Opportunity Information: Apply for 693JF719R000026
America's Marine Highway Grant Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD), specifically through MARAD's Office of Ports and Waterways Planning. The program provides funding to support the development and expansion of short sea transportation services, commonly referred to as "marine highways," by investing in documented vessels as well as port and landside infrastructure that enable or improve those services. In practical terms, the grants are meant to help move more freight onto waterways in designated marine highway corridors, strengthening maritime transportation options that can complement or relieve congested roads and rail lines.
Funding for this opportunity came from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116-94), which set aside $9,775,000 for the Short Sea Transportation Program (America's Marine Highway Program) to be used specifically for Marine Highway Grants. Grants are awarded only to projects that are already part of the Marine Highway Program, meaning the Secretary of Transportation must have previously designated the relevant corridor or service as a Marine Highway Project. MARAD receives applications, evaluates them under the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), and administers any awards that are made.
Eligibility is tied closely to those previously designated Marine Highway Projects. Applicants must be either (1) the original Project Applicant for a designated Marine Highway Project or (2) a substitute applicant. The original Project Applicant is the public entity that was named by the Secretary when the project was originally designated. A substitute applicant can be a public entity or a private-sector entity, but it must be referred to MARAD's Program Office by the original Project Applicant, and that referral must include a written explanation as part of the application package. In addition, applicants must have operational or administrative responsibility in an area that is adjacent to or near the designated Marine Highway Project they are applying under, which is intended to ensure that the applicant is meaningfully connected to the corridor or service being improved.
The types of organizations that may apply include state governments (including state departments of transportation), metropolitan planning organizations, port authorities, tribal governments, and private-sector operators that run marine highway services within designated Marine Highway Projects. The listing of eligible applicants in the source data also includes city or township governments, reflecting that local governmental entities may be eligible when they align with the designated project and meet the program's responsibility-and-location requirements. The opportunity is categorized as a transportation grant (CFDA 20.816) and was published under Funding Opportunity Number 693JF719R000026.
Key timing details from the source information show the opportunity was created on March 19, 2020, with an original application closing date of April 24, 2020. The source data does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards, suggesting those specifics were either not set in the summary fields or were provided in the attached NOFO rather than the brief listing. Overall, the program is designed to fund tangible improvements that help marine highway services start up, scale up, or operate more effectively by addressing vessel needs and the port and landside connections that make waterborne freight movement feasible and efficient.Apply for 693JF719R000026
- The Maritime Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "America's Marine Highway Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.816.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-03-19.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-04-24. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: City or township governments.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): America's Marine Highway Grant Program
What is America's Marine Highway Grant Program?
America's Marine Highway Grant Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD), through MARAD's Office of Ports and Waterways Planning. It provides funding to support the development and expansion of short sea transportation services (often called "marine highways") by investing in documented vessels and in port and landside infrastructure that enable or improve those services.
What is the main purpose of these grants?
The grants are intended to help move more freight onto waterways in designated marine highway corridors. The goal is to strengthen maritime transportation options that can complement or relieve congested road and rail networks by supporting practical, tangible improvements to marine highway services.
Who administers and awards the grants?
MARAD receives applications, evaluates them under the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), and administers any awards that are made. Awards are made under MARAD's America’s Marine Highway Program.
Where did the funding for this opportunity come from?
Funding came from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Public Law 116-94), which set aside $9,775,000 for the Short Sea Transportation Program (America's Marine Highway Program) to be used specifically for Marine Highway Grants.
How much total funding was set aside for Marine Highway Grants under this opportunity?
The source information states that $9,775,000 was set aside for the Short Sea Transportation Program (America's Marine Highway Program) to be used specifically for Marine Highway Grants.
Are all projects eligible to apply, or only certain projects?
Only projects that are already part of the Marine Highway Program are eligible. This means the Secretary of Transportation must have previously designated the relevant corridor or service as a Marine Highway Project. Grants are awarded only to projects tied to those previously designated Marine Highway Projects.
What does it mean for a corridor or service to be a "designated Marine Highway Project"?
It means the Secretary of Transportation previously designated the corridor or service as a Marine Highway Project under the Marine Highway Program. Under this grant opportunity, eligibility depends on applying under a project that already has that designation.
Who is eligible to apply for these grants?
Eligibility is tied to previously designated Marine Highway Projects. Applicants must be either (1) the original Project Applicant for a designated Marine Highway Project or (2) a substitute applicant, as defined by the program requirements.
Who is considered the "original Project Applicant"?
The original Project Applicant is the public entity that was named by the Secretary when the project was originally designated as a Marine Highway Project.
What is a "substitute applicant" under this program?
A substitute applicant can be a public entity or a private-sector entity, but it must be referred to MARAD's Program Office by the original Project Applicant. The referral must include a written explanation as part of the application package.
Does a substitute applicant need documentation from the original Project Applicant?
Yes. The substitute applicant must be referred by the original Project Applicant, and the referral must include a written explanation included within the application package.
Are private-sector entities allowed to apply?
Yes. Private-sector entities can apply as substitute applicants, and the source information also notes private-sector operators that run marine highway services within designated Marine Highway Projects as eligible types of applicants, provided the program's requirements are met.
Are public entities eligible to apply?
Yes. The types of organizations that may apply include state governments (including state departments of transportation), metropolitan planning organizations, port authorities, tribal governments, and city or township governments, as long as they align with a designated Marine Highway Project and meet the applicable requirements.
Does the applicant need to be located near the designated project area?
Yes. Applicants must have operational or administrative responsibility in an area that is adjacent to or near the designated Marine Highway Project they are applying under. This requirement is meant to ensure the applicant is meaningfully connected to the corridor or service being improved.
What kinds of activities or assets can be funded by the grant?
Based on the source information, the program provides funding to support marine highway services by investing in documented vessels as well as port and landside infrastructure that enable or improve those services.
What is meant by "documented vessels" in this opportunity?
The opportunity description indicates that grant funding can be used to invest in documented vessels as part of supporting marine highway services. (The source summary does not provide additional detail beyond stating that documented vessels are eligible investment areas.)
What is meant by "port and landside infrastructure" in this opportunity?
The opportunity description states that grants can support port and landside infrastructure that enables or improves marine highway services. This refers to infrastructure on the port side and onshore connections that make waterborne freight movement feasible and efficient, as described in the source information.
What types of outcomes is the program trying to achieve?
The program is designed to fund tangible improvements that help marine highway services start up, scale up, or operate more effectively by addressing vessel needs and the port and landside connections that support waterborne freight movement.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized as a transportation grant with CFDA number 20.816.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed in the source information is 693JF719R000026.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The source information shows the opportunity was created on March 19, 2020.
What was the application closing date?
The original application closing date shown in the source information is April 24, 2020.
Does the source information list an award ceiling?
No. The source data does not provide an award ceiling, suggesting that detail was either not set in the summary fields or was provided in the attached NOFO rather than the brief listing.
Does the source information state the expected number of awards?
No. The source data does not provide an expected number of awards, suggesting that detail was either not set in the summary fields or was provided in the attached NOFO rather than the brief listing.
Do applicants apply directly to MARAD?
Yes. The source information indicates that MARAD receives applications, evaluates them under the NOFO, and administers any awards that are made.
Why does the program require a connection to a designated corridor or service?
The program requires that the applicant have operational or administrative responsibility in an area adjacent to or near the designated Marine Highway Project to ensure the applicant is meaningfully connected to the corridor or service being improved.
Is this considered a discretionary grant?
Yes. The opportunity is described as a discretionary federal grant opportunity.
What general transportation issue does the program aim to address?
It aims to strengthen maritime transportation options and support moving more freight onto waterways, which can complement or relieve congested roads and rail lines in designated marine highway corridors.
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