Opportunity Information: Apply for NSMFHP 25 26 INFRA

The INFRA Grants opportunity (Infrastructure for Rebuilding America) is a competitive U.S. Department of Transportation discretionary grant program being offered through a larger, combined notice called the Multimodal Projects Discretionary Grant (MPDG). The main purpose of rolling multiple programs and two fiscal years of funding into one MPDG solicitation is to simplify the process for state and local applicants and to increase the number of projects that are far enough along to be considered "shovel-worthy," especially in light of the expanded funding made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

Funding for INFRA under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law totals about $8 billion over five years. For this particular Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), roughly $2.7 billion is expected to be available. The Grants.gov listing indicates an award ceiling of $2,270,520,000 and an expectation of around 30 awards, signaling that awards may be sizable and highly competitive. The opportunity is listed as discretionary, uses a grant instrument, and is associated with CFDA 20.934. The closing date shown in the source data is 2024-05-06, and the posting was created on 2024-03-25.

A key feature of the MPDG approach is that applicants who want their project considered across more than one program covered by the combined NOFO do not need to submit duplicate applications to multiple Grants.gov opportunity numbers. Instead, one submission can be reviewed for all relevant programs under MPDG, unless the applicant opts out of certain programs or is deemed ineligible for them. This is meant to cut down on administrative work and reduce confusion about where and how to apply.

Projects are reviewed using a mix of merit-based and compliance-based factors. The Department will evaluate applications against six primary outcome criteria, along with the project’s economic analysis, the readiness of the project to move forward, and any statutory requirements that apply. The six outcome criteria are: (1) safety; (2) state of good repair; (3) economic impacts, freight movement, and job creation; (4) climate change, resilience, and the environment; (5) equity, multimodal options, and quality of life; and (6) innovation, with emphasis on technology, project delivery, and financing. In practical terms, strong applications typically need to demonstrate not only what will be built, but why it matters, how benefits will be measured, how soon it can start, and how it meets both policy goals and legal eligibility rules.

Eligible applicants are broad and include most major public-sector transportation stakeholders. Applicants can be a State or group of States (with "State" explicitly including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico for INFRA), large metropolitan planning organizations serving urbanized areas over 200,000 population, units of local government (or groups of local governments), political subdivisions, and special purpose districts or public authorities with transportation responsibilities such as port authorities. Tribal governments and consortia of tribal governments are eligible, as are multistate corridor organizations and other multistate or multijurisdictional partnerships. A federal land management agency may apply, but it must do so jointly with a State or group of States.

Eligible project types focus heavily on freight movement, nationally significant highway and bridge assets, and key multimodal freight connections. Eligible categories include: highway freight projects on the National Highway Freight Network; highway or bridge projects on the National Highway System; and freight intermodal, freight rail, or freight projects located within freight rail, port/water, or intermodal facilities when the work is surface transportation infrastructure needed to support direct interchange, transfer, or access in and out of the facility. The program also supports highway-rail grade crossing or grade separation projects, wildlife crossing projects, and projects tied to international border crossings that improve publicly owned facilities and increase throughput efficiency. In addition, marine highway corridor projects may qualify when they are functionally connected to the National Highway Freight Network and are likely to reduce on-road mobile source emissions. Finally, highway, bridge, or freight projects on the National Multimodal Freight Network are eligible as well, reflecting INFRA’s focus on nationally and regionally significant freight and goods movement corridors.

In short, this INFRA opportunity is aimed at funding high-impact transportation infrastructure projects, particularly those that strengthen freight networks and critical highway assets, while also advancing safety, repair, economic competitiveness, climate and resilience goals, equity and quality-of-life outcomes, and modernized delivery or financing approaches. The combined MPDG structure is designed to make it easier to apply once and be considered across multiple related discretionary programs, provided the project meets the specific INFRA eligibility rules and can score well across the evaluation criteria.

  • The 69A345 Office of the Under Secretary for Policy in the iij sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "INFRA Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.934.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2024-03-25.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-06. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,270,520,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others.
Apply for NSMFHP 25 26 INFRA

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INFRA Grants (via MPDG) - Frequently Asked Questions

What is the INFRA Grants opportunity?

INFRA (Infrastructure for Rebuilding America) is a competitive, discretionary U.S. Department of Transportation grant program that funds high-impact transportation infrastructure projects, with a strong emphasis on freight movement and nationally significant highway and bridge assets.

How is INFRA being offered in this solicitation?

INFRA is being offered through a larger combined notice called the Multimodal Projects Discretionary Grant (MPDG) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). MPDG rolls multiple programs and two fiscal years of funding into a single solicitation to simplify the application process and help advance more projects that are considered "shovel-worthy."

Why did USDOT combine multiple programs into the MPDG solicitation?

The combined MPDG approach is intended to reduce administrative burden for state and local applicants, cut down on confusion about where and how to apply, and increase the number of projects that are far enough along to be ready to move forward, particularly given the expanded funding made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

How much INFRA funding is available under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law?

INFRA funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law totals approximately $8 billion over five years.

How much funding is expected to be available under this specific NOFO?

For this particular NOFO, roughly $2.7 billion is expected to be available for INFRA.

What is the award ceiling shown for this opportunity?

The Grants.gov listing indicates an award ceiling of $2,270,520,000.

How many awards does USDOT expect to make?

The source information indicates an expectation of around 30 awards, suggesting awards may be sizable and the competition may be strong.

Is INFRA a discretionary or formula grant program?

This opportunity is listed as discretionary, meaning awards are competitively selected rather than distributed by formula.

What type of funding instrument is used?

The opportunity uses a grant instrument.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 20.934.

What are the posting and closing dates shown in the opportunity data?

The posting was created on 2024-03-25, and the closing date shown is 2024-05-06.

Do applicants need to submit separate applications to be considered under multiple programs within MPDG?

No. A key feature of MPDG is that applicants seeking consideration across more than one program covered by the combined NOFO generally do not need to submit duplicate applications to multiple Grants.gov opportunity numbers. One submission can be reviewed for all relevant programs under MPDG, unless the applicant opts out of certain programs or is found ineligible for them.

How will applications be reviewed?

Applications are reviewed using a combination of merit-based and compliance-based factors. USDOT evaluates applications against six primary outcome criteria, and also considers the project's economic analysis, readiness to proceed, and any applicable statutory requirements.

What are the six primary outcome criteria used in evaluation?

The six outcome criteria are: (1) safety; (2) state of good repair; (3) economic impacts, freight movement, and job creation; (4) climate change, resilience, and the environment; (5) equity, multimodal options, and quality of life; and (6) innovation, with emphasis on technology, project delivery, and financing.

Beyond the six outcomes, what else does USDOT consider?

USDOT also considers the project's economic analysis, how ready the project is to move forward, and compliance with statutory requirements that apply to the program and project type.

What does "project readiness" mean in this context?

Based on the NOFO summary provided, readiness refers to how soon the project can start and how far along it is toward implementation, aligning with the MPDG goal of supporting projects that are "shovel-worthy."

Who is eligible to apply for INFRA under this opportunity?

Eligible applicants include: a State or group of States (with "State" explicitly including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico for INFRA), large metropolitan planning organizations serving urbanized areas over 200,000 population, units of local government (or groups of local governments), political subdivisions, and special purpose districts or public authorities with transportation responsibilities (such as port authorities).

Are Tribal governments eligible to apply?

Yes. Tribal governments and consortia of tribal governments are eligible applicants.

Are multistate or multijurisdictional partnerships eligible?

Yes. Multistate corridor organizations and other multistate or multijurisdictional partnerships are eligible.

Can a federal land management agency apply?

Yes, but only if the federal land management agency applies jointly with a State or group of States.

What kinds of projects does INFRA typically fund?

INFRA focuses on high-impact transportation infrastructure projects, particularly those that strengthen freight networks and critical highway assets, while also advancing safety, repair, economic competitiveness, climate and resilience goals, equity and quality-of-life outcomes, and modernized delivery or financing approaches.

Are highway freight projects eligible?

Yes. Highway freight projects on the National Highway Freight Network are eligible.

Are National Highway System highway or bridge projects eligible?

Yes. Highway or bridge projects on the National Highway System are eligible.

Are projects located at ports, intermodal facilities, or freight rail facilities eligible?

Yes, when they are freight intermodal, freight rail, or freight projects located within freight rail, port/water, or intermodal facilities, and the work involves surface transportation infrastructure needed to support direct interchange, transfer, or access in and out of the facility.

Are highway-rail grade crossing or grade separation projects eligible?

Yes. Highway-rail grade crossing or grade separation projects are eligible.

Are wildlife crossing projects eligible?

Yes. Wildlife crossing projects are listed as eligible project types.

Are projects related to international border crossings eligible?

Yes. Projects tied to international border crossings may be eligible when they improve publicly owned facilities and increase throughput efficiency.

Are marine highway corridor projects eligible?

Marine highway corridor projects may qualify when they are functionally connected to the National Highway Freight Network and are likely to reduce on-road mobile source emissions.

Are projects on the National Multimodal Freight Network eligible?

Yes. Highway, bridge, or freight projects on the National Multimodal Freight Network are eligible.

What does the NOFO suggest strong applications should demonstrate?

Strong applications typically need to show what will be built, why it matters, how benefits will be measured, how soon the project can start, and how the project meets both policy goals and legal eligibility rules.

How competitive is this opportunity likely to be?

Based on the size of funding available, the award ceiling listed, and the expectation of around 30 awards, this opportunity is likely to be highly competitive, with potentially sizable awards.

What is the main takeaway about applying under MPDG for an INFRA project?

MPDG is designed so that a single application can be reviewed across multiple relevant discretionary programs without duplicate submissions, while still requiring that the project meet INFRA-specific eligibility and perform well against USDOT's evaluation criteria.

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