Franchise Acquisition Servies

The Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration Franchise Acquisition Services procures aircraft training, facility upgrades, air traffic control system components, and operational support services through a largely unrestricted competitive process. As a sub-agency within the civilian DOT, the Franchise Acquisition Services office (known as MMAC and related service branches) handles acquisition for FAA technical centers, flight standards, and aircraft certification functions.

Since 2006, the FAA has awarded 3,680 federal contracts totaling $2.75 billion in combined potential value, with $2.07 billion obligated to date. Recent activity shows 380 awards in 2022, 370 in 2023, 296 in 2024, 372 in 2025, and 244 year-to-date in 2026. Contract concentration is highly fragmented across 1,004 distinct prime contractors. Over the last five years, the top performers by award count are Wells Global, LLC (87 awards, $72.1 million combined potential value), Cusa Consulting LLC (81 awards, $76.8 million combined potential value), M.c. Dean, Inc. (40 awards, $12 million combined potential value), and Flightsafety International Inc. (36 awards, $138.6 million combined potential value). By dollar value, Flightsafety International Inc. leads at $138.6 million across 36 awards, followed by Cusa Consulting LLC and Wells Global; the top five prime contractors represent roughly 11 percent of recent combined potential value by dollars and 15 percent by count.

The set-aside mix is heavily weighted toward unrestricted awards: 79 percent carry no set-aside designation, 20 percent are total small-business set-asides, and 1 percent are Competitive 8(a) awards. Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, Women-Owned Small Business, and sole-source awards together account for less than 1 percent.

Open opportunities span flight training and aircraft certification support, facilities infrastructure, air traffic control system components, and test equipment. Solicitation 6973GH-27-R-00005 (Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades) is a total small-business set-aside for $10 million to $20 million due November 19, 2026, with mandatory pre-proposal site visit on November 2, 2026. Pre-solicitation 6973GH-27-MS-00001 (FAA Flight Program Operations Support for Organization Designation Authorization) closed its market survey on October 27, 2026 and signals transition of incumbent Delta Engineering Corporation's Labor Hour contract to Firm Fixed Price structure. Recent market surveys include Bombardier CRJ 700 Initial Pilot Qualification Training (due October 19, 2026), Gulfstream G280 Initial and Recurrent Pilot Qualification Training (due September 24, 2026), Powered Lift Initial and Recurrent Pilot Qualification Training (due September 18, 2026), and multiple aircraft-specific and technical-training capability assessments. Solicitation 6973GH-26-R-00223 (Phoenix Connect Surge Protection Devices) closed October 17, 2026 for air traffic control system sustainment. Several opportunities are set-aside to small business, including ATCBI-5 Encoder Mod Kits and ASR-9 Beacon Cable Kits (both due September 11, 2026) supporting radar system replacement. An industry engagement event on October 13–15, 2026 (registration extended to October 2) addresses Aviation Spectrum Interference Detection Solutions. Award competition remains open; single-source awards to incumbent or specialized vendors occur when market surveys yield no competing responses or when sole-source justification applies, as with Helicopter Express LLC for Sikorsky SK-64 training and Sensor Systems, LLC for ASR-8 and ASR-9 encoders.