Opportunity Information: Apply for FTA 2018 005 TPM BUS
The 5339(b) Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). It was issued as a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) inviting project proposals under the Bus and Bus Infrastructure Program, with the goal of helping transit providers and public entities pay for capital investments tied directly to bus service. In practical terms, the program is meant to strengthen and modernize public transportation by supporting the purchase and improvement of buses, the equipment that supports bus operations, and the facilities needed to house, maintain, and operate bus fleets.
For Fiscal Year 2018, the FTA announced about $366.3 million available nationwide for eligible projects involving buses, bus facilities, and bus equipment. The opportunity was posted to Grants.gov under the listing FTA-2018-005-TPM-BUS, and applications were required to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on August 6, 2018. Because this is a competitive, discretionary program, applicants were expected to submit a proposal that clearly lays out the project scope, the need being addressed, and how the investment advances safe, reliable, and effective bus transit service.
The core purpose of the funding is capital assistance. Eligible uses include replacing, rehabilitating, purchasing, or leasing buses, as well as buying related bus equipment. The program also supports bus-related facilities projects, including rehabilitation, purchase, construction, or leasing of facilities connected to bus operations. That can include projects such as upgrading maintenance garages, improving bus storage capacity, modernizing depot infrastructure, or addressing facility conditions that affect fleet reliability and service quality. Overall, the emphasis is on tangible infrastructure and asset improvements rather than operating expenses.
The opportunity falls under CFDA number 20.526 and is categorized under the transportation funding activity area. The funding instrument is a grant, and the opportunity itself is labeled as discretionary, meaning awards are not distributed by formula alone but are selected based on the merits of submitted proposals and how well they align with the program priorities and NOFO requirements.
Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments, along with other eligible entities as clarified in the NOFO's additional eligibility guidance. The NOFO anticipated roughly 150 awards, indicating a broad national distribution across many projects and jurisdictions. The listed award ceiling was $36,630,000, which suggests that while many awards may be smaller, the program also allows for larger, high-impact capital projects when justified.
Key administrative details include the agency (DOT/FTA), the opportunity number (FTA 2018 005 TPM BUS), the creation date (June 21, 2018), and the original closing date (August 6, 2018). Applicants were directed to Grants.gov for both the synopsis and the full announcement, where the detailed eligibility rules, evaluation criteria, required forms, and submission instructions would be laid out.Apply for FTA 2018 005 TPM BUS
- The Department of Transportation, DOT/Federal Transit Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "5339(b) Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.526.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 21, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 06, 2018. (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 $36,630,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 150 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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5339(b) Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program (FY 2018) - FAQs
1. What is the 5339(b) Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program?
It is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). It was issued as a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) inviting project proposals under the Bus and Bus Infrastructure Program to help pay for capital investments directly tied to bus service.
2. What is the main purpose of this funding?
The primary purpose is capital assistance to strengthen and modernize public transportation by supporting investments in buses, bus-related equipment, and bus facilities needed to house, maintain, and operate bus fleets.
3. Is this a formula grant or a competitive opportunity?
This opportunity is discretionary, meaning it is competitive and awards are selected based on the merits of proposals and how well they align with program priorities and NOFO requirements, rather than being distributed by formula alone.
4. Who runs and administers this grant program?
The program is run by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
5. What fiscal year does the provided funding information relate to?
The information provided describes the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 funding cycle.
6. How much funding was announced for FY 2018?
FTA announced about $366.3 million available nationwide for eligible bus, bus facilities, and bus equipment projects.
7. What types of projects are eligible for funding?
Eligible projects focus on capital investments tied directly to bus service, including buses, bus-related equipment, and bus-related facilities. Examples mentioned include upgrading maintenance garages, improving bus storage capacity, modernizing depot infrastructure, and addressing facility conditions that affect fleet reliability and service quality.
8. What are eligible uses of funds for buses?
Eligible uses include replacing, rehabilitating, purchasing, or leasing buses.
9. What are eligible uses of funds for bus equipment?
Eligible uses include purchasing related bus equipment that supports bus operations.
10. What are eligible uses of funds for bus facilities?
Eligible facility uses include the rehabilitation, purchase, construction, or leasing of facilities connected to bus operations (for example, maintenance and storage facilities and depot infrastructure improvements).
11. Does the program support operating expenses?
No. The emphasis is on tangible infrastructure and asset improvements (capital assistance) rather than operating expenses.
12. What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 20.526.
13. What is the funding activity/category area?
The opportunity is categorized under the transportation funding activity area.
14. What is the funding instrument?
The funding instrument is a grant.
15. What is the Grants.gov listing and opportunity identifier?
The opportunity was posted on Grants.gov under the listing FTA-2018-005-TPM-BUS. The opportunity number is also referenced as FTA 2018 005 TPM BUS.
16. When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The creation date was June 21, 2018, and the original closing date was August 6, 2018.
17. What was the application deadline time zone and cut-off time?
Applications were required to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on August 6, 2018.
18. How were applications submitted?
Applications were required to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov.
19. Where could applicants find the full NOFO and submission requirements?
Applicants were directed to Grants.gov for both the synopsis and the full announcement, where detailed eligibility rules, evaluation criteria, required forms, and submission instructions were provided.
20. Who is eligible to apply based on the information provided?
Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments, along with other eligible entities as clarified in the NOFO's additional eligibility guidance.
21. Approximately how many awards were anticipated?
The NOFO anticipated roughly 150 awards, suggesting broad distribution across many projects and jurisdictions.
22. What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed?
The listed award ceiling was $36,630,000.
23. Does the award ceiling mean every award will be that large?
No. The ceiling indicates the maximum possible award size; the NOFO language suggests many awards may be smaller while still allowing larger, high-impact capital projects when justified.
24. What should a strong proposal include in a discretionary competition like this?
Applicants were expected to submit a proposal that clearly lays out the project scope, the need being addressed, and how the investment advances safe, reliable, and effective bus transit service, consistent with the NOFO requirements.
25. What kinds of outcomes is this program intended to support?
The program is intended to strengthen and modernize public transportation by improving bus fleets and the facilities and equipment that support bus operations, with an emphasis on improving conditions that affect reliability and service quality.
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