Request for Information for Innovative Solutions for FAA Application and Database Modernization
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking innovative solutions for FAA Application and Database Modernization. This RFI was intended to inform the design of a Challenge Based Acquisition (ChBA). However, the FAA has since launched the "Accelerated Transformation of Legacy Applications and Systems (ATLAS)" ChBA under a separate announcement, and this RFI is now provided for informational purposes. Responses to this RFI are still due by January 7, 2026.
Purpose of the RFI
The RFI aimed to gather industry input to advance operational excellence and technological innovation by addressing legacy technical debt and complex interoperability requirements across approximately 200 applications and 3,000 databases. It sought to assess market interest, gather intelligence on capabilities, solicit feedback on risks and constraints, and obtain recommendations for optimal ChBA design and contract/Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) models. The new ChBA supersedes and replaces the previously planned Software Solution Delivery (SSD) acquisition, for which Karsun Solutions was the incumbent.
Key Areas for Industry Input
The FAA sought feedback on:
- Acquisition & Award Structure: Recommendations on contracting models (e.g., ChBA, GWACs, OTAs, BPAs).
- Platform and Technology Recommendations: Best platforms, frameworks, and technology stacks for large-scale modernization, including low-code/no-code, cloud deployment, API-driven architectures, and AI/ML tools.
- Challenge Structure and Scenario Design: How to structure the challenge phase and what technical resources the FAA should provide.
- Timeline and Resource Commitment: Realistic timeframes for demonstrations/prototypes.
- Participation and Down-select Process: Criteria for balancing innovation, technical maturity, and deployment readiness.
- Evaluation Metrics: Technical and business metrics for multi-phase challenges.
- Cost Assessment, Labor Mix, and Estimating Approaches: Recommendations for cost estimation and workforce mix, especially for fixed-price contracts/OTAs.
- Risks and Lessons Learned: Potential risks, best practices, and ways to strengthen vendor communication.
Submission Details
- Response Due: January 7, 2026
- Submission Method: Email responses to Daniel Farrell at SSDRFI@faa.gov.
- Page Limit: Responses should not exceed 15 pages.
- Confidentiality: Proprietary or confidential information must be appropriately marked.
Important Notes
This RFI is for market research purposes only and is not a solicitation. No commitment or implied agreement will arise from responding, nor does submission guarantee eligibility for future acquisitions. The FAA will not pay for response preparation costs. The FAA operates under its own Acquisition Management System (AMS) policies, not FAR. The FAA does not intend to grant an RFI extension and will not provide a list of in-scope applications/databases or characterization of the legacy data environment at this stage. The FAA is targeting contract award in FY26 for the related ChBA.