Grants / Department of Transportation / Department of Transportation

NIPA-25-26-MEGA: Mega Grants

Closed Closed May 6, 2024 Opportunity NIPA-25-26-MEGA ☆ Save

This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of Department of Transportation notices from 2024.

• Award ceiling$1.0 billion
• Total funding$1.7 billion
• Cost sharingRequired
• Funding typeGrant

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Eligible applicants for Mega grants are: 1. a State or a group of States; 2. a metropolitan planning organization; 3. a unit of local government; 4. a political subdivision of a State; 5. a special purpose district or public authority with a transportation function, including a port authority; 6. a Tribal government or a consortium of Tribal governments; 7. a partnership between Amtrak and 1 or more entities described in (1) through (6); and, 8. a group of entities described in any of (1) through (7).For Mega, territories are also eligible. Eligible project types for Mega are: 1. A highway or bridge project on the National Multimodal Freight Network 2. A highway or bridge project on the National Highway Freight Network 3. A highway or bridge project on the National Highway System 4. A freight intermodal (including public ports) or freight rail project that provides public benefit 5. A railway highway grade separation or elimination project 6. An intercity passenger rail project 7. A public transportation project that is eligible under assistance under Chapter 53 of title 49 and is a part of any of the project types described above

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega Projects) awards averaged $74.3 million; this notice allows up to $1.0 billion per award.
• Most of the program's money (100% over five years) went to state and local governments.
• The notice requires cost sharing or matching funds, so you must contribute part of the project cost.

What the grant funds

The Department is combining three major discretionary grant programs and two fiscal years of funding into one Multimodal Projects Discretionary Grant (MPDG) opportunity to reduce the burden for state and local applicants and increase the pipeline of “shovel-worthy” projects that are now possible because of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) program was created in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund major projects that are too large or complex for traditional funding programs. It is a highly competitive program. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $5 billion for Mega over 5 years, of which approximately $1.7 billion remains and will be made available through this NOFO. Half of the funds available in each fiscal year is reserved for projects greater than $500 million in cost, and half is reserved for projects greater than $100 million but less than $500 million in cost. Applications will be evaluated on six outcome criteria, economic analysis, project readiness, and statutory requirements. The six outcome criteria are: (1) safety; (2) state of good repair; (3) economic impacts, freight movement, and job creation; (4) climate change, resilience, and the environment; (5) equity, multimodal options, and quality of life; and (6) innovation areas: technology, project delivery, and financing. Applicants that wish to submit the same application to be considered for more than one grant program under the MPDG combined NOFO only need to submit their application through one Grants.gov opportunity number and that application will be considered for all programs for which it is not opted-out or ineligible. It is not necessary to submit multiple of the same application under the other MPDG Grants.gov opportunities.

Category: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.