RAV_QA_Set 1 final.docx

RAV NOFO Questions & Answers

Question: I wanted to confirm that the Rural Autonomous Vehicle Program is targeted only at higher education. (12/14/2023).

Answer: Per the NOFO document language: “The consortia shall be led by an institution of higher education with experience in automated vehicle (AV) research and rural and Tribal transportation. Eligible applicants shall include a consortium of two or more non-profit institutions of higher education but additional consortium members may include State, local, Tribal, and territorial (SLTT) Departments of Transportation and Departments of Public Works, metropolitan and regional planning organizations, the private sector, the philanthropic sector, and non-profit organizations on a particular project or to provide services that assist in accomplishing the cooperative agreement research activities.”

Question: We are an academic institution who is interested in applying. Can un-recovered F&A (overhead) on the Federal direct cost funds provided be considered as part of the required cost share? Can un-recovered F&A (overhead) on the direct cost matching/cost share funds provided by the applicant team be considered as part of the required cost share? (12/18/2023).

Answer: For this opportunity, un-recovered F&A cannot be used as part of the required cost share. Applicants’ partnerships with consortium members and collaboration with stake holders who bring resources to the agreement through cost share are considered key to the success of the RAV Program.

Question: We will be submitting a letter of Intent to this call, however the FOA does not state what is needed for the LOI submission. Could you please let us know if there is something else that we should be looking at for the letter of intent submission information. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. (12/19/2023).

Answer: The information that is required in the letter of intent is: Name of Lead University, Area of interest (Freight or Passenger movement) and contact details of the point-of-contact individual at the Lead institution.

Question: Hi can a small business owner that can hire 5 employees to help meet the needs of disabled special needs individual with chronic medical rare diagnosis and diseases to get individual to doctors’ appointments grocery store pharmacy qualify for any grants or funding for vehicles (12/21/2023).

Answer: The funding opportunity is primarily intended for the conduct of research activities to investigate and apply automated vehicles technologies in rural communities for effective and efficient movement of goods and people.