Law and Policy NOFO informational slide deck.pdf

This is a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Interdisciplinary Transportation Law, Policy, and Workforce Development grant program. The funding is authorized under House Report 117-402 and provides $600,000 for this specific initiative, separate from the broader University Transportation Centers (UTCs) program which receives $99 million in fiscal year 2023. The program aims to bridge the knowledge gap between rapid transportation technology innovation and the development of corresponding legal and policy frameworks through the creation of open-source instructional materials targeting up to three fast-changing technologies. Target audiences include Congressional staff, state and local leaders, elected officials, and future transportation lawmakers.

The project follows a 24-month structural blueprint organized into three phases: Phase 1 (Months 1-6) focuses on research and development including literature review, gap analysis, and prioritization of core technologies through peer workshops; Phase 2 (Months 7-12) involves curriculum architecture and development of open-source course materials across three distinct timebound formats with pilot sessions; Phase 3 (Months 13-24) encompasses nationwide deployment, law school pilot semester implementation, and final performance evaluation. Eligible applicants must be currently DOT-funded University Transportation Centers capable of demonstrating proven expertise in transportation law, policy technology transfer, and emerging sciences such as AI/AV. UTC consortiums may include academia, non-profit, or for-profit partners. Submissions must be made to Grants.gov under Opportunity Number LAW_POLICY-0STR24 with a strict deadline of August 28, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT. Deliverables include quarterly technical reports and virtual meetings, annual in-person Washington DC meetings, knowledge gap assessments, workshop materials, curriculum development, training proceedings, website development, and a final comprehensive report.