Fort Smith Regional Airport

Fort Smith Regional Airport, operating as the Fort Smith Airport Commission, is a U.S. local government airport authority that provides infrastructure maintenance, installation support services, and facility operations to the federal government as a prime recipient of contracts and federal grants — not as a subcontractor or consortia member. The airport competes under full-and-open (non-set-aside) federal procurement and grant programs.

Fort Smith Regional Airport's federal footprint centers on two distinct customer relationships. The Air Force Civil Engineer Center awarded a $19.1 million definitive, firm fixed-price intergovernmental support agreement on June 1, 2023, for installation support services at the airport, extending through May 31, 2033. Separately, the airport holds a substantial General Services Administration Basic Ordering Agreement (GS07B15204) under which 90 task orders have been placed for office building lease and rental services, generating $12 million in combined potential value. The GSA vehicle dominates transaction volume; 16 awards on the BOA account for $6.4 million in combined potential value and reflect the airport's role as a real property lessor to federal agencies. The Federal Aviation Administration Southwestern Region and the Federal Aviation Administration more broadly represent 28 awards, primarily project grants for airfield infrastructure rehabilitation, runway and taxiway construction, design work, and facility improvements. The Department of Homeland Security Transportation Security Administration has placed 5 awards ($1.3 million combined potential value) for security and operational support.

Recent grant activity reflects Fort Smith Regional Airport's primary federal mission: airport infrastructure modernization and operational resilience. On May 29, 2026, the FAA awarded the airport $4.59 million under the Airport Improvement Program (CFDA 20.116) for Phase 2 construction of taxiway and runway rehabilitation, and $5.3 million under the Airport Infrastructure Grants program (CFDA 20.117) for the same taxiway and runway rehabilitation work, both completing May 28, 2030. Earlier awards from the FAA Southwestern Region include $1.89 million for a Part 150 Noise Compatibility Plan study (August 2023), $221 thousand for taxiway design (July 2023), and a $200 thousand grant for runway lighting installation (September 2024). The Air National Guard awarded two cooperative agreements in 2025: $7.57 million for main drainage ditch repair and design (completing April 15, 2029) and $3.42 million for energy resiliency improvements including photovoltaic arrays and battery storage (completing September 30, 2028), both congressionally directed, non-discretionary awards under the Military Construction, National Guard program (CFDA 12.400). An older cooperative agreement with the Air National Guard (September 2022) funded airport fire station design.

The airport has maintained federal registration since 2005. Combined potential value across 135 awards totals $33.7 million, though obligated dollars stand at $95.8 million, reflecting the long-term, multi-year nature of maintenance and lease agreements. Award activity has varied — 3 awards in 2022, 3 in 2023, 1 in 2024, 5 in 2025, and 2 in 2026 — with the Air Force intergovernmental support agreement and FAA grant awards anchoring recent federal engagement.