Opportunity Information: Apply for FTA 2020 013 TRI TIR
The Real-Time Transit Infrastructure and Rolling Stock Condition Assessment Demonstration Program is a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) discretionary grant opportunity under the U.S. Department of Transportation. It was released as a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support demonstration projects that put advanced, real-time condition assessment tools into practical use for public transit systems. The funding comes from the Public Transportation Innovation program and is aimed at projects that can show measurable improvements in how transit agencies manage and maintain both fixed infrastructure (like track, signals, stations, facilities, guideways, bridges, tunnels, and power systems) and rolling stock (such as buses, railcars, and other revenue vehicles).
The core purpose of the program is to help transit agencies move from periodic, largely manual inspection cycles to more continuous, technology-driven awareness of asset health. FTA is looking for cutting-edge approaches that can assess conditions in real time, detect developing issues earlier, and support better decisions about maintenance and repairs. The emphasis is on improving asset management and safety by enabling agencies to assess, monitor, detect, and track defects and deficiencies more effectively. In practice, this can include deploying sensor systems, automated inspection technologies, data platforms, analytics, or other modern tools that provide timely condition information and translate that information into actionable maintenance insights.
In addition to condition assessment itself, the NOFO highlights broader outcomes that align with FTA innovation priorities: enhancing public transportation effectiveness, increasing operational efficiency, expanding quality, promoting safety, and improving the traveler experience. The demonstration focus is important: projects should not be purely conceptual or research-only, but should show real-world deployment, lessons learned, and evidence that the approach can work in a transit environment. Partnerships and innovative practices are encouraged, which can include collaborations among transit agencies, universities, nonprofits, and private-sector technology providers.
Financially, the total funding available is listed as $1.25 million, with an award ceiling of $1,250,000 and an expectation of about five awards, suggesting relatively small, targeted pilots rather than large capital buildouts. Awards are made through cooperative agreements, meaning FTA typically remains substantially involved during the project period (for example, through coordination on deliverables, reporting, and evaluation). The opportunity is cataloged under CFDA 20.530, with an original posting date of May 26, 2020 and an original application deadline of July 17, 2020.
Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. This wide eligibility reflects the program's intent to attract practical demonstrations and cross-sector solutions, including technology deployments that may be led by or implemented with private vendors, academic labs, or nonprofit partners, provided the proposed work directly advances real-time condition assessment for transit infrastructure and vehicles and can clearly support improvements in safety and asset management.Apply for FTA 2020 013 TRI TIR
- The Department of Transportation, DOT/Federal Transit Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Real-Time Transit Infrastructure and Rolling Stock Condition Assessment Demonstration Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.530.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 26, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 17, 2020. (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 $1,250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Real-Time Transit Infrastructure and Rolling Stock Condition Assessment Demonstration Program?
It is a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) discretionary grant opportunity under the U.S. Department of Transportation, released through a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). It supports demonstration projects that put advanced, real-time condition assessment tools into practical use for public transit systems.
Which federal agency administers this funding opportunity?
The program is administered by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) within the U.S. Department of Transportation.
What is the main purpose of this program?
The program is intended to help transit agencies shift from periodic, largely manual inspections to more continuous, technology-driven awareness of asset health. The focus is on improving asset management and safety by enabling agencies to assess, monitor, detect, and track defects and deficiencies more effectively and earlier.
What kinds of projects is FTA looking to fund?
FTA is looking for cutting-edge, real-world demonstration projects that deploy advanced tools for real-time condition assessment and show measurable improvements in how transit agencies manage and maintain fixed infrastructure and rolling stock.
What does "demonstration project" mean in this NOFO?
The NOFO emphasizes practical deployment. Projects should not be purely conceptual or research-only; they should show real-world implementation in a transit environment, produce lessons learned, and provide evidence that the approach works in practice.
What types of transit assets are included under "fixed infrastructure" in this opportunity?
Fixed infrastructure examples listed include track, signals, stations, facilities, guideways, bridges, tunnels, and power systems.
What does "rolling stock" mean for this program?
Rolling stock refers to revenue vehicles such as buses, railcars, and other transit vehicles used in service.
What kinds of technologies or approaches might be supported?
Examples described include sensor systems, automated inspection technologies, data platforms, analytics, and other modern tools that provide timely condition information and translate that information into actionable maintenance insights.
What outcomes does FTA want these projects to achieve?
In addition to improving condition assessment itself, the NOFO highlights outcomes aligned with FTA innovation priorities, including enhancing public transportation effectiveness, increasing operational efficiency, expanding quality, promoting safety, and improving the traveler experience.
How much total funding is available under this opportunity?
The total funding available is listed as $1.25 million.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling is $1,250,000.
How many awards does FTA expect to make?
The NOFO indicates an expectation of about five awards, suggesting smaller, targeted pilot projects rather than large capital buildouts.
What type of award instrument will be used?
Awards are made through cooperative agreements.
What does it mean that awards are made through cooperative agreements?
Cooperative agreements generally mean FTA remains substantially involved during the project period, such as coordinating on deliverables, reporting, and evaluation.
What is the funding source program for this NOFO?
The NOFO states that the funding comes from the Public Transportation Innovation program.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes state, county, and city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); and for-profit organizations other than small businesses.
Are partnerships allowed or encouraged?
Yes. Partnerships and innovative practices are encouraged, including collaborations among transit agencies, universities, nonprofits, and private-sector technology providers.
Can a private-sector technology provider be involved in a project?
Yes. The program is designed to attract cross-sector solutions, including technology deployments that may be led by or implemented with private vendors, academic labs, or nonprofit partners, as long as the work advances real-time condition assessment for transit infrastructure and vehicles and supports improvements in safety and asset management.
Is the focus limited to infrastructure only, or does it also cover vehicles?
It covers both. The NOFO targets real-time condition assessment for fixed infrastructure as well as rolling stock (revenue vehicles).
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is cataloged under CFDA 20.530.
When was the opportunity originally posted?
The original posting date is May 26, 2020.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline is July 17, 2020.
What is the central problem this program is trying to solve?
It aims to reduce reliance on periodic manual inspections by enabling more continuous, real-time visibility into asset condition, helping agencies detect developing issues earlier and make better maintenance and repair decisions.
What makes a project a good fit for this NOFO based on the description?
Based on the provided description, a strong fit would be a project that deploys real-time condition assessment tools in an operating transit environment, demonstrates measurable improvements in asset management and maintenance decision-making, and contributes to safety and other FTA innovation priorities.
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