DDLS FY2027 Industry Day December 2026.pdf

Domestic Datalink Services (DDLS) FY2027 Industry Day December 8-10, 2026

1.1 Industry Day Overview

This Industry Day event is for market research purposes only in accordance with Acquisition Management System (AMS) Procurement Guidance T3.2.1.2.A. Participation is voluntary. This Industry Day is related to Domestic Datalink Services (DDLS) and any specific contract action or solicitation, and no contract award will result from participation. All costs associated with attendance/travel and preparation of capability statements shall be at the Contractor’s expense and no reimbursement will be provided by the Government.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be hosting an Industry Day event on December 8 to 10, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Eastern Time) at FAA Headquarters, 99 New York Ave, NE, Washington, DC, 20226. This event provides mission-focused outreach for the commercial marketplace and seeking vendor participation that possess competencies in support of the DDLS program.

The purpose of the Industry Day event (under NAICS Code 517810 – All Other Telecommunications) is to provide an opportunity for vendors to share developments that could provide support to FAA’s DDLS requirements development, lessons learned application and Acquisition strategy.

2.1 Synopsis: This is an Industry Day for Domestic Datalink Services (DDLS). The requirement is to provide Domestic Data Link (DDL) service to the FAA to support the EnRoute Automation Modernization System (ERAM) and Tower datalink System (TDLS). The telecommunications service consists of routing and delivery of messages used as the communications part of Air Traffic Control (ATC) services which are used by FAA ATC automation systems and aircraft operating in Domestic NAS airspace. The FAA market research is primarily to determine if there are potential vendors who can provide demonstrable and cost-effective solutions for DDLS.

2.2 Purpose: The FAA is exploring different approaches to providing air to ground network services that will carry Controller Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC) messages for

Domestic Datalink Services FY2027 Industry Day December 8-10, 2026 airports and En Route airspace after the Data Communication Integrated Services (DCIS) contract expires on September 30, 2029.

3.1 Background: Currently, CPDLC is operational at all 20 Continental United States (CONUS) Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC) and Departure Clearance (DCL) services are provided at 65 airports. A robust set of Initial CPDLC Services has been deployed across the CONUS National Airspace System (NAS) and the Data Communications Program is in the process of finishing the deployment of Full Services, which incorporates additional CPDLC messages.

3.2 The current implementation of CPDLC services employs the En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) and Tower Data-Link Services (TDLS) system enabling trained air traffic controllers to send Future Air Navigation Services (FANS) compatible ATC messages.

These messages are routed internally within the FAA’s network to a security gateway where they are then passed to the DCIS provider who in turn routes the messages to appropriate Communication Service Providers (CSP). The messages are then transmitted to FANS equipped aircraft primarily using the Very High Frequency (VHF) Data Link Mode 2 (VDL-2) media where the messages are delivered to the aircraft for pilot action. Pilots can downlink responses to ATC messages in addition to sending a defined but limited set of requests to controllers.

3.3 The current DCIS contract consists of a 7-year base period followed by ten 1-year options.

Currently year 15 of the contract is in execution.

4.1 Program Objectives: Based upon experience over the contract timeframe, the Data Comm program is considering establishing one or possibly multiple 10-year contracts and has come to value the following objectives:

• Provide excellent, reliable, end-to-end performance of CPDLC through direct engagement with accountable providers,

• Receive accurate and timely insight into the status of all ATC CPDLC messages and the state of the network transporting them,

• Obtain services that are affordable and realize price efficiencies over time,

• Enable the introduction of new technologies in a seamless, non-disruptive, cost-effective manner, and

• Facilitate a transition from DCIS to DDLS that minimizes technical and operational risk.

5.1 Scope of this Industry Day: As described in the background section Data Communications functionality is delivered through an end-to-end system-of-systems. The primary scope of this market survey is for the provision of operational network services and associated monitoring as shown in the figure below. Under the current DCIS contract, combination of the operational network service and monitoring service is referred to as the Data Communications Network Service (DCNS).

FTI – FAA Telecommunication Infrastructure NESG – National Airspace System (NAS) Enterprise Security Gateway VDR- Very High Frequency (V) Data Radio CMU- Communication management Unit

6.1 Questions to Industry:

1. Contract Type: The FAA is using either a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) performance-based contract or a Firm Fixed Price with Economic Price Adjustments (FFP-EPA) contract. The FAA could under special circumstances review other contract types that may better support the project’s objectives and current market conditions. Contractors are encouraged to recommend alternative contract structures and describe the associated benefits and risks.

2. Project Challenges: What challenges do you anticipate with a project of this size, complexity, and locations?

3. Critical service availability support: Please describe your experience with critical service availability that operate continuously on a 24/7 basis.

4. Design Flexibility: The FAA is seeking industry input regarding the potential benefits of allowing greater flexibility in the service.

5. Alternative Configurations: Specifically, the FAA is interested in understanding whether more cost-effective configurations, differing from the current conceptual design, could achieve cost savings while maintaining all functional and operational requirements.

6. Opportunities and Risks: What opportunities or potential risks do you foresee associated with this procurement?

7. Requirements or Statement of Work (SOW): Based on your experience and expertise what improvements or clarifications should the FAA consider incorporating while developing the

SOW?

8. Solicitation Recommendations: What recommendations to the solicitation process would improve clarity, competition, or project execution?

9. Schedule: How should schedule be approached, and what evaluation methods should the FAA consider when assessing proposed schedules?

10. Level of Interest: What is your company’s level of interest in pursuing this project? Prime contractor, subcontractor, team, or joint venture?

11. Subcontracting and Small Business Participation:

• What concerns or challenges, if any, do you foresee related to subcontracting on this project?

• What concerns or challenges, if any, do you foresee regarding small business participation goals?

• How can the FAA help foster a strong and competitive small business subcontracting base?

12. What are your main concerns or questions on this requirement?

7.1 Industry Day Participation Requirements

FAA prefers that participation by vendor (s) for this Industry Day event is to be on-site and is open to all interested contractors (large and small businesses, joint ventures), academia, as well as other Government stakeholders. FAA will offer virtual attendance for vendors not able to attend in-person, and registration will be considered/processed on a first come, first-serve basis.

The limit of four (4) maximum vendor representatives will be allowed to attend in-person and on-line. Attendees shall submit their request as soon as possible, as registration will close once a pre-determined maximum number of vendors has been accepted for in-person and on-line.

Participating vendors may be allowed one oral, PowerPoint, or demonstration 10 minutes or less to present information on their capability in direct support of DDLS. At the end of the presentation or demonstration time, a maximum of 30 minutes will be allocated for a Q&A session. Please review the DDLS 101 to tailor any oral, demonstration or presentation.

8.1 Feedback Requested During Discussions

Vendors are encouraged to submit any questions via attachment FAA DDLS FY2027 Industry Day – Questions along with and by the registration deadline of November 10, 2026, 2:00 PM EST. The FAA requires time to adequately respond to the industry. The FAA will post publicly all questions and answers to relevant questions with the post Industry Day synopsis. Do not submit proprietary or source-selection sensitive information.

9.1 Capabilities Statement

Refer to the attachment “Vendor Capability Statement”.

10.1 Tentative Event Details:

Day 1: Tuesday, December 8, 2026 Open Sessions: Five (5) identical 60-minute sessions (a.m. and p.m.)

• Morning Sessions: 9 -10:00 a.m. and 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

• Lunch: 11:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m.

• Afternoon Sessions: 1 - 2:00 p.m., 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Day 2: Wednesday, December 9, 2026 One-on-One Sessions: Five (5) identical 60-minute sessions (a.m. and p.m.)

• Morning Sessions: 9-10:00 a.m.,10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

• Afternoon Sessions: 1- 2:00 p.m., 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Day 3: Thursday, December 10, 2026 One-on-One Sessions: Five (5) identical 60-minute sessions (AM and PM)

• Morning Sessions: 9-10:00 a.m. and 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

• Afternoon Sessions: 1- 2:00 p.m., 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 - 5:00 p.m.

10.2 Format & Capacity:

• In-person: Limited to 120 participants

• Virtual: Limited to 500 participants

11.1 Industry Day Registration

Registration is required through an email request to Contracting Officer, Pearl Winston at Pearl.A.Winston@FAA.gov and 9-AJO-AJM-DDLS@faa.gov. Vendors shall submit their response request as soon as possible, as registration will close once a pre-determined maximum number of vendors has been accepted. Registration is required by November 10, 2026 2:00 p.m.

EST. Vendors must include the following attachments FAA DDLS FY2027 Industry Day: 1.

Registration Form, 2. Visitor Information 3. Vendor Capability Statement and 4. Questions.

11.2 Registration Instructions:

• RSVP is required for both in-person and virtual attendance.

• Registration submission of FAA DDLS FY2027 Industry Day attachments 1 to 4.

• Registration requests containing PII should be password protected and routed via separate submission. Indicate if attendance will be virtual or in person.

• Send registration questions to: Pearl Winston, Contracting Officer at

Pearl.A.Winston@FAA.gov and 9-AJO-AJM-DDLS@faa.gov.

• Registration deadline: November 10, 2026

• Confirmation: Confirmed registrants will receive confirmation email with logistics and event details.

11.2.1 On-site Attendee Requirements:

• RealID.

• Passport or Secondary ID

• Non-U.S. Citizen attendees must identify their status to be provided any specific or additional registration information and able to complete the procedures outline for International Visitors Program (IVP) | Federal Aviation Administration

10.3 Attendance limits:

• In-person: up to 120 participants (total per session) with a limit of 4 per vendor.

• Virtual/online: up to 500 participants (total per session) with a limit of 4 per vendor.

mailto:Pearl.A.Winston@FAA.gov mailto:9-AJO-AJM-DDLS@faa.gov mailto:Pearl.A.Winston@FAA.gov mailto:9-AJO-AJM-DDLS@faa.gov https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/apl/international_affairs/visitors

• Space is limited and may be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The Government may adjust allocations to ensure a broad cross-section of participants.

10.5 Location:

• For confirmed in person registrants only.

• Bessie Coleman Conference Room

800 Independence Avenue SW Washington, D.C. 20591

• Virtual: link to be provided to confirmed registrants

11.1 Questions

• Industry is encouraged to submit questions and or answers by the registration deadline of November 10, 2026, 2:00 PM EST to Pearl Winston, Contracting Officer at Pearl.A.Winston@FAA.gov and 9-AJO-AJM-DDLS@faa.gov with the subject line “FAA DDLS FY2027 Industry Day – Questions”.

• If you are interested in having answers to your relevant questions during Industry Day or vendor One-on-One sessions we encourage submission of those questions by the registration deadline.

• The Government may address questions during the open Q&A and/or via an update to this notice. Do not submit proprietary or source-selection sensitive information.

Attachments

1. FAA DDLS FY2027 Industry Day – Vendor Capability Statement

2. FAA DDLS FY2027 Industry Day – Registration Form

3. FAA DDLS FY2027 Industry Day – Visitor Information

4. FAA DDLS FY2027 Industry Day – Questions

DISCLAIMERS:

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is not seeking or accepting unsolicited proposals.

This is not a solicitation.

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

This notice serves as performance of an FAA market analysis in accordance with AMS Procurement Guidance T3.2.1.2.A.

This notice is issued solely for the purpose of requesting participation in Industry Day and one-on-one discussions.

This notice should not be construed as a commitment of any type by the FAA to take or not take any action.

Participation in this market survey is voluntary and appreciated.

No evaluation letters or results will be issued to respondents.

mailto:Pearl.A.Winston@FAA.gov mailto:9-AJO-AJM-DDLS@faa.gov

The Government will not pay for any information received in response to this request, nor will the Government compensate any respondent for any costs incurred in developing the information provided to the Government. Mark PROPRIETARY on all documents submitted with data rights that need to be protected. Submitted materials will not be returned.

This notice does not restrict the FAA to an acquisition approach it may take in connection with the requirement, nor does it restrict changes to any Statement of Work or other requirements.

Responses to this market survey are for informational and planning purposes only. However, the FAA reserves the right to use information obtained through this process to support the potential issuance of a Screening Information Request (SIR) related to this initiative. This announcement shall not be construed as a commitment or obligation by the Government to award a contract or otherwise procure services.

The FAA has the option of conducting one-on-one communications as deemed appropriate without the obligation to hold communications with all respondents.

A business entity responding to this notice neither qualifies respondents for, nor excludes respondents from, responding to a resulting SIR, if any.

Note: The FAA is exempted from several Federal laws and regulations as part of the 1996 DOT Appropriations Act. Some of the exemptions include the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994, the Small Business Act, the Competition in Contracting Act, and the Federal Acquisition Regulations. The FAA’s AMS, which became effective on April 1, 1996, is utilized in place of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Potential Contractors are encouraged to visit the publicly accessible website:

FAST AMS Procurement Policy & Guidance https://fast.faa.gov/contractclauses.cfm

A map of the FAA Industry Day location is provided below:

https://fast.faa.gov/contractclauses.cfm