BUILD is a competitive U.S. Department of Transportation grant program for eligible surface transportation projects with local or regional impacts.
Definition
BUILD is a competitive U.S. Department of Transportation grant program supporting eligible surface transportation projects. The applicable funding notice sets eligible applicants and projects, selection factors, application materials, and award conditions. A civil engineering firm may support a public sponsor with planning, technical analysis, project development, or application documents under an agreed contract. The program is not an automatic funding source, and a project’s apparent fit does not establish eligibility or selection. Program names and requirements can change, so owners and clients need to work from the applicable official notice when planning a submission. Grant support is also distinct from the sponsor’s responsibility to make decisions and certify its application. The U.S. Department of Transportation provides federal transportation program information, and Grants.gov is a federal portal for grant opportunities.
How owners use it
- A firm defines whether its proposal covers technical studies, application writing, or both before pricing grant support.
- A business development lead logs the sponsor, submission date, and required technical materials for a potential grant assignment.
- A 60-hour application support task at $175 per hour totals $10,500: 60 × $175 = $10,500.
- An owner confirms the client’s procurement method and contract scope before assigning staff to prepare materials.
