FY24 Stage 1 SMART Grants Notice of Funding Opportunity

Background
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is soliciting applications for Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Stage 1 Planning and Prototyping grants. The purpose of the grant is to conduct demonstration projects focused on advanced smart city or community technologies and systems to improve transportation efficiency and safety.

Grant Details
The SMART Grants Program includes two stages: Stage 1 Planning and Prototyping Grants (Stage 1 grants) and Stage 2 Implementation Grants (Stage 2 grants). The program structure is based on a belief that planning, prototyping, and partnership are critical to advancing the state of the practice for data and technology projects in the public sector. USDOT anticipates that only recipients of Stage 1 Planning and Prototyping Grants will be eligible for Stage 2 Implementation Grants. The anticipated minimum award size is $250,000 for Stage 1, with an expected period of performance for Stage 1 SMART grant agreements up to 18 months.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants for the SMART Grants Program include states, political subdivisions of a state, federally recognized Tribal governments, public transit agencies or authorities, public toll authorities, metropolitan planning organizations, or a group of two or more eligible entities applying through a single lead applicant (Group Application). Collaborative projects may address similar problems and with similar technologies or potentially share common resources such as partnerships with industry, nonprofits, academic institutions, or community foundations.

Period of Performance
The expected period of performance for Stage 1 SMART grant agreements is up to 18 months.

Grant Value
This Notice makes available up to approximately $50,000,000 for FY 2024 Stage 1 grants under the SMART Grants Program. USDOT expects to award approximately 30 Stage 1 grants of up to $2,000,000 per award. There is an anticipated minimum award size of $250,000.

Place of Performance
Projects funded by the SMART Grants Program use advanced data, technology, and applications to provide significant benefits to a local area, a State, a region, or the United States.