National Airspace System Air Traffic Control Voice Communications Switch (NAS ATC VCS)

The United States Air Force is conducting market research via solicitation FA8141-27-R-0001 to procure approximately 150 modernized, VoIP-enabled Voice Communications Switches (VCS) for the National Airspace System (NAS). This acquisition is critical for ensuring the safety, interoperability, and continuity of air traffic management. The project includes the production, installation, operator training, and interim support of fault-tolerant and scalable systems that comply with FAA and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. Performance is centered at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, with fielding mandated to begin in FY 2027. Due to stringent operational and safety requirements, this is a limited-source acquisition justified under FAR 6.302-1, restricting eligibility to a pool of vendors already validated and approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). While no small business set-asides are available because of these validation requirements, small businesses are encouraged to participate through teaming or subcontracting. Interested respondents must provide documentation of their FAA validation and compliance with industry standards by August 25, 2026. The process is managed by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Tinker AFB, with Katelyn Ward serving as the Program Manager and Kimberly Simms as the Procurement Officer.