Opportunity Information: Apply for FY2023ABTCNOFO
The FY2023 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) titled FY2023ABTCNOFO is a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) discretionary grant competition to fund one cooperative agreement for the creation and operation of an Advanced Bridge Technology Clearinghouse (ABTC). The purpose is to establish a centralized, trusted platform that helps bridge and structures stakeholders locate technically strong, unbiased information about innovative bridge technologies, materials, and accelerated construction techniques. The clearinghouse is intended to move promising ideas from research into real-world practice by making it easier for agencies and industry to evaluate innovations and feel confident adopting them.
This opportunity is rooted in Congressional direction from House Appropriations Committee Report 117-99 accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117-103, enacted March 15, 2022). That report instructs DOT to work with relevant University Transportation Centers (UTCs) to implement an accelerated bridge technologies clearinghouse that advances new and advanced transportation infrastructure techniques and materials. The central emphasis is not simply collecting information, but curating and sharing evaluations and reports that are technically robust and neutral, while also actively supporting broader acceptance and implementation of advanced bridge and structural technologies.
Funding comes from FY2022 appropriations, with up to $5,000,000 available under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 20.947. The project period is expected to span five years, and the full amount is planned to be awarded to a single recipient rather than split among multiple awards. The NOFO also specifies that the award will be made on a competitive and cost match basis, meaning the selected applicant must meet the cost-sharing requirements described in the NOFO and will be chosen through a merit-based review process.
Only an eligible, existing University Transportation Center may apply, and the UTC must have been selected under the 2022 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) UTC competition. In practice, that eligibility condition narrows the field to current, federally designated UTCs from that specific competition cycle. While the awardee must be a qualifying UTC, the work is expected to be carried out with support from a broader team that may include academic partners, industry, commercial entities, and non-profit and/or for-profit organizations. This structure signals that USDOT is looking for a clearinghouse that blends research credibility with practical, deployable outputs that meet the needs of transportation agencies and bridge owners.
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, not a standard grant. That typically indicates more substantial federal involvement in the project, such as collaboration with USDOT on technical direction, deliverables, and ongoing coordination. Program management will be handled by USDOTs Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R), which aligns the effort with DOTs broader research, innovation, and technology-transfer mission.
In terms of policy alignment, the NOFO connects the ABTC to USDOTs Safety Strategic Goal, emphasizing the Departments interest in advancing safe and efficient transportation through better bridge technologies and practices. By improving access to credible evaluations and implementation-focused guidance, the clearinghouse is positioned as a tool to help reduce risk in adopting new approaches, speed up deployment of proven innovations, and ultimately support safer bridge infrastructure.
Key opportunity details include: Opportunity Category: Discretionary; Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement; Agency: Department of Transportation, OST-R (Agency code 69A355); Expected Number of Awards: 1; Award Ceiling: $5,000,000; Posting/Creation Date: August 18, 2023; Original Closing Date: October 13, 2023.Apply for FY2023ABTCNOFO
- The Department of Transportation, 69A355 Research and Technology in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY2023 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.947.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 18, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 13, 2023. (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 $5,000,000.00 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).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the FY2023ABTCNOFO funding opportunity?
FY2023ABTCNOFO is a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) discretionary Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to fund one cooperative agreement for the creation and operation of an Advanced Bridge Technology Clearinghouse (ABTC).
2) What is the Advanced Bridge Technology Clearinghouse (ABTC)?
The ABTC is intended to be a centralized, trusted platform that helps bridge and structures stakeholders find technically strong, unbiased information on innovative bridge technologies, materials, and accelerated construction techniques.
3) What is the main purpose of the ABTC?
The purpose is to make it easier for agencies and industry to evaluate bridge-related innovations and feel confident adopting them, helping move promising ideas from research into real-world practice.
4) Is the clearinghouse just a database of documents?
No. The NOFO emphasizes that the effort is not simply collecting information. It specifically highlights curating and sharing evaluations and reports that are technically robust and neutral, while also actively supporting broader acceptance and implementation of advanced bridge and structural technologies.
5) What kinds of topics and content is the ABTC expected to cover?
Based on the NOFO description, the ABTC is expected to focus on innovative bridge technologies, bridge materials, and accelerated construction techniques, and to provide unbiased, technically strong evaluations and implementation-relevant information that stakeholders can trust.
6) Who is offering this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), with program management handled by USDOT's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R). The agency code listed is 69A355.
7) What type of funding instrument will be used?
The award will be made as a cooperative agreement, not a standard grant.
8) What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement typically indicates more substantial federal involvement in the project. In this NOFO, that is described as collaboration with USDOT on technical direction, deliverables, and ongoing coordination.
9) How many awards does USDOT expect to make under this NOFO?
USDOT expects to make one award.
10) What is the maximum amount of funding available?
The award ceiling is up to $5,000,000.
11) Will the funding be split among multiple recipients?
No. The NOFO indicates the full amount is planned to be awarded to a single recipient rather than split among multiple awards.
12) What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The Assistance Listing (CFDA) number provided is 20.947.
13) What is the expected project period?
The project period is expected to span five years.
14) Where does the funding come from?
The NOFO states the funding comes from FY2022 appropriations.
15) Is there a cost-share or matching requirement?
Yes. The NOFO specifies the award will be made on a competitive and cost match basis. The selected applicant must meet the cost-sharing requirements described in the NOFO.
16) How will the recipient be selected?
The NOFO describes a merit-based, competitive process, meaning the applicant will be chosen through a competitive review process rather than receiving funds automatically.
17) Who is eligible to apply?
Only an eligible, existing University Transportation Center (UTC) may apply, and the UTC must have been selected under the 2022 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) UTC competition.
18) Does eligibility extend to universities or organizations that are not a UTC from the 2022 IIJA competition?
No. Based on the NOFO description provided, eligibility is limited to an existing UTC that was selected under the 2022 IIJA UTC competition.
19) Can the project involve partners or collaborators?
Yes. While the awardee must be a qualifying UTC, the work is expected to be carried out with support from a broader team that may include academic partners, industry, commercial entities, and non-profit and/or for-profit organizations.
20) Who is the intended audience or user community for the ABTC?
The ABTC is intended to serve bridge and structures stakeholders, and to support transportation agencies, bridge owners, and industry by providing credible evaluations and implementation-focused guidance on advanced bridge technologies.
21) What is meant by "technically strong" and "unbiased" information in this context?
The NOFO frames the clearinghouse as a trusted platform that curates evaluations and reports that are technically robust and neutral. The intent is to provide credible information that stakeholders can rely on when assessing whether and how to adopt innovations.
22) What policy direction or Congressional interest is this NOFO responding to?
The opportunity is rooted in Congressional direction from House Appropriations Committee Report 117-99 accompanying the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117-103, enacted March 15, 2022). The report instructs DOT to work with relevant UTCs to implement an accelerated bridge technologies clearinghouse.
23) How does this NOFO align with USDOT priorities?
The NOFO connects the ABTC to USDOT's Safety Strategic Goal and frames the clearinghouse as a way to advance safe and efficient transportation by improving access to credible evaluations, reducing risk in adoption, and supporting faster deployment of proven innovations.
24) What is the opportunity category?
The opportunity category is Discretionary.
25) When was the NOFO posted?
The posting/creation date provided is August 18, 2023.
26) What was the original closing date for applications?
The original closing date provided is October 13, 2023.
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