Opportunity Information: Apply for FHWA CHBP 26 001
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP) is a discretionary, cost-reimbursable grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Through this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), FHWA plans to award up to $350 million in FY 2026 funding, although the final amount available depends on Congressional appropriations and overall fund availability. Grants are reimbursable, meaning recipients generally must incur eligible project costs first and then request reimbursement under the terms of the award.
Awards are capped on the high end: no State may receive more than $55 million under this NOFO. On the low end, there is generally no minimum award amount, with one important exception tied to bridge condition. States with more than 14 percent of their total bridges classified as in poor condition are intended to receive no less than $32.5 million, as long as they submit eligible application(s) whose total requested value is at least $32.5 million. In other words, those States are effectively guaranteed a floor only if they apply with enough eligible work to reach that threshold.
Cost sharing is required. The Federal share follows the standard Federal-aid highway cost share rules in 23 U.S.C. 120 (as referenced in the NOFO). Applicants must provide at least the minimum required non-Federal match; if an application does not demonstrate the required non-Federal cost share, it will be deemed ineligible. Practically, this means States need to be ready to commit and document their match sources as part of the application and project financing plan.
Eligibility is limited to certain States based on a combination of population characteristics and bridge condition metrics. A State must meet one of the population tests: either (1) a population density below 115 individuals per square mile, or (2) a total population below 1.1 million individuals. In addition, a State must meet one of the bridge-condition tests: either (1) fewer than 26 percent of its total bridges classified as in good condition, or (2) at least 4.9 percent of its total bridges classified as in poor condition. Population density is determined using the latest available decennial census data (resident population density) as of February 3, 2026, the date the DOT Appropriations Act, 2026 (Pub. L. 119-75) became law. Bridge condition percentages come from the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) as of June 2024 and are calculated across all bridges in the State that appear in the NBI and meet the definition of a bridge on a public road, regardless of who owns them (State, local, or other public ownership).
Based on those statutory and data-driven thresholds, the States eligible to apply under FY 2026 CHBP are: Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Among these, the States identified as eligible for the no-less-than $32.5 million minimum (because they exceed 14 percent poor bridges) are Iowa, Maine, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and West Virginia, again assuming they submit eligible applications totaling at least $32.5 million.
Administration is also narrowly defined: FY 2026 CHBP projects may only be administered by State Departments of Transportation (State DOTs). While the bridge inventory statistics consider bridges regardless of ownership, the applicant and administering entity for this NOFO must be the State DOT, which typically means States will need to coordinate internally (and often with local bridge owners) but ultimately submit and manage awards through the State DOT.
From a grants management standpoint, the opportunity is posted as FHWA CHBP 26 001 under CFDA 20.267, categorized as a discretionary transportation grant. The expected number of awards is 15, and the application deadline listed is July 27, 2026. The award ceiling is $55,000,000, consistent with the per-State cap described in the NOFO.Apply for FHWA CHBP 26 001
- The DOT Federal Highway Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.267.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-26.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-27. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $55,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, Others.
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FY 2026 Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP) FAQs
What is the FY 2026 Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP)?
The FY 2026 Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP) is a discretionary, cost-reimbursable grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), through a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
How much funding does FHWA plan to award under this NOFO?
FHWA plans to award up to $350 million in FY 2026 funding under this NOFO. The final amount available depends on Congressional appropriations and overall fund availability.
Is CHBP a reimbursable grant or an up-front payment grant?
CHBP awards are cost-reimbursable. Recipients generally must incur eligible project costs first and then request reimbursement under the terms of the award.
Is there a maximum award amount per State?
Yes. No State may receive more than $55 million under this NOFO.
Is there a minimum award amount?
Generally, there is no minimum award amount. However, there is an exception for certain States based on bridge condition, described in the NOFO.
Which States may be intended to receive no less than $32.5 million, and what is the condition for receiving that amount?
States with more than 14 percent of their total bridges classified as in poor condition are intended to receive no less than $32.5 million, as long as they submit eligible application(s) with total requested funding of at least $32.5 million.
Does the $32.5 million floor apply automatically?
No. The floor is effectively available only if the State submits eligible application(s) whose combined requested value is at least $32.5 million.
Which States are identified as eligible for the no-less-than $32.5 million minimum?
The States identified as eligible for the no-less-than $32.5 million minimum (because they exceed 14 percent poor bridges) are Iowa, Maine, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and West Virginia, assuming they submit eligible applications totaling at least $32.5 million.
Is a non-Federal match required?
Yes. Cost sharing is required, and the Federal share follows the standard Federal-aid highway cost share rules in 23 U.S.C. 120, as referenced in the NOFO.
What happens if an application does not demonstrate the required non-Federal cost share?
If an application does not demonstrate the required non-Federal cost share, it will be deemed ineligible.
Who is eligible to apply for FY 2026 CHBP?
Eligibility is limited to certain States based on population characteristics and bridge condition metrics. A State must meet at least one population test and at least one bridge-condition test, as specified in the NOFO.
What are the population eligibility tests?
A State must meet one of the following population tests: (1) population density below 115 individuals per square mile, or (2) total population below 1.1 million individuals.
What are the bridge-condition eligibility tests?
A State must meet one of the following bridge-condition tests: (1) fewer than 26 percent of its total bridges classified as in good condition, or (2) at least 4.9 percent of its total bridges classified as in poor condition.
Which data sources and dates are used to determine population eligibility?
Population density is determined using the latest available decennial census data (resident population density) as of February 3, 2026, which is the date the DOT Appropriations Act, 2026 (Pub. L. 119-75) became law.
Which data sources and dates are used to determine bridge-condition eligibility?
Bridge condition percentages come from the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) as of June 2024 and are calculated across all bridges in the State that appear in the NBI and meet the definition of a bridge on a public road.
Are bridge condition percentages based only on State-owned bridges?
No. Bridge condition percentages are calculated across all bridges in the State that appear in the NBI and meet the definition of a bridge on a public road, regardless of who owns them (State, local, or other public ownership).
Which States are eligible to apply under FY 2026 CHBP?
Based on the statutory and data-driven thresholds described in the NOFO, the eligible States are: Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
Who must administer FY 2026 CHBP projects?
FY 2026 CHBP projects may only be administered by State Departments of Transportation (State DOTs). The applicant and administering entity for this NOFO must be the State DOT.
Can local agencies or other bridge owners apply directly?
No. While bridge inventory statistics consider bridges regardless of ownership, the NOFO specifies that the applicant and administering entity must be the State DOT.
How many awards does FHWA expect to make?
The expected number of awards is 15.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline listed is July 27, 2026.
What is the listing identification for this opportunity?
The opportunity is posted as FHWA CHBP 26 001 under CFDA 20.267 and is categorized as a discretionary transportation grant.
What is the award ceiling listed for the opportunity posting?
The award ceiling is $55,000,000, consistent with the per-State cap described in the NOFO.
Does the total planned funding guarantee that full amounts will be awarded?
No. FHWA plans to award up to $350 million, but the final amount available depends on Congressional appropriations and overall fund availability.
How should States plan for cash flow given the reimbursable nature of the grant?
Because grants are reimbursable, recipients generally must pay eligible project costs first and then request reimbursement under the terms of the award, so States typically need to plan for up-front financing and document match sources in the application and project financing plan.
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