What Makes an Application Competitive?

Scoring criteria and emphasis areas vary depending on the grant opportunity. However, there are several commonalities among grant opportunities that influence the competitiveness of applications.

• Meeting eligibility criteria: To be competitive, applications must clear the initial hurdle of accurately and appropriately responding to the NOFO. This includes selecting an eligible project, requesting an appropriate amount of funding, providing the required local match, and ensuring funds will be obligated by the statutory deadline.

• Thoroughly respond to each scoring criterion: The NOFO for each grant opportunity will clearly outline the criteria that will be used to score projects. Applicants should address each criterion or note when it is not applicable to the project.

• Alignment with grant emphasis areas: Applicants should consider the topics emphasized in the NOFO when selecting a project(s) and putting together a submittal. For example, some grant opportunities emphasize investments in rural communities, while others reward projects for addressing climate change or investing in Historically Disadvantaged Communities. In addition to comprehensively addressing each of the scoring criteria, applicants should address and/or respond to the emphasis areas throughout their submittal.

• Documentation and data: Applicants should back up statements made in their narrative with data or other documentation whenever possible. Examples include recent demographic data for the study area; research confirming the benefits of proposed infrastructure improvements; financial documentation; and letters of support from relevant partner agencies.

• Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA): Applicants should conduct a BCA, following USDOT Benefit-Cost Analysis Guidance for Discretionary Grant Programs guidance. This is a data-intensive effort and should begin early in the grant development process. While there are some exceptions, typically a grant should have a benefit-cost ratio of 1.0 or above.

• Local match: In general, projects with a higher local match percentage are more competitive. Thus, agencies should balance their need for funding assistance with a desire to show a strong local commitment to the project.