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How to Compete for New FRA GrantsMarch 22, 2018

FRA Rail Program Delivery Webinar
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ObjectiveProvide guidance to applicants on 

how to compete for new FRA grants 

Grant Program InformationApplication ContentNotices of Funding OpportunityApplication Review InformationKey Takeaways
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Grant Program Information 

FRA Rail Program Delivery Webinar
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Restoration and Enhancement

Purpose of Program

 Provide operating assistance to initiate, restore, or e

intercity passenger rail service

Federal Funding

Federal Share

 80% 1st year 60% 2nd year 40% 3rd year

 $4,796,500
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Restoration and Enhancement

Application Due Date

 May 22, 2018

Eligible Applicants

 State Entities Public Agencies or 

Publicly Chartered Authority 

 Local Governments

Eligible Projects

 Additional frequency  Extension of service

Examples of eligible expenses: train engineer staffing, fuel, dispatching, station management, and overhead.

 Amtrak  Intercity Passenger Rail Carrie Any Rail Carrier in partnership 

least one state entity, public and/or local government

 Offering new on-board servic Establishing new service
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Restoration and Enhancement

Application Requirements

 Identify private sector and/or state, local, or other 

funding

 Include detailed SOW, capital & mobilization plan, 

operating and funding plans

 Provide status of negotiations and agreements with 

operators (e.g., Amtrak) and host railroads
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Restoration and Enhancement

Evaluation Criteria

 Technical Merit:

 Project readiness Restoration of service over routes formerly ope

Amtrak 

 Financially sustainable beyond the 3-year gran

 Public Benefits:

 Daily or daytime service Service to underserved communities Promotion of economic development particul

rural communities

 Enhancing connectivity and geographic cove Other non-transportation benefits
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Restoration and Enhancement

Selection Criteria

 Preference for higher matching funds Key departmental objectives

 Supporting Economic Vitality Leveraging Federal Funding Innovative Approaches Accountability 
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Consolidated Rail Infrastructure & Safety Improvements

Purpose of Program

 To fund capital projects that improve safety, efficie

and/or reliability of intercity passenger and freight systems

Federal Funding

 $65,232,400

 $10M for initiation/restoration capital projects At least $17M for rural area projects

Federal Share

 Maximum: 80% Statutory Preference: 50% or less
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Consolidated Rail Infrastructure & Safety Improvements

Application Due Date

 June 21, 2018

Eligible Applicants

 State Entities Public Agencies or Publicly Chartered Authority  Local Governments Amtrak or other Intercity Passenger Rail Carrier Class II or III Railroad Any Rail Carrier or equipment manufacturer in partnership with a

state entity, public agency, and/or local government

 The Transportation Research Board  A University transportation center engaged in rail-related researc A non-profit labor organization 
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Consolidated Rail Infrastructure & Safety Improvements

Eligible Projects

 Wide Range of Rail Capital Projects:

 Congestion mitigation Ridership growth facilitation  Enhancements to multimodal connections Improvements to short-line or regional railroad 

infrastructure

 Railroad Safety Technology, including PTC Track, Station, and Equipment Improvements  Grade Crossing Improvements Rail Line Relocation and Improvement  Regional Planning and Environmental Analyses Safety Programs and Institutes
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Consolidated Rail Infrastructure & Safety Improvements

Application Requirements

 Identify private sector, state, and/or local funding Provide benefit-cost analysis Separate projects into Tracks: 

 (1) Planning  (2) PE/NEPA (3) Final Design/Construction  (4) Safety Programs & Institutes
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Consolidated Rail Infrastructure & Safety Improvements

Evaluation Criteria

 Technical Merit:

 Project readiness Private sector participation Consistent with DOT planning guidance and 

documents 

 Project Benefits: 

 Effects on system performance, safety, 

competitiveness, reliability, trip or transit time, resilience

 Integration with other modes Ability to meet existing or anticipated demand
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Consolidated Rail Infrastructure & Safety Improvements

Selection Criteria

 Preference for higher matching funds, maximized n

benefits, and private sector participation 

 Key departmental objectives

 Supporting Economic Vitality Leveraging Federal Funding Innovative Approaches Accountability 
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Notices of Funding Opportunity

FRA Rail Program Delivery Webinar
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What is a NOFO? NOFO = Notice of Funding Opportun

Announces a grant opportunity to the p

 Federal Register Grants.gov FRA Website: Discretionary Competitive Gran

Programs at https://www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P
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What is a NOFO? A NOFO consists of several parts:

Program summaryKey DatesAddressesFRA Contact InfoTable of Contents

 Program Description Federal Award Information Eligibility Information Application and Submission Information Application Review Information Federal Award Administration Information Federal Awarding Agency Contacts
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NOFO Best PracticesRead the NOFO in its entirety, 

several times, before starting the application process 

Start earlyApply early
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Application Conte

FRA Rail Program Delivery Webinar
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How to ApplyObtain a Dun and Bradstreet numbe

(DUNS)

Register in the Federal government's 

System for Award Management (SA

For Grants.gov, complete an 

Authorized Organization Representative profile and create a username and password

Submit an application addressing a

requirements outlined in the NOFO 
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Application ContentRequired Documents

Project NarrativeStatement of WorkProject Development Supporting 

Documentation

Benefit- Cost AnalysisOther required documents, such as NEPA 

documentation and planning documen
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Application ContentRequired Forms

SF 424 (Application for Federal AssistanceEither: SF 424A or 424C – Budget info for 

Non-Construction OR Construction

Either: SF 424B or 424D – Assurances for 

Non-Construction OR for Construction

FRA’s Additional Assurances and 

Certifications

SF LLL: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
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Application ContentApplicants are expected to deliver w

proposed in the application

FRA must uphold the competitive inte

of its grant programs
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Application Content -Project Narrative

Cover page Brief summary of the projectProject funding informationApplicant eligibility Project eligibilityDetailed project descriptionProject location/mapProject implementation and 

management 

Evaluation and selection criteriaProject readiness
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Project Narrative –Best PracticesBe sure to organize the Project 

Narrative headings and corresponding information exactly as specified in the NOFO 

The Project Narrative must 

sufficiently address the evaluation and selection criteria to be a competitive application 
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Application Content –Statement of Work (SOW)Addresses the scope, schedule, and 

budget for the proposed project as 

if it was selected for award 

A Sample SOW Template is located 

at: https://www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/Details

/L18661.
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Statement of Work (SOW)– Best PracticesOrganize the scope of work for the 

project into discrete tasks 

Be clear regarding the work to be done in 

each task 

Align tasks with proposed deliverable, 

schedule and budget line items

Use the FRA Standard Cost Categories 

as a way to organize a SOW and Budget

https://www.fra.dot.gov/Elib/Document/16

647
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CRISI Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA)Follow the general DOT BCA 

guidance (for TIGER and INFRA projects from July 2017) 

Refer to FRA’s BCA FAQs for some 

rail specific examples of how to apply the BCA Guidance
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CRISI BCA Best Practices Document ALL assumptions. The more detail, the better. Clearly state your base & alternative cases. Work from the bottom up. Provide individual costs and benefits for all separable 

project elements.

 If you predict modal diversion, provide local data to 

support your conclusion.

 If you use a consultant, double check their work for 

transparency.

 Include an Excel spreadsheet that shows all calculations 

and assumptions. 
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BCA Grade Crossing ToolsGradeDEC link: 

https://www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P033

7

GradeDEC documentation: 

https://www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/Details

/L03761
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Environmental ReviewsAre triggered by a Federal Action Interact with the planning processCan help with good decisionmakingRequired by National Environmental 

Policy Act (NEPA)
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Types of Environmental ReviewsEIS / ROD: Environmental Impact 

Statement

EA / FONSI: Environmental

Assessment

CE: Categorical ExclusionTiered Environmental Documents
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Environmental ReadinessDocument NEPA completion or 

review underway

Date of actual or anticipated 

completion and related milestones

Website link to documents

See additional FRA NEPA 

compliance information at:

https://www.fra.dot.gov/eLib/Details/

L05286
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Application Review Information

FRA Rail Program Delivery Webinar
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Application Review

Each application is reviewed for completeness and eligibility to determine which applications move to the evaluation stage

Each complete and eapplication is evaluatpanel of DOT subject experts using criteria othe NOFO 

Final funding decisions are made by taking into account the evaluation and selection criteria outlined in the NOFO 

1. Intake and Eligibility

2. Evaluation

3. Selection
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Application Review –Best PracticesThink like a reviewer! Make a strong case for the overall 

significance of the proposed project 

Provide statistics, when possibleInclude project timeline informationDescribe the results/outcomes to be 

achieved by the end of the funding period
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Application Review –Best Practices In all responses, be brief, direct, and 

clear

Reviewers have many applications to 

go through

Write application in such a way that 

responses to the review criteria are easily identifiable

Do not bury responses in long-winded 

blocks of text

Do not exceed page limits
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Key Takeaways

FRA Rail Program Delivery Webinar
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Key TakeawaysFollow the directionsRead the NOFO carefully and use a 

checklist

Indicate what "success" will look likeName key partners, indicate in-place 

agreements, and include letters of support

Register and send in the application eWhen applying through Grants.gov, u

the “Track My Application” function
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Final Check Are you on schedule to meet the application deadline? Does the project align well with the evaluation and selection criteria?  Does the application demonstrate strong collaboration and partnerships? Do the project benefits exceed the costs?  Do all budget figures match corresponding figures on the cover sheet and in the Project Narrative? 

 Do numbers in columns and rows all add up properly in budget tables? 

 Have you addressed all of the criteria on which you will be rated?  Are your strategies, activities, staffing, and other application content in alignment? 
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R&E: Ruthie AmericusRuthie.Americus@dot.govCRISI: Frances BourneFrances.Bourne@dot.govBCA: Nate Vomocil and Stephen O’ConnorStephen.O’Connor@dot.govEnvironmental: Michael JohnsenMichael.Johnsen@dot.govGrant Application Processing: Moshe Adams and Amy HouserAmy.Houser@dot.govThank you!