Application Notes:

Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on June 17, 2024.

Applications must be submitted online at www.ecivis.com/grants.gov. Mailed and faxed submissions will not be accepted.

Applications must include:

• SF 424
• Supplemental form
• Supporting documents, such as eligibility documentation, letters of support, project budgets, fleet status reports, and excerpts from relevant planning documents (optional)

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.

An optional webinar for this program is scheduled as follows:

May 2, 2024
2:30 p.m. ET
Passcode: 638376
URL: usdot.zoomgov.com

Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Demonstration of need
• Demonstration of benefits
• Planning and local/regional prioritization
• Local financial commitment
• Project implementation strategy
• Technical, legal, and financial capacity

Refer to pages 7-8 of the NOFA file for information regarding additional application evaluation criteria.

Refer to the NOFA file for additional application information.

Match Notes:

In general, applicants must provide at least 20 percent of the net project cost via nonfederal cash and/or in-kind contributions. Applicants proposing planning projects must provide at least 20 percent of the net project costs.

For operating projects, there is no maximum federal share; however, applicants must provide at least 75 percent of the three-year average prior to the pandemic, which includes 2017, 2018, and 2019, on an annual basis to support ferry service for the period supported by this program

For projects that involve acquiring vehicles, applicants must provide at least 15 percent of the net project of acquiring vehicles, including clean-fuel or alternative fuel vehicles, for the purposes of complying with or maintaining compliance with the Clean Air Act (CAA) or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.

For projects that involve acquiring, installing, or constructing vehicle-related equipment or facilities, applicants must provide at least 10 percent of the net project cost of acquiring, installing, or constructing vehicle-related equipment or facilities, including clean fuel or alternative-fuel vehicle-related equipment or facilities, for the purposes of complying with or maintaining compliance with the ADA or CAA.

Additional consideration will be given to projects for which local funds have already been made available or reserved.

Eligible matching contributions include:

• Cash from non-governmental sources other than revenues from providing public transportation services
• Non-farebox revenues from the operation of public transportation services, such as the sale of advertising and concession revenues
• Monies received under a service agreement with a state or local social service agency or private social service organization
• Undistributed cash surpluses, replacement or depreciation cash funds, reserves available in cash, or new capital
• Amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to a department or agency of the government, other than the funding agency, that are eligible to be expended for public transportation
• In-kind contributions integral to the project
• Revenue bond proceeds for a capital project, with prior funding agency approval
• Transportation Development Credits (TDCs)

Funding Notes:

Approximately $216 million is available to support awards through this program. There are no minimum or maximum award amounts; however, applicants are encouraged to identify scaled funding options in case insufficient funding is available to fund a project at the full requested amount.

Of the total funding available, $20 million provided by the Consolidated Appropriations Act is available for entities that operate ferry service with a single segment of over 15 miles between two rural areas and meet all other program requirements.

Funds will be available for obligation for five years. Additional consideration will be given to projects for which funds can be obligated within 12 months of the award.

For operating projects, funds may not be used to replace existing state or local operating funds.

Funds may not be used for projects that have already incurred costs, unless the funding agency provides pre-award authority to incur costs, as detailed on pages 2 and 9 of the NOFA file, with the exception of any proposed continuation of projects funded from this program's FY 2022 or FY 2023 solicitations.

For FY 2023, a total of $170 million was distributed via six awards ranging from $400,000 to $92,786,400 through this program. For FY 2022, a total of $252.4 million was distributed via eight awards ranging from $1,345,241 to $72,065,545. Refer to the Award file for details.