FY 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity: Passenger Ferry Program, Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program, and Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program

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Table of Contents:

1. Basic Information
2. Eligibility
3. Program Descriptions
4. Application Contents and Format
5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines
6. Application Review Information
7. Award Notices
8. Post-Award Requirements and Administration

1. Basic Information

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the opportunity to apply for $105 million in competitive grants for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Passenger Ferry Program, $98 million in competitive grants for the Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program (Low-No Ferry Program), and approximately $454 million in competitive grants for the Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program (Rural Ferry Program). Assistance Listing Numbers are 20.532 (Passenger Ferry Program), 20.538 (Electric of Low-Emitting Passenger Ferry Program), and 20.539 (Passenger Ferry Program for Rural Communities).

• This is an initial announcement for appropriated FY 2025 and FY 2026 funding for these programs.
• As required by Federal public transportation law:
  • Passenger Ferry funds will be awarded competitively for any purpose eligible under 49 U.S.C. 5307(h) for capital projects to support passenger ferry systems in urbanized areas, such as ferry vessels, terminals, and related infrastructure.
  • Low-No Ferry funds will be awarded competitively for any purpose eligible under section 71102 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Pub. L. 117 58, for the purchase of electric or low-emitting ferries and the electrification of or other reduction of emissions from existing ferries.
  • Rural Ferry funds will be awarded competitively for any purpose eligible under IIJA § 71103 for capital, planning, and operating assistance to ensure basic essential ferry service is provided to rural areas.
• If more funding becomes available before projects are selected, FTA may add it to the total funding available for award under this NOFO.
• To the extent permitted by law, FTA may consider applications that are not selected for award under a future NOFO if funds become available

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2. Eligibility

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3. Program Descriptions

Purpose, Program Goals and Objectives, and Legislative Authority

• This is a joint NOFO that announces the availability of FY 2025 and FY 2026 funding for the Passenger Ferry, Low-No Ferry, and Rural Ferry Programs.
• 49 U.S.C. 5307(h) authorizes FTA to competitively award Passenger Ferry Program funds to States (including territories and Washington, D.C.), local, and tribal governments for capital projects to purchase, construct, replace, or rehabilitate ferries, terminals, related infrastructure, and equipment (including electric or low-emitting ferry vessels and related infrastructure) in urbanized areas.
  • The goal of the Passenger Ferry program is to improve the condition and quality of existing passenger ferry services; support the establishment of new passenger ferry services; and repair and modernize ferry boats, terminals, and related facilities and equipment.
• IIJA § 71102 authorizes FTA to competitively award Low-No Ferry Program funds to States (including territories and Washington, D.C.), local, and tribal governments for capital projects to purchase electric or low-emitting ferry vessels and related infrastructure in urbanized or rural areas.
  • The goal of the Low-No Ferry program is to provide funding for projects that support the purchase of electric or low-emitting ferries and the electrification of or other reduction of emissions from existing ferries.
• IIJA § 71103 authorizes FTA to competitively award Rural Ferry Program funds to States (including territories and Washington, D.C) for capital, planning, and operating assistance for eligible rural ferry service.
  • The goal of the Rural Ferry program is to ensure basic essential ferry service is provided to rural areas.

Allowable and Unallowable Costs

• There is no minimum grant award amount.
• Projects may be awarded less than the amount applied for.
• Refer to the table in Section 2, Eligibility, for information on activities that are allowable in this grant program.
• Allowable direct and indirect expenses must be consistent with the Government-wide  Uniform Administrative Requirements and Cost Principles (2 CFR 200) and  FTA Circular 5010.1F.

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4. Application Contents and Format

A complete proposal submission consists of two forms and their supporting attachments:

Information required on the SF-424 and Supplemental Form, as indicated on each form, includes:

The Supplemental Form also requires the following information:

Additional details about how to fill out the SF-424 and Supplemental Form are available at Grants.gov.

FTA may share application information within the Department of Transportation or with other Federal agencies if the Department determines that sharing is relevant to the respective program’s objectives.

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5. Submission Requirements and Deadlines

How to Obtain Forms

• Visit Grants.gov.
• The Supplemental Form is also available here.

Application Deadline and How to Submit

Submission Requirements

Project proposals must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on May 11 2026.

• Proposals submitted after the deadline will only be considered under extraordinary circumstances not under the applicant’s control.
• Applications are time and date stamped by Grants.gov upon successful submission.
• Mail and fax submissions will not be accepted.

Submission Confirmation

Within 48 hours after submitting an electronic application, the applicant should receive an email confirmation message from Grants.gov that the application has been received by Grants.gov and sent to the “receiving agency”. FTA is the receiving agency for this NOFO.

• If you receive a rejection email from Grants.gov or FTA that the application is incomplete, then you must fix the application and resubmit it before the submission deadline. FTA’s rejection email will come from the email address “noreplyFACES”.
• To avoid processing errors, a re-submitted application must include all original attachments (even if only some of them were updated) and the applicant must check the resubmission box on the updated Supplemental Form.

Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

Applicants are required to:

1. Be registered in SAM before submitting an application;
2. Provide a valid unique entity identifier in its application; and
3. Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times when the applicant is applying for a grant or has an active grant from a Federal Agency.

Intergovernmental Review

This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal
Programs”.

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6. Application Review Information

Responsiveness Review

FTA will reject any applications from ineligible applicants or for ineligible projects. Also see
Section 2, Eligibility, above.

Review Criteria

FTA will evaluate applications using the criteria below.

• Projects will be rated based on the information provided in the Supplemental Form.
  Additional information may also be provided as attachments to support the responses in
  the Supplemental Form.
• Any additional documentation must be directly referenced on the Supplemental Form,
  including the file name and page number where the additional information can be found.

Review and Selection Process

An evaluation committee will rate applications based on how well they respond to the evaluation criteria above.  FTA may contact you for additional information or clarification about your application.  Applications will be rated as Highly Recommended, Recommended, or Not Recommended.  After considering the findings of the evaluation committee, the FTA Administrator will determine the final selection and amount of funding for each project.

As part of the selection process, the Administrator may also consider:

• Geographic diversity;
• Variety in the size of the transit systems receiving funding;
• Propulsion types receiving funding;
• Walk-on vs. vehicle boardings;
• Whether an applicant is from an urban, small urban, or rural area or is a tribal government; and
• If the applicant has received other competitive Federal transit funds and the management of those funds.
• Among applications for the procurement of vehicles when permitted by law, FTA will consider propulsion type during the selection process, to include prioritizing standard propulsion vehicles (diesel, gasoline, etc.).
• Applicants that best reflect the prioritization of reducing vagrancy as detailed in Executive Order 14321 “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets”.

The Department also intends to apply principles from DOT Order 2100.7, “Ensuring Reliance Upon Sound Economic Analysis in DOT’s Policies, Programs and Activities”, and DOT Order 2100.9 “Ensuring Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity in Department of Transportation Policies, Programs, and Activities”, along with Executive Order 141541, “Unleashing American Energy” when evaluating applications and making award selections. To the maximum extent permitted by law, FTA will prioritize projects that are in alignment with the principles outlined in DOT Orders 2100.7 and 2100.9.  

Additional considerations include the following and should be addressed in the Supplemental Form:

For the Passenger Ferry Program, FTA intends to prioritize low emission and standard propulsion projects over zero emission projects.

For the Low-No Ferry Program, FTA intends to prioritize low emission projects over zero emission projects.

For the Rural Ferry Program, FTA intends to prioritize capital projects over operating and planning projects. FTA also intends to prioritize low emission and standard propulsion projects over zero emission projects.

Applicants may receive less than the amount originally requested. In those cases, applicants must show that the proposed project or subset of proposed activities can still be completed with the amount awarded.

Risk Review

• FTA analyzes risk for all recipients through the Financial Commitment and Capacity Evaluation criterion described above.
• Before making a Federal award with a total amount of Federal share greater than the simplified acquisition threshold, FTA must review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the Responsibility/Qualification records available in SAM.gov (see 41 U.S.C. 2313).
• Applicants can review and comment on any information in the Responsibility/Qualification records available in SAM.gov.
• Before making decisions in the risk review required by 2 CFR 200.206, FTA will consider any comments by the applicant, along with information available in the Responsibility/Qualification records in SAM.gov.

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7. Award Notices

How Project Selections Are Announced

FTA will publish a list of the selected projects, including Federal dollar amounts, award recipients, and discretionary IDs associated with the projects, on FTA’s website at Ferry Program webpage.

• Discretionary IDs are used to track competitive awards in FTA’s grant management system.
• FTA does not notify unsuccessful applicants separately.  If you are unsuccessful, you may request an application debrief.  See the Implementation Guidance document published on FTA’s website after selections are announced for details.

Pre-award Costs

Unless authorized by FTA in writing after announcement of the FY 2026 Ferry awards, any costs incurred prior to FTA’s obligation of funds for a project (“pre-award costs”) are ineligible for reimbursement and cost share requirements. Pre-award costs are costs incurred after the award announcement, but directly pursuant to the negotiation of a grant agreement, where such costs are necessary for efficient and timely performance of the scope of work, as determined by FTA.

How Funds Are Obligated

If selected, you will apply for a grant through TrAMS.  The appropriate FTA Regional Office will award the grant in TrAMS, obligating the funds.

Applicant Certification

Pursuant to Section 3(b)(iv)(A) of Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination And Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, the applicant certifies that its compliance in all respects with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws is material to the government’s payment decisions for purposes of section 3729(b)(4) of title 31, United States Code.

Pursuant to Section 3(b)(iv)(B) of Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination And Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, the applicant certifies that it does not operate any programs promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws.

To the extent a court order bars the implementation or enforcement of one or more of these conditions with respect to a particular applicant or recipient, the Department will not implement or enforce the relevant condition(s) against that applicant or recipient for as long as the order remains in place.

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8. Post-Award Requirements and Administration

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

• Except as otherwise provided in this NOFO, Passenger Ferry grants are subject to the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5307(h), Low-No Ferry and Rural Ferry grants are subject to the requirements of Division J of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58). All three programs are subject to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards at 2 CFR part 200.
• Recipients of funding in urban areas are subject to the grant requirements of the Urbanized Area Formula Grants program (49 U.S.C. 5307), including those of FTA Circular “Urbanized Areas Formula Grant Programs Guidance” (FTA.C.9050.1A).
• Recipients of funding in rural areas are subject to the grant requirements of the Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program (49 U.S.C. 5311), including those of FTA Circular “Formula Grants for Rural Areas: Program Guidance and Application Instructions” (FTA.C.9040.1H)
• All recipients must also follow the Award Management Requirements (FTA Circular 5010.1F).
• Awards will incorporate by reference the terms of FTA’s most recent Master Agreement.
• As a condition of award, a recipient must have completed FTA’s most recent Certifications and Assurances.
• It is the policy of the United States to strengthen the security and resilience of its critical infrastructure against all hazards, including physical and cyber risks, consistent with National Security Memorandum (NSM-22) on Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience, and the National Security Memorandum on Improving Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure Control Systems. Each applicant selected for Federal funding must demonstrate, prior to the signing of the grant agreement, effort to consider and address physical and cyber security risks relevant to the transportation mode and type and scale of the project. Projects that have not appropriately considered and addressed physical and cyber security and resilience in their planning, design, and project oversight, as determined by the DOT and the Department of Homeland Security, will be required to do so before receiving funds.
• Applicant Certification
  • Pursuant to Section 3(b)(iv)(A) of Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination And Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity (E.O. 14173), the applicant certifies that its compliance in all respects with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws is material to the government’s payment decisions for purposes of section 3729(b)(4) of title 31, United States Code.
  • Pursuant to Section 3(b)(iv)(B) of Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination And Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, the applicant certifies that it does not operate any programs promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws.
  • The applicant assures and certifies, with respect to any application and awarded Project under this NOFO, that it will comply with all applicable Federal laws, regulations, executive orders, policies, guidelines, and requirements as they relate to the application, acceptance, and use of Federal funds.
  • To the extent a court order bars the implementation or enforcement of one or more of these conditions with respect to a particular applicant or recipient, the Department will not implement or enforce the relevant condition(s) against that applicant or recipient for as long as the order remains in place.

Reporting Requirements

Post-award reporting requirements include submitting Federal Financial Reports (FFR) and Milestone Progress Reports (MPR) in TrAMS, and FTA’s National Transit Database (NTD) reporting (see FTA Circular 9050.1A and FTA Circular 9040.1H). Applicants should include any goals, targets, and indicators referenced in their application for the project in the Executive Summary of the TrAMS application.

As part of completing the annual Certifications and Assurances required of FTA grant recipients, a successful applicant must report on the suspension or debarment status of its organization and principals.  If a recipient’s active grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from all Federal awarding agencies exceed $10,000,000 for any period of time during the period of performance of an award made pursuant to this Notice, the recipient must ensure the information available in the responsibility/qualification records through the System for Award Management (SAM.gov), about civil, criminal, or administrative proceedings is current and complete. This requirement is in addition to the requirement that an applicant maintain an active SAM.gov registration.

For more information on these reporting requirements, please see 2 CFR Part 200, Appendix XII.

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