Announcement of ChBA FMDS RFI 250924.pdf

ANNOUNCEMENT OF

CHALLENGE BASED ACQUISITION

FLOW MANAGEMENT DATA AND SERVICES (FMDS)

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

FMDS-2025-ChBA

1. INTRODUCTION & PURPOSE

1.1 The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provides Air Traffic Services (ATS) to more than 45,000 flights every day, with more than 2.9 million airline passengers traveling across over 29 million square miles that comprise the National Airspace System (NAS). To meet its mission of providing the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world, the FAA cooperates closely with the airlines and other NAS users to implement Traffic Flow Management (TFM) programs to strategically manage the flow of air traffic to minimize delays and congestion. Traffic Flow Management System (TFMS) covers traffic flow in the FAA airspace using traffic management initiatives such as ground delays and ground stops, but it is a 1990s architecture that has many limitations.

In support of the Secretary of Transportation’s plan for a Brand-New Air Traffic Control System, the FAA is currently seeking innovative solutions to replace the antiquated TFMS and modernize traffic flow management in the NAS through the Flow Management Data and Services (FMDS) program. FMDS seeks to transform the United States’ air traffic management system from its antiquated TFMS system to a modern system capable of meeting the demands of today and the future. This challenge-based acquisition focuses on evaluating solutions to FMDS for speed, safety, efficiency, and innovation.

1.2 This Challenge Based Acquisition (ChBA) follows three (3) surveys issued in November 2020, June 2022, and August 2023. The purpose of this ChBA is to seek information from Respondents with solutions that have an interest in this requirement.

Solicited information from respondents includes offeror capabilities and system capabilities, processes, and charging structures/pricing models for other customers/users.

The FAA will not pay for information requested, nor reimburse the respondents for any cost incurred in the preparation or submission of any response to this announcement or in making necessary studies or designs for the preparation thereof.

1.3 This is a challenge based acquisition; therefore, this announcement is being issued in accordance with the FAA Acquisition Management System (AMS) Section 3.2.1.3.11 Public Announcements.

This is not a Screening Information Request (SIR) or Request for Offers (RFO) of any kind.

The responses to this announcement will not be construed as a commitment or a promise to contract with the FAA. The FAA is not seeking or accepting unsolicited proposals. Any costs associated with the response to this announcement are solely at the interested respondent’s expense. Material will not be returned.

The Contracting Officer (CO) may decide to conduct communications with some, one, none, or all of the Respondents.

1.4 The scope of work, objectives, and tasks needed for the FAA to modernize and replace the legacy TFMS with the FMDS system to reflect the needs of the National Airspace System (NAS) today and in the future to maintain efficiency and safety for all users are described in the following series of attached documents:

Statement of Objectives (SOO);

Concept of Operations (ConOps);

Final Program Requirements Document (fPRD);

System Specification Document (SSD);

Interface Requirements Document (IRD);

Functional Analysis Document (FAD);

Human Interface Guidelines (HIG); and Master Site List.

Note: Attachments to this announcement contain information that is subject to the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR, 15 C.F.R. Parts 730-774). (See Section 7 of this announcement.)

2. CHALLENGE-BASED ACQUISITION (ChBA) OVERVIEW

2.1 The purpose of this section is to provide an overview of the FAA’s Challenge-Based Acquisition (ChBA) phased approach leading to production.

• Phase 1: Concept Paper, Demonstration/Oral Presentation, and Rough Order of

Magnitude (ROM) o Phase 1 Challenge 1: Concept Paper

Criteria 1, Minimum Organizational Requirements Table Criteria 2, Prior Experience Criteria 3, Technical Solution Criteria 4, Business Model o Phase 1 Challenge 2: Demonstration/Oral Presentation Criteria 1, Demonstration/Presentation Criteria 2, Questions and Answers (Q&A) Criteria 3, Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM)

• Any Respondent participating in the oral presentation must include a pricing model

• Phase 2: Challenge: Prototype o Demonstrate an innovative FMDS solution that addresses the functional requirements provided by the FAA.

• Phase 3: Follow-On Production Vehicle o Achieve FMDS Initial Operating Capability (IOC) no later than December 2028.

The FAA anticipates an accelerated schedule across the phases to achieve IOC quickly and efficiently. For Phase 1 Challenge 1, interested parties must submit Concept Papers no later than 10 October 2025. Respondents found to have successfully completed Phase 1 Challenge 1 Concept Paper will be asked to participate in Demonstrations/Oral Presentations. If invited to participate in Phase 1 Challenge 2 Demonstrations/Oral Presentations, said Respondent must be prepared to present its Oral Presentation and ROM no later than three (3) weeks from notification. If invited to participate in Phase 2, the Respondent must be prepared to demonstrate its Prototype within four (4) weeks from notification. If invited to participate in Phase 3, the Respondent must be eligible to sign a vehicle to be executed by the FAA to begin production in FY 2026.

2.2 The FAA at its sole discretion, reserves the right not to proceed into production. If the FAA elects to enter into a Follow-On Production vehicle after the completion of Phase 2, only Phase 2 participants are eligible.

3. SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS

The core objectives for FMDS are contained within Attachment 1, FMDS SOO, and within the technical document attachments listed in Section 9 below.

4. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

4.1 General Instructions

The respondent must submit one (1) electronic copy of its response to this announcement using the sequence and format described in this Section.

Phase 1 Challenge 1: Concept Paper

1. Cover Page;

2. Criteria 1, Minimum Organizational Requirements Table;

3. Criteria 2, Prior Experience;

4. Criteria 3, Technical Solution; and

5. Criteria 4, Business Model.

Challenge response submissions not adhering to the directions may be eliminated from further consideration.

4.2 Challenge responses must be submitted in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, or Adobe, and use the specific format below:

• 8.5 by 11-inch paper.

• 12 pitch print or larger, Times New Roman style font.

• 1.25-inch left hand margin, .75-inch right hand margin and 1-inch margins at both the top and bottom for each page.

• All pages single spaced.

• Every page sequentially numbered.

• Page numbers must be centered in the bottom margin.

• Concept Papers must be limited to seven (7) pages. The following are excluded from the Concept Paper page limitation count: Cover Page; signed completed Minimum Organizational Requirements Table; and no more than three (3) Prior Experience References.

The FAA will provide additional instructions for submission and evaluation criteria for future challenges/phases to those Respondents determined to have successfully completed Phase 1 Challenge 1 Concept Paper.

4.3 Government Point of Contact

The CO is the sole point of contact for this acquisition. All questions or concerns must be addressed to the CO in writing via e-mail, chontice.boykin@faa.gov.

5. REQUESTED INFORMATION

Phase 1 Challenge 1: Concept Paper Submission Instructions

The Respondent’s Concept Paper must adhere to the content and format structure provided in the following sections:

Cover Page The Respondent must submit a completed Attachment L.1, Concept Paper Cover Page Template.

Criteria 1, Minimum Organizational Requirements Table The Respondent must submit a completed Attachment L.2, Minimum Organizational Requirements Table. The Table must be signed by an authorized representative of the Respondent.

Criteria 2, Prior Experience The Respondent must submit one (1) to three (3) Attachment L.3, Prior Experience References. Attachment L.3, Prior Experience Reference must be completely filled in for each prior experience reference submitted.

Submitted references must have occurred within the past five (5) years of the issuance of this Announcement. Each reference submitted must include a demonstrative narrative that presents clear examples and support that the Respondent possesses all capabilities required to perform the full scope, magnitude, and complexity of this requirement, as set forth in this Announcement and in accordance with, and as mailto:chontice.boykin@faa.gov described in, the SOO.

Criteria 3, Technical Solution (Include Section Heading and Subsection Identifiers (as needed), Criteria 3. limited to five (5) pages.)

The Respondent must provide a narrative and specific examples that demonstrate its proposed technical solution. This technical solution narrative must include, at a minimum:

a. A description of the functionality of the product, its existing customers (if applicable), and their durations of use (if applicable);

b. A description of how the Respondent’s product can contribute to TFM in the NAS today and how it would evolve to meet the full NAS TFM operations and requirements, addressing all current shortfalls;

c. The estimated percentage of FMDS functions already met and in what functional areas;

d. Any additional capabilities that exceed the functional requirements of the fPRD and SSD, attached to this announcement; and

e. Current architecture and technology stack and how the Respondent envisions it may need to be changed to work within the NAS.

Criteria 4, Business Model (Include Section Heading and Subsection Identifiers (as needed), Criteria 4. limited to two (2) pages.)

The business model narrative must:

a. Describe Respondent’s business model and demonstrate clearly how this model is cost-effective and provides best value to the Government;

b. Demonstrate clearly how the Respondent’s team structure and personnel expertise support the business model and requirements in the SOO;

c. Identify Respondent’s best practices for supporting the Government; and

d. Identify what Respondent believes the biggest risk(s) to the Government are and how Respondent would mitigate those risks.

6. METHOD OF EVALUATION

Respondents are directed to see Attachment 12: Method of Evaluation.

7. ACCESS TO SENSITIVE SECURITY INFORMATION (SSI)

Attachments to this announcement contain Sensitive Security Information that is controlled under 49 CFR parts 15 and 1520. No part of this record may be disclosed to persons without a “need to know,” as defined in 49 CFR parts 15 and 1520, except with the written permission of the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration or the Secretary of Transportation. Unauthorized release may result in civil penalty or other action. For U.S.

government agencies, public disclosure is governed by 5 U.S.C. 552 and 49 CFR parts 15 and 1520.

To obtain the SSI documents you must agree to the terms and conditions for release by signing/submitting the following attachments to the FMDS Contracting Team no later than 2 PM Eastern on 2 October 2025:

• Attachment 9: Non-Disclosure Agreement and Non-Use Agreement (NDA)

• Attachment 10: Consolidated Employee Screening List*

• Attachment 11: Business Declaration Form *Note: The Consolidated Employee Screening List must include all employees that will have access to the documents.

8. RESPONSES

8.1 Interested parties are directed to respond to this Announcement with a Concept Paper addressing the items listed in Section 5 above.

8.2 Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and MUST BE CLEARLY MARKED. To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

8.3 Concept Papers must be submitted no later than 2 PM Eastern on 10 October 2025.

Responses shall be submitted to the FMDS Contracting Team via email to: 9-AJO- FMDScontracts@faa.gov. The email shall have the following in subject line: “FMDS Announcement Response - [INSERT Your Business Name]”.

9. LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

Attachment 1: FMDS SOO Attachment 2: FMDS fPRD Attachment 3: FMDS SSD* Attachment 3a: FMDS SSD – Appendix A* Attachment 4: FMDS IRD* Attachment 5: FMDS ConOps Attachment 6: FMDS FAD Attachment 7: FMDS HIG Attachment 8: FMDS Master Site List Attachment 9: Non-Disclosure Agreement and Non-Use Agreement (NDA) Attachment 10: Consolidated Employee Screening List Attachment 11: Business Declaration Form Attachment 12: Method of Evaluation Attachment L.1: Concept Paper Cover Page Template Attachment L.2: Minimum Organizational Requirements Table Attachment L.3: Prior Experience Reference

*Controlled document. See Section 7, Access to SSI, of this document for instructions to obtain the controlled document attachment(s).

END OF ANNOUNCEMENT

mailto:9-AJO-FMDScontracts@faa.gov mailto:9-AJO-FMDScontracts@faa.gov