FY2023 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the USDOT seeks a competitively-selected cooperative agreement with an existing University Transportation Center (UTC) to develop an Advanced Bridge Technology Clearinghouse (ABTC), as set forth in House Appropriations Committee Report #117-99 accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 ((P. L. 117-103; March 15, 2022). This report, in part, stipulates:

"Bridge clearinghouse.--The Committee directs DOT to work with relevant UTCs to implement an Accelerated Bridge Technologies Clearinghouse to advance new and advanced transportation infrastructure techniques and materials for new innovations in bridge technology. The clearinghouse shall provide a platform for bridge and structure stakeholders to find technically robust and unbiased information and reports that evaluate innovations while facilitating the acceptance and implementation of new bridge and structure materials and technologies." [1]

Appropriated funds from Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 of up to $5 million are available for the ABTC program under Assistance Listing Number 20.947, for a project spanning a five-year duration. This entire funding amount will be awarded, on a competitive and cost match basis, to a single UTC meeting the requirements set forth in this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R) of the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT or DOT) will manage the Advanced Bridge Technology Clearinghouse (ABTC) project. To be eligible for award, the applicant must be a qualified University Transportation Center (UTC) selected under the 2022 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) UTC competition. The recipient will provide professional services for this project supported by a team consisting of one or more entities from academic, industrial, commercial, and non-profit or for-profit organizations.

U.S. DOT Safety Strategic Goal: The Department is committed to advancing safe, efficient transportation, including through the Advanced Bridge Technology Clearinghouse.