SOLICITATION NOTICE
99 -- Host Computer System-Level Maintenance
- Notice Date
- 4/15/2008
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- Contracting Office
- Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Headquarters, FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, AJA-46 HQ - FAA Headquarters (Washington, DC)
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- DTFA01-97-C-00039
- Response Due
- 5/16/2008
- Point of Contact
- Elayne Gomes-Battle, 202-385-8312
- Description
- In accordance with FAA Acquisition Policy 3.2.2.4 and AMS Procurement Guidance T3.2.2.4.A.3, the Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Air Traffic Organization - EnRoute (ATO-E) is issuing this public announcement to inform industry of the intention of the FAA ATO-E to extend current Second-Level Maintenance activities for the Host Computer System (HCS) on a single-source basis, with Lockheed Martin Transportation and Security Solutions (LMTSS) under existing contract DTFA01-97-C-00039. The HCS is being replaced by the En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) system. The current JRC waterfall schedule for full ERAM deployment and replacement of HCS is to be completed by 12/31/2010. However, issues involving the Offshore Flight Data Processing System (OFDPS) at the Honolulu Control Facility (HCF), IBM hardware architecture, and general risk mitigation planning in case of ERAM waterfall deployment slippage, have increased the probability of the HCS being a viable FAA system after the current ERAM waterfall schedule date. Therefore a five (5) year extension that includes five (5) one (1) year option periods, to 9/30/2013 is contemplated. The Host Computer System (HCS) is the cornerstone of the National Airspace System (NAS), and its criticality to the NAS demands continuous and safe operation without disruption. The objective of the current Host Sustainment contract is to ensure continued software and hardware maintenance support for all HCS equipment located at the Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC's), at the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center (Technical Center), the FAA Aeronautical Center (FAAAC) and the hardware support required for the Offshore Flight Data Processing System (OFDPS) at the Honolulu Control Facility (HCF). The following rationale is hereby given to support a single source extension of Host maintenance to Lockheed Martin Corporation under the current Host Sustainment Contract, DTFA01-97-C-00039: LMTSS has been the prime contractor maintaining the HCS since 1997. Before that, IBM maintained the Host system (using IBM hardware architecture and equipment). The business unit that IBM used to maintain Host was purchased by Loral Corporation which in turn was purchased by Lockheed Martin Corporation. The current contractor workforce maintaining Host consists of workers originally employed by both IBM and Loral before moving on to Lockheed Martin. The average experience level of the current contractor support group for Host is 15+ years. No other company can come close to the experience level required to maintain the Host Computer System.The current LMTSS (and subcontractors) contractor support staff would not be willing to work for another contractor to support the HCS with only three (3) to five (5) years remaining until HCS ceases to be a functioning FAA NAS system.LMTSS is the prime contractor for development and maintenance of the new ERAM system. Many current Host contractor support staff employed by LMTSS are cross training on the new ERAM system. Therefore, these support contractors can easily migrate back to Host support when needed. The experienced Host contractors have no reason to find employment with another contractor to maintain Host. Many have support functions already with ERAM after it replaces the HCS.There are no current introductory training courses for Host for new personnel to learn the Host system architecture. Even if there were, the training lasts 5-6 months with additional supervised on the job training of six (6) months to one (1) year in length. The cost to train and "ramp up" new Host hires would require unnecessary time and expense for a legacy FAA NAS system that will be replaced within three (3) to five (5) years (after award of the extension).HCS hardware architecture consists of IBM equipment. LMTSS has embedded IBM in its parts inventory control system as a subcontractor to maintain Host hardware. IBM personnel are the only contractors that can maintain Host hardware and provide replacement parts for Host equipment (including OFDPS).The HCS is an FAA En Route legacy system with a current remaining life as a NAS system of three (3) to five (5) years. The current period of performance for Host maintenance supplied by Lockheed Martin Corporation ends 9/30/2008. Any new contractor hired to maintain the system would require extensive training, familiarization, and expense. The current skilled workforce would be unwilling to work for another company to maintain Host (as delineated above), therefore, any new company hired to maintain the HCS would be providing inexperienced labor as a majority of its workforce. The HCS is a critical part of the NAS and any disruption has the potential to be catastrophic in nature. The risk of disruption due to inexperienced labor maintaining the HCS is too great to warrant competition for this effort. The impact on the Host, as delineated above, would be greatly increased risk of Host software and hardware failures and greatly increased risk of these failures having negative impact on the NAS. The HOST Computer System (HCS) is a critical part of the NAS Air Traffic Control System. HCS processes critical radar and flight management data, provides communication support and generates display data used by air traffic controllers. It is imperative that system problems be resolved immediately. Reduction of NAS experience and skill level of the contractors maintaining the HCS system would increase the amount of time to resolve issues. Reduced responsiveness to system problems and failures would result in increase length of system outages and increase number of flight delays. Delays and outages directly impact the safe and efficient operation of air commerce in the United States. It is not in the FAA's best interest from both a cost and risk mitigation standpoint to have another contractor maintain the HCS until the transition to ERAM is complete. All inquires or questions pertaining to this announcement should be addressed in writing to the Contracting Officer, Mary Dobbs, at email address Mary.Dobbs@faa.gov.
- Web Link
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- Record
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