FY 2023 Thriving Communities Program_Notice of Funding Opportunity.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary of Transportation Notice of Funding Opportunity to Establish Cooperative Agreements with Technical Assistance Providers for the Fiscal Year 2023 Thriving Communities Program

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary of Transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)

ACTION: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), Assistance Listing Number: 20.942

SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to publish DOT’s application submission requirements and application review procedures to select national and state, Tribal, or regional capacity builders to provide technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support to communities through cooperative agreements with DOT, as authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (H.R. 2617, Public. L. No. 117-328).

DEADLINES: The deadline for application submission is 4:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 28, 2023. Proposals or applications received after the above deadlines will not be reviewed or considered. See Section E of this NOFO regarding DOT’s review process and Section G of the NOFO for DOT’s contact information.

ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted through https://www.grants.gov. Opportunity number: DOT-TCP-FY23-01.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ongoing updates, webinar notices, FAQs: https://www.transportation.gov/thriving-communities

Email: Monica Guerra, ThrivingCommunities@dot.gov

A Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) is available (202) 366-3993.

SUMMARY OVERVIEW AND KEY INFORMATION: Thriving Communities Program (TCP) Issuing Agency

U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of the Secretary (OST)

Program Overview

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 provided $25 million to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for a Thriving Communities Program (TCP) to develop and implement technical assistance, planning, and capacity building to help improve and foster thriving communities through transportation improvements.

Through TCP, DOT will award cooperative agreements for Capacity Builders to provide technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support that advances transformative infrastructure plans, projects, and processes primarily in communities that have disproportionate rates of pollution and poor air quality, communities experiencing disproportionate human health and environmental effects (as defined by Executive Order No. 12898), areas of persistent poverty as defined in section 6702(a)(1) of title 49, United States Code, or historically disadvantaged communities.

Program Types

Thriving Communities National Capacity Builder Program (TCP-N):

Funds TCP-N Capacity Builders through cooperative agreements to provide individualized technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support to 15-20 communities located around the country, selected and assigned by DOT, and organized into a Community of Practice. TCP-N Capacity Builders will work with communities to co-design tailored scopes of work based on the community’s individual needs and stage in the transportation planning, design, and development process to be carried out over two years of intensive TCP support. TCP-N Capacity Builders will also facilitate peer learning networks across the communities assigned to their Community of Practice. Evaluation, reporting, resource development, and transition activities will be the Capacity Builders’ focus during the third year of the period of performance.

Thriving Communities Regional Pilot Program (TCP-R): Funds state and local governments and their agencies, Tribal governments, and regional governments or organizations through cooperative agreements to provide support to communities selected by the applicant that are located within their jurisdiction or service area. The focus of this program is to enable state, Tribal, local, and regional governments to support the advancement of transportation opportunities in disadvantaged communities that align with state, Tribal, or regional housing, economic development, public health, climate, and other community development goals. While this program overlaps with the TCP-N Program in scope and purpose, it has a narrower focus on coordination and alignment within a specific geography. TCP-R Capacity Builders will play a coordination and capacity building role rather than providing intensive, tailored technical assistance. TCP-R Capacity Builders will facilitate peer learning across communities in their state, Tribe and/or region to scale program impact and act as a model for other jurisdictions. The first two years of the period of performance will be focused on both individual community support and peer learning, while the third year will focus on evaluation, reporting, resource development, and transition activities.

Eligible Activities

TCP-N Capacity Builder Cooperative Agreements: Deep-dive technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support that could include, but is not limited to, the following set of activities:

• identifying and responding to funding opportunities that align with projects that implement local community mobility, access, climate and community development goals and regional or statewide plans

• activities to support grant writing, project management, and compliance with grant administration requirements

• conducting project scoping, planning, and pre-engineering studies, market, and other technical analysis

• supplementing local staffing, training, and workforce development capacity

• developing systems or structures that improve compliance with federal grant management, including but not limited to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and procurement requirements

• supporting comprehensive community planning activities that better coordinate transportation with other land use, housing, climate, health, and other infrastructure

• implementing innovative public engagement strategies, particularly to involve traditionally underrepresented voices in the planning, project identification, and prioritization process

• sub-granting to local technical assistance and capacity building partners who bring local expertise and capacity

• building organizational capacity to strengthen relationships between key stakeholders that deepen regional engagement and collaboration, position partners for future funding opportunities, and/or support inclusive planning processes

• evaluating and establishing emerging transportation and planning technologies, data systems, and software

• fostering peer learning and participation within a Community of Practice to advance policies, practices, and projects informed by meaningful public involvement and partnership.

TCP-R Cooperative Agreements: Support provided by state governments and their agencies, Tribal governments, local governments and their agencies, or regional governments and organizations to advance transformative infrastructure in disadvantaged communities that face barriers to infrastructure advancement and implementation. This may include, but is not limited to:

• identifying funding opportunities that align with transportation goals and advance mobility access, climate resilience, equitable community development, healthy communities in support of regional or statewide plans

• supporting predevelopment planning and scoping of projects that coordinate transportation with other land use, housing, and infrastructure development

• building organizational capacity and strengthened relationships between key stakeholders that deepen regional engagement and collaboration, position partners for future funding opportunities, and/or support inclusive planning processes

• funding planning and technical assistance activities that reform local land use and zoning policies to align transportation infrastructure investment with equitable community development

• establishing pooled resources and/or innovative funding tools that increase community investments in transportation, housing, environment, and health

• supporting regional economic and workforce development that promotes local hiring, access to transit, and jobs in high quality industries

• activities to support grant writing, project management, and compliance with grant administration requirements

• peer-learning, networking, and knowledge sharing on strategies, types of tools, and lessons learned with other communities in the applicant’s state or region

Eligible Applicants

TCP-N Capacity Builders:

• Non-profit organizations;

• philanthropic entities; and

• other technical assistance providers including academic institutions and private sector organizations with a demonstrated capacity to develop and provide technical assistance, planning, and capacity building to a range of communities located across multiple states and regions

TCP-R Capacity Builders:

• State governments and their agencies;

• Indian Tribes;

• local governments and their agencies;

• governmental planning or transportation organizations working at the regional or metropolitan level; or

• regional planning non-profit organizations

Funding Amount

For FY 2023, the Department expects to award two different types of cooperative agreements through this NOFO, with up to $22 million total being available for award.

• TCP-N Capacity Builder cooperative agreements are anticipated to be in the range of $4-5 million each; and

• TCP-R cooperative agreements are anticipated to be in the range of $1- 2 million each.

Cost Share No cost sharing or matching is required as a condition of eligibility under this competition. DOT will fund up to 100 percent of eligible project costs through a monthly reimbursement invoicing model. Priority consideration will be given to those applicants that can demonstrate leveraging of other funding and resources.

Deadlines November 28, 2023 at 4:59 PM ET via Grants.gov. Opportunity number:

DOT-TCP-FY23-01

Contact Information

Ongoing updates, webinar notices, FAQs:

https://www.transportation.gov/grants/thriving-communities Email: ThrivingCommunities@dot.gov Phone: (202) 366-7738 A Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) is available (202) 366- 3993.

https://www.transportation.gov/grants/thriving-communities

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. Program Description B. Federal Award Information C. Eligibility Information D. Application and Submission Information E. Application Review Information F. Federal Award Administration G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts H. Other Supporting Information Appendix A. Full Application Checklist

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Overview

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT or the Department) Thriving Communities Program (TCP) was established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 (P.L-.117-103 Division L, Title I) and received additional funding through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (P.L.-117-328 Division L, Title I). The goal of the TCP is to ensure disadvantaged or transportation-insecure communities adversely and/or disproportionately affected by environmental, climate, and human health policy outcomes have the technical tools and organizational capacity to comprehensively plan for and deliver quality infrastructure projects and community development projects that enable their communities and neighborhoods to thrive.

The TCP was created by Congress specifically to facilitate the planning and development of transportation and community revitalization activities supported by DOT under titles 23, 46, and 49, United States Code, that increase mobility, reduce pollution from transportation sources, expand affordable transportation options, facilitate efficient land use, preserve or expand jobs, improve housing conditions, enhance connections to health care, education, and food security, or improve health outcomes. To achieve this, communities, particularly those that are disadvantaged and/or transportation burdened or those that have limited technical capacity or budgets, need greater levels of support to successfully take advantage of the recent historic federal investments in transportation infrastructure and build capacity to successfully fund these projects in the long-term.

DOT’s FY2022-2026 Strategic Plan and its Equity Action Plan articulate the Department’s commitment to equity as a transportation cornerstone. The TCP embodies this commitment with a focus on ensuring that all communities, regardless of their size or current capacity, have the necessary tools to access DOT funding and that equity is infused into decision making and planning, procurement, and hiring processes. TCP is a Justice40 covered program, created to ensure that disadvantaged communities can successfully identify, develop, fund, and deliver infrastructure projects informed by meaningful public involvement that generate multiple economic, climate, health, equity, and other community benefits. Find more information on the https://www.transportation.gov/dot-strategic-plan https://www.transportation.gov/priorities/equity/equity-action-plan

Justice40 Initiative and other programs that that can support equity goals on the DOT Justice40 website.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) continues investment in a national technical assistance program (TCP-N) and provides new opportunities for state-, Tribal-, local-, and regional-level community support through the Thriving Communities Regional Pilot Program (TCP-R) that will drive innovation, advance equity outcomes, and build a national pipeline of community-driven infrastructure projects. In its first year, TCP supported deep-dive technical assistance in 64 communities across the country. For the TCP’s second year, DOT seeks to support at least another 45-60 communities through its National program, depending on responses to the Letters of Interest and the size and number of cooperative agreements awarded through this NOFO, and additional communities selected by TCP-R applicants.

For the FY 2023 TCP, there are two distinct programs, each of which will involve a team of Capacity Builders providing assistance to disadvantaged and/or low-capacity communities. The opportunities to provide and receive assistance are summarized below:

Thriving Communities National

(TCP-N) Program Thriving Communities Regional

Pilots (TCP-R) Program National

Capacity Builders

Recipient Communities

TCP-R Capacity Builders

Recipient Communities

How to Apply

Submit an application via grants.gov in response to this

NOFO

Submit a Letter of Interest via webform. Find more information in the Call for LOIs.

Submit an application via grants.gov in response to this

NOFO.

No application required;

communities selected directly by TCP-R Capacity Builder.

Identified communities must include Letters of Commitment in

TCP-R

application.

Purpose Fund National Capacity Builders to provide direct no-cost planning, technical assistance, and capacity building support to selected TCP communities located across the

Receive, at no cost, TCP technical assistance, capacity building, and planning support from the DOT-funded National Capacity Builders.

Fund state, tribal, local, and regional entities to provide direct no-cost planning, technical assistance, and capacity building to communities of their choice within their jurisdictions for a three-year

Receive, at no cost, TCP technical assistance, capacity building, and planning support from the DOT-funded TCP-R Capacity Builders.

https://www.transportation.gov/equity-Justice40 https://www.transportation.gov/equity-Justice40 https://www.transportation.gov/grants/thriving-communities-program-LOI-webform https://www.transportation.gov/grants/thriving-communities-program-LOI-webform https://www.transportation.gov/grants/thriving-communities-program-LOI-webform https://www.transportation.gov/grants/thriving-communities/call-for-letters-of-interest-fy23 country for a three-year period of performance.

period of performance.

Primary Activity

Provide technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support

Receive technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support

Coordinate assistance and support to advance and align infrastructure goals and projects

Receive assistance and support to advance and align infrastructure goals and projects

Eligible Applicants

• Non-profit organizations

• philanthropic entities; and

• other technical assistance providers including academic institutions or private sector organizations with a demonstrated capacity to develop and provide technical assistance, planning, and capacity building to a range of communities located across multiple states and regions

• States

• Local governments

• Indian Tribes

• United States territories

• metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs)

• transit agencies

• other political subdivisions of state or local governments

• States government and its agencies

• Indian Tribes

• Local government and its agencies

• a governmental planning, economic development, or transportation organization working at the regional or metropolitan level, or

• a regional, Tribal or Statewide planning non-profit organization

• Local governments

• Indian Tribes

• United States territories

• transit agencies

• or other political subdivisions of state or local governments

Partnership Requiremen ts

Applicants are encouraged to partner with other Capacity Builders, which may include other eligible applicants

Applicants are required to identify at least two community partners with whom they will work to advance

Applicants are encouraged to partner with other Capacity Builders, which may include other entities including local

Partnerships are not required at the community level but are encouraged to ensure meaningful including non-profits, and other technical assistance providers to deepen and broaden technical assistance and capacity building expertise local goals to be supported through TCP-N assistance. Find more information in the Call for LOIs.

governments, non-profits, and other technical assistance providers to deepen and broaden technical assistance and capacity building expertise.

coordination and engagement across stakeholders.

Anticipated Funding Levels per Cooperative Agreement

$4 - $5 million None directly. $1 - $2 million None directly.

DOT staff from headquarters and from regional and division offices will be identified to serve as federal liaisons with both the National and Regional Capacity Builders and with selected TCP communities to facilitate connections with other federal technical assistance resources that can assist in project pre-development, community engagement, planning, financing, and project delivery activities. The DOT Navigator provides information on existing DOT-supported technical assistance resources that may be a useful reference for Capacity Builders.

Note that key definitions for terms relevant to TCP are provided in Section H.1 of this NOFO.

a. National Capacity Builder Program

As it did in the first year of the program, the FY 2023 the TCP-N will provide technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support at a national level to help communities scope, develop, and deliver transportation projects that advance community stabilization or revitalization activities that benefit disadvantaged populations and communities. Within the project scoping, development, and design phases, the TCP will support and build local capacity to accelerate projects; access and manage federal funding; and deploy local hiring, workforce development, and inclusive community engagement practices. DOT seeks applications from technical assistance, planning, and capacity building providers – henceforth referred to as TCP-N Capacity Builders. Eligible applicants are identified in Section C.1. of this NOFO.

i. Individualized Deep Dive Technical Assistance, Planning, and Capacity Building Support

The primary focus of support through TCP-N is on assisting individual communities – recipients include government agencies and their community partner organizations – to successfully advance projects identified through meaningful public involvement that deliver a broad set of transportation, climate, equity, housing, economic, and other community benefits. DOT is requiring communities, through a separate Letter of Interest (LOI) process, to form and apply as coalitions with organizations that may also serve as local capacity building and technical assistance implementation partners and generate deeper community engagement, particularly from historically under-represented populations and environmental justice stakeholders. The https://www.transportation.gov/grants/thriving-communities/call-for-letters-of-interest-fy23 https://www.transportation.gov/dot-navigator composition of these community partnerships will be at the discretion of each LOI applicant and identified in their LOI, but could include other government entities, non-profits, non-governmental and community-based organizations, labor unions, advocacy groups, chambers of commerce and major employers or anchor institutions, and philanthropic organizations. For an overview of the communities selected in FY 2022, their challenges, and their visions for TCP support, visit the FY 2022 Selected Communities Fact Sheet.

Each TCP-N Capacity Building team will provide individualized deep-dive support to a set of 15-20 communities selected by DOT. DOT will assign these recipient communities to a specific TCP-N Capacity Builder team prior to finalizing cooperative agreements. Note that there may be more than one Capacity Builder team per Community of Practice, and the final number of communities assigned by DOT to the TCP-N Capacity Builder teams will be informed by the LOIs received. Once matched with the DOT-selected communities, TCP-N Capacity Builders will develop processes to engage with these recipients and their community partners to co-design a tailored scope of work and set of equitable development outcomes to be achieved over a two-year period within 90 days of the period of performance start date.

Technical assistance, planning, and capacity building support could include, but is not limited to, the following set of activities:

• identifying and responding to funding opportunities that align with projects that implement local community mobility, access, climate and community development goals and regional or statewide plans

• activities to support grant writing, project management, and compliance with grant administration requirements

• conducting project scoping, planning, and pre-engineering studies, market, and other technical analysis

• supplementing local staffing and workforce development capacity

• developing systems or structures that improve compliance with federal grant management, including but not limited to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and procurement requirements

• supporting comprehensive community planning activities that better coordinate transportation with other land use, housing, climate, health, and other infrastructure

• implementing innovative public engagement strategies, particularly to involve traditionally underrepresented voices in the planning, project identification, and prioritization process.

• sub-granting to local technical assistance and capacity building partners who bring local expertise and capacity

• building organizational capacity to strengthen relationships between key stakeholders that deepen regional engagement and collaboration, position partners for future funding opportunities, and/or support inclusive planning processes

• evaluating and establishing emerging transportation and planning technologies, data systems, and software https://www.transportation.gov/grants/thriving-communities/thriving-communities-program-fy-2022-selected-communities-fact-sheet

ii. TCP Community of Practice Support

To build collective and sustained learning, TCP-N Capacity Builders will also support a Community of Practice throughout the period of performance that facilitates peer learning across selected TCP communities. This may include face-to-face meetings, as well as web-based collaborative environments to communicate, connect, and conduct activities that collectively facilitate long-term capacity building and systems change. Applicants should propose methods and tasks that will be undertaken to support a Community of Practice among the specific communities they are assigned to support and within the individual communities to build capacity between the lead applicant and community partners. DOT believes that communities best know the specific challenges and opportunities they face. TCP-N Capacity Builders will utilize a community-centered approach to work with selected recipient communities to refine the areas of focus for specific places and for the overall Community of Practice.

The full period of performance for the TCP-N is three years; however, during the third year Capacity Builders will shift away from individualized community support and focus on program evaluation and reporting, transition activities for assigned communities within the Community of Practice and developing shared resources for sustained learning for those within and outside of the Community of Practice. See Section B for more information.

Communities of Practice Typology DOT established three Communities of Practice in FY 2022 to organize communities and their technical assistance, planning, and capacity building needs in relation to shared demographics, transportation challenges, and programmatic opportunities. These include Main Streets, Complete Neighborhoods, and Networked Communities. TCP seeks to amplify the program’s impact and generate noteworthy practices that can be scaled and replicated in other regions.

Within selected communities, Community of Practices provide an opportunity to foster cross-sector collaboration between the lead recipient of technical assistance (i.e., eligible government entities), their identified community partners, and other community stakeholders that have not historically been engaged in infrastructure, economic and community development planning and decision making; or those who bear the heaviest environmental, health, mobility, housing, economic and/or social costs of infrastructure projects. These Communities of Practice will be maintained for the FY 2023 program and include:

Main Streets The Thriving Communities Main Streets communities of practice consists of eligible rural recipients from Indian Tribes, US Territories, rural communities, and small towns, including communities that are not part of an MPO. Less dense populations, longer travel distances, older and changing demographics, declining, or transitioning economies, and smaller government budgets and inadequate staff are just a few of the shared challenges faced by this cohort, which also impact the ability of government to deploy innovative workforce development, climate resilience, equity, and technology solutions. Illustrative of the possible transportation issues that this cohort may address are road network improvement and safety projects; resiliency and climate related improvements; improving infrastructure conditions alongside strategies to support economic and community revitalization with investments in high-speed internet deployment, water and sewage lines, and electric vehicle charging stations; rural transit, micro mobility and transportation alternatives including multimodal trails; context sensitive design solutions that will improve mobility and access particularly for disadvantaged populations and populations of older adults, people with disabilities, youth, and those without access to a personal automobile; transportation worker recruitment and training strategies; and place-making strategies to leverage local cultural, natural, and community assets. State DOTs are a critical partner, facility owner, and funder in these communities.

TCP-N Capacity Builder teams seeking to support the Main Streets Community of Practice must demonstrate their expertise and familiarity in working with rural, U.S. Territories, and/or Tribal communities, such as through members of their team that have experience working with culturally, racially, language diverse communities (e.g., experience working with immigrant communities, foreign language competencies), or proven experience working on federal Tribal and rural transportation, community, housing, and economic development programs.

Complete Neighborhoods The Complete Neighborhoods Community of Practice consists of eligible urban and suburban recipients that are included in a metropolitan planning organization’s (MPO) planning area. This cohort is focused on comprehensive strategies to enhance community connectivity, improve coordination of land use, housing, economic development, and transportation, and to accelerate innovation specifically for disadvantaged communities or neighborhoods. Areas of persistent poverty and declining economies or property values create challenges for some, while others may be experiencing market-induced or climate-induced gentrification and displacement.

Technical assistance and capacity building can advance equity by addressing the inequities and systemic barriers created by decades of discrimination, segregation, urban renewal, and suburban sprawl impacting these communities.

Illustrative of the possible transportation issues that the Complete Neighborhoods Community of Practice may address are increasing accessibility to affordable and reliable multi-modal transportation options to reach regional jobs and community facilities, such as health care centers, libraries, public schools and grocery stores; deploying transit-oriented and walkable development policies; reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality; and improving safety for all users of the transportation system including bicyclists, pedestrians and people of all ages and abilities. This cohort will look to leverage planning, project development and transportation projects that serve community and economic development goals and promote revitalization strategies, such as street level retail and community space, urban place-making, and local and economic hiring preferences to support community wealth building in economically disadvantaged communities within the region. MPOs and other types of regional planning bodies are important infrastructure implementation partners, especially to coordinate transportation with housing and economic development planning and advance projects benefitting disadvantaged communities.

Networked Communities The Networked Communities Community of Practice consists of eligible recipients from urban, suburban, and rural communities that are located near intercity transportation facilities, such as ports, airports, and freight or passenger rail facilities. These communities may face local environmental justice, economic development, and mobility access issues exacerbated by their proximity to large-scale regionally or nationally significant transportation projects. Networked

Communities have a distinct need to work with a range of stakeholders to advance equity by addressing both existing and future mobility, health and safety, and workforce development and labor opportunities from locally disadvantaged communities given the context of each hub.

Illustrative of the possible transportation issues that this cohort may face are community access and connectivity; roadway safety and design improvements, including of major arterials and service roads; strategies to reduce air and noise pollution, including transitioning to decarbonization technologies and clean economies; or preparing for new or extended passenger rail service. Private sector partners may play a critical role as utility and facility owners, rail operators, port and airport authorities, whose interests are generally broader than those of the surrounding community. The technical assistance priorities for the Networked Communities Community of Practice can include advancing equity by addressing environmental injustice, mobility, pollution, public health, economic development, and land use planning through meaningful public involvement for communities, particularly those that are lower income and/or have a higher proportion of people of color, that reside near multimodal hubs. DOT may decide to create sub-cohorts within each of these Communities of Practice based upon the needs of the selected communities informed by the LOI process.

For the FY 2023 TCP-N, Capacity Builders will support the communities they have been specifically assigned for their selected Community of Practice and will also support networking across all Communities of Practice, including those established in FY 2022 and TCP communities that may be selected in future years to build upon and scale capacity building resources and learning opportunities. DOT may assign Capacity Builders to provide targeted technical and limited support to TCP communities and/or other DOT and federal technical assistance recipients, as needed, to assist disadvantaged communities and government agencies to advance projects and processes aligned with DOT’s Strategic Plan and Equity Action Plan priorities for equity, workforce development, labor and hiring preferences, small business development and procurement, climate, safety, technology transformation. TCP-N Capacity builders are not expected to provide targeted support to more than a total of 20 total communities.

b. Thriving Communities Regional Pilots (TCP-R)

For the FY 2023 TCP, up to five TCP-Rs will be funded to advance transformative infrastructure projects in disadvantaged communities or jurisdictions located within a specific state, Tribe, or metropolitan region that face barriers to implementation. For the TCP-R, “region” refers to the geographic area within an individual state or Indian Tribe; or the service area covered by a regional transportation or planning organization. The TCP-R will fund efforts by state, Tribal, local, or regional organizations to provide technical assistance, planning and capacity building support for transportation projects located within their geography or service area that align with housing, economic development, public health, climate, and other community development plans and goals. Eligible applicants for TCP-R will select the communities within their jurisdiction or service area to receive technical assistance and capacity building support through TCP and will use TCP funding to advance these types of transportation projects forward into the next phase of development, deepen community engagement, and align with local or regional zoning, land use, economic development, or other plans and investments. This may include, but is not limited to:

• identifying funding opportunities that align with transportation goals and advance mobility access, climate resilience, equitable community development, healthy communities in support of regional or statewide plans

• supporting predevelopment planning and scoping of projects that coordinate transportation with other land use, housing, and infrastructure development

• building organizational capacity and strengthened relationships between key stakeholders that deepen regional engagement and collaboration, position partners for future funding opportunities, and/or support inclusive planning processes

• fund planning and technical assistance activities that reform local land use and zoning policies to align transportation infrastructure investment with equitable community development;

• establishing pooled resources or innovative funding tools that increase community investments in transportation, housing, environment, and health;

• supporting regional economic and workforce development that promotes local hiring, access to transit, and jobs in high quality industries

• designing and implementing activities to deepen and expand meaningful public involvement, especially to populations that are under-represented in traditional planning processes and/or are experience disproportionate transportation, environmental, or social burden

• activities to support grant writing, project management, and compliance with grant administration requirements.

• peer-learning, networking, and knowledge sharing on strategies, types of tools, and lessons learned with other communities in the applicant’s state or region

DOT recognizes that many states, Indian Tribes, MPOs, and other regional government and non-governmental entities are already undertaking, or would like to undertake this important work, but require additional resources in order to amplify their impact and more comprehensively provide support to local communities. The TCP-R is intended to fund these state, Tribal, and regional organizations to scale up support to enable communities to develop, fund, and deliver critical community-driven projects. Applicants must commit to providing support to communities within their jurisdiction over a three-year period to plan, develop, and deliver transportation projects that interface with housing, climate, safety, economic development, public health, and other sectors that align with TCP goals. The first two years of the period of performance should be dedicated to providing targeted support to selected communities, as well as peer learning and exchange activities between these selected communities and others within their region. During the third year, TCP-R Capacity Builders will be expected to focus on program evaluation, reporting, transition activities, and developing resources for long-term capacity building. See Section B for more information.

2. Changes from FY 2022 Thriving Communities Program

This FY 2023 NOFO updated and revised some key aspects of the program. These include the following:

• Extension of the period of performance to three years, with the first two years focused on deep-dive individual community support, peer learning, and collaboration and the third year focused on evaluation, reporting, community transitioning, and resource sharing.

• The inclusion of a separate Regional Pilot Program.

• Reductions to the maximum award amounts from up to $6 million to up to $5 million per

National Capacity Builder and increases the number of communities served by each Capacity Builder from 10-15 to 15-20.

• Revisions to the merit rating criteria, including how applicants should respond to each criterion.

• Changes to the requirements for targeted support to supported communities, including a new requirement to subgrant at least 20 percent of the budget to community recipients.

• Option to renew FY 2023 selected Capacity Builder cooperative agreements for a second round of funding for FY 2024 (i.e., re-select Capacity Builders for a second three-year period of performance), subject to authorization and available funding.

3. Coordination Across the Federal Government

The TCP is one of several technical assistance programs administered through DOT’s Build America Bureau. Participation in technical assistance programs is voluntary and does not obligate the awardee or recipients to apply for DOT grants or credit programs in the future, nor does participation offer preferential treatment to future applications or a guarantee of federal funding.

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) received $2.5 million from the FY 2023 appropriations bill to coordinate with DOT’s TCP. HUD will separately provide funding to technical assistance providers to help jurisdictions consider housing and community development needs as part of transportation infrastructure plans (for example, identifying land that is near planned transportation projects and suitable for housing development). HUD's technical assistance will enable more communities to thoughtfully plan and boost location-efficient housing supply. Applicants interested in HUD’s Thriving Communities Technical Assistance NOFO should visit https://www.huduser.gov/portal/nofos/thriving-communities.html.

The TCP will coordinate with and leverage other federal place-based technical assistance and capacity building initiatives being coordinated through the federal Thriving Communities Network to provide comprehensive support to selected recipient communities. This may include, but is not limited to USDA’s Rural Partners Network, the Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization, the Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge, the General Service Administration’s Center for Urban Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers.

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Pub. L. No. 117-328), Congress provided DOT with $25,000,000 for the Thriving Communities Program, to be obligated by September 30, 2025. DOT will also utilize up to $1 million in funds remaining from the FY 2022 TCP as https://www.huduser.gov/portal/nofos/thriving-communities.html https://www.transportation.gov/federal-interagency-thriving-communities-network https://www.transportation.gov/federal-interagency-thriving-communities-network part of this NOFO, for a total of up to $22 million available. If DOT identifies additional funding after the release of this NOFO, DOT may elect to award such additional funding to Capacity Builders selected under this NOFO, as permitted by law. Of the funds provided, DOT anticipates awarding at least three separate cooperative agreements to TCP-N Capacity Builders; and potentially as many as five, depending upon the needs of the selected communities informed by the LOI process and the number of TCP-Rs awarded. DOT anticipates awarding at least four separate cooperative agreements through the TCP-R. Cooperative agreements will be managed through substantial involvement by the Office of Technical Assistance in DOT’s Build America Bureau (see Federal Award Administration Information in Section F of this NOFO).

DOT will determine the amount of funds to be awarded but anticipates a range of $4,000,000 to $5,000,000 for each TCP-N cooperative agreement; and a range of $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 for each TCP-R cooperative agreement. Multiple cooperative agreements are expected, with an aggregate total of approximately $22,000,000. Awards are at 100 percent federal share. Final decisions on the amount of funding per award and number of cooperative agreements will depend upon applications received in response to the NOFO as well as the demand from community applicants expressed through Letters of Interest. DOT may elect to award any unobligated funding through future NOFOs, if necessary.

1. Period of Performance

a. National Capacity Builders Period of Performance

The period of performance for the FY 2023 TCP-N will be three years (36 months) from the date of execution in DOT’s electronic grants management system, unless the period of performance is extended before expiration. The first two years of the period of performance must be dedicated to providing targeted, deep-dive support to assigned communities in accordance with the scopes of work co-designed with communities. TCP-N Capacity Builders will also be expected to conduct Community of Practice activities during the first two years of the period of performance. During the third year of the period of performance, TCP-N Capacity Builders will shift focus to evaluation, reporting, resource development, and transitioning communities to self-sustaining capacity building. The third year of the period of performance must include:

• Strategic, targeted community of practice communications (outlined in the workplan)

• Transition plan for awardees, which could include:

o Stewarding existing cohort into sub-groups or other longer-term capacity building models (based on geography or areas of interest), if applicable o Connecting communities to other technical assistance resources or networks o Bridging new partnerships that can leverage future funding (e.g., conferences/workshops/meetings with philanthropy, regional or state partners, etc.)

• Elevating project wins and learnings via social media, blogs, etc. (in partnership with

DOT)

• Developing publicly available educational tools and resources (e.g., toolkits, web-based portals)

• Participating in a federal convening with new TCP awardees (for FY 2024, subject to program authorization and appropriation) or other federal technical assistance networks

• A final report from Capacity Builders summarizing the goals, impacts, process, and lessons learned from engagement with each individual community and for the cohort as a whole.

If funding is appropriated for an FY 2024 TCP, and there is no change in the TCP’s authorization, DOT may elect not to issue a new NOFO for the FY 2024 program; rather, it may select National Capacity Builders from the FY 2023 awardees, provided that DOT determines that awardees have demonstrated an appropriate level of performance and that awardees have sufficient capacity to and agree to provide support to a new cohort of communities. In this case, the Capacity Builders would be asked to demonstrate capacity and propose a detailed plan and budget to support additional communities. DOT would then establish a new cooperative agreement with existing Capacity Builders for an additional three-year period of performance with FY 2024 funds. If FY 2023 Capacity Builders have not demonstrated an appropriate level of performance, DOT may select new Capacity Builders for FY 2024 from other Highly Recommended applicants from FY 2023.

Subsequent year funding and additional funding from DOT will depend upon priorities established by the Secretary of Transportation, future authorizations and appropriations, and the Thriving Communities’ annual performance reviews.

b. Thriving Communities Regional Pilot Program Period of Performance

For the FY 2023 TCP-R Program, the period of performance will be three years (36 months) from the date of execution in DOT’s electronic grants management system. The first two years of the period of performance must be dedicated to providing support to the communities identified in the application, in accordance with the activities described in the application. The third year of the period of performance will be focused on program evaluation and reporting, transition activities for communities, and collecting and sharing lessons learned and best practices from the first two years of support, including sharing information with communities outside those who received targeted support in the first two years to scale impact of the program.

The third year of the period of performance must include:

• Strategic, targeted community of practice communications (outlined in the workplan)

• Transition plan for awardees, which could include:

o Stewarding existing cohort into sub-groups or other longer-term capacity building models (based on geography or areas of interest), if applicable o Connecting communities to other technical assistance resources or networks o Bridging new partnerships that can leverage future funding (e.g., conferences/workshops/meeting with philanthropy, regional or state partners, etc.)

• Elevating project wins and learnings via social media, blogs, etc. (in partnership with

DOT)

• Developing publicly available educational tools and resources (e.g., toolkits, web-based portals)

• Participating in a federal convening with new TCP awardees (for FY 2024, subject to program authorization and appropriation) or other federal technical assistance networks

• Final reporting and program evaluation.

If funding is appropriated for an FY 2024 TCP, and there is no change in the TCP’s authorization, DOT may elect not to issue a new NOFO for the FY 2024 program; rather, it may select Regional Capacity Builders from the list of Highly Recommended, but not selected, applicants from FY 2023. In this case, DOT would contact Highly Recommended applicants to request confirmation that applicants are still interested in participating in the program and have the capacity to do so before selecting them for participation in the FY 2024 program.

Subsequent year funding and additional funding from DOT will depend upon priorities established by the Secretary of Transportation, future authorizations and appropriations, and the Thriving Communities’ annual performance reviews.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants

For both the TCP-N and TCP-R, those applying to provide technical assistance, planning, and capacity building can apply individually or as part of a team of eligible applicants. DOT seeks Capacity Builders that have technical knowledge across a diverse set of issues and skills;

therefore, the lead applicant is strongly encouraged to partner with other eligible organizations to create Capacity Building teams that represent a range of technical skills, geographic connections and capacity building approaches. If applying as part of a team, the lead applicant must be clearly identified and submit the application on behalf of the team. The cooperative agreement will be between DOT and the lead organization, which is the primary recipient of DOT TCP funds. The recipient may make contracts or subawards1 to other team members, but the recipient is responsible for compliance with federal requirements, including 2 CFR parts 200 and 1201.

For the TCP-N Capacity Builders, eligible lead applicants are non-profit organizations, philanthropic entities, and other technical assistance providers, including but not limited to for-profit organizations and academic institutions, with a demonstrated capacity to develop and provide technical assistance, planning, and capacity building to a range of communities located across multiple states and regions (i.e., applicants must demonstrate capacity to provide support at a national level, not just within specific regions or geographies).

For the TCP-R, eligible lead applicants are state governments and their agencies; local governments and their agencies; Indian Tribes; regional, Tribal,…