The UC Institute of Transportation Studies (UC ITS) 2025-26 Request for Proposals (RFP) is now open.
Review the 2025-26 proposal information below. Sign up for our mailing list here to receive a reminder of the 2025-26 proposal deadline. The RFP will allocate approximately $2.8 million to support research that addresses and informs transportation policy, planning, and engineering issues in California.
The RFP is open to eligible applicants at all UCs.
Refer to the following resources for more information and to apply:
Important dates and timeline:
- Request for proposals released Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. PT.
- Informational Webinar scheduled for Friday, April 11, 2025 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. PT.
- Proposal submissions due Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. PT.
- Applicants will be notified about award decisions by Tuesday, August 5, 2025.
Have a question? Use this online form to submit questions concerning this RFP, including questions related to preparing project budgets, the status of prior UC ITS-funded projects, eligibility, and other topics. Interested applicants may also use this form to request assistance with identifying a public agency or community-based organization project partner or to request an equity consultation; however, requests must be submitted by Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 5 PM PT.
Frequently Asked Questions
Researchers are limited to being listed as a PI on only one applied research project and as a co-PI on one additional applied research project. There is no limit to the number of translational projects or research synthesis proposals a researcher may be listed as PI or co-PI on.
PIs with in-progress research projects funded in years 2023-24 and prior by the UC ITS may apply, however, all outstanding deliverables must be submitted prior to the proposal deadline (May 20, 2025). PIs with in-progress projects funded in the FY 2024-25 UC ITS RFP cycle must have all deliverables completed before FY 2025-26 funds will be disbursed or the PI will risk loosing the new award. PIs with active UC ITS research projects may inquire about their eligibility using this online form.
Fuel cell vehicles are also relevant for this research priority.
Yes, funding for graduate student researchers is an eligible expense across all project types. From page 8 in the RFP, “Applied research proposals that include funding for one or more graduate student researchers will be more competitive. Funding for graduate students is encouraged but not required on research synthesis and translational project proposals.”
Yes, funding for graduate student researchers is an eligible expense across all project types. From page 10 in the RFP, “Applied research proposals that include funding for one or more graduate student researchers will be more competitive. Funding for graduate students is encouraged on all proposals.”
Yes, proposals on topics not covered by the research priorities listed in the RFP must include a Statement of Support. From page 12 in the RFP, “If the proposal does not directly address one of the research priorities, a statement of support from a non-federal public sector stakeholder or CBO is required to show the relevance and importance of the proposed research to the stakeholder and its community in California.” Additionally, all applicants should demonstrate strong evidence of support in the appropriate sections of the RFP proposal package, including the proposal narrative.
Applicants may submit proposals that build off of research funded in previous RFP cycles. However, if the proposal is on a topic not covered by the research priorities listed in the RFP, then the proposal must include a statement of support that demonstrates strong evidence of public agency and/or community-based organization support. See the above question for more information on how to demonstrate strong evidence of public agency and/or community-based organization support.
