MODIFICATION
A -- Request for Information modeling and simulation support and analyses for Unmanned Aircraft Systems to operate in the National Airspace
- Notice Date
- 9/27/2006
- Notice Type
- Modification
- NAICS
- 541710
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- Contracting Office
- 2640 Loop Road West, Room 213 WPAFB, OH
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-RFI-09-08-2006
- Response Due
- 10/10/2006
- Archive Date
- 10/9/2006
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Request for Information For Modeling and simulation support and analyses for Unmanned Aircraft Systems to operate in the National Airspace 1. The Air Force must operate Unmanned Air Vehicles throughout the National Air Space (NAS) in a manner similar to manned aircraft by filing a flight plan and operating normally in the NAS. Currently, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) only allows unmanned aircraft to operate within the NAS by segregating manned and unmanned aircraft, using Certificates of Authorization (COAs) or Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs). The NAS is managed by the FAA, through a series of flight rules and an active air traffic control system (ATC), with the objective of keeping operating aircraft from colliding with one another to the maximum extent possible. Since no solution can be all-encompassing, there will always be situations where the rules and ATC processes fail. Therefore, the FAA also requires manned aircraft operators to maintain vigilance to ?see and avoid? (SAA) other aircraft when operating in the NAS. This SAA requirement is, in essence, an additional layer of safety added to the primary means of maintaining aircraft separation. Since unmanned aircraft do not have a pilot on-board the aircraft, they cannot literally comply with the ?see and avoid? requirement. Thus, the removal of the pilot is viewed as a reduction in aviation safety. In order to operate Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) normally in the NAS, a means to restore it to an equivalent level of safety (ELOS) to that of a similar class of manned aircraft is required. The FAA has stated that any approach taken ?do no harm? to the existing routine and safety of the current NAS. That is, no extraordinary or revolutionary changes in the way the current NAS is operating would be acceptable. Minor evolutionary changes would be considered point by point, as required. 2. Safety of operations is the primary concern when remotely or autonomously operated aircraft are allowed to mix with conventionally controlled flights in the NAS. There is currently no experience base on UASs that the FAA can use to issue rules and guidance. Given that there are currently no performance standards for SAA systems and no approval criteria for autonomous collision avoidance systems, it is unclear how to proceed in giving unmanned systems an "equivalent level of safety" to manned aircraft. The Air Force therefore intends to derive initial capability requirements for SAA system performance (sensor performance, communications performance, and control) through modeling, simulation, and analysis of representative UASs. 3. The purpose of this Request For Information (RFI) is to solicit information regarding the development and simulation of an environment that would permit modeling the ?knowns? (generic aircraft including communications, command and control performance for each class, flight rules, ATC rules, etc.) and providing ?parameter space? for the unknowns. The goal of this modeling effort is the establishment of a performance specification investigative tool to permit the iterative optimization of an SAA system that enables safe UAS operations in the NAS under a given set of operating constraints. 4. Respondents should limit their responses to the above request to 10 pages, double spaced, single sided paper. Due to the Federal holiday, White Papers are due 10 OCT 2006 (as opposed to 9 OCT 2006) and should be submitted directly to the technical point of contact Maj Luke Cropsey, 303d AESG/XR (937-255-9969), Bldg 557, Rm 213, 2640 Loop Road West, Wright-Patterson AFB OH 45433. The alternate technical point of contact is Mr. Anthony Salmonson (937-255 4558). Contractual point of contact is Mr. James Boys, 303d AESG/PK , (937-255-3062). This is a Request for Information (RFI) only as defined in FAR 15.201 (e) to obtain information about pricing, delivery, and other market information or capabilities for planning purposes. This RFI is not a request for competitive proposals; therefore, responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Companies that respond will not be paid for the information submitted except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in FAR 31.205-18, ?Bid and Proposal Costs.? The Air Force is not required to provide feedback to white paper submittals. For more information on "Request for Information modeling and simulation support and analyses for Unmanned Aircraft Systems to operate in the National Airspace", please refer to: https://www.pixs.wpafb.af.mil/pixs_solicitation.asp?id=5042
- Web Link
-
Request for Information modeling and simulation support and analyses for Unmanned Aircraft Syst
(https://www.pixs.wpafb.af.mil/pixs_solicitation.asp?id=5042)
- Record
- SN01155867-W 20060929/060927220557 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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