Regional Infrastructure Accelerator Program - NOFO Reissuance

The Regional Infrastructure Accelerator (RIA) Program, issued by the Build America Bureau within the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), provides up to $20 million in cooperative agreements to U.S. public entities. The aim is to support these entities in establishing RIAs that accelerate the development and delivery of transportation infrastructure projects eligible for the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) Credit Program. The program focuses on the development of infrastructure priorities and innovative financing strategies, encouraging applications that promote innovative best practices in planning, financing, and delivery of transportation projects. The funding for this opportunity is derived from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024. Eligible applicants include a wide range of U.S. public entities such as states, counties, municipalities, tribal governments, MPOs, regional transportation planning organizations, and special-purpose districts or public authorities with a transportation function. The program emphasizes collaboration among eligible public entities and allows for partnerships with private organizations, provided a public entity is designated as the lead applicant. All participating jurisdictions and projects must be located in the United States or its territories, and the projects must meet TIFIA eligibility requirements. The program provides awards in the range of $975,000 to $2 million, potentially more or less based on application strength and program objectives. Selected RIAs will receive funding for a two-year period, with the possibility of a third year contingent on performance and funding availability. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. EST on June 16, 2025, via Grants.gov. The application must include a cover page, a narrative following a specific structure (including organizational information, region description, proposal, budget, and selection criteria), and optional appendices with supporting documents. Applications will be evaluated based on seven criteria: experience/qualifications, partnerships, business model, project pipeline, readiness, self-sustainability, and risk. Each criterion will receive a qualitative rating of STRONG, MODERATE, or MARGINAL. These ratings will inform an overall assessment used by the Review Team and the final decision by the Secretary of Transportation. The contact for the RIA Program is Carl Ringgold, Program Manager, available at Carl.Ringgold@dot.gov or 202-913-3748. Applicants must register in SAM, obtain a UEI, and follow the submission procedures outlined in the NOFO. Late applications due to technical issues must be justified and reported by the deadline. The program prohibits the reimbursement of pre-award or application preparation costs and requires strict adherence to federal laws and policies including nondiscrimination and cybersecurity protocols.

Use verifiable data; include letters of support; provide a well-structured budget; follow formatting guidelines; complete SAM and UEI registration early; ensure readiness to launch RIA quickly