Hillsborough County Aviation Authority

Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, operating as Tampa Executive Airport, is a U.S. local government county airport authority that acts as a federal grant recipient funding airport infrastructure, maintenance, and security projects at Tampa-area airports, with a small secondary footprint of real-estate lease services for federal tenant agencies.

The authority's primary revenue stream derives from Federal Aviation Administration grants under the Airport Improvement Program (CFDA 20.106), Airport Infrastructure Grants program (CFDA 20.117), and Airport Terminal Program (CFDA 20.118). Recent grant recipients work includes a $74.6 million Airport Improvement Program award (July 2025) to construct a new 126,900 square-yard Airside D Apron at Tampa Executive Airport; a $50 million award (July 2025) to acquire and install nine new passenger boarding bridges and construct a terminal people mover system; a $14.482 million award (June 2026) to fund design-phase reconstruction of Runway 1R/19L and Taxiway C; and an $11.1 million award (July 2026) to implement wildlife mitigation measures. The authority also received $69.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act economic-assistance funding (December 2021) through FAA for airport operations, personnel, cleaning, and debt service relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. Smaller grant awards cover runway and taxiway rehabilitation, perimeter fencing reconstruction compliant with 49 CFR 1542 security standards, airport master planning, apron construction and rehabilitation, and environmental mitigation infrastructure such as storm surge barriers and drainage improvements. Place of performance spans Tampa, Florida and subordinate airports in the region, including Tampa International Airport and Tampa Executive Airport.

A secondary federal revenue line involves real-estate leasing. The Transportation Security Administration awarded Hillsborough County Aviation Authority a $17.7 thousand purchase order (April 2024) for the lease of eight fiber optic single mode strands at Tampa International Airport to support TSA network connectivity and operations in TSA-occupied spaces. The authority holds positions on two GSA Basic Ordering Agreements (GS04B42832 and GS04B47850) with 54 and 36 task orders respectively, generating $310 thousand and $13.9 million in combined potential value, likely reflecting real-estate lease services under the General Services Administration Public Buildings Service.

Combined federal awards total $132.7 million in potential value across 181 prime and sub awards since 2001, with $610.5 million in total obligated dollars. The Department of Homeland Security Transportation Security Administration accounts for 19 awards worth $116.8 million combined potential value (88% of the portfolio's top-customer value concentration). The General Services Administration Public Buildings Service accounts for 16 awards worth $7.4 million. The Federal Aviation Administration Southern Region and national FAA offices combined account for 62 awards, though grant award descriptions do not itemize dollar magnitudes for most FAA projects. Activity has grown modestly—two awards in 2022 to six in 2026—with four awards reaching ultimate completion within the next twenty-four months, presenting minimal recompete exposure. The authority acts as the prime recipient on 97% of awards; it subcontracts on five grant sub-awards to the State of Florida Division of Emergency Management and State of Florida Department of Transportation for seawall repair, weather observation infrastructure, and traffic safety programs. The award portfolio spans NAICS 531311 (Lessors of Nonresidential Buildings) at 92 awards and smaller numbers of electrical contracting, airport operations, and IT services awards, reflecting the authority's core mission as an airport operator and landlord to federal tenants.