Research Initiatives in Support of Rail Safety Broad Agency Announcement

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has a successful history of supporting the development of advanced rail technologies to meet the transportation needs of the country. Over the last few decades, FRA has provided funding and technical support to facilitate the research and development of new equipment, infrastructure, and testing technologies to enhance the Nation’s rail transportation safety and efficiency. These efforts are undertaken in support of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) mission: Serve the United States by ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible, and convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people, today and into the future. 5 FRA’s Office of Research, Development, and Technology (RD&T) conducts research and development in support of improved railroad safety and national rail transportation policy. These activities support the objectives of DOT, the mission critical needs of FRA, and the rail industry through technology development and demonstration, applied research, and information exchange with the rail industry. Purpose The purpose of this BAA is to solicit a variety of applied technology research projects that will support RD&T’s strategic objectives and the research needs of three of the four FRA research divisions: • Track • Rolling Stock and Equipment • Train Control and Communication Projects shall develop technologies that improve the safety and efficiency of freight and passenger rail operations in the US. Such technologies will: • Reduce the operational and program deployment risks associated with mixed-use rail lines. • Improve safety by reducing human and technology failures. • Bring about capital cost reductions in producing equipment and facilities. • Reduce rail service operating costs by providing more efficient operations. • Improve the reliability of equipment and infrastructure components by reducing failures and/or reducing false failure detections. • Facilitate the development of domestic manufacture of rail equipment and infrastructure components. 2. Strategic Research Focus