GrantPostedDiscretionary

Rural and Tribal Assistance (RTA) Pilot Program

69A345 Office of the Under Secretary for Policy
DOT-OST-2025-103
Application Deadline
Days Remaining
Until deadline
Award Ceiling
$2,500,000
Total Program Funding
$54,200,000

Grant Opportunity Analysis

The Office of the Under Secretary for Policy at the Department of Transportation is offering the Rural and Tribal Assistance (RTA) Pilot Program, a federal grant aimed at advancing transportation infrastructure projects in rural and tribal communities. This program supports planning and development-phase activities for projects that are expected to be eligible for various U.S. Department of Transportation credit and grant programs, although future applications for additional funding are not mandatory. With an estimated total funding of $54.2 million, the program anticipates awarding approximately 100 grants, with individual awards ranging from $250,000 to $2.5 million. Interested applicants, including local governments, states, federally recognized Indian Tribes, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, can access the application portal starting September 8, 2025, and should direct inquiries to ruralandtribalta@dot.gov or call 202-366-0765 for further assistance.

Eligible Applicants

Others
Additional Eligibility Information

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.

Grant Documents

3 Files
08.07.2025.
FILE494 KBAug 10, 2025
AI Summary
No AI summary available for this file.
2025.pdf
PDF184 KBAug 10, 2025
AI Summary
The Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program application form details the requirements for entities seeking federal funding for projects in rural areas or on tribal lands. Applicants must provide extensive contact and organizational information, including EIN/TIN, UEI, and congressional districts. Eligibility is limited to local governments, states, federally recognized Indian Tribes, or the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, all with specific project location criteria. The application requires a detailed project title, location (address or latitude/longitude), and a comprehensive description (up to 500 words) including type, features, schedule, and estimated cost. Applicants must also declare any federal debt delinquency. A significant portion of the application focuses on the appropriateness of requested services, outlining how funds will advance the project, estimated costs, and any completed development activities. Furthermore, it assesses the viability of grant services, requiring information on the organization's experience in procuring advisory services or hiring staff, and whether bids or estimates for services have been obtained. The form concludes with a certification of accuracy and an agreement to comply with award terms.
RTA-Qualtrics-Application-Instructions_2025-08_508.pdf
PDF255 KBAug 10, 2025
AI Summary
The document provides detailed instructions for completing the online application form for the Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program for Fiscal Years 2024-2025. It outlines required information, including point of contact details, organization/entity information (name, address, EIN/TIN, UEI), congressional district data for headquarters and project locations, and eligibility criteria. Applicants must provide a descriptive project title, location details (address or latitude/longitude), and a concise project description including type, features, schedule, and estimated total cost. The form also asks about federal debt delinquency and requires detailed descriptions of requested activities, estimated costs, and any completed project-related development activities. Additionally, applicants must describe their experience with advisory services or staff hiring processes, and confirm if bids/quotes were obtained for proposed services. The application concludes with a certification and signature process.

Related Grant Opportunities

Project Timeline

postedOriginal Opportunity PostedAug 7, 2025
expiryArchive DateOct 8, 2025

Funding Details

Award Ceiling
$2,500,000
Award Floor
$250,000
Est. Total Program Funding
$54,200,000
Expected Awards
100
No cost sharing required

Agency & Classification

Agency
69A345 Office of the Under Secretary for Policy(DOT-DOT X-50)
Funding Category
Transportation
Funding Instrument
Grant

Grantor Contact

Name
Rural and Tribal USDOT Grantor

CFDA Numbers

20.943

Official Sources