FAA Aviation Research Grants Program

The United States Department of Transportation, through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has announced the availability of funding under the Aviation Research Grants Program, Notice of Funding Opportunity 20-01. This program is managed by the William J. Hughes Technical Center Aviation Research Grants Program Office located at Atlantic City International Airport in New Jersey. The authority for this program comes from Title 49 of the United States Code, sections 44511 and 44512, and the Federal Aviation Administration Research, Engineering, and Development Authorization Act of 1990. It is further guided by applicable federal regulations such as 2 CFR Part 200 and FAA Order 9550.7B. The purpose of the program is to support aviation-related research with the potential to enhance the safety, efficiency, capacity, and security of the nation’s aviation system. Funding is provided for both grants and cooperative agreements, with research topics spanning multiple technical areas including air traffic control automation, artificial intelligence applications, human factors in highly automated environments, aviation weather, aircraft safety, airport operations, and systems science. Additionally, projects may focus on catastrophic failure prevention in aircraft systems and components. The FAA intends for these grants to contribute to the long-term growth of civil aviation and to encourage innovative scientific and engineering research. Eligible applicants include colleges, universities, and other nonprofit research institutions with 501(c)(3) status. Professional associations, hospitals, laboratories, museums, and similar organizations are also eligible, while individuals and for-profit organizations are excluded. The FAA also seeks equitable geographic distribution of funds and encourages proposals from Minority Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Hispanic Serving Institutions. Applicants must be registered in the federal System for Award Management (SAM) and maintain an active registration throughout the award period. Funding amounts vary widely, from several thousand to several million dollars, with anticipated availability of approximately six million dollars each fiscal year. The duration of awards ranges from twelve months to five years. While cost sharing is not required, the FAA may view institutional cost participation favorably in making funding decisions. Cooperative agreements, when awarded, require substantial collaboration between the FAA and the recipient in shaping and guiding the research effort. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov. Applicants may submit an optional pre-application white paper, typically not exceeding three pages, which allows the FAA to provide early feedback. New and continuation applications are accepted, with specific submission schedules outlined for each fiscal year from 2021 through 2027. For example, deadlines for new grant applications include July 3, September 3, December 1, and January 2 of each cycle year. If a deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the due date moves to the next business day. Applicants should allow at least 120 days for review and processing. Proposals are evaluated based on four equally weighted criteria: intrinsic scientific value, relevance to the FAA mission, technical soundness, and organizational competence. Ratings are assigned as undistinguished or with distinction, and proposals may be categorized as A, B, or C based on how many criteria are met with distinction. Awards are subject to administrative review, technical evaluation, and final approval by FAA program managers. The FAA encourages ongoing communication between applicants and program managers to refine research goals and align proposals with FAA priorities. All funded recipients must comply with FAA reporting requirements and federal cost principles. Award notices will specify performance periods, conditions, and reporting obligations. Grant administration follows FAA Order 9550.7B and federal uniform guidance. Required documentation for application includes SF-424 Research & Related, budget forms, biographical sketches, project descriptions, and supporting certifications. Questions regarding application submission should be directed to Grants.gov, while technical inquiries may be directed to FAA program managers. Administrative inquiries may be sent to the FAA Grants Officer at the program website.