Opportunity Information: Apply for 693JJ321NF00009
The National Center for Excellence for Rural Road Safety grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number 693JJ321NF00009) is a U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) discretionary funding program in the transportation category (CFDA 20.200). It is designed to provide Federal support to keep the National Center for Excellence for Rural Road Safety, also referred to as the Rural Safety Center, running and effective over time. The core purpose is not to start a brand-new pilot project, but to transition the Center (from its prior setup), and then operate and maintain it so it can continue delivering rural road safety value at a national level.
Funding is offered through a single cooperative agreement, meaning the Federal government expects to be substantially involved in the work as it is carried out (more back-and-forth, coordination, and Federal participation than you would typically see in a standard grant). The opportunity anticipates making one award total, with an overall award ceiling of up to $4,900,000 in Federal funding across the full potential performance period. The notice also makes clear that not all of that money is guaranteed upfront: the base period amount available at the time of the announcement is $1,444,154, and any additional Federal funding would depend on the availability of funds and the government choosing to exercise any option periods. In practical terms, applicants should read this as a phased funding structure where initial work is funded first, and later funding could follow if conditions are met and funding remains available.
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the competition is open to any type of entity, as long as it aligns with any additional eligibility details or constraints described in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Because only one award is expected, the competition is likely intended to select a single organization (or a lead organization possibly working with partners) that can reliably serve as the national operator for the Rural Safety Center, manage the transition, and sustain ongoing operations and maintenance responsibilities.
Key logistical details from the posting include an original posting date (creation date) of June 29, 2021, and an original closing date of August 18, 2021. While those dates define the initial application window for that specific announcement, the most important takeaway for understanding the opportunity is its scope: a nationally focused rural road safety center that requires continuity of operations, structured collaboration with FHWA under a cooperative agreement, and performance that can justify continuation into option periods.
At a high level, this opportunity is about ensuring the Rural Safety Center remains a stable, functional national resource focused on rural roadway safety, backed by FHWA funding and oversight, with staged funding that starts with a base period and can expand up to the stated ceiling if future funds are available and options are exercised. For the full details on required tasks, deliverables, performance expectations, and any additional eligibility or submission rules, the NOFO is the controlling document.Apply for 693JJ321NF00009
- The Department of Transportation, DOT Federal Highway Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Center for Excellence for Rural Road Safety" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.200.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 29, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 18, 2021. (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 $4,900,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the National Center for Excellence for Rural Road Safety grant opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) discretionary funding opportunity to provide Federal support to keep the National Center for Excellence for Rural Road Safety (also called the Rural Safety Center) operating effectively over time as a national rural road safety resource.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is 693JJ321NF00009.
Which Federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
What category is this funding opportunity under?
The posting lists the opportunity in the transportation category.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 20.200.
Is this funding intended for a brand-new pilot project?
No. The core purpose is not to launch a new pilot. The intent is to transition the Rural Safety Center from its prior setup and then operate and maintain it so it continues delivering rural road safety value at a national level.
What is the main purpose of the award?
The main purpose is to keep the Rural Safety Center running and effective over time, including transitioning the Center and sustaining ongoing operations and maintenance responsibilities as a national resource.
What type of award is expected (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
Funding is offered through a single cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement indicates FHWA expects to be substantially involved in the work as it is carried out. In practice, this typically means more coordination, collaboration, and Federal participation than would be expected under a standard grant.
How many awards does FHWA expect to make?
The opportunity anticipates making one award total.
What is the maximum amount of Federal funding available?
The overall award ceiling is up to $4,900,000 in Federal funding across the full potential performance period.
Is the full $4,900,000 guaranteed at the time of award?
No. The notice indicates not all funds are guaranteed upfront. Funding is structured in phases, with a base period funded first and additional amounts dependent on future conditions.
How much funding is available for the base period at the time of the announcement?
The base period amount available at the time of the announcement is $1,444,154.
How could additional funding beyond the base period be provided?
Any additional Federal funding would depend on the availability of funds and the government choosing to exercise any option periods.
What are "option periods" in this funding structure?
The posting describes a staged approach where later periods of performance may be funded if funding remains available and FHWA elects to exercise those options. This suggests continuation is conditional rather than automatic.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the competition is open to any type of entity, as long as it aligns with any additional eligibility details or constraints described in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
Does "unrestricted eligibility" mean there are no rules to follow?
No. While eligibility is listed as unrestricted, applicants still need to comply with any additional eligibility conditions, requirements, or constraints that may be described in the NOFO, which is the controlling document.
Is the opportunity intended to select a single national operator for the Rural Safety Center?
Yes. Because one award is expected, the competition appears designed to select a single organization (or a lead organization possibly working with partners) capable of managing the transition and reliably operating and maintaining the Rural Safety Center at a national level.
What kinds of responsibilities should the selected recipient be prepared to handle?
Based on the posting, the recipient should be prepared to (1) support the transition of the Rural Safety Center from its prior setup and (2) operate and maintain the Center so it continues to function as a stable, effective national rural road safety resource, with ongoing collaboration with FHWA under a cooperative agreement.
What are the key dates listed in the posting?
The original posting (creation) date is June 29, 2021, and the original closing date is August 18, 2021.
What do the listed posting and closing dates represent?
They define the initial application window for that specific announcement.
Where should applicants look for the most authoritative requirements and instructions?
The NOFO is the controlling document for full details on required tasks, deliverables, performance expectations, and any additional eligibility or submission rules.
What is the overall takeaway about the scope of this opportunity?
This opportunity is focused on continuity: keeping a nationally focused rural road safety center stable and functional, funded and overseen by FHWA through a cooperative agreement, with phased funding that begins with a base period and may continue into option periods if conditions are met and funds are available.
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