Application Notes:

Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on February 2, 2024.

Applications must be submitted online at www.ecivis.com/grants.gov.

Applications must include:

• Technical application:
  • Cover page and table of contents
  • Project narrative
  • Management structure
  • Project outcome criteria
  • Staffing description (5 pages max)
  • Appendix: resumes
  • Exhibits and attachments supporting the technical volume (30 pages max)
• Budget application:
  • SF 424
  • SF 424A
  • SF LLL
  • Summary budget narrative
  • Cost share information, including letters of commitment
  • Other federal funding received or requested
  • Organizational information

Technical applications, excluding the cover page and table of contents, resumes, and exhibitions/attachments, may not exceed 30 pages. Only five key personnel may be proposed in the application. Individual resumes are limited to four pages each. The budget application must be submitted as one file. Volume 2 must be provided in .pdf format. The funding agency recommends the technical application file be formatted on single-spaced, standard-sized pages with one-inch margins, using a standard 12-point font, such as Times New Roman. All pages must be consecutively numbered. The funding agency suggests that pictures, graphics, and other large files be reduced in number and quality to keep the size of the files in line with the suggested maximum application size of 200 MB. 

The following are required in order to submit an application:

• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number
• SAM (System for Award Management) registration

Applicants may obtain a UEI number and verify or renew SAM registration status at www.ecivis.com/sam.

Applicants may submit optional, but encouraged notices of intent to apply prior to submitting applications. Notices of intent to apply must be emailed to the address provided in the Contact section.

An optional informational webinar is expected to be scheduled for this program. The date of the webinar is yet to be determined. Additional information is expected to be posted online at www.grants.gov.

Applications will be evaluated using the following criteria:

• Technical merit
• Staffing
• Cost

Refer to pages 40-57 of the NOFA file for additional information regarding the program's evaluation criteria and selection process.

Refer to the NOFA file for additional application information.

Match Notes:

Applicants must provide at least 20 percent of the total project costs via nonfederal cash and/or in-kind contributions. Matching contributions may include general treasury funds, revolving loan funds, capital budgets, labor, and equipment.

Other federal funds using their appropriate matching share may be leveraged but will not be considered matching funds unless otherwise supported by statute.

Pre-award costs may not be used as matching contributions.

Funding Notes:

Up to $120 million is expected to be available to support 10 to 20 cost-reimbursable cooperative agreements or allocations to state departments of transportation of up to $12 million per fiscal year through this program. A total of $60 million of funding is available for each of the fiscal years 2023 and 2024. Up to $2 million may be set aside in each fiscal year for the funding agency's administrative costs. 

At least 20 percent of the funds available under this program will be reserved for projects serving rural areas, defined as an area with a population of fewer than 50,000, according to 2020 census data.

Funding will be provided on a reimbursement basis.

Project periods will span from two to four years. Refer to pages 56-58 of the NOFA file for information regarding the timing of required deliverables. Applicants must hold a preliminary project kick-off meeting within six weeks of award announcements.

All project income must be added to awards and used for the same purposes. Project income that applicants did not anticipate at the time of application must be used to reduce federal awards rather than to increase the funds committed to the project.

Conference costs and subawards will only be allowed with prior approval from the funding agency.

No more than 5 percent of awarded funds in each fiscal year may be used to carry out planning and reporting requirements.

Funds may not be used for:

• Supporting or opposing union organizing
• Pre-award costs
• Application preparation costs
• Food and beverage costs as conference expenses

For FY 2023/2024, more than $96.5 million was distributed via 20 awards ranging from $551,732 to $11,945,832 through this program. For FY 2022, a total of $52,780,000 was distributed via eight awards ranging from $1 million to $11,935,000. Refer to the Award file for details.

December 6, 2024
Information regarding awards through this program has been released and appended to the Award file. A sample of award recipients has been added to the Eligibility section, and a brief summary of the awards has been added to the Financial section.