Opportunity Information: Apply for DOT OST 2016 0236
The Notice of Funding Availability for the Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC) is a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) discretionary funding opportunity designed to support a single organization in operating an SBTRC through a cooperative agreement. The purpose of the SBTRC program is to strengthen the capacity of small businesses that want to compete for, win, and successfully perform transportation-related work connected to DOT funding and the broader transportation industry. In practice, the funded SBTRC serves as a hands-on resource that helps small firms navigate contracting processes and build readiness to work with DOT grantees and recipients, as well as with prime contractors and subcontractors.
This opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DOT OST 2016 0236; CFDA 20.910) is administered by the Department of Transportation, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU). The funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement, which typically means the agency expects to be more involved than in a standard grant, often through collaboration, shared planning, or ongoing coordination around deliverables. The award ceiling is $175,000, and DOT expected to make one award under this notice. The opportunity was created on December 19, 2016, with an original application deadline of February 3, 2017.
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations that have 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, excluding institutions of higher education. While the description notes that SBTRCs can be established through chambers of commerce, trade associations, educational institutions, and business-centered community-based organizations, the eligibility listing for this specific notice narrows applicants to qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofits (and specifically not universities/colleges). The implication for applicants is that they need to be able to demonstrate not only nonprofit status, but also a credible operational ability to deliver training and technical assistance at a professional standard to transportation-related small business clients.
The core work of an SBTRC under this program centers on business training, technical assistance, and information sharing for entities participating in DOT-related contracting. That includes DOT grantees and recipients (such as state and local agencies receiving DOT funds), as well as the private-sector primes and subcontractors that deliver projects funded by or associated with DOT programs. Services described in the notice include information dissemination (getting contracting and business opportunity information out to small firms), small business counseling (one-on-one or tailored guidance), and technical assistance to support small businesses that are currently working, or trying to work, with public and private transportation industry partners.
A major expectation in this notice is that the SBTRC must be meaningfully connected to the local transportation ecosystem. DOT emphasizes that to be effective, the center cannot operate in isolation; it must be active in the local transportation community so it can identify upcoming opportunities, communicate them to small businesses, and provide practical help aligned with real procurement and project needs. This means the applicant needs to show that it understands how transportation contracting works in its region and that it can maintain a presence and relationships that keep it plugged into what agencies and primes are buying, when they are buying it, and what requirements small firms must meet to compete.
Another key requirement is the ability to establish and maintain working relationships with a network of relevant agencies and technical assistance providers. The notice specifically calls out relationships with state and local transportation agencies, as well as established business assistance organizations such as the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Centers (MBDCs), Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs), SCORE, and state DOT highway supportive services contractors in the region. The practical takeaway is that DOT expects the SBTRC to be a connector and amplifier rather than duplicating existing services. By coordinating with these partners, the SBTRC can refer clients, co-host events, align counseling with available resources, and ensure that small businesses receive comprehensive support that matches their stage of development, whether they need fundamentals (business planning, certification readiness) or advanced help (bid strategies, compliance, subcontracting plans, project performance management).
Overall, this funding opportunity supports one nonprofit-led SBTRC that can function as a regional hub for transportation-related small business support. DOT is looking for an organization that is already embedded in the local transportation and small business assistance landscape (or can clearly demonstrate the ability to become embedded quickly), and that can deliver practical, opportunity-driven training and technical assistance that helps small firms participate more effectively in transportation contracting markets.Apply for DOT OST 2016 0236
- The Department of Transportation, DOT/Office of Small Disadvantaged Utilization in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Funding Availability for Small Business Transportation Resource Center" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.910.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 19, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 03, 2017. (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 $175,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC) - Funding Opportunity FAQs
What is this funding opportunity?
This Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) is a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) discretionary funding opportunity to support a single organization in operating a Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC) through a cooperative agreement.
What is the purpose of the SBTRC program?
The purpose of the SBTRC program is to strengthen the capacity of small businesses that want to compete for, win, and successfully perform transportation-related work connected to DOT funding and the broader transportation industry.
What does an SBTRC do in practice?
The SBTRC is intended to function as a hands-on resource that helps small firms navigate contracting processes and build readiness to work with DOT grantees and recipients, as well as with prime contractors and subcontractors in the transportation industry.
Which DOT office administers this opportunity?
This opportunity is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU).
What are the identifying numbers for this opportunity?
The Funding Opportunity Number is DOT OST 2016 0236 and the CFDA number is 20.910.
What type of funding instrument is being used?
The funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant?
A cooperative agreement typically indicates that DOT expects to be more involved than it would be with a standard grant, often through collaboration, shared planning, and ongoing coordination around deliverables.
How many awards does DOT expect to make?
DOT expected to make one award under this notice.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $175,000.
When was this opportunity created, and what was the original deadline?
The opportunity was created on December 19, 2016, with an original application deadline of February 3, 2017.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations that have 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, excluding institutions of higher education.
Are colleges and universities eligible applicants?
No. Institutions of higher education are specifically excluded under the eligibility criteria for this notice.
The description mentions chambers of commerce, trade associations, educational institutions, and community-based organizations. Are those eligible?
The notice notes that SBTRCs can be established through those types of entities in general, but for this specific funding opportunity the eligibility is narrowed to qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and excludes institutions of higher education. Organizations must meet the stated eligibility requirement to apply.
What kinds of capabilities should an applicant be prepared to demonstrate?
Applicants should be able to demonstrate verified 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and a credible operational ability to deliver training and technical assistance at a professional standard to transportation-related small business clients.
Who are the intended beneficiaries of SBTRC services?
The SBTRC is designed to support small businesses that are pursuing or performing transportation-related work tied to DOT funding and the broader transportation industry, including firms seeking to work with DOT grantees and recipients, prime contractors, and subcontractors.
What kinds of services are expected from the SBTRC?
The core work includes business training, technical assistance, and information sharing for entities participating in DOT-related contracting. The notice describes services such as information dissemination (sharing contracting and business opportunity information), small business counseling (including one-on-one or tailored guidance), and technical assistance for firms working with or seeking to work with public and private transportation industry partners.
What does "information dissemination" mean in this context?
It refers to getting relevant contracting and business opportunity information out to small businesses so they can identify and pursue transportation-related work.
What does "small business counseling" mean in this context?
It refers to one-on-one or tailored guidance designed to help small firms understand and navigate contracting processes and improve readiness to compete for transportation-related work.
What does "technical assistance" mean in this context?
It refers to practical support that helps small businesses currently working, or trying to work, with DOT grantees/recipients and transportation industry primes/subcontractors, with an emphasis on improving their ability to compete and perform successfully.
Does DOT expect the SBTRC to be connected to the local transportation contracting environment?
Yes. A major expectation is that the SBTRC must be meaningfully connected to the local transportation ecosystem. DOT emphasizes that the center should not operate in isolation and should be active in the local transportation community.
Why is local transportation ecosystem involvement emphasized?
DOT highlights that being active in the local transportation community helps the SBTRC identify upcoming opportunities, communicate them to small businesses, and provide practical assistance aligned with real procurement and project needs.
What does it mean for an SBTRC to "not operate in isolation"?
It means the SBTRC is expected to maintain an active presence and relationships in the region so it stays informed about what agencies and primes are buying, when they are buying it, and what requirements small firms must meet to compete.
Is building partnerships and referral networks part of the expectation?
Yes. The SBTRC is expected to establish and maintain working relationships with a network of relevant agencies and technical assistance providers.
Which partner organizations are specifically referenced in the notice?
The notice calls out relationships with state and local transportation agencies and established business assistance organizations such as U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Centers (MBDCs), Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs), SCORE, and state DOT highway supportive services contractors in the region.
Is the SBTRC expected to replace existing small business support programs?
No. The practical takeaway in the notice is that DOT expects the SBTRC to be a connector and amplifier rather than duplicating existing services.
How is coordination with other technical assistance providers expected to help small businesses?
By coordinating with partners, the SBTRC can refer clients, co-host events, align counseling with available resources, and help ensure small businesses receive support that matches their stage of development (from fundamentals like business planning and certification readiness to more advanced needs like bid strategies, compliance, subcontracting plans, and project performance management).
What is the overall goal of funding an SBTRC through this NOFA?
The overall goal is to support one nonprofit-led SBTRC that functions as a regional hub for transportation-related small business support, delivering practical, opportunity-driven training and technical assistance that helps small firms participate more effectively in transportation contracting markets.
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