FY24 National Network Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation | FR AMT 24 011

Opportunity Information: Apply for FR AMT 24 011

The FY24 National Network Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Funding Opportunity Number: FR-AMT-24-011) is a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) discretionary cooperative agreement that makes $758,036,398 available exclusively to Amtrak under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Pub. L. 118-42). The funding is intended to support Amtrak activities across three broad purposes: operating expenses, capital investments, and debt service. The period of availability runs through December 31, 2026, meaning the funds can be drawn and used through that date or until the full amount is expended, whichever comes first. As structured, this opportunity anticipates a single award, and Amtrak is the only eligible applicant.

The money is meant to cover costs associated with both the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and the broader National Network. On the NEC side, the scope includes both train service operations and the supporting infrastructure needed to run and maintain those services. On the National Network side, the scope includes State-supported routes and long-distance routes, reflecting the parts of Amtrak service that extend beyond the NEC and often involve shared responsibilities with states or other partners. While the opportunity is not a competitive solicitation open to multiple applicants, it still requires Amtrak to submit a complete grant application package so FRA can document the planned use of funds and oversee performance under the cooperative agreement framework.

To receive the funds, Amtrak must submit several required components electronically by the closing date of June 24, 2024. The core application begins with the SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance) and a Statement of Work that explains what Amtrak will do with the funding. FRA also requires a detailed description of projected operating and capital costs for the upcoming fiscal year, broken out to cover NEC activities (including train services and infrastructure) and National Network activities (including State-supported and long-distance services). Importantly, these projections must be presented in comparison to the prior fiscal year actual financial performance, which effectively pushes the application to show trends, changes in cost drivers, and how the coming year plan differs from what was actually spent and achieved previously.

In addition to operating and cost projections, Amtrak must provide a clear outline of the capital projects that will be funded, including cost estimates and an estimated timetable for completing the projects covered by the request. This requirement centers the application on concrete deliverables and scheduling, helping FRA evaluate readiness, sequencing, and whether the proposed timelines align with the period of availability through the end of 2026. The package must also include a narrative on the status of Amtrak efforts to improve safety culture, signaling that FRA is tracking organizational and operational safety improvement alongside financial and infrastructure investments, not treating safety as a separate or secondary topic.

Standard federal assurances and certifications are also mandatory. Amtrak must submit SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction Programs) and SF-424D (Assurances for Construction Programs), reflecting that the grant can include both non-construction activities (such as operations and certain programmatic work) and construction-related capital work. Finally, Amtrak must provide signed copies of the U.S. Department of Transportation/FRA Assurances and Certification forms (as referenced by FRA at the listed URL). Taken together, these documents function as the formal compliance backbone of the award, covering legal, administrative, and program integrity commitments that accompany federal financial assistance.

At a high level, this opportunity is best understood as the annual or periodic mechanism FRA uses to route appropriated funds to Amtrak for nationwide passenger rail responsibilities, while still requiring a structured plan, financial transparency, project definitions, and compliance documentation. The cooperative agreement instrument type also implies ongoing federal involvement typical of cooperative agreements, meaning FRA is positioned not just to provide funding, but to coordinate and oversee execution consistent with the approved scope, timelines, and reporting expectations associated with the award and the underlying appropriation.

• The DOT - Federal Railroad Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY24 National Network Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.315.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-06-10.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-06-24. (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 $758,036,398.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for FR AMT 24 011

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