[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15983-15984]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6075]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Railroad Administration


Broad Agency Announcement 2005-1, Funds Availability for 
Demonstration Projects and Technology Advancements Under the Next 
Generation High-Speed Rail Program

AGENCY: Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of funds availability: Broad agency announcement (BAA) 
for research projects and technology advancements under the Next 
Generation High-Speed Rail Program.

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Purpose and Scope

    The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is soliciting proposal 
concept papers for various demonstration projects and technology 
advancements which have the potential to advance the deployment of 
high-speed rail service in the United States. Emphasis is on 
technologies which would permit cost-effective upgrading and use of 
existing infrastructure.
    Technologies most likely to help facilitate the deployment of high-
speed rail service are those which will (a) bring about cost reductions 
in constructing and maintaining equipment, track, and facilities; (b) 
reduce operating costs by providing more efficient operations; (c) 
improve the reliability of equipment and infrastructure components by 
reducing failures and/or reducing false failure detections; (d) improve 
safety by reducing human and technology failures; (e) enhance revenue-
generating capability by attracting greater ridership through reducing 
trip times, upgrading customer service quality, increasing reliability, 
or improving on-time performance; or (f) enhance the social benefits or 
environmental aspects of higher speed rail.

Eligible Participants

    Any responsible source may submit a proposal concept paper for 
consideration, including, but not limited to, state or local 
governments, or organizations of state or local governments, 
universities or institutions of higher education, hospitals, non-profit 
organizations, private individuals, corporations, businesses or 
commercial organizations, except that any business owned in whole or in 
part by the Federal Government is not eligible. Although businesses 
owned in whole or in part by the Federal Government are not eligible 
for funding under the Program, they may contract with eligible

[[Page 15984]]

participants. Cooperative arrangements (e.g., joint ventures, limited 
partnerships, teaming arrangements, or collaboration and consortium 
arrangements) are permitted and encouraged.
    Small, Small Disadvantaged (SD), and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned 
Business Concerns, and Veteran-Owned (VO) and Woman-Owned (WO), and 
Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Small Business 
Concerns, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and 
Minority Institutions (MIs) are encouraged to submit proposal concept 
papers on their own and/or in collaboration with others. However, no 
portion of this BAA will be set aside or reserved exclusively for these 
types of organizations.

BAA Time Period

    This BAA will be open from the date of posting through December 30, 
2005. The FRA will accept proposal concept papers as of the posting 
date. Unless BAA 2005-1 is superseded or canceled, FRA will continue to 
accept concept submissions and inquiries through December 30, 2005. 
Although the BAA is open for an extended period, interested parties 
would be well advised to submit proposals as early as possible. Reviews 
will be conducted continuously on receipt of concept papers.

Source for BAA Documents

    The BAA 2005-1 package may be downloaded or printed from the 
following Internet address: http://www.fra.dot.gov/, and then through 
the choices of Passenger Rail (from upper left home page menu), 
Financial Assistance (on the drop down menu), Funding for High Speed 
Rail (center of Financial Assistance page), Rail Demonstration Funding 
Opportunities, Broad Agency Announcement. The FRA does not intend to 
make the BAA 2005-1 Package available in paper copy.

    Issued in Washington, DC on March 22, 2005.
Mark Yachmetz,
Associate Administrator for Railroad Development.
[FR Doc. 05-6075 Filed 3-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-06-P