Opportunity Information: Apply for FR AMT 21 001
The FY21 National Network Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) is a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) funding opportunity under the U.S. Department of Transportation. It was issued as a discretionary cooperative agreement (Funding Opportunity Number FR AMT 21 001; CFDA 20.315; Transportation category) and is structured to provide a single award to Amtrak. The opportunity was created on November 19, 2020, with an original application closing date of December 11, 2020, and it anticipated one recipient because it is specifically intended for Amtrak as the national intercity passenger rail provider.
The funding is authorized pursuant to the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act (Public Law 116-159). Under this authority, the FRA makes available a total of $254,812,950 to Amtrak. The award ceiling matches the total available amount, reflecting that the agreement is designed to cover a defined appropriation rather than a competitive pool spread across multiple applicants. The funds are intended to support several major expense categories tied to Amtrak operations and financial obligations: operating costs, capital costs, and debt service. In addition, a dedicated portion of the funding, $8,286,600, is reserved for expenses related to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The notice specifies that these ADA funds are available for use until December 31, 2020 or until expended, meaning they are time-limited or otherwise constrained relative to the broader award funding.
A key point of the opportunity is that Amtrak must submit a complete grant application package to access the funds. The FRA requires specific standard federal forms as well as narrative and financial documentation that explains what Amtrak plans to do with the money and how those plans compare to past performance. The required submission items include the SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance) and a Statement of Work that lays out the activities to be supported under the cooperative agreement. Amtrak must also provide a detailed description of projected operating and capital costs for the upcoming fiscal year covering both the Northeast Corridor and the National Network. For the Northeast Corridor, this includes train services and infrastructure needs. For the National Network, it includes state-supported routes and long-distance routes. This projection must be presented in comparison to the prior fiscal year actual financial performance, so the FRA can evaluate changes, trends, and the reasonableness of the planned budget relative to what has recently occurred.
Beyond operating projections, the application must include a description of the capital projects that will be funded. This capital narrative must include cost estimates and an estimated timetable for completion for the projects covered by the request, indicating that FRA expects project-level clarity rather than a broad or generic capital category. Amtrak must also provide an assessment of its financial condition, which typically serves to inform the agency about liquidity, solvency, major risks, and overall fiscal health in the period covered by the agreement, particularly important given that the funding includes debt service support.
The submission package also requires standard federal assurances and certifications. These include SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction Programs) and SF-424D (Assurances for Construction Programs), reflecting that the award may support both non-construction activities (such as operations) and construction-related capital work. In addition, Amtrak must submit signed copies of the FRA-specific U.S. Department of Transportation assurances and certification forms, referenced via the FRA website link provided in the notice. Collectively, these requirements function as the compliance and accountability framework for the award, ensuring the funds are tied to defined activities, documented financial needs, and federally required conditions for receiving and using public money.Apply for FR AMT 21 001
- The Department of Transportation, DOT - Federal Railroad Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY21 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 Nov 19, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 11, 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 $254,812,950.00 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).
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FAQs - FY21 National Network Cooperative Agreement to Amtrak (FRA)
What is the FY21 National Network Cooperative Agreement to Amtrak?
This is a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) funding opportunity under the U.S. Department of Transportation that provides FY21 National Network support to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) through a discretionary cooperative agreement.
Which agency is offering this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).
What type of grant opportunity is this?
It is a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning the award is structured as a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant and is issued at the discretion of the agency under the cited authority.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number is FR AMT 21 001.
What is the CFDA number associated with this funding?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 20.315.
What category does this funding fall under?
The opportunity is listed under the Transportation category.
Who is eligible to receive this award?
This opportunity is specifically structured to provide a single award to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) as the national intercity passenger rail provider.
Is this a competitive funding opportunity?
Based on the notice, it anticipates one recipient and is specifically intended for Amtrak, rather than a competitive pool open to multiple applicants.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on November 19, 2020.
What was the original application closing date?
The original application closing date was December 11, 2020.
What is the legal authority for this funding?
The funding is authorized pursuant to the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act (Public Law 116-159).
How much total funding is available under this opportunity?
The FRA makes available a total of $254,812,950 to Amtrak under this cooperative agreement.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling matches the total available amount: $254,812,950. This reflects that the agreement is designed around a defined appropriation rather than multiple awards.
What types of expenses can the funding support?
The funds are intended to support major Amtrak expense categories, including operating costs, capital costs, and debt service.
Is any portion of the funding specifically reserved for ADA compliance?
Yes. A dedicated portion of $8,286,600 is reserved for expenses related to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Are the ADA-reserved funds time-limited?
Yes. The notice specifies that the ADA funds are available for use until December 31, 2020 or until expended.
Does Amtrak need to submit an application to access the funds?
Yes. Amtrak must submit a complete grant application package to access the funds made available under the cooperative agreement.
What standard federal form is required for the application?
The application requires the SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance).
What is the Statement of Work and why is it required?
The Statement of Work is required to lay out the activities to be supported under the cooperative agreement so the FRA can tie the funding to defined work and expectations.
What operating and capital cost information must Amtrak provide?
Amtrak must provide a detailed description of projected operating and capital costs for the upcoming fiscal year covering both the Northeast Corridor and the National Network.
What must be included for the Northeast Corridor projections?
For the Northeast Corridor, the projections must cover train services and infrastructure needs.
What must be included for the National Network projections?
For the National Network, the projections must cover state-supported routes and long-distance routes.
Does the application need to compare projections to prior performance?
Yes. The projection information must be presented in comparison to the prior fiscal year actual financial performance so FRA can evaluate changes, trends, and the reasonableness of the planned budget.
What capital project details are required in the application?
The application must include a description of the capital projects to be funded, including cost estimates and an estimated timetable for completion for the projects covered by the request.
Does Amtrak have to provide information about its financial condition?
Yes. Amtrak must provide an assessment of its financial condition, which helps inform FRA about fiscal health and risks during the period covered by the agreement, particularly given the inclusion of debt service support.
Which federal assurance forms are required?
The submission package includes SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction Programs) and SF-424D (Assurances for Construction Programs).
Are there FRA- or USDOT-specific assurances and certifications required?
Yes. Amtrak must submit signed copies of the FRA-specific U.S. Department of Transportation assurances and certification forms referenced via the FRA website link provided in the notice.
Why are both construction and non-construction assurance forms included?
The inclusion of SF-424B and SF-424D reflects that the award may support both non-construction activities (such as operations) and construction-related capital work.
How does the application package support accountability for the funding?
The required forms, narratives, projections, capital project details, and certifications collectively create a compliance and accountability framework that ties funds to defined activities, documented financial needs, and federally required conditions for receiving and using public funds.
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