NOFO_FY26 Stopping Threats on Pedestrians (Bollards)_FINAL.pdf

Fiscal Year 2026 Stopping Threats on Pedestrians

Competitive Grant Program (Bollards)

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application Opening Date: August 10, 2026

Application Closing Date: September 09, 2026

U.S. Department of Transportation

Federal Highway Administration

Fiscal Year 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity

Stopping Threats on Pedestrians Competitive Grant Program (Bollards)

Table of Contents

A. BASIC INFORMATION

B. ELIGIBILITY

C. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

D. APPLICATION CONTENT AND FORMAT

E. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINE

F. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

G. AWARD NOTICES

H. POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION

bookmark://Application_Contents/

A. BASIC INFORMATION

The applicant should read this notice in its entirety for the information necessary to submit eligible and competitive applications. It is the applicant’s responsibility to monitor any changes to this notice.

Federal Agency Name U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)

Funding Opportunity Title Stopping Threats on Pedestrians Competitive Grant

Program (Bollards)

Announcement Type This is a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for this program.

Funding Opportunity Number FHWA-BOLL-26-001

Assistance Listing Number(s) 20.199

Funding Details This NOFO will award up to $5 million in Fiscal

Year (FY) 2026 funding via cost reimbursable grants. The actual amount available for award under this notice will be subject to the availability of funds.

There is no minimum or maximum award amount for the Bollards Competitive Grant Program awards.

Key Dates Application Due Date: September 09, 2026 (30 days after posting) at 11:59:59 PM EST.

DOT anticipates announcing award selections the week of November 16, 2026.

Executive Summary The purpose of the Bollards Competitive Grant

Program is to provide funding for bollard installation projects designed to prevent pedestrian injuries and acts of terrorism in areas used by large numbers of pedestrians.

Eligible applicants under the Bollards Competitive

Grant Program are State Departments of

Transportation (State DOTs) and local government entities such as any city, county, town, parish, village, or other general-purpose political subdivision of a State).

The Bollards Competitive Grant Program allows for the Federal share of the project to be 100 percent.

Agency Contact Information U.S. Department of Transportation

Federal Highway Administration

Office of Administration

1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.

Mail Stop: W56-489

Washington, D.C. 20590 email: janelle.hinton@dot.gov

B. ELIGIBILITY

1. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

See the Executive Summary in Section A for a list of eligible applicants.

2. ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON ELIGIBILITY

See the Executive Summary in Section A for eligible project types.

For the Bollards Competitive Grant Program, the term “bollard installation project” means a project to install raised concrete or metal posts on a sidewalk adjacent to a roadway that are designed to slow or stop a motor vehicle [Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) section

11502(a)].

Furthermore, funded bollard systems should meet one of the following standards:

• ASTM F2656 (Standard Test Method for Crash Testing of Security Barriers),

• ASTM 3016 (Standard Test Method for Surrogate Testing of Vehicle Impact Protective

Devices),

• U.S. Department of State SD-STD-02.01, Certification Standard: Test Method for

Vehicle Crash Testing of Perimeter Barriers and Gates (1989), or

• PAS 68 (Publicly Available Standard 68–Impact Test Specifications for Vehicle Security

Barrier Systems

If a proposed bollard system does not meet the specified standards, applicants must include independent third-party engineering and physical testing reports demonstrating the system can mitigate the identified vehicle threat. If proposed bollard system incorporates a mix of certified and non-certified bollards, the application must clearly indicate how the systems will be effectively integrated.

3. COST SHARING

The Federal cost share for eligible activities carried out under this NOFO may be up to 100 percent. Applicants using other Federal funds in conjunction with Bollards Competitive Grant

Program funds must comply with cost sharing requirements for each Federal fund source.

mailto:janelle.hinton@dot.gov

Cost sharing means the portion of the project’s cost is not paid for with Federal funds. Non-

Federal sources of income include State funds originating from programs funded by State revenue, local revenue funding programs, or private funds. Additional information on non-

Federal matching requirements can be found at: https://www.transportation.gov/grants/dot-navigator/understanding-non-federal-match-requirements.

4. OTHER

Applications determined to be late, duplicates of applications submitted for the same round of applications, or incomplete applications will not be reviewed under this funding opportunity.

If a non-State DOT applicant uses Federal-aid formula funds apportioned to a State DOT as part of the total project budget, the application must also include a supporting letter from the State

DOT agreeing to administer the project with the non-State DOT applicant serving as the sub-recipient.

5. APPLICATION LIMIT

There is no limitation on the number of applications an applicant may submit. If submitting more than one application, indicate the funding priority of each application on the application cover page. DOT is not required to consider the applicant’s funding priority when making selections.

C. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. PROGRAM PURPOSE

The purpose of the Bollards Competitive Grant Program is to provide financial assistance to

State DOTs and local government entities for bollard installation projects.

2. PROGRAM GOALS AND ADMINISTRATION PRIORITIES

The primary goal of the Bollards Competitive Grant Program is to prevent pedestrian injuries and acts of terrorism in areas used by large numbers of pedestrians.

DOT seeks to fund projects advancing the priorities of the Trump Administration as described in

DOT’s mission statement and across Executive Orders (E.O.). DOT intends to apply principles from DOT Order 2100.7, (Ensuring Reliance Upon Sound Economic Analysis in DOT’s

Policies, Programs and Activities), when evaluating applications and making award selections.

Such principles include maximizing, to the extent practicable, relevant, appropriate and consistent with law, benefits for families and communities. These benefits may include, but are not limited to, economic opportunities, increased access to jobs, commercial activities or any project components that enhance safety and primarily benefit families and communities by improving the quality of their lives, raising their standard of living, or enabling them to participate more fully in our economy. DOT will prioritize projects that reinvest in the American family, address core infrastructure, support economic competitiveness and utilize innovation.

https://www.transportation.gov/grants/dot-navigator/understanding-non-federal-match-requirements https://www.transportation.gov/grants/dot-navigator/understanding-non-federal-match-requirements https://www.transportation.gov/mission/ensuring-reliance-upon-sound-economic-analysis-department-transportation-policies-programs https://www.transportation.gov/mission/ensuring-reliance-upon-sound-economic-analysis-department-transportation-policies-programs

Section F of this NOFO describes the process for selecting projects furthering the goals and priorities for this program and the Trump Administration. Section H describes progress and performance reporting requirements for selected projects, including the relationship between reporting and the program’s selection criteria.

3. PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION AND FUNDING

While Section 11502 of the IIJA, (Pub. L. 117-58, November 15, 2021) authorized the Bollards

Competitive Grant Program, the IIJA did not provide dedicated funding; instead, the program was subject to future appropriations. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, (Pub. L. 119-

75) provided the first ever funding for the program ($5 million), which is being made available for awards under this NOFO.

FY 2026 Bollards Competitive Grant Program funds must be obligated by September 30, 2029, with an expenditure deadline of September 30, 2034. The total period of performance for the award(s) is anticipated to be between 1 and 4 years. The period of performance will begin on the date the grant agreement is executed.

This NOFO is subject to the availability of funding. The Government’s obligation under any resulting award is contingent upon the availability of funding. There is no legal liability on the part of the Government for any payment that may arise until funds are available and obligated to an award. DOT is not obligated to make any award as a result of this notice.

4. AWARD SIZE

There is no minimum or maximum award amount for the Bollards Competitive Grant Program awards.

5. TYPE OF AWARD

The anticipated award(s) will be cost-reimbursable grant agreements. See Section G for additional information on cost reimbursement.

6. PERFORMANCE GOALS

See Section H for details on performance reporting requirements and goals.

7. BUY AMERICA REQUIREMENTS

Funds made available under this NOFO are subject to domestic preference requirements. See

Section H of this NOFO for additional details. Applicants can also refer to the FHWA

Construction Program Guide for more information about addressing FHWA’s Buy America requirements and Build America Buy America requirements.

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/construction/cqit/buyam.cfm https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/construction/cqit/buyam.cfm

D. APPLICATION CONTENT AND FORMAT

1. APPLICATION FORMAT

All applications must be submitted electronically through www.Grants.gov.

Application files should be single-spaced, 12-point standard font (e.g., Times New Roman), with

1-inch margins. Files should be in PDF unless otherwise specified (e.g., Excel based forms and location files such as Shapefile or KML/KMZ).

DOT recommends applicants use a file naming format of: “[Applicant organization#]-2026-

Bollards” where “Applicant organization” reflects the applicant’s legal name, abbreviated as appropriate, and where “#” represents the order of applicant priority for the grant, if more than one application is submitted. If necessary, the workspace title can be edited per the instructions on Grants.gov.

The application package must consist of the following:

All Project Types

Standard Form (SF) 424 (Application for Federal Assistance)

SF-424C (Budget Information for Construction Projects)

Grants.gov Lobbying Form (Certification Regarding Lobbying)

SF-424D (Assurances for Construction Programs)

SF-LLL (Disclosure of Lobbying Activities form)

The Bollards Competitive Grant Program Application Template

(see Section D.2) must be added as an attachment to item 15 of the SF-424.

2. APPLICATION CONTENT

Standard Forms

All mandatory SFs of the 424 family are available for download at https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-mandatory-family.

For more information on SF, please see: Standard Forms (SF-424) Information

The Bollards Competitive Grant Program Application Template

Applicants must complete the Bollards Competitive Grant Program Application Template and include it as an attachment to Item 15 of their SF-424. The Application Template should provide all information necessary for DOT to determine the project satisfies the eligibility requirements described in Section B and to evaluate the criteria specified in Section F.

http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424_Mandatory_3_0-V3.0.pdf https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SF424C_2_0-V2.0.pdf https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/GG_LobbyingForm-V1.1.pdf https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/Individual_SF424D-V1.1.pdf https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms/sample/SFLLL_2_0-V2.0.pdf https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/sf-424-mandatory-family http://highways.dot.gov/resources/competitive-grants/standard-forms-1

DOT will only review the completed Application Template and the allowable supplemental documents (e.g., budget, schedule, design plans, etc.) specified within the Application Template instructions.

The application must provide a budget for the project, either within the Application Template itself, or as an attachment. The budget must list the amount and percentage of both the Federal funding requested and any additional non-Federal funds, if any, to be used to pay for the project.

The Application Template can be found on Grants.gov.

3. SHARING OF APPLICATION INFORMATION

DOT may share application information within DOT or with other Federal Agencies if DOT determines that such sharing is relevant to the respective program’s objectives.

For information on confidential business information please see: Sharing of Application

Information.

E. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINE

1. ADDRESS TO REQUEST APPLICATION PACKAGE

Applicants may obtain application forms, including the Application Template, on Grants.gov under the Funding Opportunity Number under Section A.

Once at Grants.gov, select the Search Grants tab. Then enter one of the following:

• Opportunity Number: FHWA-BOLL-26-001

• Opportunity Name: Fiscal Year 2026 Stopping Threats on Pedestrians Competitive Grant

Program (Bollards).

• Assistance Listing Number: 20.199.

Select the grant entry. This will open the grant opportunity Webpage. This Webpage has details about the grant and a link to the application. Click the “View on Grants.gov” button. This will open the grant opportunity on the Grants.gov Website. The first tab is a synopsis of the

Opportunity. There is also a “Package” tab which contains the application package. Select the

“Package” tab to download the forms needed to submit a FY 2026 Bollards Competitive Grant

Program application. The applicant must complete and submit all forms included in the application package for this notice, as contained at Grants.gov.

Should applicants have any difficulties in accessing any SFs and require paper copies, please contact the Agency contact provided in Section A of this NOFO.

2. UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT

http://www.grants.gov/ https://highways.dot.gov/resources/competitive-grants/sharing-application-information-0 https://highways.dot.gov/resources/competitive-grants/sharing-application-information-0 https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/

Each applicant must:

• Be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at SAM.gov before submitting its application;

• Provide a valid Unique Entity Identifier in its application; and

• Continue to maintain an active registration in SAM.gov with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application under consideration by a Federal Agency.

Please note the SAM registration process takes several weeks to complete.

3. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

All applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. DOT does not accept applications via mail, fax, email, or any other means. Additional resources on applying through

Grants.gov can be found at https://www.grants.gov/applicants.

4. SUBMISSION DEADLINE

FY 2026 Bollards Competitive Grant Program applications must be submitted through

Grants.gov by 11:59:59 PM EST on September 09, 2026. Grants.gov attaches a time stamp to each application at the time submission is complete.

5. CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATIONS

Only applicants who comply with all submission deadlines described in this notice and electronically submit valid, on-time applications through Grants.gov will be eligible for evaluation and possible selection for award.

To the extent practicable, applicants should provide supporting data and documentation in a form directly verifiable by DOT. DOT may, but is not required to, reach back to applicants for the purpose of clarifying application information. DOT will not request additional information to perfect incomplete applications.

6. SUBMISSION ISSUES

For information on submission issues and more information on late applications, please see:

Submission Issues | FHWA.

7. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

This program is not subject to E.O. 12372, Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.

F. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

https://sam.gov/content/home https://sam.gov/content/home https://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/applicants https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://highways.dot.gov/resources/competitive-grants/submission-issues-0

1. MERIT CRITERIA

DOT will evaluate applications submitted in response to this notice using Location and

Contextual Design, Risk, and Project Effectiveness as Merit Criteria. The ratings for each Merit

Criteria will also be assigned a label of Highly Responsive, Responsive, or Non-Responsive.

Criterion 1: Location and Contextual Design

FHWA will evaluate the potential for the project to prevent injuries and acts of terrorism in areas used by large numbers of pedestrians based on location and contextual design objectives in the table below:

Merit Criteria Highly Responsive Responsive Non-Responsive

Criterion 1 Objectives:

A. Relative to the size of the community, the area to be protected by the project is an area of heavy pedestrian activity as demonstrated by pedestrian volume data.

B. The project, once installed, will accommodate access for people with disabilities and consider the needs of families with strollers.

C. The project includes innovative approaches to enhance, or not impede, aesthetics of the area (for example, height, thickness, or color of materials, lighting, et cetera) without compromising safety.

The application demonstrates how the project will meet all three objectives of this criterion.

The application demonstrates how the project will meet objectives A and B, at a minimum.

The application does not meet objectives A and B, at a minimum.

Criterion 2: Risk

FHWA will rate the relative risk of injuries and acts of terrorism to large numbers of pedestrians based on the objectives found in the table below:

Criterion 2 Objectives:

A. Pedestrians in the area to be protected are susceptible to intentional or unintentional injuries caused by vehicular impacts.

B. Based on the context (e.g., historical, social, economic) of the community, the area to be protected could be a target for hostile intentions.

The application demonstrates how the project will meet all three objectives of this criterion.

the project will meet at least objective A and either objective

B or C.

The application does not demonstrate how the project will meet at least objective A and either objective B or

C.

C. The project would protect pedestrians in an area with industries of national interest, economic hubs, or important community resources.

Criterion 3: Project Effectiveness

FHWA will rate the ability of the project to prevent injuries and acts of terrorism in areas used by large numbers of pedestrians based on the objectives found in the table below:

Criterion 3 Objectives:

A. The mitigation strategy will minimize vehicle impact risk to pedestrians, demonstrated through measurable outcomes that link to stated vulnerabilities.

B. The mitigation strategy will mitigate risks to pedestrians from acts of terrorism.

C. The mitigation strategy will minimize impacts in the instance of vehicles unintentionally striking bollards.

D. The project will not minimize or impede roadway capacity, create bottlenecks or hinder vehicular flow.

E. The project considers innovative approaches in materials, design or construction.

The application demonstrates how the project will meet all five objectives of this criterion.

the project will at a minimum meet objectives A, C, and

D.

The application does not demonstrate the project will meet at least objectives A, C, and D.

MERIT CRITERIA RATINGS

Based on the assessment described in Section F.1 above, DOT will assign a Merit Criteria rating as shown in the table below.

Merit Criteria Rating Description

High At least two of three merit criteria are rated Highly Responsive, and one merit criterion is rated Responsive.

Medium All merit criteria are rated at least Responsive.

Low Any of the merit criteria are rated Non-Responsive.

2. PROJECT READINESS ASSESSMENT

To assess the likelihood of a successful project, DOT will consider project readiness for eligible applications receiving a Medium or High merit criteria rating.

For the Project Readiness Assessment, DOT will consider three evaluation ratings: Technical

Assessment, Financial Completeness Assessment, and Permitting Risk Assessment. DOT will use information from the Project Readiness Assessment portion of the application as well as information contained throughout the application to complete the Project Readiness Assessment.

The ratings for each Project Readiness Assessment criterion will also be assigned a numerical label. These will be used at the conclusion of the Project Readiness Assessment to assign the application an overall readiness rating.

Readiness: Technical Assessment

The Technical Assessment will evaluate the applicant’s capacity to successfully deliver the project in compliance with applicable Federal requirements and assesses the technical feasibility of the project as described in the application. Technical Assessment ratings will be one of the following: Certain (3), Somewhat Certain (2) or Unknown or Uncertain (1), as defined in the table below.

Technical Assessment ratings will be based on:

Rating Certain (3) Somewhat Certain (2) Unknown or

Uncertain (1)

Technical Assessment

Elements:

A. The applicant has the technical and staffing resources to deliver the project.

B. The project will comply with all applicable Federal requirements.

C. The applicant demonstrates a commitment for timely project delivery as demonstrated by the schedule information in the application.

D. The applicant demonstrates the technical feasibility of the project.

The application demonstrates that the applicant and project will meet all four Technical

Assessment

Elements.

demonstrates that the applicant and project will meet Technical

Assessment Elements B, C, and D, and may not currently have the technical and staffing resources to deliver the project but will obtain needed resources to deliver the project if awarded.

The application does not demonstrate that the applicant or project will meet

Technical

Assessment

Elements B, C, and

D, and may not currently have the resources to deliver the project and does not commit to obtaining the necessary resources.

Readiness: Financial Completeness Assessment

The Financial Completeness Assessment evaluates the projects ability to leverage other funding and whether the applicant presented a complete funding package and will receive a rating of

Complete (3), Partially Complete (2), or Incomplete (1), as defined in the table below.

Financial Completeness Assessment ratings will be based on:

Rating Complete (3) Partially Complete (2) Incomplete (1)

Financial Completeness

Assessment Elements:

A. The application includes complete funding estimates based on recent stages of design

(or for non-construction projects, proposal development).

B. The application includes a plan to address potential cost overruns.

C. The application demonstrates reasonable availability of all funding needed to complete the project with an award.

D. The proposal includes information on how future operation, maintenance and preservation costs will be funded.

The application demonstrates that the applicant and project will meet

Financial

Completeness

Assessment

Elements A, B, and

C, and in addition, for construction projects, Element D for maintenance.

demonstrates that the applicant and project will meet Financial

Completeness

Assessment Elements A and C.

However, while a plan for cost overruns is provided, it is incomplete or based on approaches or funding sources not reasonably assumed available to the applicant; or for construction projects, the funding described for future operation, maintenance or preservation costs are not reasonably assumed available to the applicant.

The application does not demonstrate that the applicant or project will meet Financial

Completeness

Assessment Elements

A or C; or the application does not demonstrate the applicant or project will meet Elements B or D, or the methods or funding sources for

B or D are not reasonably assumed available to the applicant.

Readiness: Permitting Risk Assessment

The Permitting Risk Assessment evaluates the status of the environmental approvals required for the proposed project and the likelihood other necessary approvals, permits, or public engagement will affect project obligation. The applicant must disclose if there is open litigation concerning the project; or, if there is known, and difficult to resolve, public controversy, or agency opposition to the project on environmental grounds. This assessment will result in a rating of

High Risk (1), Moderate Risk (2), or Low Risk (3), as defined in the table below.

Permitting ratings will be based on:

Rating Low Risk (3) Moderate Risk (2) High Risk (1)

Permitting Risk

Assessment Elements:

A. The National

Environment Policy

Act (NEPA) review is complete or the

The application demonstrates that the project will meet

Permitting Risk

Assessment Elements

A, B, and C and does

The application demonstrates that the project will meet

Permitting Risk

Assessment Elements

A, B, and C, but there

The application indicates risk as described in

Permitting Risk

Assessment Element

D; or the application application demonstrates NEPA will be complete in time to meet the project schedule.

B. All necessary permits have been obtained, or the application demonstrates permits and approvals will be obtained in time to meet the project schedule.

C. Public engagement has occurred or will occur, and any known public controversy has been or will be addressed or mitigated.

D. The application discloses any known and unmitigated issues posing high risk to project delivery.

Examples include litigation, known public controversy, or agency opposition to the project on environmental grounds.

not have any known unmitigated risks to project delivery as shown in Element D.

is risk of schedule delay because of either:

• An Environmental

Assessment or

Environmental

Impact Statement is needed and the

NEPA document has not been released for public review;

• Permit work has not started, and the schedule does not include time for schedule delays; or

• Public engagement has not started, and the schedule does not include time to address public input; and

• The project or program does not have any known unmitigated risks to project delivery as shown in

Element D.

does not meet

Elements A, B, or C.

The Project Readiness Ratings described above will be translated to a High, Medium, or Low rating using the table below:

Project Readiness Rating Description

High Two or more Readiness Assessment categories are rated as a 3, and no Readiness Assessment categories are rated as a

1.

Medium One Readiness Assessment category is rated as a 3, with two readiness assessment categories rated as a 2.

Low All Readiness Assessment categories are rated as 2 or any

Readiness Assessment categories are rated as a 1.

3. OVERALL RATING OF THE APPLICATION

DOT will assign each eligible application an overall rating of Highly Recommended, Recommended, or Not Recommended. The rating will be assigned on the following basis:

• A rating of Highly Recommended will be assigned to an application that receives no less than a Highly Responsive rating for Merit Criteria and Project Readiness.

• A rating of Recommended will be assigned to an application that receives no less than a

Medium rating for both Merit Criteria and Project Readiness.

• A rating of Not Recommended will be assigned to an application that receives a Low rating for either merit criteria or Project Readiness.

4. DOT PRIORITY CONSIDERATIONS

After completing the Merit Criteria review and Project Readiness Assessment, among projects of similar application rating of Highly Recommended or Recommended, DOT may prioritize selections based on one or more of the following considerations below.

• FHWA may prioritize awards to applicants receiving a “Highly Responsive” rating to all three Merit Criteria.

• FHWA may prioritize awards to a geographically diverse range of applicants.

• FHWA may prioritize awards to projects that protect Highly visible tourism areas or critical transportation infrastructure.

• FHWA may prioritize awards to projects incorporating landscaping, streetscaping or other vehicle access and security controls such as concrete blocks, boulders, or barriers, to mitigate pedestrian threats using other funding sources independent of this grant.

• FHWA may prioritize awards to projects leveraging other funding sources to expand the scope and benefit of the project.

The application should demonstrate how the project may meet these DOT priority considerations within their application.

5. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS

DOT will review applications received by the deadline for completeness, then for eligibility based on the information found in Section B of this notice. This review phase is referred to as the intake and eligibility review. Applications that pass the intake and eligibility review will be evaluated by the Technical Review Team (TRT), and once evaluated and rated, will then be evaluated by the Senior Review Team (SRT), to determine which applications are presented to

DOT leadership for final selection, as described below.

Technical Review

The evaluation of eligible applications will be conducted by a TRT, comprised of DOT staff.

TRT will evaluate each eligible application against the Merit Criteria in Section F. TRT will then complete the Project Readiness Assessment as described under Section F to determine which applications are rated as Highly Recommended, Recommended, or Not Recommended.

TRT will then evaluate each Highly Recommended and Recommended application for its responsiveness to the DOT priority considerations. TRT will send to the SRT information on all eligible applications including the rating for each merit criterion, the Project Readiness

Assessment rating, and the evaluation of responsiveness to the DOT priority considerations.

Senior Review

SRT may consist of officials from the Office of the Secretary of Transportation, the FHWA

Administrator, and others in senior leadership positions requested to serve by the FHWA

Administrator. SRT will determine which projects advance to DOT leadership for final selection.

DOT leadership has the discretion to determine which applications best address the Bollards

Competitive Grant Program Merit Criteria, Project Readiness Assessment, and selection considerations, and should be selected for award.

The Department intends to apply principles from DOT Order 2100.7 (Ensuring Reliance Upon

Sound Economic Analysis in DOT’s Policies, Programs and Activities) and DOT Order 2100.9

(Ensuring Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity in Department of Transportation Policies, Programs, and Activities) when evaluating applications and making award selections. To the maximum extent permitted by law, DOT will prioritize projects that are in alignment with the principles outlined in DOT Orders 2100.7 and 2100.9.

Reduced Awards

FHWA may enter into discussions with an applicant to discuss, if mutually agreeable, a lesser scaled amount of a potential award. This may occur because of the quantity, size and scope of the applications received in response to this NOFO and the results of the application review process.

6. APPLICANT RISK ASSESSMENT

Prior to award, each selected applicant will be subject to a risk assessment required by 2 Code of

Federal Regulation (CFR) § 200.206. DOT must review and consider any information about the applicant in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM. An applicant may review information in SAM.gov and comment on any information about itself that a Federal awarding Agency previously entered. DOT will consider comments by the applicant, in addition to other information in SAM.gov, in making a judgment about the applicant’s integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the risk assessment. DOT reserves the right to deny an award based on the results of the risk assessment or include special conditions that correspond to the degree of risk assessed may be applied to the

Federal award in accordance with 2 CFR § 200.206.

DOT will consider the following factors in its risk assessment in accordance with 2 CFR

§ 200.206:

• Financial stability: the applicant’s record of effectively managing financial risks, assets, and resources.

https://www.transportation.gov/mission/ensuring-reliance-upon-sound-economic-analysis-department-transportation-policies-programs https://www.transportation.gov/mission/ensuring-reliance-upon-sound-economic-analysis-department-transportation-policies-programs https://www.transportation.gov/mission/ensuring-nondiscrimination-and-equal-opportunity-department-transportation-policies https://www.transportation.gov/mission/ensuring-nondiscrimination-and-equal-opportunity-department-transportation-policies https://www.transportation.gov/mission/ensuring-nondiscrimination-and-equal-opportunity-department-transportation-policies

• Management systems and standards: quality of management systems and ability to meet the management standards prescribed in this part.

• History of performance, if applicable: the applicant’s record of managing previous and current Federal awards, including compliance with reporting requirements and conformance to the terms and conditions of Federal awards, if applicable.

• Audit reports and findings: reports and findings from audits performed under subpart F or the reports and findings of any other available audits, if applicable.

• Ability to effectively implement requirements: the applicant’s ability for effective implementation of statutory, regulatory, or other requirements imposed on recipients of

Federal awards.

G. AWARD NOTICES

1. HOW PROJECT SELECTIONS ARE ANNOUNCED

Following the evaluation outlined in Section F, DOT will announce awarded projects by posting a list of selected projects here. Notice of selection is not authorization to begin performance or to incur costs for the proposed project. Following the announcement, DOT will contact the point of contact listed in SF-424 to initiate negotiation of the project agreement for authorization.

The Bollards Competitive Grant Program grants will be awarded upon the execution of a grant agreement between the DOT and the recipient.

Unsuccessful applicants may request a debriefing up to 90 days after the selected funding recipients are publicly announced. The request must be submitted by the applicant identified on

SF-424. The debrief will be limited to how the application responded to the grant program evaluation criteria described in Section F of the NOFO. All debrief requests should be submitted to Bollards@dot.gov.

2. REIMBURSEMENTS AND COSTS INCURRED PRIOR TO AWARD AND

OBLIGATION OF GRANTS

Unless authorized by DOT in writing after announcement of FY 2026 Bollards Competitive

Grant Program selections, any costs incurred prior to DOT’s obligation of funds for a project are ineligible for reimbursement and are ineligible cost share requirements. DOT will primarily administer grants on a reimbursement basis. Under the reimbursement approach, DOT funds will reimburse recipients only for costs incurred after execution of a grant agreement for costs DOT determines to be allowable, reasonable, and allocable, as defined under 2 CFR Part 200, and after the recipient submits valid requests for reimbursement.

If a recipient cannot complete a project on a reimbursable basis DOT will, on a case-by-case basis, consider recipient requests to use alternative payment methods as described under 2 CFR

200.305(b).

H. POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION

https://highways.dot.gov/resources/competitive-grants/bollards-competitive-grant-program-page mailto:Section%20F mailto:Bollards@dot.gov

1. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

Administrative Requirements

All awards will be administered pursuant to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost

Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal awards found in 2 CFR Part 200, as adopted by

DOT at 2 CFR Part 1201. Applicable Federal laws, rules, and regulations set forth in Title 49 of the CFR, shall apply to awards provided under this program.

In connection with any program or activity conducted with or benefiting from funds awarded under this notice, recipients of funds must comply with all applicable requirements of Federal law, including, without limitation, the Constitution of the United States; the conditions of performance, non-discrimination requirements, and other assurances made applicable to the award of funds in accordance with regulations of DOT and FHWA; and applicable Federal financial assistance and contracting principles promulgated by Office of Management and

Budget (OMB). In complying with these requirements, recipients must ensure that no concession agreements are denied, or other contracting decisions made on the basis of speech or other activities protected by the First Amendment. If DOT determines a recipient has failed to comply with applicable Federal requirements, DOT may terminate the award of funds and disallow previously incurred costs, requiring the recipient to reimburse any expended award funds.

Program Requirements

Critical Infrastructure Security, Cybersecurity and Resilience

It is the policy of the U.S. Government to strengthen the security and resilience of its critical infrastructure against all threats and hazards, including physical and cyber risks, consistent with

National Security Memorandum 22 to secure and enhance the resilience of United States critical infrastructure. Each applicant selected for Federal funding must demonstrate, prior to the signing of the grant agreement, effort to consider and address physical and cyber security risks relevant to the transportation mode and type and scale of the project. Projects that have not appropriately considered and addressed physical and cyber security and resilience in their planning, design, and project oversight, as determined by DOT and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, will be required to do so before receiving funds.

Domestic Preference Requirements

As expressed in E.O. 14005, Ensuring the Future Is Made in All of America by All of America’s

Workers (86 FR 7475), the executive branch should maximize, consistent with law, the use of goods, products, and materials produced, and services offered in, the United States. Funds made available under this notice are subject to FHWA’s steel, iron, and manufactured product domestic requirements at 23 U.S.C. § 313 and 23 CFR 635.410, and the construction materials domestic preference requirement at Pub. L. 117-58, div. G §§ 70901–70927, as implemented by

OMB at 2 CFR Part 184. DOT expects all applicants to comply with those requirements.

Federal Anti-Discrimination

• Except where prohibited by court order, pursuant to E.O. 14173, Ending Illegal

Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, as a condition of grant award, each recipient must agree that its compliance in all respects with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws is material to the Government’s payment decisions for purposes of section 3729(b)(4) of Title 31, U.S.C.

• Except where prohibited by court order, pursuant to E.O. 14173, Ending Illegal

Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, as a condition of grant award, each recipient must certify that it does not operate any programs promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that violate the U.S. Constitution or any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws.

To the extent a court order bars the implementation or enforcement of one or more of these provisions with respect to a particular applicant or recipient, DOT will not implement or enforce the relevant provision(s) against that applicant or recipient for as long as the order remains in place.

Compliance with Federal Law and Policies

Except where prohibited by court order, the applicant assures and certifies, with respect to any application and awarded project under this NOFO it will comply with all applicable Federal laws, regulations, E.O., policies, guidelines, and requirements as they relate to the application, acceptance, and use of Federal funds.

2. REPORTING

Each applicant selected for the Bollards Competitive Grant Program funding must submit semi-annual progress reports and semi-annual Federal Financial Reports (SF-425) to monitor project progress and ensure accountability and financial transparency in the program.

Each Bollards Competitive Grant Program awardee must collect and report to DOT information on performance measures. The performance measure for the Bollards Competitive Grant

Program will be incorporated into the grant agreement.

Per the Performance and Program evaluation | FHWA Website, DOT reserves the right to request additional information, if deemed needed, to understand better the status of the project. The successful applicant will provide additional financial reporting beyond the quarterly reporting if such statements are necessary to address DOT’s Stewardship and Oversight responsibility of the awarded grants funds. The successful applicant also agrees to allow periodic project inspections and DOT will provide notice for such inspections.

https://highways.dot.gov/resources/competitive-grants/performance-and-program-evaluation-0