• Granting Agency: Federal Highway Administration, USDOT
• Appropriation Amount: $2.36 Billion
• Grant Amount: >$2,500,000 – 20% Match | No limits for planning
• Announcement Date: June 10, 2022
• Closing Date: September 8, 2022 | July 25, 2022 for planning

Read the Notice of Funding Opportunity

Purpose: The purpose of this notice is to solicit applications for three categories of Bridge Investment Program (BIP) funding opportunities: (1) Planning; (2) Bridge Projects (projects with eligible costs less than $100 million); and (3) Large Bridge Projects (projects with eligible costs greater than $100 million). Eligible applicants may submit applications for any of the three funding categories, but each category has distinct eligibility and selection criteria and application deadlines. A total of $20 million in 2022 BIP funds are available for Planning funding opportunities.

These funds will be awarded on a competitive basis for planning, feasibility analysis, and revenue forecasting associated with the development of a project that would subsequently be eligible to apply for BIP funding under either the Bridge Projects or Large Bridge Projects funding categories. A total of $2.36 billion in 2022 BIP funds are available for the Bridge Projects and Large Bridge Projects funding opportunities. These funds will be awarded on a competitive basis for bridge replacement, rehabilitation, preservation, and protection projects that: (1) improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of people and freight over bridges; and (2) improve the condition of bridges in the United States by reducing (a) the number of bridges, and total person miles traveled over bridges, that are in poor condition or that are in fair condition and at risk of falling into poor condition within the next three years, or (b) the number of bridges, and total person miles traveled over bridges, that do not meet current geometric design standards or cannot meet the load and traffic requirements typical of the regional transportation network. In addition, Large Bridge Projects that receive a BIP award of not less than $100 million are eligible for multiyear grants, in which DOT can award available funds to a project over the course of several years in accordance with an agreement and in alignment with its schedule. In selecting Bridge Projects and Large Bridge Projects, FHWA will consider the extent to which BIP funds leverage non-Federal contributions from sponsors and stakeholders involved in the planning, design, and construction of eligible projects.

Eligible Projects:

Planning
Project for planning, feasibility analyses, and revenue forecasting associated with the development of a project that would subsequently be eligible to apply for assistance under the BIP
(See Division J, Title VIII of BIL9)

Bridge Projects & Large Bridge Projects (Both projects with total eligible project costs under $100 million and large projects)
1. Project to replace, rehabilitate, preserve, or protect one or more bridges on the National Bridge Inventory under 23 U.S.C. § 144(b)10 (See 23 U.S.C. § 124(a)(1)(A))
2. A project under the BIP program includes bridge bundling and culverts (23 U.S.C. § 124(a)(1)(B))

In addition to meeting the BIP statutory project eligibility, applicants for Bridge Project and Large Bridge Project grants must specifically address two title 23, United States Code (U.S.C.) requirements (1) how the bridge will be maintained, and (2) accommodations for bicyclists and pedestrian.

The application must demonstrate how the grant recipient, whether a State DOT or non-State DOT direct recipient, will maintain or cause to be maintained a Bridge Project or Large Bridge Project that receives BIP funds. (23 U.S.C. § 116(b)). Competitive applications will identify which entity will be responsible for maintaining the BIP funded project, estimated maintenance costs over the life of the project, and sources to fund those costs.

For bridge projects to be funded, they must be reasonably expected to begin construction not later than 18 months after the date on which BIP funds are obligated for the project and their preliminary engineering must be complete.

Eligible Project Costs:

Planning
Planning, feasibility analyses, and revenue forecasting.

Bridge Projects & Large Bridge Projects
1. Development phase activities, including planning, feasibility analyses, revenue forecasting, environmental review, preliminary engineering and design work, and other preconstruction activities
2. Construction, which includes replacement and preservation, reconstruction, rehabilitation, acquisition of real property (including land related to the project and improvements to the land), environmental mitigation, construction contingencies, acquisition of equipment, and operational improvements directly related to improving system performance
3. Expenses related to the protection as described in 23 U.S.C. § 133(b)(10) of a bridge, including seismic or scour protection
4. On the request of an eligible entity carrying out an eligible project, amounts awarded to the entity to pay subsidy and administrative costs necessary to provide to the entity Federal credit assistance under 23 U.S.C. chapter 6

This table summarizes the statutorily defined BIP eligible project costs. The DOT recognizes that there are other eligible project costs, such as community engagement, that may be necessary for performance of a BIP award. Under 23 U.S.C. § 139(j), public entities receiving Federal assistance under title 23, U.S.C., or chapter 53, of title 49, U.S.C., may provide funds to Federal Agencies, State agencies, and Tribes participating in the environmental review process for the project.

If DOT makes a multi-year grant award, interest and other financing costs of carrying out a part of the project within a reasonable time shall be considered a cost of carrying out the project under a multi-year grant agreement.

Eligible Applicants:

1. A State or a group of States
2. A metropolitan planning organization that serves an urbanized area (as designated by the Bureau of the Census) with a population over 200,000;
3. A unit of local government or a group of local governments;
4. A political subdivision of a State or local government;
5. A special purpose district or a public authority with a transportation function;
6. A Federal land management agency;
7. A Tribal government or a consortium of Tribal governments; and
8. A multistate or multijurisdictional group of entities as described above in 1 – 7.

Multiple States or a multijurisdictional group that submits a joint application should identify a lead applicant as the primary point of contact. Joint applications should include a description of the roles and responsibilities of each applicant and should be signed or include a letter of support by each applicant. The applicant that will be responsible for financial administration of the project and the recipient of a BIP award must be an eligible applicant.

For questions concerning this NOFO and the BIP program, please contact:

Angela Jones
Agreement Specialist
Office of Acquisition and Grants Management
Federal Highway Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE.,
Washington, DC 20590
Email: BridgeImprovementProgram@dot.gov (preferred)
Phone: 202-466-4255

Alternate:
Robin Hobbs
Agreement Officer/Team Leader
Office of Acquisition and Grants Management
Federal Highway Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE.,
Washington, DC 20590
Email: BridgeImprovementProgram@dot.gov (preferred)
Phone: 202-366-4004