CLEEN IV Draft SIR 693KA9-26-R-00006.pdf

693KA9-26-R-00006

January 16, 2026

CONTINUOUS LOWER ENERGY, EMISSIONS and NOISE (CLEEN) PROGRAM (2026-2028) Phase IV

PARTICIPANT

SELECTION

SCREENING INFORMATION

REQUEST 693KA9-26-R-00006

Date: J a n u a r y 1 6 , 2026

Table of Contents

1 Project Title

2 Screening Information Request (SIR) No

3 Agreement Type

4 Eligibility

5 Period Of Performance

6 Funding

7 Background

8 Description of Effort, Deliverables, and Requirements

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Performance Objectives

8.3 Example Project Areas

8.4 Aircraft Technology Work Elements

8.4.1 Aircraft Technology Work Element 1: Project Management

8.4.2 Aircraft Technology Work Element 2: Design

8.4.3 Aircraft Technology Work Element 3: Fabrication, Procurement, and Assembly

8.4.4 Aircraft Technology Work Element 4: Technology Demonstration

8.4.5 Aircraft Technology Work Element 5: Technology Assessments and Reporting

8.5 Intellectual Property

8.6 Surveillance and Reporting

8.7 Deliverable Schedule

8.7.1 Schedule

8.7.2 Data Item Descriptions

8.8 Points of Contact

9 Respondent Proposal Submissions

9.1 Proposal Volumes and Due Dates

9.2 Notification of Intent to Withdraw Proposal

9.3 SIR Questions, Concerns, and Clarifications

9.4 Expenses Related to Respondent Submissions

9.5 Disposition of Proposals

9.6 False Statements

9.7 Communications with Respondents

9.8 Responsible Prospective Respondent

9.9 Acquisition Milestones

9.10 Proposal Preparation Instructions

9.10.1 Volume 1 – Technical/Management Proposal

9.10.2 Volume 2 – Pricing/Business Proposal

9.10.3 Volume 3 – Agreement Feedback

10 Proposal Selection and Evaluation

10.1 Proposal Selection

10.1.1 Evaluation Factors Order of Importance

10.2 Proposal Evaluation

10.2.1 Volume 1 – Technical/Management Proposal

10.2.2 Volume 2 – Pricing/Business Proposal Evaluation

10.2.3 Volume 3 - Agreement Feedback

10.3 Factor 2, CLEEN IV Technology Benefits, and Factor 3, CLEEN IV Technology Maturation Plan Adjectival Ratings

11 Period of Offer

12 Additional Clauses and Provisions

12.1 Option to Extend Services

12.2 Option to Extend the Term of the Agreement

12.3 Officials Not to Benefit

12.4 Disclosure Regarding Payments to Influence Certain Federal Transactions

12.5 Limitation of Cost

12.6 Reimbursement for Travel and Subsistence

12.7 Patent Rights – Ownership by the Participant

12.8 Rights in Data – General

12.9 Confidentiality of Data and Information

12.10 Subcontracts

13 Attachments

1 Project Title Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise (CLEEN) Phase IV Program (2026-2028) Program Participant Selection

2 Screening Information Request (SIR) No.

693KA9-26-R-00006

3 Agreement Type 49 U.S.C. 106(l)(6) and/or 106(m) Cooperative Agreement

This SIR is intended to result in the award of Cooperative Agreement(s) with the FAA under the agency’s authority set forth in 49 U.S.C. 106(l) and (m) (hereinafter referred to as the “Agreement”).

A sample Agreement is attached to this SIR and is incorporated herein by reference. While the FAA anticipates that the Agreement will be in substantially the same form as the attached Agreement, the FAA has sole and absolute discretion as to the form and substance of each Agreement entered into with successful Respondents, and the attached sample Agreement may accordingly be modified in form or substance as the FAA deems appropriate.

The Contracting Officer (CO) is the signature authority for executing Agreements. The Agreement establishes the responsibilities of the FAA and the Lead Participant. The Acquisition Management System (AMS) establishes policy and guidance for all aspects of lifecycle acquisition management for the FAA. Respondents may obtain information on the AMS via the Internet at http://fast.faa.gov/.

Some AMS policies are referenced in this document as an established protocol.

4 Eligibility Respondents must be located in the United States. In accordance with Executive Order 14005, Ensuring the Future is Made in All of America by All of America's Workers, and consistent with the “America First” initiative, the federal government is directed to maximize the procurement of goods and services from domestic sources to support American manufacturing, innovation, and job creation. To comply with those directives, Respondents to this SIR must be incorporated in the United States, primarily operate within the United States, and manufacture their products substantially within the United States.

5 Period Of Performance The period of performance for each Agreement is expected to be a base period of twelve (12) months with one (1) twelve (12) month option period, subject to the sole discretion of the FAA.

6 Funding The CLEEN Phase IV program includes a 1:1 (one-to-one) minimum cost share requirement.

Contributions may be cash, non-cash (in-kind) or both in accordance with 2 CFR Part 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, including 2 CFR § 200.306, Cost sharing, and 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E, Cost Principles.

Acceptable non-cash or in-kind resources include such items as equipment, facilities, labor, office space, etc. Unacceptable contributions include work performed using FAA or other U.S. funding, previous Internal Research and Development (IRAD) investments, student tuition funded by an academic institution, and unallowable costs under 2 CFR § 200. Participants must include cost share http://fast.faa.gov/ progress reports in the financial progress reports required under Section 8.6.

The FAA’s total liability under the Agreement is no more than 50% of the total cost of certain work that will be specified in any Agreement awarded under this SIR. The Participant must cover at least 50% of the project costs. Participant proposed contributions may be more than the FAA would cost-share. In no event will the FAA's share be more than 50% of the total cost of the project specified in the Agreement or over the obligated amount of the Agreement. The FAA will not cost-share any costs or provide additional funding for projects beyond the obligated amount of the Agreement. The work will be related to the development of continuous lower energy, emissions, and noise technologies for civil airplanes.

“Contributions” as used in this SIR is the portion of the total project that is not paid for by the FAA.

There are no waivers or exemptions for the contribution requirements.

General parameters regarding cost share as they relate to the CLEEN IV program include:

• Participants should first determine whether the intended Participant contribution is eligible under CLEEN IV. An “eligible expense” is a Participant expenditure that directly facilitates the execution of the Agreement and is “reasonable,” “necessary,” and “allocable” (2 CFR § 200.403[a], 404, and 405). Eligible expenses comprise the total project cost for the project.

The FAA will provide cost share funds for up to 50% of the total project cost.

• Individual eligible expenses incurred by the Participant may either be reimbursed with FAA CLEEN IV funding at 50%, or alternatively, not reimbursed and may count 100% toward the contribution, so long as the total overall Agreement demonstrates Participant cost share of at least 50% of the total overall Agreement costs.

• Contributions may be spread out over the period of performance so long as at the completion of the Agreement, the Participant’s 50% cost share requirement is met.

• The cost share from an individual Participant can be determined on an overall basis relative to all of the goals that the Agreement is working toward, across multiple technology projects, as applicable. For example, if a Participant is awarded multiple technology projects, the cost share can be less than 1:1 for one technology project as long as the cost share is greater than 1:1 for other technology projects such that the overall cost share under the agreement meets at least the 1:1 minimum requirement.

• Cost share may include cash (e.g., non-FAA funds from the Participant). These funds must be utilized to complete activities outlined in the Agreement.

• Cost share may include the value of labor, facilities, equipment and utilities provided by the Participant that directly facilitates the efforts required under the Agreement and may be billed as direct or indirect costs (2 CFR § 200.412, 413, and 415). These funds must be utilized to complete activities outlined in the Agreement.

• An eligible cost share expense for CLEEN IV may not be eligible in all instances across all like Federal programs.

• An eligible expense to be counted toward cost share must be documented appropriately to be considered.

The amount of FAA funding under the Agreement and the portion of the specified work to be funded under the Agreement, either at any particular time or cumulatively under the Agreement, are at the sole discretion of the FAA in all instances. The FAA’s liability at any particular time or cumulatively under the Agreement must not exceed the amount identified as obligated under the Agreement and will not exceed the FAA’s total liability under the Agreement. T h e FAA, at its sole discretion, may obligate additional funding to support this work. All funding is subject to the availability of funds.

Pre-award costs, which are those incurred before the start date of a Federal award, are not permitted under the Agreement. Pre-award costs are defined as any costs incurred before the start date of the federal award in anticipation of the federal award. Any pre-award costs are at the Respondent’s risk.

The FAA will not approve or pay any pre-award costs.

7 Background As captured in Section 47511 of Title 49 of the United States Code, the Federal Aviation Administration is authorized to enter into a cost-sharing cooperative agreement, using a competitive process, with institutions, entities, or consortiums to carry out a program for the development, maturation, and testing of certifiable CLEEN aircraft, engine technologies, and jet fuels for civil airplanes where the term “CLEEN aircraft and engine technology” means continuous lower energy, emissions, and noise aircraft and engine technology. Section 47511 also requires the establishment of performance objectives for the CLEEN Program in terms of the specific objectives to reduce fuel burn, emissions, and noise. In addition, in carrying out the program, the FAA may provide that not less than 2 of the cooperative agreements involve the participation of an entity that is a small business concern (as defined in Section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632)), provided that the submitted technology proposal of the entity meets, at a minimum, FAA Acquisition Management System requirements and requisite technology readiness levels for entry into the agreement, as determined by the Administrator.

The FAA intends to establish on a cost share, 1:1 minimum basis, agreements for activities to mature Continuous Lower Energy, Emissions and Noise (CLEEN) technologies for civil airplanes and inform the development of FAA airframe and engine environmental standards and environmental review of rulemaking and other actions. This program will enable and expedite the introduction of innovative airframe and engine technologies with improved performance and safety and enhance the technological and economic competitiveness of American civil aircraft.

A challenge to novel aircraft technology research and development is ensuring that technologies are certifiable. Manufacturers must demonstrate that technologies meet airworthiness certification requirements—including environmental standards—and the FAA must ensure that certification requirements and methods are in place for these technologies. The FAA regulates engine emissions, airplane noise, and airplane fuel efficiency through 14 CFR Parts 34, 36, and 38, respectively.

Partnership through CLEEN enables the effective and efficient development of environmental standards that expedite the safe introduction of next generation technologies. This collaboration may also facilitate environmental review by allowing for a better understanding of the environmental and operational characteristics of new and emerging entrants. Continued partnership is critical to ensuring the safe and timely introduction of advanced innovative aircraft technologies with improved performance. Focused investments will create good-paying jobs within the U.S. aviation manufacturing industry and maintain U.S. global competitiveness by enabling innovation in the U.S.

aviation industry. These efforts will benefit the U.S. flying public by virtue of increased performance and safe deployment of innovative technologies.

The next phase of the CLEEN Program, referred to as Phase IV, is a follow-on program from the first three five-year phases of CLEEN. Phase IV of the CLEEN Program will continue the Program through calendar year 2028. The fourth phase of CLEEN, like the first three phases of CLEEN, is a public-private partnership in which projects are cost-shared between the FAA and industry.

The FAA anticipates multiple awards from this solicitation. The total funding available for all projects is 25 million dollars for the duration of the program based on Congressional appropriation levels for FY25. The awards will include a base period of 12 months and one 12-month option period. The $25M total funding covers the base, and if exercised, the option period for the multiple awards.

Concepts should be submitted for the full period of performance, including their current Technology Readiness Level1 (TRL) and Manufacturing Readiness Level2 (MRL), and projected concluding TRL and MRL levels. FAA anticipates that the development of technology concepts would begin during the base period and extend to the option period until the project is concluded, preferably with TRL 6 or 7 demonstration. The FAA reserves the right to exercise option periods at its sole discretion and does not anticipate holding an additional procurement cycle for the option period.

Actual amounts of awards will be specified for each agreement prior to award and are at the sole discretion of the FAA.

1 Technology Readiness Levels

TRL 1: Basic principle observed and reported.

TRL 2: Technology concept and/or application formulated (candidate selected) TRL 3: Analytical and experimental critical function, or characteristic proof of concept.

TRL 4: Component and/or breadboard test in a laboratory environment.

TRL 5: Component and/or breadboard validation in a relevant environment TRL 6: System/subsystem model or true dimensional test equipment validated in a relevant environment.

TRL 7: System prototype demonstrated in flight environment.

TRL 8: Actual system completed and “flight qualified” through test and demonstration.

TRL 9: Actual system “flight proven” on operational flight

2 Manufacturing Readiness Levels

MRL 1: Basic Manufacturing Implications Identified MRL 2: Manufacturing Concepts Identified MRL 3: Manufacturing Proof of Concept Developed MRL 4: Capability to produce the technology in a laboratory environment MRL 5: Capability to produce prototype components in a production relevant environment MRL 6: Capability to produce a prototype system or subsystem in a production relevant environment MRL 7: Capability to produce systems, subsystems, or components in a production representative environment MRL 8: Pilot line capability demonstrated; Ready to begin Low Rate Initial Production MRL 9: Low rate production demonstrated; Capability in place to begin Full Rate Production.

MRL 10: Full Rate Production demonstrated and lean production practices in place

8 Description of Effort, Deliverables, and Requirements

8.1 Introduction

Phase IV of the CLEEN Program is focused on activities that will inform the development of FAA airframe and engine environmental standards and environmental review of rulemaking and other actions in order to enable and expedite the safe introduction of new airframe and engine technologies with improved performance and safety. Sections 8.2 and 8.3 provide the performance objectives and example project areas for this phase of CLEEN. The remaining subsections describe the structure of the program.

8.2 Performance Objectives

As defined by 49 U.S. Code § 47511, the performance objectives of CLEEN are to reduce fuel burn, engine emissions, and noise through the development, maturation, and testing of certifiable technologies for civil airplanes. For CLEEN Phase IV, an additional objective is to collect information that can assist the FAA in developing more effective and timely environmental standards and conducting environmental reviews, thereby supporting a pathway to type certification for proposed CLEEN technologies. Three types of information may be provided in support of this objective: 1) information that can assist the FAA in setting appropriate levels for environmental standards, 2) information that can assist the FAA in improving certification procedures from an environmental perspective where the existing regulations and policy do not address or are not adequate for a given technology, and/or 3) information that can assist the FAA in conducting environmental reviews of rulemaking and other actions.

While CLEEN Phase IV does not have explicit goals for noise, fuel burn (in terms of energy use) and emission reductions, to be eligible for submission, technologies must provide a benefit in at least one of these environmental areas relative to current aviation products. The relevant metrics are provided below for each environmental area:

• Fuel efficiency: Aircraft technology that improves aircraft fuel efficiency relative to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) new type fuel efficiency standard for civil subsonic airplanes adopted in 2016 (Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection, CAEP/10);

• Noise: Aircraft technology that reduces noise levels relative to the CAEP/13 Chapter 16 standard for civil subsonic airplanes and/or reduces local noise exposure;

• NOx emissions: Engine technology that reduces landing and takeoff cycle (LTO) nitrogen oxide emissions relative to the ICAO standard for civil subsonic airplanes adopted in 2010 (CAEP/8) and/or reduces absolute NOx production over the aircraft’s mission. This must be achieved while limiting or reducing other gaseous or particulate matter emissions; and

• Particulate matter: Engine technologies that reduce LTO particulate matter number and mass emissions relative to the ICAO new type standard for civil subsonic airplanes adopted in 2019 (CAEP/11) and/or reduces absolute nvPM production over the aircraft’s mission.

This must be achieved while limiting or reducing other gaseous or particulate matter emissions.

Any technologies targeted at civil supersonic airplanes should demonstrate quantifiable benefits for fuel efficiency, noise, NOx, and/or particulate matter emissions relative to current state of the art technology and design concepts.

Below are additional clarifying points on the performance objectives for the fourth phase of the CLEEN Program:

• CLEEN Phase IV does not include specific requirements for starting and ending TRL.

TRL 6 or 7 demonstration is preferred to provide higher quality data and to show a clearer pathway for technology certification and integration into commercial products. A lower concluding TRL is acceptable if the technology development effort clearly supports the performance objectives outlined above. For purposes of this procurement, TRL 6 demonstration is achieved through static engine tests or large wind tunnel model tests for airframe and engine technologies, or relevant high fidelity simulation environment demonstrations in the case of operational technologies. TRL 7 demonstration is achieved through flight test demonstrations.

• Fuel efficiency improvement is in terms of whatever energy source the aircraft and propulsion system will be using and is equivalent to fuel efficiency for jet fuel powered aircraft. This goal may also include technologies that improve efficiency and/or reduce aviation’s impacts in ways not captured by the fuel efficiency standard metric (e.g., contrail understanding and mitigation).

• Absolute NOx production over the aircraft’s mission is to be measured relative to a 2020 best-in-class in-service baseline aircraft and mission.

• Both the nvPM number and mass need to be measured with an ICAO Annex 16 / SAE compliant measurement system.

• An aircraft technology that would enable an operational procedure concept that facilitates performance improvements is within the scope of Phase IV of CLEEN.

8.3 Example Project Areas

CLEEN Phase IV is not limited to specific technologies or aircraft types. Project proposals must support the performance objectives detailed in Section 8.2. However, there are emerging technology areas where there are potential gaps in knowledge or procedures related to environmental standards and environmental review. Below are examples of innovative technologies where the FAA could benefit from collaboration with industry to help inform the development of appropriate environmental standards, ensure certification readiness, and enable environmental review. This list is not exhaustive and should not be construed as indicative of FAA’s project preferences when it comes to proposal evaluation.

• Non-traditional propulsion systems – e.g., open rotor, dual fuel, electric/hybrid-electric, cryogenic fuel powered

• Advanced aircraft configurations – e.g., blended-wing body, truss-braced wing, over-wing nacelle

• Supersonic aircraft and engines – e.g., variable noise reduction systems (including potential application to subsonic aircraft), systems to enable Mach cut-off operations

• Advanced air mobility vehicles and unmanned aircraft systems

As noted in Section 8.2, the FAA is also interested in information that can assist the FAA in setting appropriate levels for environmental standards, including information for technologies for which the certification requirements and procedures are more well-established. The U.S.

participates in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) to develop and harmonize aircraft and engine environmental standards. As part of the standards setting process, CAEP conducts analyses of costs and benefits of different options for potential regulatory limits to ensure that standards are technically feasible, economically reasonable, and environmentally beneficial. Projects that can provide information that would assist the FAA in this standards setting process (e.g., noise/emissions data, technology responses to different stringency options, etc.) may be supported under CLEEN Phase IV.

Regarding environmental review, projects in the new and emerging aircraft entrants area may be most relevant. The FAA considers the impact of its actions through coordinated environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other federal laws.

Understanding the environmental performance characteristics of these vehicles, as well as how and where they will operate, can help the FAA conduct the modeling and analysis activities necessary for environmental reviews of FAA actions that will enable emerging aircraft operations.

8.4 Aircraft Technology Work Elements

The aircraft technology work consists of five major work elements: project management; design;

fabrication, procurement and assembly; technology demonstration; and technology assessments and reporting. In these efforts, the Participant must establish the technologies and technology validation plans, design and develop necessary hardware, and perform tests that will constitute technology demonstrations.

8.4.1 Aircraft Technology Work Element 1: Project Management

The Participant must conduct the program management activities needed to supervise, direct, and manage the demonstration of technologies pursuant to the performance objectives identified in Section 8.2. The Participant must employ those project management and planning tools considered necessary to ensure the accomplishment of each work element in a timely manner and within budget constraints. This Work Element includes the planning, monitoring, analysis and reporting of participant cost, schedule and technical performance.

Within 30 days of agreement award, the Participant must submit a Task Plan for FAA approval.

The Task Plan must incorporate negotiated changes to the Technical Proposal, if any. The Participant must maintain and control the Task Plan during the execution of this task.

8.4.2 Aircraft Technology Work Element 2: Design

The Participant must accomplish the following activities for each proposed technology maturation activity, as applicable:

• The Participant must conduct all efforts necessary to design, develop, and demonstrate selected candidate technologies specified in the Task Plan. This effort includes requirements definition and design of prototypes, test articles and any test equipment required to support the technology development effort.

• The Participant must conduct the necessary requirements gathering and definition activities to ensure that the technology design will proceed to meet the performance objectives of CLEEN Phase IV.

• The Participant must conduct the necessary design reviews to demonstrate that system requirements are met and the maturity of the design is appropriate to support proceeding with fabrication, assembly, integration, and test. The Participant must submit Design Review Packages to FAA that include:

1. The mechanical, aerodynamic, electrical, and/or control system/logic design (as applicable) of the components and any testbed structure modifications that are required to incorporate these components into the testbed system.

2. A systems analysis of the testbed system that defines key operating characteristics and performance parameters of the testbed.

3. An updated estimate of the anticipated benefit of each technology to be tested, in terms of reduction in noise, emissions, and/or fuel burn/energy use.

4. A summary of consideration given in the definition of the design to manufacturability, maintainability, affordability, repairability and eventual certifiability of the technology.

• Throughout the design process, the Participant must employ those systems engineering and integration practices and tools considered necessary to ensure the accomplishment of the design to meet schedule, cost, and technical requirements.

8.4.3 Aircraft Technology Work Element 3: Fabrication, Procurement, and Assembly The Participant must conduct the necessary fabrication, procurement, and assembly activities to complete the test articles, test equipment and special tools required to support the technology development and demonstration effort.

The Participant must conduct manufacturing trials, as needed, to verify and/or advance the manufacturing readiness level of the technology.

Throughout the fabrication, procurement, and assembly process, the Participant must employ those systems engineering and integration practices and tools considered necessary to ensure the accomplishment of these efforts to meet schedule, cost, and technical requirements.

8.4.4 Aircraft Technology Work Element 4: Technology Demonstration This activity must include the tests required to demonstrate the technology.

The Participant must conduct rig, ground, and/or flight tests for the baseline aircraft and/or engine, and modified aircraft and/or engine configuration to demonstrate the proposed technologies. The Participant must establish baseline and advanced technology modified configuration measurements for use in evaluation of achievement of the CLEEN Phase IV performance objectives. These measurements must include, as applicable:

• Data necessary to inform the FAA in developing environmental standards and/or conducting environmental reviews.

• Data necessary to evaluate and quantify the fuel burn/energy use benefit of related technologies.

• Engine and/or airframe noise measurements for use in the evaluation of the noise reduction technologies, including detailed explanations of the spectral features of those measurements.

• Data necessary to evaluate and quantify the NOx emissions benefit of related technologies.

• Gaseous and non-volatile particulate matter (nvPM) emissions measurements in the baseline engine and the advanced technology configuration. Non-volatile particulate matter emissions measurements must be obtained with an ICAO Annex 16 Vol. II Appendix 7/SAE ARP6320 compliant measurement systems. Addition of a particle size distribution measurement is also required. System loss calculation of both nvPM mass and number emissions must be calculated and reported using ICAO Annex 16 Vol. II Appendix 8/SAE ARP6481.

Note that in the case of a flight management system (FMS) or air traffic management (ATM) related technology, these demonstration tests may be achieved by modeling and simulation in the relevant environment. Such demonstrations must also be conducted in such a manner so as to gather the data necessary to inform FAA environmental standards development and environmental reviews and to evaluate the benefits of a given technology with respect to the CLEEN Phase IV performance objectives.

Throughout the technology demonstration process the Participant must employ those systems engineering and integration practices and tools considered necessary to ensure the accomplishment of technology demonstration efforts to meet schedule, cost, and technical requirements.

The Participant must submit the following Deliverables for technology maturation activity under this Work Element:

• A demonstration plan in support of Section 8.2 performance objectives. Such plan must be submitted to the FAA Task Manager for review and approval by the date established by the FAA, in its sole discretion, on a project by project basis, but in any event in advance of the initiation of all proposed test demonstrations. This documentation must include information on test objectives, instrumentation, test facility and setup, and test points to be run.

• An informal test report submitted to the FAA Task Manager for review and approval by the date established by the FAA, in its sole discretion, on a project by project basis. The report must include information on the test objectives accomplished and data acquired.

• A final test report submitted to the FAA Task Manager for review and approval by the date established by the FAA, in its sole discretion, on a project by project basis. This report must include information on the test objectives accomplished, data acquired, interpretation and value of the data, and an updated assessment of the anticipated technology benefit, in terms of reduction in noise, emissions and/or fuel burn/energy use.

• The Participant must provide a final presentation to the FAA Task Manager two weeks after submitting the final test report. The presentation must include information on the test objectives accomplished, data acquired, interpretation and value of the data, and an updated assessment of the anticipated technology benefit in terms of reduction in noise, emissions and/or fuel burn/energy use.

8.4.5 Aircraft Technology Work Element 5: Technology Assessments and Reporting Using the results of technology demonstration tests conducted under the Technology Demonstration work element, the Participant must quantify the benefits of the demonstrated technologies in terms of noise, emissions, and/or fuel burn/energy use. The Participant must quantify any effects of the technology on aircraft and/or engine performance, as well as any tradeoffs across CLEEN IV performance objectives. The Participant must identify any issues that would impact manufacturability, maintainability, affordability, and/or repairability and/or prevent certification of the technology to existing noise, emissions, and airworthiness standards. The Participant must provide a timeline and key activities to further technology maturation after the conclusion of the fourth phase of the CLEEN Program.

• The Participant must provide the necessary component level characteristics, operating limits, and input data that will enable system-level modeling of the proposed technologies by the U.S. FAA. The Participant must provide all necessary model verification data to the FAA Task Manager as the FAA CLEEN team will verify its technology modeling and associated benefits.

• The Participant must allow an independent third party, designated by the FAA in its sole discretion, to conduct the benefits assessments and to share all findings with the FAA without the Participant’s approval. The data provided will also be utilized by the U.S.

FAA or U.S. FAA contractors under a properly executed non-disclosure agreement to the extent necessary to perform the system-level modeling tasks. The FAA will determine the specific data that the Participant must provide based on the system-level modeling data requirements for the technology that is proposed for demonstration. This information will be used for internal U.S. FAA assessment of the advanced concepts, will be restricted to U.S. FAA use, and will be treated as procurement sensitive information.

8.5 Intellectual Property

The FAA intends to negotiate intellectual property rights with each Participant. The following paragraph expresses the FAA’s overall intentions as to intellectual property, but such goals are subject to change in the course of negotiations with each successful Participant.

The FAA plans to utilize data acquired through this research to advance the development of FAA airframe and engine environmental standards and conduct environmental reviews. The FAA plans to share the details of this research as required to advance the program goals within the U.S.

Aerospace community in a timely manner. The FAA intends to publicly share information (to be further defined in the Agreements) that does not disclose proprietary design or performance information, or information from which proprietary design or performance information can be derived.

8.6 Surveillance and Reporting

The Contracting Officer (CO) or the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), as the CO’s duly authorized representative, are authorized to perform inspection on behalf of the Government for the purpose of acceptance of all services to be provided.

The Participant must provide quarterly technical/schedule/risk progress reports to the CO, the COR, and the FAA Technical Point of Contact (POC) on the 15th (or first working day following) after the end of each calendar quarter covering the activities of the previous three months. The technical/schedule progress report must include technical accomplishments for the reporting period, accomplishments expected in the reporting period, descriptions of and reasons for any schedule changes, a high-level program schedule, and updates on any program risks.

The Participant must provide monthly financial reports, submitted to the COR and FAA Technical POC on the 15th (or the first working day following) of each calendar month, covering finances for the previous month. The monthly financial report must include company expenditures, FAA expenditures, and number of labor hours for that month and cumulatively, mapped to the CLEEN IV work elements. Copies of monthly invoices must be included in the monthly financial report and explanations of any inconsistencies between invoices and the monthly financial reports must be provided.

At its discretion, the FAA will conduct site visits and attend technology demonstration tests.

Every two weeks, technical, financial and schedule progress must be reviewed orally via teleconference with the Participant to assess progress toward completing the requirements set forth above. Presentation materials from these teleconferences are deliverable under the Agreement.

The Participant must conduct design review meetings for all major design milestones under the Agreement, including conceptual, preliminary, detailed, system, and critical design reviews, as applicable. These reviews should include FAA program office and other Government technical experts selected by the FAA program office. Materials from these reviews are deliverable under the Agreement.

The Participant must participate in a Government-led consortium, as directed by the FAA. The consortium will meet semi-annually. The basic function of the consortium meeting will be a forum for the presentation of the results of ongoing work. At these meetings, consortium members will present the progress and results of ongoing work in both government-only forums and public forums. FAA does not expect participants to share proprietary information with other consortium members. The Participant must provide access to the presentations with the third-party independent entity designated to conduct the benefits assessments and simulations. The Participant must provide all presentation material to the FAA Task Manager two weeks prior to the consortium meeting (10 working days). FAA will only require information for CLEEN-funded projects to be shared within the consortium. A Participant may choose to share information and results of other relevant research outside of CLEEN (subject to any applicable contractual and/or legal restrictions) but would not be required to do so. Subcontractors will not be required to participate in the consortium as long as the results of the subcontractors’ work is shared with the consortium members, e.g., by the Participant.

Inspection, review or the anticipation of acceptance/approval of an agreement item in the course of its preparation must not be construed as assurance of acceptance of the finished product.

All technical deliverables must have a 30 calendar-day review period, unless otherwise agreed to by both parties, wherein the Government has 30 calendar days to review and comment and the Participant has 30 days after receipt of comments from the Government to incorporate and address the comments in the deliverable. Deliverables are considered accepted if no comments are received 30 calendar days after submission.

The parties understand that data may be required from time to time to meet either Company or Agency reporting requirements. Upon mutual agreement, each Party will support the other in these data requests to the extent that the data is releasable, subject to applicable law and

FAA policy.

8.7 Deliverable Schedule

8.7.1 Schedule

Document Title Due Date Format Recipient

Task Plan Initial plan with proposal. Revised final plan 30 days after task initiation

Electronic submission via secure

FAA

SharePoint site (KSN)

COR and Task Manager

Risk Assessment 30 days after Award

Technical/Schedule/Risk Progress Reports Quarterly

Bi-weekly teleconference progress review materials Every 2 weeks

Monthly Financial Report Monthly

Design Review Agenda 5 working days prior to any conceptual, preliminary, or detailed design review

Design Review Package By the day of any conceptual, preliminary, or detailed design review

Test and Instrumentation Plan Determined on a project specific basis

Informal Test Reports Determined on a project specific basis

Final Test Reports Determined on a project specific basis

CLEEN Consortium Presentation – Government-only Limited Rights

Session

10 working days prior to the start day of each CLEEN Consortium Meeting, held semi-annually

CLEEN Consortium Presentation – Public Session

10 working days prior to the start day of each CLEEN Consortium Meeting, held semi-annually

Final Report(s) – Government-only Limited Rights Version (including both limited rights data and unlimited rights data)

Determined on a project specific basis

Final Report(s) – Publicly Releasable Version Determined on a project specific basis

Final Oral Briefing Determined on a project specific basis Meeting

8.7.2 Data Item Descriptions

Document Title Description

Task Plan Captures planned work activities including any negotiated changes to Technical Proposal post-award. The Participant must maintain and control the Task Plan during the execution of this agreement

Risk Assessment

Risk Assessments must be prepared to identify possible high risk areas and appropriate plans for risk mitigation. Risk assessments also define critical program paths for each risk element and assess the risk of achieving technical objectives, goals, and schedules within budget.

Plans and associated costs to provide risk reduction through alternate or backup approaches, if such action is required, must be included.

Risk assessment methodology, trade-offs, and impact of risk reductions (alternate or backup approaches) on goals, schedules, and costs must also be included.

Technical/Schedule/Risk Progress Reports

The technical/schedule progress report must include technical accomplishments for the reporting period, accomplishments expected in the reporting period, descriptions of and reasons for any schedule changes, a high-level program schedule, and updates on any program risks.

Bi-weekly teleconference progress review materials

The presentation materials from bi-weekly progress review teleconferences, including presentation slides on technical progress, schedule, and cost updates, must be deliverable.

Monthly Financial Report

The monthly financial report must include company expenditures, FAA expenditures, and number of labor hours for that month and cumulatively, mapped to the CLEEN IV work elements. Copies of monthly invoices must be included in the monthly financial report and explanations of any inconsistencies between invoices and the monthly financial reports must be provided.

Design Review Agenda 5 working days prior to any conceptual, preliminary, or detailed design review

Design Review Package By the day of any conceptual, preliminary, or detailed design review.

To include presentation material and any relevant supporting documents.

Test and Instrumentation Plan Determined on a project specific basis.

Informal Test Reports

An informal test report, submitted, within (number of days will be determined on a project specific basis) days of test completion, to the FAA Task Manager for review and approval. The report must include information on the test objectives accomplished and data acquired.

Final Test Reports

A final test report, submitted within (number of days will be determined on a project specific basis) of test completion, to the FAA Task Manager for review and approval. This report must include information on the test objectives accomplished, data acquired, interpretation and value of the data, and an updated assessment of the anticipated technology benefit, in terms of reduction in noise, emissions and /or fuel burn/energy use.

CLEEN Consortium Presentation – Government-only

Limited Rights Session

Oral report and presentation materials on technical, financial, and schedule progress, as well as risks, including limited rights data, 10 working days prior to each CLEEN IV Consortium, held semiannually.

CLEEN Consortium Presentation – Public Session

Oral report and presentation materials on technical, financial, and schedule progress suitable for public release, 10 working days prior to each CLEEN IV Consortium, held semi-annually. This must include updated technology benefits relative to the CLEEN IV goals. Public presentations are to be compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. § 794 (d)).

Final Report(s) –Government-only Limited Rights Version (including both limited rights data and unlimited rights data)

The final report must have two versions, a limited rights version and an unlimited rights version. The limited rights final report version will contain all relevant data (including both limited rights data and unlimited rights data), for the FAA.

Final Report(s) – Publicly Releasable Version

The final report must have two versions, a limited rights version and an unlimited rights version. The unlimited rights final report version must contain descriptions of key research activities and milestones completed, benefits of the technologies towards the CLEEN goals, next steps to transition the research into future product applications, as well as other unlimited rights data as outlined in the agreement.

Publicly Releasable Final Reports must be compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. § 794 (d)).

Final Oral Briefing

Final oral briefing to be conducted in Washington, DC or at another location or virtually at the discretion of the FAA. Written versions of this briefing containing all the data presented at the final oral briefing must be delivered to the FAA. If the oral presentation discloses information that has not been provided in written form at the briefing, the written version must be revised by including such information and delivered within 30 days of the oral briefing.

The Participant must include cost share progress reports in the financial progress reports required. Monthly invoices for work performed must be submitted. Financial progress reports must include detail in which both Participant funded and government funded work are identified by work element.

8.8 Points of Contact

The following personnel are the designated points of contact for this SIR:

Contracting Officer (CO) Federal Aviation Administration Attn: Kelly Chappelle 800 Independence Ave SW, AAQ-460, Washington, DC 20591 Tel: (202) 267-4631 Email: kelly.chappelle@faa.gov

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) Federal Aviation Administration Attn: Jennifer White mailto:kelly.chappelle@faa.gov

800 Independence Ave SW, APL/AEE-3B, Washington, DC 20591 Tel: (202) 267-3577 Email: jennifer.white@faa.gov

9 Respondent Proposal Submissions

9.1 Proposal Volumes and Due Dates

Respondents must assemble and identify proposal volumes in accordance with the table below.

Respondents must ensure that all proposal volume titles and associated content are compliant with the page limitations and with the number of copies, as shown in the tables below.

Proposal Volume Due Date / Time Executive Summary Executive Summary – Technical Summary Spreadsheet Volume I - Technical/Management Proposal Volume II - Pricing/Business Proposal Volume III - Agreement Feedback

Date - Month DD, 2026 Time - NLT 2:00 P.M. EDT

Submission notes:

(a) The FAA will not accept any submission made by facsimile, telex, telegraph, or similar devices.

(b) Respondents assume full responsibility for ensuring that the Contracting Officer receives proposals no later than the date and time specified above. Proposals should be submitted to Kelly Chappelle, Contracting Officer at 9-AFN-AWA-AAQ460-Contracting- Team@faa.gov.

(c) The FAA will consider proposals received by the Government after the specified deadline late and will exclude these proposals from evaluation.

(d) The Respondent states that the following persons are authorized to negotiate on the Respondent’s behalf with the FAA in connection with this offer:

Name:______________________________________________ Title:_______________________________________________ Phone number:_______________________________________ Email:______________________________________________

9.2 Notification of Intent to Withdraw Proposal

A Respondent may withdraw its proposal from competition by sending written notice, signed by an authorized negotiator, to the Contracting Officer at any time prior to Award. Proposals may be withdrawn via e-mail, but not by facsimile or mail.

9.3 SIR Questions, Concerns, and Clarifications

(a) The personnel identified in Section 8.8 are the sole point of contact for this acquisition. All

Respondent questions, concerns, and clarification requests must be made in writing and submitted to the FAA via email to the Contracting Officer at email: 9-AFN-AWA-AAQ460- Contracting-Team@faa.gov no later than 2:00 PM, EDT, Month DD, 2026.

(b) The FAA will compile questions received and post them for review by all Respondents;

mailto:jennifer.white@faa.gov mailto:9-AFN-AWA-AAQ460-Contracting-Team@faa.gov mailto:9-AFN-AWA-AAQ460-Contracting-Team@faa.gov mailto:9-AFN-AWA-AAQ460-Contracting-Team@faa.gov mailto:9-AFN-AWA-AAQ460-Contracting-Team@faa.gov however, the FAA will not post the author of each question. The FAA may post some questions prior to the FAA responding to them. P r i o r t o s u b m i t t i n g a q u e s t i o n , t h e Respondents must review posted questions and FAA responses to ensure the question has not already been addressed. If a Respondent needs further clarification on a previously submitted question, they must refer to that question by its identification number.

(c) Written inquiries received within the timeframe specified in (a) above, will be answered in writing and provided to all Respondents prior to the required date for submittal of the Respondent’s proposal. The FAA may not answer any requests received outside of the above timeframe. Furthermore, Respondents must note that the proposal due date will not be extended by the FAA due to questions received after the timeframe mentioned above.

9.4 Expenses Related to Respondent Submissions

(a) The FAA will not pay for the information solicited, nor reimburse the Respondents for any costs incurred in the preparation or submission of any response to this SIR or in making necessary studies or designs for the preparation thereof.

(b) The FAA will not allow any pre-award costs on this Agreement. Pre-award costs are defined as any costs incurred before the start date of the federal award in anticipation of the Federal award. Any pre-award costs at the Respondent’s risk. The FAA will not approve or pay any pre-award costs.

9.5 Disposition of Proposals

The FAA will not return Respondent’s proposals and will either retain or destroy them.

9.6 False Statements

Proposals must set forth full, accurate, and complete information as required by this solicitation, including attachments. The penalty for making false statements in proposals is prescribed in 18 U.S.C. § 1001.

9.7 Communications with Respondents

The Government may communicate at any time with Respondents on an individual basis to explain or clarify particular aspects of the solicitation, to negotiate as appropriate the terms and conditions of the proposed…