NOTAM Challenge Based Acquisition Overview.pdf

Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) Challenge-Based Acquisition (ChBA)

NOTAM Challenge-Based Acquisition i

Contents

1. Purpose

2. Overview

3. Conditions and Constraints

4. Selection Process

NOTAM Challenge Based Acquisition 1

1. Purpose

The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) mission is to provide the safest and most efficient aerospace system. To ensure the safety and efficiency of our National Airspace System (NAS), it is imperative that users have access to accurate information describing the current state of the NAS to inform their decision-making. A large component of this NAS information can be categorized as Aeronautical Information (AI), a subset of which is Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM). Today, the FAA is facing significant challenges managing the current state lifecycle of AI and NOTAM systems. To resolve these challenges and better position us for the future of the NAS, the FAA is seeking modern, innovative solutions from industry to facilitate the transformation of NOTAM origination, management, and distribution.

To get a complete understanding of the FAA's objectives, it is recommended to refer to the Statement of Objectives (SOO) and Scope Considerations and Principles documents. These documents provide the pertinent context, explain the current system architecture, and outline the desired objectives for the future state.

The purpose of this document is to provide an overview of the FAA’s NOTAM Challenge-Based Acquisition (ChBA) approach.

2. Overview

The FAA has initiated a multi-phased ChBA, with the goal of facilitating open communication between the FAA and industry to understand the problem and achieve an innovative solution per AMS 3.2.2.3.1.2.1. The following is an overview of the process.

• Phase I – Request for Concept Paper (RCP): An RCP will be issued with the intent of down-selecting to offeror(s) that present a concept that addresses the SOO and the Scope Considerations and Principles Documents. These offerors may receive invitations to future phases and may be awarded Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) with a non-negotiable stipend.

• Future Phases: At their discretion, the FAA may ask Offeror’s to future challenge phases based on their response to the Request for Concept Paper. This may include technical interviews, proof of concept demonstrations or prototype development.

NOTAM Challenge Based Acquisition 2

3. Conditions and Constraints

I. The FAA does not currently require delivery of any rights in intellectual property for this Phase, however, the FAA may engage throughout the Challenge at any time for intellectual property based on information.

a. Please note, the FAA reserves the rights to all the data stored in the platform/solution.

Additionally, the FAA must have the ability to audit the system to determine what data is stored, how it is stored, etc. It should also be noted that the data cannot be sold unless approved by the FAA.

II. Any data provided by the offeror will be protected under applicable confidentiality agreements, laws, and regulations. The FAA will treat submissions as confidential to the extent permitted by law and will not disclose it unless required by law.

III. If a concept paper is a collaboration among two or more offerors, one of those parties must submit the concept paper in its own name as the prime contractor and list the other(s) as subcontractors detailing roles and responsibilities.

IV. For cloud-based solutions, cloud service offerors must be authorized under the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP).

V. The FAA may provide offerors with access to Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) during performance of the prototype development.

4. Selection Process

I. The FAA’s decisions throughout this challenge will be inherently subjective. The FAA seeks concepts that are technically feasible, understandable, and usable and that will meaningfully address the objectives of this and subsequent supporting announcements, along with a reasonable business arrangement for the OTA(s).

II. Throughout this challenge, the FAA reserves the right to request additional written information or in person demonstrations of existing solutions and/or services from any, some, none, or all offerors. The FAA also reserves the right to hold one-on-one exchanges with any offeror to clarify, better understand, contractual vehicle text for deliverables and outcomes for a prototype, and any and all terms and conditions for the contractual vehicle. Since this will not be a standard evaluation and award process, communications can be specific to one or more offerors at the sole discretion of the FAA.

III. The FAA reserves the right to cancel this ChBA at any time. The FAA also reserves the right to refine the ChBA approach and the phases given what the FAA learns as we work through the process.

IV. The FAA also reserves the right not to enter into an OTA or contract at the end of this challenge.