THIS IS NOT A NOTICE OF SOLICIATION. IT IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. In responding to this notice, please refer to “Satellite-based Air Ground Communications Concepts for Air Traffic Services.” Send information/literature/qualification statement no later than August 13, 2004 to the e-mail or postal address as provided herein. NASA does not intend to award a contract based on this information. This RFI is for planning purposes only and to allow industry the opportunity to provide information relative to the goals set forth below. NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) is seeking information about advanced concepts that are based on satellite communications for future air-ground communications systems providing air traffic services (ATS). This RFI is closely associated with the RFI NNC04PRA002L that was posted on June 18, 2004 and closed on July 19, 2004. This RFI focuses on concepts specifically related to the use of communications satellites in providing future air-ground communications in any or all aviation flight segments (surface, terminal, en-route and oceanic). For the purposes of this RFI, ATS includes the following services: separation assurance; air traffic control advisory; traffic management synchronization; navigation; airspace management; emergency and alerting; flight planning; infrastructure/information management; and traffic management strategic flow. Transition to this future system would begin in the 2015 – 2020 time period, and the useful life of the system should be at least 20 to 30 years. The information received from this RFI will be used by NASA GRC in support of a collaborative Future Communications Study between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Eurocontrol. The FAA/Eurocontrol Future Communications Study will help to define and design a global air-ground communications system that provides for world-wide interoperability among all ATS users. The work plan and associated terms of reference for the FAA/Eurocontrol Future Communications Study can be found at http://www.eurocontrol.int/faa-euro/AP-group-meetings/ap17/ap17.htm NASA GRC is responsible for Technical Theme 3 in the Future Communications Study work plan, to investigate new technologies for mobile communication. This RFI is intended to provide input for conducting Task 3.1, Technology Pre-screening. The Advanced Engineering & Sciences Division of ITT Industries, Inc. is under contract to assist NASA GRC in the technology pre-screening task. They and other contractors of NASA and the FAA will have access to the information submitted for the purpose of conducting the technology pre-screening process. NASA GRC seeks information on candidate system solutions for mobile communications that can be used for ATS both domestically and internationally. Both current capabilities (based on existing or planned products) and potential future concepts are encouraged in response to this RFI. Concepts based on terrestrial broadcast, air-to-air relay, and/or satellite relay are acceptable as inputs to the technology pre-screening process. It is desirable that information provided to describe the advanced air-ground communications system concepts include: • A technical description of the system solution including but limited to: air interface; end-to-end latency (pilot-to-controller and controller-to-pilot if asymmetric); ATS communications services provided; protocols; network topology; spectrum required; security features; and any simplifying assumptions needed to meet or exceed the design goals described below. • Areas of expected improvement over current air-ground communications systems for ATS. • Scalability of the system to meet increasing demands and the system’s ultimate total capacity. • A description of the impact (high-level transition plan, schedule and relative cost) on current airborne and ground avionics and infrastructure. • Technical maturity of the system solution, including status of applicable standards, commercial availability of electronics, and estimates of time for infusion into the National Airspace System. The following high-level functional design goals for a mobile air-ground communications system to be used in providing ATS are intended to provide insight into the performance of the current system, and desired characteristics of a future system: • Increase the channel capacity of the current air-ground communications system. • Utilize the VHF aeronautical communications frequency band, or justify the utilization of other aeronautical frequency allocations. • Provide for an orderly and efficient transition from the current VHF communications system. • Provide a mechanism for “real-time” voice, with requisite combined performance in latency and channel access that promotes efficient and effective communications between a controller and the set of aircraft within the controlled airspace. • Provide a mechanism for both addressable and broadcast data functions. • Provide a mechanism to specify various Quality of Service (QoS) classes for data transfer. • Within each QoS class, provide a mechanism for scheduling and prioritizing data delivery. • Include configurable security measures to provide user authentication features. • Provide a mechanism to control multiple sectors in the same geographic area. • Provide aircraft position location capability. Submittal Instructions: 1. Please send relevant literature and information to: E-mail address:
[email protected] NASA-Glenn Research Center Attn: James M. Budinger 21000 Brookpark Road, Mail Stop: 54-6 Cleveland, OH 44135-3191 (216) 433-3496 2. Such information shall include as a minimum, a brief description of your company capabilities, products and services, history, ownership, financial capabilities and other specific information as requested in this RFI. As part of your information package, please include company Technical Point(s) of Contact including address, telephone number and e-mail address. 3. At its discretion, NASA may request further discussions and/or clarification of the information submitted. If agreeable to both parties, such discussions may take place via teleconferencing or on-site visit to NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio at the responder’s expense. If they do occur, discussions will be constrained to a two hour time duration, and will consist of vendor presentations and subsequent discussions of the presented material only. Representatives from NASA and its Contractors, and the FAA and its Contractors, may be present for such discussions. THIS RFI IS ISSUED SOLELY FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION. Contractors of NASA and the FAA that are assisting in the performance of the FAA/Eurocontrol Future Communications Study will have access to the information submitted for the purpose of conducting the technology pre-screening process. Responses to this RFI will not be returned. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with any response to this RFI. THIS SYNOPSIS SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT, NOR WILL THE GOVERNMENT PAY FOR THE INFORMATION SOLICITATED. RESPONDERS WILL NOT BE NOTIFIED OF ANY REVIEWS RESULTING FROM THIS RFI.