FAA STC for NOAA GML Greenhouse Gas Aircraft System (NGAS)

This is a notice of intent to award a sole-source contract to Astronics Connectivity System & Certification Corporation (Astronics CSC), and is not a request for competitive proposals. The Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), Western Acquisition Division (WAD) is issuing this notice on behalf of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML). GML has a requirement for the amendment of an existing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the Greenhouse Gas Aircraft System (NGAS) to extend certification to additional aircraft platforms.

This notice is not a request for competitive quotes or proposals and no solicitation will be issued. However, firms that believe they can fully meet the Government's requirements may submit in writing an affirmative response demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the requirements; any responses must provide  a written statement of capability, including detailed technical information demonstrating their ability to meet the requirement. Such documentation will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to conduct a competitive procurement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Affirmative written responses must be received no later than the due date and time of this notice.

Requirement Description

This requirement is structured as one (1) base task for engineering and certification, with two (2) optional tasks for hardware provisioning and installation support. The Contractor shall provide Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE), hardware kitting, and installation support to establish the structural, power, data, control, and gas flow preconditions required to operate the Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) aboard commercial Boeing 737 aircraft. 

The requirement is structured into one (1) base task and two (2) optional tasks:

• Base Task (Task 1): The Contractor shall provide engineering and certification services, including updating existing documentation to amend the FAA STC for Boeing 737-800 or MAX series aircraft. This includes structural and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) verification, Master Document List (MDL) updates, and biweekly project management meetings.
• Optional Task A (Task 2): The Contractor shall provide recurring Installation Kits and configure the Sabre All-In-One (AIO) Unit to interface with aircraft ARINC 429 ports, enabling 5G data uploads when Weight-on-Wheels (WoW) is engaged.
• Optional Task B (Task 3): The Contractor shall perform site surveys and provide on-site support to integrate the NGAS hardware into the aircraft's Electrical and Electronics (E&E) bay.

The Contractor is required to provide all necessary project management and technical expertise to secure the STC award within six (6) months of aircraft identification. The scope assumes the use of standard NGAS components and that sufficient avionics bay space exists to accommodate the system with only minor STC modifications.

The anticipated period of performance is as follows:

• Base Task: September 28, 2026 - September 27, 2027
• Option Task A: September 28, 2027 - September 27, 2028
• Option Task B: September 28, 2027 - September 27, 2028

Contract Type and Procedures

The Government intends to issue a sole source, Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) type purchase order. The award will be made on a non-competitive basis using Simplified Acquisition Procedures in accordance with the Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul (RFO) Part 12; only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements in accordance with RFO 12.102(b). 

Justification

Astronics CSC is the sole vendor capable of providing the services required at the level of quality required because the services are unique or highly specialized. Under prior contract 1305M323PNRMJ0676, Astronics CSC designed/engineered, manufactured, and integrated the current NGAS rack, inlet system, electrical wiring infrastructure, and the Astronics CSC Sabre All-In-One (AIO) Unit for the Boeing 737-900ER platform. This system is highly specialized, requiring direct interfacing with aircraft ARINC 429 air data ports and programmed Weight-on-Wheels (WoW) 5G transmission control. Because Astronics CSC established this foundational structural and electrical architecture, they are uniquely qualified and positioned as the sole source to complete this follow-on requirement of amending the FAA STC for Boeing 737-800 or MAX series aircraft. 

Selecting an alternative vendor would necessitate a complete redesign of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) system. This action would force a new vendor to reverse-engineer the proprietary hardware, software logic, and electrical architecture already established and certified on the 737-900ER platform. No other vendor's hardware could be adapted to meet these specific operational requirements. Developing a replacement AIO unit configuration and structural integration package from scratch would duplicate hundreds of thousands of dollars in baseline NRE costs that the Government cannot expect to recover through competition. 

Furthermore, a complete redesign and reverse-engineering effort by a new vendor would cause significant delays to the FAA STC certification amendment process. Any delay in securing the STC amendment directly impedes NOAA's ability to collect critical, continuous atmospheric data essential for global emissions mitigation. To ensure mission continuity and avoid unacceptable delays, Astronics CSC is the only responsible source capable of executing the required structural and CFD verification, STC amendments, and hardware integration aboard scheduled commercial flights without causing serious injury to the Government's scientific objectives.