FRA F 251 (04/22) Office of the Chief Financial Officer

OMB Clearance No. 2130-0615 

Expiration Date: 01/31/2025

Paperwork Reduction Act Burden Statement: A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for 

failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 

Control Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 2130-0615. Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to be approximately 2 hours 

per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, completing and reviewing the collection of 

information. All responses to this collection of information are mandatory. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, 

including suggestions for reducing this burden to: Information Collection Clearance Officer (RAD-20), Federal Railroad Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, Washington, DC. 

20590. 

Federal Railroad Administration

APPLICANT FINANCIAL CAPABILITY QUESTIONNAIRE

SECTION A: PURPOSE

Federal agencies are required to review and evaluate the potential risks posed by applicants prior to awarding Federal funds (2 C.F.R. § 200.205). The 

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) considers a variety of factors and information in completing this risk assessment. FRA’s evaluation may include 

the following: financial capability and/or stability of the applicant organization; quality of the organization’s management and financial systems; history of 

past performance; and results of audits and/or reports.

Completion of this form is intended to assist FRA in evaluating the financial capability of the applicant organization. This form is to be completed by organizations 

applying for FRA programs that 1) have not previously completed this form or 2) have not had a current/active award with FRA within the last three years.

SECTION B: ORGANIZATION INFORMATION

1. NAME OF ORGANIZATION:

2. NAME AND TITLE OF AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE (individual who will accept the grant on behalf of your organization):

3. YEAR ORGANIZATION WAS FOUNDED/INCORPORATED: 6. PRIMARY ADDRESS OF THE ORGANIZATION:

4. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (EIN):

5. UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER:

7. DOES THE ORGANIZATION HAVE A CURRENT 

ORGANIZATIONAL CHART?

 YES NO 

IF YES, PLEASE PROVIDE A COPY

8. HAS YOUR ORGANIZATION RECEIVED FEDERAL

ASSISTANCE FUNDS IN THE LAST 2 YEARS? YES NO 

9. TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET IN THE PREVIOUS FISCAL

YEAR:

 $ 

SECTION C: ACCOUNTING SYSTEM

1. HAS ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY RENDERED AN OFFICIAL WRITTEN OPINION CONCERNING

THE ADEQUACY OF THE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM FOR THE COLLECTION, IDENTIFICATION YES NO

AND ALLOCATION OF COSTS UNDER FEDERAL CONTRACTS/GRANTS?

1a. IF YES, PROVIDE NAME, AND ADDRESS OF AGENCY PERFORMING REVIEW: 1b. ATTACH A COPY OF THE LATEST REVIEW AND ANY SUBSEQUENT 

CORRESPONDENCE, CLEARANCE DOCUMENTS, ETC.
FRA F 251 (04/22) Office of the Chief Financial Officer

2. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING BEST DESCRIBES THE ORGANIZATION’S ACCOUNTING SYSTEM?

MANUAL AUTOMATED COMBINATION

3. IS THE ORGANIZATION’S FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PERFORMED IN-HOUSE (BY EMPLOYED STAFF) OR OUTSOURCED WITH CONTRACTED

INDIVIDUALS?

IN-HOUSE OUTSOURCED/CONTRACTED COMBINATION

4. DOES THE ORGANIZATION ANTICIPATE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO ACCOUNTING SYSTEM IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS? YES NO

IF YES, PLEASE EXPLAIN:

5. DOES THE APPLICANT HAVE EFFECTIVE INTERNAL CONTROLS IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT FEDERAL FUNDS ARE USED SOLEY FOR

AUTHORIZED PURPOSES?

YES NO

6. DOES THE ORGANIZATION HAVE WRITTEN GRANTS MANAGEMENT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE FOLLOWING:

6a. ACCOUNTING/FINANCIAL? YES NO 6b. PROCUREMENT? YES NO 

6c. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT? YES NO 6d. PERSONNEL? YES NO

6e. TRAVEL? YES NO

7. DOES THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAIN TIMESHEETS (OR TIME AND ACTIVITY REPORTS) FOR EMPLOYEES THAT TRACK ACTUAL EFFORT BY PROJECT 

COST OR OBJECTIVE?

 YES NO

8. DOES THE ORGANIZATION HAVE A CURRENT AND APPROVED INDIRECT COST RATE? YES NO

9. DOES THE ACCOUNTING/FINANCIAL SYSTEM INCLUDE CONTROLS TO PREVENT INCURRING OBLIGATIO NS IN EXCESS OF:

9a TOTAL FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR A GRANT? YES NO 

9b TOTAL FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR A BUDGET COST CATEGORY (e.g. Personnel, Fringe Benefits, etc.) YES NO 

10. ARE THE INDIVIDUALS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING GRANT FUNDS FAMILIAR

WITH THE CURRENT REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES ON ADMINISTRATION, COST YES NO

PRINCIPLES AND AUDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL GRANTS (INCLUDING 2 C.F.R. 200)?

SECTION D: HISTORY OF PERFORMANCE

1. HAS THE ORGANIZATION EVER HAD A FEDERAL AWARD SUSPENDED OR TERMINATED FOR NON-COMPLIANCE? YES NO

SECTION E: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. DID THE ORGANIZATION HAVE A FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT IN ITS MOST RECENT FISCAL YEAR? YES NO

2. IF THE ORGANIZATION HAD AN AUDIT IN ITS MOST RECENT FISCAL YEAR, IS THE REPORT AVAILABLE PUBLICLY? YES NO

IF YES, PLEASE PROVIDE LOCATION: (e.g. FEDERAL AUDIT CLEARINGHOUSE OR WEBSITE)

IF NO, PLEASE PROVIDE A COPY.

3. DID YOUR ORGANIZATION EXPEND $750,000 OR MORE IN FEDERAL FUNDS IN THE MOST RECENT COMPLETED

FISCAL YEAR? YES NO

1a. WHEN IS THE ORGANIZATION'S FISCAL YEAR END?
FRA F 251 (04/22) Office of the Chief Financial Officer

SECTION F: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1. USE THIS SPACE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (INDICATE SECTION AND ITEM NUMBERS IF A CONTINUATION). IF NEEDED, PLEASE ADD 

ADDITIONAL PAGE(S) AS REQUIRED.

SECTION G: APPLICANT CERTIFICATION

I CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS COMPLETE AND CORRECT TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE.” (THE INDIVIDUAL CERTIFYING THIS FORM 

SHOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH THE ORGANIZATION’S MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL SYSTEMS.) 

1. NAME OF THE CERTIFYING OFFICIAL

 1a. SIGNATURE 1b DATE 1c. TITLE