RAISE 2024 NOFO 11.30.23.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

Notice of Funding Opportunity for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024

Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant

Program

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary (OST), US Department of Transportation (DOT)

ACTION: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

SUMMARY OVERVIEW OF KEY INFORMATION: RAISE Grant Opportunity

Issuing Agency Office of the Secretary, US Department of Transportation

Program Overview RAISE grants will be awarded on a competitive basis, per statute, for planning or constructing surface transportation infrastructure projects that will improve safety; environmental sustainability;

quality of life; mobility and community connectivity; economic competitiveness and opportunity including tourism; state of good repair; partnership and collaboration; and innovation.

Objective • Invest in surface transportation that will have a significant local or regional impact; and

• Support projects that are consistent with the Department’s strategic goals: improve safety, economic strength and global competitiveness, equity, and climate and sustainability.

Eligible Applicants • States

• District of Columbia

• any territory or possession of the United States

• a unit of local government

• a public agency or publicly chartered authority established by one or more States

• a special purpose district or public authority with a transportation function, including a port authority

• a Federally recognized Indian Tribe or a consortium of such

Indian Tribes

• a transit agency

• a multi-State or multijurisdictional group of entities that are separately eligible

Eligible Project Types • highway or bridge projects eligible under title 23, United

States Code

• public transportation projects eligible under chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code

• passenger and freight rail transportation projects eligible under title 49

• port infrastructure investments (including inland port infrastructure and land ports of entry)

• the surface transportation components of an airport project eligible for assistance under part B of subtitle VII of title 49, United States Code

• intermodal projects whose components are otherwise an eligible project type

• projects to replace or rehabilitate a culvert or prevent stormwater runoff for the purpose of improving habitat for aquatic species while advancing the goals of the RAISE program

• projects investing in surface transportation facilities that are located on Tribal land and for which title or maintenance responsibility is vested in the Federal Government

• any other surface transportation infrastructure project that the

Secretary considers to be necessary to advance the goals of the program

Funding Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58, November

15, 2021, “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” or “BIL”) provides $1.5 billion annually for FY 2022 – 2026

Deadline • FY 2024 Deadline: February 28, 2024 at 11:59 pm Eastern

• FY 2025 Deadline: January 13, 2025 at 11:59 pm Eastern

• FY 2026 Deadline: January 13, 2026 at 11:59 pm Eastern

This notice describes the application requirements, selection and evaluation criteria, and applicable program and Federal requirements.

ASSISTANCE LISTING NUMBER: 20.933 National Infrastructure Investments

DATES: Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern on February 28, 2024

WEBINAR: OST plans to conduct outreach regarding the FY 2024 RAISE NOFO in the form of webinars. The webinar schedule will be posted when available on the RAISE outreach webpage.1

ADDRESSES: Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: DOT will not review applications in advance of their submission but RAISE program staff are available for questions. For further information concerning this notice, please contact the RAISE grant program staff via e-mail at

RAISEgrants@dot.gov or call Andrea Jacobson at 202-366-9603. A TDD is available for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing at 202-366-3993. In addition, DOT will regularly

1 https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/outreach https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/outreach https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/outreach https://www.grants.gov/ post answers to questions and requests for clarifications on the FAQ website2 as well as information about webinars for further guidance on the RAISE program website.3

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The organization of this notice is based on an outline set forth in Appendix I to Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 200, to ensure consistency across Federal financial assistance programs. Each section of this notice contains information and instructions relevant to the application process for these RAISE grants, and all applicants should read this notice in its entirety so that they have the information they need to submit eligible and competitive applications.

Table of Contents

A. Program Description

1. Overview

2. Program Goals and Objectives

3. Changes from the FY 2023 NOFO

B. Federal Award Information

1. Amount Available

2. Award Size

3. Restrictions on Funding

4. Availability of Funds

5. Previous RAISE/BUILD/TIGER

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Cost Share or Non-Federal Match

3. Eligible Projects

4. Definition of Rural and Urban Areas

5. Areas of Persistent Poverty and Historically Disadvantaged Communities

6. Project Components

7. Application Limit

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

a. Project Description

b. Project Location

c. Project Budget

d. Merit Criteria

e. Project Readiness

f. Benefit-Cost Analysis

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management

4. Submission Dates and Timelines

2 https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/raise-application-faqs 3 https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/outreach.

https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/raise-application-faqs https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/outreach https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/raise-application-faqs

5. Funding Restrictions

6. Other Submission Requirements

E. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

a. Merit Criteria

b. Project Readiness

c. Benefit-Cost Analysis

2. Review and Selection Process

3. Additional Information

F. Federal Award Administration Information

1. Federal Award Notices

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

3. Reporting

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contacts

H. Other Information

1. Protection of Confidential Business Information

2. Publication and Sharing of Application Information

Section A - Program Description

1. Overview

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58, November 15, 2021, “Bipartisan

Infrastructure Law,” or “BIL”) authorized and appropriated $1.5 billion annually to be awarded by the Department of Transportation (“DOT”) 2022 – FY 2026 for Local and Regional Project

Assistance Program Grants under National Infrastructure Investments. The program is codified at

49 U.S.C. 6702.

The BIL requires the DOT to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) no later than 60 days after funds are made available for the program, which for FY 2024 is November 30, 2023.

In order to comply with this requirement, this NOFO solicits applications for projects to be funded under the Local and Regional Project Assistance Program, known as the RAISE Grants program.

If the FY 2024 Appropriations Act, or other subsequent Acts, provide additional funding or significantly alter requirements for the RAISE Grant program, the Department will amend this

Notice with guidance on additional requirements.

The FY 2024 – 2026 rounds of RAISE will be implemented, as appropriate and consistent with law, in alignment with the priorities in Executive Order 14052, Implementation of the

Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (86 FR 64355), which are to invest efficiently and equitably, promote the competitiveness of the U.S. economy, improve job opportunities by focusing on high labor standards, strengthen infrastructure resilience to all hazards including climate change, and to effectively coordinate with State, local, Tribal, and territorial government partners.

2. Program Goals and Objectives

The goal of the RAISE program is to fund eligible surface transportation projects that will have a significant local or regional impact that advance the Departmental priorities of safety, equity, climate and sustainability, and workforce development, job quality, and wealth creation, consistent with law, and as described in the Department’s Strategic Plan4 and in executive orders.

The Department seeks to fund projects under the RAISE program that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector; incorporate evidence-based climate resilience measures and features; avoid adverse environmental impacts to air or water quality, wetlands, and endangered species; and address the disproportionate negative environmental impacts of transportation on disadvantaged communities, consistent with Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (86 FR 7619).

In addition, the Department seeks to award projects under the RAISE program that proactively evaluate whether a project will create proportional impacts to all populations in a project area and increase equitable access to project benefits, consistent with Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal

Government (86 FR 7009).

The Department also seeks to award projects that address environmental justice, particularly for communities that have experienced decades of underinvestment and are most impacted by climate change, pollution, and environmental hazards, consistent with Executive Order 14008, Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad (86 FR 7619). The RAISE program advances

President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative which set the goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain climate, clean energy, and other covered Federal investments flow to disadvantaged communities.

In addition, the Department intends to use the RAISE program to support the creation of good-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union and the incorporation of strong labor standards and training and placement programs, especially registered apprenticeships, in project planning stages, consistent with Executive Order 14025, Worker Organizing and Empowerment

(86 FR 22829), and Executive Order 14052, Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and

Jobs Act (86 FR 64335). The Department also intends to use the RAISE program to support wealth creation, consistent with the Department's Equity Action Plan, through the inclusion of local inclusive economic development and entrepreneurship such as the utilization of

Disadvantaged Business Enterprises or 8(a) firms.

4 See U.S. Department of Transportation Strategic Plan FY 2022–2026 at https://www.transportation.gov/dot-strategic-plan.

https://www.transportation.gov/dot-strategic-plan https://www.whitehouse.gov/environmentaljustice/justice40/ https://www.transportation.gov/dot-strategic-plan https://www.transportation.gov/dot-strategic-plan

The BIL included provisions for Metropolitan Planning Organizations to consider integrating transportation planning, housing, employment opportunities, and economic development strategies. 5 The Department strongly encourages applicants to utilize these new planning coordination opportunities in their proposed projects and describe them in their applications.

Note, the RAISE program can only fund the surface transportation infrastructure elements of a project that may also include housing, employment opportunities, and economic development strategies.

Section E of this NOFO, which outlines FY 2024 RAISE Grant merit criteria, describes the process for selecting projects that further these goals. Section F.3 describes progress and performance reporting requirements for selected projects, including the relationship between that reporting and the program’s selection criteria.

The FY 2024 RAISE NOFO includes a Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods (RCN)

Program Extra element. Applications for the FY 2024 RAISE grant program that have identical project scope to applications that were submitted and evaluated under the FY 2023 Reconnecting

Communities Neighborhoods Program competition and received the designation of “RCN

Program Extra,” will automatically advance for second-tier analysis if they receive an overall merit rating of “Recommended” and have at least one “High” rating in a priority criterion. See

Section E.2. The Department expects projects that rated well under the FY 2023 RCN Program criteria will do well under the FY 2024 RAISE program criteria. Applicants should note in the

FY 2024 RAISE Project Information Form whether their FY 2024 RAISE application was also submitted under the FY 2023 RCN competition and received a RCN Program Extra designation.

3. Changes from the FY 2023 NOFO

This FY 2024 RAISE NOFO makes changes from the FY 2023 RAISE NOFO to:

• Simplify the NOFO with the use of plain language and tables to organize information.

• Refine the merit criteria rating rubric. For example, this NOFO provides more examples of project elements that align with a “High” rating under Safety, Environmental

Sustainability, and Innovation. Please see the merit criteria rating rubric in Section E for more details.

• Clarify what applicants should provide in the Project Budget document for the Financial

Completeness Review.

• Update data used to determine Urban, Rural, and Areas of Persistent Poverty designations, and uses the Climate & Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST), created by the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), to identify Historically

Disadvantaged Communities.

In addition to providing the application, obligation, and expenditure deadlines for FY 2024 funding, the Department outlines the application, obligation, and expenditure deadlines for FY

5See BIL div. A § 11201., Transportation Planning, which amends 23 U.S.C. 134.

2025 and 2026 funding for awareness. The Department intends to publish subsequent NOFOs for

FY 2025 and 2026, which may incorporate additional changes as necessary and appropriate.

Additionally, FY 2024 Projects of Merit, which are Highly Rated applications not selected for award, will automatically be carried forward for consideration under FY 2025 RAISE funding.

However, if there are any changes to the FY 2024 project being considered in the FY 2025 round, including but not limited to scope, schedule, and budget, an applicant must submit an amendment to the application by the FY 2025 application deadline in order to be considered.

Applicants are encouraged to submit a summary of all changes with the updated application. The applicant is also responsible for updating an application should the FY 2025 RAISE NOFO include program or policy changes from this FY 2024 NOFO.

Applicants who are planning to re-apply for the RAISE program using materials prepared for prior competitions should ensure that their prior application fully addresses the criteria and considerations described in this Notice and that all relevant information is up to date and submitted in the proper format outlined in Section D.

Section B - Federal Award Information

1. Amount Available

The BIL authorized and appropriated $1.5 billion to be awarded by the Secretary for RAISE grants under the Local and Regional Project Assistance Program for FY 2024.

2. Award Size

For capital grants, the minimum RAISE grant award is $5 million in urban areas and $1 million in rural areas. There is no minimum award amount for planning grants. The maximum grant award for capital and planning grants is $25 million.

If selected for award, the Department may decrease the RAISE funding request amount if some elements of the project are ineligible or to comply with statutory set asides such as awarding funding evenly between projects located in rural and urban areas.

3. Restrictions on Funding

No more than 15 percent (or $225 million) made available for RAISE grants may be awarded to projects in a single State. DOT must award at least 5 percent (or $75 million) to planning projects and at least 11 percent (or $15 million) to projects located in historically disadvantaged communities or areas of persistent poverty. Not more than 50 percent of the funds provided for

RAISE grants (or $750 million) shall be awarded to rural projects (as defined in section C.4) and not more than 50 percent of the funds provided for RAISE grants (or $750 million) shall be awarded to urban projects (as defined in section C.4). The Department may retain up to $30 million for oversight and administration of grants.

The Department may use up to 20 percent of available funds (or $300 million) to pay the subsidy and administrative costs of a project receiving credit assistance under the Transportation

Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 1998 (TIFIA) or Railroad Rehabilitation and

Improvement Financing (RRIF) programs, particularly transit and transit-oriented development

(TOD) projects. Note, applicants must apply to both the RAISE program and TIFIA or RRIF loan to be eligible for the Department to pay for subsidy and administrative costs associated with credit assistance. In October 2022, the Secretary approved the “TIFIA 49 Initiative,” which authorizes transit and transit-oriented development (TOD) projects to borrow up to 49 percent of eligible project costs for projects that meet eligibility requirements. TIFIA loans have historically been capped at 33 percent of eligible project costs.

4. Availability of Funds

FY 2024 RAISE grant funds are available for obligation through September 30, 2028. Obligation occurs when a selected applicant and the Department enter into a written grant agreement after the applicant has satisfied applicable administrative requirements, such as transportation planning and environmental review requirements for capital construction projects. Note, some grant recipients enter into phased obligations with the Department. Unless authorized by the

Department in writing after announcement of FY 2024 RAISE awards, any costs incurred prior to the Department’s obligation of funds for a project (“pre-award costs”) are ineligible for reimbursement.6 FY 2024 RAISE funds must be expended (the grant obligation must be liquidated or paid out to the grant recipient) by September 30, 2033. After this date, unexpended funds are no longer available to the project.

In the table below, the Department outlines the different application deadlines as well as the obligation and expenditure deadlines for each year of funding.

BIL Fiscal Year

Funding

BIL Funding

Obligation Deadline

BIL Funding

Expenditure Deadline

FY 2024 September 30, 2028 September 30, 2033

FY 2025 September 30, 2029 September 30, 2034

FY 2026 September 30, 2030 September 30, 2035

5. Previous RAISE/BUILD/TIGER

Recipients of RAISE (formerly named Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development

(BUILD) and Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER)) grants may apply for funding to support additional phases of a project previously awarded funds in the

RAISE/BUILD/TIGER program. However, to be competitive, the applicant should demonstrate the extent to which the previously funded project phase has met estimated project schedules and budget, as well as the ability to realize the benefits expected for the project. A previous

RAISE/BUILD/TIGER award, or application, does not affect competitiveness under the FY

2024 RAISE competition.

6 Pre-award costs are costs incurred after award announcement, but directly pursuant to the negotiation of a grant agreement where such costs are necessary for efficient and timely performance of the scope of work, as determined by DOT. Costs incurred under an advance construction (23 U.S.C. 115) authorization before the DOT announces that a project is selected for a FY 2024 RAISE award cannot be charged to FY 2024 RAISE funds. Likewise, costs incurred under an FTA Letter of No Prejudice under Chapter 53 of title 49 U.S.C. before the DOT announces that a project is selected for a FY 2024 RAISE award, cannot be charged to FY 2024 RAISE funds.

C. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants for RAISE grants are: States and the District of Columbia; any territory or possession of the United States; a unit of local government; a public agency or publicly chartered authority established by one or more States; a special purpose district or public authority with a transportation function, including a port authority; a Federally recognized Indian Tribe or a consortium of such Indian Tribes; a transit agency; and a multi-State or multijurisdictional group of entities that are separately eligible. Federal agencies are not eligible applicants for the FY

2024 RAISE program.

Multiple States or jurisdictions may submit a joint application and should identify a lead applicant as the primary point of contact and also identify the primary recipient of the award.

Joint applications should include a description of the roles and responsibilities of each applicant.

DOT expects that the eligible applicant submitting the application will administer and deliver the project. If the applicant seeks a transfer of the award to another agency, that intention should be made clear in the application and a letter of support from the otherwise eligible, designated entity should be included in the application.

2. Federal Cost Share

The Federal share of the costs of an eligible project carried out using a grant provided under the

RAISE grant program shall not exceed 80 percent unless the project is located in a rural area, a historically disadvantaged community (HDC), or an area of persistent poverty (APP). Urban area and rural area are defined in Section C.4 of this notice. HDCs and APPs are defined in Section

C.5.

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

(𝑹𝑨𝑰𝑺𝑬 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝑹𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕 + 𝑶𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝑭𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝑭𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒔)

𝑻𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝑪𝒐𝒔𝒕 = 𝑭𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝑪𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆

Federal cost share may not exceed 80 percent for urban projects that are not located in an APP or

HDC.

For the RAISE Program, Total Project Cost means the sum of future eligible Federal and Non-

Federal costs that have not yet been incurred. Total Project Cost cannot include any previously incurred costs.

The Department does not use an applicant’s cost share when evaluating applications on merit.

The Department considers an applicant’s cost share during the evaluation and selection process only to confirm eligibility for urban projects that are not located in an APP or HDC.

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. The BIL also allows for the following Federal funds to be considered “non-Federal” for the purpose of the

RAISE program: (A) tribal transportation program funds under section 202 of title 23; (B)

Federal lands transportation program funds under section 203 of title 23; (C) TIFIA program funds (as defined in section 601(a) of title 23); and (D) Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement

Financing Program under chapter 224. Toll credits under 23 U.S.C. 120(i) are considered a

Federal source under the RAISE program and, therefore, cannot be used to satisfy the statutory cost sharing requirement of a RAISE award. Unless otherwise authorized by statute, funds used to satisfy the non-Federal cost-share requirements of a different Federal program may not be counted as the non-Federal cost-share for both the RAISE grant and another Federal grant program. DOT will not consider previously incurred costs or previously expended or encumbered funds towards the non-Federal cost-share requirement for any project. Non-Federal cost-share funds are subject to the same Federal requirements described in Section F.2. as awarded funds. If repaid from non-Federal sources, Federal credit assistance is considered non-

Federal share.

See Section D.2 for information about documenting cost sharing in the application.

For each project that receives a RAISE grant award, the terms of the award will require the recipient to complete the project using at least the level 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 and maintaining the level of non-Federal funding stated in the application. If the actual costs of the project are less than the costs estimated in the application, the Department will generally reduce the Federal contribution to ensure federal cost share requirements are met.

3. Eligible Projects

Capital Projects

Eligible projects for RAISE grants are surface transportation capital projects within the United

States7 or any territory or possession of the United States that are: (1) highway or bridge projects eligible under title 23, United States Code; (2) public transportation projects eligible under chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code; (3) passenger and freight rail transportation projects;

(4) port infrastructure investments (including inland port infrastructure and land ports of entry);

(5) the surface transportation components of an airport project eligible for assistance under part

B of subtitle VII of title 49, United States Code;8 (6) intermodal projects whose component parts are otherwise an eligible project type; (7) projects to replace or rehabilitate a culvert or prevent

7 In addition to projects located in the United States, eligible projects for RAISE grants include projects that are necessary for reconstruction of the Alaska Highway from the Alaskan border at Beaver Creek, Yukon Territory, to

Haines Junction in Canada and the Haines Cutoff Highway from Haines Junction in Canada to Haines, Alaska, as provided in 23 U.S.C. 218.

8 Eligible surface transportation components of eligible airport projects are those projects listed in “Appendix P:

Road and Surface Transportation Projects” of the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) handbook, available at https://www.faa.gov/airports/aip/aip_handbook/?Chapter=Appendix#PP00. For more details on airport project eligibility, please see the Frequently Asked Questions at https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/raise-application-faqs.

https://www.faa.gov/airports/aip/aip_handbook/?Chapter=Appendix#PP00 stormwater runoff for the purpose of improving habitat for aquatic species while advancing the goals of the RAISE program; (8) projects investing in surface transportation facilities that are located on Tribal land and for which title or maintenance responsibility is vested in the Federal

Government; and (9) any other surface transportation infrastructure project that the Secretary considers to be necessary to advance the goals of the program.9

The Secretary considers the following projects necessary to advance the goals of the program, and therefore eligible: public road and non-motorized projects that are not otherwise eligible under title 23, United States Code; surface transportation components of transit-oriented development projects; and surface transportation components of mobility on-demand projects that expand access and reduce transportation cost burden.

If an application includes right-of-way acquisition, the project will be considered a capital project. Projects that include right-of-way acquisition should include a timeline for construction.

The following projects are not considered necessary to advance the goals of the program, and, therefore, they are ineligible: school bus electrification and broadband deployment as a standalone project. Furthermore, improvements to Federally owned facilities are ineligible under the FY 2024 RAISE program, unless they are projects investing in surface transportation facilities that are located on Tribal land and for which title or maintenance responsibility is vested in the Federal Government. If a project type is not described as explicitly eligible or ineligible above, then applicants should explain in their application why the project is necessary to advance the goals of the program, and the Department will determine eligibility on a case-by-case basis.

Research, demonstration, or pilot projects are eligible only if they will result in long-term, permanent surface transportation infrastructure that has independent utility as defined in Section

C.6.

Planning Projects

Activities eligible for funding under RAISE planning grants are related to the planning, preparation, or design— for example environmental analysis, equity analysis, community engagement, feasibility studies, benefit-cost analysis, and other pre-construction activities—of eligible surface transportation capital projects described in Section C.3 that will not result in construction with RAISE FY 2024 funding.

In addition, activities eligible for RAISE planning grants include those related to multidisciplinary projects or regional planning, such as: (1) development of master plans, comprehensive plans, transportation corridor plans, and integrated economic development, land use, housing, and transportation plans; (2) zero emissions plan for transit fleet; (3) planning activities related to the development of a multimodal freight corridor, including those that seek to reduce conflicts with residential areas and with passenger and non-motorized traffic; (4) planning

9DOT may award a RAISE grant to pay for the surface transportation components of a broader project that has non-surface transportation components, and applicants are encouraged to apply for RAISE grants to pay for the surface transportation components of these projects. However, costs for non-surface transportation components are not eligible to count as matching funds for the RAISE grant.

activities related to zero emissions goods movement; (5) development of port and regional port planning, including State-wide or multi-port planning within a single jurisdiction or region; and

(6) risk assessments and planning to identify vulnerabilities and address the transportation system’s ability to withstand probable occurrence or recurrence of an emergency or major disaster.

As stated above, projects that include right-of-way acquisition are capital projects and, therefore, not eligible for RAISE planning grants.

4. Definition of Rural and Urban Areas

Rural and urban definitions are different in other DOT programs. For the RAISE program:

Urban - A project is designated as urban if it is located within (or on the boundary of) a

Census-designated urban area10 that had a population greater than 200,000 in the 2020

Census.11

Rural - A project is designated as rural if it is located outside a Census-designated urban area that had a population greater than 200,000 in the 2020 Census.

The Department will have an interactive map on the RAISE website to show Census-designated urban areas with populations greater than 200,000 in the 2020 Census.

A project located in both an urban and a rural area will be designated as urban if the majority of the project’s costs will be spent in urban areas. Conversely, a project located in both an urban area and a rural area will be designated as rural if the majority of the project’s costs will be spent in rural areas. For RAISE planning grants, the location of the project being planned, prepared, or designed will be used for the urban or rural designation.

This definition affects four aspects of the program: (1) not more than 50 percent (or $750 million) of the funds provided for RAISE grants are to be used for projects in rural areas; (2) not more than 50 percent (or $750 million) of the funds provided for RAISE grants are to be used for projects in urban areas; (3) for a capital project in a rural area, the minimum award is $1 million, while the minimum capital award for urban areas is $5 million; and (4) the Secretary may increase the Federal share above 80 percent to pay for the eligible costs of a project in a rural area.

5. Areas of Persistent Poverty and Historically Disadvantaged Communities

The definition for Areas of Persistent Poverty is found in the RAISE statute:

Areas of Persistent Poverty (APP) – (1) any county that has consistently had greater than or equal to 20 percent of the population living in poverty during the 30-year period

10 Lists of 2020 UAs as defined by the Census Bureau are available on the Census Bureau website at https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-maps/2020/geo/2020-census-urban-areas.html.

11 For the purpose of this NOFO, the definition of urban and rural is based on the 2020 Census-designated urbanized areas. The Department is required by the BIL to use the most recent decennial census information. See https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/urbanized-areas for a list of 2020 Census-designated UAs.

http://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/raise-app-hdc https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-maps/2020/geo/2020-census-urban-areas.html https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/urbanized-areas preceding November 15, 2021, as measured by the 1990 and 200012 decennial census and the most recent annual Small Area Income Poverty Estimates as estimated by the Bureau of the census; (2) any census tract with a poverty rate of at least 20 percent as measured by the 2014-2018 5-year data series available from the American Community Survey of the Bureau of the Census;13 or (3) any territory or possession of the United States. A county satisfies this definition only if 20 percent of its population was living in poverty in all three of the listed datasets: (a) the 1990 decennial census; (b) the 2000 decennial census; and (c) the 2021 Small Area Income Poverty Estimates.14 DOT will list all counties and census tracts that meet this definition for Areas of Persistent Poverty RAISE website as well as provide an interactive map on the RAISE website.15

The definition of historically disadvantaged communities follows the Justice40 Interim Guidance

Addendum, issued by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), White House

Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), and Climate Policy Office (CPO):16

Historically Disadvantaged Communities (HDC) – (1) any census tract or tracts identified as disadvantaged in the Climate & Economic Justice Screening Tool

(geoplatform.gov) (CEJST),17 created by CEQ, which identifies such communities that have been marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.; (2) any

Federally Recognized Tribe or Tribal entity, whether or not they have land. DOT will list all census tracts that meet this definition for Historically Disadvantaged Communities as well as provide an interactive map on the RAISE website.

6. Project Components

An application may describe a project that contains more than one component and may describe components that may be carried out by parties other than the applicant. The Department expects, and will impose requirements on recipients to ensure, that all components included in an application will be delivered as part of the RAISE project, regardless of whether a component includes Federal funding.

The status of each component should be clearly described (for example, in the project schedule).

The Department may award funds for a component, instead of the larger project, if that component: (1) independently meets minimum award amounts described in Section B and all eligibility requirements described in Section C; (2) independently aligns well with the selection criteria specified in Section E.1; and (3) meets National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements with respect to independent utility. Independent utility means that the component

12 See https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/dec/census-poverty.html for county dataset.

13 See https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=ACSST1Y2018.S1701&tid=ACSST5Y2018.S1701&hidePreview=false for

2014-2018 five year data series from the American Community Survey 14 On December 15, 2022, the 2021 Small Area Income Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) Dataset was published at https://www.census.gov/data/datasets/2021/demo/saipe/2021-state-and-county.html.

15 www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/raise-app-hdc 16 M-23-09 (Jan. 2023), https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/M-23-

09_Signed_CEQ_CPO.pdf.

17 https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/ http://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/raise-app-hdc http://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/raise-app-hdc http://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/raise-app-hdc https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/#3/33.47/-97.5 https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/#3/33.47/-97.5 http://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/raise-app-hdc https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/dec/census-poverty.html https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdata.census.gov%2Fcedsci%2Ftable%3Fq%3DACSST1Y2018.S1701%26tid%3DACSST5Y2018.S1701%26hidePreview%3Dfalse&data=04%7C01%7Ckim.bathrick%40dot.gov%7C596452e5274e4da5eab308d8ee042260%7Cc4cd245b44f04395a1aa3848d258f78b%7C0%7C0%7C637521048857210852%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=4JSzu%2BbHGqSNnf8jB1LjZM6dvqgXmktppYyIQ2ONrUc%3D&reserved=0 https://www.census.gov/data/datasets/2021/demo/saipe/2021-state-and-county.html https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/raise-app-hdc https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/M-23-09_Signed_CEQ_CPO.pdf https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/M-23-09_Signed_CEQ_CPO.pdf https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/ will represent a transportation improvement that is usable and represents a reasonable expenditure of DOT funds even if no other improvements are made in the area and will be ready for intended use upon completion of that component's construction. All project components that are presented together in a single application must demonstrate a relationship or connection between them. See Section D.2 for Required Approvals.

Applicants should be aware that, depending upon the relationship between project components and applicable Federal law, DOT funding of only some project components may make other project components subject to Federal requirements as described in Section F.2.

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

7. Application Limit

Each lead applicant may submit no more than three applications. Unrelated project components should not be bundled in a single application for the purpose of adhering to the limit. If a lead applicant submits more than three applications as the lead applicant, only the first three received will be considered.

D. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

All application materials may be found on Grants.gov at www.grants.gov. Instructions for submitting applications can be found on the RAISE program website18 along with forms and attachments required for submission.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

All applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov at www.grants.gov. The

Department expects the application to include these files in the following order, using the following file names:

Information File Name NOFO Section Page Limit

SF-424 SF-424 D.2 N/A

Project Information Form

(Excel file) FY 2024 RAISE Project

Information Form D.2 N/A

Project Description

Project Description D.2 5 pages

Project Location File

Project Location File D.2 N/A

Project Budget

Project Budget D.2 5 pages

18 https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/apply http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/apply http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/apply

Funding Commitment

Documentation

Funding Commitments D.2 N/A

Merit Criteria

Merit Criteria Narrative D.2 and E.1 15 pages

Project Readiness

Project Readiness D.2 and E.1 5 pages

Benefit-Cost Analysis Narrative

(capital projects only)

BCA Narrative D.2 and E.1 N/A

Benefit-Cost Analysis

Calculations (capital projects only, unlocked Excel file)

BCA Calculations D.2 and E.1 N/A

Letters of Support (Optional) Letters Of Support D2 and E.1 N/A

The Department expects the application files be prepared with standard formatting preferences (a single-spaced document, using a standard 12-point font such as Times New Roman, with 1-inch margins), and documents should be submitted in PDF, unless otherwise specified (i.e., project information form should be in Excel, project location map files can be Shapefiles, GeoJSON, KML or KMZ, and the BCA calculations should be submitted in Excel).

The application files should collectively include all information necessary for the Department to determine that the project satisfies project requirements described in Sections B and C and to assess the selection criteria specified in Section E.1. The Department expects applications to be complete upon submission.

The Department may ask any applicant to supplement data in its application, but an applicant is not required to do so. Unsupported claims related to the selection criteria (merits, project readiness, economic benefits, etc.) will negatively affect competitiveness of the application, as described throughout Section E.2.

Supporting documents may be attached in addition to the listed files, but merit criteria evaluators are not required to review supporting documents attached to the application or provided on websites as part of the merit criteria review described in Section E.

The Department expects application files to include the following detailed information:

Standard Form 424

The SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance must be completed. Applicants may leave the following fields on the form blank: 3, 4, 5a, 5b, 6, 7, 11, 13, and 14. A number of separate files must be attached in Item 15 to provide required project information that is not included in the body of the SF-424.

FY 2024 RAISE Project Information Form

The project information form can be downloaded from Grants.gov or from the RAISE program website at https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/apply. The FY 2024 RAISE Project

Information Form on will be used to determine applicant and project eligibility for the program as described in part C of this notice.

https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants/apply

Information such as applicant name, RAISE amount requested, other Federal funding, non-

Federal funding, etc. may be requested in varying degrees of detail on both the SF-424 and the

FY 2024 RAISE Project Information Form. Applicants must fill in all fields unless stated otherwise on the forms.

a. Project Description

This file must provide a description of the project that is to be planned or constructed and should include a detailed statement of work that focuses on the technical and engineering aspects of the project, the current design status of the project, the transportation challenges that the project is intended to address, and how the project is expected address those challenges. This file may also discuss the project’s history, including a description of any previously completed components.

The applicant may use this file to place the project into a broader context of other transportation infrastructure investments being pursued by the applicant.

This file should also describe the project location in a narrative fashion, including a detailed geographic description of the proposed project and map(s) of the project’s location, to supplement the geographic project map provided in the project location file. The project location description should narratively identify:

• Area of Persistent Poverty - Indicate whether the project is located in an Area of

Persistent Poverty, including the relevant County and/or census tract(s);

• Historically Disadvantaged Community – Indicate whether the project is located in a Historically Disadvantaged Community based on the Climate & Economic Justice

Screening Tool (CEJST); and

• Urban areas – Indicate the Census-designated urban area in which the project is located.

b. Project Location

Applicants should submit one of the following file types for project location identification. This will be used to verify the urban/rural designation and the APP/HDC designations described in the

Project Description file. These location designations, together with budget information, could affect eligibility under the FY 2024 RAISE grants program, as described in NOFO Section C.

Therefore, accuracy in the location file is important. Acceptable file types are: Shapefile

(compressed to a .zip file containing at least the .shp, .shx, .dbf, and. prj components of the

Shapefile), GeoJSON, KML, or KMZ. Applicants may use Google Earth, a publicly available online mapping tool, to prepare a KML file. These spatial files should include only the direct physical location of the project, and not a broad service area or area of impact.

c. Project Budget

This file should describe the budget for the RAISE project using tables as well as include a narrative section. The RAISE project budget should show future eligible project costs and should not include any previously incurred expenses.

https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/#3/33.47/-97.5 https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/#3/33.47/-97.5 https://earth.google.com/web/

The RAISE project budget table should show the total project cost broken into different funding sources by major project activity or cost classification and present those amounts in dollars and percentages. Funding sources should be grouped into three categories: (1) RAISE funding request; (2) other Federal funds; and (3) non-Federal Funds. Identify the specific funding amount, type (grant, loan, bond, etc.), and source of all funds. If multiple non-federal and other-federal funding are being utilized, identify each specific source by name and the amount that source will contribute to the project’s budget. The RAISE project budget table should also show that the project satisfies the statutory cost share or non-federal funds matching requirements described in Section C.2 if applicable.

If needed, the Department may request additional budget information to clarify an application.

The Department encourages applicants to submit the most relevant and complete information they can provide.

If the project contains components,19 the budget should separate the costs of each project component.

Table 1:

[Component 1] [Component 2] Total Funding

Funding Source Funding

Amount

Funding

Amount

RAISE Funds: [$XXX] [$XXX] [$XXX]

Other Federal Funds: [$XXX] [$XXX] [$XXX]

Non-Federal Funds: [$XXX] [$XXX] [$XXX]

Total Project Cost: [$XXX] [$XXX] [$XXX] If there is only a single component, remove “Component 2” column. If there are more than 2 components, add columns.

Applicants should complete and include the following tables in their project budget file. The

Department will use these tables to determine where the majority of project costs occur for the purposes of making APP, HDC, and Urban designations. The total project cost listed in Tables

2a, 2b, and 2c should match the total project cost listed on the SF 424 and the FY 2024 RAISE

Project Information Form. Applicants should refer to the Grant Project Location Verification mapping tool to identify census tracts and urban designations.

Table 2a:

Note: Please refer to the Census Tracts (2020 Census) layer in the Grant Project Location

Verification mapping tool to identify 2020 Census tracts.

19 “Project components” means separate projects activities are scheduled to be completed at the same time.

https://maps.dot.gov/BTS/GrantProjectLocationVerification/ https://maps.dot.gov/BTS/GrantProjectLocationVerification/

2020 Census Tract(s) Project Costs per Census Tract

[XX.XX] $

[XX.XX] $

[XX.XX] $

[XX.XX] $

[XX.XX] $

[XX.XX] $

[XX.XX] $

[XX.XX] $

Total Project Cost: $

Add more rows for additional census tracts, if needed.

Table 2b:

Note: Please refer to the Disadvantaged Census Tracts from CEJST (2010 Census) layer in the Grant Project Location Verification mapping tool to identify 2010 Census tracts.

2010 Census Tract(s) Project Costs per Census Tract

[XX.XX] $

[XX.XX] $

[XX.XX] $

[XX.XX] $

[XX.XX] $

[XX.XX] $

[XX.XX] $

Add more rows for additional census tracts, if needed.

Table 2c:

Note: Please refer to the Census Designated Urban areas with Population of More than

200,000 (2020 Census) layer in the Grant Project Location Verification mapping tool to identify urban areas.

Urban/Rural Project Costs

Urban (2020 Census-designated urban area with a population greater than 200,000)

Rural (Located outside of a 2020 Census-designated urban area with a population greater than 200,000)

The project budget narrative should include:

• Sources, Uses, and Availability – Provide complete information on how all capital or planning project funds may be used, their availability, and documented funding commitments. For example, if a 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 source of funds is available for expenditure only during a fixed period, the application should describe that restriction.

Examples of documentation include, but are not limited to, a letter signed by a governing official or chief financial officer confirming the amount and source of funding, a page or pages from the STIP or TIP (please do not include a link to the entire STIP/TIP), a signed city ordnance, or a county administrator committing previously approved general obligation bonds.

• Contingency Amount – Indicate the specific contingency amount included in the budget to…