DOT Federal Highway Administration · Department of Transportation
Fiscal Year 2026 Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program
Key facts
- Deadline
- Due Nov 16, 2026 · 40 days left
- Award size
- Up to $80M
- Match ?
- Required · Work out your budget and match
- Buildings & equipment
- The official notice says construction, renovation or equipment can be paid for. Check the limits.
- Who can apply
- City or town government, County government, State government, Tribal government, Special district (utility, fire, etc.), and others named in the official notice
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee
How this fits you
- Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
- Needs a match (see how much in the notice)
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/41eb2492-6242-49f8-89ae-17d15c068be4 · Printed from grantme.click/grants/1f253111-4e60-44f5-bd4d-fb3b36e7cd92
View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar
More from DOT Federal Highway Administration
- FYs 2024 through 2026 - Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) Competitive Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity · Due Oct 9, 2026 · 2 days left
- Prioritization Process Pilot Program (PPPP) Competitive Grant Program · Due Oct 30, 2026 · 23 days left
About this grant
The purpose of the WCPP is to provide funding to eligible entities for projects seeking to improve safety of the traveling public by reducing the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVC) and, in doing so, improve habitat connectivity for terrestrial and aquatic species.
This NOFO will award approximately $80 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 funding via cost reimbursable grants. DOT may also award any remaining and available funds from previous fiscal years under this opportunity.
The actual amount available to be awarded under this notice will be subject to the availability of funds.
NOTE: The information under 'Award' on this page requires the specification of a minimum and maximum dollar value for anticipated awards due to Grants.gov system requirements. However, as stated in the NOFO, there are no minimum or maximum award sizes.
Who can apply, from the official notice
The purpose of the WCPP is to provide funding to eligible entities for projects seeking to improve safety of the traveling public by reducing the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVC) and, in doing so, improve habitat connectivity for terrestrial and aquatic species.
Eligible applicants under the WCPP are:
• State Department of Transportation (State DOT);
• Metropolitan planning organization (MPO);
• Units of local government ;
• A regional transportation authority;
• A special purpose district or public authority with a transportation function;
• Indian Tribes ;
• A Federal Land Management Agency (FLMA); or
• A group of any of the above entities.
Projects eligible for funding include both construction and non-construction projects. However, DOT may prioritize awards to construction projects.
WCPP requires a non-Federal cost share of 20 percent from all recipients unless an exception applies (see B.3, below). Applicants who do not provide the required non-Federal cost share will be classified as ineligible. FLMAs and Tribes can use other Federal funds for their match, such as those allowable under 23 United States Code (U.S.C.) 120(k).
A minimum of 60 percent of funds each fiscal year must be awarded to rural areas (23 U.S.C. 171(g)).
Your schedule, working back from the deadline
- Oct7
Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov - Oct26
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters. - Nov9
Finish a complete draft for a final review
Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft. - Nov13
Submit
Suggested: submit a few days early. Agency portals can slow down near deadlines. - Nov16
Deadline
From the funder.
Save this grant to put these dates in My grants and your private calendar.
What the official notice requires
Pulled from the official notice Final_WCPP_NOFO_HAD-260512-001.pdf (24 pages) so you can see the requirements at a glance. Each item shows the notice's own words. Open the page to read it in context.
Award size and project length
Project period: 4 years · p. 8
“The total period of performance for WCPP awards is anticipated to be between 1 and 4 years.” Open page 8
Registrations you need first (3)
Grants.gov · p. 9
“If necessary, the workspace title can be edited per the instructions on Grants.gov.” Open page 9
GrantSolutions · p. 10
“XXXXX (Will be generated by GrantSolutions) Opportunity Name:” Open page 10
SAM.gov, Unique Entity ID (UEI) · p. 10
“UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER AND SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT Each applicant must: Be registered in System for Award Management (SAM) at SAM.gov before submitting its application; Provide a valid Unique Entity Identifier in its application; and” Open page 10
Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Get-ready checklist
What to submit
Form SF-424A · p. 9
“All Project Types Non-Construction Projects-Only Construction Projects-Only Standard Form (SF) 424 (Application for Federal Assistance) SF-424A (Budget Information for Non- Construction Projects) SF-424C (Budget Information for Construction Projects)…” Open page 9
Form SF-424C · p. 9
“All Project Types Non-Construction Projects-Only Construction Projects-Only Standard Form (SF) 424 (Application for Federal Assistance) SF-424A (Budget Information for Non- Construction Projects) SF-424C (Budget Information for Construction Projects)…” Open page 9
Form SF-424B · p. 9
“All Project Types Non-Construction Projects-Only Construction Projects-Only Standard Form (SF) 424 (Application for Federal Assistance) SF-424A (Budget Information for Non- Construction Projects) SF-424C (Budget Information for Construction Projects)…” Open page 9
Form SF-424D · p. 9
“All Project Types Non-Construction Projects-Only Construction Projects-Only Standard Form (SF) 424 (Application for Federal Assistance) SF-424A (Budget Information for Non- Construction Projects) SF-424C (Budget Information for Construction Projects)…” Open page 9
Form SF-LLL · p. 9
“All Project Types Non-Construction Projects-Only Construction Projects-Only Standard Form (SF) 424 (Application for Federal Assistance) SF-424A (Budget Information for Non- Construction Projects) SF-424C (Budget Information for Construction Projects)…” Open page 9
Form SF-424 · p. 9
“All Project Types Non-Construction Projects-Only Construction Projects-Only Standard Form (SF) 424 (Application for Federal Assistance) SF-424A (Budget Information for Non- Construction Projects) SF-424C (Budget Information for Construction Projects)…” Open page 9
Environmental documentation · p. 18
“The application demonstrates the project will meet Permitting Risk Assessment Elements A, B, and C, but there is risk of schedule delay because either: An Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement is needed and the NEPA document has not…” Open page 18
Formatting rules
12-point font, 1-inch margins, single-spaced · p. 9
“Application files should be single-spaced, 12-point standard font (e.g., Times New Roman), with 1-inch margins.” Open page 9
Cost share or match
Cost share / match · p. 4
“WCPP requires a non-Federal cost share of 20 percent from all recipients unless an exception applies (see B.3, below).” Open page 4
Cost share / match · p. 6
“WCPP requires a non-Federal cost share of 20 percent.” Open page 6
Dates in the notice
September 30, 2026 · p. 1
“September 30, 2026 Application Closing Date:” Open page 1
11/16/2026 · p. 3
“Key Dates Application Due Date: 11/16/2026 [45 day application period] at 11:59 PM EST.” Open page 3
November 16, 2026 · p. 11
“SUBMISSION DEADLINE FY 2026 WCPP applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 11:59 PM EST on November 16, 2026.” Open page 11
Mistakes that get applications rejected (2)
Missing a required part: DOT will not review applications that fail to provide sufficient documentation of consultation, and such... · p. 5
“DOT will not review applications that fail to provide sufficient documentation of consultation, and such applications will not be eligible for funding.” Open page 5
Missing a required part: OTHER Applications determined to be late, duplicates of applications submitted for the same round of... · p. 6
“OTHER Applications determined to be late, duplicates of applications submitted for the same round of applications, or incomplete will not be reviewed under this funding opportunity.” Open page 6
About the federal program
Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program
Program number 20.290 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration · Grant
How applications are judged
Varies by project. FHWA determines criteria for selecting proposals based on the stated objectives of the funding opportunity.
Match
All projects and applicants are subject to the cost share requirements of 23 U.S.C. � 120. ?In general, applicants must provide at least 20 percent of the total project cost. The match must come from non-Federal sources unless specifically authorized by Congress.?