Drone inspections get federal paperwork blessing.
Published Date: 9/1/2026
Notice
Summary
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, and its implementing regulations, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R) invites the general public and all other interested entities to comment on a new information collection request associated with a new Federal Assistance program entitled "2026 Drone Infrastructure Inspection Grant (DIIG) Program." This program was established under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 to support government entities in deploying and enhancing highly automated drone systems for critical infrastructure safety inspections. OST-R is seeking a new OMB Control Number for this data collection effort.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Up to $9M Grants for Drone Inspections
State, local, tribal, and territorial government entities can apply for competitive DIIG grants of up to $9,000,000 to deploy highly automated drone systems for inspecting bridges, dams, roads, and other infrastructure. The program anticipates approximately 5 distinct government recipients, with awards ranging from $500,000 to $9,000,000 per award.
Application and Reporting Paperwork Burden
Applicants (state, local, tribal, and territorial government authorities) will face an estimated total annual information-collection burden of 2,788 hours and an annualized labor cost of $185,151.08. The application and reporting use forms SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, and DIIG-specific project narrative and budget templates, and include items like optional federal-share waiver requests, periodic performance reports, program evaluation submissions, and final performance reports.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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