Rural and Tribal Assistance (RTA) Pilot Program

The Rural and Tribal Assistance (RTA) Pilot Program is administered by the Build America Bureau, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The Bureau's mission is to drive U.S. transportation infrastructure development by providing access to federal financing and grant programs, and through technical assistance and innovative project delivery methods. This program is specifically designed to support rural and tribal communities in early-phase development of transportation infrastructure projects. Authorized under Section 21205 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the program helps applicants prepare for future funding opportunities by building internal capacity and improving project readiness. This funding round, announced via Amendment #2 dated August 7, 2025, increases the total available funding to $54.2 million, with award ranges from $250,000 to $2.5 million. Of this, $20 million is set aside exclusively for federally recognized tribal applicants. Eligible expenses include hiring staff or contracting expert firms for financial, technical, and legal services related to project planning and design. The funding period extends up to 36 months and awards are made on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted. The program no longer includes a “Multi-Community” grant type, aligning instead with Administration priorities and executive orders. Applicants must be one of the following: local governments or political subdivisions located in areas with populations under 150,000; state governments seeking to develop projects in rural areas; federally recognized Indian Tribes; or the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Projects must be reasonably expected to qualify for future DOT credit or grant programs such as TIFIA, RRIF, INFRA, Mega, BUILD, or the National Culvert Program. Example eligible activities include revenue forecasting, project planning, permitting, engineering design, procurement support, and legal agreements. Applications are submitted through an online portal on the RTA Program webpage, opening September 8, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. ET and closing October 8, 2025. However, due to the first-come, first-served nature, funding may be exhausted before the formal deadline. Each applicant may submit up to two applications. The form must be completed in a single session, and requires contact and organization details, project description, project location, estimated costs, confirmation of eligibility, and responses to evaluation criteria. There is no cost-share requirement for this program. The evaluation process reviews applications in the order received. Each complete and eligible application is scored on two criteria: the appropriateness of services requested and the viability of the grant funding to complete the proposed activities. Applicants must demonstrate that proposed services will advance the project and that they have procurement or hiring capability. Applications meeting both criteria will be recommended for award until funding is fully allocated. Applicants must register with SAM.gov and have an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) to apply. Post-award requirements include quarterly progress reports, Federal Financial Reports (SF-425), and monthly calls with the Bureau. Recipients may be required to participate in program evaluations and must comply with federal laws and policies, including civil rights, cybersecurity, Buy America, and anti-discrimination provisions. For questions, applicants are encouraged to contact RTA Program staff at RuralandTribalTA@dot.gov or call 202-366-0765. TDD is available at 202-366-3993. The program website also includes a downloadable PDF application preview, FAQs, and future updates.

Submit early; form must be completed in one session; funds awarded first-come basis