Railroad Research and Development Centers of Excellence

To establish a center to advance research and development efforts that seek to improve the safety, performance, and sustainability of freight, intercity passenger, and commuter rail. This Assistance Listing 20.331 created in August 2025 was included

This program provides financial assistance to fund the cost of establishing and maintaining the Center of Excellence (CoE) and related research activities. Only one CoE may be established, but that CoE may reside at one institution or be a consortium of member institutions.

Applicants can be major academic and industry research institutions with backgrounds in the rail transportation arena. A minimum of 5 years of railroad or railroad related research experience is typically required.

Federal, Profit organization, Anyone/general public, State, Public nonprofit institution/organization, Other public institution/organization No restrictions.

Projects must show a relationship towards advancing railroad safety and technology. Applicants must typically demonstrate 5 years of railroad research activity.

No restriction on period of time the assistance normally is available. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Assistance is usually awarded upon request for reimbursement.

No restriction on period of time the assistance normally is available. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Assistance is usually awarded upon request for reimbursement.

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Typical criteria includes: (1) evaluation criteria outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity; (2) strong past performance in rail research, education, and workforce development; (3) non-Federal share of total project costs greater than 50 percent; (4) safety; (5) economic strength and global competitiveness; (6) equity; (7) climate and sustainability; (8) transformation.

FRA will contact applicants with successful applications with information and instructions about the award process. This notification is not an authorization to begin proposed project activities. A formal grant agreement or cooperative agreement signed by both the grantee and the FRA, including an approved scope, schedule, and budget, is required before the award is considered complete. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for this listing will be posted on Grants.gov (opens in new window) (opens in new window). The applicant must submit the following information: SF424 - Application for Federal Assistance, SF 424C - Budget Information for Construction, or SF 424A - Budget Information for Non-Construction, SF 424D - Assurances for Construction, or SF 424B - Assurances for Non-Construction, FRA's Additional Assurances and Certifications, and other information such as project narratives, statements of work, and budgets.

Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines.

FRA is committed to responding to applicants in a reasonable and timely manner. Response times will vary based on size, scope, complexity and volume of applications.

Grants contemplated in this program are predominantly project-oriented rather than ongoing efforts and are therefore non-renewable.