The SMART program was established to provide grants to eligible public sector agencies to conduct demonstration projects focused on advanced smart community technologies and systems in order to improve transportation efficiency and safety. 

A SMART grant may be used to carry out a project that demonstrates at least one of the following:  

• Coordinated automation
• Connected vehicles
• Sensors
• Systems integration
• Delivery/logistics
• Innovative aviation
• Smart grid
• Traffic signals

The SMART Grants Program funds purpose-driven innovation to build data and technology capacity and expertise for State, local, and Tribal governments. Communities should target their real-world challenges where the use of new technologies and approaches can create benefits. 

See Illustrative Use Cases for some examples of projects that could be funded through the program, but note that these are not exhaustive – SMART expects to see proposed projects that demonstrate an understanding of local needs and advance purpose-driven innovation.

SMART Program Fact Sheet.pdf

FY22 SMART Grants NOFO_Final.pdf

How to Apply

Register with Valid Eval: Valid Eval is a third-party web-based evaluation platform used by USDOT and other Federal programs to support complex evaluation programs.  Applicants will submit their applications via Valid Eval.

Click for complete application instructions. 

Webinar

Upcoming: September 29, 2022 at 2:30-4:00pm ET - How to Apply for a SMART Grant

Click to register.

Available Funding and Match

The SMART Grants Program includes two stages: Stage 1 Planning and Prototyping Grants (Stage 1 grants) and Stage 2 Implementation Grants (Stage 2 grants). The program structure is based on a belief that planning, prototyping, and partnership are critical to advancing the state of the practice for data and technology projects in the public sector. USDOT anticipates that only recipients of Stage 1 Planning and Prototyping Grants will be eligible for Stage 2 Implementation Grants and anticipates funding projects of up to $2,000,000 per project for Stage 1 and up to $15,000,000 per project for Stage 2.

The BIL established the SMART Grants Program with $500,000,000 in advanced appropriations, including $100,000,000 for FY 2022. USDOT expects to award between 30 and 50 Stage 1 grants of up to $2,000,000 per award. Cost sharing or matching is not required for Stage I: Planning and Prototyping.

Contact

[email protected]