Based on discussions both within and outside the FAA, we have decided that there was a need for some type of straight forward guide to describe some of the different ways that the FAA awards contracts. We have tried to consolidate a great deal of information on the subject into one Internet site with links to other sites which go into greater detail. We would be interested in receiving your comments about this site.
The FAA is organized into a headquarters office, two centers and nine regional offices.
FAA's Washington headquarters is responsible for agency-wide program planning, direction, control and evaluation. Most national equipment acquisitions and research and development (R&D) contracts are awarded by this office. Some of the equipment includes complete navigational aid systems, radar network systems, display units, aircraft, aircraft landing and aircraft traffic control systems, and computers with supporting software. In addition, contracts are awarded for services in support of national programs to include engineering and program management as well as very specialized fields in which FAA does not possess in-house expertise. Finally, day-to-day operating supplies are purchased throughout headquarters.
FAA R&D contracts range from applied research studies to the demonstrations and testing of new hardware. Research studies cover such subjects as automating air traffic control (both Terminal and En route) weather research, and allocating airspace to prevent collisions. The hardware portion of the R&D program includes experimental equipment in the computer, communications, radar, navigational aids, and test equipment areas.
FAA regulatory and air traffic control functions are carried out in approximately 1,000 staffed facilities throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Marshall Islands. FAA also maintains approximately 23,000 facilities in the National Airspace System (NAS).
The nine regions are responsible for performing the FAA's field operations within their assigned geographic boundaries. The FAA regional offices award A&E construction contracts for such projects as installation of a complete system involving access roads, security fencing, towers, buildings, and the actual installation of a navigational or landing aid system. These construction contracts may range up to several million dollars. The regional offices also buy operating supplies, maintenance, and spare parts for emergency repairs of FAA facilities within their regional boundaries.
The Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City requirements include purchasing of parts and services needed to maintain and upgrade the air navigation and communications equipment in the NAS, specialized support for the FAA medical research offices, parts support for the Agency's aircraft, training support contracts for air traffic controllers, technicians, and flight inspection pilots, acquisition of automated systems, facility management, leasing of land and facilities and managing of personal property. The Aeronautical Center has the only acquisition division in the FAA to attain ISO-9002 certification.
The Technical Center located in Atlantic City is the national scientific test base for FAA research, development and acquisition programs. Center activities involve test and evaluation in air traffic control, communications, navigation, airports and aircraft safety and security. Activities involve long-range development of innovative systems and concepts, development of new equipment and software and in service modifications of existing systems. The Technology Transfer and the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Programs are coordinated through the Office of Knowledge Management.
The most direct way to do business with us is through a contract between your firm and FAA. When we need something that we think will cost at least $100,000, one of our contracting officers notifies the business community by advertising on the Internet. We make notification even if we believe there is only one qualified vendor and are proposing a "single source" award. We advertise prospective contracts on this page. See left menu sidebar for options. You can check this site frequently, or you can ask us to send you an electronic mail message whenever a new advertisement is posted. Our prospective contracting opportunities also appear on the Government-wide site at http://www.fedbizopps.gov/.
Many of our larger contracts allow for some support from subcontractors. You should market your capabilities to other vendors who might have subcontracting opportunities. Usually firms make subcontractor agreement before bidding. We do not designate specific firms in our advertisements, because the successful vendor is responsible and makes its own selection. In larger dollar procurements, we require the contractor to select subcontractors competitively. You can get information on contracts with subcontracting opportunities from the advertisement on the Internet or from individual contracting officers listed in the announcement.
We sometimes obtain goods and services through other Government agencies through "interagency agreements." We do this most often because the other agency has a contract with a firm doing the type of work that meets our needs. Most Interagency agreements are written in our headquarters office. Telling us about your activities with other Federal Agencies could result in business for you through the other agency's contract. If you're planning to approach us with this in mind, you should first inform the agency with whom you have the contract.
Two or more companies can form a team to bid on a contract. The team can be set up as a partnership or joint venture or as a prime with one or more subcontractors.
Companies normally make such arrangements before bidding. Teams of contractors may be desirable from both a Government and industry standpoint if the companies complement each other's unique capabilities. Teaming is particularly appropriate in complex research and development acquisitions.
Over $150M are obligated using credit cards. While most credit card orders are for supplies and equipment, a growing number of orders are placed for services as well. Credit card purchases do not require a contracting officer, although some COs make credit card purchases themselves. The purchase requires only that the holder get at a minimum of two prices. If your company accepts credit card purchases, you may wish to learn which FAA employees are authorized to make them.
As a part of government-wide efforts to develop new businesses, certain solicitations are set aside for small business. Subcategories include women owned businesses, businesses certified under section 8(a) of the Small Business Act, and businesses that we designate "small and disadvantaged." In awarding these contracts, we can restrict competition to particular categories. Small business coordinators are found in headquarters and regional and center offices. More information can be found on the small business web site at http://www.sbo.faa.gov/sbo/
The General Services Administration (GSA) administers the Federal Supply Schedule program. The schedules allow agencies to buy commonly used supplies and services in varying quantities at lower prices while obtaining discounts associated with volume buying. After a competitive solicitation, GSA awards these contracts committing firms to provide supplies and services at stated prices for given periods of time, but without specifying quantities or delivery schedules. GSA publishes the information needed for placing delivery orders against the schedule contracts. You can find additional information from your local GSA office.
The Information Technology Omnibus Procurement II (ITOPII) is a multiple-award, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity, (MA/IDIQ) contractor vehicle designed to provide federal agencies with fast and efficient total Information Technology (IT) solutions including technical services, hardware and software.
ITOPII, a Governmentwide Acquisition Contract (GWAC) supported by multiple pre-awarded contracts, was transitioned to the Enterprise GWAC Center from the Department of Transportation and will accomplish the mission of GSA by providing innovative IT solutions and delivering the best value to its clients.
ITOPII provides a wide range of information technology (IT) services, with three functional support areas:
These three functional areas provides the flexibility and the wide range of technical and/or contracting resources necessary to help with meeting all Information Technology program requirement(s).
The ITOP II program consists of 35 contracts and 26 Industry Partners, including 13 large and 13 small/small disadvantaged businesses. The contract vehicle was awarded on February 28, 1999 with a contract ceiling of $10 billion. Currently in the fifth year of the seven-year period, the ITOP II contract expires in January 2006. The ITOP customer base spans many civilian and DOD agencies. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) used under ITOP II is 541519, Other Computer Related Services.
Additional information can be found on the Internet at GSA's IT Omnibus Procurement (ITOP) II.
This is a similar type of arrangement as the ITOP contract, except that it was awarded and is administered by the FAA. Also this contract is made up of only small and small and disadvantaged businesses. Additional information can be found on the Internet at http://www.faa.gov/aboutfaa/bits/
We use Qualified Vendors Lists (QVL) to set up a list of vendors who meet our qualifications for certain categories of work. Companies get on the lists by responding to advertisements showing that they meet the minimum requirements. Once we establish a list and have work that fits in the category, we may solicit bids solely from the firms on the list. We must provide an opportunity to be added to a QVL at least once a year. Although we can use QVLs for both supplies and services , their greatest utility is for services, particularly in architecture.
The FAA Technical Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey operates our research grants program. Grants are generally awarded for research and unlike contracts, which require the delivery of a specific product, grants have the flexibility to allow the recipient the freedom to explore the research concepts that provide the most innovative results. More information is available at the following web site: http://www.tc.faa.gov/logistics/grants/
We designed the FAA Mentor-Protégé Program to encourage large, established firms to assist smaller ones in an FAA contract. Small Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Businesses (SEDB), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Minority Institutions (MI) and Women-Owned (WO) Small Businesses are eligible. Our aim is to foster the establishment of long-term business relationships between large and small firms, and to increase the overall number of firms capable of doing business with us. You can get complete information on this program on the internet at http://www.sbo.faa.gov/.
An unsolicited proposal is a written proposal for a new or innovative idea that is submitted to the FAA on the initiative of the offeror for the purpose of obtaining a contract with the FAA, and that is not in response to a request for proposals, or any other FAA-initiated solicitation or program. It must be innovative and unique; independently originated and developed, be prepared without FAA supervision, endorsement, direction, or direct FAA involvement; include sufficient detail to permit a determination that FAA support could be worthwhile and the proposed work could benefit the agency's research and development or other mission responsibilities; and not be an advance proposal for a known agency requirement that can be acquired by competitive methods.
The unsolicited proposal should be submitted to the cognizant coordinator (region, center, or headquarters). This and other information on unsolicited proposals can be found at http://fasteditpp.faa.gov
In 1982, Congress enacted the Small Business Innovation Development Act of 1982 (SBIDA, Public Law 97-219 (codified at 15 U.S.C. 638), which established the Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR Program). The statutory purpose of the SBIR Program is to strengthen the role of innovative small business concerns (SBCs) in federally-funded research, and research and development (R/R&D). The SBIR Program is a phased process, uniform throughout the Federal Government, of soliciting proposals and awarding funding agreements for R/R&D to meet stated agency needs or missions. The Department of Transportation's Volpe Center directs the DOT's SBIR Program and all activities required under the SBIR law and executes the policy established by the Small Business Administration. The FAA participates in the DOT's SBIR Program. The SBIR Program for the FAA is coordinated through the Offices of Knowledge Management, located at the William J. Hughes Technical Center, Atlantic City, NJ.