Description
Agency Name: Department of Transportation Description: The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 provided $1 billion for National Infrastructure Investments. As with previous rounds, funds for the FY 2021 RAISE Transportation program are to be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant local or regional impact. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 also allows DOT to use a small portion of the $1 billion for oversight and administration of grants. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 states that not more than $30,000,000 will be used for planning, preparation, or design of projects eligible for funding, of which at least $10,000,000 will be awarded to projects located in or directly benefit areas of persistent poverty. If this solicitation does not result in the award and obligation of all available funds, DOT may publish additional solicitations. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 specifies that RAISE Transportation Discretionary Grants may not be less than $5 million and not greater than $25 million, except that for projects located in rural areas the minimum RAISE Transportation Discretionary Grant size is $1 million. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 specifies that not more than 50 percent of funds can be spent on projects located in a rural area with a population equal to or less than 200,000 and not more than 50 percent of funds can be spent on projects located in an urbanized area with a population of more than 200,000. The Department revised the definition for rural and urban projects from previous BUILD/TIGER rounds to two categories, consistent with the urban and rural funding maximums. Pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, no more than 10 percent of the funds made available for RAISE Transportation Discretionary Grants (or $100 million) may be awarded to projects in a single State. Further, pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, DOT must take measures to ensure an equitable geographic distribution of grant funds, an appropriate balance in addressing the needs of urban and rural areas, and investment in a variety of transportation modes. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 requires that FY 2021 RAISE funds are only available for obligation through September 30, 2024. All funds may be expended by September 30, 2029. As part of the review and selection process described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity, DOT will consider whether a project is ready to proceed with an obligation of grant funds from DOT within the statutory time provided. Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, no waiver is possible for these deadlines. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 allows for up to 20 percent of available funds (or $200 million) to be used by the Department to pay the subsidy and administrative costs for a project receiving credit assistance under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 1998 (“TIFIA”) program, if it would further the purposes of the RAISE Transportation Discretionary Grant program. Recipients of prior BUILD or TIGER Discretionary Grants may apply for funding to support additional phases of a project awarded funds in earlier rounds of this program. However, to be competitive, the applicant should demonstrate the extent to which the previously funded project phase has been able to meet estimated project schedules and budget, as well as the ability to realize the benefits expected for the project. DOT expects that each RAISE Transportation Discretionary Grant will be administered by one of the relevant modal administrations, pursuant to a grant agreement between the RAISE Transportation Discretionary Grant recipient and the relevant modal administration.