FY 26 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) - Federal Railroad Administration
Applied research projects for rail-related FRA topics in track, rolling stock and equipment, and train control/communications under a federal BAA.
⚑ Federal contract BAA; awardees are contractors, not grant recipients. · Concept papers required first; only approved concept papers may be invited to submit full proposals. · Rolling/periodic amendments update available topics; a topic may be removed before the final deadline. · No set-aside stated; full and open competition indicated.
This is primarily a transportation engineering / rail systems applied R&D solicitation focused on track, rolling stock, and train control, which is outside IPPRA’s core social-science risk, policy, and communication portfolio. The team might only engage peripherally on public acceptance or communication issues, but there is no clear PI-level fit for any dossier member.
JUDGED AGAINST THE ROSTER'S PUBLICATION DOSSIER · GPT-5.4-MINI · 2026-07-07
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 90 strong | technical depth: central; funds applied research |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 45 partial | funds applied research; prototyping/demonstration stage; deep-tech content |
| IPPRA | 40 partial | outside portfolio topics; social/behavioral work is none; funds applied research |
Description
The Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) FY 2026 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) solicits a variety of applied research projects that will support Department of Transportation and FRA strategic objectives. The research needs are in the three FRA research areas: Track, Rolling Stock and Equipment, and Train Control and Communications. The BAA consists of several research topics for potential contractors to submit concept papers for FRA’s review. We recommend full and open competition for the FY 2026 BAA. Concept papers are approved if they meet the objectives of FRA research topics in the BAA. Contractors with approved concept papers will have the opportunity to submit a proposal for possible contract award. This effort extends for a period of 15 months, therefore the response date is anytime within the 15 month period. No concept papers will be reviewed after the ultimate deadline of 9/30/2027. However, this announcement is subject to periodic Amendments updating the status of available research topics. Once a research topic becomes unavailable, the research topic will be removed from the announcement allowing the available research topics to gain more visibility. The FRA is committed to excellence and welcomes top innovators, creators, professors, rail enthusiasts, and rail subject matter experts to take on this BAA opportunity.
Eligibility
Applicant restrictions (federal contract). Set-aside: No Set aside used. Notice type: Special Notice. Organization: TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT OF / FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION / FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION.
Apply
Proposal brief SEE AN EXAMPLE →
A one-page internal memo: fit assessment, submission requirements, document scaffold, and next steps dated back from the deadline — tailored to your project idea if you add one.
Proposal shell · Federal (generic) conventions SEE A FEDERAL EXAMPLE →
Funder-faithful document skeletons — Federal (generic)'s document set with section headings, page limits, reviewer guidance, and writing prompts; add a project idea to get [DRAFT] starter bullets. Download as .md for Word or Overleaf.