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FAA RFI RESULTS

FAA-NEXCOM-V3-MS-03-R2

This update to FAA-NEXCOM-V3-MS-03-R1 provides the FAA responsed to industry questions and an updated Product Description for the Nexcom Version 3 (V3 ) procurement. Previous market surveys were conducted and used by the FAA to further refine the Draft Screening Information Request (SIR) materials. The updates to the Market Survey Results included in this announcement are in accordance with FAA Acquisition Management System (AMS) Section 3.2.1.2.1.

1. Clarifying items for RFI results and updated Product Description:

a) In the latest draft NEXCOM V3 Radio Product Description (PD), v2.3 (dated 1/26/2023), there are 12 shall requirements shaded in gray highlight. This indicates that for the purposes of the V3 Radio procurement evaluation they will not be evaluated; however, it is noted that these “shalls” will be compulsory after contract award, if they are applicable to the awardee’s proposed design.

b) The FAA is working to finalize its Section L instructions and Section M evaluation criteria. While the full details and context of the NEXCOM V3 Radio PD requirements’ priorities are still under FAA reviews, an aspect that can be shared at this time is a draft listing of the shalls and shoulds that for the purposes of the NEXCOM V3 Radio procurement evaluation will be considered High Priority Shalls and High Priority Shoulds. You can find the listing of these requirements in the table at the end of the attached file: NEXCOM V3_FAA Responses to Vendor Questions_20230127.

c) Requirements in the NEXCOM V3 Radio Product Description (PD), v2.3 (dated 1/26/2023), to include evaluated and non-evaluated Shalls and Shoulds and prioritization of the Shalls and Shoulds are not definitive and are subject to change.

2. List of Attachments:

• 693KA8-23-R-000XX_NEXCOM V3_Attachment J01_PD_v2.3_20230126


• NEXCOM V3_FAA Responses to Vendor Questions_20230127

3. The FAA is not requesting responses to this notice. If any vendor provides responses to this notice, they may be used for FAA informational and FAA planning purposes only. The FAA is not seeking or accepting unsolicited proposals. This is not a SIR or Request for Proposals (RFP) of any kind.

4. Any inquiries are to be submitted in electronic format (email) to the Contracting Officer, Alessha Mason at alessha.m.mason@faa.gov.

FAA RFI RESULTS

FAA-NEXCOM-V3-MS-03-R1

Description

1. Introduction/Purpose

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has a planned future requirement for NEXt generation air/ground (A/G) COMmunications (NEXCOM) System Ultra High Frequency (UHF) and Very High Frequency (VHF) radios.

The FAA requires A/G voice communications links to provide Air Traffic Control (ATC) services to all classes of National Airspace System (NAS) users. These links support all phases of flight including en route, terminal approach control, flight service and terminal space-based ground movements; departures and arrivals. The UHF/VHF radios are used to ensure aircraft separation, transmit instructions and clearances, permit hand-offs, provide weather services and pilot reports (PIREPs), and communicate with Automated Flight Service Stations (AFSSs). Civilian aircraft, including air carrier and general aviation, are served in the VHF band while Department of Defense (DOD) aircraft are served in the UHF band.

The NEXCOM Radio Program will replace current UHF/VHF ground-based analog radios at Remote Center Air/Ground (RCAG) and Backup Emergency Communications (BUEC) facilities supporting en route communications.

NEXCOM Version 3 (V3) radios will operate using the current 25 kHz channel-spacing assignment in their respective radio frequency (RF) bands. Each radio band will support signal-in-space communications using a double sideband-amplitude modulation (DSB-AM) waveform. The VHF radios will also have frequency tuning capabilities to operate on 8.33 kHz channel-spacing assignments in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) defined standards.

NEXCOM V3 radios will be physically compatible with today’s existing NAS equipment, will be equipped with a legacy analog audio interface(s) as well as an ED-137C compliant Internet Protocol (IP)-based audio interface(s) supporting future NAS gateway subsystems and components.

2. Nature of Market Survey Results

Previous market surveys (i.e., FAA-NEXCOM-V3-MS-01 and FAA-NEXCOM-V3-MS-02) were conducted and used by the FAA to further refine the Draft Screening Information Request (SIR) materials. The Market Survey Results included in this announcement are in accordance with FAA Acquisition Management System (AMS) Section 3.2.1.2.1.

The following Market Survey Results and information are intended to assist interested vendors for planning purposes, prior to the release of the NEXCOM V3 Radio Final SIR:

• Feedback received from vendors has refined FAA requirements and resulted in the latest draft version of NEXCOM V3 UHF/VHF Radio Product Description (PD) Attachment J01 v1.5 dated June 15, 2022.


• Per feedback received from vendors, Government Furnished Speech Samples that relate to PD sections 3.2.2.1.12 (Receiver Average Audio Output) and 3.2.2.2.4 (Transmitter AM Modulation Level) are attached. These are the same speech samples that will be issued with the NEXCOM V3 Radio Final SIR.


• Section 3.2.3.1.1 has made clarifications on Maintenance Data Terminal Software (MDTS) requirements with respect to secure web-browser requirements and SNMPv3 requirements.


• The FAA will be specifying the version of the VOTER tool in the Final SIR. The latest VOTER tool patch (e.g., 4.1.30.1 ver 20220510) now contains verification for the “Contact Header” information that is not allowed (and has never been allowed) in the Final 200 OK to the BYE in accordance with ED-137C Volume 1, Table 4. This verification was not present in any previous VOTER tool patches, or controlled releases of the VOTER tool, and would cause most of the test cases to deliver inconclusive or fail final verdict results for vendor systems that incorrectly provide their contact information in the final 200 OK to the BYE (i.e., the VOTER tool patches now check for it). Depending on the timing of the EUROCONTROL’s next controlled release of the VOTER tool, that controlled release version or a recent VOTER patch (e.g., 4.1.30.1 ver 20220510) will be selected as the VOTER tool version to be used for the FAA Operational Capabilities Test (OCT) evaluation, and either option will have the contact header verification. Interested vendors are advised to review their software in order to prevent avoidable VOTER tool failures.


• Regarding the Buy America Act and the Buy American Preference, the FAA does not intend to include any AMS clauses in the NEXCOM V3 Radio Final SIR. Instead, the NEXCOM V3 Radio Final SIR will include a distinct Manufacturing Factor which will be part of the FAA’s best value trade-off analysis and determination. Offerors will certify as part of their offer, in a Section K certification, the country they will manufacture each V3 radio end product for the life of the contract. The contract will have a Section H clause requiring compliance with the Section K certification. The Offeror-provided information in the Section K certification will be used in the FAA’s best value trade-off analysis, such that manufacturing each end product (i.e., completing final assembly of all V3 radio components) in the United States is preferred.

3. RFI Market Survey Results Objectives:

The FAA is not requesting or expecting responses to the Market Survey Results. If any vendor provides unrequested responses, they may be used for FAA informational and FAA planning purposes only and will not be released.

1. The FAA Market Survey Results are intended to help vendors plan for a future NEXCOM V3 Radio SIR anticipated for release in the third quarter of calendar year 2022. This is not a SIR or Request for Proposals (RFP) of any kind;


2. The FAA is not seeking or accepting unsolicited proposals;


3. Given that the FAA is providing an updated NEXCOM V3 UHF/VHF Radio PD, based on previous market survey inputs, to help vendors plan for a future NEXCOM V3 Radio SIR, the FAA may not respond to any comments, questions, or other feedback received from interested parties;


4. The FAA has the option of conducting one-on-one communications, or radio product demonstrations, as deemed appropriate without the obligation to hold communications with all respondents;


5. Providing a response to these Market Survey Results, where no response is requested or expected, neither qualifies respondents for, nor excludes respondents from, responding to the resulting SIR, if any;


6. Respondent participation in any informational session is not a promise of future business with the FAA;


7. The FAA will not pay for any information received or costs incurred in preparing any response to these Market Survey Results;


8. Any costs associated with these Market Survey Results is solely at the interested vendor’s expense; and


9. All information received will become the property of the FAA unless otherwise marked.

4. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code

The FAA has tentatively identified North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) Code 334220 - Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing as applicable to this procurement. The size standard for this NAICS code is 1,250 employees. Respondents may recommend other appropriate NAICS codes for FAA consideration.

5. Submittal Requirements for Market Survey Results

None.

6. Delivery of Submittals

Not applicable.

Any inquiries are to be submitted in electronic format (email) to Mr. Jorge Martell at Jorge.R.Martell@faa.gov. Please include the Market Survey Results title in the e-mail submission.

7. List of Attachments-

• 693KA8-22-R-000xx_NEXCOMV3_Attachment J01_PD_v1.5_2022_0615_DRAFT


• NEXCOM V3 Radio_Government Furnished Speech Samples


• FAA Specification -FAA -G2100J

Attachments/Links