← All opportunities

69A345 Office of the Under Secretary for Policy · United States

FY26 US DOT Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grants (DIIG) Program

Forecast — not open yet

69A345 Office of the Under Secretary for Policy expects to make 5 awards of $500,000 – $9 million each, from a total budget of $9 million. This is a forecast: the funder has announced the opportunity but it is not open yet and the estimated deadline is 15 Nov 2026. Eligible applicant types include city or township governments, others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification), state governments and 2 more.

About this call

The Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grants (DIIG) Program will provide grants to eligible government entities to facilitate the use of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), referred to herein as drones, in critical infrastructure inspection. The objective is to increase the widespread adoption of drones and relevant technologies in support of more efficient Inspection, Operation, Construction, Maintenance, and Repair (IOCMR) of critical infrastructure to improve worker safety related to critical infrastructure projects. The program is established by Section 912 of Public Law 118-63 and Public Law 119-75. Eligible uses of grant funds include purchasing, leasing, or enhancing drone systems; contracting for services when internal expertise is lacking in the government entities; and supporting program management for these systems and operations. The DIIG Program prioritizes projects that create and utilize innovative drone inspection technologies and systems, address inspection data management and data platform interoperability, and streamline inspection workflows and processes while accounting for the complexities inherent in multi-jurisdictional regions. Total available funds of $9,000,000 in the DIIG Program (Fiscal Year 2026) are to be awarded on a competitive basis. In selecting applications, the Department will prioritize projects carried out in a variety of communities and projects that address safety risks in the IOCMR of critical infrastructure.

Who can apply

• City or township governments
• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
• State governments
• County governments
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)

Applicant categories are a starting point. The official call decides eligibility.

Topics

Community Development Consumer Protection Disaster Prevention and Relief Employment, Labor and Training Information and Statistics Other (see text field entitled "Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity" for clarification) Science and Technology and other Research and Development Transportation

How to apply

1. Read the full notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) linked from the official page: eligibility, cost sharing and evaluation criteria.
2. Make sure your organisation has an active SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity ID (UEI); registration can take several weeks.
3. Register with Grants.gov and set up a Workspace for this opportunity, with the right roles for your organisation.
4. Prepare the required forms, narrative, budget and attachments exactly as the NOFO specifies.
5. Submit before the deadline and keep the tracking number. Check for amendments before you submit.

From the call text

Who can apply

Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page

Company stage

Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page

Single applicant or consortium

Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page

Where applicants must be based

Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page

Where to apply

Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page

Contact

Thy H Nguyen · thy.nguyen@dot.gov · 202-875-0520

Where these facts come from

Official sources

Official call page

Facts on this page come from the funder’s official data, taken on 15 Nov 2026. The funder's own documents, including later amendments, always take precedence.

Related funding