DOT Releases Partial FY26 BUILD Program NOFO

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Transportation released the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for its highly anticipated Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Program. The annual discretionary program (previously referred to as “RAISE” and “TIGER”) remains one of DOT’s hallmark programs, supporting projects in urban and rural areas to improve safety, connectivity, and innovation in surface transportation infrastructure. DOT has made $1.5 billion available in FY26 funding, with applicants able to request up to $25 million for planning or construction projects by February 24, 2026 

However, the FY26 BUILD NOFO is, in many ways, incomplete.

It outlines basic eligibility for applicants and project activities, but major components are missing. Key sections on application requirements, submission instructions, evaluation criteria, and post-award obligations are notably absent. It appears that, in an effort to meet a statutory requirement to publish the NOFO by November 30, DOT released a partial version. DOT “intends to amend” the guidance to add missing details, according to the NOFO, but with no accompanying press release, no public explanation, and no timeline for when an amendment will be issued, many prospective applicants are understandably confused and frustrated. 

So... What now? How should BUILD applicants move forward? 

We are treating this release similarly to a Notice of Intent (NOI): a signal that funding is upcoming, and full application details will follow. While it is possible that the deadline will be extended as amendments are published (as we have seen in other DOT programs such as the Port Infrastructure Development Program), BUILD applicants should still aim to submit their applications by the February 24 due date. This administration has increasingly shortened application windows across departments, sometimes as short as 30 to 45 days, even for large and complex programs. Until DOT provides updated information, we recommend that you prepare as though the current deadline will remain in place.  

In the meantime, we recommend reviewing previous years’ BUILD/RAISE/TIGER NOFOs to begin preparing core elements of your application. Applicants can start gathering organizational information, refining their project narrative, and coordinating with key personnel and project partners. CFS will continue to closely monitor the BUILD program and provide updates as soon as DOT releases amendments or further guidance.