Application Notes:

Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on May 6, 2024.

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

Applications must include:

• SF 424
• SF 424C
• Project information form
• Project description (5 pages max)
• Project location file
• Project budget (5 pages max)
• Funding commitment documentation
• Outcome criteria (15 pages max)
• Benefit/cost analysis narrative
• Benefit/cost analysis calculations
• Project readiness (5 pages max)
• Project requirements (5 pages max)
• Letters of support (optional)

The funding agency expects the application to be prepared with standard formatting preferences, such as single-spacing, one-inch margins, and a standard 12-point font such as Times New Roman. In general, documents should be submitted in .pdf format; however, the project information form must be submitted in Excel format, and applicants are encouraged to submit the benefit/cost analysis calculations in Excel format as well. The project location file must be submitted as a zipped Shapefile or KML/KMZ. If possible, website links to supporting documents should be provided rather than copies of these supporting materials.

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 will be held for this program as follows:

How to Apply for the MPDG Opportunity - Smaller Scale Projects:
April 3, 2024
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET
Registration: usdot.zoomgov.com

How to Apply for the MPDG Opportunity - Larger Scale Projects:
April 5, 2024
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
Registration: usdot.zoomgov.com

How to Prepare a Benefit/Cost Analysis:
April 9, 2024
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET
Registration: usdot.zoomgov.com

Recordings of the webinars can be found online at www.transportation.gov/grants/mpdg-webinars.

Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Project outcome criteria:
  • Safety
  • State of good repair
  • Economic impacts, freight movement, and job creation
  • Climate change, resiliency, and the environment
  • Equity, multimodal options, and quality of life
  • Innovation areas: technology, project delivery, and financing
• Economic analysis rating
• Project readiness rating:
  • Environmental risk
  • Technical capacity assessment
  • Financial completeness assessment
• Additional considerations:
  • Geographic diversity
  • Statutory requirements
• Previous awards

Refer to the NOFA and WebinarSchedule files for additional application information.

Match Notes:

In general, applicants must provide at least 40 percent of total project costs; however, projects funded through the INFRA Leverage Pilot program will be funded with a federal share of less than 50 percent, as detailed on page 13 of the NOFA file.

Other federal assistance may be used as a match; however, total federal assistance, including funding provided through the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) and Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) programs, known in eCivis Grants Network as US1116 and US12985, respectively, for the proposed project is generally limited to 80 percent of total project costs. Refer to page 13 of the NOFA file for additional information and exceptions to this rule.

For federal land management agencies applying jointly with a state or a group of states and carrying out the project, federal funds that were not made available under Title 23 or Title 49 of the U.S. Code (U.S.C.) may be used as a match.

For large projects, applicants must demonstrate the availability of one or more stable and dependable nonfederal funding or financing sources to construct, maintain, and operate the project, and to cover unanticipated cost increases.

Matching contributions may not include:

• Funds used as cost share for another federal program, unless otherwise authorized by statute
• Previously incurred costs or previously expended or encumbered funds

Funding Notes:

Approximately $2.7 billion is available to support awards through this program. The minimum award amount will vary according to project type, as follows:

• Large projects: $25 million
• Small projects: $5 million

The total funding available for this program will be allocated as follows:

• At least 15 percent will be allocated to small projects, of which at least 30 percent will be allocated to projects located in rural areas
• Up to 85 percent will be allocated to large projects, of which at least 25 percent will be allocated to projects located in rural areas
• Up to 30 percent will be allocated to the following types of projects:
  • Projects involving freight rail, or water, including ports and marine highway corridors
  • Other freight intermodal projects that make significant improvements to freight movement on the National Highway Freight Network or National Multimodal Freight Network
  • Wildlife crossing projects
  • Projects located within, or functionally connected to, an international border crossing area in the United States
  • Projects that improve a transportation facility owned by a federal, state, or local government entity
  • Projects that increase the throughput efficiency of border crossings
• A total of $150 million will be allocated to INFRA Leverage Pilot program projects that provide less than 50 percent of total project costs via matching contributions, of which at least 10 percent will be allocated to small projects and at least 25 percent will be allocated to rural projects

The minimum required total project cost for large projects will vary according to project type, as follows:

• $100 million
• Thirty percent of a state's most recent federal aid apportionment for projects located in one state

Refer to page 12 of the NOFA file for a list of minimum total project cost amounts for large projects according to state. Projects that do not meet the minimum aforementioned project size requirements will be considered small projects for the purposes of this program.

Large projects are expected to begin construction within 18 months after the date of obligation of funds.

For FY 2023/2024, 28 awards were provided through this program. For FY 2022, a total of $1.5 billion was disbursed via 26 awards ranging from $10 million to $150 million. For FY 2021, a total of $905.25 million was disbursed via 24 awards ranging from $5 million to $92,111,956. Refer to the Award file for details.

April 12, 2024
The presentation slides from this program's webinars have been released and attached in the WebinarPresentation folder. In addition, recordings of the webinars have been released, and a link to the presentations is available in the Application section.