COE for Technical Training and Human Performance

The U.S. Department of Transportation, through the Federal Aviation Administration, is offering funding under the program titled COE for Technical Training and Human Performance. This initiative is structured as a cooperative agreement under the Assistance Listings number 20.109, Air Transportation Centers of Excellence. The program is listed as discretionary and is designed to support research and development in science and technology fields related to aviation training and human performance. The program reflects the agency’s continued efforts to enhance technical training methodologies, improve operational safety, and advance the human factors aspects of aviation. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to establish and maintain a Center of Excellence that brings together higher education institutions and the FAA in collaborative research. The program aims to improve technical training and optimize human performance in aviation environments, including but not limited to pilot training, air traffic management, and safety operations. Research supported under this program is expected to contribute directly to the FAA’s mission of maintaining the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world. The funding mechanism for this opportunity is a cooperative agreement, which indicates substantial involvement of the federal agency in the execution of the research and activities. The award ceiling for individual applicants is set at one million dollars, while the award floor is noted at one dollar. A total of up to one hundred awards are expected under this program. Cost sharing or matching contributions are required, although the specific match percentage or structure is not outlined in the notice. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate their capacity to meet this requirement as part of their submission. Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education. Other entities, including individuals, nonprofit organizations, and governmental units, are not listed as eligible applicants. This restriction underscores the FAA’s intent to establish partnerships primarily with academic research institutions that can contribute sustained expertise and infrastructure in technical training and human performance studies. Applications were originally due on January 31, 2021, but the current closing date for submissions is September 30, 2025, with an archive date of October 31, 2025. The program was last updated on August 29, 2025, and remains open and accepting applications. No pre-application requirements such as letters of intent or concept papers are indicated in the available notice. The program does not specify recurring cycles or multiple rounds, and therefore the current application window should be treated as the active cycle. Applicants who encounter difficulties in accessing the full announcement electronically are advised to contact Lincoln Cheng, Program and Management Analyst, at 202-267-9583. No contact email is provided. This point of contact serves as the official grantor resource for inquiries related to the opportunity. Interested applicants are encouraged to consult the official announcement on Grants.gov for any additional program details or clarifications that may arise over the application period.