SOLICITATION NOTICE
99 -- Aircraft Weather Observations and Reports Program
- Notice Date
- 5/20/2011
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- Contracting Office
- FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, AJA-47 HQ - FAA Headquarters (Washington, DC)
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- 10751
- Response Due
- 5/31/2011
- Archive Date
- 6/15/2011
- Point of Contact
- michael sheckels, 202-493-5702
- E-Mail Address
-
michael.sheckels@faa.gov
(michael.sheckels@faa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Posting (brief abstract): The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) intends to award a single source, five year contract, including options, to ARINC, 2551 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD 201401. This contract will replace two existing ARINC contracts that provide support to the FAA's Aviation Weather Research Program. The estimated value of this contract is $5.5 million. This announcement is NOT A SCREENING INFORMATION REQUEST (SIR) OR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP). The FAA is not seeking nor accepting unsolicited proposals.In accordance with the FAA Acquisition Management System (AMS), paragraph 3.2.2.4, this announcement is to inform industry of the basis of the FAA's decision to contract with the selected vendor using single source procedures.In order to realize operational efficiencies, achieve cost savings, and streamline contract administration, the FAA intends to combine the services available through two existing contracts with ARINC (Contracts: DTFAWA-06-P-00001 and DTFAWA-06-C-00028) into a single contract. The existing contracts currently provide Meteorological Data Collection and Reporting Services (MDCARS), Daily Measurement of Air Traffic Services (DMATS), delivery of aircraft-measured weather data for the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), and NCAR uplink capability for product dissemination to aircraft in flight. Both contracts expire on September 30, 2011. The FAA has made this single source determination because ARINC is the only respondent to the FAA's October, 15th 2010 market survey, Subject: FAA Aviation Weather Group, Aircraft Weather Observations and Reports Program, that meets the full range and scope of the FAA's requirements. ARINC has been providing the MDCARS downlink and ground processing services since the program's inception in 1989. They are the only known vendor that has the ability to acquire airborne meteorological information from all participating airlines by way of High Frequency, Very High Frequency, or Satellite Communication systems. ARINC is also unique because of its well-established relationships with the airlines participating in the MDCARS program which will help to ensure continuity of services to the FAA without any breaks in operational support. No other vendor has similar type relationships with all program participants. Furthermore, ARINC is the only vendor whose system is compatible with the NCAR software the FAA uses to read, parse, and separate down-linked messages. If another vendor was chosen, NCAR would have to redesign its software to accommodate that vendor. The FAA would have to fund this redesign which could not take place until after a new vendor was established. This would cause a break in operational support while the new software was developed and tested. The FAA would also incur additional costs to modify and/or replace recently installed network hardware that supports the above weather programs. This hardware would have to be modified or replaced if a vendor other than ARINC was put in place. There is currently no funding available to accomplish these potential changes.The FAA regards the critical operational nature of these services paramount to public safety. Procuring them directly through the incumbent service provider is the most effective way to satisfy the FAA's requirements and meet the time constraints inherent in establishing a new contract in place. Pricing will be consistent with the FAA's two previous contracts for these services. A continuation of current ARINC services represents the lowest risk, least cost solution to the Government.The FAA will not pay for any information or any costs associated with any response to this announcement. This announcement is for informational purposes only and is not a Solicitation/Request for Proposal. A competitive solicitation is not available for this procurement. Any questions regarding this announcement should be directed to Todd Pennington, Contracting Officer, at 202-493-5960 or by email at todd.pennington@faa.gov by 06/01/2011.Attachments:none
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOT/FAA/HQ/10751/listing.html)
- Record
- SN02453283-W 20110522/110520234741-6a3f3b9b8f96734852a7dc513d87ee25 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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