FY26 PIDP NOFO Final 032526.pdf

FY 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity

Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP)

Amendment No. 4

Maritime Administration (MARAD)

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)

A. BASIC INFORMATION

1. CHANGES FROM THE AMENDMENT TO THE FY 2025 NOFO

B. ELIGIBILITY

1. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

2. ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

3. APPLICATION LIMIT

4. COST SHARING

5. PRE-AWARD AUTHORITY

6. LOCATION DESIGNATIONS AND DEFINITIONS

7. PROJECT COMPONENTS

8. REDUCED AWARDS

C. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. PROGRAM HISTORY AND AUTHORIZATION

2. PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

3. AWARD SIZE

4. RESTRICTIONS ON FUNDING

5. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS

6. PERFORMANCE MEASURES

7. PREVIOUS AWARDS

D. APPLICATION CONTENT AND FORMAT

1. STANDARD FORM 424

2. FY 2026 PIDP COVER PAGE

3. PROJECT NARRATIVE

a) NARRATIVE SECTION I: PROJECT DESCRIPTION

b) NARRATIVE SECTION II: PROJECT LOCATION

c) NARRATIVE SECTION III: GRANT FUNDS, SOURCES, AND USE OF FUNDS

d) NARRATIVE SECTION IV: MERIT CRITERIA

e) NARRATIVE SECTION V: ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

f) NARRATIVE SECTION VII: STATUTORY DETERMINATIONS

E. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINE

1. ADDRESS TO REQUEST APPLICATION PACKAGE

2. UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT

3. SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES

4. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

5. COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 508 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973

F. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. CRITERIA

2. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

G. AWARD NOTICES

1. HOW PROJECT SELECTIONS ARE ANNOUNCED

2. PRE-AWARD COSTS

3. REIMBURSABLE PROGRAM

H. POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION

1. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

2. REPORTING

I. FEDERAL AWARD AGENCY CONTACT(S)

J. OTHER INFORMATION

1. PROTECTION OF CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS INFORMATION

2. PUBLICATION AND SHARING OF APPLICATION INFORMATION

A. BASIC INFORMATION

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58, November 15, 2021) (IIJA) appropriated $450 million and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (Pub. L. 119-75, February 3, 2026) (FY 2026 Appropriations Act) appropriated $38,628,000 to be awarded as discretionary grants by the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) for the FY 2026 Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP.) The program is codified at 46 U.S.C. § 54301.

SUMMARY OVERVIEW OF KEY INFORMATION: Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) Discretionary Grant Opportunity

Topic Description Federal Agency Name

Maritime Administration (MARAD)

Funding Opportunity Title

FY 2026 Port Infrastructure Development Program

Announcement Type Notice of Funding Opportunity Funding Opportunity Number

MA-PID-26-001

Assistance Listing Number

20.823 Port Infrastructure Development Program

Funding Details $488,628,000 in FY 2026 PIDP funds

Key Dates Applications due: June 26, 2026 at 11:59:59 p.m. E.D.T.

Executive Summary PIDP assists in funding eligible projects for the purpose of improving the safety, efficiency, or reliability of the movement of goods through ports and intermodal connections to ports.

Eligible Applicants Eligible Applicants are:

A State;

A political subdivision of a State, or a local government;

A public agency or publicly chartered authority established by one or more States;

A special purpose district with a transportation function;

An Indian Tribe, or a consortium of Indian Tribes;

A multistate or multijurisdictional group of entities described above; or A lead entity described above jointly with a private entity or group of private entities, including the owners or operators of a facility, or collection of facilities at a port.

1. CHANGES FROM THE AMENDMENT TO THE FY 2025 NOFO

This amendment to the FY 2026 PIDP NOFO originally published on December 23, 2025 makes the following changes:

Includes an additional $38,628,000 in funding appropriated by the FY 2026 Appropriations Act, Updates rating rubrics for the statutory merit criteria, Includes a new priority for projects located in Qualified Opportunity Zones (26 U.S.C.

§ 1400Z-1), projects that incorporate innovative technology, and projects that support national multimodal freight goals, Removes Workforce Development as a selection consideration, and

Projects to provide shore power at a port are no longer automatically treated as satisfying the determination that the project improves the safety, efficiency, or reliability of the movement of goods. Applicants must describe in the narrative how such projects satisfy that statutory determination.

B. ELIGIBILITY

To be selected for a PIDP grant, an applicant must be an Eligible Applicant and the project must be an Eligible Project.

1. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

An eligible applicant for a FY 2026 PIDP grant is:

a State, a political subdivision of a State or a local government, a public agency or publicly chartered authority established by one or more States, a special purpose district with a transportation function, Eligible Projects Projects within the boundary of a port, or outside the boundary of a port and directly related to port operations or to an intermodal connection to a port that improve the safety, efficiency, or reliability of:

The loading and unloading of goods at a port;

The movement of goods into, out of, around, or within a port;

Operational improvements at a port;

Resiliency in response to environmental factors; or Infrastructure that supports seafood and seafood-related businesses.

(NOTE: Section B.6. provides additional information.)

Questions Email PIDPgrants@dot.gov

Agency Contact Information

PIDPgrants@dot.gov or call Aubrey Parsons at 202–366–8047 an Indian Tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. § 5304), without regard to capitalization,) or a consortium of Indian Tribes, a multistate or multijurisdictional group of entities described above, or a lead entity described above jointly with a private entity or group of private entities, including the owners or operators of a facility, or collection of facilities, at a port.

Federal agencies and individuals are not eligible applicants for the FY 2026 PIDP.

If submitting a joint application, applicants must identify in the application the eligible lead applicant as the primary point of contact. The lead applicant, who will be the primary recipient of the award and responsible for financial administration and monitoring of the project, must be an eligible lead entity described above (i.e., not a private entity). Joint applications should include a description of the roles and responsibilities of each applicant. If a joint applicant is providing some or all of the required non-Federal matching funds, a letter of funds commitment from that applicant must be provided as an attachment to the application.

The lead applicant submitting the application is presumed to administer and deliver the project.

If the lead applicant intends to act as a pass-through entity for disbursing funds to a subrecipient (including a private-entity joint applicant, if applicable) who will deliver all or a portion of the project, the application must express such intention and a letter of support from the intended subrecipient must be included as an attachment to the application. Lead applicants intending to make subawards under their proposed FY 2026 PIDP project should refer to 2 CFR 200.331-333 on how to make subrecipient determinations and what requirements apply to pass-through entities, including ensuring subrecipient compliance with all PIDP requirements. Applicants should be aware that all contracts executed under the PIDP award that create procurement relationships must follow the procurement standards at 2 CFR 200.317-327, including requirements regarding competition.

To be eligible for award, eligible applicants must provide a written statement that they have the authority to plan, construct, own, operate, and maintain the grant-funded project. In the case of joint applications, at least one of the eligible applicants must demonstrate this authority.

Refer to Section C.4 of this notice for restrictions on funding.

2. ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

Eligible projects for FY 2026 PIDP grants shall be located either within the boundary of a port, or outside the boundary of a port and directly related to port operations or to an intermodal connection to a port. Pursuant to 46 U.S.C. § 54301(a)(3)(A), grants may be made for capital projects that will be used to improve the safety, efficiency, or reliability of:

I. the loading and unloading of goods at the port, such as for marine terminal equipment;

II. the movement of goods into, out of, around, or within a port, such as for highway or rail infrastructure, intermodal facilities, freight intelligent transportation systems, and digital infrastructure systems;

III. operational improvements, including projects to improve port resilience;

IV. environmental and emissions mitigation measures, including projects for—

a. port electrification or electrification master planning;

b. harbor craft or equipment replacements or retrofits;

c. development of port or terminal microgrids;

d. provision of idling reduction infrastructure;

e. purchase of cargo handling equipment and related infrastructure;

f. worker training to support electrification technology;

g. installation of port bunkering facilities from ocean-going vessels for fuels;

h. electric vehicle charging or hydrogen refueling infrastructure for drayage and medium or heavy-duty trucks and locomotives that service the port and related grid upgrades; or

i. other related port activities, including charging infrastructure, electric rubber-tired gantry cranes, and anti-idling technologies; or

V. port and port-related infrastructure that supports seafood and seafood-related businesses, including the loading and unloading of commercially harvested fish and fish products, seafood processing, cold storage, and other related infrastructure.

In accordance with 46 U.S.C. § 54301(a)(5)(A), if applying to use a PIDP grant to acquire digital infrastructure or a software component, applicants for large projects must comply with the requirements for ensuring cybersecurity, as further referenced in section D.3.a of this notice.

Activities eligible for funding under PIDP planning grants include those related to development phase activities—such as planning, feasibility analysis, revenue forecasting, environmental review, permitting, preliminary engineering and design work, development of master plans, and planning to address a port’s ability to withstand probable occurrence or recurrence of an emergency or major disaster—of eligible PIDP capital projects that will not result in construction with FY 2026 PIDP funding.

Under the FY 2026 PIDP, if an application includes right-of-way acquisition, the project will be considered a capital project.

This program will not fund construction, reconstruction, reconditioning, or purchase of a vessel eligible under 46 U.S.C. chapter 537, unless the Secretary determines such vessel is necessary for a project under 46 U.S.C. § 54301(a)(3)(A)(ii)(IV) and is not already receiving assistance under 46 U.S.C. chapter 537. In addition, this program will not fund any project within a small shipyard (as defined in 46 U.S.C. § 54101).

Improvements to Federally owned facilities are ineligible under the FY 2026 PIDP, unless they are projects investing in port facilities that are located on Tribal land and for which title or maintenance responsibility is vested in the Federal Government.

Projects to fund workforce training not related to electrification technology are ineligible.

This program will not fund the purchase or installation of fully automated cargo handling equipment remotely operated or monitored, with or without the exercise of human intervention or control, if the Secretary determines that such equipment would result in a net loss of jobs within the port or port terminal. Applicants that propose projects that include the acquisition of eligible cargo handling equipment must indicate in their application whether the equipment is fully automated. If fully automated equipment is proposed to be acquired, the applicant must provide information demonstrating that the project will not directly result in a net loss of jobs.

3. APPLICATION LIMIT

Each eligible applicant may submit no more than one application. Unrelated project components should not be combined in one application to meet this limit. If an applicant submits multiple applications, only the last one received by MARAD will be considered.

4. COST SHARING

Cost sharing means the portion of the project’s cost that is not paid by Federal funds. Cost share funds are typically stated as a percentage of the total project cost. Per 46 U.S.C. § 54301(a)(8), the Federal share of the total costs of an eligible PIDP project must not exceed 80 percent. The Secretary, however, may increase the Federal share of costs above 80 percent for:

(1) a grant for a project that is located in a rural area; or

(2) a grant awarded to a small project at a small port under 46 U.S.C. § 54301(b).

Applicants should use the following equation when determining the cost share for their project:

ሺ𝑃𝐼𝐷𝑃 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑅𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑂𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝐹𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝐹𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑠ሻ

𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡 ൌ 𝐹𝑒𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝐶𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑆ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑒

For the PIDP, Total Project Cost means the sum of future eligible Federal and non-Federal costs that have not yet been incurred.

Non-Federal sources include State funds originating from programs funded by State revenue, local funds originating from State or local revenue-funded programs, or private funds. If repaid from non-Federal sources, Federal credit assistance is considered non-Federal share. The application must demonstrate, such as through a commitment letter or other documentation included in the PIDP application, the sources of the non-Federal funds. Unless otherwise authorized by statute, funds used to satisfy the non-Federal cost-share requirement of a different Federal program may not be counted as the non-Federal cost share for both the FY 2026 PIDP grant award and another Federal grant program.

MARAD will not consider previously incurred costs or previously expended or encumbered funds towards the non-Federal cost-share requirement, except for awards made under 46 U.S.C.

§ 54301(b) (small projects at small ports). For awards made under 46 U.S.C. § 54301(b), MARAD may consider certain eligible pre-construction costs towards the non-Federal cost-share requirement if incurred after the date of application submittal but before announcement of project selection, if the costs are clearly indicated in the budget included in the application and comply with all applicable Federal requirements.

All non-Federal cost-share funds are subject to the same Federal requirements as awarded PIDP funds.

In addition to these cost share requirements, cost share will be evaluated according to the “Leveraging Federal Funding” criterion.

For each project that receives a PIDP grant award, the terms of the award will require the recipient to complete the project using at least the amount of non-Federal funding that was specified in the application. If the actual costs of the project are greater than the costs estimated in the application, the recipient will be responsible for addressing the funding shortfall by providing additional funds. If the actual costs of the project are less than the costs estimated in the application, MARAD will generally reduce the Federal contribution to ensure the recipient maintains the level of non-Federal funding stated in the application.

5. PRE-AWARD AUTHORITY

Consistent with the provisions in 46 U.S.C. § 54301(a)(10)(B) and 2 CFR 200.458, unless “pre-award costs” are authorized by MARAD in writing after MARAD’s announcement of FY 2026 PIDP awards or a Small Project at a Small Port applicant has included pre-award costs in the application budget, consistent with Section B.3 above, any costs incurred prior to MARAD’s obligation of funds for a project are ineligible for reimbursement and are ineligible to count as match for cost share requirements.1

6. LOCATION DESIGNATIONS AND DEFINITIONS

Coastal seaport: A port on navigable waters of the United States or territories that is subject to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulatory jurisdiction for oceanic and coastal waters under 33 CFR 329.12 or that is otherwise capable of receiving oceangoing vessels with a draft of at least 20 feet (other than a Great Lakes port).

Development phase activities: Includes planning, feasibility analysis, revenue forecasting, environmental review, permitting, and preliminary engineering and design work.

Great Lakes port: A port on the Great Lakes and their connecting and tributary waters as defined under 33 CFR 83.03(o).

Large project: A project at a port other than a Small Port, regardless of the amount of PIDP funding sought in the application; or a project at a Small Port for which the amount of PIDP funding sought in the application is greater than $11.25 million.

Port: The term “port” includes— (i) any port on the navigable waters of the United States; and

(ii) any harbor, marine terminal, or other shore side facility used principally for the movement of goods on inland waters (including the Great Lakes).

Port resilience: The ability to anticipate, prepare for, adapt to, withstand, respond to, and recover from operational disruptions and sustain critical operations at ports, including disruptions caused

1 Pre-award costs are only costs incurred directly pursuant to the negotiation and anticipation of the PIDP award where such costs are necessary for efficient and timely performance of the scope of work, as determined by

MARAD.

by natural or man-made hazards, such as sea level change, flooding, earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunami inundation or other extreme weather events.

Rural area: An area located outside of a Census-designated urban area that had a population greater than 50,000 in the 2020 Census.2

Small Port: A port to and from which the average annual tonnage of cargo for the immediately preceding three calendar years from the time an application is submitted is less than 8,000,000 short tons, as determined by using U.S. Army Corps of Engineers data or data provided by an independent audit. When using U.S. Army Corps of Engineers data to determine whether the applicant qualifies as a Small Port, MARAD will use data that is specific to the eligible applicant. If an eligible applicant provides data by an independent audit, MARAD will use such data if it is a reasonable substitute for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers data.

Small Project at a Small Port: A project at a Small Port seeking less than or equal to $11.25 million in funding under 46 U.S.C. § 54301(b).

Strategic Seaport: A military port or commercial port that is subject to a port planning order or Basic Ordering Agreement (or both) that is projected to be used for the deployment of forces and shipment of ammunition or sustainment supplies in support of military operations.

Urban area: An area located within (or on the boundary of) a Census-designated urban area that had a population greater than 50,000 in the 2020 Census.

7. PROJECT COMPONENTS

An application must describe only one project, but that project may contain more than one component and may describe components that may be carried out by parties other than the applicant. MARAD expects, and will impose requirements on, fund recipients to ensure that all components included in an application will be delivered as part of the PIDP project, regardless of whether a component includes Federal funding. The status of each component should be clearly described (for example, in the project schedule and budget). MARAD may award funds for a component, instead of the larger project, if that component: (1) independently meets minimum award amounts described in Section C and all eligibility requirements described in Section B; (2) independently aligns with the selection criteria identified in Section F; and (3) meets National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements with respect to independent utility. Independent utility means that the component will represent a transportation improvement that is usable even if no other improvement is made in the area and will be ready for intended use upon completion of that component’s construction.

MARAD strongly encourages applicants to identify in their applications the project components that have independent utility and separately detail costs and requested PIDP funding for those components. If the application identifies one or more project components with independent utility, the application should clearly identify how each component addresses the selection criteria and produces benefits on its own, in addition to describing how the full proposal of which the component is a part addresses the selection criteria described in Section F.

2 Please use the DOT Rural Eligibility map for PIDP at https://www.transportation.gov/rural/eligibility to determine rural eligibility. This map identifies the areas in the 2020 U.S. Census that have a population of less than 50,000 and, therefore, are rural areas for the purposes of PIDP.

Unrelated project components should not be combined in one application to meet the application limit. Therefore, all project components--even those with independent utility--that are presented together in a single application must demonstrate a logical relationship or connection among them or MARAD may fund only one or more of the connected components and reduce the PIDP award. MARAD strongly encourages applicants to describe the relationship between all components presented in the application, particularly if those components are not physically connected.

Applicants should be aware that, depending upon the relationship between project components and applicable Federal law, DOT funding of some project components may make other project components subject to Federal requirements.

8. REDUCED AWARDS

If selected for award, MARAD may decrease the PIDP funding amount from the applicant’s request if some elements of the project are ineligible or to comply with statutory set asides such as those related to geographic preference or small projects at small ports.

9. PREVIOUS PIDP RECIPIENTS

Previous recipients of a PIDP grant may apply for funding to support additional phases of their project. The application should demonstrate the extent to which the previously funded project has met estimated project schedules and budget, as well as the ability to realize the benefits expected for the project.

10. UNSUCCESSFUL FY 2025 APPLICANTS

MARAD encourages unsuccessful FY 2025 PIDP applicants to apply for FY 2026 funding.

Applicants should, however, review their application to ensure that it complies with any new program requirements and criteria outlined in this NOFO.

C. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. PROGRAM HISTORY AND AUTHORIZATION

The PIDP statute, codified at 46 U.S.C. § 54301, establishes the port and intermodal improvement program to improve the safety, efficiency, or reliability of the movement of goods through ports and intermodal connections to ports. IIJA appropriated $450 million to the PIDP for FY 2026 to make discretionary grants for eligible PIDP projects. On February 3, 2026, the FY 2026 Appropriations Act appropriated an additional $103,330,000 for the FY 2026 PIDP grant program. Of that amount, $38,628,000 is available to be awarded as discretionary grants.

Therefore, a total of $488,628,000 in funding is available to be awarded as discretionary grants for the FY 2026 PIDP grant program. MARAD intends to retain up to two percent of the amount appropriated for PIDP funding this fiscal year for grant administration and oversight as permitted under 46 U.S.C. 54301(a)(11)(A). Unobligated prior year PIDP funds may also be made available and awarded under this solicitation to eligible projects.

This NOFO solicits applications for projects to be funded under the FY 2026 PIDP. It includes the funding appropriated by IIJA and the FY 2026 Appropriations Act. Applicants should note that the two funding streams (IIJA funding and FY 2026 Appropriations Act funding) have slightly different funding restrictions.

2. PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The goal of PIDP is to assist in funding eligible projects for the purpose of improving the safety, efficiency, or reliability of the movement of goods through ports and intermodal connections to ports.

3. AWARD SIZE

For funding awarded under IIJA, there is no minimum award size. For all projects funded under the FY 2026 Appropriations Act, the minimum PIDP award size is $1 million. Therefore, funding requests below the FY 2026 Appropriations Act minimum will only be considered for funding from the IIJA; they will not be eligible to compete for the full amount of funding available. Except as limited by the amount of available funding and statutory restrictions on funding identified in Section C.3, there is no maximum award size.

4. RESTRICTIONS ON FUNDING

MARAD must comply with the following funding restrictions:

As proscribed in 46 U.S.C. § 50309, no funds may be awarded to an entity that utilizes or provides in part or in whole: the national transportation logistics public information platform (commonly referred to as ‘LOGINK’) provided by the People’s Republic of China, or departments, ministries, centers, agencies, or instrumentalities of the Government of the People’s Republic of China; any national transportation logistics information platform provided by or

Funding Restriction Amount Small Projects at Small Ports At least 25% of available funding, which is

$122,157,000 Per State No more than 25% of available funding, which is

$122,157,000 Planning Projects No more than 10% of funding reserved for Small

Projects at Small Ports and no more than 10% of funding available to large projects

Small Projects at Small Ports Maximum Award size

No more than $11.25 million per award sponsored by the People’s Republic of China, or a controlled commercial entity; or a similar system provided by Chinese state-affiliated entities.3

MARAD may retain up to two percent of available funding for oversight and administration of grants.

Federal funds awarded under this program may not be used to support or oppose union organizing, whether directly or as an offset for other funds.

5. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS

The table below outlines the obligation and expenditure deadlines for FY 2026 PIDP funding.

Fiscal Year Funding Obligation Deadline Funding Expenditure Deadline FY 2026 September 30, 2030 5 years after funds obligation for each individual award

MARAD seeks to obligate FY 2026 PIDP grant funds by September 30, 2030.

Obligation occurs when a selected applicant and MARAD enter into a written grant agreement after the applicant has satisfied applicable local, State, and Federal requirements, including transportation planning and environmental review requirements, such as those under NEPA.

Per 46 U.S.C. § 54301(a)(11)(B)(ii), MARAD also expects grant recipients to expend funds within five years of obligation of their award funds, which should be no later than September 30, 2035, depending on when each grant is executed.

Expenditure occurs when a recipient is reimbursed for eligible project costs.

6. PERFORMANCE MEASURES

PIDP program performance measures can be found at: https://www.maritime.dot.gov/grants-finances/federal-grant-assistance/performance-measures.

7. PREVIOUS AWARDS

Previous program awards can be found on the PIDP website.

D. APPLICATION CONTENT AND FORMAT

The Project Narrative should be formatted as a single-spaced document, using a standard 12-point font, such as Times New Roman, with 1-inch margins, with a narrative text in one column.

Documents should be submitted in PDF, unless otherwise specified (e.g., Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) calculations should be submitted in an unlocked Excel spreadsheet). The Project

3 For more information on LOGINK, including information about potential vulnerabilities to maritime port equipment and networks, see the advisory on Worldwide Foreign Adversarial Technological, Physical, and Cyber Influence on the Maritime Security Communications Industry portal: https://www.maritime.dot.gov/msci-advisories.

Narrative may not exceed 30 pages in length, excluding cover pages and table of contents. The only substantive portions that may exceed the 30-page limit are documents supporting assertions or conclusions made in the 30-page Project Narrative and documentation related to the required determinations. Except for the BCA, evaluators are not required to review supporting documents as part of the selection criteria review described in Section F. Supporting documentation should be dated, and MARAD recommends using appropriately descriptive file names (e.g., “Project Narrative,” “Maps,” “Memorandum of Understanding,” “Letters of Support,” “Engineering Drawings,” etc.) for all attachments. If supporting documents are submitted, applicants should clearly identify within the Project Narrative the relevant supporting document(s).

1. STANDARD FORM 424

The application must include the Standard Form (SF) 424 (Application for Federal Assistance). Applicants are encouraged to also complete the SF-424C (Budget Information – Construction Programs). These forms may be found on Grants.gov and are also available at www.maritime.dot.gov/PIDPgrants.

2. FY 2026 PIDP COVER PAGE

Each application should include a cover page with information about the project included in the following chart:

Field Name Guidance Name of lead applicant Is the applicant applying as a lead applicant with any joint applicants?

If yes, identify by name each of the joint applicants.

Does the applicant or joint applicant own the property where the grant-funded improvements will occur?

Yes or No.

Is the applicant seeking funding under the small project at a small port set-aside?

Yes or No.

Project name Provide a concise (five- to seven-word) name of the project. For example: “Wharf and Uplands Improvement Project”

Project description Provide a brief (no more than 100 words) description of the project that focuses on the project’s major components. For example:

“This project will fund construction of a new wharf at the X Terminal, renovate the uplands adjacent to the wharf, construct a 100,000 SF-refrigerated warehouse, and install approximately 20,000 LF of track to connect the new facilities to the port’s rail switch yard.”

Is this a planning project? Yes or No.

Is this a project at a coastal or Great Lakes port?

Yes or No.

Is this project located in a noncontiguous State or U.S. territory?

Yes or No. If yes, name the State or U.S.

territory.

Geographic Coordinates (in Latitude and Longitude format)

Provide the coordinates of the approximate geographic center of the project. The latitude and longitude of the project should be reported as decimal degrees with a minimum of 5 decimal places.

Is this project in an urban or rural area? Use the guidance in Section B.6 of the NOFO to answer this question.

Project Zip Code Identify the zip code that corresponds to the coordinates identified above.

Has the same project been previously submitted for PIDP funding?

If so, identify the program and year of the prior submission (such as “PIDP FY 2023”).

Is the applicant applying for other Federal discretionary grant programs (managed by DOT or a separate agency) in 2026 for the same work or related scopes of work?

If so, identify the program, amount of funding requested and scope (such as DOT BUILD FY 2026, $25 million, components 1 and 2 of this PIDP project).

Has the applicant previously received DOT funding for the same work or related scope of work?

If so, identify the program, amount of funding received and scope (such as U.S. Marine Highway Program FY 2022, $2 million, phase 1 of this PIDP project), and status of the NEPA review for the previously funded project.

Has the applicant previously received

TIGER/BUILD/RAISE,

FASTLANE/INFRA, Mega, USMHP, or PIDP funding?

If so, identify the program and year of the prior award (such as “INFRA FY 2023”).

PIDP Grant Amount Requested Enter the total amount of PIDP grant funds requested. This number must be the same as the amount entered on line 18a of the SF-424.

Total Project Cost Total Project Cost will be equal to the Total Future Eligible Project Cost, including the PIDP grant amount requested. (Only for small projects at small ports can this cost include previously incurred expenses). This number must be the same as the amount entered on line 18g of the SF-424.

Total Federal Funding Enter the amount of Federal funding from ALL sources that will be used for this project and list each source of Federal funding.

Total Non-Federal Funding Enter the amount of funds committed to the project from non-Federal sources.

Will the applicant be seeking approval to expend funds prior to grant agreement execution?

Yes or No.

Will RRIF or TIFIA funds be used as part of the project financing?

Indicate whether RRIF or TIFIA funding will be used for the project. If so, indicate the amount of funds that will be used. Note that TIFIA and RRIF generally share the PIDP program's Federal compliance requirements and are complementary programs.

Private Corporation Involvement Does the project involve a private entity or entities that will receive a direct and predictable financial benefit if the project is selected for an award? This includes, but is not limited to, private owners or operators of infrastructure facilities being improved and private freight shippers or carriers directly benefitting from completion of the proposed project.

Private Corporation Names If this project directly involves or benefits a private corporation, please list the corporation(s) separated by a comma.

Does the applicant use LOGINK or a similar logistics platform provided or sponsored by the People’s Republic of China or Chinese state-affiliated entities?

Yes or No. See Section C.4 of this NOFO.

3. PROJECT NARRATIVE

a) NARRATIVE SECTION I: PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This section of the Project Narrative should include:

A detailed statement of work and describe the proposed PIDP project that is to be planned or constructed, focusing on the technical and engineering aspects of the project as well as the current design status of the project;

A description of the transportation challenges that the project is intended to address and how the project will address those challenges;

The project’s history, including a description of any previously completed components, to place the project into a broader context of other relevant infrastructure investments being pursued by the project sponsor (the applicant should make clear which related investments are outside the scope of the proposed PIDP project);

A written statement that the eligible applicant has the authority to plan, construct, own, operate, and maintain the grant-funded project;

If the lead applicant intends to act as a pass-through entity for disbursing funds to a subrecipient (including a private-entity joint applicant, if applicable) who will deliver all or a portion of the project, a description of that intention and the work the subrecipient will carry out should be included in this section and a letter of support from the intended subrecipient (as applicable) should be included as an attachment; and

If the proposed project includes dredging incidental to the proposed improvement, the applicant should confirm that the dredging is not for channel improvements or harbor deepening that are part of a Federally maintained navigation channel.

Additionally, if submitting a joint application, applicants should also:

o Identify the lead recipient of the award who will be responsible for financial administration of the project; and o Include a description of the roles and responsibilities of each applicant.

In addition, applicants for large projects applying to use PIDP funds to acquire digital infrastructure or a software component must do one of the following in this section of their project narrative:

1) Certify that the facility for which the applicant is applying for a grant has an approved facility security plan pursuant to section 46 U.S.C. § 70103(c) that addresses the cybersecurity risks of such proposed digital infrastructure or software components; or

2) If the approved facility security plan of a facility for which the applicant is applying for a grant does not address such cybersecurity risks, provide a brief description in this section of the project narrative of how the applicant will address the cybersecurity risks of such digital infrastructure or software component. Each applicant selected for PIDP funding will be required to ensure that such security plan is updated to address the cybersecurity risks in the next update required under section 70103(c)) as a condition of funding.

Applicants for small projects at small ports are not subject to the abovementioned cybersecurity requirements.

b) NARRATIVE SECTION II: PROJECT LOCATION

This section of the application should describe the project location, provide a map or maps that clearly indicate the project’s location in the local area and the State or territory, provide photographs of the project location, and (if available) renderings of the proposed project. The project’s connections to existing transportation infrastructure should also be clearly described or illustrated.

This section should also clearly identify whether the project is:

located in a rural or urban area (as defined in Section B.6);

a project at a coastal seaport or Great Lakes port (as defined in Section B.6);

a small project at a small port (as defined in Section B.6) seeking funding under 46 U.S.C. § 54301(b;); and located in a Qualified Opportunity Zone. The Department provides more information and an interactive map to show Qualified Opportunity Zones. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) designates Qualified Opportunity Zones and maintains a list on the IRS website.

MARAD may consider prioritizing the selection of projects located in designated Qualified Opportunity Zones.

c) NARRATIVE SECTION III: GRANT FUNDS, SOURCES, AND USE OF

FUNDS

This section should present the budget for the PIDP project (i.e., the project scope that includes PIDP funding and matching funding), including information about the degree of design completion (e.g., 30 percent design) upon which the budget is based. Except for a project seeking funding under 46 U.S.C. § 54301(b), the budget should not include any previously incurred expenses that are incurred prior to MARAD’s announcement of project selection.

Project budgets should show how different funding sources will share in each activity and present that data in dollars and percentages. The budget should identify other Federal funds, if any, that the applicant is applying for, has been awarded, or intends to use. Funding sources should be grouped into three categories: non-Federal, current FY 2026 PIDP funding request, and other Federal, with specific amounts from each funding source. The budget details should sufficiently demonstrate that the project satisfies the statutory non-Federal cost-sharing requirements described in Section B.3.

At a minimum, the project budget must include:

Total Project Costs for the FY 2026 PIDP project (see Section B.3 for definition of Total Project Cost);

FY 2026 PIDP grant funding request;

Specific source, amount, type (grant, loan, etc.), and match requirements of other Federal funds to be used for eligible project costs;

Specific sources and amounts of non-Federal funds, if included, to be used for eligible project costs; and If the project is located in two or more census tracts or is located only partially within an urbanized area, the budget needs to separate the costs between the various census tracts or areas designated as urban and rural.

In addition to the information enumerated above, this section should provide complete information on how all project funds may be used. For example, if a particular source of funds is available only after a condition is satisfied, the application should identify that condition and describe the applicant’s control over whether it is satisfied. Similarly, if a particular source of funds is available for expenditure only during a fixed time period, the application should describe that restriction. Complete information about project funds will ensure that MARAD’s expectations for award execution align with any funding restrictions unrelated to MARAD, even if an award differs from the applicant’s request. If a funding source is uncertain, the applicant should state that it is uncertain and describe the source of the uncertainty.

Applicants are encouraged to include the budget table below, filled out with project details:

[Component

1] [Component

2] Total

PIDP Funds: [$XXX] [$XXX] [$XXX] Other Federal Funds: [$XXX] [$XXX] [$XXX] Non-Federal Funds: [$XXX] [$XXX] [$XXX] Total: [$XXX] [$XXX] [$XXX]

If there is only a single component, remove “Component 2” column. If there are more than 2 components, add columns.

The budget should clearly identify any project expenses anticipated between the time of MARAD’s announcement of project selections and obligation that the applicant intends to request approval from MARAD to expend pursuant to 46 U.S.C.

§ 54301(a)(10)(B) to count toward the non-Federal cost share or 2 CFR 200.458 if its application is selected for award. These pre-obligation costs must still comply with all Federal requirements, including NEPA. The discussion should also reference (and summarize) supporting documentation of funding commitments for non-Federal funds to be used for eligible project costs. This supporting documentation must be submitted as an appendix and clearly marked. In preparing this section, applicants should also refer to the “Leveraging Federal Funding” merit criterion.

d) NARRATIVE SECTION IV: MERIT CRITERIA This section of the application should demonstrate how the project aligns with the statutory merit criteria described in Section F.1 of this notice. PIDP statutory merit criteria are: Achieving Safety, Efficiency, or Reliability Improvements; Supporting Economic Vitality at the Regional or National Level; Leveraging Federal Funding;

and Port Resilience. To assist project evaluators, MARAD encourages applicants to describe the project merit criteria in the order in which they are described in Section F.1, address each criterion separately, identify the elements of the proposed project that align with items listed under each criterion under the merit rating rubric, and support estimated benefit claims with data, details, and/or qualitative descriptions.

Insufficient information to assess any criterion will negatively impact the project rating. Guidance describing how MARAD will evaluate projects against the Merit Criteria is listed in Section F of this notice. Applicants should review that section before preparing their application.

e) NARRATIVE SECTION V: ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS This section of the application should demonstrate how the project aligns with the additional considerations of Supporting National Multimodal Freight Goals, Project Readiness, and Innovative Technology.

Supporting National Multimodal Freight Goals describes how the project generates benefits and produces outcomes that support and align with national multimodal freight policy goals. This portion of the narrative should provide information on the categories of goods and commodities that will be impacted by the project, the customers or industries who ship through the Port, and any other information that shows how the project supports the national goals for the multimodal freight system. The approach MARAD will take in evaluating projects for alignment with this Additional Consideration is described in detail in Section F.1.

Project Readiness describes an applicant’s preparedness to move a proposed project forward once it receives a PIDP grant. This portion of the narrative should include a detailed project schedule and information that, when considered with the project budget information, is sufficient for MARAD to evaluate whether the project is reasonably expected to begin the capital or planning project in a timely manner after satisfying applicable administrative requirements, including transportation planning and environmental review requirements, such as those under NEPA, and meet both the preferred obligation and expenditure deadlines. Project readiness consists of two factors: Technical Capacity and NEPA Process & Permitting Risk. Technical Capacity and NEPA Process & Permitting Risk are described in detail in Section F.1.

Innovative Technology considers whether and how the applicant takes advantage of the many developments in science that are transforming the way we address the practical challenges of infrastructure development and maritime operations. A well-written application will demonstrate how the project incorporates novel approaches to the development and improvement of maritime infrastructure and operations. For PIDP, innovation may include the deployment of advanced technologies to enhance safety or operational efficiency; the application of innovative methods in design, construction, or maintenance that reduce costs or accelerate project delivery; and the integration of solutions that strengthen port resilience. Examples of innovative technologies include: smart cargo handling systems, intelligent berth and yard management, advanced asset inspection and management technologies, or resilient infrastructure designs. Applicants are expected to clearly describe and substantiate how their project goes beyond traditional maritime practices and delivers measurable benefits, supported by evidence or concrete examples. The approach MARAD will take in evaluating projects for alignment with this Additional Consideration is described in detail in Section F.1.

f) NARRATIVE SECTION VII: STATUTORY DETERMINATIONS

To select a project for award, MARAD must determine that the project—as a whole, as well as each independent component of the project—satisfies several statutory requirements enumerated in 46 U.S.C. § 54301(a)(6)(A) and restated in the table below. The application must include sufficient information for MARAD to make these determinations for both the project as a whole and for each independent component of the project. Applicants should use this section of the application to summarize how their project and, if present, each independent project component, meets each of the following requirements. Applicants are not required to reproduce the table below in their application but following this format will help evaluators identify the relevant information that supports each project determination. Supporting information provided in appendices may be referenced.

Statutory Determination Guidance

1. The project improves the safety, efficiency, or reliability of the movement of goods through a port or intermodal connection to the port.

Please summarize how the project will improve the safety, efficiency, or reliability of the movement of goods through a port or intermodal connection to a port.

Detail specific elements of the project and their forecasted impact on port performance indicators (such as improvements in vessel dwell times, truck turn times, capacity, throughput, accident reductions, etc.).

If the project has multiple independent components, please provide sufficient information to describe the impact of each component on the overall project.

2. The project is cost effective. Please highlight the results of the BCA, as well as the analyses of independent project components, if applicable.

The Department will base its determination on the ratio of project benefits to project costs as assessed according to the Economic Vitality criterion.

Note: This determination is not applicable to small projects at small ports or large projects located in noncontiguous States or U.S. territories.

3. The eligible applicant has the authority to carry out the project.

Please provide citations of authority or other supporting documentation necessary to establish an applicant’s authority to carry out the project. The citations should be of sufficient detail to demonstrate that the applicant is an eligible applicant and to show how the applicant is related to the work on the property where the grant funds will be spent.

Examples of information that could assist with making this determination include: the citation of specific sections or chapters of state or local statutory language that demonstrate relevant authority; the inclusion of a narrative outlining the authority of the eligible entity applying for grant funding; information about who owns the property where the improvements will take place or who operates the facilities that will be improved by the project; or a description of the relationship between the applicant and the owner of the property that links the project to the authority to carry out the project (e.g., through a lease agreement).

4. The eligible applicant has sufficient funding available to meet the matching requirements.

Please indicate funding source(s) and amounts that will account for all project costs, broken down by independent project component, if applicable. Demonstrate that the funding is stable, dependable, and dedicated to this specific project by referencing a letter of commitment, a local government resolution, memorandum of understanding, or similar documentation.

Include documentation that the matching funds will be available and/or committed prior to obligation of funds, regardless of the source of funding.

5. The project will be completed without unreasonable delay.

Please provide expected obligation date and construction start date, referencing project budget and schedule as needed. If the project has multiple independent components, or will be obligated and constructed in multiple phases, please provide sufficient information to show that each component meets this requirement.

MARAD will base its determination on the project risk rating assessed as part of the evaluation of the Project Readiness criterion.

6. The project cannot be easily and efficiently completed without Federal funding or financial assistance available to the project sponsor.

Describe…