PKG00263684-instructions.docx

The Public Transportation COVID-19 Research Demonstration Grant Program Date Posted: 10/05/2020 Date Closed: 11/02/2020 Opportunity ID:

FTA-2020-015-TRI

Grant Program:

The Public Transportation COVID-19 Research Demonstration Grant Program

Details:

Notice of Funding Opportunity for a FY2020 Public Transportation COVID-19 Research Demonstration Grant Program. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of $10 million dollars in Public Transportation Innovation funds to support research demonstration grants for public transit agencies to develop, deploy, and demonstrate innovative solutions that improve the operational efficiency of transit agencies, as well as enhance the mobility of transit users affected by the COVID-19 public health emergency. Demonstration grants in this NOFO will improve the operational efficiencies of transit systems and enhance mobility for their communities in four major areas including, but not limited to: vehicle, facility, equipment and infrastructure cleaning and disinfection; exposure mitigation measures; innovative mobility such as contactless payments; and measures that strengthen public confidence in transit services.

FTA intends to award multiple projects under this announcement. Synopses and full announcements are posted on Grants.gov site as opportunity FTA-2020-015-TRI. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the Grants.gov website by midnight Eastern Time on November 2, 2020.

Summary: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of $10,000,000 in Fiscal year (FY) 2020 research funds. FTA’s Public Transportation Innovation program is authorized by Federal public transportation law (49 U.S.C § 5312). FTA is seeking to fund public transit agencies to develop, deploy, and demonstrate innovative solutions that improve the operational efficiency of transit agencies, as well as enhance the mobility of transit users impacted by the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The FY2020 Public Transportation COVID-19 Research Demonstration Grant Program objectives are to fund demonstration grants at transit agencies that demonstrate innovative solutions to improve public transit operational efficiencies, and improve mobility in their respective communities, through, but not limited to projects focused on: vehicle, facility, equipment and infrastructure cleaning and disinfection; exposure mitigation measures; innovative mobility such as contactless payments.; and measures that strengthen public confidence in transit.

Eligible Applicants: Eligible applicants include State and local governmental authorities, direct recipients of Urbanized Area (49 USC 5307) and Rural Area (49 USC 5311) formula funds, and Indian tribes. Eligible applicants are limited to FTA grantees or subrecipients who would be the primary beneficiaries of the innovative products and services that are developed, typically public transit agencies. Except for projects proposed by Indian tribes, proposals for projects in rural (non-urbanized) areas must be submitted as part of a consolidated State proposal. States and other eligible applicants also may submit consolidated proposals for projects in urbanized areas.

The submission of the Statewide application shall not preclude the submission and consideration of any application from other eligible recipients in an urbanized area in a State. Proposals may contain projects to be implemented by the recipient or its subrecipients. Eligible subrecipients include public agencies, private nonprofit organizations, and private providers engaged in public transportation. Eligible applicants may submit consolidated proposals for projects.

Link and Instructions for attaching the supplemental form to the SF-424: All applicants must complete the supplemental form specific to the for FY2020 Public Transportation COVID-19 Research Demonstration Grant Program and attach it to their submission in Grants.gov. Applicants should refer to section D of the NOFO for further information about required application contents. The supplemental form is available on Grants.gov and on the FTA website.

Webinar: FTA plans to hold two webinars on this funding opportunity in October. The first webinar will provide a strategic overview of the goals of this program, as well provide the opportunity to submit any questions. The second webinar will provide a technical overview – answering the received question, as well as described eligible applicants and projects. Details on the times and dates of the webinars as well as call in instructions will be available on the program webpage.

Dates: An applicant must submit a proposal electronically by midnight Eastern Time on November 02, 2020. Any applicant intending to apply should initiate the process of registering on the Grants.gov site immediately to ensure completion of registration before the submission deadline.

For Further Information Contact: Please send any questions on this notice to jamel.el-hamri@dot.gov or contact Jamel El-Hamri, General Engineer, Office of Research, Demonstration, and Innovation (TRI), (202) 366-8985.