Opportunity Information: Apply for 14 C UAS 0812AM
Apply for 14 C UAS 0812AM
- The DOT FAA Centers of Excellence in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FAA Center of Excellence (COE) for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.109 Air Transportation Centers of Excellence.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 12, 2014 and posted on Aug 12, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 15, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
This opportunity is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) discretionary grant competition to create a single FAA Center of Excellence (COE) focused on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Authorized under Public Law 101-508, the COE is intended to function as a long-term research, education, and training partnership between the FAA and a geographically dispersed consortium of universities, supported by affiliated partners. The overall goal is to produce practical solutions and evidence-based recommendations that help integrate UAS safely and effectively into the National Airspace System (NAS), while also addressing near-term operational needs and longer-term aviation policy and technology challenges.
The COE structure is built around a core university team selected competitively by the FAA Administrator, with additional affiliate members that can include industry groups and other public or private organizations. The FAA expects the COE to serve as a central hub where government, academia, and affiliates coordinate research agendas, share data and expertise, and translate findings into usable outcomes for regulators and operators. While the FAA will initially establish the relationship through cooperative agreements with the selected universities, the specific research projects are not fully locked in at the time of selection. Instead, projects are expected to be defined, refined, and funded over time, including the creation of a formal research agenda during the COE's first year of operation. After the competitive selection is complete, the FAA sponsor may also issue additional work supported through contract tasks awarded to COE member universities for FAA purposes.
A key feature of this COE is the cost-sharing requirement. The COE is responsible for matching all funds granted to establish, operate, and conduct associated research. In practice, that means applicants need a credible plan for meeting matching obligations, potentially through university contributions, state or regional support, and affiliate partner participation. The COE may also contract with other entities as appropriate, which gives the consortium flexibility to bring in specialized capabilities when needed.
The FAA Administrator will select the COE team using congressionally mandated criteria, with all criteria weighted equally. Applicants are evaluated on how well the needs of the state where they are located reflect broader regional needs for improved air transportation services and facilities, the strength of the research and extension resources they can bring to the effort, and their ability to provide leadership on both immediate and long-range air transportation problems. Reviewers also look for an established air transportation program, a proven ability to disseminate research results through statewide or region-wide continuing education programs, and the quality and relevance of the research projects proposed under the grant. Importantly, the solicitation notes that page limits apply and that the projects ultimately supported through the COE will be further defined and evaluated after the core team is chosen, with additional tasks funded throughout the life of the Center.
The research scope is intentionally broad, reflecting the many technical, operational, and human factors barriers to integrating UAS into routine airspace operations. The FAA lists topic areas that include air traffic control interoperability, airport ground operations, control and communication, detect and avoid (DAA), human factors, low-altitude operations safety, noise reduction, and spectrum management. It also includes workforce and operational integration topics such as unmanned aircraft crew training and certification (including pilots), UAS traffic management, and standards for UAS wake separation to support safe integration into the NAS. The expectation is that the COE will not focus on a single niche, but will be capable of supporting a portfolio of coordinated efforts that address safety, efficiency, and scalability of UAS operations.
In terms of eligibility and award mechanics, the opportunity is open to public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, signaling substantial federal involvement and collaboration rather than a simple pass-through grant. The opportunity anticipates a single award (ExpectedAwards: 1), reflecting the intent to designate one COE for UAS. The listing is associated with CFDA 20.109, Air Transportation Centers of Excellence, and falls under science and technology and other research and development. The notice indicates award ceiling and floor are listed as 0 in the posting, which typically means funding levels are determined by project-specific matching grants and future tasking rather than a single fixed amount published upfront.
The solicitation timeline in the announcement includes several key administrative dates. Universities intending to submit proposals were required to notify the FAA COE Program Director, Patricia Watts, Ph.D., by August 22 and identify their proposed core team and affiliate members. Written questions about the application process were accepted through September 9 via Patricia.Watts@FAA.gov. The proposal submission deadline was September 15, with the announcement stating the FAA Administrator expected to announce the selected core team within six to nine months and have the COE operational within the next year. The notice was issued in Atlantic County, New Jersey on August 12, 2014, and the final solicitation was made available through the FAA COE website (www.faa.gov/go/coe). For access issues, the contact listed is William Currier, Senior Business Analyst, at 609-485-4648, with COE email contact information referenced in the posting.
In plain terms, this grant competition is about building a nationally recognized university-led consortium that can consistently deliver UAS research, training, and policy-relevant technical work for the FAA, while bringing matching resources and outside partners to the table. The strongest applicants would typically be those that can demonstrate deep aviation research capacity, credible regional and national leadership, established aviation education programs, and a track record of turning research into training and outreach that reaches beyond the campus.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this FAA grant opportunity?
This opportunity is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) discretionary grant competition to establish a single FAA Center of Excellence (COE) focused on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The COE is intended to operate as a long-term research, education, and training partnership between the FAA and a geographically dispersed consortium of universities, supported by affiliated partners.
What is the main purpose of creating a UAS Center of Excellence (COE)?
The overall goal is to produce practical solutions and evidence-based recommendations that help integrate UAS safely and effectively into the National Airspace System (NAS). The COE is also expected to address near-term operational needs and longer-term aviation policy and technology challenges.
How many awards does the FAA expect to make?
The posting anticipates a single award (ExpectedAwards: 1), reflecting the intent to designate one national COE for UAS.
Who is eligible to apply?
The opportunity is open to public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education.
What type of funding instrument will be used?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which signals substantial federal involvement and collaboration rather than a simple pass-through grant.
What does the COE look like structurally?
The COE is built around a core university team selected competitively by the FAA Administrator. The COE can also include additional affiliate members, which may include industry groups and other public or private organizations.
What is the FAA expecting the COE to do as a "hub"?
The FAA expects the COE to serve as a central hub where government, academia, and affiliates coordinate research agendas, share data and expertise, and translate findings into usable outcomes for regulators and operators.
Are the research projects fully defined at the time of selection?
No. The solicitation indicates that specific research projects are not fully locked in when the core team is selected. Projects are expected to be defined, refined, and funded over time, including the creation of a formal research agenda during the COE's first year of operation.
Can the FAA fund additional work after the COE is selected?
Yes. After the competitive selection is complete, the FAA sponsor may issue additional work supported through contract tasks awarded to COE member universities for FAA purposes.
Is cost sharing required?
Yes. A key feature of this COE is a cost-sharing requirement: the COE is responsible for matching all funds granted to establish, operate, and conduct associated research.
What kinds of matching resources does the FAA expect applicants to bring?
The posting notes that applicants need a credible plan for meeting matching obligations. Matching may come from university contributions, state or regional support, and affiliate partner participation.
Can the COE contract with other entities?
Yes. The COE may contract with other entities as appropriate, giving the consortium flexibility to bring in specialized capabilities when needed.
Who selects the COE core university team?
The FAA Administrator selects the COE team through a competitive process using congressionally mandated criteria.
How are proposals evaluated?
Applicants are evaluated using congressionally mandated criteria, with all criteria weighted equally. The criteria described include regional relevance, research and extension resources, leadership capacity on immediate and long-range air transportation problems, an established air transportation program, an ability to disseminate research results through continuing education programs, and the quality and relevance of proposed research projects.
Are the evaluation criteria weighted differently?
No. The solicitation states that the congressionally mandated evaluation criteria are weighted equally.
What does "regional needs" mean in the evaluation?
One evaluation factor is how well the needs of the state where the applicant is located reflect broader regional needs for improved air transportation services and facilities.
What kinds of research capabilities are reviewers looking for?
Reviewers look for strong research and extension resources, leadership on immediate and long-range air transportation problems, an established air transportation program, and a proven ability to disseminate research results through statewide or region-wide continuing education programs.
Is dissemination and continuing education part of the COE expectations?
Yes. The criteria include a proven ability to disseminate research results through statewide or region-wide continuing education programs.
Does the solicitation mention proposal page limits?
Yes. The solicitation notes that page limits apply.
What is the research scope for the UAS COE?
The research scope is intentionally broad and is meant to address technical, operational, and human factors barriers to integrating UAS into routine airspace operations, supporting a portfolio of coordinated efforts related to safety, efficiency, and scalability.
What UAS topic areas does the FAA specifically list?
The FAA lists topic areas including air traffic control interoperability, airport ground operations, control and communication, detect and avoid (DAA), human factors, low-altitude operations safety, noise reduction, and spectrum management.
Does the scope include training and workforce topics?
Yes. The scope includes workforce and operational integration topics such as unmanned aircraft crew training and certification (including pilots), UAS traffic management, and standards for UAS wake separation to support safe integration into the NAS.
Is the COE expected to focus on one narrow technical niche?
No. The FAA indicates the COE should not focus on a single niche, but instead be capable of supporting a portfolio of coordinated efforts addressing multiple barriers to UAS integration.
What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?
The listing is associated with CFDA 20.109, Air Transportation Centers of Excellence.
What general category does this funding fall under?
The posting places the opportunity under science and technology and other research and development.
Why does the posting list an award ceiling and floor of 0?
The notice indicates the award ceiling and floor are listed as 0, which typically means funding levels are determined through project-specific matching grants and future tasking rather than a single fixed amount published upfront.
What were the key dates mentioned in the solicitation?
The timeline described includes: (1) an intent-to-submit notification to the FAA COE Program Director by August 22 identifying the proposed core team and affiliates, (2) written questions accepted through September 9, and (3) proposal submission due September 15.
Who was the FAA point of contact for intent notifications and written questions?
The FAA COE Program Director listed is Patricia Watts, Ph.D. Written questions were accepted via Patricia.Watts@FAA.gov.
When did the FAA expect to announce the selected core team?
The announcement states the FAA Administrator expected to announce the selected core team within six to nine months after proposal submission.
When was the COE expected to become operational?
The notice states the COE was expected to be operational within the next year after selection.
Where and when was the notice issued?
The notice was issued in Atlantic County, New Jersey on August 12, 2014.
Where was the final solicitation made available?
The final solicitation was made available through the FAA COE website at www.faa.gov/go/coe.
Who was listed for help with solicitation access issues?
For access issues, the contact listed is William Currier, Senior Business Analyst, at 609-485-4648. The posting also references COE email contact information.
What characteristics would make an applicant especially competitive based on the posting?
Based on the description, strong applicants would be expected to demonstrate deep aviation research capacity, credible regional and national leadership, established aviation education programs, and a track record of translating research into training and outreach beyond the campus, along with a credible plan to meet the matching requirement and effectively engage affiliate partners.
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