Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL): Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Contract Tower (FCT) Competitive Grant Program (Limited Eligibility) - FY 2025
| Agency: | U.S. Department of Transportation |
|---|---|
| CFDA: | 20.106 |
| Federal FON: | FAA-ARP-BIL-G-24-003 |
| Office: | Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Airports |
| Multipart Grant: | No |
| Next Due: | 09/18/2024 (Application) |
|---|---|
| Solicitation Date: | 08/22/2024 |
| Match Required: | No |
| Actual Funds: | Unspecified |
| Range: | $20,000,000 (Max) |
Summary:
The purpose of this program is to support airport-owned airport traffic control towers (ATCT) that participate in the funding agency's Contract Tower Program. Projects will address the aging infrastructure of the nation's airports. Projects will support eligible airports in the development and improvement of a nationwide system that adequately meets the needs of civil aeronautics. In addition, this program is intended to promote the competitiveness of the U.S. economy; improve opportunities for high-paying jobs with the free and fair choice to join a union by focusing on high labor standards; strengthen infrastructure resilience to all hazards, including climate change; and effectively coordinate with state, local, tribal, and territorial government partners. Eligible projects include:
- Sustaining, constructing, repairing, improving, rehabilitating, modernizing, replacing, or relocating non-approach control towers
- Acquiring and installing air traffic control, communications, and related equipment to be used in such towers
- Constructing remote towers certified by the funding agency, including acquisition and installation of air traffic control, communications, or related equipment
The funding agency is currently evaluating remote tower technology to assess its sustainability. To date, the funding agency has not certified any remote towers.
The funding agency also seeks to support projects that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and are designed with specific elements to address climate change impacts. Specifically, the funding agency seeks to support projects that align with the president’s greenhouse gas reduction goals, promote energy efficiency, support fiscally responsible land use and transportation-efficient design, support development compatible with the use of sustainable aviation fuels and technologies, increase climate resilience, incorporate sustainable and less emissions-intensive pavement and construction materials as allowable, and reduce pollution.
Applicants are encouraged to consider addressing the challenges faced by individuals in underserved communities and rural areas, as well as accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Priority will also be given to projects that meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Can satisfy all statutory and administrative requirements for the award by October 2025
- Advance aviation safety or enhance air traffic efficiency
Eligibility is limited to sponsors of airports located in select states and U.S. territories. Refer to the Eligibility section for details.
Last Updated: January 10, 2025
Eligibility Notes:
Eligible applicants are airport sponsors that are approved in the funding agency’s Contract Tower Program or Contract Tower Cost Share program, as defined under Title 49, Section 47124 of the USC, and are normally eligible under the funding agency's Airport Improvement Program (AIP) Discretionary Grants program, known in eCivis Grants Network as US17119, which generally include the following entities:
- Public agencies
- Private entities
- State agencies
- Indian tribes or pueblos owning a public-use National Plan of Integrated Airport System (NPIAS) airport
- The Secretary of the Interior for Midway Island Airport
- The Republic of the Marshall Islands
- The Federated States of Micronesia
- The Republic of Palau
Eligible airports must be located in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, or Wyoming, or the U.S. territories of the Northern Mariana Islands or Puerto Rico. Refer to the Eligibility file for a list of eligible airports.
For airports covered under the funding agency’s State Block Grant Program or airports in a channeling act state, applicants should coordinate with their associated state agency on the process for submission of the application.
Applicants are not required to resubmit an application for this program for airports that submitted projects under the funding agency's Airport Terminal Program (ATP), known in eCivis Grants Network as US16632, for FY 2025.
Unclassified airports are not eligible to apply.
Previous award recipients include:
- Gary/Chicago International Airport (Gary, IN)
- Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport (Marquette, MI)
- Renton Municipal Airport (Renton, WA)
- Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport (Bullhead City, AZ)
- Fullerton Municipal Airport (Fullerton, CA)
Refer to the Award file for additional information on previous award recipients.
Eligible Applicants:
Local GovernmentNative American Tribe
Private Sector
State Government
Application Notes:
Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. ET on September 18, 2024.
Applications must be emailed directly to the address provided in the Contact section or by pressing the "submit by email" button in the FAA Form 5100-144, which is attached as the Application file.
Applications must include:
- FAA Form 5100-144:
- General airport information
- Project overview
- Project status
- Program considerations
- Certifications
Applications must be submitted in .pdf format.
The following are required in order to submit an application:
- Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number
- SAM (System for Award Management) registration
Applicants may obtain a UEI number and verify or renew SAM registration status at www.ecivis.com/sam.
Applications will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Whether the project meets eligibility requirements for this program
- Timeliness of implementation
- Overall impact on the National Airspace System
- Advancement of aviation safety or enhancement of air traffic efficiency
- Creation of good-paying jobs
Refer to pages 3-4 of the NOFA file for additional information regarding the application evaluation criteria.
Refer to the NOFA and Application files for additional application information.
| Match Required: | No |
|---|---|
| Actual Funds: | Unspecified |
| Range: | $20,000,000 (Max) |
Match Notes:
Matching funds are not required for this program; however, applicants should detail any additional matching contributions in the application, including nonfederal and federal funds.
Applicants should also demonstrate a plan to address potential cost overruns as part of the overall funding plan.
Funding Notes:
Up to $20 million is available to support awards through this program.
Priority will be given to applicants that propose projects that can satisfy all statutory and administrative requirements for the award by October 2025.
In general, funds may not be used for costs incurred prior to the award execution date, unless specifically permitted under Title 49, Section 47110(c) of the USC. Certain airport development costs incurred prior to execution of the award agreement, but after November 15, 2021, may be allowable if certain conditions under Title 49, Section 47110(c) of the USC are met.
Funds may not be used for:
- Activities that support or oppose union organizing
- Debt service
For FY 2025, 20 awards ranging from $185,000 to $2 million were distributed through this program. For FY 2024, 20 awards ranging from $254,372 to $2 million were distributed. For FY 2023, a total of $20 million was distributed via 33 awards ranging from $84,000 to $2.2 million. Refer to the Award file for details.
Contacts:
Jesse Carriger
Manager, BIL Branch
(202) 267-3263
9-ARP-BILAirports@faa.gov
Agency Address
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
800 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20591
Contact Notes:
Questions should be directed to Jesse Carriger, or to the appropriate regional office (RO) or airports district office (ADO) listed online at www.faa.gov. A list of answers to frequently asked questions regarding this program will be posted online at www.faa.gov/general.
Applications must be emailed directly to the address provided or by pressing the "submit by email" button in the FAA Form 5100-144, which is attached as the Application file.
The agency address provided is for reference purposes only.
Files:
Application File: US17118_Application_FY2025.pdf (883.3 Kb)Other Pre-Award File: US17118_Eligibility_FY2025.pdf (375.6 Kb)
Other Pre-Award File: US17118_FAQ_FY2025.pdf (370.2 Kb)
NOFA File: US17118_NOFA_FY2025.pdf (239.2 Kb)
Award File: US17118_Award_FY2025.pdf (515.0 Kb)
File Notes:
The NOFA file contains the full solicitation for this program. The Application file contains the required form for submission. The Eligibility file contains a list of eligible airports for this program. The FAQ file contains a list of answers to frequently asked questions regarding the BIL. The Award file contains information on previous award recipients. Additional program resources can be found online at www.faa.gov/bil.
January 10, 2025
Information regarding awards through this program has been released and appended to the Award file. A sample of award recipients has been added to the Eligibility section, and a brief summary of the awards has been added to the Financial section.
August 22, 2024
Full solicitation information for this program has been released and attached as the NOFA file. All sections have been updated accordingly.
| Project: | Columbus Municipal Airport Terminal and Tower Project (1.1 Mb) |
|---|---|
| Applicant: | Columbus Municipal Airport |
| Summary: |
The purpose of this program is to support small town and municipal airports in the implementation of airport-owned airport traffic control tower (ATCT) projects that address the aging infrastructure of the nation’s airports. Columbus Municipal Airport requested and received $1.5 million to replace their ATCT. The total estimated cost of the project is $12.5 million. |
Grant Keywords
DOT, FAA, airport, airport sponsor, airport traffic control tower, ATCT, build, construction, construct, rebuild, rehab, refurbish, redevelopment, rehabilitate, rehabilitation, renovation, restoration, transport, transportation, FDOT, USDOT, aircraft, airline, airliner, remote tower, modernize, non-approach control tower, air traffic control, equipment, environmentalism, environmental, green, air pollution, emissions reduction, lower emission, GHG, greenhouse gas, rural, rural community, rural communities, rural area, underserved, tribe, tribal, territory, territories, economic development, job, labor, employment, climate change, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, Midway Island, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau, BIL/IIJA, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, IIJA, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, BIL, Federal Aviation Administration Contract Tower Competitive Grant Program, FCT, ATC, ATC tower, air traffic control tower, airport improvement, airport infrastructure, civil aeronautics, FAA FCT, FAA-2024-1951Grant Categories
Community DevelopmentEconomic Development
Environment/Natural Resources
Transportation