Exploratory Advanced Research Program | 693JJ324NF00008

Opportunity Information: Apply for 693JJ324NF00008

The U.S. Department of Transportation, through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is soliciting applications under its Exploratory Advanced Research (EAR) Program through a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) numbered 693JJ324NF00008. This is a discretionary funding opportunity that will be awarded as cooperative agreements, meaning recipients should expect substantial involvement from FHWA during the period of performance (for example, coordination on technical direction, deliverables, and data-sharing expectations). The program sits in the science, technology, and broader research and development space and is listed under CFDA 20.200.

The NOFO makes up to $2,000,000 available in total to support longer-term, higher-risk research aimed at producing breakthrough, potentially transformational improvements in how transportation systems are planned, built, renewed, and operated. The research emphasis is aligned with safety, congestion reduction, and environmental outcomes, with a specific focus in this solicitation on pedestrians. The central goal is to collect diverse pedestrian data, make that data accessible to researchers, and stimulate novel analytical approaches that can turn those diverse datasets into insights and tools that improve pedestrian safety and mobility for all people. In practical terms, applicants should understand this as both a data effort (collection and access) and a research/analytics effort (encouraging new methods to interpret and apply that data), with an equity and inclusivity implication embedded in the phrase "diverse pedestrian data."

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, which generally indicates a broad applicant pool may apply (for example, universities, nonprofits, private firms, and other entities), though applicants still need to meet all standard federal requirements and any specific conditions detailed in the full NOFO. The award ceiling is $250,000, indicating an upper limit per individual award, even though the overall program amount available under this NOFO is up to $2,000,000. The original application closing date is June 5, 2024, and the opportunity was created on April 19, 2024.

The legal authority for FHWA to enter into cooperative agreements for this effort is cited as 23 U.S.C. 502(b)(3)(C), and the funding source is tied to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Public Law 117-58, Section 11101(c)(1)(A). These references matter because they frame both the program purpose and the federal expectations around how the work supports national transportation priorities.

Several amendments were issued primarily to support applicant engagement through an informational webinar and follow-up materials. Amendment postings include updates providing webinar access information and scheduling details (including a session held May 8, 2024), and a later update posted May 20, 2024 that provides webinar Q and A content. The webinar link included in the notice is: https://usdot.zoomgov.com/j/1612256897pwdbGZmMHJEU2dUTWFIeFkzTG5LQmRMdz09. For applicants, these amendments are important because webinar Q and A documents often clarify how FHWA interprets requirements, what kinds of projects are most responsive, and common pitfalls that can affect responsiveness or eligibility during review.

• The DOT Federal Highway Administration in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Exploratory Advanced Research Program" 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 2024-04-19.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-06-05. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.

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