Opportunity Information: Apply for FHWA NSFT 24 001
The Fiscal Years 2024 Through 2026 Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects (NSFLTP) Competitive Grant Program is a discretionary grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), focused on major transportation projects connected to Federal lands and Tribal transportation systems. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) makes up to $165 million available across FY 2024 through FY 2026, and FHWA may also use this same competition to award any leftover NSFLTP funds from earlier fiscal years if those funds remain available. While $165 million is the headline amount, the final dollars FHWA can actually award depend on annual funding availability and any reductions created by the Federal-aid highway program obligation limitation that is set through appropriations acts, meaning the eventual total can shift based on federal budget rules in a given year.
By law, the funding is split evenly each fiscal year between two broad project categories. First, 50 percent of NSFLTP funds each year must go to projects on Tribal transportation facilities. Second, the remaining 50 percent must go to projects on Federal lands transportation facilities and Federal lands access transportation facilities. Within that Federal-lands half, Congress also added a specific requirement: FHWA must fund at least one eligible project per fiscal year submitted by the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) for a unit of the National Park System that has at least three million annual visitors. This requirement is rooted in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act section 1123(h), as amended, and it ensures that at least one large, high-traffic national park project is supported each year in addition to other competitive selections.
The program does not set a minimum or maximum award size as a matter of statute, but the NOFO’s published data indicates an award ceiling of $30,000,000 and an expectation of around 10 awards. In practice, that means FHWA has flexibility to support either very large single projects or smaller, high-impact projects, but it also signals that FHWA anticipates funding a limited number of sizable projects rather than many small ones. Because it is a competitive program, applicants should generally expect a merit-based selection process where projects are compared against each other for national or regional significance, readiness, benefits, and alignment with program goals tied to Federal lands and Tribal transportation access and safety.
Eligible applicants fall into three groups. The first group is Federal Land Management Agencies (FLMAs). The second group is federally recognized Indian Tribes. The third group includes States, counties, and other units of local government, but only when the application is sponsored by an FLMA or a federally recognized Tribe. That sponsorship condition is important: a State or local government cannot independently apply without a Federal or Tribal sponsor, which reinforces the program’s intent to concentrate investments on projects tied directly to Federal lands transportation systems, Federal lands access routes, or Tribal transportation facilities.
Administratively, this opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number FHWA NSFT 24 001, listed under CFDA (Assistance Listing) 20.276, and uses a grant as the funding instrument. The opportunity’s original closing date is July 16, 2026, which reflects the multi-year scope covering FY 2024 to FY 2026. Overall, the NSFLTP NOFO is designed to channel large-scale transportation investments into projects that improve access to and mobility within Federal lands and Tribal areas, while also meeting specific statutory allocation rules and ensuring annual support for at least one major National Park Service project at a highly visited park unit.Apply for FHWA NSFT 24 001
- The DOT Federal Highway Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Years 2024 Through 2026 Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects Competitive Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.276.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-02.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-16. (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 $30,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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NSFLTP Competitive Grant Program (FY 2024-FY 2026) - FAQs
What is the NSFLTP Competitive Grant Program?
The Fiscal Years 2024 Through 2026 Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects (NSFLTP) Competitive Grant Program is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). It supports major transportation projects that are connected to Federal lands and Tribal transportation systems.
Who runs this grant program?
The program is run by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) within the U.S. Department of Transportation.
How much funding is available under this NOFO?
The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) makes up to $165 million available across FY 2024 through FY 2026. FHWA may also use the same competition to award any leftover NSFLTP funds from earlier fiscal years if those funds remain available.
Is the full $165 million guaranteed to be awarded?
No. While $165 million is the headline amount, the final amount FHWA can award depends on annual funding availability and any reductions caused by the Federal-aid highway program obligation limitation established through appropriations acts. This means the eventual total can change based on federal budget rules in a given year.
How is the NSFLTP funding split between project types?
By law, NSFLTP funds are split evenly each fiscal year:
- 50% each fiscal year must go to projects on Tribal transportation facilities.
- 50% each fiscal year must go to projects on Federal lands transportation facilities and Federal lands access transportation facilities.
Is there a special requirement for National Park Service projects?
Yes. Within the Federal-lands half of the funding, FHWA must fund at least one eligible project per fiscal year that is submitted by the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) for a unit of the National Park System that has at least three million annual visitors. This requirement is tied to FAST Act section 1123(h), as amended.
Does this program have a minimum or maximum award amount?
The program does not set a minimum or maximum award size as a matter of statute. However, the NOFO data indicates an award ceiling of $30,000,000.
How many awards does FHWA expect to make?
The NOFO indicates an expectation of around 10 awards. This suggests FHWA anticipates funding a limited number of sizable projects rather than many small ones.
Is this a competitive grant?
Yes. This is a competitive program, which means projects are expected to be selected through a merit-based process and compared against other submissions.
What kinds of projects does the program prioritize (based on the NOFO description)?
Based on the description provided, the program focuses on major transportation projects tied to Federal lands and Tribal transportation systems, with emphasis on projects that demonstrate national or regional significance, readiness, benefits, and alignment with program goals related to access, mobility, and safety for Federal lands and Tribal areas.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants fall into three groups:
- Federal Land Management Agencies (FLMAs).
- Federally recognized Indian Tribes.
- States, counties, and other units of local government, but only when the application is sponsored by an FLMA or a federally recognized Tribe.
Can a State or local government apply on its own?
No. A State, county, or other unit of local government cannot apply independently. To be eligible, their application must be sponsored by a Federal Land Management Agency (FLMA) or a federally recognized Indian Tribe.
What does it mean for a State or local government application to be "sponsored"?
Based on the information provided, sponsorship is a required condition for States, counties, and other units of local government to be eligible applicants. The sponsorship must come from either an FLMA or a federally recognized Tribe, reinforcing that projects must be directly tied to Federal lands transportation systems, Federal lands access routes, or Tribal transportation facilities.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this NOFO?
The Funding Opportunity Number is FHWA NSFT 24 001.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA (Assistance Listing) 20.276.
What is the application deadline or closing date?
The opportunity's original closing date is July 16, 2026, reflecting the multi-year scope covering FY 2024 through FY 2026.
Does the program cover multiple fiscal years?
Yes. The NOFO covers Fiscal Years 2024 through 2026, and the closing date aligns with this multi-year scope.
Can FHWA use this competition to award funds from earlier fiscal years?
Yes. FHWA may use this same competition to award any leftover NSFLTP funds from earlier fiscal years if those funds remain available.
Why might the amount awarded change from year to year?
The total amount FHWA can award may shift due to annual funding availability and any reductions created by the Federal-aid highway program obligation limitation set through appropriations acts.
What is the overall purpose of the NSFLTP NOFO?
The NSFLTP NOFO is designed to direct large-scale transportation investments to projects that improve access to and mobility within Federal lands and Tribal areas, while following statutory funding allocation rules and ensuring annual support for at least one major National Park Service project at a highly visited park unit.
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