BUILD (RAISE), INFRA, Mega and PIDP Grant Application and Benefit-Cost Analysis Support

We prepare BUILD grant benefit-cost analysis for USDOT BUILD and other discretionary grants. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s competitive grants are among the largest sources of infrastructure funding for local agencies. Most capital applications need a benefit-cost analysis (BCA) that follows USDOT guidance. GERC prepares that BCA and the application narrative for agencies and for engineering firms supporting them.

The programmes

  • BUILD, formerly RAISE and TIGER. Funds road, rail, transit, port and active transportation projects with local or regional impact. For FY 2026, USDOT made $1.5 billion available, with awards up to $25 million, and a BCA was required for capital projects.
  • INFRA. Funds projects of national or regional significance, especially freight, through the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant (MPDG) opportunity.
  • Mega (National Infrastructure Project Assistance). Funds large, complex projects, also through the MPDG opportunity.
  • PIDP (Port Infrastructure Development Program). Run by the Maritime Administration for port and freight projects in and around ports.

Our BUILD grant benefit-cost analysis

  • A BCA spreadsheet and technical memo that follow the current USDOT BCA guidance and values
  • Benefits such as travel time savings, safety, vehicle operating costs, emissions, state of good repair and, where allowed, residual value
  • A separate BCA for each component with independent utility, where the NOFO requires it
  • Sensitivity tests and clear documentation, so reviewers can follow every number

The application narrative

We write responses to each merit criterion, for example safety, mobility and community connectivity, economic competitiveness and state of good repair, and make sure the narrative matches the BCA.

Funding programmes, amounts and deadlines change from cycle to cycle, and federal surface transportation authorisation is being renewed in 2026. Always check the current Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). We confirm the current rules before we start work.

BUILD grant benefit-cost analysis FAQ

Is RAISE the same as BUILD?

Yes. The programme has been renamed several times, from TIGER to BUILD to RAISE and back to BUILD. The rules change with each NOFO, so check the current one.

Do planning grants need a BCA?

Under the FY 2026 BUILD NOFO, planning projects did not require a BCA; capital projects did.

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