The Voice Switch By-Pass Systems (VSBP) are used in Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) facilities and Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facilities, operated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Defense (DOD). The VSBP is a backup voice switch that terminal controllers can use to stay in communication with pilots if there is a failure in the primary voice switch installed in their facility. The purpose of this notice is to: Identify interested and capable sources who can provide sustainment support services, including providing Contractor Depot Logistics Support (CDLS) services and establishing and maintaining a Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) program for over two hundred and thirty (230) already fielded VSBP systems through 2032. Identify interested and capable sources who can provide hardware, program and logistics support services to produce, integrate, test, and deliver up to twenty (20) new VSBP systems through 2032. Notify industry of the FAA’s continuing requirement for Air Traffic Controllers to gain immediate emergency access and control over FAA furnished Very High Frequency (VHF) and Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) radio receiver/transmitters and associated signaling systems during an unplanned primary voice switch outage or failure. Request responses from vendors who believe they are currently capable, or will be capable by, July 15, 2021 12: 00 pm EDT , of providing the equipment and services described above for the VSBP. Disclaimer This is not a Screening Information Request (SIR) or a Request for Proposal (RFP). The FAA is not seeking or accepting unsolicited proposals. The FAA is seeking interested sources that are capable of fulfilling the FAA’s requirements. In accordance with A.M.S. Policy 3.2.1.2.1, this market survey is to solicit statements of interest and capabilities from interested business concerns. This market survey also seeks to identify potential vendors for this work, including groups of business teams. For questions about FAA’s acquisition policies, please visit https://fast.faa.gov, which provides the FAA’s Acquisition Management System (AMS) Policy and Guidance as well as provisions and clauses used by the FAA in its acquisitions. Participation in this market survey is voluntary and respondents may choose to respond to all or some of the request. Submissions in response to this market survey announcement must be relevant to the subject of the market survey and the survey questions. Responses will be reviewed by U.S. Government employees and a limited number of Government support contractors working under non-disclosure agreements. Background The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is conducting a market survey to identify interested and capable sources who can: Provide sustainment support services for VSBP. Provide CDLS for over two hundred and thirty (230) already fielded VSBP systems supporting multiple positions at each site. Build, integrate, test, and deliver up to twenty (20) new VSBP systems for newly constructed ATC facilities through 2032. Establish and maintain a DMSMS program to resolve component parts obsolescence for already fielded and to be fielded VSBP systems. Hughey & Phillips currently assembles, integrates, tests and delivers VSBP systems for newly constructed Towers and TRACONs and provides support services including program, configuration and quality management, technical support and engineering support to resolve technical issues, and CDLS services. The vendor also sustains already fielded VSBP systems. Hughey & Phillips provides these services under contract DTFAWA-12-C-00025which was competitively awarded in February 27, 2012 with a ten (10) year period of performance. The current contract, DTFAWA-12-C-00025, expires on August 26, 2022. The current VSBP has passed all In-Service requirements and operates under an approved National Aerospace System (NAS) baseline. The emergency A/G connectivity provided by the VSBP system enables air traffic controllers, using designated ATC positions equipped with VSBP jack boxes, to establish and maintain communications with aircraft during an unplanned voice switching outage or failure. The VSBP connections to A/G communications resources are made by way of interfaces to government furnished distribution frames or other distribution points. Each current VSBP equipment shelf supports up to four (4) jack boxes and provides push-to-talk signaling, antenna switching options, and interconnection to facility demarcation, including connection to the facility legal recorder. Each equipment shelf can be configured to three (3) circuit types: Type 1 enables one operator to communicate on one specific frequency Type 2 enables one operator to communicate on two specific frequencies Type 3 enables two operators to communicate on one specific frequency The following are general capabilities and requirements of the VSBP system: The VSBP must be totally independent of the voice switch system. The VSBP must provide direct connectivity between the controller and the air/ground radio equipment for the primary frequency(s) assigned to that operator position. The VSBP must be activated by a positive action of the controller. Automatic by-pass activation must not occur. The VSBP must provide a Push-to-Talk (PTT) signal compatible with the PTT requirements of the interfacing primary radio system (local or remote). The VSBP must provide an audio path (transmit and receive) compatible with the audio requirements of the interfacing primary radio system (local or remote). The VSBP must be capable of manual reassignment and connection of radios to positions (e.g., reconfigurable by interface patch panel). The VSBP must provide an interface compatible with the facility recorder system. Continued operation of existing VSBP systems and the delivery of VSBP systems for newly constructed FAA towers and TRACONs must continue, as it is intrinsic to the mission of the FAA, to ensure that critical voice communications between controllers and pilots remain uninterrupted in the event of a primary voice switching failure or outage. An unplanned voice switch failure or outage, and no emergency A/G voice communication restoration capability available, could result in delays in aircraft departure and arrivals, create airspace congestion, and negatively impact on the flying public’s safety. The vendor’s product must provide this needed A/G voice connectivity in an emergency. Instructions for Submittals The Government welcomes industry responses from vendors who believe they are currently capable, or will be capable by July 15, 2021 12:00 pm EDT to provide sustainment services for fielded systems, establish a DMSMS program, and manufacture and sustain up to twenty (20) new VSBP systems through 2032. Responses must provide evidence of the vendor’s capability to support, what the FAA understands to be, proprietary systems and at a minimum must address: How you would meet the technical requirements and provide the services and include in your response any descriptions or data sheets of your pre-existing products that either meet or could be modified to meet the requirements in the Technical Description? If your service and/or product needs modification, address the magnitude of the modification in equipment, time and effort. Demonstrate your ability to manufacture, deliver and sustain new VSBP systems to up to twenty (20) new ATC facilities over the next ten (10) years, perform engineering and technical support services to resolve onsite technical issues, while maintaining the approved operational configuration baseline. Illustrate your ability to provide technical data in manuals, drawings, bulletins, specifications and processes which will allow full support of the systems. Demonstrate your ability to produce Form, Fit and Function (3F) compatible components, parts and assemblies. Illustrate your knowledge and capability to provide integrated logistics resources to already fielded VSBP systems including Contractor Depot Logistics Support including Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) including Life of Type Buys (LOTBs), failure summary analysis, and restoration of hardware to serviceable condition. Demonstrate engineering expertise with an understanding of the technologies and architecture of the VSBP system. Responses must be submitted via e-mail to: Elizabeth Williams Contracting Officer, AFN/AAQ-320
[email protected] The email subject line must include the beta.SAM announcement number followed by the company name. Individual e-mail message size (i.e., email body text plus any attachments) must not exceed 10 MB. If more than one email is required to complete a respondent’s submission, then in email subject header following the company name, state which submission in the sequence is contained in the given email and the total number of email submissions being made by respondent (i.e., Email 1 of 2, Email 3 of 3, etc.) Industry feedback will be considered in the preparation of the acquisition strategy. No comments, questions, or inquiries shall be made to any Government person other than the point of contact identified. The Government is not responsible for any cost incurred by industry in responding to this notice. Submission of electronic files on digital data storage media (i.e., Blu-ray, DVD or CD; flash drives) will NOT be accepted. All submissions in response to this announcement must be in writing and are due by 12:00 PM EDT on July 15, , 2021 (15 days after release). Telephone calls or paper submissions will not be accepted. Comments and questions on the Market Survey are not considered part of the response submission. Responses must be submitted in electronic format according to the format guidelines below. Electronic copies must be provided in Microsoft Office or Adobe PDF (portable document file) format. Submissions must include company point(s) of contact, title(s), telephone number(s), email address(es) and mailing address. Responses will not be returned. Any proprietary or confidential information contained in the market survey submissions must be appropriately marked. All costs associated with the preparation or submission of responses is the responsibility of the potential source. The U.S. Government will not pay for any information received or costs incurred in preparing the response to the market survey. Any cost associated with the market survey submission, therefore, is solely at the interested vendor’s expense.