This FAQ provides FTA responses to questions received from potential applicants that may be of general interest.  If FTA later makes any updates to these FAQ, the changes will be highlighted.

1. FTA email me or hold a webinar to answer my individual questions about the NOFO?

FTA does not expect to respond by email, phone, or a webinar to questions about individual eligibility or application strategies for the Bus SAI NOFO.  The published NOFO provides all information necessary to submit an application. Your proposal should directly and effectively address the activities and areas of interest described in Sections 2 and 3, and the evaluation criteria in Section 6 of the NOFO.

2. Can individuals apply?

No. The Bus SAI program is subject to the requirements of 49 U.S.C. § 5312, which specifies the types of eligible recipients. Individuals are not eligible. A private organization that was established recently or has only one employee could be eligible, however FTA will consider those situations when evaluating an application’s competitiveness.

3. Must teams include certain types of partner(s)?

Yes. Teams must include a transit vehicle manufacturer (TVM) “in a prominent role.” The lead applicant, which does not need to be a TVM, must have sufficient legal, financial, and technical capabilities to receive and administer Federal funds under this program.  No other partners are mandatory or necessarily preferred, but the capabilities and experience of any partnering organizations and how they complement each other as a team will be considered in FTA’s evaluations of proposals.

4. What would qualify as a “prominent role” for a TVM?

FTA requires participation by a TVM to increase the likelihood that the safety and accessibility benefits of the innovative concepts proposed in an application will be realized widely. The specific role for a TVM is not defined in the NOFO. Applicants have flexibility to put forward their best proposals.

5. Are letters of commitment required in the application, or can they be provided later?

Letters of commitment from project partners are not required at the time of application, however they are valuable indicators of a team’s seriousness, likelihood of beginning implementation within 2 months of award of a cooperative agreement, and likelihood of successfully completing all project activities within the maximum 3 years from award. Therefore, inclusion of strong and specific letters of commitment will increase the competitiveness of an application.

6. Is software eligible?

If innovative software achieves the objectives described in the NOFO, it could be eligible.

7. Is <my proposed technology> eligible?

FTA will not be responding to individual inquiries about whether a specific technology or solution is eligible or competitive.  FTA’s goals for the Bus SAI program are described in the NOFO.

8. Does a prototype technology have to comply with Buy America?

Yes. All steel, iron, and manufactured products (including rolling stock) procured with FTA funds must comply with Buy America (49 CFR Part 661); construction materials procured with FTA funds must comply with Build America, Buy America (2 CFR Part 184). While waivers technically are available under these laws, an applicant should not expect a waiver to be granted.

9. Does the program require an in-service demonstration with a transit provider?

No, an in-service demonstration is not required.  A limited demonstration in a controlled environment in partnership with a TVM and optionally a transit agency could be appropriate. The NOFO seeks the production of a prototype that can be retrofitted on existing buses or installed in new buses, and project activities should be prioritized accordingly.

10. If an in-service demonstration is not required, why does the NOFO mention demonstration projects?

The objectives of this program include production of prototypes. However, the NOFO does not require prototypes to be demonstrated in actual passenger service.  See question above.

11. Are any specific metrics required or preferred for a project evaluation?

No, specific evaluation metrics are not defined or required. Evaluation metrics should be tailored to measuring the effectiveness and efficiency of the specific project.

12. Why don’t I see all the program requirements explicitly stated in the NOFO?

The NOFO includes links to laws, regulations, and policies that are applicable to § 5312 research projects.  Applicants should review these linked resources to get a complete understanding of those requirements and policies.

13. Why did Grants.gov reject my application?

If you encounter an error when attempting to submit your application, first ensure you are using the most up-to-date documentation.  Download the current version of the Supplemental Form, transfer your content into it, and attempt to resubmit.

Other common submission errors may stem from missing or incorrectly formatted information, which is typically highlighted in a validation error message. Note that when the NOFO was initially posted on Grants.gov, it contained a link to a Supplemental Form template in the wrong format, which was subsequently corrected on or about August 12 (the Supplemental Form on FTA’s website was published in the correct format from the start).

Because Grants.gov is operated by a separate federal agency, please contact their support team directly if these steps do not resolve your issue:

• Phone: 1-800-518-4726
• Email: support@grants.gov

14. Will there be other opportunities to showcase my proposed technology?

Yes. Separately from or in addition to applying to the Bus SAI NOFO, your organization may wish to consider showcasing technology or seeking potential industry partners by applying for the Innovation Expo organized by FTA’s Office of Research, Demonstration, and Innovation.