Bessemer Airport Authority

Bessemer Airport Authority is a U.S. local government entity located in Bessemer, Alabama, registered in SAM.gov and operating as a Department of Transportation (DOT) Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE). The organization manages and operates the Bessemer Airport, providing critical aviation infrastructure and leasing services to federal agencies. Primarily, the airport authority generates revenue by offering hangar and office space rental to federal entities, with a specific focus on supporting law enforcement aviation requirements.

Through federal contract awards, Bessemer Airport Authority has consistently provided hangar rental services to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) since 2020. These annual purchase order contracts, ranging from $7,400 to $18,775, involve leasing approximately 1,493 square feet of hangar space and 174 square feet of office space to support the DEA's law enforcement aircraft maintenance and storage needs. The contracts have been awarded on a non-set-aside basis, demonstrating the airport authority's ability to competitively provide essential facilities to federal agencies. Each contract typically covers a one-year period from October 1 to September 30, with funding directly from the DEA.

The airport authority has been a significant recipient of federal grant awards, primarily from the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Southern Region, focusing on critical airport infrastructure improvements. These grants include a $1,475,603.16 Airport Improvement Program grant to reconstruct 2,000 feet of hangar area taxilane pavement, a $631,578.95 formula grant for reconstructing the main apron and hangar taxilanes, and a $2.2 million project grant to rehabilitate taxiway lighting and pavement. Additionally, the organization received American Rescue Plan Act funding to support COVID-19 related airport operations, covering expenses such as cleaning, sanitization, and debt service payments. These grants demonstrate the airport authority's commitment to maintaining and enhancing airport infrastructure, with projects aimed at improving structural integrity, safety, and operational efficiency.