OPEN CFDA 20.276 ↗ Competitive Grant ⚖️ Match Required Hard ~100h to apply

Fiscal Years 2024 Through 2026 Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects Competitive Grant Program

🏛 DOT Federal Highway Administration

⏰ Deadline
Jul 16, 2026 in 33 days
💰 Award amount
$1 – $30M
📊 Total program funding
$165M
🎯 Expected awards
10 recipients
📍 Scope
National

Can you apply?

This grant is for transportation projects on Federal lands and Tribal lands. Eligible recipients include Federal Land Management Agencies (FLMAs), Tribal governments, and states/counties/local governments if sponsored by an FLMA or Tribal government. Projects must improve transportation facilities and access on Federal lands or Tribal transportation networks. Sponsorship letters are required for non-FLMA/Tribal applicants to document support and clarify roles.

50% of funds must support Tribal transportation projects and 50% must support Federal lands projects. At least one project per fiscal year must be selected from the National Park Service for a unit with 3+ million annual visitors.

Eligible applicants
Check your eligibility — what type of organization are you?

⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.

Program description

This NOFO will award up to $165 million in Fiscal Years (FY) 2024 through 2026 funding. FHWA may also award any remaining funds for this program from previous fiscal years under this opportunity.

The actual amount available to be awarded under this NOFO will be subject to the availability of funds, including reductions from the authorized funding amounts due to the imposition of the obligation limitation for the Federal-aid highway program per the provisions of the annual appropriations acts.

Per statute, 50 percent of NSFLTP funds per fiscal year must be used for projects on Tribal transportation facilities and 50 percent used for projects on Federal lands transportation facilities and Federal lands access transportation facilities (Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act § 1123(h)(1), as amended). Of the latter category, FHWA must award funding to at least one eligible project per fiscal year submitted by the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) for a unit of the National Park System with at least three million annual visitors (FAST Act § 1123(h)(2), as amended).

There is no minimum or maximum award amount for NSFLTP Program awards.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants

How to apply

Application links

Key dates & requirements

Required documents

  • SF-424 or SF-424 (R&B) (federal application form)
  • Project Narrative describing transportation project and benefits
  • Budget and Budget Narrative with cost-sharing documentation
  • Sponsorship Letter (if applicant is state, county, or local government)
  • Organizational capability documentation (DUNS, SAM registration)
  • Environmental documentation or NEPA compliance status

Program contact

Funding track record

Recent awards under CFDA 20.276 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.

2
awards (3 yrs)
$108K
total funded
2
unique recipients
$54K
average award

Top 10 Largest Recent Awards

  1. $80,000
  2. $27,737

Top States by Funding

  • NC 1 awards $0.1M
  • WA 1 awards $0.0M

Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.

FAQ

Who can apply for this grant?

Federal Land Management Agencies and Tribal governments can apply directly. States, counties, and local governments may apply if sponsored by an FLMA or Tribal government with a signed sponsorship letter.

What is the funding range for awards?

Awards range from $1 million to $30 million per project. No minimum or maximum is mandated by statute.

What types of projects are funded?

Projects improving transportation facilities on Federal lands (national parks, forests, etc.) and Tribal transportation facilities are eligible.

What cost-sharing is required?

Cost-sharing is required, though the specific percentage is not specified in this NOFO. Contact NSFLTP program staff for exact match requirements.

When is the deadline?

The deadline is July 16, 2026. This is a fixed deadline; rolling submission is not available.

💡 Tips for applicants

  • Identify a strong FLMA or Tribal sponsor early. Their letter is mandatory for state/county/local applicants.
  • Clearly document project scope and how it benefits Federal or Tribal transportation networks.
  • If applying through NPS, highlight visitor numbers and national significance to strengthen competitiveness.
  • Prepare detailed budget narrative with cost-sharing documentation from project partners or local government.
  • Contact the NSFLTP Program directly (listed in NOFO) to clarify cost-sharing percentage and sponsorship requirements before applying.

⚠️ Common mistakes

Submitting without required sponsorship letter from FLMA or Tribal government. Underestimating cost-share requirements or failing to secure matching funds from partners. Unclear project scope or weak connection to Federal lands/Tribal transportation priorities.

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