Autonomous Vehicle Research in Rural Communities Program

The Autonomous Vehicle Research in Rural Communities Program, also known as the Rural Autonomous Vehicle (RAV) Research Cooperative Agreement or RAV Program will award funding to eligible accredited nonprofit institutions of higher education to condu

The Joint Explanatory Statement Division L-Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023 (BILLS 117RCP35 JES DIVISION L, March 2023) accompanying H.R. 2471: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to award two cooperative agreements to eligible non-profit institutions of higher education to conduct research dedicated to identifying and addressing the unique elements of AV operations in rural areas by developing a demonstration project designed to demonstrate automated driving system feasibility that incorporates low speed AVs. The total amount of funding authorized for FY 2023 is up to $25 million, with each awardee receiving $12.5 million, for a six-year project length. Proposal submission is closed and selection process is complete. Award is in pending status,

Eligible applicants must be accredited private and public non-profit institutions of higher education, including qualifying and two-year institutions established and located physically in the United States or its territories or on Tribal lands. Each Eligible Entity is required to obtain matching funds from non-Federal sources, in an amount of 50 percent of the USDOT award amount. The USDOT funds for the cooperative agreement may be expended up to 2029, and selected entities will have until that date to meet the full match requirement by obtaining and expending those funds.

Funds will be used for research. This will include Research Demonstration activities.

$25 million to be awarded in FY 2023 and must be expended by FY 2029. Method of awarding/releasing assistance by submitting a Request for Advance or Reimbursement (SF 270) through Delphi eInvoicing System.

The RAV Research Program's selection criteria to be used in this competition are included in this Notice of Funding Opportunity as Criteria One through Four, described below: 1. Research Collaboration and Capability 2. Leadership 3. Partnerships and Collaboration 4. Program Efficacy In addition, the US DOT currently requires all Notices of Funding Opportunity to reflect in selection criteria the Presidential Executive Orders cited in Section A.4 Relationship to Other US DOT Efforts above; responsiveness to these Executive Orders will be assessed through the applicant's responses to Criteria One and Three, described below. SECTION E APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION describes how these selection criteria will be used in the selection process. The selecting official will also be looking for applications that support the US DOT FY 2022-2026 Strategic Plan, which will be assessed through the applicant's responses to Criteria One through Four.

OST-R staff will conduct an initial compliance review of applications to identify any that are incomplete, non-responsive to this Notice of Funding Opportunity, or ineligible to receive a RAV Research Cooperative Agreement, followed by a Technical Merit and Project Readiness Review of each criterion. For each criterion, USDOT will consider whether the application narrative is responsive to the selection criterion focus areas which will result in a rating of 'High,' 'Medium,' 'Low,' or 'Non-Responsive.' Only applications rated as 'Highly Recommended' or 'Recommended' will be reviewed by a Senior Review Team (SRT).

TBD