FYs 2024 through 2026 - Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) Competitive Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity

The Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) Competitive Grant Program, administered by the Federal Highway Administration, provides up to 787 million dollars in funding for fiscal years 2024 through 2026. The program aims to enhance the resilience of surface transportation systems, including highways, public transportation, ports, and intercity passenger rail, against natural disasters and changing environmental conditions. Funding is divided into Planning Grants, with awards ranging from 100,000 to 10 million dollars, and Resilience Grants—covering Resilience Improvement, Community Resilience and Evacuation Routes, and At-Risk Coastal Infrastructure—with awards ranging from 500,000 to 60 million dollars. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by October 9, 2026, and require a valid SAM registration and Unique Entity Identifier. The evaluation process consists of a two-stage review: a Merit Criteria Rating focusing on vulnerability, risk, and criticality, followed by a Project Readiness Evaluation for qualifying applicants. Selected projects must adhere to strict domestic preference requirements for steel, iron, and construction materials, and must demonstrate a comprehensive approach to physical and cyber security risks. Grants are primarily administered on a reimbursement basis for allowable costs incurred after the execution of a grant agreement, with a total period of performance typically spanning one to four years.