Opportunity Information: Apply for 23 FAA FAST 001
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), under the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), opened a discretionary grant opportunity called the Fueling Aviation's Sustainable Transition (FAST) Grant Program. This program was created by Section 40007 of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and is meant to accelerate aviation decarbonization by funding projects tied to two related tracks: sustainable aviation fuel (FAST-SAF) and low-emission aviation technologies (FAST-Tech). The overall intent is to move the aviation sector toward the emissions and climate goals laid out in the United States Aviation Climate Action Plan, which the FAA references as the guiding policy framework for what the grants are supposed to achieve.
FAST is structured as one program with two funding focus areas. FAST-SAF supports the sustainable aviation fuel side of the transition, while FAST-Tech supports the technology side (tools, systems, and equipment that reduce aviation emissions). In this particular Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the FAA indicates that approximately $244.53 million is available for FAST-SAF and about $46.53 million is available for FAST-Tech. Taken together, that places the total available funding at roughly $291.06 million across both components, with the vast majority directed to SAF-related efforts. Individual awards can be substantial, with an award ceiling listed at up to $50,000,000 per award, signaling that the program is designed to fund projects with meaningful scale and real-world impact rather than only small pilot efforts.
The grants are intended for projects that directly support the production, deployment, and broader ecosystem needed for sustainable aviation fuels, as well as projects that advance lower-emission aviation through technology. While the summary text does not list every eligible project type, it clearly frames eligibility around alignment with national aviation climate goals and around the two theme areas: SAF and low-emission aviation technologies. In practical terms, that typically means proposals should show how they will measurably contribute to emissions reductions in aviation, remove barriers to SAF adoption (such as supply chain, infrastructure, or deployment constraints), or advance the development, demonstration, or implementation of technologies that lower emissions from aircraft operations or supporting aviation systems.
Administratively, this is a grant (not a loan or contract) and is categorized as a discretionary funding opportunity. It is listed under Funding Opportunity Number 23 FAA FAST 001 and falls under the broad activity categories of Energy, Environment, and Transportation, with CFDA number 20.115. The issuing office is identified as FAA - Aviation Next Gen, which is consistent with the FAA's role in supporting modernization and forward-looking aviation initiatives. The opportunity lists the applicant type as "Others," which is a broad eligibility label in federal grant listings and generally means applicants should consult the full NOFO for the exact definitions of eligible entities, any partnership requirements, cost-share expectations (if any), and other conditions. The original application closing date shown is December 4, 2023, and the opportunity record date indicates it was created on September 25, 2023, which helps place the timing and versioning of the solicitation.
At a high level, the FAST Grant Program is designed to speed up aviation's shift to cleaner energy and operations by putting federal dollars behind projects that can help scale sustainable aviation fuel and advance low-emission technologies. Applicants are expected to ground their proposals in the FAA's climate and sustainability priorities, and to use the NOFO as the definitive source for detailed requirements, evaluation criteria, eligible cost categories, reporting obligations, and any additional constraints tied to Inflation Reduction Act funding.Apply for 23 FAA FAST 001
- The FAA - Aviation Next Gen in the energy, environment, transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fueling Aviation’s Sustainable Transition via Sustainable Aviation Fuels (FAST-SAF) and Low-Emission Aviation Technologies (FAST-Tech) Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.115.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-09-25.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-12-04. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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FAST Grant Program (FAA) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FAST Grant Program?
The Fueling Aviation's Sustainable Transition (FAST) Grant Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). It was created by Section 40007 of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 to help accelerate aviation decarbonization.
What is the purpose of FAST funding?
FAST is meant to speed up the aviation sector's transition to cleaner fuels and lower-emission operations. The FAA positions the program as a way to move aviation toward the emissions and climate goals described in the United States Aviation Climate Action Plan, which the FAA cites as the guiding policy framework for what these grants should achieve.
Who is offering this grant opportunity?
The issuing agency is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The issuing office is listed as FAA - Aviation Next Gen.
Is FAST a grant, a contract, or a loan?
FAST is a grant program. It is described as a discretionary funding opportunity, meaning awards are made competitively based on the solicitation and how well proposals meet program goals and requirements.
What are the two funding tracks under FAST?
FAST is one program with two funding focus areas:
- FAST-SAF: Focused on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and the ecosystem needed to produce and deploy SAF.
- FAST-Tech: Focused on low-emission aviation technologies, including tools, systems, and equipment that reduce aviation emissions.
How much funding is available in this NOFO?
In this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), the FAA indicates approximately:
- $244.53 million for FAST-SAF
- $46.53 million for FAST-Tech
Together, that is roughly $291.06 million across both components, with most funding directed to SAF-related efforts.
What is the maximum award size?
The award ceiling is listed at up to $50,000,000 per award, indicating the program is designed to support projects at meaningful scale, not only small pilot projects.
What kinds of projects does FAST aim to support?
FAST funding is intended for projects that directly support:
- The production, deployment, and broader ecosystem needed for sustainable aviation fuels (FAST-SAF), and
- The advancement of lower-emission aviation through technology (FAST-Tech).
While the summary does not list every eligible project type, it frames eligibility around alignment with national aviation climate goals and the two theme areas: SAF and low-emission aviation technologies.
What does "alignment with aviation climate goals" mean in this context?
Based on the information provided, proposals are expected to be grounded in FAA climate and sustainability priorities and show how the project supports the emissions and climate goals described in the United States Aviation Climate Action Plan.
How should an applicant describe impact for a FAST proposal?
In practical terms, FAST proposals should explain how the project will measurably contribute to aviation emissions reductions, such as by reducing barriers to SAF adoption (for example, supply chain, infrastructure, or deployment constraints) or by advancing the development, demonstration, or implementation of technologies that lower emissions from aircraft operations or supporting aviation systems.
What is FAST-SAF intended to fund?
FAST-SAF supports the sustainable aviation fuel side of the transition, including projects tied to the production and deployment of SAF and efforts that help build the surrounding ecosystem needed for SAF to scale.
What is FAST-Tech intended to fund?
FAST-Tech supports the technology side of aviation decarbonization, including tools, systems, and equipment that reduce aviation emissions.
Is the program focused more on SAF or on technology?
In this NOFO, most of the available funding is directed to SAF-related efforts (FAST-SAF), with a smaller portion allocated to low-emission aviation technologies (FAST-Tech).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this solicitation?
The Funding Opportunity Number is 23 FAA FAST 001.
What is the CFDA number associated with FAST?
The opportunity is listed with CFDA number 20.115.
What activity categories does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity is categorized under the broad activity areas of Energy, Environment, and Transportation.
Who is eligible to apply?
The applicant type is listed as "Others", which is a broad eligibility label in federal grant listings. Based on the information provided, applicants should rely on the full NOFO for the definitive definitions of eligible entities and any conditions that may apply.
Does the listing indicate partnership requirements or cost share?
The summary notes that "Others" is broad and emphasizes that applicants should consult the full NOFO for details such as any partnership requirements, cost-share expectations (if any), and other conditions.
What is the application deadline shown for this opportunity?
The original application closing date shown is December 4, 2023.
When was the opportunity record created?
The opportunity record date indicates it was created on September 25, 2023.
What document should applicants treat as the official source of requirements?
The NOFO is described as the definitive source for detailed requirements, including evaluation criteria, eligible cost categories, reporting obligations, and constraints tied to Inflation Reduction Act funding.
What types of compliance or reporting obligations might apply?
The summary does not list specific obligations, but it states that reporting requirements and other constraints (including those tied to Inflation Reduction Act funding) are addressed in the NOFO and should be reviewed there.
What should a strong FAST application emphasize based on the summary?
Based on the information provided, a strong application would clearly align with FAA climate and sustainability priorities, fit within either FAST-SAF or FAST-Tech, and explain how the project will contribute to measurable aviation emissions reductions and real-world deployment or implementation at scale.
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