RT - Request for Proposal.docx

Request for Proposal for Remote Towers

Q&A FAA Response Due:

May 6th, 2026, by 5:00 PM EST

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Objective The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is committed to enhancing the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS). To support this mission, the FAA is seeking interest from airports in implementing and deploying Remote Tower Systems (RTSs). These systems offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional Air Traffic Control Towers (ATCTs) by utilizing advanced networks of cameras and sensors.

Under the authorizations granted by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and Section 621 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, the FAA invites airports to participate in this initiative, which aims to extend ATCT services to rural and small community airports, originally established under Section 161 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. Utilizing funds from this bill the FAA has roughly $36 million available to allocate implementing RTSs at qualified non-towered airports. This RFP seeks responses from non-towered airports. The FAA intends to make multiple awards from this RFP.

Background The RT Program is designed to enhance the FAA's ability to integrate innovative technologies into the NAS while maintaining the highest standards of safety and efficiency. RT provide Visual Flight Rules (VFR) services that extend ATC capabilities to underserved areas.

Through the RT Program, the FAA continues to demonstrate global leadership in the safe integration of emerging aviation technologies. The program facilitates the evaluation and deployment of remote towers, ensuring that they seamlessly transition into real-world operational environments. By doing so, it aligns with the FAA's mission to modernize air traffic management and maintain safety across the NAS.

The Remote Tower Program focuses on:

1. Technological Integration: Establishing advanced systems that integrate seamlessly into the NAS, enhancing safety and efficiency.

2. Collaborative Partnerships: Developing partnerships with technology providers, airports, and governmental bodies to facilitate the deployment of remote towers and ensure compliance with FAA standards.

3. Operational Testing and Validation: Utilizing the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center and real-world environments to validate RT technology, ensuring they meet the operational requirements necessary for safe VFR services.

4. Innovation and Expansion: Exploring new concepts and technologies that could extend the capabilities of remote towers, including enhanced situational awareness tools.

5. Research and Development: Collaborating with research institutions and industry experts to assess the performance of RTs in varied environments and operational scenarios.

Request for Proposal This Request for Proposal (RFP) is issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to solicit formal proposals from qualified Offerors to support the planning, development, and deployment of Remote Tower Systems (RTSs). The FAA will use the proposals received in response to this RFP to evaluate the following criteria see attachment (Airport Eval Criteria): technical approach and price in support of its acquisition strategy and potential award of an Agreement or contract.

This RFP constitutes a formal solicitation. Offerors are invited to submit proposals in accordance with the requirements, instructions, and evaluation criteria set forth herein. The FAA intends to review proposals, conduct evaluations, and select one or more Offerors that best meet the FAA’s requirements and program objectives. Issuance of this RFP does not obligate the FAA to make an award; however, it reflects the FAA’s intent to proceed with a competitive procurement.

The FAA will not reimburse Offerors for any costs incurred in the preparation or submission of proposals. All proposal preparation costs shall be borne solely by the Offeror. Any proprietary or confidential information included in a proposal must be clearly identified and marked accordingly.

The anticipated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 488119 – Other Airport Operations. The FAA encourages proposals from all responsible sources capable of meeting the requirements described in this RFP.

Offerors must be properly registered and active in the Government’s System for Award Management (SAM) at https://sam.gov/content/home at time of proposal submission and remain registered through contract award to be eligible for consideration.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this RFP is to solicit proposals from non-towered airports that provide small or rural community air service to support the FAA’s implementation of Remote Tower Systems (RTSs), as authorized by Congress, to enhance air traffic control services—particularly at rural and small community airports.

Specifically, this RFP seeks proposals that address the following objectives:

1. Implementation of Remote Tower Systems Propose technical, operational, and programmatic approaches to design, construct, deploy, and operate Remote Tower Systems that enhance air traffic control services in alignment with FAA requirements and standards.

2. Cost Sharing and Deployment Strategy Provide detailed cost proposals and implementation plans for participating in a cost-sharing arrangement with the FAA for the development and implementation of Remote Tower Systems, including estimated schedules, milestones, and lifecycle costs. For planning purposes, it is estimated that the remote tower system may cost between $4-$10 million depending on airport system preferences and requirements. This does not include any site construction costs. Any optional add-ons to the remote tower system beyond what is needed to be FAA System Design Approval compliant would be the responsibility of the airport This RFP is directed toward non-towered airports that provide small or rural community air service. Sponsor-owned Federal Contract Towers (FCTs) can also apply, but priority will be given to Non-Federal Control Towers. The FAA seeks to identify qualified Offerors and partner communities that demonstrate strong technical capability, organizational readiness, and a commitment to advancing aviation technology and improving air traffic management through collaborative cost-sharing arrangements.

RESPONSE DATE: Responses are due no later than May 15, 2026, 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST), by email to Saaduddin.Khan@faa.gov.

All responses must be submitted electronically. See Table 2 – Submission Format below. The Government will contact each respondent no later than 10 business days to confirm receipt.

Submission Requirements:

Subject responses must include the following:

Table 1

No page limit for the Business Qualifications and Capabilities.

· Experienced and qualified staff members who are able to support the full scope of work through in-house staff members, teaming, and subcontracting arrangements.

· Financial ability to cover payroll and other operating and administrative expenses.

Provide information related to supporting a cost sharing agreement.

SUBMISSION FORMAT:

Respondents should submit their completed RFP submissions as follows:

Table 2 – Submission Format

Submission Format Quantity Government POC Address

Saaduddin.Khan@faa.gov

NOTES: The electronic submission should be in Microsoft WORD format (.doc/.docx) and Excel (.xls) for cost information. Oral submissions will not be accepted. All questions should be submitted by April 20, 2026. Questions will be addressed in writing by April 30, 2026.

GOVERNMENT POINTS OF CONTACT:

Responses Offerors are encouraged to answer as many applicable questions as possible in Section 4 below. Answers should address their interest in implementing RT technology and the capacity of the airport to support these operations. A respondent may submit more than one capability statement to this RFP if they wish to propose multiple sites for RT installations. These capability statements will assist us in understanding the demand and readiness for RT technology, across different locations.

Preference shall be given to locations with planned/existing infrastructure that supports advanced aviation technologies.

RFP Questions:

Interest and Capability for RT Implementation:

1. Please attach a copy of your Airport Layout Plan (ALP) or a description of your airport which includes location, size, annual number of operations, types of traffic, current air traffic management capabilities, and runway length and configuration. Additionally, please provide some high-level information about the seasonal weather trends at the airport.

2. If an ALP is not submitted, then please provide a brief description of any current or planned major projects at the airport (e.g., runway additions, adding taxiways, hangar construction, etc.). Please include the planned project start dates, end dates, and potential impact to operations.

3. Is there any existing or planned infrastructure, such as fiber-optic connectivity, that could support RT implementation? If so, please describe the infrastructure’s location and capabilities.

4. Are there any other factors that make your airport an advantageous location for RT implementation?

5. What is the estimated level of investment the respondent is able to bring to the project? How much investment does the respondent need from the FAA?

Operational Readiness and Support:

1. Please provide a description of the current airspace classification and operational environment at your airport (e.g., non-towered operations, navigation and communication facilities).

2. Is there a proposed location for the RT control room and supporting server rooms? How much space (sq. ft.) is planned to be available in this location?

3. What are the estimated construction costs to build or modify existing airport infrastructure to support RT implementation? Is there a primary civil engineering support firm that the airport already utilizes for construction projects?

· Note: The FAA will evaluate on a case-by-case basis the support of construction costs.

4. What air traffic services are planned to be offered at the airport (e.g., 9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday – Friday 24 hours, 24/7, etc.)? What is the plan for supporting the RT and its controllers after installation?

5. Are there any plans to join the FAA Contract Tower (FCT) Program? If so, please include the planned timeline for applying to the FCT Program.

6. Are there any other airports or large facilities nearby that could impact RT operations? If so, please include the name and location including driving distance in miles.

· Note: “Impact” in this instance is defined as Mode C Veil requirements, competing for airspace with other airports, or obstructions caused by non-airport facilities.

7. Does the airport have any government, industry, or academic programs or partnerships that could support the implementation of RT technologies?

8. When would the airport be ready to start RT implementation?

9. Please describe how RT technology will impact the safety and growth of future operations at the airport.

Research and Development Opportunities:

1. Have there been any relevant research or testing activities related to RT technologies conducted at or near your airport?

2. Are there current or potential affiliations with any academic institutions or programs related to air traffic management, RT technologies, or related technical fields?

3. Is there a willingness to participate in future FAA research efforts to help advance remote tower technologies?

Evaluation Criteria

The Government will evaluate proposals using a best-value tradeoff approach. The following factors are listed in descending order of importance: (1) Technical Approach and (2) Cost/Price. When combined, the non-cost factors are significantly more important than Cost/Price.

1. Technical Approach The Government will evaluate the Offeror’s proposed technical approach for its overall soundness, feasibility, and effectiveness in meeting the objectives of this agreement. The evaluation will consider the degree to which the proposal demonstrates a clear methodology, risk identification and mitigation strategies, and the ability to successfully execute within the proposed schedule. The Government may also consider the maturity of the proposed solution and its alignment with FAA operational and safety objectives. (Attachment: Airport RFP Eval Criteria)

2. Cost/Price Cost/Price will be evaluated for reasonableness, realism, and overall value to the Government. Proposals offering a higher cost share contribution to the FAA will receive a more favorable evaluation and increased likelihood of selection. The evaluation will consider whether the proposed costs are consistent with the technical approach and reflect a clear understanding of the work to be performed. As this is an OTA agreement, the Government may consider cost realism and price reasonableness using flexible evaluation methods and is not required to conduct a formal cost realism analysis. (Attachment: Airport RFP Eval Criteria) Adjectival Rating System (Non-Cost Factors Only) Non-cost factors will be evaluated using the following adjectival ratings:

a. Outstanding (5) – Proposal demonstrates an exceptional approach and understanding of the requirements, with multiple strengths and minimal or no weaknesses. Risk of unsuccessful performance is very low.

b. Good (4) – Proposal demonstrates a thorough approach and understanding of the requirements, with at least one strength and low to moderate risk.

c. Acceptable (3) – Proposal meets requirements with an adequate approach and understanding. Risk of unsuccessful performance is no worse than moderate.

d. Marginal (2) – Proposal has not demonstrated an adequate approach and/or understanding of the requirements. Risk of unsuccessful performance is high.

e. Unacceptable (1) – Proposal fails to meet requirements and contains one or more deficiencies. Proposal is not awardable.

The Government reserves the right to award without discussions, conduct exchanges with one or more Offerors, or negotiate as necessary. Awards may be made to other than the lowest-priced Offeror if a higher-rated proposal is determined to provide greater overall value to the Government.

The FAA may conduct discussions with one, some or all of the offerors and request Final Proposal Revisions (FPRs). After reviewing offers, the FAA may coordinate a meeting with a remote tower manufacturer to determine the applicable remote tower pricing that will meet the needs of the airport.

Appendix A – Cost Elements

Use the below table to provide the costs (in U.S. dollars) associated with each cost element.

Facility Infrastructure

· Fiber installation

· RT Mast Ex: Sum total of all new construction items

Modify Existing Facility

Lease Facility

Project Management/Engineering

Remote Tower System

SDA Compliant RT (#1.0)

Estimated $4-10 million

Optional RT Components (#2.0)

Site Preparation

Power

Communication

Security

Maintenance

Maintenance and facility support

Item 1.0 is the minimum system configuration required by FAA for SDA compliance. Items 2.0 are optional, as requested or may be needed based on runway configuration/length. Please note that the above table is solely for the equipment and does not cover development and installation of supporting infrastructure such as: mast construction, fiber installation, power requirements, communications equipment, modifications for the RT control room, and facility security.

See Attached Sample Other Transaction Agreement for Expected Terms and Conditions that will be expected for winning offeror(s)

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