Opportunity Listing - Rural Autonomous Vehicle Program

Rural Autonomous Vehicle Program

Agency: 69A355 Research and Technology

Assistance Listings: 20.944 -- Autonomous Vehicle Research in Rural Communities Program

Last Updated: May 13, 2026

Description

The RAV program research shall focus on applications of automated vehicles technologies for rural communities that support transportation strategic goals and objectives documented in the U.S. DOT strategic plans and documents listed below. The RAV program research shall address, as applicable, the unique challenges rural and Tribal communities face related to mobility and economic development, including isolation, transportation cost burden, and traffic safety[1].

[1] Applicants can refer to the U.S. DOT Research Hub (https://researchhub.bts.gov/search) and the RD&T Annual Research Plans (https://www.transportation.gov/administrations/assistant-secretary-research-and-technology/rdt-annual-modal-research-plans) pages for information on AV research being conducted by U. S. DOT.

Questions/Answers to inquiries sent to RAVProgram@dot.gov are posted on https://www.transportation.gov/policy/ost-r/rdtrav

Eligibility

Eligible applicants

Education

Private institutions of higher education
Public and state institutions of higher education

Additional information

RAV Program will be used for two awards to accredited non-profit institutions of higher education , or consortia thereof, as cooperative agreements on a competitive basis, to conduct research and to work with rural and Tribal communities to address the challenges of bringing the benefits of responsible integration of automated vehicles and associated technologies for air and surface mobility to rural and Tribal communities

Grantor contact information

Description

Randa Radwan Senior Advisor for Safety and Mobility Phone 202-366-7553

Email

RAVProgram@dot.gov

Documents

File name	Description	Last updated
RAV_NOFO_amendment_01162024_.docx	Amendment to RAV NOFO	Jan 16, 2024 11:15 PM UTC

Link to additional information

Archived: April 12, 2024

Application process

This site is a work in progress. Go to www.grants.gov to apply, track application status, and subscribe to updates.

Award

$25,000,000

Program Funding

Expected awards

$25,000,000

Award Minimum

$25,000,000

Award Maximum

Funding opportunity number:

RAVTRANS

Cost sharing or matching requirement:

Yes

Funding instrument type:

Cooperative agreement

Opportunity Category:

Other

Opportunity Category Explanation:

Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) seeks competitive cooperative agreement applications for the Rural Autonomous Vehicle (RAV) Program.

Category of Funding Activity:

Transportation

Category Explanation:

History

Version:

Posted date:

December 12, 2023

Archive date:

April 12, 2024