Grant Application Resources

The following USDOT resources provide checklists and information to help you prepare and apply for federal grants and maximize your chances of award success. 

USDOT Competitive Grant Process

What’s the process to apply for federal grants? Find out in this overview of the USDOT Competitive Grant Process.

Maximizing Award Success

Navigating Grant Program Applications

Maximizing Award Success: Navigating Grant Program Applications gives tips on how to writing a grant application that maximizes your chances of winning an award.

Evaluation Criteria

Maximizing Award Success: An Introduction to Evaluation Criteria helps potential grant applicants understand how DOT uses evaluation criteria to select winning applications.

Grant Preparation Checklist

The Competitive Grant Preparation Checklist for Prospective Applicants is intended to help local governments prepare for the year ahead and chart a strategic pathway to take advantage of billions of dollars available in competitive grant funding.

Project Readiness Checklist for DOT Competitive Grant Applicants

The Project Readiness Checklist provides background and guidance on factors to consider for project readiness, which refers to how ready an applicant is to deliver a project if awarded a DOT grant. A high level of “project readiness” can help ensure the project sponsor is able to meet deadlines and that federal funds are used efficiently. 

Frequently Asked Questions on Incorporating Accessibility in Transportation Projects

The FAQ on Incorporating Accessibility in Transportation Projects helps grant applicants put forth a strong competitive grant application and ensure that projects are usable by all members of the community.

How to Submit Applications on Grants.gov

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

What Is a Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA)?

What Is a Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA)? gives an overview of DOT’s systematic process for identifying, quantifying, and comparing expected benefits and costs for projects seeking federal funding. 

Eligible Applicants from Previous Rounds of Funding

Eligible Applicants from Previous Rounds of IIJA Grant Funding includes a list of eligible applicants for the 2022 rounds of the BUILD, INFRA, Mega, Rural, RCP, SS4A, and SMART grant programs.

Transportation Contacts Near You

• Connect with U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) contacts in your state or territory (interactive map of all DOT administrative offices)
• Locate your State DOT
• Connect with your regional metropolitan planning organization (MPO)
• Connect with your local transit agency