The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) is inviting small businesses to participate in its Fiscal Year 2025 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I solicitation, with a focus on advancing transportation safety and efficiency. The pre-solicitation period runs from January 3, 2025, to January 31, 2025, during which small businesses can submit technical questions regarding the proposed research topics, which include innovations such as a 3D-model viewer for highway construction, lidar-based tire inspections, and non-destructive rail stress measurement devices. This initiative aims to foster collaboration and commercialization of innovative solutions that address key challenges in the U.S. transportation system. Interested parties should direct inquiries to Tammy A. Taylor at tammy.taylor@dot.gov or call 617-494-3462, and are reminded that the solicitation is expected to be released around February 5, 2025.