FY25 and FY26 Advanced Digital Construction Management Systems (ADCMS)

The Advanced Digital Construction Management Systems Competitive Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Federal Highway Administration. The program was established by Section 13006 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and is codified at 23 U.S.C. 503(c)(5). The purpose of the program is to promote, implement, deploy, demonstrate, showcase, support, and document advanced digital construction management systems, practices, performance, and benefits. FHWA seeks to accelerate the adoption and scaling of integrated digital tools and practices throughout the construction lifecycle. The program supports objectives including improved interoperability, productivity, information sharing, safety, quality, workforce capabilities, project delivery, and adoption of digital construction technologies. This funding opportunity makes up to $34 million in Fiscal Years 2025 and 2026 funding available through cost-reimbursable grant agreements, subject to the availability of funds. FHWA has established a minimum award amount of $1 million and a maximum award amount of $5 million for awards made under this notice. The anticipated period of performance is between one and four years and begins on the date the grant agreement is executed. Program funds are available until expended, with no obligation deadline or expenditure deadline stated in the notice. FHWA reserves the right to make no awards and may discuss a lesser scaled award with an applicant when mutually agreeable. Eligible applicants are State Departments of Transportation, including the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. State DOTs may submit joint applications with other State DOTs and non-State DOT entities, including local governments, Tribes, and private industry. For partnerships, FHWA expects one State DOT to serve as the lead entity and grant recipient. Joint applications should identify the lead State DOT as the primary point of contact and recipient for financial administration, describe each applicant's roles and responsibilities, and be signed by each applicant. There is no limit on the number of applications an applicant may submit, although applicants submitting multiple applications must indicate their funding priority on the application cover page. The program requires a minimum non-Federal cost share equal to 20 percent of total project costs. Previously incurred costs and previously expended or encumbered funds cannot satisfy the matching requirement. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. Applicants must be registered in SAM.gov before submission, provide a valid Unique Entity Identifier, and maintain an active SAM.gov registration while an application is under consideration or a Federal award is active. The application package requires SF-424, the Grants.gov Lobbying Form, and SF-LLL for all project types. Non-construction projects also require SF-424A and SF-424B, while construction projects require SF-424C and SF-424D. Applicants must complete the ADCMS Competitive Grant Program Application Template and attach it to Item 15 of SF-424. FHWA will review only the completed Application Template and allowable supplemental documents identified in its instructions, such as a budget, schedule, and design plans. The project budget must identify the amount and percentage of Federal funding requested and non-Federal funds supporting the project. DOT will evaluate applications using four Merit Criteria: Supports Innovation and Increases Technology Adoption and Deployment, Safety and Core Infrastructure, Economic Competitiveness, and Reinvesting in the American Family. Merit Criteria receive Highly Responsive, Responsive, or Non-Responsive ratings, which lead to an overall High, Medium, or Low merit rating. Eligible applications receiving a Medium or High overall Merit Criteria rating proceed to a Project Readiness Assessment covering technical capacity and feasibility, financial completeness, and permitting risk. FHWA then assigns an overall application rating of Highly Recommended, Recommended, or Not Recommended. For Highly Recommended and Recommended applications, DOT may further consider high project readiness, a broad range of recipients, transportation expansion and modernization in rural communities, and projects piloting the initial deployment of innovative technologies. Selected applicants are also subject to a pre-award risk assessment under 2 CFR 200.206. The application period opens August 17, 2026, and applications are due through Grants.gov by 11:59 PM on September 16, 2026. The notice does not establish an LOI, concept paper, pre-proposal, or other pre-application gating deadline. DOT anticipates announcing award selections during the week of December 14, 2026. Selection does not authorize applicants to begin performance or incur reimbursable project costs; awards become effective upon execution of a grant agreement. Unless FHWA provides written authorization following selection, costs incurred before FHWA obligates funds are not eligible for reimbursement or for satisfying the cost-share requirement. The agency contact is James S. Gray at DigitalConstruction@dot.gov, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Office of Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., Mail Stop E65-103, Washington, D.C. 20590. After award, recipients must comply with applicable Federal administrative, financial, domestic preference, security, and other program requirements. Each awardee must submit semi-annual progress reports and semi-annual Federal Financial Reports using SF-425 and must collect and report performance information addressing the degree to which funded activities improve safety, cost, scheduling, workforce training, and right-of-way impacts on construction projects. Projects must address applicable physical and cybersecurity risks before execution of the grant agreement, and applicable Buy America and Build America, Buy America requirements apply. The notice does not state that this funding opportunity recurs annually, biennially, quarterly, or on another regular schedule, so no recurrence is established from the source.

Use directly verifiable supporting data and documentation where practicable. Demonstrate responsiveness to all four Merit Criteria and quantify project performance, safety, schedule, and cost benefits where applicable. Address technical and staffing capacity, Federal compliance, timely delivery, technical feasibility, project risks and mitigation, complete funding estimates, cost-overrun planning, availability of required funding, environmental approvals, permits, and public engagement. Clearly address applicable DOT priority considerations, including project readiness, rural transportation modernization, and initial deployment of innovative technologies where relevant. Ensure the application is complete, submitted on time through Grants.gov, and provides the required minimum 20 percent non-Federal cost share.