99--Turbulence Reporting System

FAA Aviation Weather Office (AWO) Turbulence Reporting System Comparison Market Survey The US Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Aviation Weather Office (AWO) is part of the FAA's Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) and Operations Planning Business Unit. The mission of the AWO is to realize the future of aviation by providing integrated weather strategies and solutions to achieve national and international goals. AWO does this by developing and coordinating the strategic direction for weather initiatives in the FAA's Aviation Weather Enterprise, including NextGen requirements, to mitigate the impact of weather in the National Airspace System (NAS). Purpose of the Market Survey The FAA/AWO is conducting market research via a market survey to determine the utility of different airborne turbulence detection systems. This is an effort to identify organizations that: 1) have developed systems that will measure turbulence from aircraft in flight (in situ) in Eddy Dissipation Rate (EDR), and 2) that can demonstrate the comparability of such measurements with the EDR data produced by an FAA Aviation Weather Research Program (AWRP)-sponsored algorithm developed by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). Interested parties should complete all parts of this document as instructed below. We also invite you to submit additional information to supplement the document that may offer greater insight about your organization and its capabilities. Please be advised that this is a market survey. This is not a solicitation, Screening Information Request (SIR) or Request for Proposals (RFP) of any kind and cannot be construed as a commitment by the FAA for either future business or a future contractual relationship with the FAA. Please note that this market survey does not commit the FAA to a contract nor commit the FAA to issue a RFP or a SIR. All interested parties are advised that the FAA will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred or associated with any submission received from any interested party in response to this market survey. Therefore, any costs associated with the submission will be solely at the interested party's expense. The purpose of this market survey is to gather information that will assist the FAA in determining the availability of in situ EDR measurement and reporting systems that are comparable to the NCAR-developed EDR algorithm. Current Environment The FAA AWRP sponsors research that is targeted towards minimizing aviation meteorology impacts on the NAS. Specifically, the research focuses on increasing NAS safety and capacity. The NAS is a complex system whose safe and efficient operation is dependent on the accurate nowcast and forecast of aviation weather conditions. Atmospheric turbulence is a critical area of concern for aviators and weather forecasters alike. EDR-based turbulence measurements are a NextGen required parameter, and hence the FAA is interested in in situ observation systems that report turbulence data in EDR. Background and Scope The FAA has funded the adaptation, testing, and deployment of the NCAR-developed EDR algorithm on various commercial aircraft as part of the AWRP's Turbulence Research Team (TRT) efforts to validate EDR data as a means to enhance operational efficiency of the NAS . The NCAR-developed EDR algorithm uses the vertical winds measured by existing aircraft sensors to derive an objective measure of atmospheric turbulence. EDR is aircraft-independent and reported at a much greater frequency than Pilot Reports (PIREPS), and data from the EDR algorithm have been shown to improve meteorological forecasts. Delta Airlines, Inc. (DAL) completed installation of the EDR algorithm on its B737NG fleet in September 2008 and is beginning to use it operationally, and Southwest Airlines (SWA) is expected to begin deployment later this year. The FAA AWO is seeking to determine availability of in situ turbulence reporting systems that provide EDR data comparable to that produced by the NCAR-developed EDR algorithm installed on commercial aircraft. This market survey will examine the capability of organizations to provide these EDR turbulence measurements in a cost effective manner. Specifically, any system that the FAA would be interested in must meet the following requirements: 1. It must be immediately commercially available (i.e., the FAA will not fund further research or development).2. It must already be operational on the aircraft (i.e., the FAA will not fund the installation of the system on any aircraft).3. It must provide EDR data that can be directly compared to that produced by the EDR algorithm already installed on commercial aircraft (i.e., it must be directly comparable in terms of time, location, aircraft configuration, and atmospheric conditions). Points of Contact Responses to this market survey and questions specifically about the market survey should not be directed to any other part of the FAA, but to the AWO, at the point of contact provided below: POC:Mr. Linwood GilletteFAA/Acquisition and Business ServicesAcquisition Policy and Contracting Office/AJA-47800 Independence Ave, S.W.Washington DC contact@example.gov Responses to this market survey shall be: emailed to the contact listed in the section above received no later that 2:00PM EST on (30 days from release) no longer than 10 pages in length SURVEYPlease mark any proprietary information included in your market survey response appropriately. 1. Company Contact: Company Name: Contact Name: Title: Phone: Fax: E-Mail: 2. Capabilities:A. Please list your capabilities to meet the following requirements. B. Please indicate whether you currently provide the service to customers.C. If you do not currently provide the service, please indicate your level of interest to do so. D. Indicate your interest in bidding as a prime contractor or subcontractor. E. If you do not have the capability to provide the specific service listed, please list other services that may be related to the service.F. Please provide any additional comments. # Requirements (A) Have Capability (Please "X") (B) Currently Conducting Research (Please "X") (C) Level of Interest (Please use 1,2, or 3) (D) Interest as a Prime or Subcontractor (E) Related Service(s) (Please list) (F)Comments1 Commercial Availability (Research and Development complete) 2 Operational Status (System available on aircraft) 3 Data Comparability (Time, location, aircraft configuration and atmospheric conditions) 3. Market Interest A. Please indicate for which of the following contractual arrangements you would be most willing to bid. If you are willing to bid via a collaboration or partnership, please provide more information about the arrangement. Willing to Bid(Please "X" one under each subheading) CommentsService Combinations One contract for support requirements Collaborative contract with partnering providers 4. Program and Technical Approach: Provide examples, if applicable, of where you supplied the type of service described in this Market Survey. Detailed responses are welcomed. 5. Customer Profile: A. Please indicate any specific service partners or relationships that you have established in the past with such as Airlines companies, Airports, etc.B. Please provide a phone number or email address for entity.C. Please indicate the service provided.D. Please indicate the duration of contract(s) during which you worked with these other service partners listed above.E. Please provide reference letters and any supporting documentation. # (A) Service Partners or Relationships (B) Contact Information (C) Service(s) (D) Duration of Contract(s) (Years)1 2 3 4 5 6. Additional Information: Please provide any additional information about your company's capabilities or interests that are relevant to in situ EDR turbulence detection and reporting functions that have not been covered in the survey questions above. Please describe existing collaborative relationships or collaborative opportunities that you could foresee if you were providing the services described in the market survey. Additionally, please describe any considerations or benefits that would be expected if there is a sponsorship.