FTA Issues NOFO for ADCMS Program Lead (UPDATED)

“We’re proud to support construction technology that helps communities build transit projects more quickly,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) on Oct. 13 announced the opportunity to competitively apply for $5,093,000 under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 and 2023 Public Transportation Innovation Program to serve as the Program Lead for the Accelerated Advanced Digital Construction Management Systems (ADCMS) program. Applications are due by Feb. 12, 2024.

According to FTA, the Public Transportation Innovation Program “supports research and demonstrations to develop and deploy ideas, practices and approaches that improve public transportation.” This NOFO (download below) will establish a program, to “plan, deploy, evaluate and promote ADCMS technologies under 49 U.S.C. 5312(b)(4).”

FTA is soliciting proposals for a Program Lead to carry out demonstrations of ADCMS software on transit construction projects and report on the results and experiences, with the purpose of assisting other transit agencies considering adopting ADCMS on their construction projects, the agency announced in the Oct. 13 edition of the Federal Register.

“We’re proud to support construction technology that helps communities build transit projects more quickly,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “This new initiative is another way the Biden Administration is helping agencies deliver infrastructure improvements on-time, on-task, and on-budget.”

FTA says it expects this ADCMS demonstration program to consist of the following basic program elements: (1) overall program management and coordination; (2) demonstration of ADCMS on public transportation construction projects; (3) an evaluation of the demonstration projects centered on the nine program goals in 49 U.S.C. 5312(b)(4); and (4) development of “lessons learned” documents of project findings and an implementation guide intended to assist public transportation agencies accelerate the deployment of ADCMS programs.

Eligible grant applicants include transit agencies, private for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, state or local government entities, and academic institutions. The successful applicant will identify and demonstrate at least two advanced digital construction management systems and work with transit agencies to document best practices for applying the advanced digital construction management tools for transit construction projects. 

According to FTA, the nine goals for the accelerated implementation and deployment of ADCMS technologies in the public transportation industry include:

1. “Accelerated adoption of advanced digital systems applied throughout the lifecycle of transportation infrastructure (including through the planning, design and engineering, construction, operations, and maintenance phases) that maximize interoperability with other systems, products, tools, or applications; boost productivity; manage complexity; reduce project delays and cost overruns; enhance safety and quality; and reduce total costs for the entire lifecycle of transportation infrastructure assets.
   
   
2. “More timely and productive information sharing among stakeholders through reduced reliance on paper to manage construction processes and deliverables such as blueprints, design drawings, procurement and supply-chain orders, equipment logs, daily progress reports, and punch lists.
   
   
3. “Deployment of digital management systems that enable and leverage the use of digital technologies on construction sites by contractors, such as state-of-the-art automated and connected machinery and optimized routing software that allows construction workers to perform tasks faster, more safely, more accurately, and with minimal supervision.
   
   
4. “The development and deployment of best practices for use in digital construction management.
   
   
5. “Increased technology adoption and deployment by States, local governmental authorities, and designated recipients that enable project sponsors to integrate the adoption of digital management systems and technologies in contracts and to weigh the cost of digitization and technology in setting project budgets.
   
   
6. “Technology training and workforce development to build the capabilities of project managers and sponsors that enable States, local governmental authorities, or designated recipients to better manage projects using advanced construction management technologies and to properly measure and reward technology adoption across projects.
   
   
7. “Development of guidance to assist States, local governmental authorities, and designated recipients in updating regulations to allow project sponsors and contractors to report data relating to the project in digital formats and to fully capture the efficiencies and benefits of advanced digital construction management systems and related technologies.
   
   
8. “Reduction in the environmental footprint of construction projects using advanced digital construction management systems resulting from eliminating congestion through more efficient projects.
   
   
9. “Enhanced worker and pedestrian safety resulting from increased transparency.”

“Our goal is to help agencies deliver projects on time and under budget,” said FTA Administrator Nuria Fernandez. “This grant will help us do just that. These advanced platforms are all about efficiency and provide comprehensive tools that will allow transit agencies to complete projects more seamlessly.” 

In July, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) launched the Project Delivery Center of Excellence to help recipients of federal infrastructure funds deliver projects more efficiently and effectively, from concept to completion. The Center, FTA says, will serve as “a central resource for innovative practices and will bring project managers together to enable knowledge sharing and peer-to-peer learning.”