Opportunity Information: Apply for FR RRD 17 002
The FY17 Rail Safety Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) Co-operative Research Program is a discretionary research and development grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). It is designed to support early-stage, exploratory work on promising but not yet proven ideas that could meaningfully improve railroad safety and railroad system performance. The core purpose is to help move creative concepts from the drawing board toward initial validation, especially when those concepts are too novel or uncertain to compete well in more traditional, later-stage research programs.
This opportunity sits within the broader IDEA framework, which focuses on surface transportation innovations that may have high payoff but carry technical or practical unknowns. Under this particular solicitation, the emphasis is specifically rail safety. The program encourages proposals that introduce new concepts, tools, methods, or technologies that could reduce risk, prevent incidents, improve operational safety, or enhance the overall functioning of railroad systems. A defining feature of the IDEA approach is that it is open to ideas coming from a wide range of sources, not just established transportation research groups. Researchers, inventors, universities, and companies, including those outside the usual rail research community, are explicitly within the intended proposer pool, reflecting the program's goal of attracting unconventional and potentially disruptive approaches.
Administratively, the FRA intends to fund the Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to continue carrying out the Rail Safety IDEA program. Historically, the Safety IDEA program had joint sponsorship: FRA funding has supported Safety IDEA activities since October 2002, while the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) supported the Safety IDEA program starting in October 2001. However, the Rail Safety IDEA program became fully independent from FMCSA in 2013. As a result, the solicitation makes clear that all projects funded under this grant must be railroad-related, reinforcing that the funded work must directly connect to rail safety rather than broader surface transportation or highway-related safety topics.
The funding instrument for this opportunity is a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates a more involved relationship between the federal sponsor and the recipient than a standard grant, often with some level of collaboration, coordination, or federal participation during project execution. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 20.313 and is categorized within Science and Technology and other Research and Development. The posting indicates an expected single award, with an award ceiling of $400,000, meaning the maximum anticipated federal funding under this announcement is up to that amount. The announcement was created on May 25, 2017, with an original closing date of June 1, 2017, reflecting a relatively short application window.
Overall, the FY17 Rail Safety IDEA program is essentially a targeted investment in high-risk, high-reward rail safety research, aimed at identifying and testing innovative concepts early enough that they can be refined, demonstrated at a limited scale, and positioned for larger development or deployment pathways if the initial exploratory results are strong.Apply for FR RRD 17 002
- The Department of Transportation, DOT/Federal Railroad Administration in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY17 Rail Safety Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) Co-operative Research Program" 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 May 25, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 01, 2017 No Explanation. (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 $400,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FY17 Rail Safety IDEA Co-operative Research Program (FRA) - FAQs
What is the FY17 Rail Safety Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) program?
The FY17 Rail Safety IDEA program is a discretionary research and development grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). It supports early-stage, exploratory work on promising but not yet proven ideas intended to improve railroad safety and railroad system performance.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The core purpose is to move creative rail safety concepts from the drawing board toward initial validation. It is intended for ideas that are too novel or uncertain to compete well in more traditional, later-stage research programs, but that could have meaningful safety and performance payoffs if validated.
What kinds of projects does the program encourage?
The solicitation encourages proposals introducing new concepts, tools, methods, or technologies that could reduce risk, prevent incidents, improve operational safety, or enhance the overall functioning of railroad systems, with an emphasis on exploratory, high-risk/high-reward work.
Is the program focused only on rail safety, or can proposals cover other surface transportation topics?
This solicitation is specifically rail safety-focused. It states that all projects funded under this grant must be railroad-related, and the funded work must directly connect to rail safety (not broader surface transportation or highway-related safety topics).
How does this opportunity fit into the broader IDEA framework?
It sits within the broader IDEA framework that supports surface transportation innovations that may have high payoff but carry technical or practical unknowns. Under this solicitation, the emphasis within that framework is specifically rail safety innovations.
Who is the intended audience for submitting ideas?
The program is open to ideas from a wide range of sources, not just established transportation research groups. The intended proposer pool explicitly includes researchers, inventors, universities, and companies, including those outside the usual rail research community.
Why does the program emphasize unconventional or disruptive approaches?
A defining feature of the IDEA approach is attracting creative concepts that may not yet be proven. By welcoming a wide range of sources, the program aims to surface unconventional ideas with potentially disruptive safety benefits that otherwise might not enter traditional research pipelines.
What federal agency is sponsoring this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
What organization is expected to carry out the Rail Safety IDEA program?
Administratively, the FRA intends to fund the Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to continue carrying out the Rail Safety IDEA program.
What is the history of sponsorship for the Safety IDEA program, and how does it relate to this rail-specific solicitation?
Historically, FRA funding has supported Safety IDEA activities since October 2002, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) supported Safety IDEA starting in October 2001. The Rail Safety IDEA program became fully independent from FMCSA in 2013, and this solicitation emphasizes that funded projects must be railroad-related.
What type of funding instrument is used for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant?
Based on the description provided, a cooperative agreement generally indicates a more involved relationship between the federal sponsor and the recipient than a standard grant, often involving some level of collaboration, coordination, or federal participation during project execution.
Is this considered a discretionary grant?
Yes. It is described as a discretionary research and development grant opportunity.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 20.313.
How is this opportunity categorized?
It is categorized within Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
How many awards does the posting expect to make?
The posting indicates an expected single award.
What is the maximum federal funding amount available under this announcement?
The award ceiling is $400,000, meaning the maximum anticipated federal funding under this announcement is up to $400,000.
When was this opportunity created and when did it close?
The announcement was created on May 25, 2017, and the original closing date was June 1, 2017.
How long was the application window?
Based on the dates provided (May 25, 2017 through June 1, 2017), the application window was relatively short.
What stage of research is this program meant to support?
It is designed for early-stage, exploratory analysis and initial validation efforts rather than later-stage development or deployment.
Why would an early-stage idea be a good fit for this program?
The program is intended to support promising ideas that are not yet proven and may be too novel or uncertain to compete well in more traditional, later-stage research programs, while still having potential for meaningful safety and performance improvements.
What outcomes is the program trying to enable?
The program aims to help innovative concepts be refined and demonstrated at a limited scale, positioning them for larger development or deployment pathways if initial exploratory results are strong.
Does the program emphasize safety only, or safety and performance?
The program is described as targeting both railroad safety and railroad system performance, with the solicitation emphasis specifically on rail safety innovations.
Are non-traditional rail research organizations encouraged to apply?
Yes. The solicitation notes that proposals are welcome from outside the usual rail research community, aligning with the goal of attracting unconventional approaches.
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