Analytics for Safety of the NAS - RFI QAs.pdf

Analytics for Safety of NAS

MARKET SURVEY/ REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Questions and Answers – July 3, 224

1. What does an end-state solution look like?

FAA aims to identify existing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) products and capabilities to enable more rapid and insightful analysis of existing safety data. This initiative focuses on exploring and partnering with industry on their current capabilities rather than purchasing a specific product. The objective is to leverage AI to derive actionable safety insights without being constrained by existing systems or requirements. This effort is considered a proof of concept to understand what is possible with current technologies and to uncover valuable data insights quickly.

2. How many vendors will participate in the Challenge?

The FAA has not determined the exact number of participants for the Challenge. However, the agency envisions selecting several participants to work on a focused data challenge. This approach aims to understand the industry's current capabilities, and there is no specific limit or predetermined number of participants for the Challenge.

3. What is the down-select process?

The FAA will use responses to the Market Survey/Request for Information (RFI), along with other information gathered or currently available, to select participants for the Analytics for Safety of the NAS Challenge. Participants will be chosen based on their capabilities and the perceived benefit they can bring to NAS safety.

4. What is the current schedule for the challenge?

The FAA intends to release the Challenge in August 2024, with potential information releases prior to that date. The agency is currently working through the details and plans to provide more specifics as the release date approaches.

5. What follow on work or procurement will follow the results of the Challenge?

Responses to the Market Survey/RFI will help the FAA identify participants for the Analytics for Safety of the NAS Challenge. The Challenge aims to explore current industry capabilities rather than procuring a specific product. The FAA is interested in understanding how existing AI/ML technologies can be applied to aviation safety, with no immediate plans for a follow-on procurement. This effort is a proof of concept focusing on leveraging existing capabilities for rapid safety data analysis.

6. What funding will be made available for this effort?

The FAA is still evaluating whether and when this requirement will result in direct funding.

7. Can services that are not FedRamped be used in the Challenge?

A vendor or service not being FedRamp certified will not prevent participation in the Challenge.

8. How will data in the Challenge be structured and accessed?

The FAA is currently evaluating the scope and source of data that will be provided to Challenge participants. The format of the data, whether structured or unstructured, is also under review.

Participants may be allowed to bring their own data. The FAA plans to provide data sets for the Challenge, and vendors are encouraged to demonstrate how they can handle various data challenges, including sensitivity and security concerns. The primary goal is to derive actionable insights from the integrated analysis of structured and unstructured data.

9. How is this different from other FAA data solutions?

The Challenge does not aim to develop a new tool. Instead, it seeks to explore and partner with the industry on their current capabilities. The FAA does not want to constrain the capabilities of what industry may possess through mandated requirements, thus managing this effort as an RFI and Challenge rather than a traditional acquisition.

10. What is the purpose of the Challenge?

The FAA seeks to identify existing AI/ML products and capabilities to enable a more rapid and insightful analysis of existing safety data that could be applied to the aviation environment to improve aviation safety. The Challenge aims to test these capabilities to uncover actionable insights by leveraging AI and machine learning to analyze vast amounts of safety data.

11. What part of FAA is this work taking place?

Participants in the Challenge will be working across the FAA, collaborating with different teams and departments within the agency.

12. What does partnering refer to in the RFI?

The FAA encourages vendors to partner to provide the most comprehensive capabilities possible. The collaboration referenced in the RFI focuses on vendors that may have varying degrees of diverse capabilities. Identifying partners in the RFI response is optional, but the FAA does not intend to create teams of preferred partners.

13. Does a vendor need to have aviation experience to participate?

The FAA seeks to identify existing capabilities for advanced analytics using modern AI capabilities, regardless of their current or past use in aviation. The intent of the Challenge is to apply these capabilities to the aviation environment to improve aviation safety. While a vendor is not required to have aviation experience, it will likely be extremely difficult to perform on any subsequent challenge without such experience either in house or through a partnering relationship.

14. Who will be the consumer of any developed solution or capability?

The intended recipients of the service have not been determined yet. The service could be internal to the FAA, external, or both.

15. What is the purpose of this effort?

The FAA seeks to identify existing AI/ML products and capabilities to enable a more rapid and insightful analysis of existing safety data. This effort is a proof of concept to understand what is possible and how current technologies can be leveraged to improve aviation safety.

16. How will solutions be integrated with this effort?

The FAA does not intend to constrain this effort from existing solutions. The focus is on exploring insights that can be derived from the integrated analysis of structured and unstructured data.

17. What safety events should a vendor focus on?

This effort is not specifically focused on any particular safety events or solutions. During the next phase of the Challenge, the FAA intends to pose questions with data sets for industry to explore, aiming to uncover actionable safety insights through AI and machine learning.

18. How will regulatory or security concerns be addressed in this effort?

Regulatory and security concerns will be addressed as the FAA progresses through the initial phase of understanding vendor capabilities. The intent is to ensure that any solution complies with necessary regulations and security requirements.

19. How will RFI submissions be used?

The FAA will use responses to the Market Survey/RFI to select participants for the Analytics for Safety of the NAS Challenge. Submission to this market survey/RFI does not guarantee eligibility or imply a requirement for participants to receive a subsequent solicitation or contract.

20. Are the cover page and table of contents excluded from the page count and does the 12-point font size apply to tables and figures?

The cover page and table of contents may be excluded from the page count and 9pt. or greater types may be used in figures and tables but must be clearly legible.