Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Research And Commercial Solutions Opening (RCSO) Area Of Interest (AOI) - Complexity Of Systems And Operations
Closed Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- 693KA8-27-T-00003
- Agency
-
Headquarters
Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- PSC
- AS25 Transportation R&D Services; Aerospace Research; Expenses For R&D Facilities And Major Equipment
- Place of performance
- Washington, District of Columbia, United States
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Federal Aviation Administration seeks innovative research and solutions addressing complexity in aviation systems and operations under the RCSO Area of Interest "Complexity of Systems and Operations," with Phase I Research/Solution Briefs due November 2, 2026 and questions due October 19, 2026. All awards will be executed as Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs), not traditional contracts.
Place of performance is Washington, DC. The solicitation is a three-phase competitive process: Phase I requires submission of a Research/Solution Brief (maximum five written pages or fifteen briefing slides); Phase II involves invited pitches from selected respondents; Phase III is a full Request for Proposal. The FAA anticipates approximately 1.5 months between each phase.
The AOI solicits rigorous aviation safety research employing human factors methodologies to characterize contributors to systems, automation, software, operational, and airspace complexity; examine integration effects on pilot and maintainer performance; determine acceptable complexity thresholds; and translate findings into actionable tools. Six research topics are specified: Multiple Dimensions of Complexity, Representation and Allocation of Complexity, Increasing Automation and Complexity, Managing Human Error and Complexity, Airspace Related Complexity, and Aircraft-Air Traffic Control Integration Complexity. Research scope encompasses Part 121, Part 135, Part 91, rotorcraft, AAM/eVTOL, and remote pilot operations. Both foundational and applied research are acceptable.
Total available funding is up to $5 million with multiple awards anticipated; individual award amounts and periods of performance vary by proposal, generally not exceeding 36 months. Cost-sharing is not required. Teaming is encouraged. Evaluation criteria include relevance to the AOI, uniqueness and innovativeness, technical merit, company viability, and feasibility. The Agreements Officer is Chersharon.Y.King@faa.gov. Prototype OTAs may lead to follow-on production contracts or agreements without further competition. The NAICS code is 541715; PSC is AS25.
Notice text
- General Information
This solicitation is for Area of Interest (AOI) Complexity of Systems and Operations under the Broad Agency Announcement BAA-693KA8-26-RCSO - Research And Commercial Solutions Opening (RCSO). Interested parties should review the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) RCSO special posting BAA-693KA8-26-RCSO on SAM.gov in its entirety to obtain the necessary information on the process and evaluation of the RCSO AOI submission.
This RCSO AOI seeks to solicit innovative research/solutions that meet the objectives detailed in Sections 5.1 – 5.6. The term innovative is defined as any technology, process, or method, including research and development that is new as of the date of proposal submission; or any new application of an existing technology, process or method as of the proposal date.
The FAA is not obligated to extend a request for proposal or make an award as a result of this RCSO AOI; all awards are subject to the availability of funds and successful negotiations. This RCSO AOI is not an authorization to begin performance, and in no way obligates the Government for any costs incurred by the Offeror associated with developing a response.
Prior to commencement of any activities associated with performance under this RCSO AOI, the Government will execute a written Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) award signed by the Agreements Officer (AO) with appropriate consideration established. The FAA reserves the right to modify the requirements of this RCSO AOI.
See Attachments for additional information. Interested parties should review the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) RCSO special posting BAA-693KA8-26-RCSO attached and also on SAM.gov in its entirety to obtain the necessary information on the process and evaluation of the RCSO AOI submission.
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