Questions-and-Answers-Equity-Research-NOFO-2-23.pdf

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 RESEARCH

INITIATIVE ON MOBILITY EQUITY

APPLICATION QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

During the open competition period, this document will be updated on an ongoing basis with new questions and answers as they arise.

Last updated: 2/23/2024

UPDATE 2/23/2024: Application deadline has been extended to March 22, 2024 11:59 pm Eastern Time.

Question: Please clarify the period of performance and research agenda scope and timeframe. (1/30/2024)

Answer: Applicants have flexibility to develop a research agenda for the 24-month period of performance or 36 months. The applicant’s proposal should include a draft research agenda of research project ideas. USDOT will work with a successful applicant to finalize and implement the research agenda.

Question: Will the $2,970,000 (or $1,485,000) be the TOTAL for 2 years, or per year? (1/30/2024)

Answer: The awarded value will be the total for two years, not per year.

Question: Will we decide if we want to propose for the smaller amount ($1,485,000), or we go ahead and budget for $2,970,000 and during the proposal review, you decide on your end which amount will be awarded? (1/30/2024)

Answer: You may decide whether to write a proposal for the full $2,970,000 or $1,485,000. USDOT will decide which amount will be awarded. A proposal for the full $2,970,000 may be awarded at $1,485,000 with the scope adjusted accordingly.

Question: Are letters of support expected/required/allowed? (1/30/2024)

Answer: Letters of support are not required. They may be appended to the proposal and will NOT count against the 25-page limit of the technical proposal.

Question: Is this funding opportunity available to private sector entities?

(1/30/2024)

Answer: This funding opportunity is not available to private sector entities; however, Applicant(s) may ‘partner’ with industry in a minor role to support the research needs that the core team may need or lack. This competition is open to institutions of higher education, public research entities (e.g., University Affiliated Research Initiatives (UARCs), Federally Funded Research and Development Initiatives (FFRDCs), national laboratories, and similar entities), 501(c)3 nonprofit research entities, and consortia thereof. Applicants must be established and located in the United States or its territories or on Tribal lands.

Question: Can I use smaller font sizes on figures and captions? (1/30/2024)

Answer: Yes, you may use smaller than 12-point font on figures and captions.

Question: Can I use in my proposal additional headings not specified in the notice of funding opportunity? (1/30/2024)

Answer: It can be helpful to proposal reviewers to use the headers recommended in the notice of funding opportunity.

Question: Where should I attach my proposal? (2/12/2024)

Answer: Proposals should be submitted via grants.gov. Proposals and supporting information can be uploaded in field 15 of the SF424 cover page, after the title. Please refer to grants.gov support options if you have technical issues with submission.

Question: Can you clarify cost-share details? (2/12/2024)

Answer: The Federal share of the cost of activities carried out by the Mobility Equity Research Initiative is based on a 20% funding match to the Federal share.

For an expected award of $2,970,000 in federal funds under this program, recipients must provide a non-federal match of no less than $594,000. Cost sharing or matching means the portion of project costs not paid by Federal funds (unless otherwise authorized by Federal statute). For a more complete definition, please see the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards at 2 CFR Part 200, including section 200.306 on Cost Sharing or matching. Other Federal funds using their appropriate matching share may be leveraged for the deployment but cannot be considered as part of the recipient’s matching funds, unless otherwise supported by statute. Applicants should refer to section D.2 of this opportunity for more information about submission requirements concerning cost sharing under this program.