[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 183 (Friday, September 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77236-77237]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-21512]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Docket No. DOT-OST-2024-0104]


Advanced Research Projects Agency--Infrastructure; Request for 
Information

AGENCY: Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice; request for information (RFI).

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Transportation's (U.S. DOT) Advanced 
Research Projects Agency--Infrastructure (ARPA-I) is seeking statements 
of qualifications from eligible entities, defined by the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2024 as ``an accredited university of higher 
education in the northeast United States that has experience leading a 
regional university transportation center [defined as a current or past 
U.S. DOT-funded Regional University Transportation Center (UTC) 
grantee] and a proven record of developing, patenting, deploying, and 
commercializing innovative composite materials and technologies for 
bridge and other transportation applications, as well as conducting 
research and developing prototypes using very large-scale polymer-based 
additive manufacturing''. The purpose of this Request for Information 
(RFI) is for the U.S. DOT to determine the eligibility of entities 
seeking to perform research, development, and demonstration tasks on 
durability, resiliency, and sustainability of bridges and other 
infrastructure to be funded by ARPA-I as stated in the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2024. This request for information is not a request 
for proposals or a notice of funding opportunity. Subsequent to this 
RFI, ARPA-I intends to develop a Cooperative Agreement with a single 
institution of higher education if only one respondent is found to be 
eligible, or to issue a subsequent Request for Proposals to the 
multiple eligible institutions of higher education identified. 
Respondents are required to meet the legislative requirements detailed 
in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024.

DATES: Written submissions must be received by October 21, 2024.
    Submission Instructions: Responses should be submitted 
electronically as a Microsoft Word document, not to exceed 15 single-
sided pages in length, and 15 MB in file size. Recommended format for 
responses includes Times New Roman 12-point font and 1 inch page 
margins. Responses should be emailed to [email protected] (with the 
Subject Line of ``ARPA-I RFI Response ''.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this RFI, please 
email [email protected]. You may also contact Mr. Timothy A. Klein, 
Director, Technology Policy and Outreach, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Research and Technology (202-366-0075), U.S. DOT or by 
email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This RFI seeks information that will assist 
ARPA-I in carrying out its research and development funding 
responsibilities as set forth in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
2024 (Pub. L. 118-42; Division F, Title I; March 9, 2024) and 
authorized under 49 U.S.C. 119, ``Advanced Research Projects Agency--
Infrastructure''.

About ARPA-I

    The Advanced Research Projects Agency--Infrastructure (ARPA-I) is 
an agency within U.S. DOT (see https://www.transportation.gov/arpa-i) 
that Congress established ``to support the development of science and 
technology solutions that overcomes long-term challenges and advances 
the state of the art for United States transportation infrastructure.'' 
(49 U.S.C. 119(b)). ARPA-I is modeled after the Defense Advanced 
Research Projects Agency (DARPA) within the U.S. Department of Defense 
and the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) within the 
U.S. Department of Energy. ARPA-I offers a once-in-a-generation 
opportunity to improve our nation's transportation infrastructure, both 
physical and digital, and supports DOT's strategic goals of Safety, 
Economic Strength and Global Competitiveness, Equity, Climate and 
Sustainability, and Transformation. ARPA-I focuses on developing and 
implementing technologies, rather than developing policies and 
processes or providing regulatory support. ARPA-I has a single 
overarching goal and focus: to fund external innovative advanced 
research and development (R&D) programs that develop innovative 
technologies, systems, and capabilities to improve transportation 
infrastructure in the United States.
    The aims of ARPA-I include ``lowering the long-term costs of 
infrastructure development, including costs of planning, construction, 
and maintenance; reducing the lifecycle impacts of transportation 
infrastructure on the environment, including through the reduction of 
greenhouse gas emissions; contributing significantly to improving the 
safe, secure, and efficient movement of goods and people; promoting the 
resilience of infrastructure from physical and cyber threats; and 
ensuring that the United States is a global leader in developing and 
deploying advanced transportation infrastructure technologies and 
materials.'' (49 U.S.C. 119(c)(1)). Funding the development and use of 
advanced infrastructure technologies to address these challenges is 
expected to be a key future activity of ARPA-I.

ARPA-I FY 2024 Budget and Activities

    The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118-42; Division 
F, Title I; March 9, 2024) directed that ``$10,000,000 shall be for 
necessary expenses of the Advanced Research Projects Agency--
Infrastructure (ARPA-I) as authorized by section 119 of title 49, 
United States Code: provided further, that within the funds made 
available under the preceding proviso, not less than $8,000,000 shall 
be available for research on durability, resiliency, and sustainability 
of bridges and other infrastructure and shall be directed to an 
accredited university of higher education in the northeast United 
States that has experience leading a regional university transportation 
center [defined as a current or past U.S. DOT-funded Regional 
University Transportation Center (UTC) grantee selected under 49 U.S.C. 
5505] and a proven record of

[[Page 77237]]

developing, patenting, deploying, and commercializing innovative 
composite materials and technologies for bridge and other 
transportation applications, as well as conducting research and 
developing prototypes using very large-scale polymer-based additive 
manufacturing''.

Specific Information Required

    This RFI seeks information from respondents that will assist ARPA-I 
and the U.S. Department of Transportation in carrying out their 
responsibilities under Public Law 118-42. This RFI is not a request for 
proposals or a notice of funding opportunity. ARPA-I and the U.S. 
Department of Transportation are seeking responses only from 
respondents that meet the criteria presented in the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118-42; Division F, Title I; March 9, 
2024) as quoted above.
    Respondents are requested to supply the following information at a 
minimum in their written response (statement of qualifications):
    A. Name of the responding entity (``respondent'').
    B. Respondent's physical address, SAM number, and Census tract.
    C. Respondent's Business Contact information, including that 
individual's title, name, address, telephone number and email address.
    D. Respondent's Research Contact information, including that 
individual's title, name, address, telephone number and email address.
    E. Confirmation through the provision of supporting details that 
the respondent is ``an accredited university of higher education in the 
northeast United States that has experience leading a regional 
university transportation center'' [defined as a current or past U.S. 
DOT-funded Regional University Transportation Center (UTC) grantee 
selected under 49 U.S.C. 5505].
    F. Confirmation through the provision of supporting details that 
the respondent has ``a proven record of developing, patenting, 
deploying, and commercializing innovative composite materials and 
technologies for bridge and other transportation applications''.
    G. Confirmation through the provision of supporting details that 
the respondent has a proven record of ``conducting research and 
developing prototypes using very large-scale polymer-based additive 
manufacturing''.
    H. A description of the respondent's research and development (R&D) 
experience in developing innovative science and technology solutions in 
the ``durability, resiliency, and sustainability of bridges and other 
infrastructure''.

Confidential Business Information

    Do not submit information disclosure of which is restricted by 
statute, such as trade secrets and commercial or financial information 
(hereinafter referred to as Confidential Business Information ``CBI'') 
to ARPA-I. Responses submitted to ARPA-I cannot be claimed as CBI. 
Responses received by ARPA-I will waive any CBI claims for the 
information submitted.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 16, 2024.
Robert C. Hampshire,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology.
[FR Doc. 2024-21512 Filed 9-19-24; 8:45 am]
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