Opportunity Information: Apply for DOTBAB202012
The Regional Infrastructure Accelerators (RIA) opportunity is a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) demonstration program created under Section 1441 of the FAST Act. Its core purpose is to help public-sector and related eligible entities strengthen how they choose, plan, and finance major transportation infrastructure projects, with a specific focus on speeding up delivery of projects that can qualify for USDOT credit and other innovative financing tools. Congress provided $5 million for this effort through the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, and USDOT issued this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to select and fund a small number of RIAs to show, in practice, whether this kind of regional support function can measurably accelerate project advancement.
Funding is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning recipients should expect substantial federal involvement during the period of performance (for example, coordination, reporting, and collaboration with USDOT staff as the accelerator is set up and begins operating). The program is administered by the Department of Transportation, Office of the Under Secretary for Policy (agency code 69A345). The NOFO was created on December 31, 2020, with an original application closing date of March 31, 2021.
An RIA is envisioned as a regional resource that serves a clearly defined geographic area and provides hands-on assistance to "qualified entities" in that region. In practical terms, the accelerator is meant to help sponsors develop stronger infrastructure priority lists and more workable financing strategies, particularly for projects that could use the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) credit program authorized under Chapter 6 of Title 23, U.S. Code. The NOFO also highlights that the accelerator should help project sponsors consider other USDOT innovative financing options where relevant, including the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) credit program, Private Activity Bonds (PABs), and other financing methods. The broader intent is to reduce the gap between an idea for a major project and a project that is truly finance-ready, creditworthy, and positioned to reach procurement and construction faster.
The NOFO lays out three central expectations for any applicant seeking designation and funding as an RIA. First, the accelerator must serve a defined geographic area rather than operating as a general-purpose national technical assistance provider. Second, it must function as a resource to qualified regional entities consistent with the FAST Act authority, meaning it should be capable of providing informed, practical support to public sponsors and partners that are developing eligible projects. Third, it must demonstrate effectiveness by showing that the accelerator model can actually speed up advancement and delivery of eligible projects by helping sponsors navigate and use USDOT innovative financing programs like TIFIA, and where applicable RRIF and PABs.
In terms of scale, the opportunity anticipates making up to five awards, with an award ceiling of $2,000,000 per recipient. Eligible applicants include a broad range of public and quasi-public entities that commonly lead infrastructure development: state governments; counties; cities, townships, and other local governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; and federally recognized Native American tribal governments. The NOFO also notes an "Others" eligibility category, with additional clarification expected in the full eligibility text, which typically means some additional public-purpose entities or partnerships may be permitted depending on how USDOT defines qualified entities for this demonstration.
Overall, this grant is less about funding construction directly and more about funding the regional capacity and expertise needed to get complex, high-impact transportation projects prepared for financing and delivery. The demonstration angle is important: USDOT is not only supporting accelerators to help regions, but also gathering evidence on whether having a dedicated regional accelerator improves project readiness, strengthens financing plans, and increases effective use of tools like TIFIA (and when relevant RRIF and PABs), resulting in faster project timelines and better outcomes for infrastructure sponsors.Apply for DOTBAB202012
- The Department of Transportation, 69A345 Office of the Under Secretary for Policy in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Regional Infrastructure Accelerators" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.223.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 31, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 31, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Regional Infrastructure Accelerators (RIA) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Regional Infrastructure Accelerators (RIA) opportunity?
The Regional Infrastructure Accelerators (RIA) opportunity is a U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) demonstration program created under Section 1441 of the FAST Act. It funds a small number of regional accelerators designed to strengthen how major transportation infrastructure projects are selected, planned, and financed, with an emphasis on speeding up delivery of projects that can qualify for USDOT credit and other innovative financing tools.
Which federal agency administers the program?
The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Office of the Under Secretary for Policy (agency code 69A345).
Is this a construction grant?
No. Based on the description provided, the grant is focused on funding regional capacity and expertise to make projects more finance-ready and positioned to reach procurement and construction faster, rather than directly funding construction.
What is the main purpose of an RIA?
An RIA is envisioned as a regional resource that serves a clearly defined geographic area and provides hands-on assistance to qualified entities. The goal is to help sponsors develop stronger infrastructure priority lists and workable financing strategies, particularly for projects that could use USDOT credit programs and other innovative financing options.
What types of financing tools does the accelerator help sponsors use?
The NOFO highlights a specific focus on helping sponsors advance projects that could use the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) credit program (Chapter 6 of Title 23, U.S. Code). It also notes that accelerators should help sponsors consider other USDOT innovative financing options where relevant, including the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) credit program, Private Activity Bonds (PABs), and other financing methods.
What is meant by "demonstration program" in this context?
The RIA effort is a demonstration program, meaning USDOT is funding a limited set of accelerators to test and show, in practice, whether a regional support function can measurably accelerate project advancement. USDOT intends to gather evidence on whether dedicated regional accelerators improve project readiness, strengthen financing plans, and increase effective use of tools like TIFIA (and when relevant RRIF and PABs), resulting in faster timelines and better outcomes.
How is the funding awarded (grant type)?
Funding is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement. This means recipients should expect substantial federal involvement during the period of performance, such as coordination, reporting, and collaboration with USDOT staff as the accelerator is set up and begins operating.
What does "substantial federal involvement" mean for recipients?
Based on the program description, substantial federal involvement may include coordination, reporting, and collaboration with USDOT staff during the period of performance as the accelerator is established and begins operations.
How much total funding did Congress provide for this effort?
Congress provided $5 million for the RIA effort through the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020.
How many awards does USDOT expect to make?
The opportunity anticipates making up to five awards.
What is the maximum award amount per recipient?
The award ceiling is $2,000,000 per recipient.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state governments; counties; cities, townships, and other local governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; and federally recognized Native American tribal governments.
What is the "Others" eligibility category?
The NOFO includes an "Others" eligibility category and indicates that additional clarification is expected in the full eligibility text. Based on the description provided, this typically suggests that some additional public-purpose entities or partnerships may be permitted depending on how USDOT defines qualified entities for the demonstration.
Does an RIA serve a national audience or a specific region?
An RIA must serve a defined geographic area. The NOFO explicitly indicates the accelerator should not operate as a general-purpose national technical assistance provider.
What are the core expectations for applicants seeking designation and funding as an RIA?
The NOFO describes three central expectations: (1) the accelerator must serve a defined geographic area; (2) it must function as a resource to qualified regional entities consistent with FAST Act authority, providing informed and practical support to public sponsors and partners developing eligible projects; and (3) it must demonstrate effectiveness by showing that the accelerator model can speed up advancement and delivery of eligible projects by helping sponsors navigate and use USDOT innovative financing programs like TIFIA, and where applicable RRIF and PABs.
Who does the accelerator provide assistance to?
The accelerator is intended to provide hands-on assistance to "qualified entities" within its defined region, particularly public sponsors and partners developing eligible major transportation infrastructure projects.
What problem is the RIA model trying to solve?
The program is aimed at reducing the gap between an idea for a major transportation project and a project that is truly finance-ready, creditworthy, and positioned to move into procurement and construction faster, especially by improving project prioritization and financing strategies.
What makes this opportunity different from typical project funding programs?
Rather than primarily funding physical construction or direct project delivery, this opportunity funds the regional function and expertise to help projects become more ready for financing and delivery, with a focus on innovative financing and USDOT credit programs.
When was the NOFO created and what were the application dates mentioned?
The NOFO was created on December 31, 2020. The original application closing date was March 31, 2021.
What does it mean for projects to be "finance-ready" and "creditworthy" in this program description?
In the context provided, "finance-ready" and "creditworthy" refer to projects that have stronger financing plans and are better positioned to qualify for and make effective use of USDOT credit programs (like TIFIA), and to proceed more quickly toward procurement and construction.
Why is TIFIA specifically emphasized?
The opportunity describes a specific focus on speeding up delivery of projects that can qualify for USDOT credit, and it calls out TIFIA as a key credit program for which the accelerator should help sponsors prepare eligible projects (authorized under Chapter 6 of Title 23, U.S. Code).
Are RRIF and PABs required areas of focus for every accelerator?
The NOFO indicates the accelerator should help sponsors consider RRIF and PABs "where relevant" and "where applicable," implying the emphasis may depend on the projects and needs within the defined region.
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