FY24 Northeast Corridor Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation CR2 | FR AMT 24 004

Opportunity Information: Apply for FR AMT 24 004

The FY24 Northeast Corridor Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (CR2) is a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) funding opportunity that provides Amtrak with up to $215,761,770 in federal support for Capital and Debt Service needs. The authority for making these funds available comes from the Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act (Pub. L. 118-22). The money is intended to support Amtrak activities tied to the Northeast Corridor (NEC) as well as related systemwide context, and it remains available for use through December 31, 2026, or until the funds are fully spent, whichever comes first. The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, which generally means the FRA expects ongoing involvement in the management or oversight of the funded work rather than a simple pass-through grant.

This opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number FR AMT 24 004 and is categorized as a discretionary transportation program under CFDA 20.323. The solicitation anticipates a single award, and eligibility is restricted to one applicant: the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak). In other words, no other public agencies, states, railroads, nonprofits, or private entities can apply under this notice, and the funding is specifically set aside for Amtrak to cover allowable capital-related expenditures and debt service obligations consistent with the purpose of the appropriation.

To access the funding, Amtrak must submit a complete electronic grant application package by the original closing date of February 14, 2024. The required submission is more than a basic form; it is designed to give the FRA a clear picture of Amtrak's planned work, financial needs, project pipeline, and compliance commitments. The core application materials include the SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance) and a Statement of Work that lays out what Amtrak intends to do with the funds. Amtrak must also provide a detailed narrative and financial description of projected operating and capital costs for the upcoming fiscal year. This cost discussion must cover NEC activities, including both train service and NEC infrastructure, and it must also address National Network activities, including state-supported routes and long-distance routes. Importantly, the request must compare those projections to actual financial performance from the prior fiscal year, which helps the FRA evaluate trends, changes in costs, and how the request aligns with recent outcomes.

In addition to the budget and operating context, Amtrak must submit a description of the capital projects it plans to fund with this award. That project description must include cost estimates and an estimated timetable for completion, allowing the FRA to understand what assets or improvements are being advanced, the scale of the work, and the schedule risk or delivery expectations. The application also requires a description of the status of Amtrak's efforts to improve its safety culture, reflecting the federal emphasis on organizational safety management and continuous improvement alongside physical capital investment. Finally, Amtrak must include standard federal assurances and certifications: SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction Programs), SF-424D (Assurances for Construction Programs), and signed copies of the U.S. Department of Transportation/FRA assurances and certification forms available at the FRA website link provided in the notice.

Taken together, this cooperative agreement functions as a targeted federal funding mechanism to support Amtrak's capital program and debt service requirements connected to the Northeast Corridor and broader network considerations, with funds available through the end of 2026 unless expended earlier. The FRA's required documentation focuses on ensuring the request is transparent and justified, the capital work is defined with costs and schedules, safety culture progress is addressed, and all federal compliance assurances are formally executed.

• The DOT - Federal Railroad Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY24 Northeast Corridor Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation CR2" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.323.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-01-30.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-02-14. (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 $215,761,770.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for FR AMT 24 004

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