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General Content

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Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations

Terms Term Definition Applicant

A person applying for a grant opportunity, either as an individual applicant submitting on their own behalf or as an organizational applicant submitting applications on behalf of an organization, such as a state...

Maximizing Award Success: USDOT Grant Application Considerations

In addition to the USDOT Grant Evaluation Criteria, there are a few other considerations that applicants should keep in mind as they develop an application for USDOT competitive grants.

Apart from the evaluation criteria, they are also expected to abide by relevant regulations and...

Maximizing Award Success: USDOT Grant Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation criteria give insight into what a grant program is looking for when making a decision to award funds. Clear and specific evaluation criteria are provided to help applicants understand if their project would be a good fit for a particular grant program and assist program managers in...

Maximizing Award Success: Navigating Federal Grant Applications

Finding Funding Opportunities

All federal competitive grant opportunities must be posted through Grants.gov. Get tips and guidance on How to Navigate Grants.gov to Submit Applications.

Understanding Program NOFOs

Searching for funding opportunities on Grants.gov will...

Project Spotlights

The following examples highlight how USDOT discretionary grants are being used to improve transportation infrastructure and expand access for rural communities across the country. 

CRISI: Rail Improvement Projects

FRA’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (...

Grant Applicant Roadmap

USDOT Competitive Grant Funding Process

The competitive grant funding process begins with Congressional legislation and concludes with the closeout of the awarded project.

The grant lifecycle is broken down into three stages:

Pre-Award Award Post-Award

Use the...

Federal Funding and Financing: Grants

This section of the Grant Applicant Toolkit defines what a federal grant is.

The following linked sections also explain how a grant differs from several other common types of Federal Government funding and financing: 

How Grants Differ from Other Federal Funding and...

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: Key Grant Programs

Agency Description

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s mission is to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving vehicles used for commerce, including large trucks and buses. FMCSA supports programs and grants that improve commercial vehicle and driver safety, safety...

Federal Railroad Administration: Key Grant Programs

Agency Description

The Federal Railroad Administration monitors railroad compliance with federally mandated safety standards including track maintenance, inspection standards, and operating practices to enable the safe, reliable, and efficient movement of people and goods for a stronger...

Federal Highway Administration: Key Grant Programs

Agency Description

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) seeks to deliver a world-class system that advances safe, efficient, and sustainable mobility choices for all while strengthening the Nation’s economy.

Through financial and technical assistance to state, Tribal, and local...