RAISE is a competitive U.S. Department of Transportation grant program for eligible surface transportation projects, subject to its applicable funding notice.
Definition
RAISE is a competitive federal program for eligible surface transportation projects. The applicable funding notice defines who may apply, which projects qualify, what information is required, and how proposals are evaluated. A civil engineering firm may support a sponsor with project planning, technical studies, cost information, or application materials under a defined contract. Program naming and requirements can change, so the relevant notice and agency materials control the opportunity. RAISE is not a guaranteed funding source, and a project’s inclusion in an application does not mean it will receive an award. It is also not the same as a consulting contract: the sponsor may separately procure professional services and specify applicable terms. Owners can check U.S. Department of Transportation program information and the applicable opportunity on Grants.gov.
How owners use it
- An owner identifies the specific funding notice before estimating the staff effort needed for application support.
- A pursuit manager tracks technical documents and sponsor decisions as separate proposal dependencies.
- A 40-hour technical support assignment at $180 per hour totals $7,200: 40 × $180 = $7,200.
- A firm records whether the client has authorized grant support and what deliverables are included in its contract.
