V3241200_-_SOW.doc

Procurement Request No. V3241200

STATEMENT OF WORK

Aircraft and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Performance and Certification Support

BACKGROUND

The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Operations (OPS) Program and Research and Development (RE&D) Program of the Office of Environment and Energy (AEE) are key components of the FAA’s environment and energy strategy. These Programs advance FAA AEE’s understanding of aviation noise and emissions at their source, how they propagate and are modified in the atmosphere, and their ultimate health and welfare impacts on the population – both near airports and much farther afield. This knowledge is then incorporated into an integrated aviation environmental tool suite that can be used to evaluate the full breadth of environmental mitigation solutions that are being developed. The aviation environmental tool suite is built upon a sound scientific understanding of aviation noise and emissions as well as their environmental, health, and welfare impacts. These Programs use these models and knowledge to inform decision-making on technology development, operational procedures, and policies relating to aviation’s energy use and environmental impacts.

The Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) has supported the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in developing software tools that allow for thorough assessment of the environmental effects of aircraft. The main goals of the current effort are to advance the current tools, and expand the corresponding databases. The Volpe Center is seeking an expert analyst on aircraft performance and noise modeling software who is qualified to research the development of tools and code to support aircraft performance data processing. Specific Tasks 1-5 are detailed below.

REQUIREMENTS

The qualifications of the Contractor expert analyst on aircraft performance and noise modeling software shall meet the following requirements:

· Available to start immediately

· Hold an FAA private pilot certificate with an instrument rating, at minimum

· Hold an FAA remote pilot certificate

· Demonstrate experience with Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) noise flight testing

· Demonstrate familiarity with noise certification data, procedures and issues

· Demonstrate experience with AEDT Aircraft Noise and Performance (ANP) data sources and data review

· Demonstrate experience with EUROCONTROL’s Base of Aircraft Data (BADA), Versions 3x and 4x

TASKS

Analyst Support Several projects in Volpe’s aviation portfolio require the assistance of an analyst well-versed in aircraft performance and the FAA’s Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT) performance and acoustic algorithms. This includes a familiarity with AEDT and other FAA tools and processes used for noise certification and aircraft noise and performance data review. The Volpe Center requires immediate access to supplemental contractor analyst staff in the efforts described under Tasks 1 and 2 below. This analyst support, estimated at one senior analyst estimated at a 100% level of effort, shall be capable of providing the support described below immediately after award from date of award through December 15, 2019. Award will be for time/materials, with an initial 480 hours funded. Three (3) subsequent options will be available for an additional 480 hours each. Travel will also be funded by 10 additional options (one option per trip).

Extensive travel is expected for the performance of Tasks 1-5, to up to one (1) site scoping visits (Task 1A), up to twelve (12) noise tests (Tasks 1B, 2C), and up to two (2) meetings (Task 5), all within the continental US. These trips will be optional per the Deliverables table below. The Contractor analyst will be notified of the location and dates of these trips no less than 15 days ahead of the start date.

A monthly status report is required for Tasks 1-5, including deliverable progress, issues, lessons learned, and recommendations. No travel is expected for project management, though participation in weekly teleconferences will be required.

Unless otherwise stated, all reports will be delivered by email to the project Points of Contact (POC), listed below, in MS Word format.

Task 1: Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) National Airspace Integration Pilot Program (IPP) support

Task 1A. Flight test planning support

The Volpe Center and FAA are working to facilitate the integration of UAS into the National Airspace System (NAS). Several organizations have been selected by FAA to participate in a pilot program which allows these operators to be exempt from some existing limitations on the use of UAS. As part of the agreement between FAA and these operators, Volpe will perform noise measurements and recordings of these aircraft at the individual IPP sites around the U.S. The contractor will help Volpe staff with planning and developing noise flight tests at FAA-designated IPP sites. The Contractor analyst will use experience with manned and unmanned flight tests to develop flight test plan reports. This may include participation in up to one (1) site scoping visit.

The deliverable for this task will be one (1) flight test plan report on UAS noise flight tests conducted at IPP sites by Volpe staff.

Travel may be required under this task to up to one (1) site scoping visit within the continental US, for a duration of one (1) day. The Contractor analyst will be notified of the location and dates of this travel no less than 15 days ahead of the start date.

Task 1B. Flight test support

The Contractor analyst will support up to six (6) UAS noise flight tests at FAA-designated IPP sites. The Contractor analyst will act as Flight Test Director and use experience with manned and unmanned flight tests to assist Volpe staff in performing the flight testing, data collection, and reporting of results.

The deliverable for this task will be leading and assisting with noise flight tests, analyses of the test results, and documentation of results in up to six (6) noise flight test reports.

Travel may be required for this task to up to six (6) noise flight test locations within the continental US, for a duration of three (3) days per test. The Contractor analyst will be notified of the location and dates of this travel no less than 15 days ahead of the start date.

Task 2: UAS Noise Certification support Task 2A. Data analysis support

The Volpe Center is supporting FAA’s work on integrating UAS operations into the NAS. Much of this work is focused on assisting FAA with the development of appropriate noise certification standards. The contractor shall support Volpe staff by providing data analysis and field measurement services. The contractor shall use their experience with operations in the NAS as both a licensed pilot and a remote pilot to inform the data analysis process.

The deliverable for this task will be a technical report in MS Word format.

No travel will be required under this task.

Task 2B. Flight test planning support

The contractor will help Volpe staff with planning and developing flight tests in support of FAA noise certification of UAS vehicles. The contractor will use their experience with manned and unmanned flight tests to assist Volpe staff in the development of flight test plan reports. This will not require any additional site scoping visits.

The deliverable for this task will be six (6) flight test plan reports on selected UAS noise flight tests.

No travel will be required under this task.

Task 2C. Flight test support

The contractor will help Volpe staff with conducting UAS noise flight tests in support of FAA certification of UAS vehicles. This may include the role of Test Director. The contractor will use their experience with manned and unmanned flight tests to assist Volpe staff in the organization and performance of flight testing, data collection, and reporting of results.

The deliverable for this task will be leading and assisting with noise flight tests, analyses of the test results, and documentation of results in up to six (6) noise flight test reports.

Travel may be required for this task to up to six (6) noise flight test locations within the continental US, for a duration of three (3) days per test. The Contractor analyst will be notified of the location and dates of this travel no less than 15 days ahead of the start date.

Task 2D. UAS noise certification standards development support

The contractor shall support development of recommendations for UAS noise certification standards. Any development of such recommendations for standards will be coordinated with FAA staff at the Office of Environment and Energy and with the responsible FAA Noise Certification Specialist.

The deliverable for this task will be support in the development of reports on UAS noise certification standards by Volpe staff, via email and document review.

No travel is anticipated for this task.

Task 2E. UAS noise metric development and evaluation support

The contractor shall assist Volpe staff with the development of candidates for UAS noise certification metrics. Any development of such candidate metrics will be coordinated with FAA staff at the Office of Environment and Energy and with the responsible FAA Noise Certification Specialist.

The deliverable for this task will be input to candidate UAS noise certification metrics being prepared by Volpe staff, sent via email and document review.

No travel is anticipated for this task.

Task 3: Aviation Modeling Support Task 3A. Aircraft performance modeling support

The Volpe Center is supporting FAA’s continuing development and enhancement of the Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT). Part of this development will include the expansion of EUROCONTROL’s Base of Aircraft Data family 4 (BADA4) to include user defined profiles to enhance AEDT’s capabilities of high fidelity aircraft performance modeling. In addition to the fixed-wing performance modeling improvements due to the incorporation of BADA4, FAA is also examining the benefits of moving away from the current mode-based helicopter performance model to a physics-based performance model.

The Contractor analyst shall support this aircraft performance modeling task by performing the following sub-tasks:

· Assist with the development of user-defined aircraft performance profiles using BADA4;

· Assist with the development of helicopter physics-based performance modeling; and

· Attend weekly AEDT teleconferences.

The deliverable for this task will be monthly aircraft performance modeling reports and weekly meeting minutes.

No travel is anticipated for this task.

Task 3B. Modeling Sensitivities support

The contractor shall evaluate modifications to the AEDT model by conducting sensitivities studies on changes made to new versions of the model by the developers. The contractor shall also support modeling sensitivity studies conducted by Volpe staff. The sensitivity studies may include fuel consumption, emissions, and noise analyses.

The deliverable for this task will be monthly aircraft environmental modeling sensitivity reports.

No travel is anticipated for this task.

Task 3C. Noise modeling algorithms support

The contractor shall support aviation noise modeling algorithm development. Changes and improvements to the underlying aircraft performance models will change the resultant noise modeling. Any changes which will affect the noise modeling results must be understood and documented before they are implemented in AEDT. The contractor shall work with Volpe staff to ensure scientifically accurate noise modeling algorithms which interface with the advanced performance models are implemented in AEDT.

The deliverable for this task will be a draft and final report on noise modeling algorithm development.

No travel is anticipated for this task.

Task 3D. National Parks modeling support

The Volpe Center supports the National Parks Service (NPS) and FAA by providing aviation environmental modeling services to individual Parks and the Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division of the NPS. The Contractor analyst shall support the Volpe Center by providing aviation environmental modeling expertise on National Parks issues.

The deliverable for this task will be a draft and final report on NPS modeling services.

No travel is anticipated for this task.

Task 4: Aircraft Noise and Performance Data (ANP) Verification and Validation (V&V) support

The Volpe Center is supporting FAA’s work on expanding and updating the AEDT aircraft noise and performance database. Much of this work is focused on assisting FAA with the review of ANP data for specific aircraft submitted for inclusion in AEDT. The contractor analyst shall support Volpe staff in the analysis and review of ANP data submittals, and assist with the review documentation.

The deliverable for this task will be support in developing ANP testing and data reports on selected aircraft data submittals conducted by Volpe staff and others. Note: The format of the testing results will be in AEDT SQL backup files (.bak) and MS Excel spreadsheets. The format of the report(s) shall be in MS Word documents.

No travel is anticipated for this task.

Task 5: Helicopter Does Response support

The Volpe Center is supporting FAA’s work plan for making improvements to various aspects of accounting for helicopter noise including source definitions, effects on communities and modeling of noise due to helicopter operations. The contractor shall support Volpe staff by providing expert knowledge in the modeling of helicopter noise. The contractor shall use experience with operations in the NAS as both a licensed pilot and a remote pilot to inform the data analysis process.

The deliverable for this task is attendance at up to two (2) meetings, within the continental US, each up to two (2) days in duration. The Contractor analyst will be notified of the location and dates of this meeting travel no less than 15 days ahead of the start date.

TRAVEL

Extensive travel is expected for the performance of Tasks 1-5, to up to one (1) site scoping visit (Task 1A), up to twelve (12) noise tests (Tasks 1B, 2C), and up to two (2) meetings (Task 5), all within the continental US. All travel performed under this Purchase order must be approved by the technical POC and shall be performed in accordance with Federal Travel Regulations (FTR). The actual costs for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses will be considered reasonable and allowable if they do not exceed the maximum per diem rates in effect at the time of travel as set forth in the FTR. In accordance with FAR Subpart 31.205-46, a written justification must be provided to the technical POC for amounts higher than the FTR maximum amounts. Travel will be reimbursed at actual costs (with a copy of the receipts for expenses) in the following categories:

1.) Airline Tickets (commercial rates)

2.) Hotel Expenses (Government rates unless pre-approved by the CO)

3.) All Other Modes of Transportation (Taxi receipts are not required if less than $75.00)

Food and other miscellaneous expenses will be reimbursed at the prevailing FTR reimbursement rates.

Total travel costs for this project support to the Volpe Center shall not exceed $28,600.

DELIVERABLES AND PERFORMANCE

All work will be completed by December 15, 2019, under the work schedule provided below.

0500 (option) Not to Exceed $1,000

0600 (option)

Not to Exceed $2,000

0700 (option)

Not to Exceed $2,000

0800 (option)

Not to Exceed $2,000

0900 (option)

Not to Exceed $2,000

1000 (option)

Not to Exceed $2,000

1100 (option)

Not to Exceed $2,000

1200 (option)

Not to Exceed $2,000

1300 (option)

Not to Exceed $2,000

1400 (option)

Not to Exceed $2,000

1500 (option)

Not to Exceed $2,000

1600 (option)

Not to Exceed $2,000

1700 (option)

Not to Exceed $2,000

1800 (option)

Not to Exceed $1,800

1900 (option)

Not to Exceed $1,800

Acceptance Criteria

To be accepted, deliverables shall be emailed to the project technical POCs, Clay Reherman, at clay.reherman@dot.gov, and Eric Boeker, at eric.boeker@dot.gov. The deliverables will be reviewed by the Government for compliance with the SOW, timeliness, and format to determine acceptability. The POC will acknowledge acceptance of each deliverable by email.