FY 26 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) - Federal Railroad Administration
The Federal Railroad Administration is funding applied research concept papers and subsequent contract proposals for rail-related research topics in track, rolling stock and equipment, and train control and communications.
⚑ Federal contract BAA, not a grant · Concept paper required before invited proposal · Full and open competition; no set-aside · Rolling submissions accepted until 2027-09-30, but topics may be removed by amendment
This is transportation engineering and rail-infrastructure applied research, centered on track, rolling stock, and train control/communications. It does not align with IPPRA’s public-opinion, risk-perception, weather, energy, or education-policy lines, so it would be outside this team’s normal PI-level research program.
JUDGED AGAINST THE ROSTER'S PUBLICATION DOSSIER · GPT-5.4-MINI · 2026-10-23
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
693JJ626R000001_00002: Amendment Description ___________________________________________________ The Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Research, Development, and Technology amends the FY26-27 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Appendix C — Research Topics document to remove the following four research topics that are “no longer available:” FRA-TR-003 – Characterization and Risk Assessment of Non-Regulatory, Combined Track Geometry Defects FRA-TR-004 – Special Trackwork Wear Analysis 693JJ626R000001_00001: Amendment Description ___________________________________________________ The Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Research, Development, and Technology amends the FY26-27 Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Appendix C — Research Topics document to remove the following four research topics that are “no longer available:” FRA-TR-005 – Innovative Methods for Measuring or Monitoring Longitudinal Rail Stress FRA-TR-006 – Research and Development on Track Lateral Strength FRA-TR-007 – Determining Pre Break Rail Neutral Temperature, Longitudinal Rail Restraint, and Best Rail Adjustment Practices FRA-TR-009 – Wheel/Rail Contact Evaluation 693JJ626R000001: Original 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.