Rural and Tribal Assistance (RTA) Pilot Program

The Rural and Tribal Assistance (RTA) Pilot Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau. The Bureau was established to help deliver transportation infrastructure through innovative financing programs, streamlined project delivery, and technical support. Its mission includes making credit programs more accessible, engaging stakeholders, and advancing federal transportation priorities through grant programs. Section 21205 of Public Law 117-58, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, authorized the creation of the RTA Pilot Program to provide financial, technical, and legal assistance to rural and tribal entities developing transportation infrastructure projects. The purpose of the program is to help rural and tribal communities advance projects that are in early stages of development and that are reasonably expected to qualify for other federal funding and financing programs. Unlike those programs, however, RTA awards are not contingent on later applications to other Department of Transportation opportunities. Eligible activities under this program include planning and design work, such as feasibility studies, financial analysis, environmental review, procurement support, and legal or technical consulting services. Grants may be used to hire staff or contract with expert firms to complete these activities. The program’s goal is to build capacity among communities that often lack resources to undertake these complex preparatory steps. The total amount of funding available for this round is approximately $54.2 million. The minimum award amount is $250,000 and the maximum is $2,500,000, with up to 216 awards anticipated. Twenty million dollars of the total is set aside for federally recognized tribal governments. The period of performance for each award is up to 36 months. Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and no more than twenty percent of available funds may be distributed to projects in a single state. Grant funds are not provided as lump sums; recipients will be reimbursed for eligible expenses after a grant agreement is executed. Eligible applicants include local governments or political subdivisions located outside urbanized areas with populations above 150,000, states and territories proposing projects in eligible rural areas, federally recognized Indian tribes, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. The definition of rural is tied to U.S. Census Bureau classifications, with projects needing to be outside urbanized areas of more than 150,000 residents. A wide range of entities fall under the definition of local government and political subdivisions, such as counties, municipalities, school districts, and councils of government. Applications must be submitted online at the RTA Program’s webpage beginning at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September 8, 2025. The application window closes October 8, 2025, though awards may be exhausted before that date due to the first-come, first-served structure. Applicants are limited to submitting two project applications. Required application content includes organizational details, project description, cost information, congressional districts, and responses to two main evaluation criteria. These criteria are the appropriateness of requested services in advancing the project and the viability of the funding plan to ensure activities are completed. Supporting documentation, including proof of UEI and SAM registration, is mandatory. Letters of support will not be accepted. Applications are reviewed in the order they are received. The review process begins with eligibility screening and responsiveness checks before moving to evaluation of the two merit criteria. Projects that meet both criteria are recommended for award, with final approval by the Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy. Award notices will be sent via email to applicants and posted publicly on the RTA Program website. Each awardee must comply with applicable federal regulations, including procurement requirements, civil rights obligations, and domestic preference rules. Progress reporting is required quarterly, along with financial reporting and participation in program evaluations. The anticipated selection notification date is December 2025, and funded projects must begin work by December 29, 2025. For additional information, applicants may contact the RTA Program staff at RuralandTribalTA@dot.gov or by phone at 202-366-2300. The mailing address for the Build America Bureau is 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, W84-322, Washington, DC 20590. Updates, FAQs, and webinar notices will be posted on the program’s website. Interested applicants are encouraged to review the Notice of Funding Opportunity in detail and to prepare early, as available funds may be committed quickly after the portal opens:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}.

Apply early due to first-come process; prepare SAM/UEI; include cost estimates