Opportunity Information: Apply for DOT TCP FY23 01
The Fiscal Year 2023 Thriving Communities Program (TCP) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) funds cooperative agreements with organizations that can provide hands-on, deep-dive technical assistance to communities that need help moving transportation and related community infrastructure projects from ideas to implementation. The main goal is to strengthen local capacity so communities can better plan projects, build partnerships, compete for federal funding, and ultimately deliver projects that improve mobility and quality of life. A central theme of the program is advancing equity by prioritizing disadvantaged and transportation-burdened communities, especially places with limited staff capacity, expertise, or budget to develop complex infrastructure proposals and manage delivery requirements.
Under this opportunity, award recipients act as "capacity builders." Instead of building infrastructure directly, these capacity builders provide intensive support to local governments that request technical assistance. The assistance is meant to help communities scope and shape projects, create or strengthen plans, assemble competitive grant applications, and navigate the steps needed to deliver "transformative" infrastructure outcomes. The NOFO emphasizes that capacity builders should not just provide one-off advice; they are expected to deliver structured, in-depth assistance and to help create an ongoing Community of Practice that connects communities with a broad mix of transportation and community stakeholders.
The technical assistance activities are tied to DOT programs and authorities under Titles 23, 46, and 49 of the United States Code and are aimed at transportation and community revitalization efforts with real-world outcomes. Examples of the kinds of results the program is trying to advance include increasing mobility and access, reducing pollution from transportation sources, expanding affordable transportation options, supporting more efficient land use, preserving or expanding jobs, improving housing conditions, and strengthening connections to essential services like health care, education, and food access. The NOFO also highlights improving health outcomes as a priority, which reflects DOTs increasing focus on the link between transportation decisions, environmental conditions, and public health.
For FY23, DOT expects to make awards under two tracks: National Capacity Builders and Regional Capacity Builders. Total funding available is up to $22 million. National Capacity Builder cooperative agreements are expected to be larger, typically in the $4 million to $5 million range per award, with up to five awards anticipated. Each National Capacity Builder is expected to support roughly 15 to 20 communities, and those communities will be selected by DOT and can be located anywhere in the country. National Capacity Builders are allowed to specialize in a particular topic area, which can help create a nationwide community of practice around a specific subject (for example, planning, grant readiness, safety, electrification, emissions reduction, or multimodal access), while still delivering direct technical support to the assigned communities.
Regional Capacity Builder cooperative agreements are expected to be smaller, typically in the $1 million to $2 million range per award, with up to five awards anticipated (the full NOFO summary forecasts up to nine awards overall). Regional Capacity Builders focus on a particular geographic region and, unlike the national track, they identify which communities in their region will receive assistance. Regional Capacity Builders are generally not expected to specialize in a single topic area; instead, they are positioned to provide broader, place-based support that responds to the mix of needs across communities in that region. This structure is intended to build stronger local and regional pipelines of projects and help communities that may share similar conditions, constraints, and opportunities.
Eligibility is broad and includes public sector entities and a range of nonprofit and educational organizations, as well as for-profit organizations other than small businesses. Specifically eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Tribal governments; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial federal involvement in shaping or overseeing the work compared to a standard grant. The program is categorized under transportation funding activity, with CFDA/Assistance Listing number 20.942.
Key administrative details from the NOFO include the opportunity number DOT TCP FY23 01, issued by the Department of Transportation (69A345, Office of the Under Secretary for Policy). The NOFO was posted September 14, 2023, with an original application deadline of November 28, 2023 (about 75 days after publication). The stated award ceiling is $5,000,000, aligning with the anticipated maximum size of National Capacity Builder awards. Overall, the opportunity is designed to expand and professionalize the support ecosystem that helps communities turn transportation and community revitalization priorities into fundable, buildable projects, with an explicit emphasis on equity, access, and measurable quality-of-life benefits.Apply for DOT TCP FY23 01
- The Department of Transportation, 69A345 Office of the Under Secretary for Policy in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreements with Technical Assistance Providers for the Fiscal Year 2023 Thriving Communities Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.942.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 14, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 28, 2023 75 days after publication of NOFO. (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 $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 9 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the Fiscal Year 2023 Thriving Communities Program (TCP) NOFO?
The FY 2023 Thriving Communities Program (TCP) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) funds cooperative agreements with organizations that can provide hands-on, deep-dive technical assistance to communities. The purpose is to help communities move transportation and related community infrastructure projects from early ideas to implementation.
2) What is the main goal of TCP funding under this opportunity?
The main goal is to strengthen local capacity so communities can better plan projects, build partnerships, compete for federal funding, and deliver projects that improve mobility and quality of life.
3) Who receives funding under this NOFO?
Funding is awarded to organizations that act as "capacity builders." These award recipients provide structured, in-depth technical assistance to local governments and communities that request help advancing transportation and related community infrastructure projects.
4) Does TCP fund construction or direct infrastructure building?
No. Under this opportunity, award recipients do not build infrastructure directly. Instead, they provide intensive technical assistance intended to help communities scope and shape projects, strengthen plans, prepare competitive grant applications, and navigate the steps needed to deliver transformative outcomes.
5) What does "deep-dive technical assistance" mean in this program?
The NOFO emphasizes that capacity builders should not provide only one-off advice. They are expected to deliver structured, in-depth assistance that helps communities move projects toward implementation and strengthens long-term local capacity.
6) What is meant by "capacity builders" in TCP?
7) How does TCP advance equity?
A central theme is advancing equity by prioritizing disadvantaged and transportation-burdened communities. The NOFO especially emphasizes places with limited staff capacity, limited expertise, or limited budget to develop complex infrastructure proposals and manage delivery requirements.
8) What kinds of outcomes is the program trying to support?
The NOFO describes a range of real-world outcomes tied to transportation and community revitalization, including increasing mobility and access, reducing pollution from transportation sources, expanding affordable transportation options, supporting more efficient land use, preserving or expanding jobs, improving housing conditions, and strengthening connections to essential services such as health care, education, and food access.
9) Is improving health outcomes part of the program focus?
Yes. The NOFO highlights improving health outcomes as a priority, reflecting DOT's focus on connections between transportation decisions, environmental conditions, and public health.
10) What DOT authorities are associated with the technical assistance activities?
The technical assistance activities are tied to DOT programs and authorities under Titles 23, 46, and 49 of the United States Code.
11) What funding tracks does DOT expect to use for FY23 TCP awards?
DOT expects to make awards under two tracks: National Capacity Builders and Regional Capacity Builders.
12) How much total funding is available?
Total funding available is up to $22 million.
13) What is the expected size of National Capacity Builder awards?
National Capacity Builder cooperative agreements are expected to be larger, typically in the $4 million to $5 million range per award. The NOFO also states an award ceiling of $5,000,000.
14) How many National Capacity Builder awards does DOT anticipate?
DOT anticipates up to five National Capacity Builder awards.
15) How many communities does each National Capacity Builder typically support?
Each National Capacity Builder is expected to support roughly 15 to 20 communities.
16) Who selects the communities served under the National Capacity Builder track?
For the national track, the communities will be selected by DOT, and they can be located anywhere in the country.
17) Can National Capacity Builders specialize in a topic area?
Yes. National Capacity Builders are allowed to specialize in a particular topic area, which can help create a nationwide Community of Practice around a specific subject while still delivering direct technical support to assigned communities.
18) What are examples of topic areas National Capacity Builders might specialize in?
The NOFO provides examples such as planning, grant readiness, safety, electrification, emissions reduction, or multimodal access.
19) What is the expected size of Regional Capacity Builder awards?
Regional Capacity Builder cooperative agreements are expected to be smaller, typically in the $1 million to $2 million range per award.
20) How many Regional Capacity Builder awards does DOT anticipate?
DOT anticipates up to five Regional Capacity Builder awards. The NOFO summary also forecasts up to nine awards overall.
21) How does the Regional Capacity Builder track differ from the National track?
Regional Capacity Builders focus on a particular geographic region and identify which communities in their region will receive assistance. In contrast, for the National track, DOT selects the communities and they may be located anywhere in the country.
22) Are Regional Capacity Builders expected to specialize in one topic area?
Generally, no. Regional Capacity Builders are generally not expected to specialize in a single topic area. They are positioned to provide broader, place-based support that responds to a mix of regional community needs.
23) What is the purpose of creating a Community of Practice?
Capacity builders are expected to help create an ongoing Community of Practice that connects communities with a broad mix of transportation and community stakeholders, supporting shared learning and stronger networks beyond one-time technical advice.
24) What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public sector entities and a range of nonprofit and educational organizations, as well as for-profit organizations other than small businesses.
25) Which specific applicant types are listed as eligible?
Specifically eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Tribal governments; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); and for-profit organizations other than small businesses.
26) Are small businesses eligible as for-profit applicants under this opportunity?
No. The NOFO states eligibility includes for-profit organizations other than small businesses.
27) What is the funding instrument used for awards?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial federal involvement in shaping or overseeing the work compared to a standard grant.
28) What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The program is categorized under transportation funding activity, with CFDA/Assistance Listing number 20.942.
29) What is the official opportunity number?
The opportunity number is DOT TCP FY23 01.
30) Which DOT office issued the NOFO?
The NOFO was issued by the Department of Transportation (69A345, Office of the Under Secretary for Policy).
31) When was the NOFO posted?
The NOFO was posted on September 14, 2023.
32) What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was November 28, 2023 (about 75 days after publication).
33) What is the maximum award amount stated in the NOFO?
The stated award ceiling is $5,000,000, aligning with the anticipated maximum size of National Capacity Builder awards.
34) What is the overall intent of the opportunity?
The opportunity is designed to expand and professionalize the support ecosystem that helps communities turn transportation and community revitalization priorities into fundable, buildable projects, with an explicit emphasis on equity, access, and measurable quality-of-life benefits.
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