Order: 2012-5-8

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Issued by the Department of Transportation

on the 11th day of May, 2012

In the Matter of Grant Applications

SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE

DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

under 49 U.S.C. § 41743 et seq.

 DOCKET DOT-OST-2012-0069

 Served: May 11, 2012

ORDER SOLICITING

SMALL COMMUNITY GRANT PROPOSALS

By this order, the Department invites proposals from communities and/or consortia of 

communities interested in obtaining a federal grant under the Small Community Air Service 

Development Program (Small Community Program or SCASDP) to address air service and 

airfare issues in their communities. Applications of no more than 25 pages each (one-sided 

only, excluding the completed SF424, cover sheet, Summary Information schedule, and any

letters from the community showing support for the application), including all required 

information, must be submitted to www.grants.gov no later than 5 PM EDT on Monday, 

June 11, 2012.

This order is organized into the following sections:

I. Background

II. Selection Criteria and Guidance on Application of Selection Criteria

III. Evaluation and Selection Process

IV. How to Apply

V. Air Service Development Zone

VI. Grant Administration

VII. Questions and Clarifications

Appendix A – Additional Information on Applying Through www.grants.gov

Appendix B – Cover Sheet Contents

Appendix C – Summary Information

Appendix D – Application Checklist
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Appendix E – Confidential Commercial Information

I. BACKGROUND

The Small Community Program was established by the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment 

and Reform Act for the 21st Century (P.L. 106-181) and reauthorized by the Vision 100-Century 

of Aviation Reauthorization Act (P.L. 108-176). 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 monetary grants that are disbursed on a reimbursable 

basis. Authorization for this program is codified at 49 U.S.C. § 41743.

The Small Community Program is authorized to receive appropriations under 49 U.S.C. 

§ 41743(e)(2), as amended. Appropriations are provided for this program for award in FY 2012 

pursuant to the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-95). The Department has

up to $14 million available for FY 2012 grant awards to carry out this program. There is no limit 

on the amount of individual awards, and the amounts awarded will vary depending upon the 

features and merits of the proposals selected. In past years, the Department’s individual grant

sizes have ranged from $20,000 to nearly $1.6 million.

A. Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants are small communities that meet the following statutory criteria (49 U.S.C. 

§ 41743):

1. As of calendar year 1997, the airport serving the community was not larger than a 

small hub airport, and it has insufficient air carrier service or unreasonably high air 

fares; and

2. 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.

No more than 4 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.

Communities without existing air service: Communities that do not currently have 

commercial air service are eligible for SCASDP funds, but air service providers must have met 

or be able to meet in a reasonable period all Departmental requirements for air service 

certification, including safety and economic authorities.

Essential Air Service communities: Small communities that meet the basic SCASDP criteria 

and currently receive subsidized air service under the Essential Air Service (EAS) program are 

eligible to apply for SCASDP funds. However, grant awards to EAS-subsidized communities 

are limited to marketing or promotion projects that support existing or newly subsidized EAS. 

Grant funds will not be authorized for EAS-subsidized communities to support any new
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competing air service. Furthermore, no funds will be authorized to support additional flights by 

EAS carriers or changes to those carriers’ existing schedules. These restrictions are necessary to 

avoid conflicts with the EAS program.

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.

Multiple Applications: Communities may file only one application for a grant, either 

individually or as part of a consortium.

B. Eligible Projects

The Department is authorized to award grants under 49 U.S.C. § 41743 to communities that seek 

to provide assistance to:

• an air carrier to subsidize service to and from an underserved airport for a period not to 

exceed 3 years;

• an underserved airport 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.

Applicants also should keep in mind the following statutory restrictions on eligible projects:

• An applicant may not receive an additional grant to support the same project from a 

previous grant (see Same Project Limitation, below); and

• An applicant may not receive an additional grant, prior to the completion of its previous 

grant (see Concurrent Grant Limitation, below).

Same Project Limitation: A community may not receive an additional grant to support the 

same project for which it received a previous grant. In assessing whether a previous grantee’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 is ineligible, even if the revenue 

guarantee were structured differently or the type of carrier were different. However, a new 

application by such a previous grantee for service to a new destination or direction using a 

revenue guarantee, or for general marketing of the airport and the various services it offers, is 

eligible. We recognize that not all revenue guarantees, marketing agreements, equipment 
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purchases, etc. 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).

Concurrent Grant Limitation: A community may have only one SCASDP grant at any time. 

If a community applies for a subsequent SCASDP grant when its current grant has not yet 

expired, that community must notify the Department of its intent to terminate the current 

SCASDP grant prior to entering into the new grant. 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 the consortium will be deemed eligible to 

receive a subsequent SCASDP grant.

II. SELECTION CRITERIA AND GUIDANCE ON APPLICATION OF SELECTION 

CRITERIA

SCASDP grants will be awarded based on the selection criteria as outlined below. There are two 

categories of selection criteria: Priority Selection Criteria and Secondary Selection Criteria. 

Applications that meet one or more of the priority selection criteria will be viewed more 

favorably than those that do not meet any priority selection criteria.

A. Priority Selection Criteria

The law directs the Department to give priority consideration to those communities or consortia 

where the following criteria are met:

1. Air fares are higher than the national average air fares for all communities – DOT will 

compare the local community’s air fares to the national average air fares for all 

communities. Communities with air fares significantly higher than the national average 

air fares for all communities will be given priority. DOT calculates these fares using the 

Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) database. BTS Origin Destination 

Survey data is used to gather fare data for all markets that serve airports 

represented in SCASDP applications. The SCASDP air fare comparison report 

represents a community’s (each individual applicant’s) air fares as a percentage 

of National Averages (Fare Premium). The report compares a community’s air 

fares to the average for all other markets in the Country that have similar density 

(passenger volume) and distance characteristics (market groupings). The Fare 

Premium calculation includes all markets that averaged more than 1 passenger a 

day. 

2. The community or consortium will provide a portion of the cost of the activity from local 

sources other than airport revenue sources – DOT will consider whether a community or 

consortium proposes local funding for the proposed project. Applications providing 

proportionately higher levels of cash contributions from other than airport revenues will 

be viewed more favorably. Applications that provide multiple levels of contributions 

(state, local, airport, cash and in-kind contributions) also will be viewed more favorably. 
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See Additional Guidance – Cost Sharing and Local Contributions, in Subsection C 

below, for more information on the application of this selection criterion.

 

3. The community or consortium has established or will establish a public-private 

partnership to facilitate air carrier service to the public – DOT will consider a community 

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.

4. The assistance will provide material benefits to a broad segment of the traveling public, 

including business, educational institutions, and other enterprises, whose access to the 

national air transportation system is limited – DOT will consider whether the proposed 

project would provide, to a broad segment of the community’s traveling public, important 

benefits relevant to the community, for example: 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, or service that would offer lower fares.

5. The assistance will be used in a timely manner – DOT will consider whether a proposed 

project provides a well-defined plan and reasonable timetable for use of the grant funds. 

In DOT’s experience, a reasonable timetable for use of grant funds includes a year to 

complete studies, two years for marketing and promotion of the airport, community, 

carrier, or destination, and three years for projects that target a revenue guarantee, 

subsidy, or other financial incentives. Applicants should describe how their projects can 

be accomplished within a reasonable time period.

6. Multiple communities cooperate to submit a regional or multistate application to 

consolidate air service into one regional airport – DOT will consider whether a proposed 

project involves a consortium effort to consolidate air service into one regional airport. 

This is a new statutory priority criterion, added pursuant to Section 429 of the FAA 

Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-95).

B. Secondary Selection Criteria

1. Innovation – DOT will consider whether an application proposes new and creative 

solutions to the transportation issues facing the community, including:

• the extent to which the applicant’s proposed solution(s) to solving the problem(s) 

is new or innovative, including whether the proposed project utilizes or 

encourages intermodal or regional solutions to connect passengers to the 

community’s air service (i.e., cost-effective inter/intra city passenger bus service, 

marketing of intermodal surface transportation options also available to air 

travelers, or projects that have a positive impact on travel and tourism); whether 

the proposed project, if successfully implemented, could serve as a working 

model for other communities; and

• whether the proposed project clearly addresses the applicant’s stated problems.
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2. Participation – DOT will consider whether an application has broad community 

participation, including:

• whether the proposed project has broad community support; and

• the community’s demonstrated commitment to and participation in the proposed 

project.

3. Location – DOT 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 proposal or the project undertaken by the other 

recipient.

4. Other Factors – DOT will also consider:

• 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 total funds available for all 

communities;

• the proposed federal grant amount requested compared with the local share 

offered;

• any letters of intent from airline planning departments or intermodal surface 

transportation providers on behalf of applications that are specifically intended to 

enlist new or expanded air service or 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; and 

• equitable and geographic distribution of available funds.

C. Additional Guidance

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).

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.
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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, communities that 

propose to use the grant funds for service in a city-pair market that is already served by a carrier 

must explain in detail why the existing service is insufficient or unsatisfactory, or provide other 

compelling information to support such proposals.

Cost Sharing and 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. Cash contributions from airport revenues must be identified 

separately from cash contributions from other community sources, and cash contributions from 

the state and/or local government should be separately identified and described.

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 those 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 the local government, and/or from local businesses, or other private 

organizations in the community. 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 revenue guarantees to airlines, per 49 

U.S.C. §§ 47107, 47133. Applications that include local contributions based on airport 

revenues do not receive priority consideration for selection.

In-kind contributions from the airport. This can include such items as waivers of landing 

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,1 as are reduced fares 

offered by airlines.

 

1 A travel bank involves the actual deposit of funds from participating parties (e.g., businesses, 

individuals) into a designated bank account for purchasing air travel on the selected airline, with 

defined procedures for the subsequent use or withdrawal of those funds under an agreement with 

the airline. Often, however, what communities refer to as a travel bank actually involves travel 

pledges from businesses in the community without any collection of funds or formal procedures 

for use of the funds. As with other types of in-kind contributions, the Department views travel 

banks and pledges included in grant applications as an indicator of local community support.
8

Cash vs. in-kind contributions. Communities that include local contributions made in cash 

will be viewed more favorably.

III. EVALUATION AND SELECTION PROCESS

The Department will first review each application to determine whether it has satisfied the 

following eligibility requirements:

1. The applicant is an Eligible Applicant;

2. The application is for an Eligible Project (including compliance with the Same Project 

Limitation); and

3. The application is complete (including submission of a completed SF424 and all of the 

information listed in Contents of Application, in Section IV below).

To the extent that the Department determines that an application does not satisfy these eligibility 

requirements, the Department will deem that application ineligible and will not consider it 

further.

The Department will then review all eligible applications based on the selection criteria outlined 

above in Section II. Applications that meet one or more of the priority selection criteria will be 

viewed more favorably than those that do not meet any priority selection criteria.

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. 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 at 

http://ostpxweb.dot.gov/aviation/X50%20Role_files/smallcommunity.htm.

IV. HOW TO APPLY

Required Steps:

• Determine eligibility;

• Register with www.grants.gov (see Registration with www.grants.gov, below);

• Submit an Application for Federal Domestic Assistance (SF424);

• Submit a cover sheet including all required information (see Appendix B);

• Submit a completed “Summary Information” schedule (see Appendix C);

• Submit a detailed application of up to 25 pages (one-sided only, excluding the 

completed SF424, cover sheet, Summary Information schedule, and any letters from 

the community showing support for the application) that meets all required criteria 

(see Appendix D); 
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• Attach any letters from the community showing support for the application to the 

proposal, which should be addressed to Aloha Ley, Associate Director, Small 

Community Program; and

• Provide separate submission of confidential material, if requested. (see Appendix E)

Each application must be no longer than 25 one-sided pages (excluding the completed 

SF424, cover sheet, Summary Information schedule, and any letters from the community 

showing support for the application). DOT will not consider any information contained in 

pages beyond page 25 (excluding any letters of support).

An application will not be complete and will be deemed ineligible for a grant award until and 

unless all required materials, including SF424, have been submitted through www.grants.gov by 

5 PM EDT on June 11, 2012.

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 consortium 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 extent possible, address the selection criteria set forth in Section II, 

above, 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; and (3) any air service development efforts over the past three years 

and the results of those efforts (including marketing and promotional efforts).

• A strategic plan for meeting those needs under the Small Community Program, including 

the community’s specific project goal(s) and detailed plan for attaining such goal(s). 

Applicants are advised to obtain firm assurances from air carriers proposing to offer new 

air services if a grant is awarded. Plans should:

 For applications involving new or improved service, explain how the service will 

become self-sufficient.

 Fully and clearly outline the goals and objectives of the project. When an application 

is selected, these goals and objectives will be incorporated into the grant agreement 

and define its basic project scope. Once a grant agreement is signed, if an 

amendment is sought to allow for different activities or a different approach, the 

Department will consider whether the amendment sought is consistent with the 

project scope as set forth in the grant agreement. Amendments that would alter the 

scope will not be permitted.
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 Include alternative or back-up strategies for achieving their desired goals and 

objectives. These strategies will be incorporated into the grant agreement.

• 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 (see Same Project Limitation, above).

• Designation of a legal sponsor responsible for administering the proposed project. The 

legal sponsor of the proposed project must be a government entity. 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 has the responsibility to ensure that the 

recipient of any funding has the legal authority under state and local laws to carry 

out all aspects of the grant.

V. AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT ZONE DESIGNATION

As part of the Small Community Program, the Department may also designate one grant 

recipient as an Air Service Development Zone. The purpose of the designation is to provide 

communities interested in attracting business to the area surrounding the airport and/or 

developing land-use options for the area to work with the Department on means to achieve those 

goals. The Department will assist the designated community in establishing contacts with and 

obtaining advice and assistance from appropriate government agencies, including the 

Department of Commerce and other offices within the Department of Transportation, and in 

identifying other pertinent resources that may aid the community in its efforts to attract 

businesses and to formulate land-use options. However, the community receiving this 

designation will be responsible for developing, implementing, and managing activities related to 

the air service development zone initiative. Only communities that are interested in these 

objectives and have a plan to accomplish them should apply for this designation. There are no 

additional funds associated with this designation, and applying for this designation will provide 

no special benefit or priority to a community applying for a SCASDP grant.

Grant applicants interested in selection for the Air Service Development Zone designation must 

include in their applications a separate section, titled, Support for Air Service Development Zone 

Designation. The community should provide as detailed a plan as possible, including what goals 

it expects to achieve from the air service development zone designation and the types of 

activities on which it would like to work with the Department in achieving those goals. The 

community should also indicate whether further local government approvals are required in order 

to implement the proposed activities.
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VI. GRANT ADMINISTRATION

Grant Agreements: Communities awarded 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. Expenditures 

made prior to the execution of a grant agreement, including costs associated with preparation of 

the grant application, will not be reimbursed. Moreover, 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 the responsibilities of these assurances and to execute 

such the assurances when they execute their grant agreements. Copies of assurances are 

available online at http://ostpxweb.dot.gov/aviation/X50%20Role_files/smallcommunity.htm, 

(click on “SCASDP Grant Assurances”).

Carrier Assurances for New Air Service: Applicants are advised to obtain firm assurances 

from air carriers proposing to offer new air service if a grant is awarded. The Department will 

grant an extension only when the community can provide strong evidence of a firm commitment 

on the part of an air carrier to deliver the desired service.

Payments: The Small Community Program is a reimbursable program; therefore, communities 

are required to make expenditures for project implementation under the program prior to seeking 

reimbursement from the Department. Project implementation costs are reimbursable from 

grant funds only for services or property delivered during the grant term. 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). Payments/ expenditures in forms 

other than cash (e.g. in-kind) are not reimbursable. For example, if a community requests 

$500,000 in federal funding and provides $100,000 in local contributions, the reimbursement 

rate would be 83.33 percent: ((500,000) / (500,000 + 100,000)) = 83.33.

Grantee Reports: Each grantee must submit quarterly reports on the progress made during the 

previous quarter in implementing its grant project. 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 final report is received. Additional information 

on award administration for selected communities will be provided in the grant agreement.

Grant Amendments: Any amendment to a grant agreement must be approved by the 

Department. A grantee may wish to amend its agreement with the Department in the event of a 

change in circumstances after the date the agreement is executed. Typically, amendments 

involve an extension to the time period for completing the grant or a change in the types of 

activities authorized for reimbursement under the goals and objectives of the grant agreement. 

Grantees are cautioned, however, that the Department cannot authorize amendments that are 

incompatible with the scope of the agreement.
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VII. QUESTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS

For further information concerning this notice please contact Aloha Ley at Aloha.Ley@dot.gov

or (202) 366-2347, or 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 abovecaptioned docket on www.regulations.gov and on the program website at 

http://ostpxweb.dot.gov/aviation/X-50%20Role_files/smallcommunity.htm.

This order is issued under authority delegated in 49 CFR § 1.56a(f).

ACCORDINGLY,

1. Applications for funding under the Small Community Air Service Development Program 

should be submitted via www.grants.gov as an attachment to the SF424 by June 11, 2012; and

2. This order will be published in the Federal Register, posted on www.grants.gov, and served 

on the 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:

 Robert A. Letteney

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aviation 

 and International Affairs

(SEAL)

An electronic version of this document is available

on the World Wide Web at www.regulations.gov.
APPENDIX A

Page 1

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON APPLYING THROUGH WWW.GRANTS.GOV

Applications must be submitted through www.grants.gov. To apply for funding through 

www.grants.gov, applicants must be properly registered. Complete instructions on how to 

register and apply can be found at www.grants.gov. If applicants experience difficulties at any 

point during registration or application process, please call the www.grants.gov Customer 

Support Hotline at 1-800-518-4726, Monday–Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. EDT. 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 will not be accepted after June 11, 2012; delayed registration is not an acceptable 

reason for extensions.

In order to apply for SCASDP funding and to apply for funding through www.grants.gov, all

applicants are required to complete the following:

1. Acquire a DUNS Number. A DUNS number is required for www.grants.gov registration. 

The Office of Management and Budget requires that all businesses and nonprofit 

applicants for federal funds include a DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) 

number in their applications for a new award or renewal of an existing award. A DUNS 

number is a unique nine-digit sequence recognized as the universal standard for 

identifying and keeping track of entities receiving federal funds. The identifier is used 

for tracking purposes and to validate address and point of contact information for federal 

assistance applicants, recipients, and sub-recipients. The DUNS number will be used 

throughout the grant life cycle. Obtaining a DUNS number is a free, one-time activity. 

Obtain a DUNS number by calling 1-866 705–5711 or by applying online at 

http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.

2. Acquire or Renew Registration with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) Database. 

All applicants for federal financial assistance maintain current registrations in the Central 

Contractor Registration (CCR) database. An applicant must be registered in the CCR to 

successfully register in www.grants.gov. The CCR database is the repository for 

standard information about federal financial assistance applicants, recipients, and subrecipients. Organizations that have previously submitted applications via 

www.grants.gov are already registered with CCR, as it is a requirement for 

www.grants.gov registration. Please note, however, that applicants must update or renew 

their CCR registration at least once per year to maintain an active status, so it is critical to 

check registration status well in advance of relevant application deadlines. Information 

about CCR registration procedures can be accessed at www.ccr.gov.

3. 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. You will need to use your organization’s DUNS Number 

to complete this step. For more information about the registration process, go to 

www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp.
APPENDIX A

Page 2

4. Acquire Authorization for your AOR from the E-Business Point of Contact (E-Biz POC). 

The E-Biz POC at your organization must log in to www.grants.gov to confirm you as an 

AOR. Please note that there can be more than one AOR for your organization.

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 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 24–48 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.

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

If you experience unforeseen www.grants.gov technical issues beyond your control that prevent 

you from submitting your application by 5 p.m. EDT on June 11, 2012, you must contact us at 

Brooke.Chapman@dot.gov or (202) 366-0577 within the 24 hours following the deadline and 

request approval to submit your application after the deadline has passed. At that time, DOT 

staff will require you to provide your DUNS number and your www.grants.gov Help Desk 

tracking number(s). After DOT staff review all of the information submitted and contact the

www.grants.gov Help Desk to validate the technical issues you reported, DOT 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 discretionary 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 Web site; (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.
APPENDIX B

COVER SHEET

The cover page for all applications should bear the title “Application Under the Small 

Community Air Service Development Program, Docket DOT-OST-2012-0069” and should 

include:

(1) the name of the community or consortium of communities applying for the grant;

(2) the legal sponsor and its Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System 

(DUNS) number, including + 4; Employee Identification Number (EIN) or Tax ID; and

(3) the 2-digit Congressional district code applicable to the sponsoring organization and, if a 

consortium, to each participating community.
APPENDIX C

Page 1

SMALL COMMUNITY AIR SERVICE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

DOCKET DOT-OST-2012-0069

SUMMARY INFORMATION

All applicants must submit this information with their proposal, along with a completed form 

SF424 on www.grants.gov.

A. APPLICANT INFORMATION: (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

Not a Consortium Interstate Consortium Intrastate Consortium

Community now receives EAS subsidy

Community (or Consortium member) previously received a Small Community Grant

 

If previous recipient: Date of grant: Expiration date of grant:

Federal Funds Requested: 

Carrier(s) Service Obtained: 

Destination(s) Served: 

B. PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS: (LIST ORGANIZATION NAMES)

PUBLIC PRIVATE

1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.

4. 4.

5. 5.

C. PROJECT PROPOSAL: (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)

Marketing Upgrade Aircraft New Route

Travel Bank Service Restoration Subsidy

Surface Transportation Regional Service Revenue Guarantee

Launch New Carrier Start-up Cost Offset First Service

Study Secure Additional Service Other (explain below)
APPENDIX C

Page 2

D. EXISTING LANDING AIDS AT LOCAL AIRPORT:

Full ILS Outer/Middle Marker Published Instrument Approach

Localizer Other (specify)

E. PROJECT COST: DO NOT ENTER TEXT IN SHADED AREA

LINE DESCRIPTION SUB TOTAL TOTAL AMOUNT

1 Federal amount requested

2 State cash financial contribution

Local cash financial contribution

3a Airport cash funds

3b Non-airport 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)

F. 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) for each.
APPENDIX C

Page 3

F. IS THIS APPLICATION SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY STATE UNDER EXECUTIVE ORDER 12372

PROCESS?

a. This application was made available to the state under the Executive Order 12372 

Process for review on (date) _____________.

b. Program is subject to E.O. 12372, but has not been selected by the state for review.

c. Program is not covered by E.O. 12372.

G. IS THE APPLICANT DELINQUENT ON ANY FEDERAL DEBT? (IF “YES”, PROVIDE 

EXPLANATION)

No Yes (explain) 

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________
APPENDIX D

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 5:00 pm EDT on June 11, 2012

Communities with active SCASDP grants: notify DOT/X50 of intent to terminate 

existing grant in order to be eligible for selection in FY2012.

Complete Application for Federal Domestic Assistance (SF424) via www.grants.gov

Cover Sheet (see Appendix B)

Summary Information sheet (see Appendix C)

Application of up to 25 one-sided pages (excluding any letters from the 

community showing support for the application), to include:

• A description of the community’s air service needs or deficiencies.

• A strategic plan for meeting those needs under the Small Community Program.

• 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 motion for confidential treatment (if applicable).
APPENDIX E

Confidential Commercial Information

Applicants will be able to provide certain confidential business information relevant to their 

proposals on a confidential basis. Under the Department’s Freedom of Information Act 

regulations (49 C.F.R. § 7.17), 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.

Applicants seeking confidential treatment of a portion of their applications must segregate the 

confidential material in a sealed envelope marked “Confidential Submission of X (the applicant) 

in Docket DOT-OST-2012-0069,” and include with that material a request in the form of a 

motion seeking confidential treatment of the material under 14 C.F.R. § 302.12 (Rule 12) of the 

Department’s regulations. 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 of the applicant’s proposal that 

is submitted via www.grants.gov. The applicant’s original submission, however, should indicate 

clearly where the confidential material would have been inserted. If an applicant invokes Rule 

12, the confidential portion of its filing will be treated as confidential pending a final 

determination. All confidential material must be received by June 11, 2012, and delivered to the 

Office of Aviation Analysis, 8th Floor, Room W86-310, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, 

DC 20590.

A template for the confidential motion can be found at http://ostpxweb.dot.gov/aviation/X50%20Role_files/smallcommunity.htm.