traveling through tunnels.
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