Fiscal Year 2026 Intercity Bus Security Grant Program

This federal Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announces the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP), administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The program's primary purpose is to provide grant funding to private, over-the-road intercity and charter bus operators to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism. For FY 2026, the program has an expected total funding pool of $1.9 million, with individual awards anticipated to range from $20,000 to $1.9 million. Eligible applicants must operate fixed-route services or charter services making at least 50 annual trips to historically eligible Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) areas. Additionally, applicants must have updated and certified a Vulnerability Assessment and Security Plan (VASP) within the past three years. The program requires a 50% non-federal cost-share hard match (cash) from the recipient. Funding is guided by five National Priority Areas (NPAs): soft target protection, Homeland Security Task Force and fusion center support, cybersecurity resilience, election security, and border crisis response. Projects directly addressing these NPAs receive a 20% score multiplier during the evaluation process. Allowable project categories include planning, operational activities, equipment and capital projects, training, and exercises. Applications must be submitted through the FEMA GO system by the deadline of July 24, 2026, and the projected period of performance runs from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2029.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have released the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP). With an expected total funding pool of $1.9 million and an estimated 18 awards ranging from $20,000 to $1.9 million, the program provides financial assistance to private, over-the-road intercity bus operators. Funding is intended to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism. Eligible applicants must operate fixed-route or charter bus services that provide at least 50 annual trips to historically eligible Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) areas. Applicants must also possess a certified Vulnerability Assessment and Security Plan (VASP) updated within the last three years. The program requires a 50% cost share (hard match) of the total project cost. Projects must align with enduring security needs—such as planning, training, equipment, and exercises—or target the FY 2026 National Priority Areas (NPAs). The NPAs include protecting soft targets, supporting Homeland Security Task Forces and fusion centers, enhancing cybersecurity, enhancing election security, and supporting border crisis response. Projects that sufficiently address an NPA will receive a 20% review score multiplier. Applications must be submitted through the FEMA GO system by July 24, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Evaluation criteria focus on scope of work, expected impact, project schedules, and cost-effectiveness.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have released the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Fiscal Year 2026 Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP). With an expected total funding of $1.9 million and an individual award range between $20,000 and $1,900,000, this grant aims to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism. Eligible applicants are private operators providing fixed-route or charter over-the-road bus services that routinely serve historically eligible Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) areas. Applicants must have completed or updated a Vulnerability Assessment and Security Plan (VASP) within the past three years. The program requires a 50% non-federal hard cash match; in-kind contributions are not accepted. Funding priorities are aligned with National Priority Areas (NPAs), which include enhancing cybersecurity, protecting soft targets and crowded places, supporting Homeland Security Task Forces, enhancing election security, and supporting border crisis response. Projects addressing these NPAs will receive a 20% score multiplier during evaluation. Allowable project types span planning, operational activities, equipment and capital projects, training, and exercises. Applications must be submitted through the FEMA GO portal by July 24, 2026. Applicants must maintain active SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations. Management and administration (M&A) costs are capped at 5% of the total award, and a one-time pre-award reimbursement of up to $1,500 is permitted for contracted grant writing services.