University Transportation Centers Program FY 2025 NOFO
ID: 360730Type: Posted
Overview

Buyer

69A355 Research and Technology (DOT-RITA)

Award Range

$2M - $3M

Eligible Applicants

Private Institutions of Higher Education

Funding Category

Transportation

Funding Instrument

Grant

Opportunity Category

Discretionary

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

Yes

Original Source

https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/360730
Timeline
    Description

    The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is offering a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program for Fiscal Year 2025, aiming to award five new grants to eligible institutions. This program seeks to establish and operate university transportation centers that will advance transportation expertise and technology, focusing on critical national and regional transportation issues, with an emphasis on seven statutory research priorities such as mobility, safety, and cybersecurity. Eligible applicants include U.S. non-profit institutions of higher education, which must form a consortium and adhere to specific matching requirements, with grant amounts ranging from $1.9 million to $3 million and a total program funding of $33 million over three years. Interested parties must submit a Letter of Intent by January 19, 2026, and a full application by February 20, 2026, with further details available from Hamid Ghasemi at hamid.ghasemi@dot.gov or by phone at 202-366-3994.

    Point(s) of Contact
    hamid.ghasemi@dot.gov
    Files
    Title
    Posted
    FINAL 2025 NOFO.pdf
    The Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program in FY 2025. This re-opened competition aims to award five new grants: one Regional UTC in Region 2 and four Tier 1 UTCs. Eligible applicants are U.S. non-profit institutions of higher education, forming a consortium of two or more, with specific restrictions on current lead institutions. Regional UTCs must focus on national and regional transportation issues within Federal Region 2, while Tier 1 UTCs address national issues from any region. Both types must focus on one of seven statutory research priorities, including mobility, congestion, safety, infrastructure durability, environment, system preservation, and cybersecurity risks. Applicants must submit a Letter of Intent by January 19, 2026, and a full application by February 20, 2026, through Valid Eval, with hard copies due by February 25, 2026. Grants will be awarded in fixed amounts for FY2024, FY2025, and FY2026, with Regional UTCs requiring a 1:1 match and Tier 1 UTCs a 50% match. The NOFO details application content, evaluation criteria, and program objectives, emphasizing transformative research, education, workforce development, technology transfer, and collaboration to advance transportation expertise and technology.
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