Opportunity Information: Apply for 693JF7 19 BAA 0002
The Port Infrastructure Development Grants opportunity is a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) discretionary grant program administered by the Maritime Administration (MARAD) under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019. For this round, Congress appropriated a total of $292,730,000 to support projects that improve port facilities at coastal seaports. The program is structured as a competitive, merit-based grant competition, and the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) (Funding Opportunity Number 693JF7-19-BAA-0002; CFDA 20.823) lays out the selection criteria, required application contents, and federal compliance expectations applicants must follow.
The core purpose of the program is to fund capital improvements that strengthen how goods move through coastal seaports. DOT is looking for projects that measurably improve safety, efficiency, or reliability for freight movement into, out of, around, or within a coastal seaport, including projects that directly support the unloading and loading of cargo. In practical terms, this can cover a wide range of port infrastructure investments, as long as the applicant can show the project will produce real operational benefits to port users and supply chains, such as reduced congestion or delays, safer operations, better freight throughput, or improved resilience and reliability in port access and terminal operations.
A notable set-aside applies to the funding in this announcement. Of the total appropriation, $92,730,000 is directed specifically for grants to the 15 coastal seaports that handled the greatest number of loaded foreign and domestic containerized cargo units (twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs) in 2016, based on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers data. The remaining funds are still awarded competitively, but this set-aside signals a dedicated funding track for the highest-volume container ports as defined in the statute.
Eligible applicants are public-sector and quasi-public port and government entities connected to port infrastructure delivery. The NOFO states that eligible applicants include port authorities; commissions (or their subdivisions or agents operating under existing authority); States; political subdivisions of States; local governments; Tribal governments; public agencies; and publicly chartered authorities established by one or more States, among other special-purpose entities. In other words, the program is not framed for private companies applying on their own, but it can support infrastructure that benefits private terminal operators and carriers when the project sponsor is an eligible public applicant and the project meets program goals.
Applicants should plan for standard federal grant compliance obligations. The notice explicitly highlights that all recipients must meet applicable federal requirements, including the Buy American Act, which can affect procurement strategies, specifications, and contracting timelines. Because this is a DOT discretionary program, the application must also be built to the NOFO instructions and evaluation criteria, with clear documentation of project readiness, scope, budget, and the public benefits tied to safety, efficiency, and reliability.
For logistics and deadlines, applications were required to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov, with a submission deadline of 8:00 p.m. EDT on September 16, 2019. DOT indicated it would post clarifications, frequently asked questions, and webinar information on its port grants webpage (www.transportation.gov/Portgrants), which is typically where applicants monitor updates during an open funding round.
The government point of contact listed for this opportunity is Robert Bouchard, Director, Office of Port Infrastructure Development, U.S. DOT (MARAD), located at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Washington, DC 20590. Contact details included phone 202-366-5076, TDD 202-366-3993, and email Ports@dot.gov.Apply for 693JF7 19 BAA 0002
- The Maritime Administration in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Port Infrastructure Development Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.823.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2019-06-12.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-09-16. (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 $10,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Port Infrastructure Development Grants (PIDG) - FAQs
What is the Port Infrastructure Development Grants (PIDG) program?
The Port Infrastructure Development Grants opportunity is a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) discretionary grant program administered by the Maritime Administration (MARAD) under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019. It is run as a competitive, merit-based grant competition under a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
Which federal agencies run and administer this grant opportunity?
DOT is the federal department associated with the program, and MARAD administers the grant opportunity.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number for this round?
The NOFO lists Funding Opportunity Number 693JF7-19-BAA-0002 and CFDA 20.823.
How much funding did Congress appropriate for this round?
Congress appropriated a total of $292,730,000 for this round to support projects that improve port facilities at coastal seaports.
What is the main purpose of the PIDG program?
The core purpose is to fund capital improvements that strengthen how goods move through coastal seaports, with an emphasis on projects that measurably improve safety, efficiency, or reliability for freight movement into, out of, around, or within a coastal seaport.
What kinds of benefits does DOT want applicants to demonstrate?
DOT is looking for projects that produce real operational benefits to port users and supply chains, such as reduced congestion or delays, safer operations, better freight throughput, or improved resilience and reliability in port access and terminal operations.
Do projects have to directly support cargo handling to be competitive?
The NOFO notes that eligible project types include those that directly support the unloading and loading of cargo, and more broadly those that improve freight movement safety, efficiency, or reliability within the coastal seaport environment.
Is this a competitive grant or a formula program?
This opportunity is structured as a competitive, merit-based discretionary grant competition, and the NOFO lays out how applications are evaluated and what materials must be submitted.
What is the set-aside mentioned in the announcement?
Of the total appropriation, $92,730,000 is directed specifically for grants to the 15 coastal seaports that handled the greatest number of loaded foreign and domestic containerized cargo units (TEUs) in 2016, based on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers data.
How are the "top 15" ports identified for the set-aside?
The set-aside applies to the 15 coastal seaports with the greatest number of loaded foreign and domestic containerized cargo units (twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs) in 2016, as identified using U.S. Army Corps of Engineers data.
Is all funding limited to the top 15 TEU ports?
No. While $92,730,000 is specifically directed to that group of 15 ports, the remaining funds are still awarded competitively under the program.
Who is eligible to apply for PIDG funds?
Eligible applicants include port authorities; commissions (or their subdivisions or agents operating under existing authority); States; political subdivisions of States; local governments; Tribal governments; public agencies; and publicly chartered authorities established by one or more States, among other special-purpose entities described in the NOFO.
Are private companies eligible to apply directly?
The NOFO frames eligibility around public-sector and quasi-public port and government entities. It is not framed for private companies applying on their own, although funded infrastructure can benefit private terminal operators and carriers when the project sponsor is an eligible public applicant and the project aligns with program goals.
What types of projects are intended to be funded?
The program is intended to fund capital improvements that improve port facilities at coastal seaports and measurably improve safety, efficiency, or reliability for freight movement into, out of, around, or within a coastal seaport.
Where can applicants find the official selection criteria and required application contents?
The NOFO is the controlling document and lays out the selection criteria, required application contents, and federal compliance expectations applicants must follow.
What federal compliance requirements should applicants be prepared to meet?
The notice highlights that recipients must meet applicable federal requirements, including the Buy American Act. Applicants should plan procurement and contracting approaches with these obligations in mind.
How does the Buy American Act relate to this grant?
The NOFO specifically calls out the Buy American Act as a requirement that can affect procurement strategies, specifications, and contracting timelines for recipients.
How and where were applications submitted?
Applications were required to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov.
What was the application deadline for this funding round?
The submission deadline was 8:00 p.m. EDT on September 16, 2019.
Where would DOT post clarifications, FAQs, or webinar information during the round?
DOT indicated it would post clarifications, frequently asked questions, and webinar information on its port grants webpage at www.transportation.gov/Portgrants.
Who is the government point of contact for this opportunity?
The listed point of contact is Robert Bouchard, Director, Office of Port Infrastructure Development, U.S. DOT (MARAD).
What contact information is provided for the program office?
Phone: 202-366-5076. TDD: 202-366-3993. Email: Ports@dot.gov. Address: 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Washington, DC 20590.
What geographic focus is emphasized by the program description?
The description emphasizes projects that improve port facilities and freight movement at coastal seaports.
What should an application emphasize to align with DOT priorities described in the NOFO summary?
Based on the summary provided, applications should clearly document project readiness, scope, and budget, and tie public benefits to measurable improvements in safety, efficiency, and reliability for freight movement and cargo operations at a coastal seaport.
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