FY26 National Network Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation | FR AMT 26 004

Opportunity Information: Apply for FR AMT 26 004

The FY26 National Network Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation is a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) discretionary funding opportunity under the U.S. Department of Transportation, intended to provide Amtrak with federal financial support for core rail passenger operations and related needs. The opportunity is authorized pursuant to the FY2026 Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch and Extensions Act (Public Law 119-37). Through this cooperative agreement, FRA will make available a total of $427,739,036 to Amtrak to cover three broad categories of expenses: operating costs, capital costs, and debt service. The funds are available for use through January 31, 2029, or until the allocation is fully expended, whichever comes first.

The purpose of the funding is to help sustain and support Amtrak activities across both the Northeast Corridor (NEC) and the National Network. That includes NEC train services and infrastructure needs, as well as National Network services that cover state-supported routes and long-distance routes. In practice, the grant is designed to ensure Amtrak can continue providing passenger rail service while also maintaining and improving the assets that support that service, and meeting financial obligations such as debt service.

Only Amtrak is eligible to apply, and FRA expects to make a single award. The funding opportunity number is FR AMT 26 004, and the assistance listing is tied to CFDA/Assistance Listing 20.315 under the transportation category. The application deadline listed is January 8, 2026. Because this is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, it signals that FRA anticipates an ongoing federal role in overseeing the award, monitoring performance, and coordinating on the approved scope of work, consistent with how cooperative agreements are typically administered.

To receive the funds, Amtrak must submit a complete electronic grant application package that includes standard federal forms along with narrative and planning documentation that explains what the money will support. The required submission elements include the SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance) and a Statement of Work describing the activities Amtrak plans to carry out with the funding. Amtrak must also provide a detailed description of projected operating and capital costs for the upcoming fiscal year, specifically covering both NEC activities (including train services and infrastructure) and National Network activities (including state-supported and long-distance routes). Importantly, those projections must be presented in comparison to actual financial performance from the prior fiscal year, which creates a year-over-year context for the request and helps FRA evaluate the reasonableness and necessity of the proposed funding levels.

In addition to broader cost descriptions, Amtrak must identify and describe the capital projects it intends to fund, including cost estimates and an estimated timetable for completing the projects covered by the request. This requirement pushes the submission beyond a general budget narrative and into project-level planning, giving FRA visibility into how capital dollars will translate into specific deliverables, schedules, and anticipated outcomes. Amtrak must also include a description of the status of efforts to improve its safety culture, reflecting a federal emphasis on organizational safety performance and continuous improvement, not just physical infrastructure or service outputs.

The application package must further include federal assurances forms: SF-424B (Assurances for Non-Construction Programs) and SF-424D (Assurances for Construction Programs). Finally, Amtrak must submit signed copies of the FRA Assurances and Certifications forms, using the FRA-provided documents available at the cited link. Together, these assurances and certifications function as formal commitments that the recipient will comply with applicable federal requirements tied to the use of federal funds, spanning areas that commonly include financial management, civil rights compliance, procurement standards, and program integrity expectations.

In short, this opportunity is a targeted, single-recipient federal funding action meant to route appropriated funds to Amtrak for near-term and medium-term support of passenger rail operations, capital investments, and debt service. The required materials focus on clear articulation of the planned scope of work, transparent presentation of projected versus actual financial needs across NEC and National Network activities, concrete capital project planning with timelines and cost estimates, and documented progress on strengthening safety culture, alongside the standard federal forms and certifications that govern how the money can be used and overseen.

• The DOT - Federal Railroad Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY26 National Network Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.315.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2025-12-11.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-01-08. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $427,739,036.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for FR AMT 26 004

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