# FY26 US DOT Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grants (DIIG) Program

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/dot-hass-fy26-diig-fy26-us-dot-drone-infrastructure-inspection-grants-diig/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/363242

> 69A345 Office of the Under Secretary for Policy plans to offer grants of up to $9.0 million (at least $500,000) to state and local governments and tribes. It expects to make about 5 awards worth $9.0 million in total. It is a forecast: the notice is expected around September 15, 2026, with applications due around November 15, 2026.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | DOT-HASS-FY26-DIIG |
| Agency | 69A345 Office of the Under Secretary for Policy |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | expected November 15, 2026 |
| Award ceiling | $9.0 million |
| Award floor | $500,000 |
| Expected awards | 5 |
| Total funding | $9.0 million |
| Cost sharing | required |
| Assistance Listings | 20.765 |

## Who can apply

- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

An eligible applicant must be one of the following:•A State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a territory of the United States, or a political subdivision thereof.•A unit of local government.•A Tribal government.•A metropolitan planning organization.•A consortia of more than one of the entities listed above.

## What the grant funds

The Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grants (DIIG) Program will provide grants to eligible government entities to facilitate the use of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), referred to herein as drones, in critical infrastructure inspection. The objective is to increase the widespread adoption of drones and relevant technologies in support of more efficient Inspection, Operation, Construction, Maintenance, and Repair (IOCMR) of critical infrastructure to improve worker safety related to critical infrastructure projects. The program is established by Section 912 of Public Law 118-63 and Public Law 119-75. Eligible uses of grant funds include purchasing, leasing, or enhancing drone systems; contracting for services when internal expertise is lacking in the government entities; and supporting program management for these systems and operations. The DIIG Program prioritizes projects that create and utilize innovative drone inspection technologies and systems, address inspection data management and data platform interoperability, and streamline inspection workflows and processes while accounting for the complexities inherent in multi-jurisdictional regions. Total available funds of $9,000,000 in the DIIG Program (Fiscal Year 2026) are to be awarded on a competitive basis. In selecting applications, the Department will prioritize projects carried out in a variety of communities and projects that address safety risks in the IOCMR of critical infrastructure. The Federal share of the total project cost may not exceed 50 percent. · A lead applicant may request an increase in the Federal share up to 75 percent. · A request for an increased Federal share must be submitted in writing as part of the application. · The request must demonstrate that additional Federal assistance is necessary to facilitate acceptance and full use of the grant, such as by alleviating economic hardship, meeting additional workforce needs, or other appropriate reasons determined by the Department. Applications from private companies, nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and other non-governmental entities are not eligible unless such entities participate only as contractors, vendors, or other non-applicant partners to an eligible governmental entity.

## Questions people ask

### Who can apply for FY26 US DOT Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grants (DIIG) Program?

69A345 Office of the Under Secretary for Policy accepts applications from state and local governments and tribes. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for FY26 US DOT Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grants (DIIG) Program?

Expected deadline November 15, 2026. Confirm the date and time in the official notice on Grants.gov.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $9.0 million each. About $9.0 million in total across about 5 awards.