Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program (Stage 2) (Limited Eligibility) - FY 2024
Agency: | U.S. Department of Transportation |
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CFDA: | 20.941 |
Federal FON: | DOT-SMART-FY24-02 |
Office: | Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R) |
Multipart Grant: | No |
Next Due: | 08/14/2024 (Multiple) |
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Solicitation Date: | 07/15/2024 |
Match Required: | No |
Actual Funds: | $50,000,000 (Estimated) |
Award Range: | $2,000,000 (Min) / $15,000,000 (Max) |
Summary:
The purpose of this program is to conduct demonstration projects focused on advanced smart city or community technologies and systems in a variety of communities to improve transportation efficiency and safety. Funding will support the implementation of plans and prototypes developed through Stage 1 Planning and Prototyping Grants of the FY 2022 funding cycle of the SMART Grants Program, known in eCivis Grants Network as US17479, that are focused on using technology interventions to solve real-world challenges and build data and technology capacity and expertise in the public sector.
Projects funded by this program will use advanced data, technology, and applications to provide significant benefits to a local area, a state, a region, or the United States. These benefits are identified in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and align to the following categories:
- Safety and reliability
- Resiliency
- Equity and access
- Climate
- Partnerships
- Integration
Projects must demonstrate at least one of the following technology areas:
- Coordinated automation: use of automated transportation and autonomous vehicles while working to minimize the impact on the accessibility of any other user group or mode of travel
- Connected vehicles: vehicles that send and receive information regarding vehicle movements in the network and use vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-everything communications to provide advanced and reliable connectivity
- Intelligent, sensor-based infrastructure: deployment and use of a collective intelligent infrastructure that allows sensors to collect and report real-time data to inform everyday transportation-related operations and performance
- Systems integration: integration of intelligent transportation systems with other existing systems and other advanced transportation technologies
- Commerce delivery and logistics: innovative data and technological solutions supporting efficient goods movement
- Leveraging use of innovative aviation technology: leveraging the use of innovative aviation technologies to support transportation safety and efficiencies
- Smart grid: developing a programmable and efficient energy transmission and distribution system to support the adoption or expansion of energy capture, electric vehicle deployment, or freight or commercial fleet fuel efficiency
- Smart technology traffic signals: improving the active management and functioning of traffic signals
The funding agency will prioritize applications that demonstrate the following characteristics:
- Fit, scale, and adoption: right-size the proposed solution to population density and demographics, the physical attributes of the community and transportation system, and the transportation needs of the community; confirm technologies are capable of being integrated with existing transportation systems, including transit; and leverage technologies in repeatable ways that can be scaled and adopted by communities
- Data sharing, cybersecurity, and privacy: promote public and private sharing of data and best practices and the use of open platforms, open data formats, technology-neutral requirements, and interoperability; promote industry best practices regarding cybersecurity and technology standards; and safeguard individual privacy
- Workforce development: promote a skilled and inclusive workforce
- Measurement and validation: allow for the measurement and validation of the cost savings and performance improvements associated with the installation and use of smart city or community technologies and practices
Among projects of similar merit, the funding agency will prioritize projects that have strong benefits in the areas of safety; equity and Justice40; and climate change and sustainability. Because this is a demonstration program, applications seeking funding for systems and technologies that are already well-established and broadly adopted will be less competitive.
Eligible costs may include those in the following categories:
- Planning
- Feasibility analyses
- Environmental review
Refer to pages 13-14 of the NOFA file for additional information regarding eligible costs.
An optional webinar is scheduled for this program. Refer to the Application section for details.
Eligibility is limited to recipients of Stage 1 Planning and Prototyping Grants through the FY 2022 funding cycle of the SMART Grants Program, known in eCivis Grants Network as US17479, whose project period began prior to October 1, 2023. Refer to the Eligibility section for details.
Last Updated: July 30, 2024
Eligibility Notes:
Eligible applicants are:
- States and territories
- Political subdivisions of a state, including cities, towns, counties, special districts, and similar units of local government, such as public port or airport authorities, if created under state law
- Federally recognized tribal governments
- Public transit agencies or authorities
- Public toll authorities
- Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs)
A group of two or more eligible entities may apply through a group application from a single lead applicant. Collaborative applications will not be accepted.
Applicants must be recipients of Stage 1 Planning and Prototyping Grants through the FY 2022 funding cycle of the SMART Grants Program, known in eCivis Grants Network as US17479, whose project period began prior to October 1, 2023. In the event that a project has evolved and a different eligible entity is a better fit to be the lead applicant, the Stage 1 recipient must designate the new lead applicant.
Only one Stage 2 application may be submitted to the current Stage 2 funding cycle to expand and deploy a solution prototyped or planned in Stage 1. The Stage 2 application must demonstrate that it continues the work of the designated Stage 1 project. Each original Stage 1 project may submit only one Stage 2 application for each Stage 2 funding cycle. Stage 1 projects not awarded in the current or future Stage 2 funding cycles may reapply to another Stage 2 funding cycle.
Eligible Applicants:
Local GovernmentConsortia
Native American Tribe
State Government
Application Notes:
Mandatory draft implementation reports must be received between July 15, 2024, and September 15, 2024, depending on when the Stage 1 recipient began their project period. All recipients have 12 months to submit their draft implementation reports. If the 12-month deadline for the draft implementation report occurs after the application deadline for this program, the draft implementation report will be assessed and forwarded to the assessment team for inclusion in the Stage 2 assessment.
Draft implementation reports must be emailed to the appropriate address provided in the Contact section.
Applications will be accepted beginning on July 19, 2024, and must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. ET on August 14, 2024.
Applications must be submitted online at usg.valideval.com.
Applications must include:
- SF 424
- SF 424A of SF 424C (as applicable)
- Certification regarding lobbying
- SF LLL (if applicable)
- Key information questions
- Project narrative:
- Cover page (optional)
- Table of contents (optional)
- Overview/project description (2-3 pages recommended)
- Project location (1-2 paragraphs recommended)
- Technical merit overview (2-3 pages recommended)
- Project readiness overview (3 pages recommended)
- Appendices:
- Resumes (3 pages max)
- Summary budget narrative (3 pages max)
- Letter of designation (if applicable) (2 pages max)
- Letters of commitment (2 pages max each; 10 pages max total)
- Project location file
The project narrative must not exceed ten pages, including figures. If included, the cover page and table of contents will not count toward the ten-page limit. The project narrative and appendices, with the exception of the project location file, must be submitted in .pdf format and formatted on single-spaced, numbered pages with at least one-inch margins on all sides using a font size no smaller than 12-point Times New Roman. The project location file must be uploaded to the application as a Shapefile, GEOJSON, or KML/KMZ file.
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 will be held for this program as follows:
July 18, 2024
1:00 p.m. ET
Registration: usdot.zoomgov.com
A recording of the webinar can be found online at www.transportation.gov/grants/smart/webinars.
Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Technical merit:
- Identification and understanding of the problem to be solved
- Appropriateness of proposed solution
- Expected benefits
- Project readiness:
- Feasibility of workplan
- Workforce development, job quality, and wealth creation
- Community engagement and partnerships
- Leadership and qualifications
If oral presentations are requested by the assessment team, a virtual call will be scheduled for a brief presentation by each applicant and a question-and-answer session by the reviewers.
Refer to the NOFA file for additional application information.
Match Required: | No |
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Actual Funds: | $50,000,000 (Estimated) |
Award Range: | $2,000,000 (Min) / $15,000,000 (Max) |
---|
Match Notes:
Matching funds are not required for this program.
Funding Notes:
Approximately $50 million is available through this program to support approximately three to five awards expected to range from $2 million to $15 million each.
Of the total funding available, no more than 40 percent will be used to provide awards for eligible projects that primarily benefit large communities; no more than 30 percent will be used to provide awards for eligible projects that primarily benefit mid-sized communities; and no more than 30 percent will be used to provide awards for eligible projects that primarily benefit rural communities or regional partnerships.
Funds will be provided on a reimbursement basis.
The project period is expected to be up to 36 months.
Applicants are expected to account for data and performance reporting in their budget submission.
No more than 3 percent of the total award amount may be used to achieve compliance with applicable planning and reporting requirements.
Funds may not be used for:
- Pre-award costs or application preparation costs
- Equipping privately owned and operated vehicles outside of a leased or contracted service
- Traffic or parking enforcement activities
- Purchase or lease of a license plate reader
- Supporting or opposing union organizing, whether directly or as an offset for other funds
- Prohibited telecommunications equipment and services, as detailed on page 37 of the NOFA file
Contacts:
Program Staff
smart@dot.gov
Madeline Zhu
(202) 961-9598
Agency Address
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C. 20590
Contact Notes:
Questions should be directed to the program contacts provided by 5:00 p.m. ET on July 29, 2024. The funding agency may post answers to questions and requests for clarifications online at www.transportation.gov/grants/smart/smart-stage-2-faqs.
Draft implementation reports must be emailed to smartreports@dot.gov.
Applications must be submitted online at usg.valideval.com.
The agency address provided is for reference purposes only.
Files:
NOFA File: US17949_NOFA_FY2024.pdf (445.5 Kb)Other Pre-Award File: US17949_FAQ_FY2024.pdf (156.4 Kb)
Other Pre-Award File: US17949_WebinarPresentation_FY2024.pdf (1.2 Mb)
File Notes:
The NOFA file contains the full solicitation 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 from the webinar held for this program.
July 31, 2024
The presentation slides from the webinar held for this program have been released and attached as the WebinarPresentation file. In addition, a recording of the webinar has been released, and a link to the presentation is available in the Application section.
Grant Keywords
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Community DevelopmentInformation Technology/Telecommunications
Environment/Natural Resources
Transportation