Opportunity Information: Apply for FHWA PROT 26 001
The FYs 2024 through 2026 Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) Competitive Grant Program is a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) discretionary grant opportunity aimed at strengthening the resilience of the nation s surface transportation system. The program is designed to help communities and transportation agencies better prepare for, withstand, and recover from disruptive events and long-term climate and weather impacts that threaten critical infrastructure. In practical terms, the program focuses on keeping essential transportation networks functioning during emergencies and speeding up recovery when disruptions happen, while also supporting strategies that reduce future damage and costs.
The scope of projects supported under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) covers a broad range of surface transportation assets, including highways, public transportation systems, ports, and intercity passenger rail. The program emphasizes resilience improvements that protect transportation assets and improve system reliability, including work that helps infrastructure remain operational during extreme events or return to service quickly afterward. It also highlights the role of coastal infrastructure and natural infrastructure solutions that can protect and enhance transportation facilities, which may include nature-based or natural feature approaches where appropriate.
Funding made available through this NOFO totals up to 787 million across fiscal years 2024 through 2026, with the potential addition of any remaining PROTECT Competitive Grant funds from prior years. FHWA anticipates making around 80 awards under this opportunity. While Grants.gov requires an award floor and ceiling to be listed, the NOFO states there is no formal minimum or maximum award amount for PROTECT Competitive Grant awards, and USDOT reserves the right to make awards outside any anticipated ranges. That said, based on prior-year expectations referenced in the NOFO, typical award sizes are expected to fall within certain bands depending on project type: Planning Grants are anticipated in the 100,000 to 10,000,000 range, while Resilience Improvement projects, Community Resilience and Evacuation Route projects, and At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure projects are anticipated in the 500,000 to 60,000,000 range. The published award ceiling shown for system purposes is 60,000,000.
Eligibility is intentionally broad to capture the range of agencies that own, operate, plan, or manage surface transportation assets. 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) when they apply jointly with a State or group of States. For the At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure Grant category specifically, eligibility is expanded to include U.S. territories, but is otherwise limited to coastal States and other qualifying entities within those coastal States, consistent with the statutory language referenced in the NOFO (23 U.S.C. 176(d)(4)(C)(i)). Because eligibility rules can change depending on whether an applicant is pursuing a Planning Grant, a Resilience Improvement or Community Resilience and Evacuation Route Grant, or an At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure Grant, applicants are directed to Section B.1 of the NOFO for the detailed category-by-category requirements.
Administrative details reflect that this is a discretionary grant under USDOT FHWA, listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 20.284 and categorized as a transportation funding activity. The funding opportunity number is FHWA PROT 26 001, and the application closing date shown is 2026-10-09. For complete requirements, selection criteria, cost share rules, eligible project costs, documentation expectations, and submission instructions, applicants are expected to rely on the full NOFO posted on Grants.gov.Apply for FHWA PROT 26 001
- The DOT Federal Highway Administration in the iij, transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FYs 2024 through 2026 - Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) Competitive Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.284.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-08-27.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-10-09. (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 $60,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 80 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
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FY 2024-2026 PROTECT Competitive Grant Program (FHWA) - FAQs
1) What is the PROTECT Competitive Grant Program?
The Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) Competitive Grant Program is a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) discretionary grant opportunity focused on strengthening the resilience of the nation’s surface transportation system. It supports efforts to help communities and transportation agencies prepare for, withstand, and recover from disruptive events and long-term climate and weather impacts that threaten critical infrastructure.
2) What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The program’s practical focus is keeping essential transportation networks functioning during emergencies and speeding up recovery after disruptions. It also supports strategies that reduce future damage and long-term costs by improving resilience and reliability.
3) Which fiscal years does this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) cover?
This NOFO covers fiscal years (FYs) 2024 through 2026.
4) Which federal agency is offering this grant?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by USDOT’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
5) What types of transportation assets can be supported?
The NOFO describes a broad scope of eligible surface transportation assets, including highways, public transportation systems, ports, and intercity passenger rail.
6) What kinds of project outcomes does FHWA emphasize?
The program emphasizes resilience improvements that protect transportation assets and improve system reliability. This includes work that helps infrastructure remain operational during extreme events or return to service quickly afterward.
7) Does the NOFO mention coastal or natural infrastructure approaches?
Yes. The NOFO highlights the role of coastal infrastructure and natural infrastructure solutions that can protect and enhance transportation facilities. This may include nature-based or natural feature approaches where appropriate.
8) How much total funding is available under this NOFO?
Funding totals up to $787 million across FY 2024 through FY 2026, with the potential addition of any remaining PROTECT Competitive Grant funds from prior years.
9) How many awards does FHWA expect to make?
FHWA anticipates making around 80 awards under this opportunity.
10) Is there a minimum or maximum award size?
The NOFO states there is no formal minimum or maximum award amount for PROTECT Competitive Grant awards, and USDOT reserves the right to make awards outside any anticipated ranges.
11) Why does Grants.gov show an award floor and ceiling if the NOFO says there is no formal minimum or maximum?
The NOFO notes that Grants.gov requires an award floor and ceiling to be listed for system purposes, even though the program itself does not set a formal minimum or maximum award size.
12) What award sizes are anticipated for Planning Grants?
Based on prior-year expectations referenced in the NOFO, Planning Grants are anticipated to range from $100,000 to $10,000,000.
13) What award sizes are anticipated for Resilience Improvement, Community Resilience and Evacuation Route, and At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure projects?
Based on prior-year expectations referenced in the NOFO, these project types are anticipated to range from $500,000 to $60,000,000.
14) What is the published award ceiling shown for system purposes?
The published award ceiling shown for system purposes is $60,000,000.
15) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as intentionally broad and includes States, metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), local governments, federally recognized Indian Tribes, public transportation agencies, port authorities, and Federal Land Managing Agencies (FLMAs) when they apply jointly with a State or group of States.
16) Are Federal Land Managing Agencies (FLMAs) eligible to apply on their own?
Not under the general eligibility description provided. The NOFO summary indicates FLMAs are eligible when they apply jointly with a State or group of States.
17) Are U.S. territories eligible to apply?
For the At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure Grant category specifically, eligibility is expanded to include U.S. territories. The NOFO summary also notes that this category is otherwise limited to coastal States and other qualifying entities within those coastal States, consistent with the statutory language referenced in the NOFO.
18) Does eligibility depend on the type of PROTECT grant being pursued?
Yes. The summary notes that eligibility rules can change depending on whether an applicant is pursuing a Planning Grant, a Resilience Improvement or Community Resilience and Evacuation Route Grant, or an At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure Grant.
19) Where should applicants look for the detailed eligibility rules by grant category?
Applicants are directed to Section B.1 of the NOFO for detailed, category-by-category eligibility requirements.
20) What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 20.284.
21) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is FHWA PROT 26 001.
22) What is the application closing date shown?
The application closing date shown is 2026-10-09.
23) Where is the official NOFO posted?
The NOFO is posted on Grants.gov, and applicants are expected to rely on the full NOFO there for complete requirements and instructions.
24) What details should applicants confirm in the full NOFO before applying?
The summary indicates that applicants should rely on the full NOFO for selection criteria, cost share rules, eligible project costs, documentation expectations, and submission instructions.
25) Is this a discretionary or formula grant?
This is described as a discretionary grant opportunity under USDOT FHWA.
26) What type of funding activity is this categorized as?
It is categorized as a transportation funding activity.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: IIJ, Transportation
Previous opportunity: National Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (BREP) - FY2026/27
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