FY25-OLS-Railroad Rights-of-Way and Highway-Railroad Grade Crossing Safety Information and Education Program

The Federal Railroad Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, is offering funding under the FY25-OLS-Railroad Rights-of-Way and Highway-Railroad Grade Crossing Safety Information and Education Program. This program is designed to advance public safety through education and outreach on issues related to railroad rights-of-way and highway-railroad grade crossing safety. Funding is being provided to support Operation Lifesaver Inc., a long-standing nonprofit organization that partners with government, industry, and community stakeholders to reduce collisions, fatalities, and injuries at railroad crossings and along rail rights-of-way. The program funding is sourced from the Office of Safety’s approved fiscal year 2025 budget. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support Operation Lifesaver’s national safety education efforts. The scope of the program includes delivering public information campaigns, outreach activities, and educational materials that increase awareness of safe behaviors around railroads. Spending is expected to cover program activities such as community education initiatives, public engagement campaigns, and the development of training and resources aligned with Federal Railroad Administration safety priorities. The program explicitly provides resources for advancing safety goals, not for unrelated activities. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is restricted. Only Operation Lifesaver Inc. is permitted to apply. This exclusive eligibility requirement means that no other nonprofits, government agencies, or institutions are eligible to compete. This exclusivity reflects the federal government’s longstanding partnership with Operation Lifesaver in delivering railroad safety programs nationwide. Applicants outside of Operation Lifesaver are not eligible and will not be considered. Applications must be submitted electronically through GrantSolutions. First-time users of the system receive account details upon posting of the announcement, while existing grantees are expected to use their current accounts. Required application documents include the SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance, SF-424A Budget Information, SF-424B Assurances, SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, and the FRA Assurances & Certifications. Applicants must also upload a Statement of Work or Project Summary and a Non-Construction Budget Detail and Narrative. These attachments must be submitted by the published deadline. The deadline for applications is September 25, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The funding opportunity was posted on September 23, 2025, and will remain open only until the closing date, making the window for submission very short. The announcement will archive on October 25, 2025. The opportunity is not rolling, but it is expected to recur annually since it is tied to FRA’s fiscal year budget cycle. Agency contacts are provided for assistance. For administrative and budgetary questions, applicants may contact Arnaud Kalameu Kalameu at 202-731-5429 or by email at Arnaud.kalameu.kalameu@dot.gov. For program requirements or technical assistance, applicants may contact Elena Gonzalez at 202-253-1978 or Elena.Gonzalez@dot.gov. For technical access issues with GrantSolutions, applicants may contact the GrantSolutions Help Desk at 1-866-577-0771 or 202-401-5282, available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Evaluation of applications is not competitive because only Operation Lifesaver is permitted to apply. Instead, funding decisions will be based on successful submission of the required forms and compliance with the budget and administrative requirements outlined by FRA. The awarded funds will then be used to continue nationwide education and outreach efforts under the Operation Lifesaver program for fiscal year 2025.