Federal Railroad Administration

FRA Resource Center

Doing business with FRA

Grants & Loans

Rail Investment Act

Participating OEM's

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

305 Standards Committee

In February 2012, NIST MEP and DOT's Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) executed an Interagency Agreement (IAA) for the identification and development of a domestic supply base for high speed and intercity passenger rail transportation in the United States. In conjunction with this IAA, and a subsequent modification to the IAA that was executed in June 2012. The FRA is proactively seeking to create awareness of potential railroad supplier opportunities. The objective is to maximize compliance and minimize waiver requests to the DOT seeking an exemption of the Buy America provisions associated with the project awards based upon the "nonavailability" exception to the provisions which claim that the iron, steel, or relevant manufactured good is not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a satisfactory quality.

Supply Chain Forums

In 2012 MEP hosted five Next Generation Supply Chain Connectivity Forums. The objective of the forums was to bring large carbuilders and OEMs together with smaller, capable and interested U.S. manufacturers to facilitate reaching the goal of 100% domestic content in railcars that will be funded by state and federal dollars. These one day forums included representatives from federal and state agencies, local economic development agencies, rail car builders and associated OEMs, and U.S manufacturers who could potentially be their suppliers. View information on past forums.

Publications

• The Emerging U.S. Rail Industry: Opportunities to support American manufacturing and spur regional development
• High-Speed Rail Supply Chain Report: Good For Manufacturing Jobs, Good for Economic Growth and Good for Our Environment