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Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants

General Grant Program Information

The Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grant program provides funding to eligible public-sector agencies to conduct demonstration projects focused on advanced smart community technologies and systems in order to improve transportation efficiency and safety, among the other USDOT Innovation Principles.

The program seeks to fund purpose-driven innovation and focuses on building data and technology capacity and experience for state, local, and Tribal governments.

Opportunity Status:
Closed
Posted Date:
Close Date:
Eligible Applicants:
State Governments; Local Governments; Federally Recognized Tribes and Affiliated Groups; Planning and Project Organizations; U.S. Territories
Eligible Activities:
Planning; Construction; Equipment and Materials; Operations and Maintenance; Technology Demonstrations and Deployment; Technical Assistance, Workforce Development, and Training/Education
Transportation Type:
Air Bike/Ped Maritime Railway Roadway Transit
Most Recent Annual Program Funding Amount:
$100 Million
Annual Award Amount:
$250,000 - $2 Million
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement:
No
Match Waiver:
No
Rural Set-Aside:
Yes
Grant Opportunity ID:
DOT-SMART-FY23-01
Grant Opportunity Link:
FY23 Grants.gov Opportunity: SMART Grants Notice of Funding
Links to Additional Information:
Agency:
USDOT / Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST)

Eligibility Information

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants for the SMART Grants Program include: 

  1. A State
  2. A political subdivision of a State
  3. A federally recognized Tribal government
  4. A public transit agency or authority
  5. A public toll authority
  6. A metropolitan planning organization (MPO)
  7. A group of two or more eligible entities listed above, applying through a single lead applicant (Group Application)

Eligible Uses

A SMART grant may be used to carry out a project that demonstrates at least one of the following:  

  • Coordinated automation
  • Connected vehicles
  • Sensors
  • Systems integration
  • Delivery/logistics
  • Innovative aviation
  • Smart grid
  • Traffic signals

Funding Information

The SMART grants program expects to award $100 million in grants annually from fiscal year (FY) 2022 to 2026.

The SMART program structure is divided into Planning and Prototyping Grants (Stage 1) and Implementation Grants (Stage 2). The FY 2023 NOFO is open only to SMART Stage 1 Planning and Prototyping grants, but future rounds are expected to be open to both Stage 1 and Stage 2 applicants.

Funds for the FY 2023 SMART Grants Program are to be awarded on a competitive basis to conduct demonstration projects focused on advanced smart city or community technologies and systems to improve transportation efficiency and safety. The maximum grant award size for Stage 1 is approximately $2 million per project.

Cost sharing or matching is not required for Stage 1 grants. 

Applications must be submitted via Valid Eval, an online submission proposal system used by USDOT. USDOT will not accept or review application materials submitted via Grants.gov.

Contact Information

Roxanne Ledesma
Grantor
smart@dot.gov
202-774-8003

Disclaimer:
The Dashboard provides users with a high-level overview of relevant Federal discretionary grant programs. The information in the Dashboard is maintained as a secondary resource and may not be updated with the most recent changes to each program's primary guidance materials. Accordingly, please refer to the Federal grant-making agency for the most comprehensive and up-to-date information on a grant opportunity in the Dashboard.

Last updated Date: