Asset Concessions and Innovative Finance Assistance

The objective of this program is to facilitate access to expert services for, and to provide grants to, eligible applicants to facilitate and evaluate public-private partnerships, including asset concessions, and to explore opportunities for innovati

This Program awards monetary grants to successful applicants to acquire access to expert services to enhance the technical capacity of eligible entities to identify underutilized assets, that have the potential to be further developed and provide additional public benefits, in which the private sector partner could assume a greater role in project planning, development, financing, construction, maintenance, and operation, including by assisting eligible entities in entering into asset concessions.

Eligible applicants for this Program are states, Tribal governments or units of local government, an agency or instrumentality of a state, or a special purpose district or public authority. In addition, to be eligible an applicant must own, control, or maintain at least one transportation facility described in 23 U.S.C. § 601(a). Further, the recipient must be authorized to enter into a contract that transfers ownership, revenues, maintenance, or other benefits associated with eligible transportation assets.

i. Identifying appropriate assets or projects for asset concessions; ii. Evaluating and publicly presenting the risks and benefits of all contract provisions for the purpose of transparency and accountability; iii. Identifying best practices to protect the public interest and priorities; iv. Identifying best practices for managing transportation demand and mobility along a corridor, including through provisions of the asset concession, to facilitate transportation demand management strategies; v. Soliciting and negotiating asset concessions, including hiring staff in public agencies; vi. Conducting value-for-money analysis or comparable analysis; vii. Evaluating options for the structure and use of asset concession payments; viii. Integrating and coordinating pricing, data, and fare collection with other regional operators that exist or may be developed. ix. Project planning and design; x. Feasibility studies; xi. Revenue forecasting, xii. Economic assessments, cost-benefit analyses, value-for-money analyses; xiii. Public benefit studies; xiv. Business case development; xv. Risk assessments; xvi. Lifecycle cost analyses, financing and funding options analyses, procurement alternatives analyses; xvii. Statutory and regulatory framework analyses; xviii. Pre-procurement and pre-construction activities; xix. Financial and legal planning (including the identification of statutory authorization, funding, and financing options); xx. Early assessment of permitting, environmental review, and regulatory processes and costs; and xxi. Assistance with entering into an asset concession.

The Department expects to obligate IFACGP award funding via a signed grant agreement between U.S. DOT and the recipient, as flexibly and expeditiously as possible, within 6 months after project selections have been announced. The expected period of performance for a Technical Assistance grant or Expert Services grant is up to 36 months from the date of obligation (date grant agreement is signed).

i. Technical Merit Criterion #1: Identification of Need. The application provides a thorough description of the applicant's need for expert services to enhance its technical capacity to facilitate and evaluate opportunities in which the private sector could assume a greater role in project planning, development, financing, construction, maintenance, and/or operation. ii. Technical Merit Criterion #2: Strategy. The application provides a well-defined strategy on how Program funds will be used to build organizational capacity or leverage public and private funding in connection with the development of at least one early-stage infrastructure project. iii. Technical Merit Criterion #3: Benefits. The application contains defined goals and presents reasonable proposals for the procurement of expert services to support them. vi. Project Readiness Criterion #1: Feasibility of Workplan. The application clearly describes a thorough and realistic workplan and procurement timeline and demonstrates the applicant has the ability to complete the project in the proposed period of performance. vii. Project Readiness Criterion #2: Budget Plan. The application provides a reasonable and credible Budget Plan that corresponds to the proposed scope of the Grant Plan. If any eligible personnel costs are included in the budget, a full breakdown of the costs are provided. viii. Project Readiness Criterion #3: Leadership and Qualifications. The application demonstrates the applicant's ability to carry out the proposed scope of work based on relevant and necessary expertise and its capability to oversee and manage the procurement and management of expert services under the Program.

Following the evaluation outlined in Section E, the Secretary will announce awarded applications by posted a list of selected recipients at www.transportation.gov/BuildAmerica/TAPrograms. The posting of the list of selected award recipients will not constitute an authorization to begin performance. Following the announcement, the Department will contact the point of contact listed in the SF-424 to initiate negotiation of a grant agreement. The Department will also provide additional technical assistance and support resources to first-time U.S. DOT funding recipients and those who request additional support, as appropriate. The Bureau will notify applicants who are not selected for an award based on the evaluation criteria and other consideration within 30 calendar days of the Department's final decisions on selections and offer a written or telephonic debrief to provide an explanation of, and guidance regarding, the reasons why the application was not approved.

https://www.transportation.gov/buildamerica/innovativefinancegrants