Research Partnership on Climate Change and Transportation

 

The climate and transportation research center shall advance the following research and technology goals: (1) support decarbonization of the transportation sector; (2) build resilience of transportation infrastructure, networks, and operations; (3) address climate and environmental injustices related to transportation; and (4) otherwise advance understanding of solutions to the nations climate change and transportation challenges. Priority research and technology development topics with high potential to serve these goals include, but are not limited to, the following: Data and tools to reduce trips and shift trips to climate-friendly vehicles and modes, including shift to electric vehicles, transit, micromobility services, and active transport, combined with integrated transportation and land-use planning, including transit-oriented development, such that people are less dependent on personal vehicles and more likely to walk, bike, or use transit. Transformative approaches to understanding, predicting, and addressing via technology, design, behavior, and policy interventions, the induced demand and associated greenhouse gas emissions from roadway improvement projects. Methods for better incorporating induced demand into travel demand models. Evidence-based approaches and tools for decision makers for assessing the greenhouse gas emissions effects of transportation investments, policies, and practices. Cutting-edge technologies that have the potential to leverage the climate-tech industry to transform the United States to be a world leader in sustainable transportation, such as innovations in data-driven insights, automation, and integrated system-of-systems that significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. Innovative applications of social and behavioral sciences for transportation demand management and other policy interventions that support lower-carbon consumer transportation choices, mode shift, seamless modal connectivity, and reductions in transportation greenhouse gas emissions overall. Research supporting state and local governments considering policy options to realign consumer incentives and disincentives to encourage lower-carbon consumer choices. Innovative use of new and emerging environmental sensors to support the assessment and early detection of pollutants, helping public agencies reduce climate and environmental impacts and transportation and respond to environmental emergencies, and integration of such analyses into climate and environmental justice policy decisions. The development and deployment of methods to assess and reduce the risks to transportation system performance posed by climate change and related natural hazards that are exacerbated by climate change (e.g., extreme heat, pluvial flooding, slope stability concerns, permafrost thaw) Incorporation of nature-based solutions. Research and deployment of innovative resilient infrastructure, networks, and operations, especially in underserved and overburdened communities and communities with environmental justice concerns. Innovative adaptation strategies and standards for the new resilient transportation networks that will be needed in vulnerable areas and for climate-driven relocation, such as new passenger rail lines and resilient access for coastal locations (e.g., transition from surface roads to waterways, elevated transportation corridors, alternate road surfaces that are environmentally friendly if damaged and can be rapidly repaired). Innovative research on policy solutions to tackle challenges around deployment of transportation decarbonization technologies at the local level, such as research on balancing priorities the need for rapid deployment and adoption while centering underserved communities and prioritizing community engagement. Other innovative approaches proposed by applicants that have the potential to solve climate and sustainability challenges within the U.S. transportation sector. In concert with U.S. DOT, the climate and transportation research center shall publish and release research results and tools that empower communities, state and local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, and commercial operators to make informed decisions on climate change and environmental justice.

Active 20.946 Office of The Secretary, Department of Transportation B - Project Grants Not applicable. Office of Climate Change and Environment, U.S.C. 49 U.S.C. 102(g)
The Legislative Text and Explanatory Statement, Division L-Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2022 (H. Comm. Print 47-048; April 2022) accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (P.L. 117-103; March 15, 2022), provides funding for this activity., Title Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (P.L. 117-103
Research Activities U.S.C. 49 U.S.C. 330(e)(2)(a)
Office of Climate Change and Environment,” establishes an office to conduct “department-wide research” on climate change. The DOT Climate Change Center is implementing this requirement. the Secretary may . . . carry out, on a cost-shared basis, collaborative research and development to encourage innovative solutions to multimodal transportation problems and stimulate the deployment of new technology with - non-Federal entities, including State and local governments, foreign governments, institutions of higher education , corporations, institutions, partnerships, sole proprietorships, and trade associations that are incorporated or established under the laws of any State”… and at (3) “directly initiate contracts, grants, cooperative research and development agreements (as defined in section 12(d) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a(d))), and other agreements to fund, and accept funds from, the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, State departments of transportation, cities, counties, institutions of higher education, associations, and the agents of those entities to carry out joint transportation research and technology efforts.” This authority is to be executed in support of this research activity. This competition is open to all eligible parties and their partnering organizations. Eligible parties include, but are not limited to, institutions of higher education, public research entities (e.g., University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs), Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), national laboratories, etc.), and private and 501(c)3 nonprofit research entities Not applicable. The proposal must: o Include the signature of the principal investigator/manager of the partnership on the first page of the proposal o Addresses the goals and objectives of this funding opportunity o Indicate budgets and financial information in U.S. dollars o Provide documents on 8 1/2 x 11 paper format; all pages must be numbered sequentially o Be submitted in either Microsoft Word or PDF format. Technical proposal shall be single-spaced, 12- point Times New Roman font, with a minimum of 1-inch margins. The Technical proposal must include the following sections: o Proposal Summary: Provide a one-page narrative that outlines the proposed program, including program objectives and anticipated impact. o Activities and Deliverables: Describe the research center activities and deliverables and how they will help achieve the objectives. o Milestones and Timeline: Discuss and describe proposed performance metrics and milestones. Provide a table listing all proposed milestones and deliverables and estimated dates, based on time from award. o Introduction to the organization applying: Provide a description of past and present operations, showing ability to carry out the research center, including summary information on past research work with similar requirements or activities as this funding opportunity. o Key Personnel: Include the names, titles, roles, and experience/qualifications of key personnel involved in the program. Also include a brief description of proportion of key personnel time that will be devoted to this partnership. o Partners: List the names and type of involvement of key partner organizations, universities, and sub-awardees. o Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: Indicate how activities will be monitored to ensure they are happening in a timely manner and how the program performance will be evaluated to make sure it is meeting the goals of the grant, throughout the duration period of the grant. o Future Funding or Sustainability Describe how the results and developments in this partnership can be sustained in future efforts either by the government or by the industry, transferred to the private sector, or other long-term outcomes. The total number of pages of the technical proposal/application (including the cover page and attachments, if any) shall not exceed 25 pages. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. If your organization's application is selected for award, you will be notified and sent an award document for signature. Applicants not selected for award will be notified in writing by U.S. DOT. Only the AO can commit the U.S. DOT. The award document, signed by the AO, is the authorizing document. Only the AO can bind the Federal Government to the expenditure of funds. Notice that an Applicant has been selected as a Recipient does not constitute approval of the application as submitted. Before the actual award, U.S. DOT will enter into negotiations concerning such items as program components, staffing and funding levels, and administrative systems, if necessary. If the negotiations do not result in an acceptable submittal, the U.S. DOT reserves the right to terminate the negotiation and decline to fund the Applicant. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines From 90 to 120 days. Not applicable. More than 180 days. U.S. DOT will evaluate and rank the applications against the following technical evaluation criteria. These criteria are distinct from eligibility criteria (see Section C) that are addressed before an application is accepted for review. o Quality and Feasibility. The research center idea is well developed, with detail about how program activities will be carried out. The proposal includes a reasonable implementation timeline. o Innovation and Impact. The proposing organization and research center idea are well-positioned to advance innovative research with high potential for significant impact on policy or other decision making regarding climate change and transportation. o Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Federally-funded Projects. The organization has expertise in its stated field and has the internal controls in place to manage federal funds. o Monitoring and Evaluation Plan. Applicant demonstrates it is able to measure success against key indicators and provides milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators and shows how and when those will be measured. o Sustainability. Program activities will continue to have positive impact after the end of the program. o Support of Equity and Underserved Communities. Proposal shows clearly how the researcher center's activities will advance equity in the area of climate change and transportation. COST: The cost proposal will be evaluated on: 1) Cost reasonableness 2) Cost matching of 50% of total cost 3) Budget controls to achieve the work objectives U.S. DOT seeks to fund a climate and transportation research center that advances research to support Administration efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, incorporate evidence-based climate resilience and adaptation measures and features, reduce the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from the project materials, and avoid adverse environmental impacts to air or water quality, wetlands, and endangered species, and address the disproportionate negative environmental impacts of transportation on disadvantaged communities, consistent with Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (86 FR 7619).” Further, U.S. DOT seeks to fund a climate and transportation research center that will advance research to support Administration efforts to create proportional impacts to all populations in a project area, remove transportation related disparities to all populations in a project area, and increase equitable access to project benefits, consistent with Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government (86 FR 7009 Not applicable. following subpart F under 2 CFR 200 2 CFR 200.334 Retention requirements for records. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is . 50%. Cost sharing or matching is required. The Federal Share of the cost of activities carried out by the climate and transportation research center is based on a 2 to 1 cost share ratio (2 Federal to 1 Non-federal match). Applicants must include evidence of their ability to match the Federal Share at this level. Program income must be handled in accordance with Section F.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. The period of performance will consist of one 36-month base period. The period of performance will begin on the effective date of the award, as stated in the resulting grant agreement, and end on the period of performance end date that is listed in the signed grant agreement, unless extended. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Lump. None/Not specified. Gretchen T. Goldman
Director, Climate Change Research and Technology
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE.
Washington, DC 20590 USA
ClimateCOE@dot.gov
Phone: 202-366-6281

Pankaj Arora, Program Manager
Program Manager, Climate Change Research and Technology
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE.
Washington, DC 20590 US
ClimateCOE@dot.gov
Phone: 202-308-3477 69-1730-0-1-407 (Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)) FY 22$0.00; FY 23 est $2,500,000.00; FY 24 est $2,500,000.00; - U.S. DOT anticipates making an initial award of $2,500,000 for year one and up to $2,500,000 years two and three, under this Notice of Funding Opportunity, subject to availability of funds. Additional Federal funding may be made available for this Agreement to continue up to five years in total, subject to the availability of funds. In the application, applicants must identify at least one partnering organization to fully cover the breadth of research topics The total amount of funding available in this Notice of Funding Opportunity for FY 2023 is $2 million up to $4 million over a two-year period, pending availability of funds. The US DOT grant funds may be expended up to December 31, 2025, and Eligible Entities will have until that date to meet the full match requirement by obtaining and expending those funds. o FY 2022-26 U.S. DOT Strategic Plan Climate and Sustainability Strategic Goal o U.S. DOT Research Development & Technology (RD&T) Strategic Plan, FY 2022-26 Climate and Sustainability research priorities and grand challenge o U.S. National Blueprint for Decarbonization of the Transportation Sector o U.S. DOT Equity Action Plan o U.S. DOT Climate Action Plan for Resilience Further, programs managed by U.S. DOT and other Federal agencies are charged with supporting and complying with Presidential Executive Orders and Memoranda. The following Executive Orders (EO) and Memorandum are relevant: o EO 13985. Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government o EO 14008. Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad o Presidential Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking o EO 14091. Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through The Federal Government o EO 14096. Revitalizing Our Nation's Commitment to Environmental Justice for All Not applicable.