MARKET SURVEY ANNOUNCEMENT 2-4-26.pdf

MARKET SURVEY ANNOUNCEMENT

Flight Testing Aircraft

1. Introduction/Purpose/Requirement

In accordance with FAA Acquisition Management System (AMS) Section 3.2.1.2.1, the FAA is conducting a Market Survey to assist in determining the competition/participation level from vendors with the resources necessary to support the potential requirement as described below.

The FAA, specifically the Fuels and Energy Section (ANG-E283), is seeking sources to either procure or lease a flight testing aircraft. This aircraft would be used for the reasons of testing experimental Research & Development (R&D) unleaded fuels, in which the FAA would fly the aircraft.

Flight testing would last approximately one year from award.

*This experimental unleaded fuel(s) that will be used in the aircraft are not certified for flight. Flight testing will be conducted after obtaining a special experimental airworthiness certificate. The FAA understands the fuel system, engine, and fuel related components may be altered or unable to be used when placing the aircraft back to normal airworthiness certification.

The FAA may use the existing powerplant provided with the aircraft or install our own powerplant for the experimental research.

The FAA’s requirement for the aircraft are as follows:

1. One Cessna high-wing aircraft. The aircraft must be one of the following model numbers:

a. 172 E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, P, or Q

b. 182 N, P, or Q

2. The aircraft should have an updraft carbureted engine and must be one of the following listed powerplant:

a. O-470-U

b. O-360

c. O-320

d. O-540

3. Airframe Requirements

a. Fixed landing gear

b. All current Airworthiness Directives (ADs) complied with

c. Current annual inspection

d. Ability to be issued a special airworthiness certificate for the purposes of unleaded aviation fuels testing

4. Engine Requirements

a. Preferably below Time Between Overhaul (TBO), but exceptions can be made with good engine health.

b. Oil consumption within allowable ICA tolerances

c. Good cylinder compression (>70/80psi hot differential compression test) on each cylinder

d. Good internal health (Minimal to no cylinder wall rust, valve hot spots, piston damage or piston erosion)

e. Magnetos services per their ICAs within TBO

f. ADs complied with

g. No oil leaks

h. Engine logbook documenting history and service since new

The FAA would prefer to utilize aircraft that are equipped with engine monitors installed, such as a Garm GI275.

2. Request for Information

A SIR/Request for Proposal may be made under a separate announcement in the future.

The FAA is not seeking or accepting unsolicited proposals. The FAA will not pay for any information received or costs incurred in preparing vendor responses to this market survey. Therefore, any cost associated with a market survey submission is solely at the interested vendor’s expense.

The acquisition strategy for the procurement has not been determined at this time;

however, either an unrestricted competition, a set-aside, or other acquisition strategy may be chosen depending on the responses to this market survey. The purpose of this market survey is to solicit statements of interest and capabilities from large businesses, small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, women owned small business, HubZone small business, and 8(a) certified firms, capable of providing the supplies outlined in this document, in the timeframe stated in this document. The responses to this RFI will help determine the acquisition strategy and whether adequate competition exists to set-aside the competition.

3. Submittal Requirements for Market Survey

All interested parties are encouraged to respond to this Market Survey with a statement of interest by submitting a brief Capability Statement of no more than three (3) pages. This document should address the respondent’s capability to provide the following:

• Ability to provide an aircraft meeting the requirements stated above to successfully perform fuel testing.

• Statement on if the aircraft can be leased or procured.

• Provide rough order of magnitude (ROM) on the cost to lease and/or purchase the aircraft (if applicable).

The total page limitation for the Capability Statement is three pages – font size 12, one-inch margins, single-spaced.

Participation in any market analysis activities is not a promise of future business with the

FAA.

Any confidential or proprietary information submitted in response to this announcement must be marked accordingly by the respondent. Respondent should mark all pages of the submission that contain sensitive information as "Source Selection Sensitive." Any restrictions imposed by respondent on the use or disclosure of the submission content must be clearly marked on the title pages and the individual pages, as necessary. Such information will not be disclosed outside of the acquisition team.

4. Delivery of Market Survey Submittals

Interested respondents must electronically submit all documents via email to Nicole.Saiauskie@faa.gov no later than 5:00 PM ET on February 25, 2026. Email responses to this Market Survey must include the subject line “Flight Testing Aircraft Response to Market Survey”.

Questions regarding this Market Survey must be electronically submitted via email to Nicole.Saiauskie@faa.gov. Questions are to be received no later than 5:00 PM ET on February 17, 2026. Email questions must include the subject line “Question(s) for Flight Testing Aircraft Market Survey”.

Respondents are not to contact the Technical/Requiring/Program Office at any time regarding this Market Survey and requirement.

mailto:Nicole.Saiauskie@faa.gov mailto:Nicole.Saiauskie@faa.gov