Resources for Grant Seekers

Each Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) contains specific details about the application requirements and procedures to request Federal funding for eligible projects (read carefully).

All federal grant applications must be submitted through the Grants.gov portal.  Registering with Grants.gov is a one-time process; however, processing delays may occur and it can take up to several weeks for first-time registrants to receive confirmation and a user password. It is highly recommended that applicants start the registration process as early as possible to prevent delays that may preclude submitting an application by the deadlines specified. 

To register on Grants.gov, applicants must: 

1. Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number; 
2. Register with the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.SAM.gov; 
3. Create a Grants.gov username and password; and 
4. The E-Business Point of Contact (POC) at your organization must respond to the registration email from Grants.gov and login at Grants.gov to authorize you as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). Please note that there can be more than one AOR for an organization. 

Please note, on April 4, 2022, the unique entity identifier used across the Federal government changed from the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) (generated by SAM.gov). If your entity is currently registered in SAM.gov, your UEI has already been assigned and is viewable in SAM.gov. This includes inactive registrations.  

For information and instructions on each of these processes, please see Grants.gov’s Frequently Asked Questions by Applicants. Information on the federal grants funding process and supporting resources is available at the Grants.gov Grants 101 page and on the Grant Lifecycle Timeline. 

Explore Federal Grant Pre-Award guidance

Leverage the Federal Grant Applicant Resources page for additional information on account registration, eligibility, training, and FAQs

The Build America Bureau, responsible for supporting transportation infrastructure development projects, offers several programs to provide project finance assistance to State, local, and private project sponsors. These are customizable credit instruments that reduce project costs and increase flexibility. With the Bureau’s credit programs, State and local project sponsors have the ability to accelerate delivery of needed infrastructure projects, often in partnership with private sector investors. 

Application information can be found on each of the program pages linked below:
•    Public-Private Partnerships (P3s)
•    Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA)
•    Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing (RRIF)
•    Private Activity Bonds (PABs)
•    Infrastructure For Rebuilding America (INFRA) Grants

See more about credit programs and grants for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law projects through the Build America Bureau.

• BIL State by State fact sheets
• FHWA's BIL TA Support

Codified in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) is an initiative to address disparities in rural transportation infrastructure by developing user-friendly tools and technical assistance. To view additional information on ROUTES, including grant application and EV infrastructure toolkits, visit the ROUTES initiative page.

The new DOT Navigator – currently in beta version – provides additional information on applying for DOT grant programs and a comprehensive snapshot of the wide range of technical assistance resources available across the Department for all eligible BIL applicants and transportation stakeholders.

View additional information in the White House’s Technical Assistance Guide to help communities deliver infrastructure projects.

• Recipients and sub-recipients are the first line of defense and are responsible for ensuring funds are not used for ineligible purposes, and there is no fraud, waste, or abuse associated with their award.
• DOT encourages recipients to use IIJA-funded projects to advance shared interests and promote the equitable delivery of projects to underserved communities.
• Transparency and public accountability for IIJA awards and use of such funds are critical to upholding program integrity and trust in all levels of government.
• IIJA awarded funds should be managed consistent with Administration guidance per Office of Management and Budget Memorandum M-22-12.
• For more information on this Memorandum, review the White House FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Prioritizes Effectiveness, Accountability, and Transparency in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Implementation

• Eligible costs under the grant
• Duration for use of grant funding – obligation deadline; spending deadline
• Local funding match requirements
• Procurement rules may differ when using Federal grants
• Provisions for Buy America, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), etc.
• Design and environmental review requirements
• Reporting and auditing requirements
• Spending/claims alignment with award criteria