How to Apply for the SS4A Opportunity

Below are general instructions for submitting an application. Detailed information is provided in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which interested applicants should review in its entirety. 

Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday, July 10, 2023. Late applications will not be accepted.

Preparing Your Application

• Learn about the SS4A grant program: Review the SS4A website and Notice of Funding Opportunity to determine if your project is a good fit for the program. The Frequently Asked Questions page addresses common programmatic questions. 
• Review USDOT’s grants resources: The DOT Navigator is a resource to help communities understand the best ways to apply for grants, and to plan for and deliver transformative infrastructure projects and services. For rural communities, we also encourage you to visit the Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) initiative site.
• Read the application instructions: Carefully follow the requirements described in Section D of the NOFO to prepare your application. If your application does not include the required components in the required format, it may not be considered.
• Decide which grant type to apply to: For the fiscal year (FY) 2023 SS4A grants, applicants may apply for one of two possible grant types: Planning and Demonstration Grants or Implementation Grants. To decide which one to apply to, please refer to the following:
  • Which Grant Should I Apply For?
  • Applicant Eligibility
  • Action Plan Requirements
  • Eligible Implementation Grant Projects
• Fill out the required Standard Forms (SF).  
  • Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)
  • Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL)
  • Standard Forms for Planning and Demonstration Grant applicants only:
    • Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A)
    • Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424B)
  • Standard Forms for Implementation Grant applicants only:
    • Budget Information for Construction Programs (SF-424C)
    • Assurances for Construction Programs (SF-424D)
  • Get more information about filling out the Standard Forms.
• Complete Application Checklist: These optional checklists help ensure that you have all required materials prepared prior to submitting your application.
  • Supplemental Planning and Demonstration Grant Application Checklist
  • Implementation Grant Application Checklist

Submitting Your Application

Get your proposal in early. Allow for time to troubleshoot technical issues and submit by the deadline. Late applications will not be accepted. Review the following before beginning your application:

Applying to SS4A:

• Begin the process with SAM.gov: Before submitting your materials, you must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number in order to apply. To request a UEI, please visit SAM.gov. Note that this may take up to 30 days. 
• Register with Valid Eval: Valid Eval is a third-party web-based evaluation platform used by USDOT and other Federal programs to support program evaluation. Applicants will submit their applications via Valid Eval.
  • Go to Valid Eval’s signup page and register for one of two account types, depending on the grant type you are applying to:
    1. Register on Valid Eval to apply for a Planning and Demonstration Grant.
    2. Register on Valid Eval to apply for an Implementation 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 or SS4A@dot.gov with any technical issues.
• Do not apply through Grants.gov. You must apply through Valid Eval. Grants.gov will have the SS4A opportunity posted, but you cannot apply through Grants.gov.
• Submit application: When you are ready to submit your application, go to the same sign-up link as above.
  • Log in to your account in Valid Eval.
  • Answer all of 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 the afternoon of July 10. Late applications will not be accepted.
  • 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.
  • Once submitted, you can return to your application until the NOFO closes by logging into https://usg.valideval.com/ 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.  

After You Submit:

After USDOT has completed its review process, all applicants will receive an email notification as to whether their application was selected for an award.  

At that time, applicants will have access to information detailing their project's review process.

Late Application Policy

Late applications will not be accepted.

SS4A Application Aids

The following checklists and planning worksheets are intended to help guide applicants through the SS4A eligibility and application process:

• Action Plan Components (from NOFO Table 1)
• Self-Certification Eligibility Worksheet  (mandatory)
• SS4A Application Checklists: Planning and Demonstration Grant and Implementation Grant
• SS4A Implementation Grant Project Area Crash Data Fact Sheet and Form Template
• SS4A Supplemental Estimated Budget Template
• Multijurisdictional and Potentially Duplicative Applications
• SS4A Match and Cost Share Examples
• Calculating Average Annual Fatality Rate
• Calculating Percentage of Population in Underserved Communities
• Standard Forms (SF) Fact Sheet
• SS4A Costs and Contracting FAQs