Northeast Corridor IIJA Supplemental Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation | FR AMT 22 005

Opportunity Information: Apply for FR AMT 22 005

This grant opportunity, titled "Northeast Corridor IIJA Supplemental Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation" (Funding Opportunity Number FR-AMT-22-005), is a discretionary cooperative agreement administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). It is a targeted, single-recipient funding action intended specifically for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) to support major capital work on the Northeast Corridor (NEC). The opportunity stems from direction in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117-103), which instructs FRA to make a defined amount of funding available to Amtrak for specified NEC-related purposes.

The total funding amount available under this notice is $1,189,000,000, with an award ceiling of $1.189 billion and an expectation of one award. The assistance listing referenced is CFDA 20.315, and the funding activity category is transportation. While the eligibility field is labeled broadly as "Others," the text of the opportunity makes clear the intended eligible applicant is Amtrak, reflecting the purpose of the appropriation and the way the funding is structured.

The funds are meant to pay for several categories of work tied to improving and sustaining service on the Northeast Corridor. A central focus is rolling stock acquisition, meaning the purchase or procurement of rail vehicles used to deliver passenger service. In addition, the funding can be used for facilities work on the corridor, particularly deferred capital work that is described as being for the "on-corridor sole benefit," which signals capital improvements that directly support NEC operations and infrastructure needs. The opportunity also emphasizes capital renewal for backlogged projects, which generally refers to replacing, rehabilitating, or modernizing assets that have accumulated due to underinvestment, age, or wear, with the goal of reducing the maintenance and state-of-good-repair backlog.

Another explicit eligible use is work to bring Amtrak-served stations into full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In practical terms, this category can include upgrades such as accessible routes, elevators or ramps, platform modifications, tactile warning strips, accessible boarding solutions, accessible restrooms, signage improvements, and other station elements necessary to meet ADA requirements and related accessibility standards. The notice frames this as an important component of the overall capital program supported by the supplemental funding.

Beyond those core purposes, the opportunity also permits other eligible uses of IIJA supplemental funding. One specifically mentioned flexibility is using these grant funds as the non-federal share or match for certain Northeast Corridor projects selected for award under 49 U.S.C. 24911(f), as long as those project selections occur after the date of enactment of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). That matters because many federal programs require a local or non-federal match; this language allows the supplemental funds to play that match role for qualifying NEC awards under that statutory authority, potentially enabling larger overall project delivery by pairing funds.

Because this is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, it typically implies a closer working relationship and more active federal involvement in oversight, coordination, or project execution than a formula or pass-through award. While the summary text does not spell out the management structure, the instrument type indicates FRA may have ongoing involvement consistent with cooperative agreement norms, such as review of work plans, milestones, reporting, and compliance monitoring.

To access the funds, Amtrak must submit a complete application package electronically. The required items include the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424), the SF-424B Assurances for Non-Construction Programs, and the SF-424D Assurances for Construction Programs, reflecting that the funded activities may include both construction and non-construction components. Amtrak must also provide a Statement of Work describing the activities to be undertaken, and submit signed copies of the U.S. DOT/FRA Assurances and Certification forms referenced by FRA (available at the link provided in the notice). These documents collectively establish the project scope and the applicant's agreement to standard federal requirements related to legal compliance, labor and civil rights obligations, and other cross-cutting grant conditions.

Key administrative details in the notice include a creation date of September 19, 2022, and an original closing date of September 20, 2022, which underscores that this was not an open-ended competitive solicitation but a time-sensitive, directed funding action aligned to the appropriations instruction and the intent to make funds available to Amtrak quickly. Overall, the opportunity is designed to inject a substantial, one-time supplemental investment into NEC equipment, facilities, and state-of-good-repair work, while also accelerating ADA accessibility compliance at Amtrak-served stations and supporting the financing structure of other eligible NEC awards through allowable matching uses.

• The Department of Transportation, DOT - Federal Railroad Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Northeast Corridor IIJA Supplemental 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 Sep 19, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 20, 2022 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 $1,189,000,000.00 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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