Opportunity Information: Apply for FR RRD 25 003
The FY25 Center of Excellence - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Supplemental) opportunity is a discretionary funding action from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), intended to add supplemental funds to an existing cooperative agreement: 69A36524520020RRDIL. Rather than creating a new, open competition, this notice is designed to extend or augment ongoing work under that current agreement by providing additional resources for the established Center of Excellence at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
The core purpose of the Center is to advance research and development that measurably improves the safety, efficiency, and reliability of both passenger and freight rail transportation. The scope is broad and covers rail modes and contexts that matter nationally, including urban commuter rail, intercity passenger rail and high-speed rail, and freight rail operations. Activities supported by the supplemental funding can span basic research (building fundamental knowledge), applied research (solving practical problems), and evaluation work that tests or validates approaches, methods, or technologies in real-world or realistic settings.
A notable feature of this opportunity is that it is not limited to research alone. The Center is also expected to deliver education, workforce development, and training activities that strengthen the pipeline of rail professionals and researchers, along with technology transfer efforts that help move findings, tools, and best practices into practical use by industry, agencies, and other stakeholders. In other words, the outcomes are intended to include both tangible research results (such as studies, data, prototypes, methods, or validated practices) and the broader capacity-building outputs that help the rail sector adopt improvements faster and more consistently.
The subject matter areas emphasized by the notice include safety, project delivery, efficiency, reliability, resiliency, and sustainability. This framing signals interest not only in preventing accidents and improving operational performance, but also in making rail systems more robust to disruptions, better able to recover from incidents or extreme events, and more aligned with long-term environmental and infrastructure goals. Because the funding is structured as a cooperative agreement, the FRA is likely to maintain substantial involvement in the work, which often means closer coordination, shared priorities, and ongoing collaboration between the agency and the award recipient as projects are executed and results are communicated.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number FR RRD 25 003, categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, with CFDA 20.313. The posting lists an award ceiling of $2,500,000 and anticipates a single award, consistent with the supplemental nature of the action and the stated eligibility restriction. Eligibility is limited exclusively to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, meaning no other institutions or organizations can apply. The opportunity was created on 2026-04-24, and the original closing date is 2026-05-08.Apply for FR RRD 25 003
- The DOT - Federal Railroad Administration in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY25 Center of Excellence-University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Supplemental)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.313.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-04-24.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-08. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the FY25 Center of Excellence - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (Supplemental) opportunity?
This is a discretionary funding action from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), to provide supplemental funds to an existing cooperative agreement supporting a rail Center of Excellence at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Is this a new, open competitive grant program?
No. The notice is not establishing a new open competition. It is designed to extend or augment ongoing work under an existing agreement by adding resources to that current effort.
What existing award or agreement does this supplemental funding relate to?
The supplemental funding is intended to add funds to the existing cooperative agreement number 69A36524520020RRDIL.
Who is the funding agency and which office is administering it?
The funding agency is the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the administering office is the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
What is the main purpose of the Center of Excellence being supported?
The Center is intended to advance research and development that measurably improves the safety, efficiency, and reliability of passenger and freight rail transportation.
What rail systems or service types are included in the scope?
The scope includes nationally relevant rail modes and contexts, including urban commuter rail, intercity passenger rail and high-speed rail, and freight rail operations.
What types of research activities can be supported with the supplemental funding?
Supported activities can include basic research (building fundamental knowledge), applied research (solving practical problems), and evaluation work that tests or validates approaches, methods, or technologies in real-world or realistic settings.
Is the scope limited to research only?
No. In addition to research, the Center is expected to deliver education, workforce development, and training activities, as well as technology transfer efforts to help move results into practical use.
What kinds of outcomes or deliverables are envisioned?
Outcomes are intended to include tangible research results (such as studies, data, prototypes, methods, or validated practices) and capacity-building outputs (education, workforce development, training, and technology transfer) that support broader adoption of improvements in the rail sector.
What topic areas are emphasized by the notice?
The notice emphasizes safety, project delivery, efficiency, reliability, resiliency, and sustainability.
What does the emphasis on resiliency and sustainability suggest?
It signals interest not only in preventing accidents and improving performance, but also in making rail systems more robust to disruptions, better able to recover from incidents or extreme events, and aligned with long-term environmental and infrastructure goals.
What does it mean that this award is a cooperative agreement?
Because the funding is structured as a cooperative agreement, FRA is likely to have substantial involvement in the work. This often means closer coordination, shared priorities, and ongoing collaboration between FRA and the recipient as projects are carried out and results are communicated.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number is FR RRD 25 003.
How is this opportunity categorized?
It is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 20.313.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The posting lists an award ceiling of $2,500,000.
How many awards does the posting anticipate making?
The posting anticipates a single award, which aligns with the supplemental nature of the funding action and the eligibility restriction.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited exclusively to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. No other institutions or organizations can apply.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on 2026-04-24.
What is the closing date listed for the opportunity?
The original closing date is 2026-05-08.
Why does the notice restrict eligibility to a single institution?
Because it is a supplemental action intended to add funds to an existing cooperative agreement supporting an established Center of Excellence, rather than to create a new competitive program.
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