Financial Assistance Policy and Oversight
Overview
The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) annually funds billions of dollars in grants, cooperative agreement, loans, and other transactions. Guidance for departmental formula and discretionary grant programs is contained in their authorizing legislation, program regulations, or departmental regulations.
On September 27, 2023, USDOT formally established the Office of Grants and Financial Assistance (GFA) as a stand-alone office within the Office of the Assistance Secretary for Administration. GFA is responsible for providing Departmental guidance on the interpretation and application of new financial assistance/grants policies. As GFA publishes guidance or resources that applies to the external community, this website will be updated in the future.
DOT Grant Related Regulations and Directives
Regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation are published in the Federal Register and compiled in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The printed Federal Register and Code of Federal Regulations continue to be the official version of these regulations.
- DOT Guide to Financial Assistance
- 2 CFR Part 180 - OMB Guidance to Agencies on Government wide Debarment and Suspension (Non-procurement)
- 2 CFR 200 - Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards
- 49 CFR Part 17 - Intergovernmental Review of Department of Transportation Programs and Activities
- 49 CFR Part 20 - New Restrictions on Lobbying
- 49 CFR Part 21 - Nondiscrimination in Federally-Assisted Programs of the Department of Transportation -- Effectuation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
- 49 CFR Part 26 - New Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program
- 49 CFR Part 32 - Governmentwide Requirements for Drug-Free Workplace (Financial Assistance)
Financial Assistance Policy Letters
The establishment of Financial Assistance Policy Letters within DOT provides policy and procedural direction to DOT financial assistance workforce, in particular, contracting personnel addressing activities and critical issues that need immediate dissemination. DOT FAPL's include:
- Policies and procedures which may result in rulemakings or as material incorporated into future Departmental guidance as appropriate;
- Policies and procedures that need to be issued expeditiously to Operating Administrations (OAs) for prompt implementation; and
- Short term information (no more than 1-2 years), which will be incorporated into regulation or guidance for permanent retention.
Policy Letters
- FAPL- 2020-04 Implementation Guidance for Supplemental Funding in Response to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
- FAPL- 2020-03 Repurposing Existing Financial Assistance Programs and Awards to Support the Emergency Response to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- FAPL 2020-2 Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) due to Loss of Operations dated 3/23/2020
- FAPL 2020-1 Administrative Relief for Recipients and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) dated 3/10/2020
- FAPL-2008-01 - FFATA - Financial Assistance (Grants, Cooperative Agreements, Loan, and Other Transactions) Transmittal Dates and Procedural Requirements for all Operating Administrations - dated 6/19/08
- FAPL-2010-01 - Text Messaging While Driving - dated 2/2/10
- FAPL - 2015-01 - Departmental Policies and Procedures for External Reporting of Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) - Financial Assistance (Grants, Cooperative Agreements, Loans, and Other Transactions) Award Data - dated 3/19/2015