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Prioritization Process Pilot Program - FY 2022-2024

Agency: U.S. Department of Transportation
CFDA: 20.205
Federal FON: 693JJ324NF00010
Office: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Acquisition and Grants Management
Multipart Grant: No
Next Due: 05/01/2024 (Application)
Solicitation Date: 02/22/2024
   
Match Required: No
Actual Funds: Unspecified
Range: $30,000,000 (Max)
Award Range: $2,000,000 (Max)
Summary:

The purpose of this program is to support metropolitan planning organizations (MPO) and states to develop and implement a publicly accessible and transparent prioritization process for the selection of projects for inclusion in metropolitan and statewide short-range and long-range transportation plans that support data-driven approaches to planning which, on completion, can be evaluated for public benefit.

This program is intended to support the development and implementation of pilot prioritization processes that address and integrate the components of existing transportation programs and support projects that improve safety, climate change and sustainability, equity, and economic strength and global competitiveness consistent with the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT’s) strategic goals. This program is also intended to support projects that address environmental justice, barriers to opportunity, coordination and integration of transportation and land use, vulnerable users, transparent public involvement, Complete Streets, freight, and system condition and reliability.

All projects must advance the following goals:

  • Safety: advance safe and efficient transportation by significantly reducing serious and fatal injuries on the nation’s roadways
  • Climate change and sustainability: incorporate prioritization and selection processes for identifying projects that could:
    • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector
    • Incorporate evidence-based climate resilience measures and features
    • Reduce the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from the project materials
    • Avoid adverse environmental impacts to air or water quality, wetlands, and endangered species
    • Address the disproportionate negative environmental impacts of transportation on disadvantaged communities
  • Equity: create data-driven prioritization and selection processes that lead to proportional impacts and benefits to all populations in the planning area, that remove transportation related disparities in the planning area, and that increase equitable access to the benefits of selected projects
  • Workforce development, job quality, and wealth creation: support the creation of good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and the incorporation of strong labor standards, training, and placement programs in project planning stages

All projects must also address all of the statutory required uses of funding under sections 11204(c)(1)(A-D); 11204(c)(2)(A) or (B); and 11204(c)(2)(D) of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), as detailed on pages 9-12 of the NOFA file.

In addition, all projects must also include a public involvement plan that ensures transparency, accessibility, and accountability to the public throughout the development of the prioritization process as well as its implementation and use, as detailed on pages 4-5 of the NOFA file.

Priority will be given to projects that meet one or more of the following criteria:

  • Include a data-driven safety analysis enabling consideration of safety to safely restore community connections and to ensure that safety is a key input in decision-making
  • Demonstrate that the proposed project prioritization process supports selecting transportation investments that consider climate change and sustainability
  • Demonstrate that the proposed prioritization process allows for consideration of a project’s ability to enable or enhance access to goods and job opportunities throughout the planning area
  • Demonstrate that the proposed prioritization process integrates into, is informed by, and will apprise the policy development and project selection processes for one or more transportation plans, as detailed on page 37 of the NOFA file

Eligible costs may include costs for development and implementation phase activities and costs, including planning, data collection and analysis, and operational improvements directly relating to the project.

Optional webinars are scheduled for this program. Refer to the Application section for details.

Last Updated: January 15, 2025

Eligibility Notes:

Eligible applicants are:

  • Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) that serve a census-delineated urban area with a population of over 200,000
  • States

Applicants that are states must develop the prioritization process in consultation with all the MPOs in the state. In addition, state applicants must serve the whole state rather than only one area or region of a state.

Priority will be given to applicants that do not have an established prioritization process or needs significant improvements to an existing process.

Applicants may receive funding through this program for a single prioritization process from more than one application cycle.

Only one application will be accepted per applicant.

Applicants may apply for the same award amounts from multiple U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) discretionary programs or apply for a combination of funding from multiple DOT programs.

MPOs that serve an area with a population of under 200,000 are not eligible to apply.

FY 2022-2024 award recipients include:

  • California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) (CA)
  • Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization (FL)
  • Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (OH)
  • Richmond Regional Planning District Commission (VA)

Refer to the Award file for additional information on FY 2022-2024 award recipients.

Eligible Applicants:
Local Government
State Government
Application Notes:

Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on May 1, 2024.

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

Applications must include:

  • SF 424
  • SF 424A
  • SF 424B
  • SF LLL
  • Grants.gov lobbying form
  • Key contacts form (optional)
  • Project narrative (25 pages max):
    • Cover page
    • Basic project information
    • Grant funds and sources and uses of all project funding
    • Merit criteria
    • Project readiness
    • Administration priorities and departmental strategic plan goals
    • Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) priority selection considerations
    • Letters of support
  • Supporting data and documentation (optional)

The project narrative is recommended to be formatted on single-spaced pages with one-inch margins using a standard 12-point font, such as Times New Roman. Supporting documentation should be submitted as website links.

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.

Optional webinars for this program are scheduled as follows:

March 7, 2024
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET
Registration: usdot.zoomgov.com

April 9, 2024
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET

Registration information for the April 9, 2024, webinar will be posted online at www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/pppp.

A recording of a webinar held for this program can be found online at www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/pppp using the passcode "8.V4PBU6."

Applications will be evaluated according to the following merit criteria:

  • Prioritization process plan
  • Equity
  • Budget and schedule

Refer to pages 25-39 of the NOFA file for additional information regarding the application evaluation process for this program, including information regarding additional application evaluation criteria.

Refer to the NOFA file for additional application information.

Match Required: No
Actual Funds: Unspecified
Range: $30,000,000 (Max)
Award Range: $2,000,000 (Max)
Match Notes:

Matching funds are not required for this program and this program may cover up to 100 percent of the total project cost; however, applicants should detail any additional funding sources for the project in the application.

Priority will be given to applicants that would not be able to begin or complete the project without funding provided through this program.

Funding Notes:

Up to $30 million is available to support awards of up to $2 million through this program. There is no minimum award amount.

Applicants are encouraged to identify scaled funding options. Applicants that identify the project as scalable must provide an appropriate minimum funding amount that will fund the project, achieve the objectives of this program, and meets all relevant program requirements.

The total funding available through this program will be allocated and obligated according to fiscal year, as follows:

  • FY 2022: up to $10 million will be obligated by September 30, 2025
  • FY 2023: up to $10 million will be obligated by September 30, 2026
  • FY 2024: up to $10 million will be obligated by September 30, 2027

Funds will be provided on a reimbursement basis.

Award recipients are expected to develop the proposed prioritization process and begin implementation of awarded projects within two years from the date of obligation of the awarded funds, including progress reporting requirements. Priority may be given to projects that are reasonably expected to begin and be completed in a timely manner.

Any cost-savings realized after the conclusion of implementing a funded project may be used for any transportation planning purpose.

Applicants must budget for sufficient contingency amounts to cover unanticipated cost increases.

Funds may not be used for:

  • Costs incurred prior to the obligation of awarded funds, unless authorized by the funding agency in writing
  • Supporting or opposing union organizing, whether directly or as an offset for other funds

For FY 2022-2024, over $24 million was distributed via 16 awards ranging from $507,319 to $2 million through this program. Refer to the Award file for details.

Contacts:

Mishel McCants
Agreement Specialist
(202) 366-4244
PPPP@dot.gov

Hector R. Santamaria
Agreement Officer/Team Leader
(202) 493-2402
PPPP@dot.gov

Agency Address
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
Washington, D.C. 20590

Contact Notes:

Applicants are encouraged to submit questions to the program staff by April 11, 2024. Questions submitted via email are preferred. A list of questions and answers regarding this program will be posted online at grants.gov.

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

The agency address provided is for reference purposes only.

Files:
NOFA File: US17351_NOFA_FY2022-24.pdf (505.1 Kb)
Other Pre-Award File: US17351_Overview_FY2022-24.pdf (147.7 Kb)
Other Pre-Award File: US17351_FAQ_FY2022-24.pdf (219.0 Kb)
Other Pre-Award File: US17351_WebinarPresentation_FY2022-24.pdf (1.2 Mb)
Award File: US17351_Award_FY2022-24.pdf (404.6 Kb)
File Notes:

The NOFA file contains the full solicitation for this program. The Overview file contains general program information, including additional information regarding optional webinars that are scheduled for this program. The FAQ file contains a list of answers to frequently asked questions regarding this program. The WebinarPresentation file contains the presentation slides for a webinar held for this program. The Award file contains information on FY 2022-2024 award recipients.

January 15, 2025
Information regarding awards through this program has been released and attached as 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.

Grant Keywords
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Grant Categories
Economic Development
Environment/Natural Resources
Human Services
Transportation