FY21 Supplemental for the National Network Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation | FR AMT 21 006

Opportunity Information: Apply for FR AMT 21 006

The FY21 Supplemental for the National Network Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Funding Opportunity Number FR-AMT-21-006) is a discretionary Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) cooperative agreement funded under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The core purpose is to provide a one-time infusion of federal support to Amtrak to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus public health emergency and its operational and financial impacts. In practical terms, this funding is aimed at stabilizing and rebuilding passenger rail service that was disrupted by pandemic-related ridership losses, revenue shortfalls, and service reductions, while also addressing related capital and financing obligations.

The total funding amount made available through this opportunity is $728,611,840, with an expected single award (Expected Awards: 1) and an award ceiling equal to the full amount. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally signals a more hands-on federal role compared with a standard grant, typically involving ongoing oversight, coordination, and collaboration between FRA and the recipient on how the funds are implemented and tracked. The opportunity sits under the transportation funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 20.315. The eligible applicant category is listed as "Others," but the title and description make clear that this opportunity is specifically directed to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), rather than being a broadly competed solicitation.

Allowable uses of the funding are broad within the COVID-19 response umbrella and explicitly include operating expenses, capital expenses, and debt service repayment. That means Amtrak can use the money not only for day-to-day costs of running trains and maintaining service but also for capital-related needs (such as infrastructure and equipment-related expenditures) and for meeting debt obligations, which can be critical to maintaining liquidity and credit stability during and after a major disruption like the pandemic.

Within the overall appropriation, the notice identifies several major set-asides and targeted applications. Approximately $165,926,000 is intended for service restoration and employee recalls, reflecting a specific emphasis on bringing back routes, frequencies, and staffing levels that may have been reduced during the pandemic. In addition, approximately $174,850,000 is designated to be used exclusively and directly in lieu of capital payments that would otherwise be owed by state and commuter rail passenger transportation providers under the cost allocation policy required by Section 209 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA). This provision effectively substitutes federal relief dollars for certain state-supported capital contributions under the PRIIA Section 209 framework, helping those state and commuter partners avoid or offset capital payment burdens while still supporting the shared rail system. The opportunity also includes approximately $21,961,000 to be used exclusively and directly in lieu of capital payments from state and commuter rail passenger transportation providers subject to the cost allocation policy required under PRIIA Section 212, which addresses cost sharing for specific services and infrastructure arrangements. Together, these provisions indicate that part of the relief is structured to support not only Amtrak directly, but also the broader network of state and commuter partners that rely on and interact with Amtrak services and facilities.

The funding opportunity was created on April 9, 2021, with an original closing date of April 23, 2021, aligning with an expedited timeline typical of directed or single-recipient relief awards. Importantly, the funds have a long expenditure window: they must be fully expended by September 30, 2029. That extended period gives Amtrak flexibility to apply the assistance across both immediate pandemic recovery needs (like restoring service and recalling employees) and longer-tail financial and capital impacts that may take years to resolve, while still remaining tied to the overarching statutory intent of COVID-19 prevention, preparedness, and response.

• The Department of Transportation, DOT - Federal Railroad Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY21 Supplemental for the National Network Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.315.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 09, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 23, 2021 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 $728,611,840.00 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).

Apply for FR AMT 21 006

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