Center of Excellence for Alternative Jet Fuels and Environment
🏛 FAA-COE-AJFE
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 17, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for academic institutions and aviation research organizations to establish and operate Centers of Excellence focused on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) development, environmental benefits, and regulatory pathways. Eligible applicants typically include universities, aviation research centers, and consortiums with demonstrable capacity in aeronautical engineering, chemistry, environmental science, or related fields. The program supports research, testing, and demonstration activities that advance alternative jet fuels and reduce aviation's environmental footprint. Geographic scope is nationwide, and applicants must show commitment to collaboration with industry partners, the FAA, and other stakeholders in the aviation ecosystem.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
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Program description
The opportunity for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Center of Excellence for Alternative Jet Fuel and Environment (AJFE) was awarded in 2013 to the ASCENT cooperative aviation research organization. ASCENT is a coalition of 16 leading US research universities committed to improving the understanding of aviation noise and emissions and the modeling of aviation systems. ASCENT is co-led by Washington State University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (https://ascent.aero/). Any new grant opportunities under AJFE are open and available only to the university members of ASCENT.”
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Proposal narrative (typically 15–25 pages) describing research objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes
- Organizational capacity and management plan
- Letters of commitment from industry and academic partners
- Budget and budget narrative (detailed for multi-year period)
- Resumes of key personnel
- Evidence of institutional accreditation and research credentials
- Conflict of interest disclosures
- Indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) or equivalent
- Data management and intellectual property plan
Program contact
- 👤 Oliva Bastiampillai Management Program Analyst
- 📧 eleanor.s.mendelson@faa.gov
- 📞 202-267-3546
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 20.109 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$72,287,133
-
$34,343,386
-
$22,978,775
-
$22,942,120
-
$21,594,529
-
$12,733,190
-
$12,348,295
-
$11,650,568
-
$11,149,999
-
$9,671,279
Top States by Funding
- KS 5 awards $91.3M
- GA 3 awards $37.4M
- MS 2 awards $34.1M
- MA 2 awards $32.7M
- PA 3 awards $25.2M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 20.109). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $61,825,301 | |
| 2025 | $22,531,532 | |
| 2026 est. | $40,000,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this Center of Excellence grant?
Primarily universities and research institutions with accreditation in aeronautical engineering, environmental science, or aviation-related disciplines. Some private research organizations and aviation-focused nonprofits may be eligible depending on their track record and capacity.
What is the application deadline?
The deadline is September 30, 2026. Applications must be submitted through the FAA's official grant portal before the end of business on that date.
What types of research and activities does this grant support?
The program supports research on alternative jet fuel development, certification pathways, environmental impact analysis, sustainability metrics, fuel production processes, and aviation fuel testing and validation.
How competitive is this grant?
Very competitive. COE grants typically attract applications from well-established research institutions with existing aviation programs. Success depends on strong partnerships, clear research objectives, and proven institutional capacity.
What funding range should I expect?
These grants typically provide multi-year, substantial funding (generally $500K to several million annually), but actual amounts vary. Check the NOFO for specific funding levels available in this funding cycle.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize institutional partnerships: Demonstrate collaboration with airlines, fuel producers, universities, and the FAA. COEs succeed through strong consortiums, not isolated efforts.
- Address the environmental impact case clearly: Connect your research directly to reducing aviation's carbon footprint, emissions, or other environmental outcomes the FAA prioritizes.
- Show technical capacity and past performance: Include evidence of prior aviation research, successful grant management, access to specialized facilities (labs, test equipment), and a track record of peer-reviewed publications.
- Align with FAA and DOT priorities: Research sustainable aviation fuel policy, certification standards, and deployment pathways—not just basic fuel chemistry. Know current FAA guidance on SAF.
- Plan for long-term sustainability: Explain how the COE will sustain operations beyond federal funding through industry partnerships, licensing, or fee-for-service testing arrangements.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applicants often underestimate the importance of industry partnerships and fail to show realistic pathways to commercialization or regulatory adoption. Another common issue is submitting research plans that are too narrowly academic without connecting to FAA certification requirements or real-world aviation fuel deployment. Finally, many proposals lack evidence of the institution's actual capacity to manage a multi-year, complex center with multiple research streams and external stakeholders.
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