Air Transportation Centers of Excellence (20.109)
Air Transportation Centers of Excellence (Assistance Listing 20.109) is run by the Federal Aviation Administration, part of the Department of Transportation. It awarded $233 million in 62 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $3.8 million per award on average. 2 funding opportunities are open or forecast now.
The typical award was $1.4 million. Half of the 62 awards fell between $329,471 and $4.9 million, and they ranged from $5,000 to $41.6 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$233 million
- Grant awards62
- Typical award$1.4 million
- Awarded in FY 2025$21.5 million
- Size rank573 of 1824
- Type of assistanceProject grants, use of property, facilities, and equipment, provision of specialized services
Key findings
- Annual funding fell from $63.6 million in fiscal 2021 to $21.5 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 573rd largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 91% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 28 states and territories.
What the program funds
Conduct long term research in critical and specific areas of aviation related technology. Responsibilities of Centers may include, but are not limited to: the conduct of research concerning catastrophic failure of aircraft; airspace and airport planning and design; airport capacity enhancement techniques; human performance in the air transportation environment; aviation safety and security; the supply of trained air transportation personnel including pilots and mechanics; and other aviation issues pertinent to developing and maintaining a safe and efficient air transportation system, and the interpretation, publication, and dissemination of the results of such research.
Open opportunities
- Center of Excellence for Alternative Jet Fuels and Environment
- Joint Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials Research
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
FAA COE applicants are limited to colleges and universities with the financial resources to meet statutory requirements for matching Federal funds and maintenance of effort. Academic institutions may partner with industry affiliates, other public and private entities, government laboratories and other interested parties. Applicants must satisfy the Congressionally mandated selection criteria as stated in an open Final Solicitation.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Centers of Excellence are established for long term mission-critical research in specific technology areas. Funding may be used for the establishment and operation of the Centers of Excellence and the related training, education and research projects. The FAA determines a need for a Center of Excellence in a specific area of technology and publishes in Grants.gov a Notice of Intent to Establish a COE and a Notice of Availability of a Draft Solicitation. In response to the Final Solicitation, each applicant submits a proposal with a description of their institutional capabilities, available faculty, facilities and equipment, and additional information as required in the Solicitation. Researchers at each COE are expected to maintain a close working relationship with the FAA COE Program Office and relevant FAA program offices and others having responsibility in areas related to their research projects. Centers conduct semi-annual reviews, and a major symposium at the conclusion of each cooperative agreement and research phase. This activity satisfies Congressional requirements to disseminate research results to a broad audience. CONGRESSIONAL RESTRICTIONS: (1) Matching Funds - The Federal share of the grant awarded shall be 50 percent of the cost to establish and operate and conduct related research within the Center of Excellence and related research activities.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. This program has no statutory formula. Matching Funds Requirements - The Federal share shall be 50 percent of the costs of establishing and operating the Center of Excellence and related research activities. Maintenance of Effort - Each recipient will maintain its aggregate expenditures from all other sources for establishing and operating the Center and related research activities at or above the average level of such expenditures in its 2 fiscal years preceding November 1990.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Program started in FY 1992. Grant assistance is expected to be a minimum of $500,000 per year for each Center, and may be augmented by tasks funded through IDIQ contract awards.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2016: In FY 2016, the FAA plans to continue supporting the following COE topic areas: Unmanned Aircraft Systems; Alternative Jet Fuels and Environment; Commercial Space Transportation; General Aviation Safety, Accessibility and Sustainability Research; Advanced Materials. In 2016, the FAA plans to add a new COE to support specific needs of the Air Traffic Organization in the area of Technical Training and Human Performance. In FY 2016, the FAA COE PMO supported the following topic areas: Technical Training and Human Performance; Unmanned Aircraft Systems; Alternative Jet Fuels and Environment; Commercial Space Transportation; General Aviation Safety, Accessibility and Sustainability Research; and Advanced Materials. Fiscal Year2017: In FY 2017, the FAA COE PMO continues to support the following topic areas: Technical Training and Human Performance; Unmanned Aircraft Systems; Alternative Jet Fuels and Environment; Commercial Space Transportation; General Aviation Safety, Accessibility and Sustainability Research; and Advanced Materials. Fiscal Year2019: In Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, the FAA COE PMO continued to support research and development in the following topic areas: Technical Training and Human Performance; Unmanned Aircraft Systems; Alternative Jet Fuels and Environment; General Aviation Safety, Commercial Space Transportation, and Advanced Materials.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Air Transportation Centers of Excellence (20.109) awarded$233 million across 62 grant awards, an average of $3.8 million per award.
Who usually wins
Colleges and universities received 97% of the money, state and local governments 2.6%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colleges and universities | 61 | $227 million | 97% |
| State and local governments | 1 | $6.1 million | 2.6% |
By state
22 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas | 6 | $59.6 million |
| Georgia | 4 | $24.7 million |
| Mississippi | 3 | $22.3 million |
| Massachusetts | 2 | $20.3 million |
| Pennsylvania | 4 | $19.9 million |
| Ohio | 5 | $12.8 million |
| Washington | 3 | $9.8 million |
| North Dakota | 2 | $9.0 million |
| Florida | 4 | $8.8 million |
| Missouri | 1 | $6.3 million |
| New Mexico | 2 | $6.1 million |
| Alaska | 1 | $6.1 million |
| Alabama | 2 | $5.7 million |
| Indiana | 4 | $3.2 million |
| North Carolina | 2 | $2.9 million |
| Oregon | 2 | $2.8 million |
| Illinois | 1 | $2.6 million |
| California | 2 | $2.4 million |
| Vermont | 1 | $1.7 million |
| Oklahoma | 1 | $1.5 million |
| Iowa | 2 | $1.3 million |
| Tennessee | 1 | $1.1 million |
| Hawaii | 1 | $900,000 |
| Virginia | 1 | $727,340 |
| Colorado | 1 | $394,184 |
| Nebraska | 1 | $174,102 |
| Texas | 2 | $12,465 |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | $10,072 |