REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: AERONAUTICAL DATA LINK SERVICES DUE 100996. POC: Contracting Officer, Melda Dyer, Telephone 202-358-4970. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering leased Aeronautical Data Link services for Air Traffic and Airline Operations messaging within the National Air Space (NAS). This includes all air-ground and ground-ground communications. The FAA invites all interested parties to submit their concepts and strategy for implementing such services in the next five to ten years. The intent is to take advantage of the commercial investment in the technologies and infrastructure of the general telecommunications industry to lower NAS communications installation, operations and maintenance expenditures as well as improve the quality of service. These submissions should concentrate on both broadcast and two-way voice and data communications among commercial pilots, Air Traffic Control and Airline Operations. Lower cost options for the General Aviation community also should be considered and provided, if feasible. In addition, submissions should consider technology options like Multi-band, Multi-Mode, Software Radios which facilitate a multi-vendor services market. Interoperability among all proposers' solutions will be mandated if a leased service option is approved and implemented. Innovation in addressing spectrum and current service transition issues is encouraged. All reasonable submissions will be considered. Submissions should address the following aspects of the system service: (1) Communications system characterization and performance: At a minimum, the following system aspects should be considered: data integrity (including anti-spoofing), link security (including anti-jam), latency, dynamic through-put changes, robust mobile network protocols, link diversity, availability, expandability, upgradability, reliability, maintainability, commercial practices and standards, and spectrum use. (2) Schedule and Strategy for providing Services: This should include geography, spectrum and altitude considerations. (3) Service Life Cycle: At a minimum, the following should be provided: first order analyses on service charge structure, installation, and operations and maintenance costs. Both airborne and ground equipment should be addressed. Solutions taking advantage of existing commercial infrastructure, e.g. towers, and services are encouraged if they lower costs to the FAA and the Users. All submitted material will be evaluated by personnel from the AND-600/650, the FAA Technical Center, and the Center for Advanced Aviation Systems Development (CAASD) at The MITRE Corporation in McLean, Virginia. Authorized points of contact to resolve issues and answer questions of FAA/CAASD personnel, at no cost to the Government, are requested. The Government will not pay for submissions. Approval and points of contact for interaction between FAA/CAASD personnel and submitters, at no cost to the government, is requested to resolve issues and clarify points. Electronic submission in Microsoft Word 6.0 is encouraged, but not required. Proprietary material should be clearly marked. Submissions should be made no later than 3 weeks after publication of this RFI September 21, 1996. Electronic submissions should be made to e-mail address ``adlie@mitre.org.'' Submission by regular mail should use the following address: The MITRE Corporation, 1820 Dolly Madison Blvd., Mail Stop W309, McLean VA 22102, Attn. Worth Kirkman. Please call either Dr. Larry B. Stotts, AND-600, FAA, (202) 267-3320; Mr. Worth Kirkman, MITRE/CAASD, (703) 883-7082; or Mr. Doyle Peed, MITRE/CAASD, (703) 883-5871, if you have any questions or concerns. The Contracting Officer is Melda Dyer (202) 358-4970. Additional information, contacts for questions, and examples of communications systems requirements, including the Data Link Operational Requirements Document, are available from the Data Link Alternatives Home Page located at ``http://www.caasd.org/rfi/datalink''. Information about on-going Data Link activities by the FAA, CAASD, MIT/LL and Industry is available at the FAA's Data Link Home Page located at ``http://www.faa.gov/and/and300/datalink.htm''. The information available at this site can provide useful background and guidance. A primary motivation of this RFI is to expedite realizing a data link communications infrastructure; therefore, adherence to specific designs and approaches identified on the Data Link Home Page are not required. The focus is to meet the FAA's performance specifications only through innovative designs, techniques and strategies.

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