Small Community Air Service Development Program

FY2024 SCASDP Notice of Funding Opportunity

Order 2026-3-18
Served: March 20, 2026
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation
on the 20th day of March, 2026
In the Matter of Grant Applications
SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE Docket DOT-OST-2025-2316
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
under 49 U.S.C. § 41743
ORDER SOLICITING
SMALL COMMUNITY GRANT APPLICATIONS
By this Order, the U.S. Department of Transportation (the Department or DOT) invites
applications from communities and/or consortia of communities interested in obtaining a Federal
competitive grant under the Small Community Air Service Development Program (“Small
Community Program” or “SCASDP”) to address air service and airfare issues in their
communities.
SUMMARY OVERVIEW OF KEY INFORMATION: SCASDP COMPETITIVE GRANT
OPPORTUNITY
Issuing Agency: Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation.
Program Overview: The SCASDP program is designed to provide financial assistance to small
communities, on a competitive basis, to help them enhance their air service. Grant monies are
disbursed to grantees on a reimbursable basis.
Goals and Objectives: The program seeks to improve air service to underserved communities,
including connectivity to the national air transportation system, consistent with statutory
requirements and the Department’s strategic goals.
Eligible Applicants: Public entities only (individually or as a part of a consortium).

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Eligible Project Types: By statute, the Department may award SCASDP grants to communities
to subsidize air service to/from an underserved airport, to an underserved airport, or an airport
where air service has been terminated or substantially reduced, to obtain air service to/from that
airport, and to an underserved airport to otherwise improve air service. Examples of eligible
projects that have received grants include economic air service studies, marketing of air service
or an airport, air carrier recruitment, revenue guarantees to air carriers providing air service,
start-up cost offsets, fee waivers, and reimbursement of air carrier ground handling fees.
Cost Share: Cost shares are not required for applications in this proceeding. However,
disbursement of grant funds to grantees is done on a reimbursable basis, based on the percentage
of local cash contribution to the proposed projects.
Funding: The Department will make up to $12 million available for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024
(utilizing FY 2024 and a portion of FY 2025 funding) to carry out this program.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
To participate, interested communities, or consortia of communities, must submit applications of
no more than 20 one-sided pages each (excluding the completed Application for Federal
Domestic Assistance (SF-424), Summary Information schedule, application cover, and table of
contents (each of which may not exceed one page in length), and any letters from the community
or an air carrier showing support for the application).1 These applications, including all required
information, must be submitted to www.grants.gov no later than 4 PM EDT on May 4, 2026.2
Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit applications in advance of the deadline. Please be
aware that applicants must complete the grants.gov registration process before submitting an
application, and that this process usually takes two to four weeks to complete.3 The Department
will not accept late-filed applications except under limited circumstances related to technical
difficulties. Additional information on applying through grants.gov is in Appendix A, including a
notice regarding late-filed applications.
1 To help ensure meaningful public notice of and involvement in every program cycle, the Department notifies, by
formal service of each notice of funding opportunity (NOFO), NOFO, the following civic parties that have
connections to potential stakeholders/applicants: the United States Conference of Mayors, the National League of
Cities, the National Governors Association, the National Association of State Aviation Officials, County Executives
of America, the American Association of Airport Executives, and the Airports Council International-North America
(see Ordering paragraph 2).
2 Applicant communities are encouraged to include all support letters with their applications to ensure that the
Department has a complete record upon which to act. To the extent practicable, each community should include all
support letters in one .pdf file submitted with its application. Any support letter that a community submits after the
deadline for applications has passed will be considered by the Department only to the extent practicable. Moreover,
any support letter or comment received in connection with this proceeding will be posted in this Docket, along with
any Department response to that submission.
3 If an applicant experiences difficulties at any point during the registration or application process, it should contact
the grants.gov support center by email (support@grants.gov) or by telephone (1-800-518-4726, available 24/7
except Federal holidays). See www.grants.gov/web/grants/support.html.
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ORGANIZATION OF THIS ORDER SOLICITING APPLICATIONS
In accordance with the requirements of 2 CFR Part 200, this Order is organized into the
following sections:
A. Program Description
B. Federal Award Information
C. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
D. Submission Requirements and Deadlines
E. Application Content and Format
1. Content and Format General Information
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
3. System for Award Management (SAM)
4. Funding Restrictions
5. Grant Funds, Sources and Uses of Project Funds
6. Sharing of Applicant Information
7. Additional Guidance
F. Application Review Information
1. Merit Criteria and Selection Considerations
a. Merit Criteria
b. Selection Considerations
2. Review and Selection Process
3. Integrity and Performance Review
G. Federal Award Administration and Post Award Requirements
1. Federal Award Notices
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
3. Reporting
H. Other Information
1. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
2. Submission of Confidential Commercial Information
Appendix A – Additional Information on Applying Through www.grants.gov
Appendix B – Summary Information
Appendix C – Application Checklist
Appendix D – Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
Appendix E – Confidential Commercial Information
A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Small Community Program was established by the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment
and Reform Act for the 21st Century (Pub. L. No. 106-181), reauthorized by the Vision 100-
Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act (Pub. L. No. 108-176), and subsequently reauthorized
by the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Pub. L. No. 112-95) as amended, the
Disaster Tax Relief and Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2017 (Pub. L. No. 115-63), the
FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Pub. L. No. 115-254) (FAA 2018), and the FAA
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Reauthorization Act of 2024, Pub. L. No. 118-63, May 16, 2024 (FAA 2024). The program is
codified at 49 U.S.C. § 41743. The program is designed to provide financial assistance to small
communities to help them enhance their air service.
The Department provides this assistance in the form of grants that are disbursed on a
reimbursable basis.
The Small Community Program is authorized to receive appropriations under 49 U.S.C. §
41743(e)(2). Appropriations are provided for this program for FY 2024 award selection pursuant
to the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Pub. L. No. 118-42) and Full-Year Continuing
Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (Pub. L. No. 119-4).
The Assistance Listing (formerly the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA)) number
for this solicitation is 20.930, titled Payments for Small Community Air Service Development.
Federal Awarding Agency Contact:
For further information concerning the technical requirements set out in this Order, please
contact Brooke Chapman at Brooke.Chapman@dot.gov or (202) 366-0577. A TDD is available
for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing at (202) 366-3993. The Department may post
answers to questions and other important clarifications in the above-captioned docket on
www.regulations.gov and on the program website at
https://www.transportation.gov/policy/aviation-policy/small-community-rural-air-
service/SCASDP.
B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION
No more than four communities or consortia of communities, or a combination thereof, from the
same State may be selected to participate in the program in any fiscal year. No more than 40
communities or consortia of communities, or a combination thereof, may be selected to
participate in the program in each year for which the funds are appropriated. Applications for
renewal or supplementation of existing projects are not eligible to compete.
Pursuant to the authorities described above, the Department will make up to $12 million
available for FY 2024 grant awards to carry out this program. There is no minimum or maximum
individual award amount, and the amounts awarded will vary depending upon the features and
merits of the selected applications. In past years, the Department’s individual grant sizes have
ranged from $20,000 to nearly $1.6 million. Funding amounts made available for reimbursement
may be impacted by future limitations placed on the spending authority and appropriations
enacted for the Department. The Department may, at its discretion, issue partial funding awards
up to the level authorized and provided that the above conditions are met. Additional information
on the budget process may be found in OMB A-11:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/information-for-agencies/circulars/.
Finally, as more fully discussed in Section F.1.a, the Department intends to award FY 2024
grants for durations of three years to complete studies, four years for marketing and promotion
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(including advertising and public relations) of the airport, community, carrier, or destination, and
five years for projects that target a revenue guarantee, subsidy, or other financial incentives.
C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
1. Eligible Applicants
The Department determines application eligibility as part of the Eligibility Review stage.
Applicants and applications deemed ineligible at this stage will be disqualified. The Department
will apply the criteria under Section C.1 as part of the Eligibility Review stage.
Only public entities may apply for and serve as the legal sponsor of a grant under the Small
Community Program. Private organizations cannot be the lead applicant. A community may file
only one application for a grant, either individually or as part of a consortium.
Consortium Applications: Both individual communities and consortia of communities are
eligible for SCASDP funds. An application from a consortium of communities must be one that
seeks to facilitate the efforts of the communities working together toward one joint grant project,
with one joint objective, including the establishment of one entity to ensure that the joint
objective is accomplished.
Communities Without Existing Air Service: Communities that do not currently have
commercial air service are eligible for SCASDP funds.
Eligible Projects: The Department is authorized to award grants under 49 U.S.C. § 41743(d) to
communities that seek to provide assistance to:
A U.S. air carrier4 to subsidize service to and from an underserved airport for a period
•
not to exceed 3 years;
An underserved airport, or an airport where air service has been terminated or
•
substantially reduced, to obtain service to and from the underserved airport; and/or
An underserved airport to implement such other measures as the Secretary, in
•
consultation with such airport, considers appropriate to improve air service both in terms
of the cost of such service to consumers and the availability of such service, including
improving air service through marketing and promotion of air service and enhanced
utilization of airport facilities.
4 Only U.S. air carriers are eligible to receive assistance from communities under SCASDP. See 49 U.S.C. §
40102(a)(2). A particular U.S. carrier may hold authority to conduct operations as a certificated air carrier, a
commuter air carrier, or an air taxi operator. Communities are encouraged to verify, at an early stage of any air
carrier discussions, that the air carrier holds appropriate Department authority to conduct the proposed services.
Communities may verify this authority by contacting the Department’s Air Carrier Fitness Division at (202) 366-
5903.
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Eligibility Limitations:
Hub Size: In order to satisfy the hub-size requirement set forth in 49 U.S.C. §
41743(c)(1)(A), the airport serving the community or consortium may not be larger than
a small-hub airport, as determined using the FAA’s most recently published
classification effective on the Department’s set application deadline (due date).5
Same Project Limitation: Under 49 U.S.C. § 41743(c)(4)(B), as amended by FAA
2024, a community or consortium may not receive a new grant to support the same
project more than once in a five-year period from the date of execution of the
previous/original grant.6 In assessing whether a previous recipient’s current application
represents a new project, the Department will compare the goals and objectives of the
previous grant, including the key components of the means by which those goals and
objectives were to be achieved, to the current application. For example, if a community
received an earlier grant to support a revenue guarantee for service to a particular
destination or direction, a new application by that community for another revenue
guarantee for service to the same destination or in the same direction would be subject to
the five-year restriction, even if the revenue guarantee were structured differently or the
type of carrier were different. However, a new application by such a previous recipient
for service to a new destination or direction using a revenue guarantee, or for general
marketing and promotion (including advertising and public relations) of the airport and
the various services it offers, would be eligible.7 The Department recognizes that not all
revenue guarantees, marketing agreements, studies, or other activities are of the same
nature, and that if a subsequent application incorporates different goals or significantly
different components, it may be sufficiently different to constitute a new project under
49 U.S.C. § 41743(c). Under 49 U.S.C. § 41743(e)(1), as amended by FAA 2018, the
final scope of a project can be limited to only the elements that used funding or to only
elements achieved, minimizing future project limitations on any idle components of the
original scope.
Beginning with FAA 2018, Congress authorized limited waivers of the Same Project
Limitation. Under Section 41743(c)(4)(C), as amended by FAA 2024, the Secretary may
waive the Five-Year Same Project Limitation, and thus make additional grants to a
community or consortium of communities to participate in support of the same project
within a five-year period, if the Secretary determines that communities “spent little or no
5 “Small-hub airport” is defined in 49 U.S.C. § 47102(23) as “a commercial service airport that has at least 0.05
percent but less than 0.25 percent of the passenger boardings.” See also
https://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/categories. For FAA passenger enplanement information to use to
determine an airport’s eligibility as a small-hub airport, see
https://www.faa.gov/airports/planning_capacity/passenger_allcargo_stats/passenger/.
6 For the purpose of this provision, the five-year period starts on the date that the initial grant agreement was
executed. Further, this limitation applies for all final project elements contained in a previous grant agreement’s
scope.
7 As noted in Section E. (“Market Analysis”), target markets proposed by communities may be destination specific
(e.g., service to LAX), a geographic region (e.g., northwest mountain region) or directional (e.g., hub in the
southeastern United States or a point north, south, east, or west of the applicant community).
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money on [their] previous project or encountered industry or environmental challenges8,
due to circumstances that were reasonable beyond [their]control….” The Department will
consider such waivers as part of complete and timely applications submitted in response
to this Order. Communities seeking a waiver are asked to include in their application a
discussion of the facts and circumstances that the Secretary should consider in applying
the statutory test to their request, e.g., a full history of the previous grant and a
documented and well-supported description of any applicable challenges encountered in
the communities.
Concurrent Grant Limitation: A community or consortium may have only one
SCASDP grant at any time. If a community or consortium applies for a subsequent
SCASDP grant when its current grant has not yet expired, that community/consortium
must notify the Department of its intent to terminate the current SCASDP grant, and if
the community/consortium is selected for a new grant, such termination must take place
prior to entering into the new grant agreement. Each beneficiary of a grant agreement
under SCASDP is subject to this limitation; in other words, each airport or other
government entity, including a State department of transportation, that receives a benefit
from an active SCASDP grant, whether individually or part of a consortium, may not
receive another SCASDP grant until the active grant is terminated. In addition, for
consortium member applicants, permission must be granted from both the grant sponsor
and the Department to withdraw from the current SCASDP grant before that consortium
member will be deemed eligible to receive a subsequent SCASDP grant.
No Direct Benefits to Air Carriers: SCASDP provides financial assistance to eligible
communities and is not intended to benefit any specific air carrier (other than through a
revenue guarantee agreement or carrier-implemented marketing program). To that end,
projects seeking funds to support the purchase of aircraft, the establishment of a new air
carrier, or other similar direct benefits to an air carrier or a company seeking to become
an air carrier are not eligible under SCASDP.9
Airport Capital Improvement Projects: Airport capital improvement projects,
including, but not limited to, runway expansions and enhancements, the construction of
additional aircraft gates, and other airport terminal expansions and reconfigurations are
ineligible for funding under SCASDP. Airports seeking funding for airport capital
improvement projects may want to consult with their local FAA Regional Office to
discuss potential eligibility for grants under the Airport Improvement Program.
Essential Air Service Communities: Small communities that currently receive
subsidized air service under the Essential Air Service (EAS) or Alternate Essential Air
Service (AEAS) program will not be considered eligible for SCASDP funds. Specifically,
the Department will not deem eligible for consideration a project that includes service to
8 The Department clarifies that the term “environmental challenges” stated in 49 U.S.C. § 41743, refers to a
community or airport situation and/or conditions (e.g., hurricane damage or widespread coastal flooding).
9 Such direct benefits would include, for example, funds to pay for the relocation of air carrier ground equipment,
such as airport tugs, or other ancillary air carrier equipment, and relocation of personnel, including crews. Note that
start-up costs to offset some expenses would be eligible for consideration.
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a subsidized EAS point (or a point receiving AEAS funding), whether it is a point of
origin, an intermediate point (for example, on a one-stop service), or a destination point
on the proposed service.
Finally, the EAS statute (49 U.S.C. § 41733(c)(1)(D)) requires that the Department
consider whether an air carrier has included a marketing plan in its proposal to provide
subsidized EAS as part of the carrier selection criteria. In light of this and the scarcity of
SCASDP funds, the Department will not consider awarding additional Federal support
under SCASDP for the marketing of subsidized EAS air service.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching
Cost sharing or matching is not required for applications. However, applications that provide
multiple levels of contributions (State and/or local cash and/or in-kind contributions) will be
viewed more favorably. See Section E.8 (“Local Contributions”).
D. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES
An application will not be complete and will be deemed ineligible for a grant award until and
unless all required materials outlined in section E and Appendix A of this document, including
the SF-424, have been submitted electronically submitted through www.grants.gov and time-
stamped by 4:00PM on May 4, 2026 (the “Application Deadline”). See Appendix A, “Timely
Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission” and “Experiencing Unforeseen
www.grants.gov Technical Issues” for more details.
E. APPLICATION CONTENT AND FORMAT
1. General Information
As discussed in this section and in Appendix A, all applications for grants under this NOFO must
be submitted electronically via www.grants.gov. This NOFO lays out all application steps and
includes all application forms and materials or Internet addresses where such forms may be
found.10
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
To Apply for a Grant in this Proceeding:
Determine the eligibility of your community;
•
New grants.gov users must register with www.grants.gov (see Registration with
•
www.grants.gov, below). Existing grants.gov users must verify existing www.grants.gov
account has not expired, and the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) is
current;
10 In particular, a fillable .pdf of the Summary Information schedule, which must be filed with an application in this
proceeding, is available at https://www.transportation.gov/policy/aviation-policy/small-community-rural-air-
service/SCASDP.
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A community with an active SCASDP grant must notify the Department (Office of
•
Aviation Analysis, X-50) of its intent to terminate its existing grant in order to be eligible
for selection;
Submit an Application for Federal Domestic Assistance (SF-424) via www.grants.gov.
•
Submit a completed “Summary Information” schedule. This is your application cover
•
sheet (see Appendix B);
Submit a detailed application of up to 20 one-sided pages (excluding the completed Form
•
SF-424, Form SF-LLL (see Appendix D), Summary Information schedule, application
cover and table of contents (each of which may not exceed one page in length), and any
letters from the community or an air carrier showing support for the application), by the
prescribed due date, that meets all required criteria (see Appendix C) and provides all
other pertinent information, including:
o A description of the community’s air service needs or deficiencies;
o The driving distance, in miles, to the nearest large-, medium-, and small-hub
airports, and airport with jet service;
o A strategic plan for meeting those needs under the Small Community Program,
including a concise synopsis of the scope of the proposed grant project;
o For service to or from a specific city or market, such as New York, Chicago, Los
Angeles, or Washington, D.C., for example, a list of the airports that the applicant
considers part of the market;
o A detailed description of the funding necessary for implementation of the
community's project;
o An explanation of how the proposed project differs from any previous projects for
which the community received SCASDP funds (if applicable);
o Designation of a legal sponsor responsible for administering the program; and
A request for waiver of the Five-Year Same Project Limitation (if applicable) – see
•
Appendix B. Attach any letters from the community or an air carrier showing support for
the application, which should be addressed to Brooke Chapman, Associate Director,
Small Community Air Service Development Program;11 and
Provide separate submission of confidential material, if applicable (see Appendix E).
•
An application consisting of more than 20 pages (see sixth bullet above) will be accepted by the
Department, but the content in the additional pages past page 20 will not be evaluated or
considered by the Department. The Department would prefer that applicants use one-inch
margins and a font size not less than 12-point type and include page numbers.
Registration with www.grants.gov: Communities must be registered with www.grants.gov in
order to submit an application for funds available under this program. For consortium
applications, only the legal sponsor must be registered with www.grants.gov in order to submit
its application for funds available under this program. See Appendix A for additional information
on applying through www.grants.gov.
Contents of Application: There is no set format that must be used for applications. Each
application should, to the maximum extent possible, address the selection criteria set forth in
11 See footnote 2.2
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Section F.1, including a clear description of the air service needs/deficiencies and present
plans/strategies that directly address those needs/deficiencies. At a minimum, however, each
application must include the following information:
• A description of the community’s air service needs or deficiencies, including information
about: (1) major origin/destination markets that are not now served or are not served
adequately; (2) fare levels that the community deems relevant to consideration of its
application, including market analyses or studies demonstrating an understanding of local
air service needs; (3) any air service developments within the past ten years that have
adversely affected the community, including, but not limited to, termination of scheduled
passenger service;12 and (4) any air service development efforts over the past three years
and the results of those efforts (such as marketing and promotion, including advertising
and public relations) and any letters from air carriers demonstrating support for these
efforts and proposing to offer new services.
• A strategic plan for meeting those needs under the Small Community Program, including
the community’s purpose for the project, and a detailed plan describing the specific
means that are proposed for attaining the goals set out in that project purpose.13 If the
application is selected, the Department will work with the recipient to incorporate the
relevant elements of the application’s strategic plan into the grant agreement’s project
scope.14 Applicants should note that, once a grant agreement is signed, amendments to
project scope are limited to those that are consistent with the original purpose of the grant
or the community’s current air service needs. Applicants also are advised to obtain firm
assurances from air carriers proposing to offer new air services if a grant is awarded.
Strategic plans should:
o for applications involving new or improved service, explain how the service will
become self-sufficient;
o fully and clearly outline the goals and objectives of the project; and
o fully and clearly summarize the actual, specific steps (in bullet form, with a
proposed timeline) that the community intends to take to bring about these goals
and objectives.
• If relevant, a detailed description of the funding necessary for implementation of the
proposed project (including Federal and non-Federal contributions).
• An explanation of how the proposed project differs from any previous projects for which
the community received SCASDP funds within a five-year period; applicants for which
12 For example, if a community has lost scheduled passenger air service, or other air service, or been otherwise
adversely affected as a result of an airline merger, the applicant should describe the situation in detail and quantify,
to the extent possible, its effects on the community.
13 See Appendix B, p. 3-4.
14 If new service is proposed to or from a specific city or market served by multiple airports (such as New York,
Chicago, Los Angeles, or Washington, D.C., for example), the applicant is encouraged to identify the airport(s) in
that city or market the community would be targeting under its application in order to facilitate the evaluation of the
proposal and the drafting of the grant agreement’s project scope. Statutory flexibility allows that the final scope of
the project can be limited to only the elements achieved. See 49 U.S.C. § 41743(e)(1) and Section C.1’s description
of the Same Project Limitation herein.
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the Same Project Limitation may apply should also explain why a waiver under Section
41743(c)(4)(C) should be granted by the Secretary. See Section C.1 (“Same Project
Limitation”).
• Designation of a legal sponsor responsible for administering the proposed project. The
legal sponsor of the proposed project must be a government entity, such as a State,
county, or municipality. The legal sponsor must be legally, financially, and otherwise
able to execute the grant agreement and administer the grant, including having the
authority to sign the grant agreement and to assume and carry out the certifications,
representations, warranties, assurances, covenants and other obligations required under
the grant agreement with the Department and to ensure compliance by the grant recipient
with the grant agreement and grant assurances. If the applicant is a public-private
partnership, a public government member of the organization must be identified as the
community’s sponsor to receive project cost reimbursements. A community may
designate only one government entity as the legal sponsor, even if it is applying as a
consortium that consists of two or more local government entities. Private organizations
may not be designated as the legal sponsor of a grant under the Small Community
Program. The community must ensure that the legal sponsor and grant recipient of any
funding has the legal authority under State and local laws to carry out all aspects of the
grant, and the Department may require an opinion of the legal sponsor’s attorney as to its
legal authority to act as a sponsor and to carry out its responsibilities under the grant
agreement. The applicant should also provide the name of the signatory party for the
legal sponsor.
3. System for Award Management (SAM)
Each applicant is required to (i) be registered in SAM before submitting its application; (ii)
provide a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number in its application; and (iii) continue to
maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an
active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by the Department. The
Department will not make any award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all
applicable SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements
by the time the Department is ready to make an award, the Department may determine that the
applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for
making a Federal award to another applicant. For more information on SAM requirements for
this award, and the UEI, see Appendix A.
Late Application Notice: Applicants that are unable to successfully submit their application
package through grants.gov prior to the Application Deadline due to technical difficulties outside
their control must submit an email to SCASDPgrants@dot.gov with the information described in
Appendix A.
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4. Funding Restrictions
Expenditures made prior to the execution of a grant agreement, including costs associated with
preparation of the grant application, will generally not be considered for reimbursement, except
in limited cases at the discretion of the Department where otherwise allowable costs are deemed
necessary for efficient and timely performance of the scope of work, and explicitly allowed by
the Department to begin prior to grant execution at the grantee’s risk, in accordance with 2 CFR
§ 200.458.
5. Grant Funds, Sources and Uses of Project Funds
Project budgets should show how different funding sources will share in each activity and
present those data in dollars and percentages. The budget should identify other Federal funds the
applicant is applying for or has been awarded, if any, that the applicant intends to use. Funding
sources should be grouped into three categories: non-Federal, SCASDP (funds being requested
in this proceeding), and other Federal with specific amounts from each funding source.15
6. Sharing of Applicant Information
The Department may share application information within the Department or with other Federal
agencies if the Department determines that sharing is relevant to the respective program’s
objectives.16
7. Additional Guidance
Scope Flexibilities: The scope of a SCASDP grant award is eligible, at the Department’s
discretion, for amendment throughout the grant cycle and at closing. Statutory flexibilities allow
the Department to consider requests from the community or consortium and any participating air
carrier, to modify the scope of a signed agreement when there is evidence that the changes are
consistent with the original purpose of the grant or the community’s current air service needs. In
addition, the final scope of the project can be limited to only the elements that used funding or to
only elements achieved. See 49 U.S.C. § 41743(e)(1). These flexibilities provide the option to
direct grant funds where current needs exist and minimize future same project limitations on idle
components of the original scope. Under 49 U.S.C. § 41743(c)(4)(B), same project limitations
apply to each scope element for a period of five years from the date of execution of the
original/previous grant agreement. Under Section 41743(c)(4)(C), as amended by FAA 2024, the
Secretary may waive the five-year limitation if it determines that the community “spent little or
no money on [their] previous project or encountered industry or environmental challenges, due to
circumstances that were reasonably beyond [their] control….” Request for amendments and
15 This information is collected from applicants in the Summary Information schedule. See Appendix B, section J to
this Order.
16 Note that applicants may provide certain confidential business information relevant to their application proposals
on a confidential basis (i.e., not subject to public disclosure, under the provisions of 14 CFR § 302.12). See Section
H.2 and Appendices C and E to this Order for information on confidential handling by the Department of such
information, in accordance with the Department’s Freedom of Information regulations (49 CFR § 7.17).
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waivers must be directed to the Department on official letterhead describing the reasons for the
request in detail along with the corresponding evidence and/or supporting documentation.
Market Analysis: Applicants requesting funds for a revenue guarantee/subsidy/financial
incentive are encouraged to conduct and reference in their applications an in-depth analysis of
their target markets. Target markets can be destination specific (e.g., service to LAX), a
geographic region (e.g., northwest mountain region) or directional (e.g., hub in the southeastern
United States or a point north, south, east, or west of the applicant community).
Complementary Marketing Commitment: Applicants requesting funds for a revenue
guarantee/subsidy/financial incentive are encouraged to designate in their applications a portion
of the project funds (Federal, local or in-kind) for the development and implementation of a
marketing plan in support of the service sought.
Subsidies for a Carrier to Compete Against an Incumbent: The Department is reluctant to
subsidize one carrier, but not others, in a competitive market. For this reason, a community that
proposes to use the grant funds for service in a city-pair market that is already served by another
air carrier must explain in detail why the existing service is insufficient or unsatisfactory or
provide other compelling information to support such an application proposal.
Local Contributions: Applications must clearly identify the level of Federal funding sought for
the proposed project. Applications must also identify the community’s cash contributions to the
proposed project, in-kind contributions from the airport, and in-kind contributions from the
community. Non-Federal funds will be applied proportionately to the entire scope of the project.
Communities cannot use non-Federal funds selectively to fund certain components of a project
(see Section GG.2on Payments for more information). Cash contributions from airport revenues
must be identified separately from cash contributions from other community sources. Cash
contributions from the State and/or local government should be separately identified and
described as well.
Types of contributions: Contributions should represent a new financial commitment, or new
financial resources devoted to attracting new or improved service or addressing specific high-
fare or other service issues, such as improving patronage of existing service at the airport.
For communities that propose to contribute to the grant project, that contribution can be in
the following forms:
Cash from non-airport revenues: A cash contribution can include funds from the State,
the county or local government, and/or from local businesses, or other private
organizations in the community.17 Because private cash contributions are to be from
local community sources, the Department will not consider as a part of these non-airport
revenues any funds that a community might receive from an air carrier interested in
17 This kind of cash contribution can also include certain monies provided by an airport, where those monies are not
generated by airport operations, but by funds sourced from tax revenues that are provided to the airport by a taxing
authority. An applicant may rely on this form of cash contribution only if it demonstrates that (1) the funds originate
from a taxing authority and not from normal airport revenues, and (2) the funds have been segregated, via a separate
accounting, from normal airport revenues.
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providing service under that community’s application. Moreover, contributions that are
comprised of intangible non-cash items, such as the value of donated advertising, are
considered in-kind contributions (see further discussion below).
Cash from airport revenues: This includes contributions from funds generated by
airport operations. Airport revenues may not be used for subsidies (including revenue
guarantees) to airlines, per 49 U.S.C. § 47107 and 47133. Applications that include local
contributions based on airport revenues alone will be viewed less favorably than those
with cash from non-airport sources.
In-kind contributions from the airport: This can include such items as waivers of
landing fees, ground handling fees, terminal rents, fuel fees, and/or vehicle parking fees.
In-kind contributions from the community: This can include such items as donated
advertising from media outlets, catering services for inaugural events, or in-kind trading,
such as advertising in exchange for free air travel. Travel banks and travel
commitments/pledges are considered to be in-kind contributions.
Cash vs. in-kind contributions: Communities that include local contributions made in
cash will be viewed more favorably.
Commencement of Proposed Air Service Prior to Award Selection: The Department will
take into consideration whether air service proposed by a community is announced or begins
prior to our announcement of grant awards. Air services that commence prior to grant awards
could call into question the extent to which Federal funding is necessary to support the targeted
service. Moreover, the Department generally will not reimburse expenses, including revenue
guarantees to air carriers, incurred by a selected community prior to the effective date of that
selectee’s grant agreement, except in limited cases at the discretion of the Department where
otherwise allowable costs are deemed necessary for efficient and timely performance of the
scope of work, and explicitly allowed by the Department to begin prior to grant execution at the
grantee’s risk, in accordance with 2 CFR § 200.458.
Aviation Security: Communities proposing new or expanded air service under a SCASDP grant
application are encouraged to contact the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) early in
the process to ascertain what the security implications of such service would be with respect to
the airport involved, and what measures that airport would need to take with the TSA to assure
that the service would meet all applicable TSA requirements.
Airport Readiness and FAA Certification: Communities should describe how their projects
can be accomplished within the grant durations set forth in Section B, including whether the
airport and proposed air service provider have the requisite authorities and certifications
necessary to carry out the proposed projects. In addition, because of this emphasis placed on
timely use of funds, applicants proposing new service should describe the airport and whether it
can support the proposed service, including whether the airport holds, or intends to apply for, an
airport operating certificate issued under 14 CFR Part 139. Air service providers proposed for the
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new service must have met or be able to meet, in a reasonable period of time, all Department
requirements for air service certification, including safety and economic authorities.
Department Priorities Relating to Safety: The Department is committed to administering this
program consistently with its priorities related to safety. Any air carrier conducting operations
under this program must be in compliance with all applicable DOT statutes and regulations,
including all applicable safety regulations and requirements of the Federal Aviation
Administration as set forth in the Federal Aviation Regulations and other relevant documents.18
F. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION19
1. Merit Criteria and Selection Considerations
Applications meeting the Eligibility Review stage criteria as set forth in Section C.1 (“Eligible
Applicants”) are advanced to the Technical Review stage. SCASDP grants will be awarded
based on the selection criteria outlined below. In the Technical Review stage, the Department
considers the extent to which each eligible application aligns with Merit Criteria and Selection
Considerations. This review relies on an applicant’s use of data-driven and evidence-based
methods to demonstrate how well the proposed project aligns with the criteria and selection
considerations. Applications that align well with one or more of the Merit Criteria will be viewed
more favorably than those that do not align with any Merit Criteria.
The Technical Review determines an application’s alignment with the following factors in
49 U.S.C. § 41743(c)(1) and (2):
• The applicant community or consortium has insufficient air carrier service or
unreasonably high air fares; and
• The airport serving the community presents characteristics, such as geographic diversity
or unique circumstances that demonstrate the need for, and feasibility of, grant assistance
from the Small Community Program.20
a. Merit Criteria
The Department will evaluate the extent to which a proposed project meets the standards set
forth in 49 U.S.C. § 41743(c)(5), as amended by FAA 2024, which direct the Department to give
priority consideration to those communities or consortia whose applications align with the
following criteria:
Air fares are higher than the national average air fares for all communities. The Department
will compare the local community’s air fares to the national average air fares for all similar
markets. Communities with market air fares significantly higher than the national average air
18 See also ‘Airport Readiness and FAA Certification,’ above.
19 As a part of our review of any application, the Department may reach out to an applicant, if necessary, to resolve
a factual discrepancy or similar technical issue with that application.
20 In this context, the statutory term “diversity” is synonymous with geographic distribution.
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fares in similar markets will receive priority consideration and be considered as meeting a Merit
Criterion. The Department calculates these fares using data from the Bureau of Transportation
Statistics (BTS) Airline Origin and Destination Survey data. The Department evaluates all fares
in all relevant markets that serve a SCASDP community and compares the SCASDP community
fares to all fares in similar markets across the country. Each SCASDP applicant’s air fares are
computed as a percentage above or below the national averages. The report compares a
community’s air fares to the average for all other similar markets in the country that have similar
density (passenger volume) and similar distance characteristics (market groupings). All
calculations are based on 12-month ended periods to control for seasonal variation of fares.
The community or consortium has demonstrated support from at least one air carrier to
provide service. The Department will consider letters of intent from air carriers on behalf of
applications that specifically indicate intent to enlist new or expanded air service at the
community. Letters from airline planning departments that describe the planned services in detail
will be viewed more favorably.
The community or consortium will provide a portion of the cost of the activity from local
sources other than airport revenue sources. The Department will consider whether a
community or consortium proposes local funding for the proposed project. Applications
providing proportionately higher levels of cash contributions from sources other than airport
revenues will be viewed more favorably. Applications that provide multiple levels of
contributions (State and/or local cash and/or in-kind contributions) will also be viewed more
favorably. See Section E.8 (“Local Contributions”), for more information on the application of
this selection criterion.
The community or consortium has established or will establish a public-private
partnership to facilitate air carrier service to the public. The Department will consider a
community’s or consortium’s commitment to facilitate air carrier service in the form of a public-
private partnership. Applications that describe in detail how the partnership will actively
participate in the implementation of the proposed project will be viewed more favorably.21
The assistance will be used to help restore scheduled passenger air service that has been
terminated or substantially reduced (as measured by enplanements, capacity (seats),
schedule, connections, or routes). The Department will consider factors including the
circumstances surrounding the cessation or substantial reduction of service, the extent to which
market circumstances have now changed, warranting the restoration of service, and the
reasonableness of the applicant’s plan to restore service (and, where appropriate, the length of
time since the service was last operated).22 Applications where changed circumstances would
21 An air carrier may not be a participant in any public-private partnership that a community or consortium has
established, or is working with, to seek a grant in this proceeding.
22 We consider a 10-year period since cessation of a service for a proposed new service to be considered as a
restoration of service.
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support the viability of replacement service, and for which the community has put forth a robust
plan to obtain that service, will be viewed more favorably.23
In determining whether a proposed service qualifies as a restoration of air service in the context
of this proceeding, the Department will look closely at the current situation affecting the
community involved. For example, in the case of a community that has lost all of its air service,
the Department would consider a proposal to initiate new service to any city to qualify as a
restoration of air service. Where a community currently has any existing air service, the
Department would normally expect a qualifying proposal to consist of new service to the same
city or air service market as that previously operated. To the extent that a proposed service was
not to the same city/hub airport as that which was previously operated, we would expect the
applicant to explain in detail why its proposal, while not exactly matching the former service,
would meet the air transportation needs of the segment of the community affected by the loss of
that former service, and should therefore be accepted by the Department as a qualifying restored
service.24
The assistance will provide material benefits to a broad segment of the traveling public,
including businesses, educational institutions, and other enterprises, whose access to the
national air transportation system is limited. The Department will consider whether the
proposed project would provide, to a broad segment of the community’s traveling public,
important benefits relevant to the community. Examples include service that would offer new or
additional access to a connecting hub airport, service that would provide convenient travel times
for both business and leisure travelers that would help obviate the need to drive long distances,
and service that would offer lower fares.
The assistance will be used in a timely fashion. The Department will consider whether a
proposed project provides a well-defined strategic plan and reasonable timetable for use of the
grant funds. Apart from the three-year period of time that a community may subsidize air service
to and from an underserved airport, the statute does not place limits on the duration for which the
Department may authorize various forms of assistance under SCASDP.25 The Department
23 When using the described data metrics (enplanements, capacity (seats), schedules, connections, or routes) to
support its view that its proposal constitutes a restoration of service under the terms of 49 U.S.C. § 41743, an
applicant must identify which of these data metric(s) it will be using, and provide the data in question, or citations to
those data, as a part of its application in this proceeding. Applicants should be prepared to provide additional
information, should the Department deem it necessary, to enable the Department to verify the accuracy and
relevance of such data. In particular, the Department may require additional information or submissions if the air
carrier in question is not required, under Department regulations, to report T-100 Traffic Data. Further, in cases
where the applicant is relying on connection data as a chosen metric, the Department will verify the number of
connection options at the cited destination(s). In addition, the Department will view more recent reductions as being
most relevant to evaluating the community’s current air service deficiencies. To that end, applicants should discuss
how these reductions have affected the community, focusing on more recent impacts.
24 For example, if an applicant community that lost service to a hub airport such as Phoenix were to propose service
to Denver, we would expect the applicant to show the percentage of routings over the lost Phoenix hub that would
again have service over the proposed Denver hub.
25 See 49 U.S.C. § 41743(d)(1), as amended by FAA 2024, which provides that the three-year period begins with
each new grant, including same-project new grants, and is calculated on a non-consecutive basis for air carriers
providing seasonal air service.
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therefore intends, in the final order selecting grantees in this proceeding, to award grants for
three years to complete studies, four years for marketing and promotion (including advertising
and public relations) of the airport, community, carrier, or destination, and five years for projects
that target a revenue guarantee, subsidy, or other financial incentives.
Multiple communities cooperate to submit a regional or multistate application to
consolidate air service into one regional airport. The Department will consider whether a
proposed project involves a consortium effort to consolidate air service into one regional airport.
b. Selection Considerations
In conducting its Technical Review, the Department will concurrently examine the application’s
alignment with the Merit Criteria and those Selection Considerations directly supporting the
Merit Criteria. Applications aligning with one or more Merit Criteria will be viewed more
favorably than those that do not.
Community Participation: The Department will consider:
whether the proposed project has broad community support; and
•
the community’s demonstrated commitment to and participation in the proposed project.
•
Location: The Department will consider the location and characteristics of a community:
the geographic location of each applicant, including the community’s proximity to larger
•
centers of air service and low-fare service alternatives;
the population and business activity, as well as the relative size of each community; and
•
whether the community’s proximity to an existing or prior grant recipient could adversely
•
affect either its application proposal or the project undertaken by the other recipient.
Families First: The Department will also consider whether the proposed project aligns with the
Administration’s focus on the American family, including by helping to ensure a more seamless
travel experience. Applicants are encouraged to include components in their proposed projects
that focus on enhancing the experience for traveling families.
Other Factors: The Department will further consider:
whether the proposed project clearly addresses the applicant’s stated problems;
•
the community’s existing level of air service and whether that service has been increasing
•
or decreasing;
whether the applicant has a plan to provide any necessary continued financial support for
•
the proposed project after the requested grant award expires;
the grant amount requested compared with the total funds available for all communities;
•
the proposed Federal grant amount requested compared with the local share offered;
•
any letters of intent from intermodal surface transportation providers on behalf of
•
applications that specifically indicate intent to enlist new or expanded surface
transportation service in support of the air service in the community;
whether the applicant has plans to continue with the proposed project if it is not self-
•
sustaining after the grant award expires; geographic distribution of available funds.
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2. Review and Selection Process
Each application received in response to this solicitation will undergo an Eligibility Review
based on the criteria outlined in Section C to determine whether that application conforms to
basic eligibility standards. An application that does not satisfy all the Eligibility Review criteria
will be disqualified. The Department will then conduct a Technical Review of all eligible
applications based on the selection criteria outlined in Section F.1. The Department will not
assign specific numerical scores to projects based on the selection criteria. Rather, ratings of
“highly recommended,” “recommended,” “acceptable,” or “not recommended” will be assigned
to applications.
The Department reserves the right to award funds for a part of the project included in an
application, if a part of the project is eligible and aligns well with the selection criteria specified
in this Order. In addition, as part of its review of the Selection Consideration “Other Factors,”
the Department will consider the geographical distribution of the applications to ensure
consistency with the statutory requirement limiting awards to no more than four communities or
consortia of communities, or a combination thereof, from the same State. The final selections
will be limited to no more than 40 communities or consortia of communities, or a combination
thereof.
Compliance with DOT Order 2100.7, Ensuring Reliance upon Sound Economic Analysis in
DOT’s Policies, Programs and Activities: The Department intends to apply principles from
DOT Order 2100.7, Ensuring Reliance Upon Sound Economic Analysis in DOT’s Policies,
Programs and Activities, when evaluating applications and making award selections. To the
maximum extent permitted by law, the Department will prioritize projects that are in alignment
with the principles outlined in DOT Order 2100.7.
3. Integrity and Performance Review
Prior to making a Federal award with a total amount of Federal share greater than the simplified
acquisition threshold, the Department is required to review and consider any information about
the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM.
An applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance
systems accessible through SAM and comment on any information about itself that a Federal
awarding agency previously entered and is currently in the designated integrity and performance
system accessible through SAM. The Department will consider any comments by the applicant,
in addition to the other information in the designated integrity and performance system, in
making a judgment about the applicant's integrity, business ethics, and record of performance
under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in
2 CFR § 200.206.
G. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION AND POST AWARD REQUIREMENTS
1. Federal Award Notices
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Grant awards will be made as promptly as possible so that selected communities can complete
the grant agreement process and implement their plans. Given the competitive nature of the grant
process, the Department will not meet with applicants regarding their applications before awards
have been announced.26 All non-confidential portions of each application, all correspondence
and ex-parte communications, and all orders will be posted in the above-captioned docket on
www.regulations.gov.
The Department will announce its grant selections in a Selection Order that will be posted in the
above-captioned docket, served on all applicants and all parties served with this Solicitation
Order, and posted on the Department’s SCASDP website
https://www.transportation.gov/policy/aviation-policy/small-community-rural-air-
service/SCASDP.
Grant Agreements: Communities selected to receive grants are required to execute a grant
agreement with the Department before they begin to expend funds under the grant award.
Applicants should not assume they have received a grant, nor should they obligate or expend
local funds prior to receiving and fully executing a grant agreement with the Department. As
noted above, expenditures made prior to the execution of a grant agreement, including costs
associated with preparation of the grant application, will not be reimbursed.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements
Assurances: There are numerous assurances that grant recipients must sign and honor when
Federal funds are awarded. All communities receiving a grant will be required to accept and
meet the obligations created by these assurances when they execute their grant agreements.
Copies of assurances are available online at http://www.transportation.gov/policy/aviation-
policy/small-community-rural-air-service/SCASDP, (click on “SCASDP Grant Assurances”).
All awards will be administered pursuant to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost
Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards found in 2 C.F.R part 200, as
adopted by DOT at 2 C.F.R part 1201. Other terms and conditions as well as performance
requirements will be addressed in the grant agreement with the recipient. The full terms and
conditions of the resulting grant agreements may vary and are subject to discussions and
negotiations. Federal wage rate requirements included in subchapter IV of chapter 31 of title 40,
U.S.C., apply to all projects receiving funds under this program, and apply to all parts of the
project, whether funded with SCASDP grant funds, other Federal funds, or non-Federal funds.
Connection with any program or activity conducted with or benefiting from funds awarded under
this notice, recipients of funds must comply with all applicable requirements of Federal law,
including, without limitation, the Constitution of the United States; the conditions of
performance, non-discrimination requirements, and other assurances made applicable to the
award of funds in accordance with DOT regulations; and applicable Federal financial assistance
and contracting principles promulgated by the Office of Management and Budget. For example,
in complying with these requirements, recipients must ensure that no concession agreements are
26 Once the Department has completed the selection process and has issued a final order in this Docket, however,
Department staff is available to provide any applicant, at its request, with feedback on its application.
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denied or other contracting decisions made on the basis of speech or other activities protected by
the First Amendment. If DOT determines that a recipient has failed to comply with applicable
Federal requirements, DOT may terminate the award of funds and disallow previously incurred
costs, requiring the recipient to reimburse any expended award funds. In addition, Executive
Order 14005 directs the Executive Branch Departments and agencies to maximize the use of
goods, products, and materials produced in, and services offered in, the United States through the
terms and conditions of Federal financial assistance awards. If selected for an award, grant
recipients must be prepared to demonstrate how they will maximize the use of domestic goods,
products, and materials in constructing their project.
The Grant Agreements and Assurances will require compliance with all applicable Federal laws,
rules, and regulations, as well as any specific Small Community Program requirements to ensure
each selected project is delivered consistent with program and Department goals. The Grant
Agreements and Assurances will require compliance with all applicable Federal laws, rules, and
regulations, as well as any specific SCASDP requirements to ensure each selected project is
delivered consistent with program and Department goals.
Civil Rights and Title VI: As a condition of a grant award, grant recipients should demonstrate
that the recipient has a plan for compliance with civil rights obligations and nondiscrimination
laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and implementing regulations (49 CFR
part 21) including any amendments thereto, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA),
and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, all other civil rights requirements, and accompanying
regulations. This should include a current Title VI plan, completed Community Participation
Plan, and a plan to address any legacy infrastructure or facilities that are not compliant with
ADA standards. DOT’s and the applicable Operating Administrations’ Office of Civil Rights
may work with awarded grant recipients to ensure full compliance with Federal civil rights
requirements.
Program Requirements Critical Infrastructure Security, Cybersecurity, and Resilience: It
is the policy of the United States to strengthen the security and resilience of its critical
infrastructure against all hazards, including both physical and cyber threats, consistent with the -
National Security Memorandum on Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience (NSM-22).
Each applicant selected for Federal funding under this notice must demonstrate, prior to the
signing of the grant agreement, efforts to consider and address physical and cyber security risks
relevant to the transportation mode and type and scale of the project. Projects that have not
appropriately considered and addressed physical and cyber security and resilience in their
planning, design, and project oversight, as determined by the Department of Homeland Security,
will be required to do so before receiving funds.
Domestic Preference Requirements: As expressed in Executive Order 14005, Ensuring the
Future Is Made in All of America by All of America’s Workers (86 FR 7475), the Executive
Branch should maximize, consistent with law, the use of goods, products, and materials
produced in, and services offered in, the United States. Funds made available under this notice
are subject to domestic preference requirements in Section 70914(a) of the Build America, Buy
America Act. The Department expects all applicants to comply without needing a project-
specific waiver for domestic preference requirements.
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Compliance with Federal Law and Policies: The applicant assures and certifies, with respect to
any application and awarded project under this notice, that it will comply with all applicable
Federal laws, regulations, executive orders, policies, guidelines, and requirements as they relate
to the application, acceptance, and use of Federal funds.
Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination And Restoring Merit-Based
Opportunity: Pursuant to Section 3(b)(iv)(A) of Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal
Discrimination And Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, the Recipient agrees that its compliance
in all respects with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws is material to the
government’s payment decisions for purposes of section 3729(b)(4) of title 31, United States
Code. Pursuant to Section 3(b)(iv)(B) of Executive Order 14173, Ending Illegal Discrimination
And Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity, by entering into this agreement, the Recipient certifies
that it does not operate any programs promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives
that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws.
To the extent a court order bars the implementation or enforcement of one or more of these
provisions with respect to a particular applicant or recipient, the Department will not implement
or enforce the relevant provision(s) against that applicant or recipient for as long as the order
remains in place.
Payments: SCASDP is a reimbursable program; therefore, communities are required to make
expenditures for project implementation under the program prior to seeking reimbursement from
the Department. Eligible project implementation costs are reimbursable from grant funds only
for services or property delivered during the grant term.27
Expenditures incurred by third parties are not directly reimbursable to such third parties under
this program. The legal sponsor must have paid all costs associated with eligible invoices,
including costs incurred by third parties, prior to seeking reimbursement from the Department.
The sponsor may NOT seek reimbursement from the Department in any case where a third party
has paid for such services instead of the sponsor.
Reimbursement rates are calculated as a percentage of the total Federal funds requested divided
by the Federal funds plus the local cash contribution (which is not refundable). The percentage is
determined by: (SCASDP Grant Amount) ÷ (SCASDP Grant Amount + Local Cash Contribution
+ State Cash Contribution, if applicable). For example, if a community requests $500,000 in
Federal funding and provides $100,000 in local contributions, the reimbursement rate would be
27 In addition, communities should be aware that the Department will not reimburse a community for any advance,
up-front payments or financial guarantees made to an air carrier or other party (for example, reimbursement will not
be made for a lump-sum payment made to an air carrier on the date of an inaugural flight, when the payment
exceeds the cost basis of that flight). The Department will only reimburse for services actually provided; for an air
carrier, that would be under a per-flight or per-operating hour post-flight accounting. Under no circumstances will
the Department reimburse a community for payments it has made to an air carrier, in the form of a subsidy or other
compensation for the provision of an air service, where that subsidy or compensation is not based on an actual
revenue shortfall the carrier has experienced in providing that air service.
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83.33 percent: (500,000) / (500,000 + 100,000)) = 83.33. Payments/expenditures in forms other
than cash (e.g., in-kind) are not reimbursable.
3. Reporting
Unless otherwise noted, each grant recipient must submit semi-annual reports on the progress
made during the previous period in implementing its grant project. Annually, each grant recipient
must submit the Federal Financial Report, standard form 425 (SF-425). In addition, each
community will be required to submit a final report on its project to the Department, and 10
percent of the grant funds will not be reimbursed to the community until such a final report is
received. Additional information on award administration for selected communities will be
provided in the grant agreement. If the total value of your active grants, cooperative agreements,
and procurement contracts from all Federal agencies exceeds $10,000,000 for any period of time
during the period of performance of this Federal award, the post-award reporting requirements
reflected in 2 CFR Part 200 Appendix XII - Award Term and Condition for Recipient Integrity
and Performance Matters will apply.
H. OTHER INFORMATION
1. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
All applicants must include with their applications a completed Form SF-LLL, Disclosure of
Lobbying Activities. For additional information, see Appendix D of this Order.
2. Submission of Confidential Commercial Information
Applicants may provide certain proprietary business information relevant to their applicants on a
confidential basis. For additional information, see Appendix E.
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This Order is issued under authority redelegated by the Under Secretary of Transportation in 49
CFR § 1.25a(b)(6)(ii)(D).
ACCORDINGLY,
1. Applications for funding under the Small Community Air Service Development Program shall
be submitted via www.grants.gov as an attachment to the SF-424 by 4:00 PM EDT on May 4,
2026; and
2. This Order will be posted on www.grants.gov and on www.regulations.gov, and served on the
United States Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities, the National Governors
Association, the National Association of State Aviation Officials, County Executives of
America, the American Association of Airport Executives, and the Airports Council
International-North America.
By:
DANIEL J. EDWARDS
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
For Aviation and International Affairs
(SEAL)
An electronic version of this document is available
online at www.regulations.gov.
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APPENDIX A
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON APPLYING THROUGH WWW.GRANTS.GOV
Applications must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov. To apply for funding
through www.grants.gov, applicants must be properly registered. The Grants.gov/Apply
feature includes a simple, unified application process that makes it possible for applicants to
apply for grants online. There are five “Get Registered” steps for an organization to complete at
Grants.gov. Complete instructions on how to register and apply can be found at
http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html. If applicants
experience difficulties at any point during registration or application process, please contact the
www.grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at 1-800-518-4726, or via email to
support@grants.gov. The Grants.gov Support Hotline hours of operation are 24 hours a day, 7
days a week, except Federal holidays.
Registering with www.grants.gov is a one-time process; however, processing delays may occur,
and it can take up to several weeks for first-time registrants to receive confirmation and a user
password. It is highly recommended that applicants start the registration process as early as
possible to prevent delays that may preclude submitting an application by the deadlines
specified. Applications must be submitted and time-stamped not later than 4 PM EDT on May 4,
2026, (the Application Deadline), and, as set forth below, failure to complete the registration
process before the Application Deadline is not a valid reason to permit late submissions.
In order to apply for SCASDP funding through https://www.grants.gov/applicants/ , all
applicants are required to complete the following:
1. System for Award Management. Applicants applying electronically through Grants.gov
must register with the Federal System for Award Management (SAM). Step-by-step
instructions for registering with SAM can be found here: https://sam.gov/content/entity-
registration. All applicants must register with SAM in order to apply online. Failure to
register with SAM will result in your application being rejected by Grant.gov during the
submission process. When you register with SAM you will be assigned a Unique Entity
Identifier (UEI), a 12-character alphanumeric ID. The UEI is a non-proprietary identifier
assigned by SAM that, effective April 4, 2022, replaced the Data Universal Numbering
System (DUNS) number for identification of entities receiving federal funds.28 This
identifier is used for tracking purposes and to validate address and point of contact
information for Federal assistance applicants, recipients, and sub-recipients. The UEI will
be used throughout the grant life cycle. Include your UEI number in form SF-424 (item
8.c on the first page). Applications will not be reviewed without a UEI number.
28 See https://sam.gov/content/home and https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/organization/federal-acquisition-
service/office-of-systems-management/integrated-award-environment-iae/iae-systems-information-kit/unique-
entity-identifier-update.1 Note that the Summary Information does not count against the 20-page limit of the
SCASDP application.
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2. Username and Password. Acquire an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR)
and a www.grants.gov username and password. Complete your AOR profile on
www.grants.gov and create your username and password. For more information about
creating a profile on Grants.gov visit:
https://apply07.grants.gov/help/html/help/Register/AddProfile.htm.
3. After creating a profile on Grants.gov, the E-Biz Point of Contact (E-Biz POC) – a
representative from your organization who is the contact listed for SAM – will receive an
email to grant the AOR permission to submit applications on behalf of their organization.
The E-Biz POC will then log in to Grants.gov and approve an applicant as the AOR,
thereby giving him or her permission to submit applications. To learn more about AOR
Authorization visit: https://www.grants.gov/system-to-system/applicant-system-to-
system/web-services/authenticate-aor. To track your AOR status on grants.gov, log in to
your account, navigate to "My Account," then select "Manage Profiles" where you can
review your AOR status within your profile details; you will typically receive a
confirmation email once you are authorized as an AOR.
Applicants are, therefore, encouraged to register early. The registration process can take
up to four weeks to be completed. Thus, registration should be done in sufficient time to
ensure it does not impact your ability to meet required submission deadlines. You will be
able to submit your application online any time after you have approved as an AOR.
4. Electronic Signature. Applications submitted through Grants.gov constitute a
submission as electronically signed applications. The registration and account creation
with Grants.gov with E-Biz POC approval establishes an AOR. When you submit the
application through Grants.gov, the name of your AOR on file will be inserted into the
signature line of the application. Applicants must register the individual who is able to
make legally binding commitments for the applicant organization as the AOR.
5. Search for the Funding Opportunity on www.grants.gov. Please use the following
identifying information when searching for the SCASDP funding opportunity on
www.grants.gov. The Assistance Listing (formerly the Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA)) number for this solicitation is 20.930, titled Payments for Small
Community Air Service Development.
6. Submit an application addressing all of the requirements outlined in this funding
availability announcement. Within 48 hours after submitting your electronic application,
you should receive an email validation message from www.grants.gov. The validation
message will tell you whether the application has been received and validated or rejected,
with an explanation. You are urged to submit your application at least 72 hours prior to
the due date of the application to allow time to receive the validation message and to
correct any problems that may have caused a rejection notification.
7. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission. Proof of timely
submission is automatically recorded by Grants.gov. An electronic timestamp is
generated within the system when the application is successfully received by Grants.gov.
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The applicant will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number from
Grants.gov with successful transmission of the application. Applicants should print this
receipt and save it, as a proof of timely submission.
8. Grants.gov allows applicants to download the application package, instructions and forms
that are incorporated in the instructions, and work offline. In addition to forms that are
part of the application instructions, there will be a series of electronic forms that are
provided utilizing Adobe Reader.
a. Adobe Reader. Adobe Reader is available for free to download from the Adobe
Software Compatibility page: https://www.grants.gov/applicants/adobe-software-
compatibility.html. Adobe Reader allows applicants to read the electronic files in
a form format so that they will look like any other Standard form. The Adobe
Reader forms have content sensitive help. This engages the content sensitive help
for each field you will need to complete on the form. The Adobe Reader forms
can be downloaded and saved on your hard drive, network drive(s), or CDs.
b. Always refer to the Adobe Software Compatibility page for compatible versions
for the operating system you are using. Please do not use lower versions of the
Adobe Reader.
c. Mandatory Fields in Adobe Forms. In the Adobe Reader forms, you will note
fields that will appear with a background color on the data fields to be completed.
These fields are mandatory fields, and they must be completed to successfully
submit your application.
NOTE: When uploading attachments please use generally accepted formats such as .pdf, .doc,
and .xls. While you may imbed picture files such as .jpg, .gif, .bmp, in your files, please do not
save and submit the attachment in these formats. Additionally, the following formats will not be
accepted: .com, .bat, .exe, .vbs, .cfg, .dat, .db, .dbf, .dll, .ini, .log, .ora, .sys, and .zip.
Experiencing Unforeseen www.grants.gov Technical Issues
Late Application Notice: Applicants who are unable to successfully submit their application
package through grants.gov prior to the Application Deadline due to technical difficulties outside
their control must submit an email to SCASDPgrants@dot.gov with the following information:
• The nature of the technical difficulties experienced in attempting to submit an
application;
• A screenshot of the error;
• The Legal Sponsor’s name; and
• The Grants.gov tracking number (e.g. GRANT12345678).
The Department will consider late applications on a case-by-case basis and reserves the right to
reject late applications that do not meet the conditions outlined in the Order Soliciting Small
Community Grant Applications. Late applications from applicants that do not provide the
Department an email with the items specified above will not be considered.
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If you experience unforeseen www.grants.gov technical issues beyond your control that prevent
you from submitting your application by the Application Deadline, you must contact us at
SCASDPgrants@dot.gov or Vince.Corsaro@dot.gov or (202) 366-1842 by 4:00 PM EDT on
May 4, 2026 (the first business day following the deadline) and request approval to submit your
application after the deadline has passed. At that time, the Department’s staff will require you to
provide your Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and your www.grants.gov Help Desk tracking
number(s). After the Department’s staff review all of the information submitted and contact the
www.grants.gov Help Desk to validate the technical issues you reported, the Department’s staff
will contact you to either approve or deny your request to submit a late application through
www.grants.gov. If the technical issues you reported cannot be validated, your application will
be rejected as untimely.
To ensure a fair competition for limited competitive funds, the following conditions are not valid
reasons to permit late submissions: (1) failure to complete the registration process before the
deadline date; (2) failure to follow www.grants.gov instructions on how to register and apply as
posted on its website; (3) failure to follow all of the instructions in the funding availability
notice; and (4) technical issues experienced with the applicant’s computer or information
technology (IT) environment
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APPENDIX B
APPLICATION UNDER
SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
DOCKET DOT-OST-2025-2316
SUMMARY INFORMATION SCHEDULE1
All applicants must submit this Summary Information schedule, as the application
coversheet, a completed standard form SF-424 and the full application proposal on
www.grants.gov.
For your preparation convenience, this Summary Information schedule is located at
https://www.transportation.gov/policy/aviation-policy/small-community-rural-air-
service/SCASDP
A. PROVIDE THE LEGAL SPONSOR AND ITS UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER (UEI)
Legal Sponsor Name:
Name of Signatory Party for Legal
Sponsor:
UEI:
B. LIST THE NAME OF THE COMMUNITY OR CONSORTIUM OF COMMUNITIES APPLYING:
1.____________________________________________________
2.____________________________________________________
3.____________________________________________________
4.____________________________________________________
C. PROVIDE THE FULL AIRPORT NAME AND 3-LETTER IATA AIRPORT CODE FOR THE
APPLICANT(S) AIRPORT(S) (ONLY PROVIDE CODES FOR THE AIRPORT(S) THAT ARE ACTUALLY
SEEKING SERVICE).
1. 2.
1 Note that the Summary Information does not count against the 20-page limit of the SCASDP application.
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3. 4.
IS THE AIRPORT SEEKING SERVICE NOT LARGER THAN A SMALL-HUB AIRPORT UNDER FAA HUB
CLASSIFICATIONS EFFECTIVE ON THE NOFO’S SET APPLICATION DUE DATE?
YES NO
Does the airport seeking service hold an airport operating certificate issued by the Federal
Aviation Administration under 14 CFR Part 139? (If “No”, Please explain whether the airport
intends to apply for a certificate or whether an application under Part 139 is pending.)
YES NO
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
D. SHOW THE DRIVING DISTANCE FROM THE APPLICANT COMMUNITY TO THE NEAREST:
1. Large-hub airport: ________________________________________________
2. Medium-hub airport: _______________________________________________
3. Small-hub airport: __________________________________________________
4. Airport with jet service: ______________________________________________
Note: Provide the airport name and distance, in miles, for each category.
E. LIST THE 2-DIGIT CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CODE APPLICABLE TO THE SPONSORING
ORGANIZATION, AND IF A CONSORTIUM, TO EACH PARTICIPATING COMMUNITY.
1. 2.
3. 4.
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F. APPLICANT INFORMATION: (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)
Not a Consortium Interstate Consortium Intrastate Consortium
Community (or Consortium member) previously received a Small Community Air
Service Development Program Grant
NOTE: A community that currently receives subsidized Essential Air Service
funding, receives assistance under the Alternate Essential Air Service Pilot Program, or is a
participant in, and has received a grant under, the Community Flexibility Pilot Program, is
not eligible for SCASDP grant funds. See Section C.1. (“Essential Air Service
Communities”)
If previous recipient: Provide year of grant(s):_______________________________; and,
the text of the grant agreement section(s) setting forth the scope of the grant project:
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
G. PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS: (LIST ORGANIZATION NAMES)
PUBLIC PRIVATE
1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
4. 4.
5. 5.
H. PROJECT PROPOSAL:
1a. BROAD GRANT GOAL(S): (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)
Launch New Carrier Secure Additional Service Upgrade Aircraft
First Service New Route Service Restoration
Regional Service Surface Transportation Professional Services2
2 “Professional Services” involve a community contracting with a firm to produce a product such as a marketing
plan, study, air carrier proposal, etc.
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Other (explain below)
1b. GRANT PURPOSE:
CONCISELY DESCRIBE THE BROAD PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSED GRANT PROJECT THAT WILL
ADDRESS THE COMMUNITY’S AIR SERVICE NEEDS OR DEFICIENCIES (FOR EXAMPLE, ‘GAIN
ACCESS TO A MAJOR HUB’, OR ‘NEW SERVICE TO THE EASTERN UNITED STATES’).
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
1c. GRANT SCOPE:
CONCISELY DESCRIBE THE SPECIFIC SCOPE OF THE PROPOSED GRANT PROJECT (THAT
WILL SERVE TO ACHIEVE THE GOALS OF THE GRANT PURPOSE STATED ABOVE), AS YOU
WOULD ENVISION THE SCOPE LANGUAGE WOULD APPEAR IN A FORMAL GRANT
AGREEMENT, USING THE FORMAT/STRUCTURE USED IN THESE EXAMPLES: “REVENUE
GUARANTEE TO RECRUIT, INITIATE, AND SUPPORT NEW DAILY SERVICE BETWEEN ______
AND ______;” OR “MARKETING PROGRAM TO SUPPORT EXISTING (OR NEW) SERVICE
BETWEEN _____ AND _____ BY _____ AIRLINES.”)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
1d. GRANT HISTORY:
DOES THIS APPLICATION SEEK TO REPEAT A PAST GRANT PROJECT OF THE COMMUNITY OR
CONSORTIUM (FOR EXAMPLE, A SPECIFIC DESTINATION AIRPORT)?
YES NO
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IF THE ANSWER TO THE ABOVE QUESTION IS ‘YES’:
A: WHAT YEAR WAS THE FORMER GRANT AGREEMENT SIGNED? _____
B: HAVE 5 YEARS PASSED SINCE THE PREVIOUS GRANT AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED?
YES NO
IF THE ANSWER TO ‘B’ ABOVE IS ‘NO,’ THE APPLICANT SHOULD APPLY FOR A FORMAL WAIVER
OF THE FIVE-YEAR SAME PROJECT LIMITATION (SEE SECTION C.1. “SAME PROJECT
LIMITATION”). THE REQUEST FOR WAIVER SHOULD INCLUDE A) A STATEMENT THAT THE
COMMUNITY OR CONSORTIUM IS REQUESTING A WAIVER OF THE LIMITATION IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE PROVISIONS OF 49 U.S.C. § 41743(C)(4)(C); AND B) INFORMATION AND EVIDENCE TO
SUPPORT A FINDING THAT THE APPLICANT SPENT LITTLE OR NO MONEY ON ITS PREVIOUS
PROJECT OR ENCOUNTERED INDUSTRY OR ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES, DUE TO
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WERE REASONABLY BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE COMMUNITY OR
CONSORTIUM. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY’S PAST GRANTS,
PLEASE CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT.
1e. RESTORATION OF SERVICE:
DOES THE APPLICANT SEEK TO RESTORE SCHEDULED PASSENGER SERVICE THAT HAS BEEN
TERMINATED OR SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED (SEE SECTION F(1)(a)).
YES NO
IF ‘YES,’ WHEN USING THE DESCRIBED DATA METRICS (ENPLANEMENTS, CAPACITY (SEATS),
SCHEDULES, CONNECTIONS, OR ROUTES) TO SUPPORT THIS RESTORATION OF SERVICE MERIT
CRITERION, THE APPLICANT MUST IDENTIFY WHICH DATA METRIC(S) IT WILL BE USING, AND
PROVIDE THE DATA IN QUESTION, OR CITATIONS TO THOSE DATA, AS A PART OF ITS
APPLICATION IN THIS PROCEEDING. APPLICANTS SHOULD BE PREPARED TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SHOULD THE DEPARTMENT DEEM IT NECESSARY, TO ENABLE THE
DEPARTMENT TO VERIFY THE ACCURACY AND RELEVANCE OF SUCH DATA. FURTHER, THE
DEPARTMENT MAY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR SUBMISSIONS IF THE AIR CARRIER
IN QUESTION IS NOT REQUIRED, UNDER DEPARTMENT REGULATIONS, TO REPORT T-100
TRAFFIC DATA. IN ADDITION, THE DEPARTMENT WILL VIEW MORE RECENT REDUCTIONS AS
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BEING MOST RELEVANT TO EVALUATING THE COMMUNITY’S CURRENT AIR SERVICE
DEFICIENCIES. TO THAT END, APPLICANTS SHOULD DISCUSS HOW THESE REDUCTIONS HAVE
AFFECTED THE COMMUNITY, FOCUSING ON MORE RECENT IMPACTS.
2. FINANCIAL TOOLS TO BE USED: (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)
Marketing (including Advertising): promotion of the air service to the public
Start-up Cost Offset: offsetting expenses to assist an air service provider in setting up a
new station and starting new service (for example, ticket counter reconfiguration). NOTE:
While the Department will consider the eligibility of start-up costs to offset some expenses
of a service/origin (such as ticket counter reconfiguration), the use of SCASDP grant
funding is not eligible for inclusion in a grant proposal to support the following types of
direct benefits to an air carrier:
• the establishment of a new air carrier, or other direct benefits to an air carrier or a
company seeking to become an air carrier;
• the purchase of aircraft;
• relocation of personnel, including crews; or
• relocation of ground equipment such as airport tugs or other ancillary aircraft
equipment.
Also note that this is not an exhaustive list, and the Department reserves the right to
review, and consider the eligibility of, any start-up cost proposals made by an applicant.
Revenue Guarantee: an agreement with an air service provider setting forth a minimum
guaranteed profit margin, a portion of which is eligible for reimbursement by the
community
Recruitment of U.S. Air Carrier: air service development activities to recruit new air
service, including expenses for airport marketers to meet with air service providers to make
the case for new air service
Fee Waivers: waiver of airport fees, such as landing fees, to encourage new air service;
counted as in-kind contributions only
Ground Handling Fee: reimbursement of expenses for passenger, cabin, and ramp (below
wing) services provided by third party ground handlers
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Travel Bank: travel pledges, or deposited monetary funds, from participating parties for
the purchase of air travel on a U.S. air carrier, with defined procedures for the subsequent
use of the pledges or the deposited funds; counted as in-kind contributions only
Other (explain below)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
I. EXISTING LANDING AIDS AT LOCAL AIRPORT:
Full ILS Outer/Middle Marker Published Instrument Approach
Localizer Other (specify)
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J. PROJECT COST: DO NOT ENTER TEXT IN SHADED AREA
REMINDER: LOCAL CASH CONTRIBUTIONS MAY NOT BE PROVIDED BY AN AIR CARRIER (SEE “TYPES
OF CONTRIBUTIONS” FOR REFERENCE).
LINE DESCRIPTION SUB TOTAL TOTAL AMOUNT
1 Federal amount requested
2 State cash financial contribution
Local cash financial contribution
3a Airport operations cash funds
3b Non-airport-operations cash funds
3 Total local cash funds (3a + 3b)
4 TOTAL CASH FUNDING (1+2+3)
In-Kind contribution
5a Airport In-Kind contribution**
5b Other In-Kind contribution**
5 TOTAL IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION
(5a + 5b)
6 TOTAL PROJECT COST (4+5)
Is this project supported by any other Federal Funds?
YES NO
If “Yes” please describe the source(s) and the value ($) of such funding:
K. IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS**
For funds in lines 5a (Airport In-Kind contribution) and 5b (Other In-Kind contribution),
please describe the source(s) of fund(s) and the value ($) of each.
8

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L. Is the Lead Applicant or Any Co-Applicants Delinquent on Any Federal Debt? (If “Yes”,
Provide Explanation)
No Yes (explain)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
9

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APPENDIX C
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
INCLUDED? ITEM
For Immediate Action
Determine Eligibility
New Grants.gov users must register with www.grants.gov.
Existing Grants.gov users must verify existing www.grants.gov account has not expired
and the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) is current.
For Submission by 4:00 PM EDT on May 4, 2026
Communities with active SCASDP grants: notify DOT/X50 of intent to terminate
existing grant in order to be eligible for selection.
Complete Application for Federal Domestic Assistance (SF-424) via www.grants.gov
Summary Information schedule complete and used as cover sheet (see Appendix B)
Application of up to 20 one-sided pages (excluding Form SF-424, Form SF-LLL,
the completed Summary Information schedule, application cover and table of
contents (each of which may not exceed one page in length), and any letters
from the community or an air carrier showing support for the application),
to include:
• A description of the community’s air service needs or deficiencies.
• The driving distance, in miles, to the nearest large-, medium-, and small-hub
airports, and airport with jet service.
• A strategic plan for meeting those needs under the Small Community Program,
including a concise synopsis of the scope of the proposed grant project.
• For service to or from a specific city or market, such as New York, Chicago,
Los Angeles, or Washington, D.C., for example), a list of the airports that the
applicant considers part of the market.
• A detailed description of the funding necessary for implementation of the
community's project.
• An explanation of how the proposed project differs from any previous projects
for which the community received SCASDP funds (if applicable).
• Designation of a legal sponsor responsible for administering the program.
• A completed Form SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities – see
Appendix D.
• A request for waiver of the Five-Year Same Project Limitation (if applicable)
– see Appendix B.
• A motion for confidential treatment (if applicable) – see Appendix E.
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APPENDIX D
Disclosure of Lobbying Activities
31 U.S.C. § 1352, “Limitations on use of appropriated funds to influence certain Federal
contracting and financial transactions,” as implemented by 49 CFR Part 20, imposes certain
disclosure requirements concerning lobbying activities on all applicants for, and recipients of,
federally appropriated funds, including applicants for SCASDP grants in this proceeding.
In brief, an applicant for a SCASDP grant may not use grant funds (or any other Federal funds)
to lobby an officer or employee of any Federal agency or Member of Congress. Each applicant in
this proceeding must certify compliance with the statute and regulation by completing a Form
SF-LLL and including that completed form as a part of its application. (Note that the inclusion of
this form will not count towards the 20-page limit for applications in this proceeding.)
Instructions for completion of Form SF-LLL, and the form itself, are attached below.
Fillable .pdf of the form is available at: https://www.grants.gov/forms/forms-repository/r-r-
family
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION OF SF-LLL, DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES
This disclosure form shall be completed by the reporting entity, whether subawardee or prime Federal recipient, at the initiation or receipt of a covered Federal
action, or a material change to a previous filing, pursuant to title 31 U.S.C. section 1352. The filing of a form is required for each payment or agreement to make
payment to any lobbying entity for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employeeof any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employeeof
Congress, or an employeeof a Member of Congress in connection with a covered Federalaction. Completeall items that apply for both the initial filing and material
change report. Refer to the implementing guidance published by the Office of Management and Budget for additional information.
1. Identify the type of covered Federal action for which lobbying activity is and/or has been secured to influence the outcome of a covered Federal action.
2. Identify the status of the covered Federal action.
3. Identify the appropriateclassification of this report. If this is a followup report caused by a material change to the information previously reported, enter
the year and quarter in which the change occurred. Enter the date of the last previously submitted report by this reporting entity for this covered Federal
action.
4. Enter the full name, address, city, State and zip code of the reporting entity. Include Congressional District, if known. Check the appropriateclassification
of the reporting entity that designates if it is, or expects to be, a prime or subaward recipient. Identify the tier of the subawardee, e.g., the first subawardee
of the prime is the 1st tier. Subawards include but are not limited to subcontracts, subgrants and contract awards under grants.
5. If the organization filing the report in item 4 checks "Subawardee," then enter the full name, address, city, State and zip code of the prime Federal
recipient. Include Congressional District, if known.
6. Enter the name of the Federal agency making the award or loan commitment. Include at least one organizationallevel below agency name, if known. For
example, Department of Transportation, United States Coast Guard.
7. Enter the Federal program name or description for the covered Federal action (item 1). If known, enter the full Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) number for grants, cooperative agreements, loans, and loan commitments.
8. Enter the most appropriate Federal identifying number available for the Federal action identified in item 1 (e.g., Request for Proposal (RFP) number;
Invitation for Bid (IFB) number; grant announcement number; the contract, grant, or loan award number; the application/proposal control number
assigned by the Federal agency). Include prefixes, e.g., "RFP-DE-90-001."
9. For a covered Federal action where there has been an award or loan commitment by the Federal agency, enter the Federal amount of the award/loan
commitment for the prime entity identified in item 4 or 5.
10. (a) Enter the full name, address, city, State and zip code of the lobbying registrant under the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 engaged by the reporting
entity identified in item 4 to influence the covered Federal action.
(b) Enter the full names of the individual(s) performing services, and include full address if different from 10 (a). Enter Last Name, First Name, and
Middle Initial (MI).
11. The certifying official shall sign and date the form, print his/her name, title, and telephone number.
According to the Paperwork Reduction Act, as amended, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB Control
Number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is OMB No. 0348-0046. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is
estimated to average 10 minutes per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data
needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of
information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0348-0046), Washington,
DC 20503.
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DISCLOSURE OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES Approved by OMB
Complete this form to disclose lobbying activities pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 1352 0348-0046
(See reverse for public burden disclosure.)
1. Type of Federal Action: 2. Status of Federal Action: 3. Report Type:
a. contract a. bid/offer/application a. initial filing
b. grant b. initial award b. material change
c. cooperative agreement c. post-award For Material Change Only:
d. loan year _________ quarter ________ _
e. loan guarantee date of last report __ ___________ _
f. loan insurance
4. Name and Address of Reporting Entity: 5. If Reporting Entity in No. 4 is a Subawardee, Enter Name
Prime Subawardee and Address of Prime:
Tier , if known :
Congressional District, if known : 4c Congressional District, if known :
6. Federal Department/Agency: 7. Federal Program Name/Description:
CFDA Number, if applicable : _ ____________
8. Federal Action Number, if known : 9. Award Amount, if known :
$
10. a. Name and Address of Lobbying Registrant b. Individuals Performing Services (including address if
( if individual, last name, first name, MI ): different from No. 10a )
(last name, first name, MI ):
11. Information requested through this form is authorized by title 31 U.S.C. section Signature:
1352. This disclosure of lobbying activities is a material representation of fact
upon which reliance was placed by the tier above when this transaction was made Print Name:
or entered into. This disclosure is required pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 1352. This
information will be available for public inspection. Any person who fails to file the
required disclosure shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $10,000 and Title:
not more than $100,000 for each such failure.
Telephone No.: __ _____________________ Date:
Authorized for Local Reproduction
Federal Use Only:
Standard Form LLL (Rev. 7-97)
PRINT
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APPENDIX E
Confidential Commercial Information
Applicants will be able to provide certain confidential business information relevant to their
application proposals on a confidential basis. Under statutory provisions (5 U.S.C. § 552(b)) and
the Department’s Freedom of Information Act regulations (49 CFR § 7.23), such information is
limited to commercial or financial information that, if disclosed, would either likely cause
substantial harm to the competitive position of a business or enterprise or make it more difficult
for the Federal Government to obtain similar information in the future.
An applicant considering requesting confidential treatment for certain documents or information
in its SCASDP application should carefully review the statute (5 U.S.C. § 552(b)), and in
particular 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(4), to assure itself that the material for which it would seek
confidential treatment is in fact eligible for such treatment. Any application for confidential
treatment that does not meet this standard will be rejected by the Department in accordance with
the aforementioned statute.
An applicant seeking confidential treatment of a portion of its application must segregate the
confidential material in a sealed envelope marked “Confidential Submission of X (the applicant)
in Docket DOT-OST-2025-2316” and include with that material a request in the form of a
motion seeking confidential treatment of the material under 14 CFR § 302.12 (“Rule 12”) of the
Department’s regulations. In accordance with the provisions of 14 CFR § 302,12(d), the motion
must include:
• An index listing the information or document sought to be withheld by an identifying
number, and including its title, description and number of pages, and, if relevant, the
specific information in the document for which confidential treatment is sought and its
location within the document;
• A statement explaining how and why the information falls within one or more of the
exemptions from the statute (5 U.S.C. § 552(b)); and
• A statement explaining in detail how and why public disclosure of the information would
adversely affect the interests of the applicant and is not required in the interest of the
public.
The applicant should submit an original and two copies of its motion and an original and two
copies of the confidential material in the sealed envelope.
The confidential material should not be included with the original application that is submitted
via www.grants.gov. The applicant’s original submission, however, should indicate clearly
where the confidential material would have been inserted (should the information for which
confidential treatment is requested not comprise the entirety of the document, the applicant
should include a redacted copy of the document (with the proposed confidential text obscured) as

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a part of its application in www.grants.gov. If an applicant invokes Rule 12, the confidential
portion of its filing will be treated as confidential pending a final determination by the
Department. All confidential material must be received by 4 PM EDT on May 4, 2026, and
delivered to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Aviation Analysis, 8th Floor, Room
W86-308, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20590.