Federal PROTECT Formula Program

PROTECT Formula Program Planning Set-Aside

Per PROTECT Formula Program guidance, E(5)(a), MnDOT must set aside at least 2% of PROTECT apportioned formula funds for eligible planning activities each fiscal year (referred to here as the “planning set-aside"). Prior to FY25, MnDOT used these funds to develop the Minnesota Resilience Improvement Plan (RIP). PROTECT formula funds are apportioned to MnDOT through FY28 and a minimum of 30% of the total FY25-28 planning set-aside amount will be directed to local partners. Statewide funds may be used for statewide or local resilience planning activities, as determined by a selection committee of PROTECT subgroup members.

Project eligibility

Eligible applicants

Eligible applicants for PROTECT Formula Program Planning Set-Aside funds include:

States (or a political subdivision of a state)
Metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs)
Local governments
Special purpose districts or public authorities with a transportation function
Tribal governments
Federal land management agencies (FLMAs), when applying jointly with states

Eligible facilities

The PROTECT Formula Program also limits the expenditure of funds for projects to certain specified facilities including:

Highway projects eligible for assistance under Title 23, U.S.C.;
Public transportation facilities or services eligible for assistance under Chapter 53 of Title 49, U.S.C.;
Port facilities, including facilities that connect ports with other modes of transportation, improve the efficiency of evacuations and disaster relief, or aid transportation (23 U.S.C. 176(c)(3)(B)(i)-(iii)).

Eligible activities

Per PROTECT Formula Program guidance, F(1)(a), eligible planning activities are limited to:

Developing a Resilience Improvement Plan in accordance with Section 176(e) (eligibility limited to MPO applicants);
Resilience planning, predesign, design (including engineering work), or the development of data tools to simulate transportation disruption scenarios, including vulnerability assessments;
Technical capacity building to facilitate the ability of the State to assess the vulnerabilities of its surface transportation assets and community response strategies under current conditions and a range of potential future conditions.

Eligible costs

Eligible planning costs for planning activities eligible under Section 176(c)(2) and (d)(3) may include development phase activities, including planning, feasibility analysis, revenue forecasting, environmental review, preliminary engineering and design work, other preconstruction activities, and other activities consistent with carrying out the purposes of Section 176(d)(3).

PROTECT formula funding requires a 13% local match if a project is listed within the Resilience Improvement Plan (RIP) or a 20% local match if a project is not listed within the RIP. MnDOT OSPH staff will coordinate amending awarded projects into the RIP. Awarded funds must be spent down by September 1st following the selected fiscal year.

FY25-26 Call for Planning Activities (Round 1)

MnDOT’s Office of Sustainability and Public Health is coordinating a centralized call for planning activities for PROTECT planning set-aside funds. Requests for FY25 funds ($500,000) and a portion of FY26 funds ($300,000) are currently being accepted from internal MnDOT applicants only. Eligible requests will be reviewed and awarded by a committee of PROTECT subgroup members.

Use the application worksheet to prepare your responses, then submit your responses using the form below by 11:59 PM on Tuesday, February 4th, 2025.

Timeline

First Round (open to internal applicants only)

FY2025: $500,000 available
FY2026: $300,000 available

January 13, 2025: Announce and open application for first call for projects
February 4, 2025: Submission deadline
February 7, 2025: Applications shared with selection committee for review
February 10-14, 2025: Project selection meeting
February 18, 2025: Funding awards announced

Second Round (open to internal and local applicants)

FY2026: All remaining funds available (TBA, minimum $350,000)
FY2027: $250,000 available
FY2028: $250,000 available

April 1-12, 2025: Announce second call for projects
April 14, 2025: Application opens
Week of April 28-May 2, 2025: Office hours for application assistance
May 16, 2025: Submission deadline
May 19 - 23, 2025: Applications shared with selection committee for review; project selection meeting
June 2, 2025: Funding awards announced

Third Round (open to internal and local applicants)

FY2026: All remaining funds available (TBA)
FY2027: All remaining funds available (TBA)
FY2028: All remaining funds available (TBA)

October/November 2025: Announce and open application for third call for projects (anticipated)