The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), also called the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provides the basis for Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) programs and activities through September 30, 2026. It invests $350 billion in highway programs over five years. For civil engineering firm owners, the main opportunity is to help public agencies identify eligible projects, prepare competitive applications, and deliver funded work.
Many programs allow local governments, Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), Tribes, and other public authorities to compete directly for funding. The programs differ in purpose and applicant rules, so start with the official FHWA IIJA overview and the specific program page.
What it funds
IIJA supports FHWA programs and activities, including highway improvements and competitive grant programs. Recent FHWA announcements include funding opportunities and awards for infrastructure, bridges, multimodal freight and highways, road safety, and resilience. The program names and notices can change by funding cycle. Check the official program page for current eligibility, eligible costs, and application requirements before advising a client.
Who applies
Public agencies apply for grants. Depending on the program, eligible applicants may include state and local governments, MPOs, Tribes, and other public authorities. Eligibility varies, and some programs may allow applications from particular types of agencies or partnerships only.
USDOT and FHWA publish a Competitive Grant Funding Matrix organized by applicant type. Use it to help identify possible programs for an agency, then confirm the rules in the current notice of funding opportunity. A consultant can support an application, but should not assume the firm itself is an eligible applicant.
Award size and funding available
The official program page states that IIJA invests $350 billion in highway programs over five years. That figure describes the law's highway investment, not the amount available to a particular applicant or program. Award amounts, matching requirements, and remaining funds vary by program and cycle. Check the official program page and current notice for those details.
Cycle and current status
The IIJA provides the basis for FHWA programs and activities through September 30, 2026. FHWA's recent announcements include notices of funding opportunity (NOFOs), awards, and apportionments. The list includes a FY26 INFRA Track 1 awards announcement and a federal-aid highway apportionment notice dated October 1, 2026; it also includes a FY24-26 PROTECT NOFO dated August 27, 2026, and a FY26 BUILD awards announcement dated July 7, 2026.
These examples show that activity differs by program: a notice may invite applications, while an awards announcement reports selections. Verify whether a program is open, closed, or awaiting awards on its official page before setting client expectations.
How consultants win the design work
Agencies apply for the funding. Consultants are selected separately by the agency through qualifications-based selection (QBS) for professional services such as planning, benefit-cost analysis, grant writing support where allowed, design, and construction phase services. Procurement rules apply. The grant process and the consultant selection process are distinct, so discuss scope and procurement timing with the agency early. Follow the agency's solicitation and applicable procurement requirements.
What owners should do now
- Review the FHWA overview and funding matrix to find programs that fit your public agency clients and project types.
- Ask agency clients about project readiness, available data, community priorities, and likely application responsibilities.
- Prepare relevant qualifications and project examples for planning, analysis, application support where allowed, design, and construction phase services.
- Confirm current program status, award details, deadlines, and procurement requirements on the official program page before making a work plan.
Official program page: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bipartisan-infrastructure-law/. Check it for current notices of funding opportunity before advising a client.
