Fiscal Year 2025 Intercity Passenger Rail Program | DHS 25 GPD 157 00 98

Fiscal Year 2025 Intercity Passenger Rail (IPR) Program - Amtrak (DHS/FEMA) FAQs

1) What is the Fiscal Year 2025 Intercity Passenger Rail (IPR) Program - Amtrak?

It is a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) / FEMA grant opportunity focused on strengthening transportation infrastructure security in the intercity passenger rail environment operated by Amtrak. The program supports security-related activities and capabilities intended to reduce the risk of terrorist attacks against critical surface transportation assets and the traveling public.

2) Which federal agencies are associated with this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is offered under DHS/FEMA and sits within FEMA's broader set of transportation infrastructure security grant programs.

3) What is the primary purpose of this program?

The purpose is to provide federal funding for security activities and capabilities that help protect Amtrak's infrastructure, operations, and passengers from acts of terrorism, consistent with Congress-authorized efforts to reduce terrorism risk to critical surface transportation assets.

4) Is this opportunity competitive or open to multiple applicants?

Based on the provided information, it is not structured as an open competition. The eligible applicant category is listed as "Others," but the description clarifies that the intended recipient is Amtrak (a federally chartered corporation). This indicates it is effectively a direct federal funding vehicle to Amtrak.

5) Who is eligible to apply?

The intended and effectively eligible recipient is Amtrak, identified as a federally chartered corporation. The eligible applicant category is listed as "Others," but the description makes clear the program is designed for Amtrak rather than multiple public or private entities.

6) What type of award will be made?

The award will be made as a cooperative agreement. This generally means FEMA expects ongoing involvement or oversight in how the funded activities are carried out, rather than issuing a hands-off grant.

7) What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial federal involvement. In this case, FEMA is expected to have ongoing involvement or oversight related to implementation of the funded security activities, rather than simply providing funding with minimal federal interaction.

8) Is this opportunity marked as mandatory?

Yes. The opportunity is listed as mandatory in the information provided.

9) What is the funding activity category for this program?

The funding activity category is Disaster Prevention and Relief and Transportation.

10) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The program is associated with CFDA number 97.157.

11) What is the official funding opportunity title?

The official title is "Fiscal Year 2025 Intercity Passenger Rail Program."

12) What is the funding opportunity number?

The opportunity number is DHS 25 GPD 157 00 98.

13) How much funding is available?

The award ceiling listed for FY 2025 is $9,000,000.

14) How many awards does FEMA expect to make?

The opportunity anticipates a single award (ExpectedAwards: 1).

15) When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on 2025-08-01.

16) What is the application closing date?

The application closing date is 2025-08-15.

17) Where must applications be submitted?

Applications must be submitted through FEMA's Grants Outcomes (GO) system.

18) What is the link to FEMA's Grants Outcomes (GO) system?

The GO system is accessible at https://go.fema.gov/.

19) What kinds of activities does this program support?

The program supports security-related activities and capabilities designed to protect Amtrak's intercity passenger rail environment, including its infrastructure, operations, and passengers, from acts of terrorism. The information provided does not list specific project types beyond this security and terrorism-risk-reduction focus.

20) Is this grant focused on disaster response or on prevention?

The category includes Disaster Prevention and Relief and Transportation, and the program description emphasizes prevention and risk reduction against terrorist attacks in the intercity passenger rail environment.

21) What transportation environment is specifically targeted?

The targeted environment is intercity passenger rail as operated by Amtrak.

22) Does the opportunity indicate that FEMA will oversee funded work?

Yes. Because it will be awarded as a cooperative agreement, the information indicates FEMA expects ongoing involvement or oversight in how the funded activities are carried out.

23) Is this opportunity intended to protect the general traveling public?

Yes. The description states the program reflects efforts to reduce the risk of terrorist attacks against critical surface transportation assets and the traveling public.

24) Is this a DHS/FEMA transportation infrastructure security grant program?

Yes. It is described as sitting within FEMA's broader set of transportation infrastructure security grant programs and is intended to strengthen transportation infrastructure security in the intercity passenger rail environment.

25) Does the information indicate this is a direct funding vehicle to a single entity?

Yes. The description indicates the program is effectively structured as a direct federal funding vehicle to Amtrak, supported by the single expected award and the eligibility description naming Amtrak as the intended recipient.