Opportunity Information: Apply for FR RRD 22 002
The FY22 Wireless Digital Train Line (WiDTL) for Passenger Trains - Phase IV grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number: FR RRD 22 002) is a discretionary research grant offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). It falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development and Transportation funding activity categories, and it is associated with CFDA number 20.313. The opportunity was created on July 27, 2022, with an original application deadline of August 5, 2022. FRA anticipated making a single award under this notice, with an award ceiling of $173,000.
The core purpose of the project is to study and assess a Wireless Digital Trainline (WiDTL) concept that could be used across passenger and freight rail services. The work is aimed at evaluating whether a wireless interconnect can replace or augment the existing analog trainline used for signaling and onboard communications between cars in a train consist. In practical terms, the grant is focused on determining whether wireless approaches can meet or exceed the long-established railroad expectations for robustness (reliability in harsh operating environments and under real-world interference conditions), manageability (ease of configuration, monitoring, maintenance, and operational control), and performance (latency, throughput, availability, and predictable behavior) that the analog trainline already provides.
A major component of the effort involves identifying and evaluating both current and emerging technologies that could plausibly support wireless trainline operations. Rather than limiting the project to one specific vendor solution, the scope emphasizes surveying feasible options and assessing their suitability for trainline signaling and communication functions. The description also highlights that the evaluation should be grounded in comprehensive modeling and computer simulations. This indicates FRA is looking for rigorous, engineering-driven analysis, such as simulations that explore network behavior, interference and propagation challenges, mobility and consist dynamics, failure modes, and performance under various operating scenarios, with the goal of producing evidence-based conclusions about feasibility and readiness.
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional clarification expected in the opportunity's eligibility text (not included in the excerpt). Overall, this Phase IV effort reads like a targeted, applied R and D study intended to reduce technical risk and inform future development or deployment decisions for wireless digital trainline systems, particularly by comparing wireless alternatives to the baseline analog trainline in terms of operational requirements and real-world performance expectations.Apply for FR RRD 22 002
- The Department of Transportation, DOT - Federal Railroad Administration in the science and technology and other research and development, transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY22 Wireless Digital Train Line (WiDTL) for Passenger Trains - Phase IV" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.313.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 27, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 05, 2022 No Explanation. (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 $173,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "FY22 Wireless Digital Train Line (WiDTL) for Passenger Trains - Phase IV."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is FR RRD 22 002.
Which federal agency is offering this grant?
The grant is offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
What type of grant is this?
This is a discretionary research grant.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 20.313.
What funding activity categories does this opportunity fall under?
It falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development and Transportation funding activity categories.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on July 27, 2022.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was August 5, 2022.
How many awards did FRA anticipate making under this notice?
FRA anticipated making a single award under this notice.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling was $173,000.
What is the overall purpose of the Phase IV WiDTL project?
The core purpose is to study and assess a Wireless Digital Trainline (WiDTL) concept that could be used across passenger and freight rail services, with a focus on determining whether wireless approaches are feasible and ready compared to the existing analog trainline baseline.
What is a Wireless Digital Trainline (WiDTL) in the context of this opportunity?
In this context, WiDTL refers to a wireless interconnect concept intended to support trainline signaling and onboard communications between cars in a train consist, potentially replacing or augmenting the existing analog trainline.
What existing system is the wireless concept being compared against?
The wireless concept is being compared to the existing analog trainline that has long been used for signaling and onboard communications between cars.
Is the goal to replace the analog trainline or to work alongside it?
The scope includes evaluating whether a wireless interconnect could replace or augment the existing analog trainline.
What kinds of requirements or expectations must wireless approaches meet?
The work is aimed at assessing whether wireless approaches can meet or exceed established railroad expectations in three areas: robustness (reliability in harsh environments and under real-world interference), manageability (ease of configuration, monitoring, maintenance, and operational control), and performance (latency, throughput, availability, and predictable behavior).
What does "robustness" mean for this project?
Robustness is described as reliability in harsh operating environments and under real-world interference conditions, aligned with railroad expectations for consistent operation.
What does "manageability" mean for this project?
Manageability refers to how easy the system is to configure, monitor, maintain, and control operationally in real-world railroad settings.
What does "performance" mean for this project?
Performance includes latency, throughput, availability, and predictable behavior, specifically in comparison to what the analog trainline already provides.
Does this opportunity focus on a specific vendor or proprietary solution?
No. The scope emphasizes identifying and evaluating both current and emerging technologies and surveying feasible options rather than limiting the effort to one specific vendor solution.
What kinds of technologies are expected to be examined?
The project calls for identifying and evaluating current and emerging technologies that could plausibly support wireless trainline operations, with a focus on suitability for trainline signaling and communication functions.
What kind of analysis approach does FRA highlight for this work?
The evaluation is expected to be grounded in comprehensive modeling and computer simulations, supporting rigorous, engineering-driven conclusions about feasibility and readiness.
What types of scenarios or technical issues might simulations need to address?
The description points to simulations that explore network behavior, interference and propagation challenges, mobility and consist dynamics, failure modes, and performance under various operating scenarios.
Is this grant more focused on research or on deploying a working system?
Based on the description, it is a targeted applied research and development study intended to reduce technical risk and inform future development or deployment decisions, rather than a deployment program.
What is the intended practical outcome of the study?
The intended outcome is evidence-based conclusions about whether wireless digital trainline approaches are feasible and sufficiently ready, particularly relative to the operational requirements and real-world performance expectations satisfied by the analog trainline.
Is the WiDTL concept limited to passenger trains only?
While the opportunity title references passenger trains, the project purpose explicitly mentions assessing a WiDTL concept that could be used across passenger and freight rail services.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional details expected in the full eligibility text (which is not included in the provided excerpt).
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development, Transportation
Next opportunity: FY2022 Historic Preservation Fund- African American Civil Rights- History Grants
Previous opportunity: Joint DMS/NIGMS Initiative to Support Research at the Interface of the Biological and Mathematical Sciences
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for FR RRD 22 002
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (FR RRD 22 002) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| FY22-23 Rail Research and Development Center of Excellence Grant Program Apply for FR RRD 23 002 Funding Number: FR RRD 23 002 Agency: Department of Transportation, DOT - Federal Railroad Administration Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development, Transportation Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "FR RRD 22 002", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.