RFI INTENT_2021_1207_v2.0.docx

RFI CONTENT

FAA-NEXCOM-V3-MS-02

Description

1. Introduction/Purpose The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has a planned future requirement for NEXt generation air/ground (A/G) COMmunications (NEXCOM) System Ultra High Frequency (UHF) and Very High Frequency (VHF) radios.

The FAA requires A/G voice communications links to provide Air Traffic Control (ATC) services to all classes of National Airspace System (NAS) users. These links support all phases of flight including en route, terminal approach control, flight service and terminal space-based ground movements; departures and arrivals. The UHF/VHF radios are used to ensure aircraft separation, transmit instructions and clearances, permit hand-offs, provide weather services and pilot reports (PIREPs), and communicate with Automated Flight Service Stations (AFSSs). Civilian aircraft, including air carrier and general aviation, are served in the VHF band while Department of Defense (DOD) aircraft are served in the UHF band.

The NEXCOM Radio Program will replace current UHF/VHF ground-based analog radios at Remote Center Air/Ground (RCAG) and Backup Emergency Communications (BUEC) facilities supporting en route communications.

NEXCOM Version 3 (V3) radios will operate using the current 25 kHz channel-spacing assignment in their respective radio frequency (RF) bands. Each radio band will support signal-in-space communications using a double sideband-amplitude modulation (DSB-AM) waveform. The VHF radios will also have frequency tuning capabilities to operate on 8.33 kHz channel-spacing assignments in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) defined standards.

NEXCOM V3 radios will be physically compatible with today’s existing NAS equipment, be equipped with a legacy analog audio interface(s) as well as an ED-137C compliant Internet Protocol (IP)-based audio interface(s) supporting future NAS gateway subsystems and components.

2. Nature of Market Survey Responses to this market survey will be used by the FAA to further refine the Draft Screening Information Request (SIR) materials (i.e., Section B through Attachment J02), inclusive of an updated draft Attachment J01, NEXCOM V3 Radio Product Description (PD). These documents are provided as attachments to this notice. This market survey is being conducted in accordance with FAA Acquisition Management System (AMS) Section 3.2.1.2.1. This market survey will support market research obtained from multiple sources and will be utilized for planning purposes only.

3. RFI Market Survey Objectives:

The responses to this Market Survey will be used for informational and planning purposes only and will not be released.

1. This is a Market Survey to help the FAA plan for a future NEXCOM V3 Radio Screening Information Request (SIR) anticipated for release in the second quarter of calendar year 2022. This is not a SIR or Request for Proposals (RFP) of any kind;

2. The FAA is not seeking or accepting unsolicited proposals;

3. All vendors responding to this announcement are responsible for ensuring that documents submitted contain the appropriate proprietary marking;

4. The FAA intends to review all responses received to gain additional understanding of Industry’s knowledge and comprehension of the attached RFI Draft Screening Information Request (SIR) Sections (e.g., Sections B thru Attachment J02) and updated draft Attachment J01 NEXCOM V3 Radio Product Description (PD);

5. In order to refine Government cost estimates for the FAA Chief Financial Officer (CFO) review and approval, prior to the resulting Final SIR release, this Market Survey requests industry pricing. Vendors are encouraged and may provide pricing data within the Draft Section B Pricing Tool provided with this RFI, to the degree feasible; however, at a minimum, the FAA requires RFI responses to include the following:

a. Vendors must provide their pricing of one unit related to their commercial radio product(s) that meets, or substantially meets, the descriptions of the six (6) different types of the NEXCOM V3 UHF and VHF radios in the Draft SIR Section B and the updated draft NEXCOM V3 Radio PD.

i. Vendors must describe their radios design {e.g, modular (i.e. having external components) or a single LRU per radio-type design, multi-band, extended power transmitters}.

ii. For those Vendors whose radio design necessitates having external components/modules their “unit price” must include itemized pricing data for any individual external components (e.g., filters, antenna transfer relay) that sum to the price of a particular radio type CLIN, for all radio types, as described in the Draft Section B files.

iii. Vendors with modular designs are also encouraged to include a description of their envisioned rack mounting shelves or kits in order to assist the FAA in refining the draft Section B Pricing Tool radios CLIN structure better account for rack mounting shelves and/or rack mounting kit quantities.

b. Vendors must provide a description of the terms and conditions of their radio equipment commercial warranty (i.e., duration in years, exclusions).

c. Vendors must provide estimated pricing of a 10 year warranty related to the descriptions of the six (6) different types of the NEXCOM V3 UHF and VHF radios in the Draft SIR Section B and the updated draft NEXCOM V3 Radio PD.

i. For those Vendors whose radio design necessitates having external components/modules, they must provide estimated 10 year warranty pricing data information inclusive of the individual external components (e.g., filters, antenna transfer relay); or stipulate if there are limitations or non-applicability of a 10-year warranty pricing for any of the external components. If there are any limitations or non-applicability a rationale should be provided.

d. Vendors must provide a description of their Maintenance Data Terminal (MDT)-to-radio interface {e.g., Radio products either require a separate MDT Software (MDTS) executable application to be loaded on Government laptops/computers; or the MDTS resides within the radio products themselves, accessible via an industry-standard web-browser}.

i. For those Vendors whose design necessitates an MDT Software application, Vendors must provide estimated pricing for an MDTS Enterprise License in accordance with Draft Section C.3.1.3 and Draft Section H.18.

e. Review draft Section B labor categories/positions. If any relevant positions are not included, Vendors are encouraged to recommend positions for incorporation as well as the number of hours associated with any recommended positions.

6. Vendors responding to this Market Survey must identify their business declaration {e.g., large business, small business, Woman Owned, Veterans Owned, 8(a), etc}.

7. The FAA may determine not to respond to one or any comments, questions, or other feedback received from interested parties;

8. The FAA has the option of conducting one-on-one communications, or radio product demonstrations, as deemed appropriate without the obligation to hold communications with all respondents;

9. Providing a response to this Market Survey neither qualifies respondents for, nor excludes respondents from, responding to the resulting SIR, if any;

10. Respondent participation in any informational session is not a promise of future business with the FAA;

11. The FAA will not pay for any information received or costs incurred in preparing the response to the market survey; and

12. Any costs associated with the market survey submittal is solely at the interested vendor’s expense.

13. All information received will become the property of the FAA unless otherwise marked.

4. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code

The FAA has tentatively identified North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) Code 334220 - Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing as applicable to this procurement. The size standard for this NAICS code is 1,250 employees. Respondents may recommend other appropriate NAICS codes for FAA consideration.

5. Submittal Requirements for Market Survey

Interested vendors are requested to provide their comments/questions related to RFI Market Survey Objective #4 above {i.e., RFI Draft SIR Sections B thru Attachment J02 as well as the updated draft Attachment J01 NEXCOM V3 Radio PD} using the attached NEXCOM V3 Radio RFI Comments Template.

Interested vendors are requested to provide their pricing data related to RFI Market Survey Objectives #5a-5e and #6 above in a separate document with submittals in either MS Word or PDF format.

In addition, interested vendors may also include any additional cost information and/or notes within the Draft Section B Pricing Tool to the degree feasible.

The RFI Comments Template, RFI pricing data responses and any inputs to the Draft Section B Pricing Tool have no page limit.

6. Delivery of Submittals

All responses to this market survey must be submitted by January 31, 2022. All submittals, including attachments, should be submitted in electronic format (email) to Mr. Jorge Martell at Jorge.R.Martell@faa.gov. Please include the Market Survey title in the e-mail submission.

7. Description of Attachments-

Draft Section B --- Supplies or Services and Pricing. This Adobe PDF file is derived from the RFI Pricing Tool Excel file tabs. This file provides Vendors a preview of the Draft Section B Contract Line Item Numbers (CLIN) structure, descriptions, relationship to the Statement of Work (SOW) and their respective estimated quantities.

Draft Section B --- RFI Pricing Tool. This Excel Spreadsheet, provides Vendors an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the format that the resulting SIR is likely to request proposal pricing. This draft RFI Pricing Tool Excel file contains many links and does take some time to load upon opening.

Draft Section C --- Statement of Work (SOW) Draft Section D --- Government Clauses for Packaging and Barcoding of packaging Draft Section E --- Government Clauses for Quality Inspections & Acceptance Draft Section F --- Government Clauses for Delivery Orders Draft Section G --- Government Clauses for Contract Administration Draft Section H --- Special Government Clauses Draft Section I --- Standard Government Clauses Attachment J01 – NEXCOM V3 UHF/VHF Radio Product Description (PD) -updated Attachment J02 – Contract Data Requirements List (CDRLs) and Data Item Descriptions (DIDs)

NEXCOM V3 Radio Overview and Operational Capabilities Test (OCT) Information NEXCOM V3 Radio RFI Comments Template