Transportation Pooled Fund - Solicitation Details

National AI Transportation Coalition

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General Information
Solicitation Number: 1662
Former Study Number:
Status: Solicitation posted
Date Posted: Apr 15, 2026
Last Updated: Apr 15, 2026
Solicitation Expires: Apr 15, 2027
Lead Organization: Federal Highway Administration
Financial Summary
Suggested Yearly Contribution: $10,000.00
Commitment Start Year: 2027
Commitment End Year: 2031
100% SP&R Approval: Pending Approval
Commitments Required: $100,000.00
Commitments Received:
Estimated Duration Month: 60
Waiver Requested: Yes
Contact Information
Lead Study Contact(s): Bob Sheehan
robert.sheehan@dot.gov
FHWA Technical Liaison(s): Bob Sheehan
robert.sheehan@dot.gov
Organization Year Commitments Technical Contact Name Funding Contact Name Contact Number Email Address

Background

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) invites participation in a National AI Transportation Pooled Fund (TPF) study to accelerate the adoption of trustworthy and impactful Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies across the nation's transportation system. This study will establish a collaborative framework to guide the research, deployment, and governance of AI, ensuring consistency, reliability, and improved safety and mobility nationwide. This initiative is a critical component of the newly proposed FHWA AI Deployment Center of Excellence (AI COE). 

Transportation stakeholders are highly interested in AI but face significant challenges regarding interjurisdictional consistency, system reliability, and transferability. Relying on AI innovation at the individual State and local level creates risks of duplicated effort and inconsistent implementation. National leadership is required to research and develop innovations, standards, and guidelines that reduce uncertainty and ensure public-sector needs shape emerging transportation AI solutions.

The National AI TPF study will leverage partner contributions to establish a clear strategic direction. The AI COE and the TPF are designed to support a broad range of surface transportation stakeholders, including:

  • State Departments of Transportation (DOTs)

  • Local Agencies / MPOs

  • Private Sector and Academic Partners

  • USDOT Surface Transportation Modal Administrations and other Federal Agencies

  • Tribal Nations

Objectives

The primary objectives of this pooled fund study are to:

  • Establish a National AI Coalition: Secure broad stakeholder participation and financial investment to support the FHWA AI COE.
  • Guide the AI COE Roadmap: Inform the development of the 5-year strategic roadmap for the AI COE, ensuring it is practitioner-driven and focused on high-priority challenges.
  • Advance AI Governance and Best Practices: Lead the development of national AI governance frameworks and oversight models.
  • Foster Collaboration: Serve as the primary bridge between Federal, State, local, Tribal Nations, and industry partners and bring together members of other AI-focused to TPF studies to ensure alignment of activities. This TPF study will also leverage collaboration and feedback from other AI TPF studies. 

Scope of Work

The TPF activities will be governed by a Steering Committee (or Technical Advisory Committee) and focus on accelerating the AI COE's mission.

The AI COE will:

  • Advance high priority AI research driven by stakeholder needs

  • Highlight effective AI governance and oversight models for transportation agencies

  • Advance technical and implementation resources

  • Identify data management best practices and benchmark datasets

  • Showcase procurement resources

  • Support training and workforce readiness programs

  • Promote operational requirements and standard practices for national AI testbeds. Specific use cases, and research needs will be driven by the steering committees and 5-year road map created by partner agencies. 

Comments

Partners are requested to commit $10,000 a year over the five-year period.  

Costs for subsequent years will be determined as part of the pooled fund discussions and based on the needs of the member states. Agencies may contribute additional funds, beyond the base contribution, for other specific research, training, and implementation activities that meet their needs. Different funding contributions are welcome and will be considered on an individual case basis. Please reach out to the lead agency contact for further questions.

*NOTE: The number of state and local participants and funding amounts are for planning purposes and may vary.

No document attached.

National AI Transportation Coalition

General Information
Solicitation Number: 1662
Status: Solicitation posted
Date Posted: Apr 15, 2026
Last Updated: Apr 15, 2026
Solicitation Expires: Apr 15, 2027
Lead Organization: Federal Highway Administration
Financial Summary
Suggested Yearly Contribution: $10,000.00
Commitment Start Year: 2027
Commitment End Year: 2031
100% SP&R Approval: Pending Approval
Commitments Required: $100,000.00
Commitments Received:
Contact Information
Lead Study Contact(s): Bob Sheehan
robert.sheehan@dot.gov
FHWA Technical Liaison(s): Bob Sheehan
robert.sheehan@dot.gov
Commitments by Organizations
No data available.

Background

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) invites participation in a National AI Transportation Pooled Fund (TPF) study to accelerate the adoption of trustworthy and impactful Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies across the nation's transportation system. This study will establish a collaborative framework to guide the research, deployment, and governance of AI, ensuring consistency, reliability, and improved safety and mobility nationwide. This initiative is a critical component of the newly proposed FHWA AI Deployment Center of Excellence (AI COE). 

Transportation stakeholders are highly interested in AI but face significant challenges regarding interjurisdictional consistency, system reliability, and transferability. Relying on AI innovation at the individual State and local level creates risks of duplicated effort and inconsistent implementation. National leadership is required to research and develop innovations, standards, and guidelines that reduce uncertainty and ensure public-sector needs shape emerging transportation AI solutions.

The National AI TPF study will leverage partner contributions to establish a clear strategic direction. The AI COE and the TPF are designed to support a broad range of surface transportation stakeholders, including:

  • State Departments of Transportation (DOTs)

  • Local Agencies / MPOs

  • Private Sector and Academic Partners

  • USDOT Surface Transportation Modal Administrations and other Federal Agencies

  • Tribal Nations

Objectives

The primary objectives of this pooled fund study are to:

  • Establish a National AI Coalition: Secure broad stakeholder participation and financial investment to support the FHWA AI COE.
  • Guide the AI COE Roadmap: Inform the development of the 5-year strategic roadmap for the AI COE, ensuring it is practitioner-driven and focused on high-priority challenges.
  • Advance AI Governance and Best Practices: Lead the development of national AI governance frameworks and oversight models.
  • Foster Collaboration: Serve as the primary bridge between Federal, State, local, Tribal Nations, and industry partners and bring together members of other AI-focused to TPF studies to ensure alignment of activities. This TPF study will also leverage collaboration and feedback from other AI TPF studies. 

Scope of Work

The TPF activities will be governed by a Steering Committee (or Technical Advisory Committee) and focus on accelerating the AI COE's mission.

The AI COE will:

  • Advance high priority AI research driven by stakeholder needs

  • Highlight effective AI governance and oversight models for transportation agencies

  • Advance technical and implementation resources

  • Identify data management best practices and benchmark datasets

  • Showcase procurement resources

  • Support training and workforce readiness programs

  • Promote operational requirements and standard practices for national AI testbeds. Specific use cases, and research needs will be driven by the steering committees and 5-year road map created by partner agencies. 

Comments

Partners are requested to commit $10,000 a year over the five-year period.  

Costs for subsequent years will be determined as part of the pooled fund discussions and based on the needs of the member states. Agencies may contribute additional funds, beyond the base contribution, for other specific research, training, and implementation activities that meet their needs. Different funding contributions are welcome and will be considered on an individual case basis. Please reach out to the lead agency contact for further questions.

*NOTE: The number of state and local participants and funding amounts are for planning purposes and may vary.

No document attached.

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