Grant opportunity

FYs 2024 through 2026 - Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) Competitive Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity

The intent of the PROTECT Competitive Grant Program is to fund projects to improve the resilience of the surface transportation system, including highways, public transportation, ports, and intercity passenger rail. Program goals include protecting: surface transportation assets by making them more resilient; communities through resilience improvements and strategies that allow for the continued operation or rapid recovery of surface transportation systems; coastal infrastructure; and natural infrastructure that protects and enhances surface transportation assets. This NOFO provides PROTECT Competitive Grant Program funding of up to $787 million from FYs 2024 through 2026, plus any remaining PROTECT Competitive Grant Program funding from prior years. Please refer to Grants.gov for the full NOFO.

GrantSocial Sciences, Policy and GovernanceUnited StatesDOT Federal Highway AdministrationGrants.gov
Funder
DOT Federal Highway Administration
Applications close 2026-10-09
Applications close 2026-10-09: Oct 9, 2026
Award
USD 60,000,000
Applicant
State governments; Special district governments; County governments; City or township governments; Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
Discipline
Social Sciences, Policy and Governance
Region
United States
Posted
Aug 31, 2026

Call summary

Overview

FYs 2024 through 2026 - Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) Competitive Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity is official opportunity FHWA-PROT-26-001, published by DOT Federal Highway Administration during the 26-31 August 2026 hunt window.

Who can apply

Eligible applicant types listed by the agency: State governments; Special district governments; County governments; City or township governments; Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized). Applicants must also satisfy every programme-specific condition in the official notice.

What it supports

  • The intent of the PROTECT Competitive Grant Program is to fund projects to improve the resilience of the surface transportation system, including highways, public transportation, ports, and intercity passenger rail. Program goals include protecting: surface transportation assets by making them more resilient; communities through resilience improvements and strategies that allow for the continued operation or rapid recovery of surface transportation systems; coastal infrastructure; and natural infrastructure that protects and enhances surface transportation assets. This NOFO provides PROTECT Competitive Grant Program funding of up to $787 million from FYs 2024 through 2026, plus any remaining PROTECT Competitive Grant Program funding from prior years. Please refer to Grants.gov for the full NOFO.
  • Opportunity number: FHWA-PROT-26-001

Funding and duration

  • Award ceiling: USD 60,000,000
  • Expected number of awards: 80

Applications close 2026-10-09

Applications close 2026-10-09: Oct 9, 2026

How to apply

Open the official Grants.gov record, review the full notice and attachments, and use the application package or agency route stated there.

Call details

Source-based overview

The intent of the PROTECT Competitive Grant Program is to fund projects to improve the resilience of the surface transportation system, including highways, public transportation, ports, and intercity passenger rail. Program goals include protecting: surface transportation assets by making them more resilient; communities through resilience improvements and strategies that allow for the continued operation or rapid recovery of surface transportation systems; coastal infrastructure; and natural infrastructure that protects and enhances surface transportation assets. This NOFO provides PROTECT Competitive Grant Program funding of up to $787 million from FYs 2024 through 2026, plus any remaining PROTECT Competitive Grant Program funding from prior years. Please refer to Grants.gov for the full NOFO. The official record contains the controlling eligibility, budget, attachment and submission requirements for opportunity FHWA-PROT-26-001.

Eligibility

Eligible applicant types listed by the agency: State governments; Special district governments; County governments; City or township governments; Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized). Applicants must also satisfy every programme-specific condition in the official notice.

Funding and benefits

Award ceiling: USD 60,000,000

Expected number of awards: 80

Themes and supported activities

The intent of the PROTECT Competitive Grant Program is to fund projects to improve the resilience of the surface transportation system, including highways, public transportation, ports, and intercity passenger rail. Program goals include protecting: surface transportation assets by making them more resilient; communities through resilience improvements and strategies that allow for the continued operation or rapid recovery of surface transportation systems; coastal infrastructure; and natural infrastructure that protects and enhances surface transportation assets. This NOFO provides PROTECT Competitive Grant Program funding of up to $787 million from FYs 2024 through 2026, plus any remaining PROTECT Competitive Grant Program funding from prior years. Please refer to Grants.gov for the full NOFO.

Opportunity number: FHWA-PROT-26-001

Deadline and timeline

Applications close 2026-10-09: Applications close 2026-10-09: Oct 9, 2026.

Applicants should confirm the exact deadline time, time zone, required documents, portal steps and any institutional approvals on the official call page before submitting.

How to apply

Open the official Grants.gov record, review the full notice and attachments, and use the application package or agency route stated there.

Before applying, check eligibility rules, budgets, attachments, page limits, partner requirements, cost-share conditions and whether the opportunity uses an expression of interest, full proposal, registration or nomination stage.