FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2023
Last week, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration announced that it is now accepting applications for a new $85 million digital construction grant program. The Advanced Digital Construction Management Systems (ADCMS) grant program, the Department says, will aid in digital construction such as computer modeling and 3D design to “encourage state-of-the-art practices in project delivery.”
According to the release, this funding opportunity, in its first year under President Joe Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure law, will focus on projects that promote information-sharing, reduce reliance on paper, improve productivity and savings during project delivery and serve as models for the use of digital construction technologies.
About the Funding
The ADCMS is reportedly just one aspect of the FHWA’s “multifaceted” Technology and Innovation Deployment Program (TIDP) and will provide funding as an incentive for state departments of transportation.
New! @USDOTFHWA rolls out $85M ADCMS grant program under #BipartisanInfrastructureLaw focusing on innovative digital construction practices to boost productivity & savings during project delivery. https://t.co/H6ykgRedku #InvestinginAmerica pic.twitter.com/ukrbaApuaA
— USDOT Research (@Research_USDOT) June 28, 2023
Additionally, the release states that the funding could promote access to meaningful, accurate and easy-to-use data from construction professionals with “enhanced” software modeling tools and features. According to the FHWA, better and more consistent modeling would allow for the “seamless sharing of design and construction plans.”
Program goals reportedly include:
“Technology has transformed many facets of life in the modern era, and we want the transportation construction industry to take advantage of these advancements to deliver projects on time and on budget,” said FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt.
“These technologies, along with funding from President Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure law, will help us more quickly deliver the transportation system of the 21st century.”
State Departments of Transportation, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are eligible to apply and are reportedly encouraged to partner with local governments, tribes and private industry to design their proposed projects.
The Notice of Funding Opportunity for the ADCMS program is available at ADCMS Grants along with more information about the program.
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On the same day, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced that the DOT is also now accepting applications for up to $5.575 billion in funding for projects of regional or national significance.
The funding is reportedly another part of Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure law and will work to support three major discretionary grant programs involving surface transportation projects “designed to strengthen supply chains, spur economic development, and improve safety and daily life.”
According to the announcement, available funding for new projects include:
Additionally, the DOT has reportedly awarded another $274 million for 12 projects through the Rural grant program, as well as $1.5 billion for 26 projects through the INFRA program.
The release also states that applications seeking $1 billion or more in Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant (MPDG) program funds will be reviewed and assessed on if the current project’s estimated costs are “reasonable” and if lower cost alternatives exist.
The deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. EDT on Aug. 21. Applicants can reportedly find the Notice of Funding Opportunity, frequently asked questions and other resources here.
Tagged categories: Construction; Department of Transportation (DOT); Federal Highway Administration (FHWA); Funding; Grants; Infrastructure; Infrastructure; President Biden; Program/Project Management; Technology; Transportation
