Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP)
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- FHWA-CHBP-26-001
- Agency
-
Federal Highway Administration
Department of Transportation
- Applications due
- Award size
- Up to $55,000,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Transportation
- Eligible applicants
-
- State Governments
- Other
- Points of contact
-
- <Unknown> support@grants.gov (800) 518-4726
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Federal Highway Administration is soliciting applications for up to $350 million in FY 2026 Competitive Highway Bridge Program grants due July 27, 2026, with eligibility restricted to 20 specified states meeting population density and bridge condition thresholds. Eligible applicants are Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Applicants must satisfy minimum non-Federal cost-share requirements to remain eligible; the Federal cost share ranges from 80 to 95 percent depending on bridge location and state eligibility status, governed by 23 U.S.C. 120.
States with greater than 14 percent of total bridges in poor condition—Iowa, Maine, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and West Virginia—are guaranteed no less than $32.5 million if they submit qualifying applications totaling at least that amount. All states face a maximum award ceiling of $55 million. No minimum applies to other eligible states. The program expects multiple awards across the 20 eligible states.
Highway bridge replacement or rehabilitation projects on public roads must demonstrate cost savings through bundling multiple bridge projects. Eligible project phases must include construction but may also encompass environmental clearance, preliminary engineering, and final design. Only State Departments of Transportation may administer projects. The period of performance and place of performance are determined per individual project.
Evaluation uses four merit criteria: State of Good Repair and Core Infrastructure Investment, Safety and Mobility, Innovation, and Project Readiness Assessment (technical capacity, financial completeness, and permitting risk). FHWA prioritizes projects addressing poor or fair condition bridges, improving safety or mobility on 50 percent or more of bundled bridges, supporting national interest industries, enhancing defense facility access, demonstrating construction readiness within three to eighteen months, or benefiting previously unsuccessful applicants. Award announcements are anticipated the week of September 14, 2026. CFDA 20.267.
Synopsis
This NOFO will award up to $350 million in FY 2026 funding via cost reimbursable grants. The actual amount available to be awarded under this notice will be subject to the availability of funds. Eligible States (See Additional Eligibility information below) with greater than 14 percent of total bridges classified in poor condition are to receive no less than $32.5 million, provided the State submits eligible application(s) with a total value that meets or exceeds $32.5 million. There is no minimum award amount for States that do not meet this condition. No State shall be awarded more than $55 million. Under FY 2026 CHBP, the Federal share of the cost is in accordance with 23 United States Code (U.S.C.) § 120. See Section B for more details. Applicants that do not provide at least the minimum non-Federal cost share will be classified as ineligible.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| 6.24.26 - FINAL DRAFT CHBP Application Template.docx | DOCX document | |
| FINAL DRAFT CHBP NOFO.pdf |
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