The UC Institute of Transportation Studies (UC ITS) 2024-25 Request for Proposals (RFP) is now available.

The RFP will allocate approximately $2.7 million to support research that addresses and informs transportation policy, planning, and engineering issues in California. 

The RFP is open to eligible applicants at UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, and UCLA.

Refer to the following resources for more information and to apply: 

Important dates and timeline:

    • Request for proposals released Monday, April 15, 2024.
    • Proposal submissions due Friday, May 31, 2024 at 5:00 PM PT.
    • Informational Webinar scheduled for Monday, April 29, 2024 from 2:00 – 3:00 PM PT.
    • Applicants will be notified about award decisions by Monday, August 5, 2024.

Interested applicants are also invited to attend one of three virtual drop-in Equity Workshops and Consultations organized by UC ITS Equity Research Manager Adonia Lugo. Registration is not required. Use this Zoom link for all three meetings. Meeting dates are as follows:

    • Friday, April 26, 2024 – 9:00 AM PT
    • Thursday, May 2, 2024 – 11:00 AM PT
    • Friday, May 3, 2024 – 1:00 PM PT

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 May 6, 2024.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is there a limit on the number of proposals that a Principal Investigator (PI) may submit?

There is no limit on the number of proposals that a PI can submit in response to this RFP. However, PIs should be aware that project award decisions will be competitive.

2. Can PIs with in-progress research projects funded by the UC ITS apply for funding in response to this RFP?

PIs with in-progress research projects funded by the UC ITS in previous funding rounds may apply, however, this does not include projects that are active but past due and/or projects that have not satisfied all grant deliverables. PIs with active UC ITS research projects may inquire about their eligibility using this online form.

3. For Topic V. Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment and Grid Implications, are only battery electric vehicles considered relevant or are fuel cell electric vehicles (and their refueling infrastructure) also relevant?

Fuel cell vehicles are also relevant for this research priority.

4. What type of grid implications are relevant for Topic V. Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment and Grid Implications? 

We invite proposals that explore the impacts of electric vehicle charging on the grid in terms of increasing demand, triggering upgrades, accelerating aging of grid infrastructure / equipment, providing grid services, and/or aligning (or not) with renewable generation.

5. Can funding for graduate student researchers be included on Translational Projects?

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.”

6. For proposals on topics not covered by the research priorities listed in the RFP, are there additional forms or information that needs to be included in the proposal to demonstrate strong evidence of public agency and/or community-based organization support?

Proposals on topics not covered by the research priorities listed in the RFP do not need to include any additional forms or information to demonstrate strong evidence of public agency and/or community-based organization support. Rather, applicants should demonstrate strong evidence of support in the appropriate sections of the RFP proposal package, including the proposal narrative and statement of support.

7. To what extent will proposals that build off of research funded in previous RFP cycles be considered in the current FY 2024-25 RFP cycle?

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 demonstrate 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.

8. Is a Staffing and Collaboration Plan required? The Staffing and Collaboration Plan is mentioned in the RFP (section 4.2) but does not appear in the proposal template.

Please see the revised RFP rev 1 (posted 5-30-24) for a correction to this section. A Staffing Plan and personnel table are not required. A Collaboration Plan is required for multicampus proposals only.