Notice of Intent to Sole-Source Award for the 25 Hour Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR) Golden Chassis

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, AN INVITATION FOR BIDS, OR A REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS. FURTHER, IT DOES NOT REPRESENT A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR COSTS INCURRED IN PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION OF DATA OR ANY OTHER COSTS INCURRED IN RESPONSE TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

This is a Sources Sought Notice with the intent to award a sole source award to General Electric Aerospace (GE) under the authority of FAR 13.106-1 based on GE’s unique technical qualifications as the only manufacturer and provider of the 25 Hour Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR) Golden Chassis as described below. Notice is provided as information to the marketplace, market research, and is an invitation for any other qualified companies to express their interest in and demonstrate their capability to provide the equipment/software that performs the required functions.

Background

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in the other modes of transportation—railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space. We determine the probable causes of the accidents and events we investigate and issue safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences. In addition, we conduct transportation safety research studies and offer information and other assistance to family members and survivors for each accident or event we investigate. We also serve as the appellate authority for enforcement actions involving aviation and mariner certificates issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and US Coast Guard, and we adjudicate appeals of civil penalty actions taken by the FAA.

The NTSB’s Office of Research and Engineering, Vehicle Recorder Division (RE-40) requires the capability to download data from a variety of vehicle recording devices, especially flight data recorders (FDR) and cockpit voice recorders (CVR) from aircraft involved in aviation accidents. These systems require proprietary hardware and software from the manufacturer to download data.

The 25 Hour EAFR and associated download equipment is designed and manufactured by GE and is required to download data from undamaged and damaged EAFR’s recovered from aircraft involved in accidents investigated by the NTSB.

The GE product is proprietary and is not sold through any third-party resellers nor is it available for purchase through any government-wide acquisition vehicles. No other commercially available products are available currently that provide the same functionality. The EAFR download equipment are considered the definitive method of downloading data from the GE EAFR among industry professionals.

Required Capabilities

The NTSB requires the 25 Hour Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorder (EAFR) Golden Chassis.

Sources capable of fully satisfying the above requirements are invited to submit capability statements/expressions of interest providing the Government the necessary information to determine actual capability. At a minimum, this information, which must be prepared specifically in response to this notice should, must include: (1) identification of company or organization; (2) an assertion of existing, full capability to meet proposed requirements; (3) business/contracts/marketing office point(s) of contact; (4) notification of business size and/or special status; and (5) any additional information that may be useful to the successful procurement of the requirements, if solicited. These expressions of interest shall adhere to a ten (10)-page submission limit plus web links and any specialized product descriptions. The statement of qualifications should include only information that clearly demonstrates the respondent's capabilities, expertise, and experience to perform the requirements described in this notice. General marketing material should not be included. The NTSB prefers that companies do not submit proprietary material. However, the Government recognizes that proprietary data may be a part of your submittal. If so, clearly mark such restricted or proprietary data and present it as an addendum to the non-restricted/non-proprietary information. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed order based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, which shall be considered by NTSB. Parties must submit information within five (5) days of publication of this notice. NTSB will not return capability statements and the supporting documentation submitted in response to this notice. Telephone responses and inquiries will not be accepted. You may email questions regarding this notice to the issuing office to Nicole Evanitsky via email at: nicole.evanitsky@ntsb.gov