The United States Department of Transportation (DOT), Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) is soliciting sources to support the Federal Aviation Administrations (FAA) plans for nationwide implementation of Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B). This latest technology will change the nation's air traffic control system from one that relies on radar technology to a system that uses precise location data from the global satellite network. The FAA expects to install ADS-B ground stations throughout the United States by 2014 while decommissioning a significant number of the FAA's air traffic control radars. Contractor support will involve planning and conducting an efficient flight validation utilizing ADS-B for commercial aviation, analyzing/ recommending safe and efficient airspace changes for commercial aviation that leverage ADS-B technology, and conducting outreach to commercial aviation operators to broaden the acceptance, education and use of ADS-B. The Volpe Center is seeking contractors with demonstrated experience in commercial aviation flight testing and collaborating with the commercial aviation industry. The flight testing shall engage one or more airlines for participation in trials and as applicants for ADS-B implementation. The prospective contractor for this project must: (1) be recognized as an expert in the installation of commercial aviation avionics; (2) have industry wide recognition and working knowledge of ADS-B infrastructure and applications; (3) possess capability to model and simulate airspace changes for commercial aviation assuming ADS-B implementation prior to large scale deployment of ADS-B; (4) have experience with economically viable forward-fit and retrofit solutions for installation of avionics from an air carriers perspective; and (5) have experience conducting commercial aviation flight testing and validation. Interested contractors shall submit a capabilities package demonstrating their past and current experience as described in items (1) ? (5) above. At a minimum, the capability information submission shall include: the contract number; customer (DOD agency, other Government agency, private industry); Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) name, telephone and fax numbers; contract value and type of contract; period of performance; and description of product/services provided. Information provided should be detailed in the area(s) described above so to allow the Government to assess the capabilities of the company to provide ADS-B services. All of the information sought should be conveyed in no more than eight pages. Page size is set at 8.5 X 11 and text should be doubled spaced utilizing 12 point, Times New Roman font. Each response must reference the Sources Sought title. Interested parties are requested to respond to this announcement in writing within 15 days of publication. Telephonic requests will not be honored. Responses shall be sent to the attention of Donna Brickley, Contract Specialist, RTV-6D2, U.S. Department of Transportation, Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, 55 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02142-1093. E-mail responses are also acceptable and may be sent to
[email protected]. THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. This notice is for informational and planning purposes only, and is a market research tool to determine the availability and adequacy of potential business sources prior to determining the method of acquisition and possible issuance of a Request for Proposal including the use of any non-profit organization or small business programs. Information received in response to this notice shall be safeguarded adequately from unauthorized disclosure. Availability of any formal solicitation will be announced separately. This is NOT a Request for Proposal (RFP), Invitation for Bid (IFB), or an announcement of a solicitation, and no solicitation package exists at this time. The sources sought announcement is being issued for informational purposes only. The Government will not pay for any materials provided in response to this synopsis and submittals will not be returned to the sender. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized in the FedBizOpps. For information about the Volpe Center refer to the Volpe Center website at http://www.volpe.dot.gov.