How to Apply for BUILD Grants

Do Not Apply through Grants.gov

Although the FY 2026 BUILD opportunity will appear on Grants.gov, applications must be submitted through Valid Eval, not Grants.gov.

Use the following parameters if you need to locate the FY 2026 BUILD NOFO on Grants.gov:

• Funding Opportunity Number: DTOS59-26-RA-BUILD
• Funding Opportunity Title: FY 2026 National Infrastructure Investments
• CFDA Number: 20.933 — National Infrastructure Investments

Submitting Your Application 

Begin with SAM.gov Registration

Before submitting your materials, you must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number to apply. To request a UEI, please visit SAM.gov. Note: It may take up to 30 days to receive a UEI.

Applicants must have “Active” UEIs in order to apply; applicants with existing UEIs are encouraged to verify that their UEI is active prior to applying.

Register in Valid Eval

Valid Eval is a third-party web-based evaluation platform used by USDOT and other Federal programs to support application submissions and evaluation. Applicants will submit their grant applications via Valid Eval.

The Primary Contact for the application should be a staff member from the applicant organization who signed the SF-424 as the Authorized Representative, or the person listed as the contact for the application on the SF-424. 

Register with Valid Eval to submit FY 2026 BUILD grant applications. There are separate application portals for capital and planning grant applications:

Register on Valid Eval to apply for a Planning Grant

Register on Valid Eval to apply for a Capital Grant

Use your email address to register. The registration process should take approximately 10 minutes and can be done ahead of submitting your application. If you already have an account with Valid Eval, you do not need to register again.

Contact support@valideval.com with any technical issues.

Submit Application

When you are ready to submit your application, go to the same Valid Eval sign-up link as above.

• Log in to your account in Valid Eval.
• Answer all the registration details and key information questions on the page.
• Upload the completed Standard Forms and other applicable attachments at the bottom of the page.
• Click on “Submit Your Application.”
• You will see a confirmation page letting you know your submission is complete. Take a screenshot with the time stamp if you finish your application on the same day as the deadline.
•  If any required details on the page are missing, you will need to scroll up the page and complete the missing details before you can submit your application. Details are not saved if you exit this page before seeing the confirmation page.
• You can save your progress in Valid Eval and return to your application until the NOFO closes using the login credentials you created at signup. You can also add additional team members to your profile who may need to be included on any feedback notifications.
• Once you submit your application, you cannot make any edits to your application, so please ensure that your application is complete before submitting.

Application Deadline

The BUILD program does not accept late applications. Applications that Valid Eval time stamps after 5:00 PM ET on February 24, 2026 will be marked as late and ineligible for review. Applicants are strongly encouraged to make submissions days, if not weeks, in advance of the deadline, and applicants facing technical issues are advised to contact Valid Eval support well in advance of the deadline. 

Application Content and Format

Applicants should review the application checklist below to ensure your application package is complete and in the proper format. Most forms are to be drafted by the applicant and do not have templates. Instructions for what should be included in each form are in Section D of the NOFO. The SF-424 is a standard form that must be filled out and completed within the application package.
 

BUILD Application Checklist 

*Found in Valid Eval 

**Only capital project applications submit Benefit-Cost Analysis narratives and calculations.

Additional Resources:

• BCA Guidance
• BCA Spreadsheet Template
• FY 2025 BUILD Environmental Risk Assessment Guidance
• DOT Navigator
• Applicant Roadmap