MPDG - How to Apply

Final Application Instructions

Final Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov. The Grants.gov “Apply” function is now open. Please be aware that you must complete the Grants.gov registration process before submitting the Final Application, and that this process usually takes 2-4 weeks to complete. Applicants are encouraged to start the Grants.gov registration process now.

Final Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM E.D.T. on May 23, 2022. Applicants are strongly encouraged to make submissions in advance of the deadline.

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.

For information and instructions on each of these processes, please see instructions at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-faqs.html 

Please note, on April 4, 2022 the Federal government will stop using the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number to uniquely identify entities. At that point, entities doing business with the Federal government will use a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) created in 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. 

Additional Information on Applying Through Grants.gov

 Final Applications for the Mega, INFRA, and/or Rural grants through the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant opportunity (MPDG) must be submitted through Grants.gov. To apply for funding through Grants.gov, applicants must be properly registered. Complete instructions on how to register and apply can be found at www.grants.gov. If interested parties experience difficulties at any point during registration or application process, please call the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 1-800-518-4726.

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. Applications will not be accepted after the due date of April 14, 2022; delayed registration is not an acceptable reason for late submission. In order to apply for Mega, INFRA, and/or Rural funding under this announcement, all applicants are expected to be registered as an organization with Grants.gov. To learn more about registering as an organization with Grants.gov, please see the “Organization Registration Checklist” provided by Grants.gov at the following location:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html

A complete list of Grants.gov applicant resources can be found here:

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants.html

Note: When uploading attachments at Grants.gov please use generally accepted formats such as .pdf, .doc, and .xls. While you may imbed picture files such as .jpg, .gif, .bmp, in your files, please do not save and submit the attachment in these formats. Additionally, the following formats will not be accepted: .com, .bat, .exe, .vbs, .cfg, .dat, .db, .dbf, .dll, .ini, .log, .ora, .sys, and .zip.

Funding Opportunity Parameters

Late Application Policy

 Final applications received after the deadline will not be considered except in the case of unforeseen technical difficulties outlined below. Late final applications that are the result of failure to register or comply with Grants.gov applicant requirements in a timely manner will not be considered.

Applicants experiencing technical issues with Grants.gov that are beyond the applicant’s control must contact MPDGrants@dot.gov prior to the corresponding deadline with the user name of the registrant and details of the technical issue experienced. The applicant must provide:

1. Details of the technical issue experienced
2. Screen capture(s) of the technical issue experienced along corresponding “Grant tracking number” (Grants.gov)
3. The "Legal Business Name" for the applicant that was provided in the SF-424 
4. The AOR name submitted in the SF-424 (Grants.gov)
5. The DUNS number associated with the Final Application
6. The Grants.gov Help Desk Tracking Number

To ensure a fair competition for limited discretionary funds, the following conditions are not valid reasons to permit late submissions: (1) failure to complete the registration process before the deadline date; (2) failure to follow Grants.gov instructions on how to register and apply as posted on its website; (3) failure to follow all of the instructions in this notice of funding availability; and (4) technical issues experienced with the applicant’s computer or information technology (IT) environment. After DOT staff review all the information submitted and contact the Grants.gov Help Desk to validate the technical issues you reported, DOT staff will contact you to either approve or deny your request to submit a late application through Grants.gov. If the technical issues you reported cannot be validated, your application will be rejected as untimely.