SBS RFI Questions and Responses.pdf

Surveillance & Broadcast Services (SBS) Request for Information (RFI)

Questions and Responses

Question from Industry Government Response

1 Regarding the requested input on acquisition strategy for the upcoming contract, is it a foreseeable option that system design and R&D tasks are separated from network infrastructure operation, and contracted to a number of prime contractors separately? If so, would small businesses be considered?

The FAA welcomes all well thought out and compelling suggestions for acquisition strategies that may encourage competition.

If and when the FAA moves forward with this acquisition, it may be competed as an unrestricted competition that could include portions for small businesses.

2 Given the challenges faced by the COVID-19 pandemic, we respectfully request the FAA delay the submission date for this RFI until Friday May 29.

Per Amendment No. 001 to this RFI, the closing date for submissions has been extended to May 29th.

3 During the SBS acquisition phase, the issue of service transition at the end of the contract period of performance was explored. Can you summarize/disclose any provisions in the FAA contract for this performance-based service that enables the FAA to purchase or otherwise take control of the existing vendor’s infrastructure, in part or in total?

The FAA is seeking all ideas that may encourage competition and/or aid in transition of services. As part of the awarded contract, the FAA included Acquisition Management System (AMS) Clause 3.8.2.-11 Continuity of Services (1996).

4 Can the government provide guidance on the rolls and interaction of ADS-B, SENSR, NAS Wide Surveillance Data Network, and FENS as these programs will all have broadly overlapping capabilities and requirements?

The FAA welcomes any ideas and suggestions on how a future solution may interface with such other systems. The NAS is a system of inter-operable systems. These are separate programs in various stages of their acquisition lifecycle.

Consult Beta.sam.gov for the latest information on these programs.

5 In order to both reduce cost and risk to the Government, will the Government allow for an SBS Prime to utilize the FENS network and associated pricing, security, reliability, and integrity guarantees in an SBS solution? If not, and in order to ensure fair and open competition, will the Government require the FENS Prime to produce an independent network solution if they so choose to compete in the SBS program?

The FAA welcomes all well thought out and compelling suggestions for acquisition strategies that may encourage competition and/or aid in transition of services.

Any network utilized by the SBS system should have an architecture that provides resiliency, availability, and integrity for the services required.

6 Due to the high capital equipment costs, there is only one vendor of Space Based 1090ES ADS-B. Due to this cost and the limited demand for such services, entrance of additional space based vendors is not expected. Will the government consider requiring the one existing Space Based 1090ES ADS-B vendor to provide pricing to all SBS Recompete Primes on a Fair, Reasonable, and Non-Discriminatory (FRAND) basis in order to ensure open competition and best pricing to the Government?

Currently, the FAA has no basis to enforce the FRAND concept. However, the FAA welcomes for its consideration all well thought out and compelling suggestions for acquisition strategies that may encourage competition and/or aid in transition of services.

7 While ADS-B and Multilateration software exists on the open market, the Government’s unique requirements prevent extensive reuse of this software as NDI. The current SBS incumbent has produced high availability safety critical software validated and in use in the NAS that is designed to the Government’s requirements. As any other SBS prime would have to recreate such software at considerable cost and risk to the Government;

would the Government consider requiring this vendor to provide

Currently, the FAA has no basis to enforce this FRAND concept. However, the FAA welcomes for its consideration all well thought out and compelling suggestions for acquisition strategies that may encourage competition and/or aid in transition of services.

access to this software to all SBS Recompete Primes on a Fair, Reasonable, and Non-Discriminatory (FRAND) basis in order to ensure fair and open competition.

8 The original SBS contract included provisions for commercial use of the surveillance data (e.g., TIS-B) by the SBS vendor. In exchange, the FAA received a reduction in service fee. Is the FAA anticipating a similar provision to the recompete contract? If so, in the interest of fair competition, will the FAA release the historical performance and basis of this service fee adjustment?

The FAA has not made a determination if a provision for the commercial use of surveillance data will be established for any future acquisition or contract. Beyond stating that these reductions have been relatively minor, the FAA does not anticipate releasing this information if and when it moves forward with this acquisition. The FAA welcomes ideas to potentially enhance/expand utilization of this provision in the future.

9 Some existing SBS equipment sites are located on airport property which was made available at reduced rates in exchange for surveillance volume coverage. Will these agreements be made available as part of the RFI process to ensure the lowest cost to the FAA and fair competition?

The FAA is not a party to airport property agreements entered into by the current vendor and, therefore, cannot make such agreements available.

The FAA notes that some airports view SBS services as valuable for aircraft operators.