AAPA USDOT Grant Application Toolkit

The American Association of Port Authorities’ (AAPA) U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Grant Application Toolkit has been prepared by AAPA’s Port Professional Manager (PPM^®) candidates to help member port authorities navigate the competitive grant programs.

Ports are eligible to apply for historic levels of federal funding as a result of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Over the next five years, BIL will invest more than $17 billion in port and waterway projects. Most port funding is available through three USDOT competitive grant programs:

• Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), which is administered by the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and totals a minimum of $2.46 billion exclusively for ports.
• Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant Program, which is administered by the Office of the Secretary and totals $12.5 billion for which ports are eligible.
• Infrastructure For Rebuilding America (INFRA), which is administered by the Office of the Secretary and totals $3.2 billion for which ports are eligible. This program is a funding opportunity that is part of the broader Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant (MPDG).

To be selected by USDOT’s Secretary to receive a portion of this funding, a port must submit a grant application that includes a 30-page Project Narrative (PIDP) or separate Project Description, Project Budget, Merit Criteria, and Project Readiness files (RAISE), as well as Project Requirements (INFRA) information.

The following toolkit templates are Word documents (except for the Introduction) intended to be downloaded and used to assist ports in the federal funding application process.

1. USDOT Grant Toolkit Introduction
   
   
2. USDOT Grant Toolkit User Guide
   
   
3. 2023 PIDP Project Narrative
   
   
4. 2023 RAISE Project Description
   
   
5. 2023 RAISE Project Budget
   
   
6. 2023 RAISE Project Merit Criteria
   
   
7. 2023 RAISE Project Readiness
   
   
8. 2023 INFRA Project Description
   
   
9. 2023 INFRA Project Budget
   
   
10. 2023 INFRA Project Outcome Criteria
    
    
11. 2023 INFRA Project Readiness
    
    
12. 2023 INFRA Project Requirements
    
    

NOTE: It is imperative that all applicants carefully review and adhere to requirements in the PIDP, RAISE, and INFRA NOFO documents in their entirety and adhere to their provisions. The use of any application template or form provided by the Project Team or AAPA is intended for convenience purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for understanding and complying with the NOFO.

Applicants are advised that their eligibility for funding, the evaluation of their application, and any subsequent grant award will be determined in accordance with the criteria and requirements set forth in the NOFO.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to keep abreast of any amendments, updates, or clarifications to the NOFO that may be issued by USDOT. The Project Team or AAPA shall not be held liable for any misunderstandings or misinterpretations of the NOFO's requirements, irrespective of the use of any application templates or forms provided.

By using these templates, the applicant acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agree to comply with the terms and conditions of the NOFO as the governing document for their grant application.