FY20 Northeast Corridor Grant to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation | FR AMT 20 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for FR AMT 20 001

The FY20 Northeast Corridor Grant to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation is a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) funding opportunity created under the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116-94). It provides up to $691,500,000 to Amtrak through a cooperative agreement to support key financial needs tied to passenger rail service, with the money intended to cover capital expenses, debt service, and costs associated with compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Within the total amount, $8,000,000 is specifically set aside for ADA-related expenses, and that portion is available until December 31, 2020 or until it is fully spent, whichever comes first. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary, but it is effectively structured as a dedicated award to Amtrak, with one expected award.

The purpose of the funding is to sustain and improve Amtrak operations and infrastructure with a particular emphasis on the Northeast Corridor (NEC), while also requiring visibility into Amtrak's broader financial and operational picture across both the NEC and the National Network. The FRA requires Amtrak to document how the grant will be used not only for NEC train services and infrastructure, but also in relation to National Network activities such as state-supported routes and long-distance routes. This framing signals that, even though the award is labeled as a Northeast Corridor grant, the federal review is meant to consider Amtrak's systemwide costs, performance, and planned investments, and how the requested federal support fits into those needs.

To receive the funds, Amtrak must complete a formal grant application package and submit several specific documents electronically. The required materials begin with the standard Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) and a Statement of Work that lays out what Amtrak will do with the funds. Amtrak must also provide a detailed description of projected operating and capital costs for the upcoming fiscal year, covering both NEC and National Network activities, and it must compare those projections to the prior fiscal year actual financial performance. In addition, the application must include a description of the capital projects to be funded, including cost estimates and an estimated completion timetable, which indicates the FRA expects a defined project portfolio rather than a vague set of goals.

Beyond budgets and projects, the FRA requires an assessment of Amtrak's financial condition, which functions as a narrative and analytical snapshot of Amtrak's fiscal health and its capacity to manage the federal investment. The application must also address safety and security, specifically the status of efforts to improve safety and security on the NEC mainline. This includes describing any work to implement recommendations from relevant railroad safety advisory committees, reinforcing that the grant is tied not just to maintaining infrastructure and service, but also to demonstrable progress on safety governance and risk reduction.

Finally, the opportunity includes standard federal construction and compliance paperwork. Amtrak must submit SF-424D (Assurances for Construction Programs) and provide signed copies of the U.S. Department of Transportation/FRA Assurances and Certification forms, which are referenced through an FRA link. These assurances typically serve to bind the recipient to federal requirements related to contracting, labor standards, nondiscrimination, reporting, and other grant administration rules that apply when federal funds support capital or construction-like activities.

Administratively, the opportunity was issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, under Funding Opportunity Number FR AMT 20 001 and CFDA (now commonly referred to as Assistance Listing) 20.315, within the transportation activity category. The posting indicates a creation date of February 10, 2020 and an original closing date of February 20, 2020, reflecting a short application window consistent with a targeted award to a specific recipient rather than an open competition among many applicants. Eligible applicants are effectively limited to Amtrak as described in the notice, which aligns with the appropriations direction and the expectation of a single award at the stated ceiling amount.

• The Department of Transportation, DOT/Federal Railroad Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY20 Northeast Corridor Grant 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 Feb 10, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 20, 2020 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 $691,500,000.00 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).

Apply for FR AMT 20 001

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