Opportunity Information: Apply for DOT OST 2025 2316
Apply for DOT OST 2025 2316
- The 69A345 Office of the Under Secretary for Policy in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Small Community Air Service Development Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.930.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-03-20.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-04. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $12,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP) is a U.S. Department of Transportation grant program meant to help smaller communities improve and sustain commercial air service. It was created under federal aviation legislation and has been reauthorized multiple times, most recently through the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. The program is codified at 49 U.S.C. 41743 and is listed under Assistance Listing number 20.930 (Payments for Small Community Air Service Development). In practical terms, SCASDP is designed to help communities that are underserved by air carriers, have lost service, have experienced major service cuts, or want to strengthen limited existing service. Funds are provided through reimbursable grants, meaning recipients generally spend first and then seek reimbursement according to the approved grant terms.
For this funding cycle, DOT plans to make up to $12 million available for FY 2024 award selections. The total number of awards is capped: DOT may select no more than 40 communities or community consortia nationwide in a year when funds are appropriated, and no more than four selected applicants may come from the same state in a given fiscal year. Individual award sizes are not fixed; there is no stated minimum or maximum per award, and historically awards have ranged roughly from $20,000 up to nearly $1.6 million depending on the project design and merits. DOT also notes it may issue partial awards if needed, and that future spending authority or appropriations could affect how much funding can ultimately be reimbursed.
Eligibility is focused on public-sector leadership and smaller-airport contexts. Only public entities may apply and serve as the legal sponsor of a grant; private organizations may participate as partners but cannot be the lead applicant. Each community may submit only one application, either on its own or as part of a consortium. Consortia are allowed, but they must be organized around a single joint project and a single shared objective, with an identified entity responsible for ensuring the joint plan is carried out. Importantly, communities without existing commercial air service can still apply, which allows places that are currently unserved to pursue strategies to attract or restore service.
The types of projects SCASDP can support are tied to improving air service availability and affordability for consumers. Eligible activities include providing assistance to a U.S. air carrier through subsidies for service to and from an underserved airport (generally limited to a period not exceeding three years), helping an underserved airport (or an airport where service has been terminated or substantially reduced) obtain new or restored service, and implementing other practical measures the Secretary considers appropriate to improve air service. Those “other measures” can include marketing and promotion efforts (such as advertising and public relations for the airport, the community, the carrier, or a destination) and better utilization of airport facilities, as long as the intent is to strengthen service options and improve outcomes for travelers.
There are also key limitations that applicants must plan around. The airport serving the applicant community or consortium cannot be larger than a “small hub” airport, using the FAA’s most recently published hub classification that is effective on the application due date. Additionally, the program includes a “same project” restriction that was updated by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024: a community or consortium generally cannot receive a new grant to support the same project more than once within a five-year period measured from the execution date of the prior/original grant. DOT will evaluate whether a proposal is truly new by comparing the earlier grant’s goals and objectives (and the core methods for achieving them) with the current request. As an example, a second revenue guarantee aimed at the same destination or direction would likely be treated as the same project and therefore restricted within five years, even if the structure or the carrier type changes. On the other hand, a revenue guarantee for a new destination or direction, or a broader marketing and promotion effort that is meaningfully different in scope and purpose, may qualify as a new project.
Project timeframes depend on the approach proposed. DOT indicates it intends to award grants with durations aligned to project type: about three years to complete studies, four years for marketing and promotion efforts, and up to five years for projects centered on revenue guarantees, subsidies, or other financial incentives. Applications are screened during an eligibility review stage, and proposals deemed ineligible at that point are disqualified. Questions about technical requirements are directed to the program contact (Brooke Chapman at the Department of Transportation), and DOT may post clarifications in the public docket at regulations.gov and on the SCASDP program website.
Key opportunity details from the notice include that it is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by the Office of the Under Secretary for Policy (DOT), with an application closing date listed as 2026-05-04, and an expected number of awards up to 40.
Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP) FAQs
What is the Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP)?
SCASDP is a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) discretionary grant program intended to help smaller communities improve and sustain commercial air service. It is designed for communities that are underserved by air carriers, have lost service, have experienced major service cuts, or want to strengthen limited existing service.
What law and program listing govern SCASDP?
SCASDP is codified at 49 U.S.C. 41743 and is listed under Assistance Listing number 20.930 (Payments for Small Community Air Service Development). The program has been reauthorized multiple times, most recently through the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.
Which DOT office administers this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by the Office of the Under Secretary for Policy within the U.S. Department of Transportation.
How much funding is available in this funding cycle?
For this cycle, DOT plans to make up to $12 million available for FY 2024 award selections. DOT also notes that future spending authority or appropriations could affect how much funding can ultimately be reimbursed.
How many awards can DOT make?
DOT may select no more than 40 communities or community consortia nationwide in a year when funds are appropriated.
Is there a limit on how many awards can come from one state?
Yes. No more than four selected applicants may come from the same state in a given fiscal year.
Is there a minimum or maximum grant amount?
No fixed minimum or maximum award amount is stated. Historically, awards have ranged roughly from about $20,000 up to nearly $1.6 million, depending on the project design and merits.
Can DOT make partial awards?
Yes. DOT notes it may issue partial awards if needed.
What does it mean that SCASDP awards are reimbursable?
SCASDP funds are provided through reimbursable grants. In practice, recipients generally spend first and then seek reimbursement according to the approved grant terms.
Who is eligible to apply as the lead applicant?
Only public entities may apply and serve as the legal sponsor of a grant. Private organizations may participate as partners, but they cannot be the lead applicant.
Can a private organization submit an application on behalf of a community?
No. Based on the opportunity description, the lead applicant and legal sponsor must be a public entity. Private organizations may be partners but cannot apply as the legal sponsor.
Can a community submit more than one application?
No. Each community may submit only one application, either as a standalone applicant or as part of a consortium.
Are community consortia allowed to apply?
Yes. Consortia are permitted, but they must be organized around a single joint project and a single shared objective, with an identified entity responsible for ensuring the joint plan is carried out.
Can communities without current commercial air service apply?
Yes. Communities without existing commercial air service can still apply, which allows currently unserved places to pursue strategies to attract or restore service.
What kinds of problems is SCASDP intended to address?
The program is meant for smaller communities that are underserved by air carriers, have lost service, have experienced major service cuts, or want to strengthen limited existing commercial air service.
What types of projects and activities are eligible under SCASDP?
SCASDP can support activities tied to improving air service availability and affordability for consumers, including:
- Providing assistance to a U.S. air carrier through subsidies for service to and from an underserved airport (generally limited to a period not exceeding three years).
- Helping an underserved airport (or an airport where service has been terminated or substantially reduced) obtain new or restored service.
- Other practical measures the Secretary considers appropriate to improve air service.
Are marketing and promotion activities eligible?
Yes. The notice states that eligible “other measures” can include marketing and promotion efforts such as advertising and public relations for the airport, the community, the carrier, or a destination, as long as the intent is to strengthen service options and improve outcomes for travelers.
Can SCASDP funds be used to improve how airport facilities are utilized?
Yes. Better utilization of airport facilities is described as an example of an eligible “other measure,” when it is intended to improve air service outcomes.
Is there a limit on how long air carrier subsidies can last?
Yes. The notice describes subsidies to a U.S. air carrier for service to and from an underserved airport as generally limited to a period not exceeding three years.
Is there an airport size limitation for eligibility?
Yes. The airport serving the applicant community or consortium cannot be larger than a “small hub” airport, based on the FAA’s most recently published hub classification that is effective on the application due date.
What is the “same project” restriction?
The program includes a “same project” restriction updated by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. A community or consortium generally cannot receive a new grant to support the same project more than once within a five-year period, measured from the execution date of the prior/original grant.
How does DOT decide whether a proposal is the “same project” as a prior grant?
DOT will evaluate whether a proposal is truly new by comparing the earlier grant’s goals and objectives (and the core methods for achieving them) with the current request.
What is an example of a proposal that would likely be considered the “same project”?
The notice gives an example: a second revenue guarantee aimed at the same destination or direction would likely be treated as the same project and therefore restricted within five years, even if the structure or the carrier type changes.
What is an example of a proposal that may qualify as a new project?
The notice indicates that a revenue guarantee for a new destination or direction may qualify as a new project. It also notes that a broader marketing and promotion effort that is meaningfully different in scope and purpose may qualify as a new project.
How long can SCASDP projects last?
DOT indicates it intends to award grants with durations aligned to project type, including:
- About three years to complete studies
- Four years for marketing and promotion efforts
- Up to five years for projects centered on revenue guarantees, subsidies, or other financial incentives
What happens during the eligibility review?
Applications are screened during an eligibility review stage. Proposals deemed ineligible at that point are disqualified.
Where might DOT post official clarifications about requirements?
DOT may post clarifications in the public docket at regulations.gov and on the SCASDP program website.
Who is the contact for technical questions about the application requirements?
Questions about technical requirements are directed to the program contact identified in the notice: Brooke Chapman at the U.S. Department of Transportation.
What is the application closing date listed for this opportunity?
The application closing date listed in the notice is 2026-05-04.
Is this a discretionary or formula grant?
This is described as a discretionary grant opportunity.
Does SCASDP focus on consumer outcomes?
Yes. The eligible activities are framed around improving air service availability and affordability for consumers and strengthening service options and outcomes for travelers.
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