FYs 2024 through 2026 - Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) Competitive Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity

Background
The PROTECT Competitive Grant Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), aims to enhance the resilience of surface transportation systems against current and future weather events, natural disasters, and changing conditions.

The program's goals include protecting surface transportation assets, communities, coastal infrastructure, and natural infrastructure that supports these assets. The funding opportunity is part of a broader initiative to ensure that transportation systems can withstand severe storms, flooding, droughts, and other climate-related challenges.

Grant Details
The PROTECT Competitive Grant Program provides funding for various types of grants aimed at improving transportation resilience:
1. **Planning Grants**: Development of Resilience Improvement Plans (RIPs), resilience planning activities, vulnerability assessments, and evacuation planning.
2. **Resilience Improvement Grants**: Construction activities to enhance existing transportation assets against weather events or natural disasters.
3. **Community Resilience and Evacuation Route Grants**: Projects that strengthen evacuation routes essential for emergency evacuations.
4. **At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure Grants**: Projects that enhance the resilience of infrastructure facing risks from coastal flooding and erosion.

Eligible activities vary by grant type but may include construction, technical capacity building, data tool development, and more.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include States, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), local governments, federally recognized Indian Tribes, public transportation agencies, port authorities, and Federal Land Managing Agencies (FLMAs) applying jointly with a State or group of States.

Specific eligibility for At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure Grants extends to U.S. territories and entities within coastal States. A minimum non-Federal cost-share of 20% is required for most applicants; however, certain exceptions apply.

Period of Performance
The period of performance for projects funded under this grant program is anticipated to be between 1 to 4 years.

Grant Value
The total funding available for the PROTECT Competitive Grant Program is up to $787 million from FYs 2024 through 2026. This includes specific allocations such as up to $79 million for Planning Grants and up to $551 million for Resilience Improvement Grants.

Place of Performance
The geographic locations where the grant projects will be performed include various States across the U.S., particularly focusing on areas vulnerable to climate impacts such as coastal regions.