National Trails Training | DTFH6116RA00005

Opportunity Information: Apply for DTFH6116RA00005

The National Trails Training grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DTFH6116RA00005) was a discretionary funding program offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), under CFDA 20.219. It was structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the selected recipient would carry out the project with active involvement and oversight from FHWA rather than operating entirely independently. The program sits within the broader environment-related funding activity category and focuses on supporting training connected to trails, consistent with how FHWA administers certain set-aside transportation funds tied to multi-use and active transportation infrastructure.

The funding for this opportunity drew from two closely related federal sources that function as set-asides within federal-aid highway funding. First, it referenced MAP-21 era Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds authorized under 23 U.S.C. 213 (as that section existed before the FAST Act). Second, it referenced FAST Act era funding coming from a set-aside under the Surface Transportation Program (STP) Set-Aside, authorized under 23 U.S.C. 133(h) as amended by FAST Act Section 1109. Even though these sources come from different authorization periods (MAP-21 and the FAST Act), the opportunity makes clear that both streams follow the same federal cost-share rules that apply to the federal-aid highway program under 23 U.S.C. 120.

A major practical implication for applicants was the match requirement. Because the TAP and STP Set-Aside dollars use the standard federal-aid highway federal share framework, the recipient was required to provide at least a 20 percent non-federal match. In other words, federal funds could cover no more than 80 percent of allowable project costs, and the remaining share had to come from non-federal sources. Applicants needed to be prepared to document and commit that match as part of their proposal and project budget.

Eligibility for the program was broad and included a range of non-federal and certain federal-affiliated entities. Eligible applicants included state and local governments, foreign governments, colleges and universities, corporations and other institutions, partnerships, sole proprietorships, and trade associations, so long as they were incorporated or otherwise established under the laws of a U.S. state. Federal laboratories were also listed as eligible. This wide eligibility suggests the program was designed to allow many types of organizations involved in trail planning, development, management, and related training to compete, not just state transportation agencies.

In terms of scale and competitiveness, the opportunity anticipated making a single award (Expected Awards: 1) with an award ceiling of $750,000, indicating a relatively large, concentrated investment in one national-level training effort rather than multiple smaller grants. The opportunity was created on March 22, 2016, and had an original closing date of May 23, 2016, reflecting a defined application window typical of one-time discretionary competitions.

• The DOT Federal Highway Administration in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Trails Training" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.219.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-03-22.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-05-23. (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 $750,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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