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Rural and Tribal Assistance (RTA) Pilot Program

ID: DOT-OST-2025-103 • Type: Forecasted
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Description

The Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program, administered by the Build America Bureau (the Bureau), was created under Public Law 117-58 to advance transportation infrastructure projects in rural and tribal communities by supporting planning and development-phase activities for projects reasonably expected to be eligible for certain U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT or the Department) credit and grant programs. However, there is no requirement for grantees to apply for other DOT funding programs in the future. RTA Program funding is for planning and design phase activities of transportation infrastructure projects that meet the Program's eligibility requirements discussed in Section II. Grant recipients may hire staff or procure the services of expert firms to develop their projects. Section II. D lists example activities that would be eligible under this Program. Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applications. Section IV discusses the application. The review process and criteria used to select applications for award is discussed in Section VI. Section V includes the Program's submission requirements for applying, including when the application window opens.

Background
The Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program, administered by the Build America Bureau (the Bureau), was created under Public Law 117-58 to advance transportation infrastructure projects in rural and tribal communities. The program supports planning and development-phase activities for projects that are reasonably expected to be eligible for certain U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) credit and grant programs. Importantly, there is no requirement for grantees to apply for other DOT funding programs in the future.

Grant Details
The RTA Program provides funding specifically for planning and design phase activities of transportation infrastructure projects. Eligible activities include hiring staff or procuring expert firms to provide financial, technical, and legal assistance with project-related planning and design. Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applications. Example activities that would be eligible under this Program include:

- Financial services such as revenue forecasting, economic assessments, feasibility studies.
- Technical services like project planning framework analysis.
- Legal services including drafting concession agreements and environmental review.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include rural local governments or political subdivisions, states, federally recognized tribes, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Projects must be located outside urbanized areas with populations exceeding 150,000 residents as determined by the Bureau of the Census.

Period of Performance
The period of performance for grants is up to 36 months from the project start date established in the executed grant agreement.

Grant Value
$54.2 million is available for awards with individual grants ranging from $250,000 to $2,500,000. A total of $20 million is set aside specifically for eligible tribal applicants.

Place of Performance
The grant will be performed in rural areas defined as locations outside urbanized areas with populations greater than 150,000.
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Overview

Agency
Department of Transportation (DOT)
Category of Funding
Transportation
Funding Instruments
Grant
Grant Program (CFDA)
20.943 - Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program
Grant Category
Discretionary
Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement
False
Source
Grants.gov
On 8/7/25 the Department of Transportation forecasted grant opportunity DOT-OST-2025-103 for Rural and Tribal Assistance (RTA) Pilot Program with funding of $54.2 million. The grant will be issued under grant program 20.943 Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program. It is expected that 100 total grants will be made worth between $250,000 and $2.5 million.

Timing

Forecast Posted Date
Aug. 7, 2025, 12:00 a.m. EDT
Est. Application Posting Date
Aug. 7, 2025, 12:00 a.m. EDT
Est. Synopsis Response Date
Oct. 8, 2025, 12:00 a.m. EDT Forecasted
Last Updated
Aug. 15, 2025, 10:48 a.m. EDT
Version
3
Archive Date
Oct. 8, 2025

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants
Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Additional Info
Applicants for the program must be one of the following:1. A unit of local government or political subdivision that is located outside of an urbanized area that has a population of more than 150,000 residents, as determined by the Bureau of the Census. Examples of local governments and political subdivisions include the following: County; Borough; Municipality; City; Town; Township; Parish (under the state of Louisiana); Local public authority, including any public housing agency under the United States Housing Act of 1937; Special district; School district; Council of governments, whether or not incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under State law; or Any other agency or instrumentality of a multi-, regional, or intra-State or local government;2. A state, territory, or possession of the United States seeking to advance a project in a location outside of an urbanized area that has a population of more than 150,000 residents as determined by the Bureau of the Census;3. A federally recognized Indian Tribe; 4. The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

Award Sizing

Ceiling
$2,500,000
Floor
$250,000
Estimated Program Funding
$54,200,000
Estimated Number of Grants
100

Contacts

Contact
Rural and Tribal USDOT Grantor
Contact Email
ruralandtribalta@dot.gov
Email Description
Rural and Tribal TA Email

Documents

Posted documents for DOT-OST-2025-103

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