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BUILD Discretionary Grant Program (formerly RAISE/TIGER)

USDOT BUILD discretionary grant guidance for multimodal surface transportation projects, including FY 2026 NOFO and submission workflow.

JJ Ben-Joseph
JJ Ben-Joseph
💰 Funding Award size varies by annual NOFO and project scope
📅 Deadline Feb 24, 2026
📍 Location United States
🏛️ Source U.S. Department of Transportation
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Status Update (February 2026)

USDOT now presents this program as BUILD and states that BUILD is the program previously known as RAISE and TIGER.

Current FY 2026 status:

  • FY 2026 BUILD NOFO page is published.
  • USDOT FY 2026 materials state applications are due February 24, 2026 at 5:00 PM Eastern.
  • Late applications are not accepted.

What BUILD Funds

BUILD supports surface transportation projects with significant local or regional impact. Typical project profiles include multimodal corridor upgrades, freight and port access improvements, transit-supportive infrastructure, bridge and roadway modernization, and related connectivity investments.

Because this is a discretionary competition, successful proposals usually combine strong technical readiness with a clear regional impact narrative.

How to Apply

  1. Review the FY 2026 BUILD NOFO and check applicant/project eligibility.
  2. Confirm lead applicant authority, delivery model, and partner commitments.
  3. Build complete narrative, budget, readiness, and benefit-cost evidence.
  4. Complete required standard forms and attachments.
  5. Submit electronically through Valid Eval before the deadline.
  6. Keep your application confirmation and timestamp records.

What Reviewers Typically Need to See

  • Clear transportation problem definition and expected outcomes.
  • Credible implementation timeline and delivery governance.
  • Cost realism and consistent financial narrative.
  • Regional significance supported by data, not only general claims.
  • Cross-jurisdiction coordination where project geography requires it.

Before final submission, assemble a complete evidence bundle:

  • corridor or facility baseline condition documentation,
  • project phasing and schedule assumptions,
  • cost estimate methodology and inflation basis,
  • permitting and right-of-way status summary,
  • partner letters with concrete roles and commitments,
  • and governance chart for post-award delivery.

This checklist reduces technical corrections that often weaken late-stage submissions.

Practical Last-Mile Checklist

Before submission, verify:

  • registrations are active (SAM and Grants.gov),
  • budget tables match narrative totals,
  • all attachments use correct formats and labels,
  • signatures/authorizations are complete,
  • and timeline assumptions are internally consistent.

Small packaging errors can disqualify otherwise competitive applications.

Submission Platform Reality Check

For FY 2026, USDOT application guidance points applicants to Valid Eval for final submission workflow. Teams that prepare only around Grants.gov and ignore the final platform process can run into avoidable deadline-day issues. Build an internal submission rehearsal at least several days in advance so file formats, user access, and final upload steps are already tested.

If You Miss the Deadline

If you cannot submit a complete package by February 24, 2026, preserve all core analytical work for the next BUILD cycle instead of rushing a weak application. Most high-performing applicants reuse and refine delivery evidence over multiple rounds rather than restarting from scratch each year.

Suggested Team Roles

A practical BUILD application team usually includes: project lead, budget owner, technical narrative lead, benefit-cost analysis owner, grants-compliance reviewer, and executive approver. Defining roles early reduces cross-functional bottlenecks during the final submission week.

Official Sources