Opportunity Information: Apply for DOT FAA 26 0117 002
The FY 2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) FAA Contract Tower (FCT) Competitive Grant Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It makes up to 100 million dollars available in FY 2027 Airport Infrastructure Grant funds to support airport-owned air traffic control tower (ATCT) projects. The central aim is to address aging tower infrastructure at U.S. airports by funding capital projects that keep these facilities safe, functional, and up to date, while supporting continued tower operations under the FAA contract tower framework.
The program focuses on non-approach control towers and related tower capabilities. Projects the FAA expects to consider include efforts to sustain existing towers and to construct, repair, improve, rehabilitate, modernize, replace, or relocate eligible towers. The opportunity also covers the acquisition and installation of air traffic control, communications, and related equipment intended for use in those towers. In addition, the NOFO allows for projects that construct a remote tower that is certified by the FAA, including the associated purchase and installation of the necessary air traffic control and communications equipment. In practical terms, the funding is meant to help airports tackle major lifecycle issues such as deteriorating structures, outdated systems, modernization needs, and relocations or replacements required to maintain operational readiness.
Eligibility is tied closely to participation in FAA tower programs and to standard Airport Improvement Program (AIP) sponsor requirements. Eligible applicants are airport sponsors that are approved in the FAA Contract Tower Program or the Contract Tower Cost Share Program (referenced in 49 U.S.C. 47124) and that are normally eligible for AIP competitive grants (as described in 49 U.S.C. 47115). The eligible applicant categories highlighted in the NOFO include public agencies, private entities, state agencies, and federally recognized Indian Tribes or Pueblos that own a public-use airport included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). The eligibility list also explicitly includes the Secretary of the Interior for Midway Island Airport, as well as certain Freely Associated States entities: the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau. Additional detail on applicant categories is referenced through the AIP Handbook (Order 5100.38D, Change 1), specifically Table 2-1, and NPIAS participation is further explained through FAA planning resources.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a grant (funding instrument type: Grant) and is categorized as a discretionary opportunity within the transportation funding activity area. The opportunity number is DOT FAA 26 0117 002, and it is associated with CFDA number 20.117 (Airport Improvement Program discretionary grants). The NOFO indicates an application closing date of 2026-10-19 for this funding cycle. The source data also lists an award ceiling of 55,000,000 dollars, which typically signals that while total program funding may be up to 100 million dollars for the year, individual awards are expected to remain below that ceiling unless otherwise specified in the full NOFO. The eligible applicant types are summarized broadly as state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and other eligible entities consistent with AIP sponsor rules and the FAA contract tower program requirements.
Overall, this opportunity is designed for airports that already operate under the FAA contract tower structure and need capital investment in tower facilities or tower-related equipment. The key takeaway is that the FAA is using IIJA funding to extend targeted, competitive support for tower infrastructure projects that preserve or improve air traffic control tower capability at eligible, public-use NPIAS airports, including modernization, replacement, relocation, and FAA-certified remote tower development, along with the equipment needed to operate those systems effectively.Apply for DOT FAA 26 0117 002
- The Airport Improvement Program Discretionary Grants in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY 2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) FAA Contract Tower (FCT) Competitive Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.117.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-09-24.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-10-19. (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 $55,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Others.
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FAA Contract Tower (FCT) Competitive Grant Program (FY 2027) - FAQs
What is this funding opportunity?
This is the FY 2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) FAA Contract Tower (FCT) Competitive Grant Program. It is a discretionary federal grant administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to support airport-owned air traffic control tower (ATCT) capital projects.
What is the main goal of the program?
The central aim is to address aging tower infrastructure at U.S. airports by funding capital improvements that keep airport-owned tower facilities safe, functional, and up to date, while supporting continued tower operations under the FAA contract tower framework.
How much funding is available?
The NOFO describes up to $100,000,000 in FY 2027 Airport Infrastructure Grant funds available under this program.
Is there a maximum (ceiling) for individual awards?
The source information lists an award ceiling of $55,000,000. While total program funding may be up to $100,000,000 for the year, this ceiling typically indicates that individual awards are expected to be at or below $55,000,000 unless the full NOFO specifies otherwise.
What is the application deadline?
The application closing date listed for this funding cycle is 2026-10-19.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument type is a Grant.
Is this a formula program or a competitive/discretionary program?
This is described as a discretionary federal grant opportunity (i.e., competitive rather than formula-based).
What kinds of towers does the program focus on?
The program focuses on non-approach control towers and related tower capabilities.
What types of projects does the FAA expect to consider?
The FAA expects to consider projects to sustain existing towers and to construct, repair, improve, rehabilitate, modernize, replace, or relocate eligible towers. The program is intended to help airports address major lifecycle issues such as deteriorating structures, outdated systems, modernization needs, and relocations or replacements required to maintain operational readiness.
Are tower equipment purchases eligible under this opportunity?
Yes. The opportunity covers acquisition and installation of air traffic control, communications, and related equipment intended for use in eligible towers.
Are remote towers eligible for funding?
Yes. The NOFO allows projects that construct a remote tower that is certified by the FAA, including the associated purchase and installation of the necessary air traffic control and communications equipment.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are airport sponsors that (1) are approved in the FAA Contract Tower Program or the Contract Tower Cost Share Program (referenced in 49 U.S.C. 47124) and (2) are normally eligible for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) competitive grants (as described in 49 U.S.C. 47115).
What applicant categories are specifically highlighted as eligible?
The NOFO highlights public agencies, private entities, state agencies, and federally recognized Indian Tribes or Pueblos that own a public-use airport included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). The eligibility list also explicitly includes the Secretary of the Interior for Midway Island Airport and certain Freely Associated States entities: the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.
Does the airport need to be in the NPIAS to be eligible?
Yes. Eligibility is tied to owning a public-use airport included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS), as described in the opportunity summary.
Are local governments eligible (cities, counties, special districts)?
Yes. The eligible applicant types are summarized to include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and other eligible entities consistent with AIP sponsor rules and FAA contract tower program requirements.
What statutory/program references are associated with eligibility?
The eligibility references include the FAA Contract Tower Program or Contract Tower Cost Share Program (49 U.S.C. 47124) and AIP competitive grant eligibility (49 U.S.C. 47115).
What is the opportunity number for this NOFO?
The opportunity number is DOT FAA 26 0117 002.
What CFDA number is associated with this funding?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 20.117, described as Airport Improvement Program discretionary grants.
What federal agencies administer and oversee this grant program?
The program is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
What is this grant generally intended to pay for, in practical terms?
Funding is intended to support major capital needs for airport-owned tower infrastructure and related systems, such as repairing deteriorating structures, replacing or modernizing outdated systems, rehabilitating or improving existing towers, relocating or replacing towers when needed, and purchasing/installing air traffic control and communications equipment (including for FAA-certified remote towers).
Is this opportunity limited to airports already operating under the FAA contract tower structure?
Yes. The summary indicates this opportunity is designed for airports that already operate under the FAA contract tower structure (through the FAA Contract Tower Program or Contract Tower Cost Share Program) and need capital investment in tower facilities or tower-related equipment.
Where does the NOFO point for additional detail on eligible applicant categories?
Additional detail is referenced through the AIP Handbook (Order 5100.38D, Change 1), specifically Table 2-1, and through FAA planning resources related to NPIAS participation.
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