The application period is now open for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Fiscal Year 2026 Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP), which provides funding to help eligible motorcoach operators strengthen security and protect passengers, employees, and critical transportation infrastructure.
Applications are due July 24, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. With registration requirements and application materials taking time to complete, eligible operators are encouraged to begin preparing now.
The FY 2026 program makes $1.9 million available nationwide to support security enhancements, including facility and vehicle security improvements, cybersecurity, employee training, planning, exercises, and other projects designed to reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen preparedness.
Who Should Apply?
The program is intended for eligible private intercity bus operators that:
- Operate fixed-route intercity over-the-road bus service serving one or more historically eligible Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) locations; or
- Operate charter service using over-the-road coaches and provide at least 50 trips annually to one or more historically eligible UASI areas.
Applicants must also have a current TSA-approved Vulnerability Assessment and Security Plan (VASP) completed or updated within the past three years.
Before You Apply
If you believe your company may be eligible, now is the time to begin preparing. Among other requirements, applicants will need:
- An active SAM.gov registration with a current Unique Entity Identifier (UEI);
- Registration in FEMA GO;
- A completed Investment Justification and detailed budget;
- A VASP certification statement; and
- A required 50% non-federal cash match for awarded projects.
Because federal registrations can take several weeks to complete or renew, operators should not wait until the application deadline to begin the process.
ABA Webinar Coming Soon
To help members navigate the application process, ABA will host a webinar soon covering program eligibility, application requirements, allowable projects, and tips for developing a competitive application – stay tuned for more details.
In the meantime, ABA encourages interested operators to review the FY 2026 Intercity Bus Security Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to better understand the program’s eligibility requirements, allowable projects, cost-share requirements, and application process. Reviewing the NOFO now will help your organization determine whether the program is a good fit and ensure you are well prepared when ABA’s webinar and additional application resources become available.