Announcement - RFI ChBA -AAC.pdf

ANNOUNCEMENT OF

CHALLENGE BASED ACQUISITION

ALASKA AUTOMATION CAPABILITY (AAC)

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

AAC-2026-ChBA

1. INTRODUCTION & PURPOSE

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provides for the safe and efficient use of the nation's airspace. FAA Flight Service contributes to these objectives through weather briefing and flight planning capabilities; with the primary role of Flight Service being to supply weather information, aeronautical information, and flight planning services to general aviation pilots and other users. In

Alaska, these services are provided by Flight Service Stations (FSSs) located throughout the state.

Alaska Flight Service currently operates three (3) FSS Hub facilities and fourteen (14) FSS

Satellite facilities. FSS maintain a hub concept with the Satellite FSSs reporting to one of the three

Hub FSSs.

Alaska Flight Service customers include:

a. Airline transport, Government, commercial, private, student and recreational pilots;

b. Military, air taxi and on-demand charter Part 135 operators;

c. Domestic and international aviation interests; and

d. Public safety and law enforcement agencies.

Flight Service performs flight planning functions; coordinates Search and Rescue (SAR) activities;

performs Visual Flight Rules (VFR) orientation services to lost aircraft; maintains and provides continual weather broadcasts on selected Navigation Aids (NAVAIDs); issues and cancels Notice to Airmen (NOTAM); relays clearances; and provides Airport Advisory service at non-towered or parttime towered airports. Additional supporting services include development, translation, processing and coordination of aeronautical, meteorological and aviation information, to advise, notify and educate customers.

In support of the Secretary of Transportation’s plan for a Brand-New Air Traffic Control

System (BNATCS), the FAA is currently seeking innovative solutions to replace the Alaska

Flight Service Automation System. The Alaska Automation Capability (AAC) seeks to modernize the Alaska Flight Service management system from its legacy Operational and

Supportability Implementation System (OASIS) to a modern, web-based cloud automation system capable of meeting the demands of today and the future. This challenge-based acquisition focuses on evaluating solutions to AAC for safety, efficiency, and innovation.

1.1 The purpose of this Challenge Based Acquisition (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.

1.2 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. Materials will not be returned.

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

1.3 The scope of work, objectives, and tasks needed for the FAA to modernize and replace the legacy OASIS system with the AAC web-based, cloud system reflecting 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:

a. Statement of Objectives (SOO);

b. AAC Automation Requirements Document;

c. FAA Orders and Policies; and

d. AAC 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. Progression between phases is at the FAA’s sole discretion and based on qualitative evaluation, not automatic advancement.

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

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

▪ Criteria 1, Minimum Organizational Requirements Table

▪ Criteria 2, Technical Solution

▪ Criteria 3, 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) Estimate1

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

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

3. Phase 3: Follow-On Production Vehicle o Achieve AAC Initial Operating Capability (IOC) no later than September

2027.

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 17 April 2026. 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 of the notification.

If invited to participate in Phase 2, the Respondent must be prepared to demonstrate its

Prototype within four (4) weeks of the notification. The Respondent must demonstrate the functions for Flight Service requirements including:

a. Category A – Weather Products and Briefings;

b. Category B – Flight Planning;

c. Category C – Data Recording and Retention and Event

Reconstruction;

d. Category D – Search and Rescue (SAR);

e. Category E – Maintenance; and

f. Category F – FAA Order 7110.10 Compliance.

1 Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) estimates are for planning purposes only and are non-binding.

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 FY2026.

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 AAC are contained within Attachment 1, AAC 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

a. Cover Page;

b. Criteria 1, Minimum Organizational Requirements Table;

c. Criteria 2, Technical Solution; and

d. Criteria 3, 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 Acrobat, and use the specific format below:

a. 8.5 by 11-inch paper;

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

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

d. All pages single spaced;

e. All pages must be one-sided;

f. Every page sequentially numbered;

g. Page numbers must be centered in the bottom margin; and

h. Concept Papers must be limited to ten (10) 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, Helaina.K.Germosen@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, Technical Solution (Include Section Heading and Subsection Identifiers

(as needed), Criteria 2. limited to eight (8) 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). Include relevant prior experience within the last five (5) years that demonstrate capabilities in delivering cloud-based, operationally critical systems, covering aviation weather services, aeronautical information management, flight planning, or real-time monitoring systems. (This can include GA and Commercial pilot-facing platforms or Enterprise and Government and adaptations);

b. A description of how the Respondent’s product can contribute to Alaska Flight

Service in the NAS today and how it would evolve to meet the full Alaska

Flight Service operations and requirements;

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

d. Identify any dependencies (i.e., FAA interfaces, data approvals, etc.) that may affect the implementation within the requisite timeline;

e. Provide any additional capabilities that exceed the functional requirements of the AAC Automation Requirements Document and SOO, attached to this announcement; and mailto:Helaina.K.Germosen@faa.gov

f. Describe current web-based, cloud architecture and technology stack and how the Respondent envisions it may need to be changed to work within Alaska

Flight Service.

Criteria 3, Business Model (Include Section Heading and Subsection Identifiers (as needed), Criteria 3. 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, scalable, and sustainable while providing 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 adherence to the security controls for Government cloud solutions or obtain security authorization through an approved FAA cloud solution;

d. Identify Respondent’s best practices for supporting their Customers or the

Government; and

e. 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 8: 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 3

PM Central on 10 April 2026:

• Attachment 5: Non-Disclosure Agreement and Non-Use Agreement (NDA)

• Attachment 6: Consolidated Employee Screening List*

• Attachment 7: 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 20 April 2026.

Responses shall be submitted to the CO only via email to: Helaina.K.Germosen@faa.gov.

The email shall have the following in subject line: “AAC Automation ChBA RFI Response -

[INSERT Your Business Name]”.

9. LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

Attachment 1: AAC SOO

Attachment 2: AAC Automation Requirements Document

Attachment 3: FAA Orders and Policies

Attachment 4: AAC Sites List

Attachment 5: Non-Disclosure Agreement and Non-Use

Agreement (NDA)

Attachment 6: Consolidated Employee Screening List

Attachment 7: Business Declaration Form

Attachment 8: Method of Evaluation

Attachment L.1: Concept Paper Cover Page Template

Attachment L.2: Minimum Organizational Requirements Table

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

END OF ANNOUNCEMENT

mailto:Helaina.K.Germosen@faa.gov