SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Request for Information - Ground-based Detect and Avoid System Applications for Beyond Visual Line of Sight Unmanned Aircraft Systems
- Notice Date
- 6/15/2016
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Armstrong Flight Research Center, Code A, P.O. Box 273, Mail Stop 4811-140, Edwards, California, 93523-0273, United States
- ZIP Code
- 93523-0273
- Solicitation Number
- NND16827734L
- Archive Date
- 7/20/2016
- Point of Contact
- UAS-NAS Project, , Rosalia Toberman, Phone: 6612763931
- E-Mail Address
-
afrc-uas-nas@mail.nasa.gov, rosalia.toberman@nasa.gov
(afrc-uas-nas@mail.nasa.gov, rosalia.toberman@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Ground-based Detect and Avoid System Applications for Beyond Visual Line of Sight Unmanned Aircraft Systems Request for Information This Request for Information (RFI) is issued by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) to solicit responses from interested parties. This document is for information and planning purposes and to allow industry the opportunity to verify reasonableness and feasibility of the requirement, as well as promote competition. Prospective offerors are invited to submit written comments or questions to: UAS-NAS Project Team, Email afrc-uas-nas@mail.nasa.gov When responding reference "Ground-based Detect and Avoid System Application for Beyond Visual Line of Sight Unmanned Aircraft Systems". This presolicitation/request for information synopsis is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for the information submitted in response. Respondents will not be notified of the results. NASA is seeking information for potential sources and partners for the development and testing of ground-based detect and avoid systems for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operating beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) in all airspace classes, including terminal area operations. Background: The NASA Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration in the National Airspace System (UAS-NAS) Project within the Integrated Aviation Systems Program of the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate is soliciting information through this RFI in support of the next phase of the project from FY17 - FY20. The Project goal is to provide research findings supporting the development and validation of detect and avoid (DAA) and command and control (C2) technologies necessary for integrating UAS into the NAS with airborne system tests. The next phase of the UAS-NAS Project will continue to focus on DAA and C2 technologies that are ready to be transitioned to implementation on unmanned vehicles, specifically to develop RTCA Special Committee (SC) - 228 Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS). To that end, simulations in FY17-FY19 culminating in integrated flight tests in FY18 and FY19 are planned to support the development of the standards. This RFI will focus on the necessary components for ground-based detect and avoid applications, including the ground-based primary radar, supporting architecture/systems, aircraft integration, and concepts of operations. The project will utilize the RFI responses to gauge the industry state-of-the-art for DAA technologies, assessment of technology readiness levels, and determination of a future partnership strategy to accomplish research leading to DAA standards. RTCA Special Committee 228 is currently finalizing Phase 1 MOPS for DAA systems for large unmanned aircraft (UA) that could "fly in airspace normally frequented by commercial transport aircraft... and...are capable of carrying relatively large and high-power sensor systems such as primary radar." Phase 2 MOPS is scheduled to commence development in 2017 and will encompass a broad range of civil UAS capable of operations BVLOS. These operations, at a minimum, will take place in Class D, E and G, but could take place in all classes of airspace for the entire duration of a flight (i.e., extended operations). The Phase 2 MOPS will also consider DAA requirements for both towered and non-towered airfields, and off-airfield recovery sites within Class G airspace. The focus of this RFI is to understand the state-of-the-art of potential ground-based detect and avoid systems that are expected to compliment the UAS's ability (or lack thereof) to equip with Phase 1 or 2 airborne surveillance systems. Applicable sensors would be relevant to all classes of UAs operating under IFR at or above 500 feet and BVLOS that do not fully equip with surveillance sensors on-board but still need to surveil their surroundings and detect other aircraft. This system will be tested in order to develop, verify, and validate DAA/surveillance Phase 2 MOPS draft performance requirements by integrating information from the ground-based detect and avoid system with ground-control station alerting and guidance in order to collect performance data in relevant laboratory simulations and flight environments. The results of this testing may necessitate the modification of the surveillance system and/or proposing modifications to the draft DAA/surveillance performance requirements. In addition, NASA is seeking information about unmanned or optionally-piloted aircraft owned by the responder or responding partners where a ground-based detect and avoid system is currently being, or could potentially be used, and the aircraft manufacturer is willing to provide engineering support for integration and flight testing. Information of interest pertaining to unmanned or optionally-piloted aircraft includes: aircraft size, aircraft equipage, ground-control station information, and speed/altitude/turn aircraft performance envelope, and airworthiness status of the aircraft (i.e. FAA certification, public certification, experimental, etc. Additional specific information is provided below. The intended partnership between NASA and one or more industry partners for ground-based detect and avoid systems will jointly: develop the concepts for integration, perform simulation experiments with computer models of the system, and execute flight testing in a relevant environment. The development and testing of the ground-based detect and avoid system is targeted for all classes of UAS able to operate under IFR in all airspace classes above 500 ft Above Ground Level (AGL), including terminal area operations. Qualified providers are considered to be U.S. commercial entities that are established and recognized manufacturers of avionics equipment and/or associated communication/navigation/surveillance hardware, who have previous history in the successful development of air traffic surveillance systems. Interested companies are invited to submit specific information on any or all of the following topics: 1. Candidate ground-based primary radar system that meet the intent of this RFI, their technologies, performance, and limitations. Discussions should include topics such as: update rates, surveillance field of regard and range (minimum and maximum), radar cross-section specification, maximum number of detected/tracked intruders, Interface Control Document (ICD) inputs and outputs, track integration and filtering, environmental/airspace limitations, latencies, installation requirements, data security and export control limitations, detection accuracy, available computer models, test conditions, and pertinent test results. 2. Architecture and concept of operations e.g. class of airspace, location, data exchange and networking, data security and export control limitations, and number of unmanned aircraft (ownship) that can be supported simultaneously. 3. Any unmanned/optionally-piloted aircraft that is integrated or could be integrated with candidate system, if applicable. Discussions should include aircraft size, aircraft equipage (Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance (TCAS)-I, TCAS-II, differential Global Positioning System (dGPS), etc.), endurance, ground-control station information, speed/altitude/turn aircraft performance envelope, command and control, navigation, i.e. waypoint and/or autopilot holds, and on-board data logging. 4. Include both ground and flight test data of the ground-based detect and avoid system (if available). 5. Discuss relevant company experience in developing and civil certification of this system, or similar systems 6. The company's potential to provide their system, ICD, integration support, etc. to NASA as an in-kind partnership in exchange for Flight Test. Information shall be kept to a maximum of 25 slides or 5-page document for ground-based detect and avoid system. The same limit applies to aircraft information, if applicable. Keeping responses as consolidated as possible is encouraged. Submittal Instructions: 1. Please send relevant literature and information to: E-mail address: afrc-uas-nas@mail.nasa.gov or Mailing Address NASA-Armstrong Flight Research Center, P.O. Box 273 M/S S323, Edwards, CA 93523. 2. Such information shall include as a minimum, a brief description of your relevant company capabilities, products and services, history, and other specific information as requested in this RFI. However, specific information related to any or all of the topics identified above is desired. As part of your information package, include Cage Code, DUNS, and Technical Point(s) of Contact, including: address, telephone number and e-mail address. 3. At its discretion, NASA may request further discussions and/or clarification of the information. If agreeable to both parties, such discussions may take place via teleconferencing or on-site visit to one of the NASA facilities at the responders' expense. Representatives from NASA and their Contractors may be present for such discussions.
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