Opportunity Information: Apply for FR RRD 18 002
The FY18 Short Line Safety Institute Program (Funding Opportunity Number FR RRD 18 002) is a U.S. Department of Transportation grant opportunity administered by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to support the work of the Short Line Safety Institute, a 501(c)(3) organization focused on improving safety among short line and regional railroads. This funding comes from a specific Congressional appropriation, meaning it was set aside by Congress to back the Institute and its mission rather than to run a broad, open competition across many unrelated applicants. The Institute's central purpose is to provide leadership that strengthens both the safety culture and the real-world safety performance of short line and regional railroads through voluntary, non-punitive partnerships, emphasizing collaboration and improvement rather than enforcement-oriented approaches.
The program is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement, which generally indicates the FRA expects to remain actively involved in the project through oversight, coordination, or technical engagement rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. The activity category is listed under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, reflecting that the work includes structured assessment, training development, research activities, and the dissemination of safety-related information and best practices.
The opportunity anticipates a single award with an award ceiling of $2,400,000. The posting was created on August 16, 2018, with an original closing date of August 31, 2018. Eligibility is noted as "Others," with additional eligibility clarification referenced in the full announcement, but the description and the nature of the appropriation indicate that the funding is intended to support the Short Line Safety Institute specifically.
Programmatically, the Institute is expected to pursue its strategic goals, which include enhancing and improving safety practices and increasing the short line and regional railroad industry's overall commitment to safety. The work is organized around four core "pillars" that define the Institute's approach. First, safety culture assessments focus on evaluating and strengthening organizational behaviors, leadership practices, and on-the-ground norms that influence safe operations. Second, education and training covers the creation and delivery of learning opportunities aimed at building skills, awareness, and consistent safety practices across participating railroads. Third, research supports the development of evidence-based insights into safety risks, effective interventions, and emerging issues relevant to short line and regional operations. Fourth, communications centers on sharing findings, promoting best practices, and helping build alignment across the industry by distributing practical guidance and reinforcing a culture where safety improvements are understood and adopted.
Overall, the grant supports a coordinated national effort to raise safety performance in the short line and regional railroad sector by combining assessment, training, research, and information-sharing in a cooperative, partnership-driven model.Apply for FR RRD 18 002
- The Department of Transportation, DOT/Federal Railroad Administration in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY18 Short Line Safety Institute Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.313.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 16, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 31, 2018 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 $2,400,000.00 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).
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FY18 Short Line Safety Institute Program (FR RRD 18 002) - FAQs
What is the FY18 Short Line Safety Institute Program?
The FY18 Short Line Safety Institute Program (Funding Opportunity Number FR RRD 18 002) is a U.S. Department of Transportation grant opportunity administered by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to support the work of the Short Line Safety Institute, a 501(c)(3) focused on improving safety among short line and regional railroads.
Which federal agency administers this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) within the U.S. Department of Transportation.
What is the purpose of the funding?
The purpose is to support the Short Line Safety Institute's mission to strengthen safety culture and real-world safety performance across short line and regional railroads through voluntary, non-punitive partnerships that emphasize collaboration and improvement rather than enforcement.
Is this a competitive grant open to many different applicants?
Based on the description, the funding comes from a specific Congressional appropriation set aside to back the Institute and its mission, rather than a broad, open competition across many unrelated applicants.
Who is the intended recipient of this funding?
The description and the nature of the Congressional appropriation indicate the funding is intended to support the Short Line Safety Institute specifically.
What type of award is being offered?
The program is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a "cooperative agreement"?
A cooperative agreement generally indicates the FRA expects to remain actively involved in the project through oversight, coordination, or technical engagement, rather than issuing funds and stepping back.
How many awards are anticipated?
The opportunity anticipates a single award.
What is the maximum amount available under this opportunity?
The award ceiling is $2,400,000.
When was this opportunity posted?
The posting was created on August 16, 2018.
What was the original application closing date?
The original closing date listed for the opportunity was August 31, 2018.
What is listed as the eligibility category?
Eligibility is noted as "Others," with additional eligibility clarification referenced in the full announcement.
What does the eligibility information imply in this case?
Even though the eligibility category is shown as "Others," the description indicates the funding is tied to a Congressional appropriation intended to support the Short Line Safety Institute.
What activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The activity category is listed under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
Why is the activity category classified as Science and Technology/Research and Development?
The work supported by the Institute includes structured assessment, training development, research activities, and dissemination of safety-related information and best practices, which aligns with research and development-oriented programming.
What are the program's overall strategic goals for the Institute?
The Institute is expected to pursue strategic goals that include enhancing and improving safety practices and increasing the short line and regional railroad industry's overall commitment to safety.
What are the four core pillars of work supported by this program?
The Institute's approach is organized around four pillars: (1) safety culture assessments, (2) education and training, (3) research, and (4) communications.
What are safety culture assessments in the context of this program?
Safety culture assessments focus on evaluating and strengthening organizational behaviors, leadership practices, and on-the-ground norms that influence safe operations at short line and regional railroads.
What kinds of activities fall under the education and training pillar?
Education and training covers the creation and delivery of learning opportunities aimed at building skills, awareness, and consistent safety practices across participating railroads.
What is included in the research pillar?
Research supports the development of evidence-based insights into safety risks, effective interventions, and emerging issues relevant to short line and regional railroad operations.
What is the role of communications under this program?
Communications centers on sharing findings, promoting best practices, and distributing practical guidance to build alignment across the industry and reinforce a culture where safety improvements are understood and adopted.
How does the program describe its approach to improving safety?
The program emphasizes a voluntary, non-punitive, partnership-driven model focused on collaboration and continuous improvement rather than enforcement-oriented approaches.
What sector is the program designed to benefit?
The program is designed to raise safety performance in the short line and regional railroad sector.
How does the program aim to improve safety outcomes nationally?
It supports a coordinated national effort that combines assessment, training, research, and information-sharing, implemented through cooperative engagement between the FRA and the Institute.
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