Aviation Workforce Development Grants - 2024 Maintenance Technical Workers FAQs
Objectives ⇣ | Types of Projects ⇣| Eligible Applicants ⇣ | Performance Period ⇣ | Funding ⇣ | Reference Information ⇣ | Application Package ⇣ | Deadline ⇣ | Questions ⇣ |
Objectives
Q: What are the objectives of the Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers grant program?
A: The aviation workforce development grants for aviation maintenance technical workers support proposals that generate and increase interest and prepare students to pursue aviation maintenance careers.
Types of Projects
Q: What types of projects are eligible to receive funding for the Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers grant program?
A: Eligible projects for the Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers grant program include:
- Establish new educational programs that teach technical skills used in aviation maintenance, including purchasing equipment, or to improve existing such programs
- Enhance aviation maintenance technical education or aviation maintenance industry workforce
- To establish scholarships or apprenticeships for individuals pursuing employment in the aviation maintenance industry
- Support outreach about careers in the aviation maintenance industry to:
- Primary, secondary, and post-secondary school students
- Communities underrepresented in the industry
- Support career transition to aviation maintenance, including members of the Armed Forces
- Support educational opportunities related to aviation maintenance in economically disadvantaged geographic areas
Q: What are some examples of allowable expenses for the two workforce development grants?
A: All items presented in the budget should be reasonable in response to the grant announcement(s) and allowable in accordance with federal guidelines. Examples of allowable expenses may include:
- Instructor salary or stipend to develop and/or deliver the curriculum
- Speaker fees/honoraria
- Reasonable costs for equipment (not including aircrafts)/materials in the form of flight simulators (hardware or software), books, eLearning materials, plane kits, classroom drones, or other items required to provide appropriate activities in support of the program
- Scholarships for students participating in the Aviation Workforce Development program (if administered through the grantee)
- Expenses to help prepare teachers to deliver curriculum to students
Q: Are stipends allowable under both opportunities to cover the additional costs of faculty time spent planning and implementing grant activities?
A: Yes, stipends are allowable under both opportunities. However, all costs must be in accordance with the administration requirements of the compensation section of 2 CFR 200 and institutional policy.
Q: Can funds be used for salaries? For example, a counselor's salary to execute outreach activities.
A: Yes, you may propose salaries for those individuals who support the purpose of the program overall and/or the individual tasks you would intend to carry out to comply with the legislative direction and stated selection criteria.
Q: Is a focus on military personnel required for this grant?
A: The Maintenance program is open to students K-12 and beyond but also allows for transitioning Armed Forces aviation maintenance careers.
Q: Can we propose a program specifically targeting those transitioning from the military?
A: Yes. Customized programs targeting veterans and those transitioning from the military would qualify for submission for the Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers funding opportunity.
Q: Does the program pay for veterans who use the Montgomery G.I. Bill?
A: Benefits that veterans receive from other government agencies do not impact their ability to participate in this program under the qualified organization that may receive an Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers grant.
Q: Can a post-secondary institution host satellite training at other educational facilities, such as aviation museums, after-school programs, or clubs (i.e. secondary school) that have applicable equipment and enable dual enrollment opportunities?
A: Yes, the curriculum and related activities can be delivered to the targeted groups in various settings. Additionally, the applicant's proposal should identify each setting(s) and eligible targeted groups.
Q: Can the grant funding be used to construct, augment, or enhance current facilities for the stated activities?
A: No, facilities construction is not an allowable activity. The intention of the legislation is to provide activities that would attract and prepare participants for careers as aviation maintenance technicians.
Q: Could we propose purchasing land, real estate, or buildings with the grants funds? This would help our organization "improve existing such programs," as noted within the eligible projects section.
A: No, the purchase of land, real estate, buildings and the like is not allowable. The intention of the legislation is to provide activities that would attract and prepare participants for careers as aviation maintenance technicians.
Q: Would it be permissible to use funds to purchase and install ventilation systems, fire suppression systems, large equipment, etc., in a facility?
A: Congress has not authorized construction activities in the enabling legislation. The Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers grants allow for the purchase of equipment that would be needed to carry out the planned activities. A responsive application would be expected to focus on the grant purposes, such as career awareness for students in lower grades and recruitment into various programs designed to prepare students with the interest and skills necessary to succeed in the aircraft technician’s field.
Q: Are facility rental fees allowable costs?
A: Yes, reasonable costs for rental of equipment and facilities would be considered an allowable expense, if clearly aligned with program delivery.
Q: May the grant be used to purchase a light-sport aircraft kit plus tools for use in a workshop to expose high school students to aviation maintenance technology?
A: Yes.
Q: We are a high school district and currently run an aviation maintenance program for high school students through a local airport and university. We would like to expand this program and add a ground school program. Would this grant include supporting the establishment of a ground school program, or is the focus solely on Aviation Maintenance?
A: The Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers grant program is specific to that field. Refer to the Aircraft Pilots program announcement, for information on projects related to ground school programs.
Q: How do we maximize this aviation workforce development grant opportunity to support the launch of a new sector in aviation not impacted by commercial travel?
A: The focus of this program is defined in section 625 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-254).
Q: Are engineers included in the "Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers" category? Or, does the program only include technicians that are normally trained by two-year community colleges and technology degree programs?
A: The proposed activities may include the preparation of aviation maintenance technical workers at various levels throughout the industry, in response to requirements stated in the NOFO and aligned with Congressional intent.
Q: Are avionics programs an allowable focus for this grant?
A: Yes, as long as the avionics project addresses an eligible project as stated by legislation and in the NOFO.
Q: Can I include the cost of the consultant we have hired to help us write our proposal for your grants programs?
A: No. The FAA does not reimburse any costs the applicant may incur for proposal preparation conducted by consultants, contractors, or employees of the qualified organization or entity.
Q: We currently enhance our high school career counseling with an extra-curricular option that includes activities to introduce students to career fields and provoke deep thought during a time when students are considering various options, often with little knowledge of what is needed to succeed and where these career choices lead later in life. To better prepare our students for career decisions, we conduct field trips, invite speakers from various organizations and professions, encourage and engage in open discussions, and provide materials to stimulate interest and enhance student awareness specific to many career options. We would like to expand our efforts to devote additional time to familiarize students with careers in aviation that might be covered in the FAA Workforce Development Grant Programs. We would not be in a position to purchase, store or secure equipment, or provide for certifications that might be required for pilots or maintenance workers. Would the FAA consider such an application?
A: Yes, we would consider such projects to be eligible. Proposed programs are not required to be conducted within the academic calendar or as part of a standard high school (or college) curriculum. However, should you propose to add both career fields as a focus area within your current career planning efforts, two proposals would be required, and each proposal must be specifically written to be responsive to the appropriate NOFO. These grants enable reimbursement for a wide variety of activities to support the recruitment, development, and/or the delivery of aviation-related curriculum as well as other activities, such as those you mention, which are specific to each grant program.
Q: What is the age requirement?
A: The targeted audience for the Aircraft Pilots program is high school aged students. The targeted audience for the Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers program is K-12 and beyond.
Q: Do sub-recipients need to be named in the grant proposal or can a competitive process be established to select among multiple entities? This question applies to K-12 schools, extracurricular aviation programs, and repair shops with whom we may partner.
A: To the greatest extent possible, proposals should articulate the planned projects, targeted groups, and entities participating in the delivery of curriculum or activities.
Q: Is the goal of the grant to market to a large audience to obtain a large number of students for a general introductory course, or is the goal to take a very limited number of students through intensive, certifying courses to be eligible for a job?
A: The applicant should determine the best use of potential federal funds to support a program that is fully responsive to the selection criteria as presented in the announcement. Proposed activities should be appropriate to the targeted age group or audience. At the lower grades, projects would introduce students to the aviation environment, airplanes, career options, etc. Those transitioning from military service might be familiar with the maintenance environment and would benefit from complex activities, internships, or certifying courses to facilitate certification preparation and ultimately job placement. Carefully review the selection criteria prior to developing a proposal to be certain all are addressed.
Q: Does the aircraft maintenance program allow students to have hands-on work on aircraft in maintenance hangars?
A: Yes, the legislative authority allows for hands-on work, internships, scholarships, and activities appropriate to the participants engaged in the program.
Q: As part of our project plan for high school students, do we have to show our curriculum to demonstrate that we are providing a meaningful educational experience?
A: Yes. You should provide the curriculum you would deliver and the aviation-related activities that combine to clearly demonstrate the ability to provide an overall meaningful educational experience for the students. The curriculum may be presented as an attachment, if necessary.
Q: I understand that classroom equipment is considered an allowable expense, but is there any further guidance on the types of things that may not be allowable? Specifically, are general purpose items like desks, chairs, and tables allowable expenses? Are computers to outfit a classroom also allowable?
A: In terms of allowable cost, the items mentioned could be allowable if they're specifically needed to carry-out the purpose of the award. Please refer to the following:
§200.403 Factors affecting allowability of costs
Except where otherwise authorized by statute, costs must meet the following general criteria in order to be allowable under Federal awards:
- Be necessary and reasonable for the performance of the Federal award and be allocable thereto under these principles.
- Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth in these principles or in the Federal award as to types or amount of cost items.
- Be consistent with policies and procedures that apply uniformly to both federally-financed and other activities of the non-Federal entity.
- Be accorded consistent treatment. A cost may not be assigned to a Federal award as a direct cost if any other cost incurred for the same purpose in like circumstances has been allocated to the Federal award as an indirect cost.
- Be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), except, for state and local governments and Indian tribes only, as otherwise provided for in this part.
- Not be included as a cost or used to meet cost sharing or matching requirements of any other federally-financed program in either the current or a prior period. See also §200.306(b).
- Be adequately documented. See also §200.300 through 200.309 of this part.
- Cost must be incurred during the approved budget period. The Federal awarding agency is authorized, at its discretion, to waive prior written approvals to carry forward unobligated balances to subsequent budget periods pursuant to §200.308(e)(3).
Eligible Applicants
Q: Who can apply for the Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers grant program?
A: The FAA considers organizations within the categories listed below as eligible applicants. Applications from individual entities within any of these three categories is consistent with congressional intent:
- A certified repair station that provides training defined in part 21, 121, 135, 145, or 147 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations;
- Labor organization representing aviation maintenance workers;
- Accredited institution of higher education (20 U.S.C. § 1001), a postsecondary vocational institution, or a high school or secondary school (20 U.S.C. § 7801);
- Aviation-related nonprofit organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code; or
- A State, local, territorial, or Tribal governmental entity.
Individuals are not eligible to apply under this NOFO.
Q: Can individuals apply for this grant?
A: No, per the NOFO eligible applicants, individuals are not eligible to apply to this program. Congress authorized aviation workforce development grants to create or strengthen programs intended to attract the next generation of students/workers for specified aviation careers. In keeping with enabling legislation, grant recipients will be selected from the pool of qualified organizations defined by Congress and noted in the program announcement. The FAA does not have authority to award grants beyond the stated purpose, or to provide scholarships or any form of financial assistance directly to individual applicants. Selected entities may offer scholarship opportunities as a funded activity.
Q: Can an FAA employee who also belongs to an eligible entity apply for the grant?
A: The eligible entity must apply. FAA employees cannot be a paid resource through this grant, cannot be the grant recipient, and cannot receive any money through the program.
Q: I am not a qualified entity for these grants but I perform services and have developed and delivered aviation-related programs that fit the requirements for the Aviation Workforce Development grants programs. Can I submit a proposal if my programs qualify but I, as an individual/entity, do not qualify?
A: Only qualified eligible entities may apply for these grants. We suggested in the announcement that individuals, especially those like yourself, partner with others as may be appropriate. You describe a situation which may lend itself to a partnership arrangement with local high school(s) or universities, flight schools, other certified entities, qualified organizations, etc.
Q: Can an entity apply for both Aviation Workforce Development Grant programs?
A: Yes, an entity may apply for both programs and must submit two separate applications in response to each funding opportunity. Eligible projects and applicants vary between the grants for aircraft pilots and aviation maintenance technical workers. All submissions will be evaluated based on the criteria for each grant program respectively.
Q: Must all team members meet the eligibility requirements, or only the lead member?
A: Only the lead applicant must meet all eligibility requirements.
Q: Is there any limit to the number of grants we can apply to or the number of organizations we might partner with as a sponsor?
A: No. The FAA does not limit the number of organizations you may sponsor or with which you may partner. However, there is a limit on applications, specifically: Only one application per grant program will be accepted from any one eligible entity proposing to serve as the "lead member" of a team or as a qualified individual applying. Note that even that proposing team lead is permitted to serve as a member on any number of other proposing teams.
Q: What if I have already completed the hours toward my Airframe and Powerplant certificate and only need to complete one more test? Can the grant program help with paying back my student loan?
A: The program does not fund individual applicants and the program does not provide funding for loans.
Q: Will the scope of eligible applicants or eligible projects identified in this grant program be broadened?
A: No, not at this time. Eligible applicants and projects are identified in the enabling legislation, as outlined in the NOFOs.
Q: Does the grant require applicants to be certified teachers in aviation?
A: No, this program does not require the teachers be certified in aviation. However, applications will only be accepted by eligible entities as detailed in the NOFO.
Q: We are a sub-entity applying with an eligible primary. Can we submit the application for the grant using our SAM registration information (the application will reference the primary entity, but we want to submit the application via our SAM username)?
A: No, only the primary entity can apply for the grant. Sub-awards are prohibited for this NOFO. Though, it is recommended that the Lead entity enter into agreements with contractors as set forth in 2 CFR 200.331(b).
Q: We are waiting for the confirmation of our Part 145 number. Are we required to have this number at the time of grant application submission or by the time an award has been confirmed/granted?
A: Your organization will need to be meet the Part 145 qualification at the time of the application, or meet one of the other eligibility requirements. If you are partnering with an eligible applicant, that entity may submit the proposal if they are a qualified entity.
Performance Period
Q: How much time will we have to complete our projected activities? What would happen if we were to have an unexpected delay in our schedule?
A: A funded project may have a period of implementation of up to two (2) years. Funding beyond the first year is subject to the availability of appropriated funds for the AWD Program in subsequent fiscal years, satisfactory recipient performance and progress, and a decision that continued funding is in the best interest of the Federal Government. Project activities are expected to be completed during this time. However, following completion of the core activities, grant recipients may require additional time to prepare final reports and invoices; therefore, grant recipients may submit these items within 90 days of the end of the proposed period of performance. Should an activity be delayed, a request for a no-cost extension to the period of performance would be submitted by the grant recipient to the FAA Grants Officer with a justification. Additional time may be approved as appropriate.
Q: How much flexibility is permitted when proposing a period of performance? We have subject matter experts who are on standby should we receive a grant; however, they would require time to transition from current positions or obligations to be available to us to carry out the proposed project(s). We would also need to finalize arrangements for additional space as our proposal is intended to expand on the activities we are currently delivering.
A: FAA expects to award grants in the 4th Quarter of Fiscal Year 2025 (July1 – September 30, 2025. The proposed work applicants described in their proposals must be scheduled to include the delivery of activities over a period of 24 months. Funding beyond the first year is subject to the availability of appropriated funds for the AWD Program in subsequent fiscal years, satisfactory recipient performance and progress, and a decision that continued funding is in the best interest of the Federal Government. Additionally, the grant supports the administrative requirements which are necessary to carry out the proposed project(s).
Q: Does the money have to be spent during a certain timeframe, for example, the 2024/2025 fiscal year or during the calendar year 2024?
A: Final reports and final invoices are due to the FAA within 90 days of the end of period of performance. The period of performance for this NOFO is 24 months from award date. For example, if a recipient is awarded a grant in August 2025, the end of the of performance on a 24-month project would be August 2027, which means final reports and invoices would be due within 90 days following November 2027.
Q: Would it be allowable for us to allocate some funds to create an endowment with our College Foundation that would help to support and sustain the scholarship program over the long term?
A: The grant awards are expected to be executed to cover a period of performance of 24 months. No-cost extensions may be requested and approved by the FAA grants officer to allow additional time to complete all activities; however, the expectation is that all activities will be conducted within the approved period of performance. 2 CFR 200 allows an additional 90 days from the end date established and agreed upon to complete all program plans and requirements, prepare final reports, and submit final invoices. Unexpended funds are not available once these closeout actions have occurred.
Funding
Q: Is the funding provided periodically or at the end of the grant upon completion of documentation by the grantee?
A: Each grant recipient will receive an award document that will provide the amount, terms and conditions of the grant, and invoicing instructions. As funds are expended, the grant recipient will submit invoices to the FAA on a quarterly basis with a progress report. The FAA will make payments on a quarterly basis following receipt and review of the expenditure documentation provided.
Q: Is the funding opportunity still valid given there is a new administration?
A: Yes.
Q: How much funding is available?
A: The FAA is currently seeking applications for the third round, which Congress appropriated at $9M. The FAA may award up to $1,000,000 (the ceiling established by legislation) for any one grant in any one fiscal year.
Q: Is the grant a multi-year award?
A: Yes. A funded project may have a period of implementation of up to two (2) years, with a maximum of $1,000,000 per year (inclusive of direct and indirect costs). Funding beyond the first year is subject to the availability of appropriated funds for the AWD Program in subsequent fiscal years, satisfactory recipient performance and progress, and a decision that continued funding is in the best interest of the Federal Government.
Q: Can incremental funding proposals be considered? We are developing one proposal for each grant program and preparing our budgets in two tiers. One to allow for the delivery of basic activities, and the second tier to include the option of advanced activities for more experienced participants.
A: Yes, incremental funding proposals will be considered. Applicants should carefully develop: 1) the budget to best support the intended activities using the form to present the specific elements needed, resources, materials, supplies, etc., and 2) the two-page narrative. The supplemental information accompanies the budget form and should clearly justify the funding request to support the program as planned and proposed for consideration.
Q: Should funding requests by segmented and prioritized, in case the agency only makes a partial award of funds?
A: Applicants will use the budget form and will supplement the proposed line item expenditures with a narrative, not to exceed two pages, that serves to justify the spending plan. The applicant may present this information in a prioritized manner, should the full amount requested not be awarded.
Q: If a partial award is made, what is your preference for prioritizing?
A: The FAA does not have a preference for prioritizing expenditures. Both funding opportunities could reasonably include various necessary activities and expenditures such as: outreach/recruitment, project development and delivery, staff salaries, technical and administrative support, materials and supplies, and the purchase of equipment (to a greater extent in the Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers Program). We advise that applicants propose a range of activities that may include components described above. Carefully review each NOFO for the guidance necessary to prepare a responsive and sound proposal. Your response to the selection criteria will be used during the evaluation process to establish the basis for rating and ranking the application.
Q: The equipment costs for a new Part 147 certified program will exceed the maximum grant award of $1,000,000. Will the award be all-or-nothing of the amount proposed?
A: Proposals should be written to present activities that would be within the $1,000,000 maximum award allowable.
Q: Are the funds that were proposed to be allocated for scholarships required to be kept in a specific type of account?
A: The FAA expects recipients to identify all expenses, including scholarships, in invoices and maintain accurate accounting systems and records.
Q: Are funds from this grant allowed to be placed into an endowment fund that would provide scholarships in the future/perpetuity?
A: The period of performance for these grants is 24 months. You have up until 90 days after the closeout date for the grant to award scholarships. An endowment fund to use after the grant period of performance has ended would not be allowable.
Q: Do we have to apply for funding for each individual year if we are offering the same program for each year?
A: The applicant should be prepared to resubmit an application even if they submitted an application in either or both of the first two rounds.
Note: Per the NOFO, the government will not award a grant to an applicant who already has an active award with FAA’s Aircraft Pilots Workforce Development Grant Program or Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers Workforce Development Grant Program with a period of performance that will overlap with the award being granted under this NOFO.
Q: Are indirect costs included as administrative costs?
A: Indirect costs established with your cognizant agency are firm and separate from administrative costs, which we allow for but expect to be reasonable and prudent.
Q: As a sub-entity grant recipient, can we submit invoices to the FAA for reimbursement under the award or does the primary entity need to be the one to submit invoices for reimbursement?
A: The primary entity will need to submit the invoices because it is the entity with a financial relationship with the awarding agency. However, sub-awards are prohibited under this NOFO.
Reference Information
Q: Where can I find the legislative text?
A: The Aviation Workforce Development Grant Programs appear as a note to 49 U.S.C. 40101. The note material entitled "Aviation Workforce Development Programs" incorporates section 625 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-254).
Application Package
Q: How will I know if the agency received my application?
A: After a proposal has been uploaded to grants.gov, an applicant will receive an automatic notification from the site that the proposal has been received. An applicant will receive a second notification after the Aviation Workforce Development Grant Program retrieves the application from the site. NOTE: Retrieval of proposals will not take place until after the closing date.
Q: Are we able to submit our application directly to you and AWD-grants via e-mail?
A: No. You must submit the application through grants.gov.
Q: How will grant applications be evaluated?
A: The evaluation criteria will be outlined within the NOFO.
Q: Will equal points or rating be assigned to each of the four criteria, or if the applicant addresses many of the items under Criterion 1, can these responses be referenced under Criterion 2, 3, and 4 to avoid duplication?
A: Criteria are rated by importance and each one should be addressed within the narrative, which is limited to 10 pages. The project narrative must include a one (1) page project narrative cover letter and is not included in the project narrative 10-page limit. The cover letter must be on entity letterhead and signed by an authorized official representing the applicant or team of applicants. One might reference previously stated activities and build upon the concept in a following criterion, but the applicant must be responsive to all criteria.
Q: If I am not selected for an award this year, is it possible my submission will be considered if you offer the opportunity next year, or will I be required to prepare and submit another proposal?
A: Applicants that have not been previously selected are eligible to continue to submit an application for future cycles administered in accordance with congressional authorization and appropriations. Please refer to application information included in the current and/or future NOFO.
Q: The NOFO requires the lead entity to provide a copy of its most recent audit. Do you mean the entire audit, proof of the audit, or just the comments?
A: The applicant is required to submit the most recent audit report summary with the proposal. The reviewers will be examining the findings and the remedies that the proposing entity has taken as corrective action.
Q: If we do not have an audit to provide, does this disqualify us from applying?
A: Organizations without a full audit or a summary report to submit are encouraged to partner with an eligible entity with previous experience in federal grant applications who would have such materials and/or reports to submit. If partnering is not possible, the FAA will accept the qualifying entity's most recent financial statement.
Q: If the lead entity is not subject to 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, as stated in Section E3, is an audit still required to be attached to the grant application?
A: Organizations without a full audit or a summary report to submit are encouraged to partner with an eligible entity with previous experience in federal grant applications who would have such materials and/or reports to submit. If partnering is not possible, the FAA will accept the qualifying entity's most recent financial statement.
Q: With a small grant of $50,000, a $10,000 audit is too big of a percentage of the grant to be reasonable. We have financial statements which cost is $1,000 instead of $10,000, completed annually because we operate on a budget of approximately $100,000 every year. Would you accept such financial statements instead of an extensive audit report? We would be willing to send you our 2019 statement.
A: Yes, we would accept the financial statement from the smaller eligible entities.
Q: The performance location(s) must be entered into grants.gov, and, for each, the full contact information must be entered. However, a project could encompass several locations, some of which cannot be identified at the time of submission. Is it permissible to indicate the primary performance location(s) within grants.gov and then discuss other, tangential locations within the narrative?
A: Yes.
Q: Should the cover letter, which must accompany the narrative, be considered as the first page and counted as one out of the 10-page limit for the narrative?
A: No, one (1) page project narrative cover letter is not included in the project narrative 10-page limit. The cover letter must be on entity letterhead and signed by an authorized official representing the applicant or team of applicants.
Q: Are references counted in the 10-page narrative limit?
A: Yes.
Q: Can the narrative contain tables that are not double-spaced?
A: Yes.
Q: Should the cover letter be double-spaced like the narrative?
A: Yes, the cover letter should be double-spaced.
Q: Does the Budget Narrative, which has a two-page maximum length, need to be double-spaced?
A: No. The Budget Narrative may be single spaced.
Q: Other than a brief overview and mention of the budget in the narrative, am I correct to assume that we do not need to duplicate information by including the Detailed Budget and Budget Narrative within the Project Narrative?
A: Yes, you are correct. The two-page budget narrative is in addition to the 10-page narrative and may be included as an attachment. References may be made as necessary, but duplicate information is not needed in the 10-page Project Narrative.
Q: In addition to providing a commitment letter, within which an entity will explain how they are an eligible partner/how they meet eligibility requirements, must partners also provide documentation of their eligibility?
A: The lead applicant must meet all eligibility requirements including providing proof of their eligibility.
Q: Our financial audit is more than 100 pages. Can we include a link to the audit instead of the entire document?
A: Yes, you may include the link.
Q: Are we allowed to add an appendix to the budget figures to briefly explain the rationale for the key financial figures?
A: Supplemental budget information will be accepted as an attachment.
Q:Can I complete the information and send to the qualified entity to submit? If possible, can you give directions on how to do this?
A: The FAA cannot assist with submitting an application. Grants.gov offers assistance and has trained staff available 24/7 to help answer questions.
Q: As part of our project plan for high school students, do we have to show our curriculum to demonstrate that we are providing a meaningful educational experience?
A: Yes. You should provide the curriculum you would deliver and the aviation-related activities that combine to clearly demonstrate the ability to provide an overall meaningful educational experience for the students. The curriculum may be presented as an attachment, if necessary.
Q: On the performance location forms, should the lead applicant be the primary place of performance, even though most of the instruction and other work will be done at another site?
A: Please make clear in the Project Narrative the role and location of the Lead applicant and all places of activity performance. Where grants.gov provides a form for the Lead to complete, the Lead may reflect either location.
Q: FAA will receive proposals through the Grants.gov portal; however, I would like to know if there is an alternate means of submission that would allow our team to be more nimble with our submission?
A: We do not have procedures in place for this competition that would enable us to accept proposals other than through Grants.gov.
Q: Are sections B. Applicant information and coordination with other entities and C. Conflict of Interest items included in the Narrative's page count?
A: No, these do not count toward the 10-page Narrative limit.
Q: Are we allowed to upload resumes and support of the principle investigator and team members? Are there any requirements or required templates for these documents?
A: Yes, applicants may provide resumes for staff. At this time, there are no standard forms or templates. The resume, CV, or a biographical sketch may be included as an attachment with the 10-page Narrative and is helpful. Other than the forms on grants.gov, you have the option to provide biographical sketches, but avoid providing personally sensitive information such as salary, birthdates, and Social Security numbers.
Q: In the grants.gov application package, there are mandatory forms named "Project Abstract [V1.2]" and "Project Abstract Summary [V2.0]." What are the differences between the two forms?
A: Either form may be used.
Q: In reference to the Budget Information Form (424A), what administrative costs do item 6a. Personnel refer to?
A: The 424A is primarily for the key personnel who will be working on the grant project (e.g., manager, technical staff, administrative staff). The administrative cost cap refers specifically to the costs of administering the grant. Examples are:
- Salaries/fringe benefits charged against the award for the sole purpose of administering the grant/cooperative agreement
- Preparing program plans, budgets schedules, and related amendments
- Monitoring of programs, projects, and related systems and processes
- Developing systems and procedures, including management information systems, for assuring compliance with program requirements
- Preparing reports and other documents related to the program requirements
- Evaluating program results against stated objectives
Q: Where and how should attachments be uploaded?
A: All other attachments that do not already have a designated Form within your grants.gov Workspace's Mandatory Forms column and/or the Optional Forms column, can be attached via the Attachment Form (V1.2). The Attachment Form (V1.2) can also be found within your grants.gov Workspace's Mandatory Forms column.
Deadline
Q: When can I submit my Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers grant program application?
A: Please submit applications electronically via Grants.gov through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 5, 2025.
Q: What should I do to prepare for the application?
A: See the landing page to get started. All federal financial assistance programs follow 2 CFR 200. You may familiarize yourself with the process and register your organization on grants.gov to prepare for your application. The Grants Learning Center is also an excellent resource.
Questions
Q: Where can I find additional information about this program?
A: Please refer to the NOFO on grants.gov or visit this webpage on a regular basis for additional information. You may also sign up for our mailing list.
Q: Who can I contact if I have questions about this grant program?
A: The FAA's Office of NextGen is administering this program on behalf of the Department of Transportation. The FAA is only accepting feedback at AWD-Grants@faa.gov. To ensure a fair and open competition for the grant programs, we may post the answer to your question on this webpage. Grants.gov offers 24/7 assistance to help with the application process and can reached at 800-518-4726 and support@grants.gov.
Q: Can you inform me when there is news about this grant program?
A: Yes. Please sign up for our mailing list to be notified when we update webpages about aviation workforce development grants.