The Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), administered by the Office of Port Infrastructure Development under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD), has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Fiscal Year 2025. The program provides $450,000,000 in funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation (BIL) to support projects that improve port infrastructure, enhance economic competitiveness, and strengthen the resilience of supply chains. If Congress appropriates additional funding for FY 2025, the NOFO will be amended accordingly.

Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on April 30, 2025. Submissions made via paper mail, fax, email, or other methods will not be accepted. All applicants must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) and have a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). SAM registration must remain active and updated throughout the application process and the period of the award. The registration process can take two to four weeks, so applicants are encouraged to start early.

The program imposes funding restrictions to ensure equitable distribution. No more than 25 percent, or $112,500,000, of total funds can be awarded to projects in any single state. At least 25 percent, or $112,500,000, of the funding is reserved for small projects at small ports under 46 U.S.C. 54301(b), with no more than 10 percent of this reserved amount allocated for development phase activities that do not result in construction. Similarly, not more than 10 percent of the non-reserved funds may be allocated for development-phase activities for larger projects without construction outcomes.

To ensure broad access and flexibility, no single award for a small project at a small port will exceed $11,250,000, regardless of whether funding comes from the BIL or annual appropriations. The federal share of total project costs is generally limited to 80 percent. However, the Secretary of Transportation may increase the federal share above 80 percent for projects located in rural areas or classified as small projects at small ports.

Applicants may submit only one application describing one project, though that project may include multiple components if a clear functional connection between them is demonstrated. If an applicant submits multiple applications, only the most recent submission will be considered.

Eligible applicants must follow the submission requirements specified in the NOFO and include completed standard forms such as SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance) and SF-424C (Budget Information for Construction Programs), along with all additional documentation outlined in the NOFO.

For further details, applicants can contact the program office at PIDPgrants@dot.gov or call Aubrey Parsons at 202-366-8047. Technical support for submission is available through GrantSolutions User Support at 866-577-0771 or via email at help@grantsolutions.gov.