University Transportation Centers Program FY 2025 NOFO

The University Transportation Centers Program is a long-standing initiative administered by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology within the U.S. Department of Transportation. This program was originally authorized under the Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1987 and has undergone several reauthorizations through subsequent federal transportation legislation, most recently through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021. The FY2025 competition, identified as UTCOPENCOMP2025, aims to fund five new University Transportation Centers (UTCs), comprising one Regional Center in Region 2 and four Tier 1 Centers. These UTCs will be awarded using federal fiscal year 2024 funds, with additional anticipated increments from FY2025 and FY2026, contingent on continued appropriations. The primary objective of the UTC Program is to support research, education, and technology transfer activities that address surface transportation challenges aligned with seven statutory priority areas. These include improving mobility of people and goods, reducing congestion, promoting safety, extending the durability of infrastructure, preserving the environment, maintaining the existing system, and addressing cybersecurity risks in transportation. Centers must be consortia of at least two U.S.-based nonprofit institutions of higher education, with the lead institution assuming direct responsibility for the grant’s administration. Importantly, current lead institutions of the 30 UTCs funded through prior IIJA competitions are not eligible to serve as leads again in this round, though they may participate as consortium members. The funding under this NOFO totals $33 million over three years. For FY2024, the Department anticipates awarding approximately $2.93 million to the single Regional UTC and about $1.95 million each to four Tier 1 Centers. These awards are structured with fixed amounts to allow equitable evaluation. Matching requirements vary: the Regional UTC must provide a 1:1 match, while Tier 1 Centers must contribute a 50% match. The funds are intended strictly for programmatic activities and may not be used for construction. Equipment purchases over $10,000 and foreign travel require prior DOT approval. Additionally, at least 5% of the total budget must be dedicated to technology transfer and commercialization activities. Applications are due by February 20, 2026, and a Letter of Intent is required by January 19, 2026. The submission must be completed through the Valid Eval online platform, with additional hard copies delivered by February 25, 2026. The application package consists of several components including a cover sheet, research abstract, a 35-page narrative addressing evaluation criteria, a detailed budget, and documentation of negotiated indirect cost rates. Evaluation will be conducted by subject matter experts based on five weighted criteria: research activities and capability, leadership, education and workforce development, technology transfer and collaboration, and program efficacy. Selected Centers must designate a Center Director affiliated with the lead institution and submit detailed plans for managing research activities, fiscal operations, and consortium coordination. Each proposed Center must align its work with one of the statutory research priorities. While DOT provides candidate topic areas of interest such as automation, AI, robotics, and resilient infrastructure, applicants are encouraged to propose novel, transformative research directions. Applicants must also demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and outline how they will attract and train a new generation of transportation professionals. Award notifications are expected around May 1, 2026, and the performance period for all grants will run through April 30, 2030. Applicants may direct questions about the NOFO to the UTC Program Office at [email protected] or by contacting Hamid Ghasemi at 202-366-3994. All submitted questions and responses will be shared publicly on the DOT UTC Program website to ensure transparency. Additional program details, deliverables, and reporting requirements can be found at www.transportation.gov/utc/tools-grantees. This opportunity reflects DOT’s commitment to fostering innovation, building transportation research capacity, and addressing critical challenges in national and regional mobility systems.

Focus on one statutory research area; demonstrate transformative research; allocate 5% to technology transfer; use Valid Eval for submission only; avoid PII.