FHWA and ODOT have been partnering to share with local agencies steps to take before your agency applies for and is awarded a discretionary grant under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). We are sharing the information again along with a new tool for evaluating project delivery methods for federally-funded projects.

If you are thinking about applying for a discretionary grant through the USDOT, you should:

• Consider whether your agency has capacity and is prepared to deliver the project within federal timelines. View the following resources to evaluate whether your agency will be able to deliver a project:
  • USDOT Project Readiness Checklist for DOT Discretionary Grant Applicants
  • ODOT Local Public Agency Federal Aid Project Scoping Checklist (form 734-5293 in the Certification Forms Library).
  • NEW!! Determining How a Federally Funded Project Will be Delivered This new tool developed by FHWA and ODOT is designed to help local agencies make informed decisions about delivering federally funded projects  (form 734-5440 in the Certification Forms Library). Note: The tool is a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that you will download and complete.
• Reach out to the ODOT Area Manager or other ODOT contact for your agency’s geographic location before applying for a discretionary grant to discuss ODOT’s ability to assist with project delivery, such as helping expedite environmental review or other project consultative services. Staff capacity may limit ODOT’s ability to assist.

Congratulations, your agency received a discretionary grant! Now what?

• If your agency chooses to become a direct recipient, FHWA (not ODOT) will provide project oversight. This means ODOT will not be required to assist with the project delivery process. However, depending on staff capacity, ODOT may be able to provide limited assistance as described above.
• If you notified the ODOT Area Manager prior to applying for the funds, let them know your application was successful.
• Some programmatic and streamlined compliance pathways may not be available if your agency is a direct recipient. Coordinate with FHWA early and often to ensure there is a plan to deliver the environmental review process for the project. FHWA is coordinating NEPA compliance requirements and sharing tools to prepare projects for the NEPA phase to support efficient environmental review and facilitate compliance with statutory requirements.

Questions? Please contact Ashley Bryers (FHWA)