FY 26 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) - Federal Railroad Administration
Open Special Notice Posted
- Solicitation number
- 693JJ626R000001
- Agency
-
Federal Railroad Administration
Department of Transportation
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- Place of performance
- Washington, District of Columbia, United States
- Points of contact
-
- General BAA E-Mail Inbox frabaa@dot.gov (202) 236-8540
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Federal Railroad Administration issued its FY 2026 Broad Agency Announcement (Solicitation 693JJ626R000001) on May 21, 2026, soliciting applied research projects supporting Department of Transportation and FRA strategic objectives across three research areas—Track, Rolling Stock and Equipment, and Train Control and Communications—with concept papers accepted on a rolling basis through September 30, 2027, and no set-aside restrictions.
Eligible offerors include States, local governments, universities, hospitals, non-profit organizations, private individuals, and commercial entities, except businesses owned in whole or in part by the Federal Government. All offerors must register in SAM prior to award. The BAA employs a two-step selection process: approved concept papers (5 pages maximum) lead to invitation for detailed proposals (20-page Technical Proposal limit plus separate Cost and Pricing volumes). Anticipated individual awards range from $50,000 to $500,000 as firm-fixed-price contracts unless justification supports alternative arrangements. Partner investment is not mandatory but strongly preferred for projects with commercialization potential.
Current active research topics span improved rail weld technologies, non-contact flaw detection systems at track speed, scalable infrastructure geometry extraction via artificial intelligence and remote sensing, concrete and composite tie advancements, thermal protection systems for hazardous materials tank cars, train movement communications using 802.16T protocol, position navigation module verification, maintenance-of-way worker safety systems, and cybersecurity strategies for legacy signaling systems against quantum-era exploitation. Recent amendments (August 21 and October 22, 2026) removed six research topics as satisfied. Technical evaluation emphasizes innovation, feasibility, project management capability, cost reasonableness, and past performance. Contractors must submit monthly or quarterly progress reports within fifteen calendar days of each reporting period and comply with Section 508 accessibility standards, technology transfer planning requirements, and patent disclosure obligations under DD Form 882.
Notice text
3 versions
Update #3 · Latest ·
693JJ626R000001_00002: Amendment Description ___________________________________________________
The Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Research, Development, and Technology amends the FY26-27 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Appendix C — Research Topics document to remove the following four research topics that are “no longer available:”
- FRA-TR-003 – Characterization and Risk Assessment of Non-Regulatory, Combined Track Geometry Defects
- FRA-TR-004 – Special Trackwork Wear Analysis
693JJ626R000001_00001: Amendment Description ___________________________________________________
The Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Research, Development, and Technology amends the FY26-27 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Appendix C — Research Topics document to remove the following four research topics that are “no longer available:”
- FRA-TR-005 – Innovative Methods for Measuring or Monitoring Longitudinal Rail Stress
- FRA-TR-006 – Research and Development on Track Lateral Strength
- FRA-TR-007 – Determining Pre Break Rail Neutral Temperature, Longitudinal Rail Restraint, and Best Rail Adjustment Practices
- FRA-TR-009 – Wheel/Rail Contact Evaluation
693JJ626R000001: Original Description________________________________________________________________________
The Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) FY 2026 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) solicits a variety of applied research projects that will support Department of Transportation and FRA strategic objectives. The research needs are in the three FRA research areas: Track, Rolling Stock and Equipment, and Train Control and Communications. The BAA consists of several research topics for potential contractors to submit concept papers for FRA’s review. We recommend full and open competition for the FY 2026 BAA.
Concept papers are approved if they meet the objectives of FRA research topics in the BAA. Contractors with approved concept papers will have the opportunity to submit a proposal for possible contract award. This effort extends for a period of 15 months, therefore the response date is anytime within the 15 month period. No concept papers will be reviewed after the ultimate deadline of 9/30/2027. However, this announcement is subject to periodic Amendments updating the status of available research topics. Once a research topic becomes unavailable, the research topic will be removed from the announcement allowing the available research topics to gain more visibility.
The FRA is committed to excellence and welcomes top innovators, creators, professors, rail enthusiasts, and rail subject matter experts to take on this BAA opportunity.
Update #2 ·
693JJ626R000001_00001: Amendment Description ___________________________________________________
The Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Research, Development, and Technology amends the FY26-27 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Appendix C — Research Topics document to remove the following four research topics that are “no longer available:”
- FRA-TR-005 – Innovative Methods for Measuring or Monitoring Longitudinal Rail Stress
- FRA-TR-006 – Research and Development on Track Lateral Strength
- FRA-TR-007 – Determining Pre Break Rail Neutral Temperature, Longitudinal Rail Restraint, and Best Rail Adjustment Practices
- FRA-TR-009 – Wheel/Rail Contact Evaluation
693JJ626R000001: Original Description________________________________________________________________________
The Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) FY 2026 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) solicits a variety of applied research projects that will support Department of Transportation and FRA strategic objectives. The research needs are in the three FRA research areas: Track, Rolling Stock and Equipment, and Train Control and Communications. The BAA consists of several research topics for potential contractors to submit concept papers for FRA’s review. We recommend full and open competition for the FY 2026 BAA.
Concept papers are approved if they meet the objectives of FRA research topics in the BAA. Contractors with approved concept papers will have the opportunity to submit a proposal for possible contract award. This effort extends for a period of 15 months, therefore the response date is anytime within the 15 month period. No concept papers will be reviewed after the ultimate deadline of 9/30/2027. However, this announcement is subject to periodic Amendments updating the status of available research topics. Once a research topic becomes unavailable, the research topic will be removed from the announcement allowing the available research topics to gain more visibility.
The FRA is committed to excellence and welcomes top innovators, creators, professors, rail enthusiasts, and rail subject matter experts to take on this BAA opportunity.
Update #1 ·
The Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) FY 2026 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) solicits a variety of applied research projects that will support Department of Transportation and FRA strategic objectives. The research needs are in the three FRA research areas: Track, Rolling Stock and Equipment, and Train Control and Communications. The BAA consists of several research topics for potential contractors to submit concept papers for FRA’s review. We recommend full and open competition for the FY 2026 BAA.
Concept papers are approved if they meet the objectives of FRA research topics in the BAA. Contractors with approved concept papers will have the opportunity to submit a proposal for possible contract award. This effort extends for a period of 15 months, therefore the response date is anytime within the 15 month period. No concept papers will be reviewed after the ultimate deadline of 9/30/2027. However, this announcement is subject to periodic Amendments updating the status of available research topics. Once a research topic becomes unavailable, the research topic will be removed from the announcement allowing the available research topics to gain more visibility.
The FRA is committed to excellence and welcomes top innovators, creators, professors, rail enthusiasts, and rail subject matter experts to take on this BAA opportunity.
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