Mega Grants

The Department is combining three major discretionary grant programs and two fiscal years of funding into one Multimodal Projects Discretionary Grant (MPDG) opportunity to reduce the burden for state and local applicants and increase the pipeline of shovel-worthy projects that are now possible because of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) program was created in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to fund major projects that are too large or complex for traditional funding programs. It is a highly competitive program. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $5 billion for Mega over 5 years, of which approximately $1.7 billion remains and will be made available through this NOFO. Half of the funds available in each fiscal year is reserved for projects greater than $500 million in cost, and half is reserved for projects greater than $100 million but less than $500 million in cost. Applications will be evaluated on six outcome criteria, economic analysis, project readiness, and statutory requirements. The six outcome criteria are: (1) safety; (2) state of good repair; (3) economic impacts, freight movement, and job creation; (4) climate change, resilience, and the environment; (5) equity, multimodal options, and quality of life; and (6) innovation areas: technology, project delivery, and financing. Applicants that wish to submit the same application to be considered for more than one grant program under the MPDG combined NOFO only need to submit their application through one Grants.gov opportunity number and that application will be considered for all programs for which it is not opted-out or ineligible. It is not necessary to submit multiple of the same application under the other MPDG Grants.gov opportunities.