INFRA Grants | NSMFHP 23 24 INFRA

Opportunity Information: Apply for NSMFHP 23 24 INFRA

The INFRA Grants opportunity is a competitive U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) funding program focused on major surface transportation investments that strengthen the national economy and freight system while improving safety and reliability. For this funding cycle, DOT is streamlining access by packaging INFRA within a broader Multimodal Projects Discretionary Grant (MPDG) approach, which merges multiple large discretionary grant pathways into a more unified application experience. The idea is to reduce administrative burden for state and local applicants and, at the same time, build a stronger pipeline of projects that are ready to move quickly from planning into construction, especially now that larger funding levels are available under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

INFRA specifically targets projects with clear national or regional significance, especially those tied to highway infrastructure, multimodal freight movement, and rail improvements. DOT positions the program as a way to rebuild and modernize critical infrastructure while creating good-paying jobs and supporting long-term competitiveness. The kinds of outcomes DOT is looking for are practical and measurable: fewer crashes and safer corridors, reduced congestion and more reliable travel times, stronger resilience to extreme weather and other disruptions, and more efficient freight movement that can ease supply chain bottlenecks. The program also emphasizes projects that can reduce emissions and support more sustainable transportation, alongside efforts to expand access and transportation options in rural areas and underserved communities.

A major theme in the notice is demand far outstripping available funding, underscoring how competitive the program is. DOT notes that in the prior year it received more than $27 billion in requests but funded only about $1.5 billion worth of projects. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law substantially boosts INFRA compared to earlier years, increasing this year funding by more than 50 percent and providing about $8 billion for INFRA over five years. Of that five-year total, roughly $3.1 billion is being made available through this specific Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), reflecting a significant, but still highly contested, pool of federal dollars.

From the posted opportunity data, this is a discretionary grant (not a formula entitlement program) administered by DOTs Office of the Under Secretary for Policy. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 20.934 and is tied to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The funding opportunity number is NSMFHP 23 24 INFRA. The NOFO was created on June 26, 2023, with an original application deadline of August 21, 2023. The expected number of awards is around 40, and the listed award ceiling is $1,290,300,000, indicating that some individual awards can be very large depending on project scope and national significance. Eligibility is summarized as "Others (see additional information on eligibility)," which generally signals that eligible applicants may extend beyond a single category and applicants should consult the NOFO text for the precise list (often including states, local governments, transportation authorities, tribal governments, and other public entities, depending on program rules).

Overall, INFRA Grants are designed to fund high-impact infrastructure projects that improve how people and goods move, with a strong emphasis on freight and supply chain performance, safety, economic returns, and resilience. DOT is using the MPDG structure to make it easier for applicants to pursue the right discretionary pathway while pushing forward projects that are ready to deliver visible, near-term construction and long-term national benefits.

• The Department of Transportation, 69A345 Office of the Under Secretary for Policy in the infrastructure investment and jobs act (iija) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "INFRA Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.934.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 26, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 21, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,290,300,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for NSMFHP 23 24 INFRA

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: