COTS TACAN Antenna Market Survey -FINAL.pdf

Acquisition Sensitive--This document may contain information considered sensitive unclassified information (SUI) and would merit protection from unauthorized disclosure under 5 U.S.C, Section 552(b)(4).

No information shall be released except as authorized by the Contracting Officer.

MARKET SURVEY ANNOUNCEMENT

FOR

Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) Antenna System

1. Introduction

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is conducting this Market Survey in accordance with the FAA Acquisition Management System (AMS) Section 3.2.1.2.1. The FAA is interested in gathering information regarding COTS TACAN Antenna Systems that may be relevant to support an operational need. The information received will be used to validate the FAA acquisition strategy for the procurement of a limited number of COTS TACAN Antenna Systems.

2. Purpose

The purpose of the Market Survey is to gather additional information from industry on (1) current capabilities to provide electronically scanned TACAN Antenna Systems, and (2) capabilities related to implementation and installation support services for TACAN Antenna Systems at multiple locations throughout the National Airspace System (NAS).

3. Background

The FAA has an immediate need to replace legacy TACAN Antennas to address a sustainment issue due to obsolescence and parts availability. The replacement antennas will be interoperable with the existing TACAN ground transponder equipment (FA-9996). The replacement antenna will be commercially available and approved to operate in the NAS. The antenna will be capable of receiving interrogations from equipped aircraft and transmit replies that provide azimuth and distance information.

4. Description of the Scope

The FAA requires a commercially available, electrically large aperture antenna that will cover the entire TACAN frequency band and will support operation on all X and Y channels without requiring modification in accordance with FAA Order 6050.32B. The electronically scanned COTS TACAN Antenna System will replace form, fit, and function of currently fielded TACAN Antenna Systems. The antenna must interface with the currently deployed FA-9996 TACAN transponder ground equipment. The antenna must be vertically polarized and must support a successful flight check conducted in accordance with FAA Order 8200.1D.

The FAA is targeting approximately 30-35 candidate sites for the replacement TACAN Antenna Systems. The FAA anticipates the need for the antenna installations to begin within 90 days of the contract award. The FAA will require the vendor to furnish complete TACAN Antenna considered sensitive unclassified information (SUI) and would merit protection from unauthorized disclosure under 5 U.S.C, Section 552(b)(4).

systems, including spare Line Replaceable Units (LRUs), technical manuals, training, and installation support services.

5. Nature of Competition

This survey will support market research obtained from multiple sources and will be utilized for planning purposes only. The acquisition strategy for the procurement has not been determined at this time. The FAA intends to review all responses submitted to establish the acquisition strategy. Responses to this market survey will be used to develop the Source List if a Screening Information Request (SIR) for this requirement is issued and will be used to determine if there is adequate competition to set the requirement aside for small business concerns, unrestricted competition; and/or justification of a single source.

6. Applicable NAICS Codes

The procurement may fall under the following NAICS codes:

423610 – Electrical Apparatus Equipment, Wiring Supplies, and Related Equipment Merchant Wholesaler;

334511 – Search, Detection, Navigation, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing;

541330 – Engineering Services, 488190 – Other Support Activities for Air Transportation

7. Standard Language

(a) This announcement is not a Screening Information Request (SIR) or a Request for Proposals (RFP) of any kind.

(b) The FAA is not soliciting or accepting unsolicited proposals in response to this Market Survey.

(c) The FAA will not provide compensation for any information submitted, nor will it reimburse any costs incurred in preparing responses to this Market Survey.

(d) Any expenses associated with responding to this Market Survey are the sole responsibility of the interested vendor.

(e) The FAA reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to contact any or all respondents for further clarification or to request additional information as needed.

(f) Providing a response to this Market Survey neither qualify respondents nor excludes respondents from responding to the resulting SIR, if any.

considered sensitive unclassified information (SUI) and would merit protection from unauthorized disclosure under 5 U.S.C, Section 552(b)(4).

8. Submittal Requirements for Market Survey

Interested entities are required to submit the following documentation and response to the listed information before the stated deadline:

(a) Capability Statement: Provide a brief description of the company, its services, number of employees, and National Airspace System (NAS) capabilities and its viability and capacity for supporting the scope in Section 4.

(b) Capability Statement: A not-to-exceed limit of ten pages applies for responses, excluding marketing material. Your company must identify your engineering and manufacturing capability for antennas in a scope of complexity similar to the requirements stated in Section 4 above, along with the following:

(i) identify current production antennas and production capacity;

(ii) identify number of deployments of current production antennas and the agencies served;

(iii) identify any obsolescence concerns for current production antennas;

(iv) identify installation experience and capacity;

(v) dollar value and type of services provided by your firm under previous contracts

(provide dollar value, type of contract, start/completion dates, and customer/end-user information) that relate to the contract performance requirements above;

(vi) number of years in business performing the services required of this announcement;

(vii) your company’s North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code, and any additional information to assist the FAA in finalizing its acquisition strategy.

(c) A statement confirming the production antennas have been approved to operate in the NAS.

(d) A statement confirming your company will provide the FAA with the engineering and technical data needed for life cycle support and include, if any, stipulations.

(e) Response MUST demonstrate the ability to meet Section 4 Scope.

9. Delivery of Submittals

Interested companies must submit their response to this Market Survey electronically to 9-AWA- AAQ-DVTAcquisition@faa.gov no later than Friday April 21, 2025, at 5:00 pm EDT. All questions must be submitted no later than Wednesday April 9, 2025, at 5:00 pm EDT. The Subject Line of the email responses should read COTS TACAN ANTENNA MARKET

SURVEY.

The FAA does not plan to provide direct responses to public inquiries or recommendations submitted in response to this Market Survey. The FAA will, however, use these industry comments to inform and refine the development of the requirements.

considered sensitive unclassified information (SUI) and would merit protection from unauthorized disclosure under 5 U.S.C, Section 552(b)(4).

10. Other

Any confidential or proprietary information submitted in response to this announcement must be marked accordingly by the vendor. Such information will not be disclosed outside of the FAA acquisition team.