Fiscal Year 2025 Intercity Passenger Rail Program

The Fiscal Year 2025 Intercity Passenger Rail (IPR) Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is funded under the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025. This program is designed exclusively to provide funds to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism. It forms part of a suite of DHS/FEMA transportation infrastructure security programs authorized by Congress to strengthen the nation's resilience against potential terrorist threats, with emphasis on risk-informed investment, collaboration, and resilience. The FY 2025 IPR Program has a total of $9,000,000 available, with one anticipated award in the same amount. The projected application period opens on August 1, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time and closes on August 15, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The funding selection date will be no later than August 23, 2025, and awards will be announced no later than September 30, 2025. The period of performance will begin September 1, 2025, and end August 31, 2028. The program is a cooperative agreement in which FEMA, along with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), provides substantial federal involvement in developing work plans, deliverables, and program execution. Eligibility for the IPR Program is exclusive to Amtrak as specified in federal statute. To qualify, Amtrak must have completed a vulnerability assessment and have an up-to-date security plan within the last three years, based on an approved security assessment, such as the Baseline Assessment for Security Enhancement conducted by TSA. Participation in Regional Transit Security Working Groups is required to facilitate risk assessment, planning, and mitigation strategies. Subapplicants and subawards are not allowed, and there is no cost-share requirement. Funding priorities for FY 2025 are aligned with DHS-designated National Priority Areas, which include enhancing protection of soft targets and crowded places, supporting Homeland Security Task Forces and fusion centers, enhancing and integrating cybersecurity resiliency, enhancing election security, and supporting border crisis response and enforcement. Allowable cost categories include planning, operational activities, equipment and capital projects, training and awareness campaigns, and exercises. Specific unallowable costs include personnel not directly related to allowable activities, lobbying, litigation, and unapproved pre-award costs. Management and administration costs are capped at 5% of the award. Applications must be submitted via FEMA’s Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO) system and must include required forms such as SF-424, SF-424A or SF-424C (for construction), SF-424B or SF-424D (for construction), SF-LLL (Disclosure of Lobbying Activities), a detailed budget, investment justifications for each proposed project, and any required operational package sustainment plans. All application documents must be marked as Sensitive Security Information (SSI) until reviewed by DHS/FEMA for SSI content. FEMA will evaluate applications for alignment with funding priorities, feasibility, sustainability without additional federal funding, and ability to complete projects within the performance period. For program inquiries, FEMA has assigned a Preparedness Officer for the IPR Program. If the officer’s contact is not known, inquiries can be directed to FEMA Grants News at fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov or by phone at (800) 368-6498, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Additional support is available from the Grant Programs Directorate Award Administration Division at ASK-GMD@fema.dhs.gov and FEMA’s Office of Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation at FEMA-OEHP-NOFOQuestions@fema.dhs.gov. Technical support for FEMA GO is available at femago@fema.dhs.gov or (877) 585-3242, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time.