Research Grants
Active
- Assistance listing
- 20.762
- Agency
-
Immediate Office of the Secretary of Transportation
Department of Transportation
- Grant awards
- 14 $31,070,403 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Assistance types
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Project Grant
- Eligible applicants
-
- Public nonprofit institution/organization (includes institutions of higher education and hospitals)
- Beneficiaries
-
- Rural
- Profit organization
- State
- Federal
- Education (13+)
- Local
- Other public institution/organization
- Public nonprofit institution/organization
- Treasury account
-
- 69-1136-0-1-401
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The Department of Transportation Immediate Office of the Secretary Transportation funds transportation research grants under CFDA 20.762, with the most recent grant award disbursed on June 1, 2020.
This program funds applied and basic research addressing transportation challenges across multiple domains: rural and cold-region surface transportation, hydrogen-powered and alternative-fuel vehicle technology, advanced vehicle emissions and intelligent transportation systems, and national cooperative freight research. The program operates as a portfolio of Congressional earmark grants directed to specific universities and research institutions, including North Dakota State University's Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, Montana State University's Western Transportation Institute, the University of Kansas Transportation Research Institute, the University of Vermont, and Rochester Institute of Technology, with the National Academy of Sciences administering the National Cooperative Freight Research Program.
Awards are predominantly Project Grants, with 13 of 14 recent awards structured as Project Grants and one as a Cooperative Agreement. The Department of Transportation dominates funding, accounting for 10 awards totaling $29.6 million in federal dollars obligated. The Department of the Navy's Office of Naval Research provided 4 awards worth $1.5 million federal dollars obligated; these awards funded applied research in signal detection, cyber-physical systems, laser systems, and social media analysis rather than transportation topics, suggesting the program's scope has expanded beyond its original transportation mandate. Combined federal dollars obligated across the portfolio total $31.1 million, with a non-federal share contribution of approximately $900 thousand.
Award magnitude varies substantially. The National Cooperative Freight Research Program Cooperative Agreement represents the portfolio's largest award at $25.1 million obligated. Typical smaller Project Grants range from $39,750 to $1.3 million. Recent activity is limited: only one award has been disbursed since 2018, and the portfolio shows an irregular cadence (4 awards in 2008, 1 in 2010, 1 in 2016, 2 in 2018, 1 in 2020). No recent grant opportunities are posted or advertised. Applicants are directed to Grants.gov for submission and must comply with Single Audit Act requirements and OMF cost principles for educational institutions; recipients must retain grant products and records for three years following final expenditure report submission.
Objective and description
- Objective
A. Rural Transportation Research Initiative, North Dakota State University 's Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute must carry out the Rural Transportation Research Initiative. B. Hydrogen-Powered Transportation Research Initiative, University of Montana must carry out the Hydrogen-Powered Transportation Research Initiative. C. Cold Region and Rural Transportation Research, Maintenance, and Operations, Montana State University's Western Transportation Institute is to develop a research facility in Lewistown, Montana, for basic and applied research and testing on surface transportation issues facing rural and cold regions. D. Advanced Vehicle Technology, University of Kansas Transportation Research Institute is to research and develop advanced vehicle technology concepts, focused on vehicle emissions, fuel cells and catalytic processes, and intelligent transportation systems. E. Renewable Transportation Systems Research, University of Vermont is to research, develop and field test of hydrogen fuel cell and biofuel transportation technology. F. Alternative Fuels and Life Cycle Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology are to conduct applied research for alternative fuel vehicle testing and analysis and manufacturing technology. G. National Cooperative Freight Research Program established with the National Academy of Sciences supports and carries out administrative and management activities relating to the governance of the national cooperative freight transportation research program.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Legislated grants in SAFETEA-LU Section 5513(d),(g) and (i) and Section 5209.
- Beneficiary eligibility
All listed beneficiaries will benefit from results produced by these research efforts.
- Credentials and documentation
A formal application outlining how the institution will meet the project scope; detailed delineation of organization, staff, faculty and budget. Costs are determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-21.
- Uses of assistance
The National Academy of Science and grantees will conduct research according to the provisions provided in SAFETEA-LU (Public Law 109-59), August 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1406. The Department's role will be to manage the grants, provide technical collaboration, coordinate with the grantee to best address related DOT program needs and ensure that no unnecessary duplication of effort exists with other DOT projects.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
See SAFETEA-LU (Public Law 109-59) for additional information.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
- Application procedure
It is recommended that applicants use the procedures prescribed in Grants.gov to facilitate an electronic application process. This will allow applicants the opportunity to submit all required forms, along with the necessary technical and cost proposals as prescribed in the relevant Opportunity description.
- Award procedure
These are Congressional earmark grants.
- Time to approval or disapproval
See award procedures.
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 14 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Academy Of Sciences | $25,085,368 | 81% |
| 2 | Montana State University | $1,223,431 | 4% |
| 3 | Lawrence Technological University | $1,093,455 | 4% |
| 4 | University Of Wisconsin System | $980,000 | 3% |
| 5 | Georgia TECH Research Corp | $659,223 | 2% |
| 6 | University Of Arkansas System | $372,763 | 1% |
| 7 | The University Of Mississippi | $283,390 | 1% |
| 8 | George Washington University (The) | $200,000 | 1% |
| 9 | Colorado State University | $190,655 | 1% |
9 of 13 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2025 | -$2,017 |
| FY2022 | $230,357 |
| FY2020 | $245,037 |
| FY2019 | $163,554 |
| FY2018 | $456,934 |
| FY2016 | $186,692 |
| FY2013 | $3,253,543 |
| FY2012 | $300 |
| FY2011 | $2,519,039 |
| FY2010 | $1,495,842 |
| FY2009 | $3,899,906 |
| FY2008 | $4,326,669 |
| FY2007 | $2,904,442 |
| FY2006 | $9,178,288 |
Show all 14
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 20.762?
Assistance Listing 20.762 is Research Grants, a federal grant program run by Immediate Office of the Secretary of Transportation (Department of Transportation).
What is the CFDA number for Research Grants?
Its CFDA number is 20.762: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 20.762 awarded?
14 grant awards under 20.762 have obligated $31,070,403 in federal funds to 13 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 20.762?
The recipients obligated the most under Research Grants are National Academy Of Sciences ($25,085,368), Montana State University ($1,223,431) and Lawrence Technological University ($1,093,455).
How much did 20.762 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 20.762 obligated -$2,017 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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