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Airspace Systems RFI
Request for Information
General Information
Solicitation Number: NNH0600002L
Posted Date: Jan 03, 2006
FedBizOpps Posted Date: Jan 03, 2006
Original Response Date: Jan 31, 2006
Current Response Date: Jan 31, 2006
Classification Response Code: A – Research and Development
NAIS Code: 541710 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Topic
1. BACKGROUND
2. DESCRIPTION
3. PROCESS
4. INFORMATION FOR RESPONDENTS
4.1 How to Respond
4.2 Evaluation Factors
4.3 General Information
4.3.1 Proprietary and Confidential Information
4.3.2 Intellectual Property
4.3.3 Compliance with U.S. Laws, Regulations, and Policies
4.3.4 Use of Government Resources
4.3.5 Period of Performance
4.3.6 RFI Issuance and Response Selection
APPENDIX A AIRSPACE SYSTEMS DESCRIPTION
1. Background
The NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate has recently
restructured NASA's aeronautics research into three separate programs:
Airspace Systems, Aviation Safety, and Fundamental Aeronautics. The
specific purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to solicit
external interest in collaborative, public-private research partnerships
under NASA's Airspace Systems Program:
Airspace Systems Program: The top-level goal of this program is the
development of high capacity, efficient, and safe airspace and airportal
systems that will enable the Next Generation Air Transportation System
(NGATS), as defined by the Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO).
While not part of this RFI, separate RFIs will also be issued for two
other NASA aeronautics research programs:
Fundamental Aeronautics Program: The top-level goal of this program is
the development of system-level, multi-disciplinary capabilities for
both civilian and military applications. This program provides long-term
investment in research to support and sustain expert competency in
critical core areas of aeronautics technology.
Aviation Safety Program: This program will build upon the unique
safety-related research capabilities of NASA to improve aircraft safety
for current and future civilian and military aircraft, and to overcome
aircraft safety technological barriers that would otherwise constrain
the full realization of the Next Generation Air Transportation System.
This program will also provide long-term investment in research to
support and sustain expert competency in critical core areas of aviation
and aircraft safety.
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2. Description
Under this RFI, NASA solicits interest primarily from industry to
collaborate at the systems level in Airspace Systems. NASA seeks to
enter into research collaborations that benefit both industry and NASA
and intends to use its authority under the National Aeronautics and
Space Act of 1958, as amended ("Space Act"), to enter into
non-reimbursable agreements where each party funds its own participation
in the research effort. One or more agreements are anticipated and will
be negotiated on a case-by-case basis. Responses from individual or
industry teams, including existing or proposed consortia, are
encouraged. Of particular interest are industry consortia to help NASA
develop a research portfolio that will lead to revolutionary system
level capabilities that can be feasibly implemented to enable the NGATS.
While academia may respond to this RFI, it is anticipated that a NASA
Research Announcement (NRA) soliciting participation by educational
institutions and companies engaged in basic research will be issued in
early 2006.
This RFI seeks information from potential sources that have an interest
in non-reimbursable collaborative R&D activities that address future and
emerging airspace capacity and airportal issues in support of the NGATS.
The Airspace Systems Program is addressing these issues through the
NGATS Airspace Project and NGATS Airportal Project that will leverage
core capabilities in adaptive air-ground and air-air automation,
airspace/airportal simulation and modeling, experimentation and
validation, and systems analysis and integration. See Appendix A for
additional detail on the Airspace Systems Program and each project.
NASA intends to provide long-term support for the project areas
discussed above, to focus its resources on fundamental airspace and
airportal technology, and to build upon that investment to develop
system-level, multidisciplinary technologies that will enable the NGATS.
The RFI solicits proposals that complement NASA's fundamental technology
developments by extending the work to a system-wide level, including
operational considerations.
Consistent with the Space Act, a key element of the restructured
aeronautics program is to ensure that the nation's aeronautical
expertise and unique facilities are maintained as national assets for
the benefit of both the civilian and military aeronautics communities.
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3. Process
NASA Headquarters oversees the Aeronautics Research Programs and
implementation occurs principally at four NASA field centers (Ames
Research Center, Dryden Flight Research Center, Glenn Research Center,
and Langley Research Center). In Fiscal Year 2006 a four-step process
will be used to define the aeronautics research programs:
Step 1: Assess the long-term research needs and goals in the Airspace
Systems Program and establish technical roadmaps to accomplish those
goals. In developing those roadmaps, prioritize according to NASA's
unique strengths and capabilities. Establish multi-center,
multidisciplinary teams across the NGATS Airspace and NGATS Airportal
projects. These roadmaps will be discussed further at the 44th American
Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Aerospace Sciences
Meeting and Exhibit, January 9-12, 2006 in Reno, Nevada.
Step 2: Solicit information through this RFI on the key areas of
interest from the external community and determine potential areas to
form collaborative arrangements.
Step 3: Develop research proposals by the field centers in each of the
two thrust areas and establish NASA research teams. The responses to
this RFI will provide important source material to the NASA proposal
teams to be used in establishing specific collaborative partnerships as
part of their proposals to NASA Headquarters.
Step 4: NASA intends to issue NASA Research Announcements (NRA, see NASA
Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement Part 35) to solicit proposals
for foundational research in areas where NASA needs to enhance its core
capabilities. Foundational research is defined as research that furthers
our fundamental understanding of the underlying principles associated
with complex airspace problems. NASA anticipates that educational
institutions, non-profit organizations and industry engaged in
foundational research will be the primary recipients of awards under the
NRA.
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4. Information for Respondents
4.1 How to Respond
NASA anticipates providing additional information about its Aeronautics
Research Programs on or about January 12, 2006, at the AIAA conference
in Reno, Nevada. NASA also anticipates providing this additional
information on the following website: www.aeronautics.nasa.gov.
The website above will be used to post information about, or
modifications to, this RFI. Prospective respondents are urged to
periodically check this web site for updates.
Respondents are requested to provide a description of a proposed
non-reimbursable partnership between NASA and industry. Responses shall
describe: (1) the respondent's team and expertise, key personnel and
capabilities, and the R&D collaboration approach and areas of interest;
(2) respondent's facilities and resources (including test data) to be
provided as part of the collaboration; and (3) what is expected or
requested of NASA as part of the collaboration (including Government
facilities or other resources). Partnerships will be limited to US
companies.
The proposal must be a maximum of five (5) pages, with minimum 12-point
Times font. All proposals shall clearly indicate which one of the two
thrust areas in the Airspace Systems Program is addressed in the
proposed partnership, by placing the name of one program thrust (either
"NGATS Airspace" or "NGATS Airportal") in the upper right hand corner of
each page in your proposal. All proposals shall include an e-mail
address for the point-of-contact in order to expedite communications.
All questions posed by email shall get a response.
Please submit all responses in electronic format to the Point-of-Contact
listed below by NOON Eastern Standard Time, January 31, 2006:
Name: John Cavalowsky
Title: Deputy Program Manager for Technical Integration
Phone: 650-604-4434
Email: rfi_asp@nasa.gov
Questions regarding this RFI should also be addressed to the above Point-of-Contact.
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4.2 Evaluation Factors
The evaluation process NASA intends to use for selecting collaborative
partnerships (under non-reimbursable Space Act Agreement[s]) has been
designed for this RFI. Respondents are reminded that this process does
not involve the procedures set forth in the Federal Acquisition
Regulation (FAR) nor the NASA FAR supplement since this announcement
will not result in the award of a contract, grant, or cooperative
agreement.
Responses will be assessed on the following evaluation factors:
- Overall responsiveness to furthering the goals of this RFI, in
particular the objectives and results-oriented goals of NASA's Airspace
Systems Program.
- Technical confidence in the research proposed
under the collaborative activity.
- Management confidence in the
structure and management of the proposed collaborative activity.
The NASA Point-of-Contact referenced in Section 4.1 will provide the RFI
responses to the NASA planning lead of the thrust area identified by the
respondent. Based upon assessment of the responses, as part of the
process of submitting proposals under Step 3 (see "Process" above), the
planning leads may contact RFI respondents to finalize terms and
conditions of agreements.
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4.3 General Information
4.3.1 Proprietary or Confidential Information
Respondents are NOT to provide any information that is considered
proprietary, trade secrets, or privileged or confidential.
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4.3.2 Intellectual Property
Intellectual property rights between NASA and collaboration partners can
be negotiated to fit the goals of the parties. Under NASA's standard
approach, title to inventions remain with the respective inventing
parties without any exchange of rights unless otherwise agreed.
Proprietary data developed and provided by the collaboration partner to
NASA remains proprietary. NASA takes no rights in background inventions
or data developed prior to or outside of collaborative agreements under
this RFI.
NASA requires that consortia and teams agree to intellectual property
rights among members prior to finalizing terms and conditions of a
non-reimbursable Space Act Agreement.
Respondents to this RFI may comment on this general approach and/or
suggest alternate approaches to intellectual property rights between
NASA and the partner.
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4.3.3 Compliance with U.S. Laws, Regulations, and Policies
Proposals must comply with all applicable U.S. laws, regulations and policies.
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4.3.4 Use of Government Resources
In support of this RFI, the Government will consider requests from
respondents for Government furnished resources and technologies.
Requests for use of Government equipment, facilities or services should
be provided to the Point-of-Contact for this RFI.
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4.3.5 Period of Performance
The Government anticipates that proposed research collaborations under
Space Act Agreements will have an initial period of performance of five
(5) years, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties
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4.3.6 RFI Issuance and Response Selection
NASA will not issue paper copies of this RFI. NASA reserves the right to
select for negotiations all, some, or none of the proposed collaborative
partnerships in response to this RFI.
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APPENDIX A: Information on AIRSPACE SYSTEMS
NASA has defined a four-level approach to technology development and
integration and will conduct research across each of these levels to
address evolving air transportation system challenges: At Level 1, NASA
will conduct foundational research to further the fundamental
understanding of the underlying physics and an ability to model that
physics. At Level 2, NASA will leverage the foundational research to
develop technologies and analytical tools focused on discipline-based
solutions relative to next generation airspace and airportal issues. At
Level 3, NASA will seek to integrate multi-disciplinary methods and
technologies to balance solutions across disciplines. At Level 4, NASA
will build upon results from activities in Level 1 through Level 3 to
support the development of high capacity, efficient, and safe airspace
and airportal systems that will enable the Next Generation Air
Transportation System (NGATS), as defined by the Joint Planning and
Development Office (JPDO).
The Airspace Systems Program is dedicated to the mastery and
intellectual stewardship of airspace and airportal foundational research
and discipline-based technology development for the nation. NASA will
focus the research in areas that are appropriate to the Agency's unique
capabilities. NASA research is long-term and cutting edge and is both
focused and integrated across disciplines. NASA will invest broadly and
deeply in integrated solutions for a safe, efficient, high-capacity
airspace system in the air and on the ground at Levels 1 and 2, our key
investment areas. It is anticipated that collaborative activities with
industry partners will occur mainly at Level 3 and 4 in a manner to
identify and optimally address emerging and future airspace and
airportal issues associated with enabling the NGATS.
The interaction with the aeronautics and aviation capacity community at
the systems level (Levels 3 and 4) is unique because NASA does not build
or implement air traffic management systems. NASA looks toward
collaborations associated with system-level design and operation to
ensure our ability to provide integrated solutions for safe, efficient,
high capacity airspace and airportal systems. NASA intends to
collaborate with industry consortia to provide value to industry of a
more enduring nature, rather than immediate problem solving.
Collaboration at the lower levels of research is also possible; however
NASA anticipates focusing a significant portion of its core competencies
and resources to these research areas and will be interested in research
by others that fill gaps and deficiencies in NASA research.
A.1 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON AIRSPACE SYSTEMS & COLLABORATION INTERESTS
The following five technology development areas describe the objective,
anticipated results and potential investment areas for the NGATS
Airspace Project and the NGATS Airportal Project:
(1) The "Evaluator";
(2) Four-dimensional (4-D) trajectory operations;
(3) automated separation assurance;
(4) dynamic airspace configuration; and
(5) super-density surface and terminal area traffic optimization.
A.1.1 The Evaluator: Research is needed to develop a
software-based concept developed by the JPDO called the "Evaluator" to
support a future decision-making environment in the air and on the
ground. The Evaluator is expected to employ 4-D trajectory proposals
from all airspace and airportal users, assess them for compatibility
with airspace system capacity, and produce conflict-free trajectory
contracts. The Evaluator will continually update the contracts with
position and intent data for each aircraft in the National Airspace
System (NAS). Users will be able to view projected and actual conflicts
and negotiate their resolution in real time. Air traffic management
service providers will be able to plan airspace configurations and
allocate resources in real time based on changing needs. Based on a set
of jointly determined rules, the service provider will also provide
final arbitration decisions when users are unable to resolve conflicts.
A.1.2 Four-dimensional trajectory-based operations: Research is needed
to develop systems, tools, and procedures for using time-based flight
paths from beginning-to-end (including ground segments) to improve
system efficiency while maintaining safety, security, and environmental
compatibility. Research is needed to produce real-time 4-D trajectory
calculations to meet multiple objectives (separation assurance, time,
fuel efficiency, low emissions, etc.). Solutions must also integrate the
Evaluator and 4-D trajectory-based operations with safe surface traffic
optimization tools and systems.
A.1.3 Automated separation assurance: Research is needed to develop
systems, tools, and procedures to delegate separation assurance
functions to automatic systems on the ground and in the cockpit, thus
offloading controllers to focus on solving strategic control problems,
optimizing traffic flow during changing weather conditions,
accommodating pilot requests for route changes, and other events.
Solutions must integrate automated separation assurance methods with
centralized and de-centralized control, and enable the use of automated
separation to accommodate mixed equipage operations. Methods are needed
to predict, detect and resolve conflicts; prevent runway incursions; and
ensure graceful degradation and recovery from failure of automated
separation in a centralized and/or de-centralized system. Research is
also needed to balance arrivals and departures in terminal airspace.
A.1.4 Dynamic airspace configuration: Research is needed to develop a
new framework for airspace allocation that no longer relies on
navigational aids and sectors, and instead allocates airspace as a
resource to meet demand while meeting safety and environmental
requirements. Methodologies are needed for quickly designing airspace
configurations to accommodate user trajectories while dynamically
reconfiguring airspace in real-time during daily operations. Airspace
configurations will be driven by national security and defense
requirements (Departments of Defense and Homeland Security), domestic
and international user needs, special-use airspace requirements, safety,
environmental compatibility, and NAS efficiency.
A.1.5 Super-density surface and terminal area traffic optimization:
Research is needed to develop distributed air-ground solutions that
safely integrate surface and air portal traffic optimization tools and
systems with the Evaluator and 4-D trajectory operations. Solutions must
support equivalent visual operations in all conditions. Super-density
surface and terminal area traffic optimization will leverage adaptive
air-ground automation tools to enhance ground-operation situational
awareness, traffic flow management tools to improve throughput,
collaborative decision making tools to enhance efficiency, and runway
incursion prevention tools to maintain safety. Other tools are necessary
to balance arrivals and departures and enable dynamic terminal airportal
configurations. Other tools for detecting and avoiding wake vortices
with greater accuracy and precision are needed to enable significant
reductions in separation between aircraft during take off and landing
while minimizing environmental impacts
A.2 PROJECTS
Consistent with those NGATS technology development areas, the Airspace
Systems Program will focus on two major projects: NGATS Airspace and
NGATS Airportal. The projects are organized by domain requiring
substantially similar discipline capabilities to provide their unique
deliverables. To that end, fundamental capabilities developed in one
project will be leveraged for the benefit of the other to make efficient
use of Airspace Systems Program resources. Deliverables from each
project will be integrated for gate-to-gate solutions. Prioritization of
specific research activities associated with each project will be vetted
with the JPDO.
A.2.1 NGATS Airspace Project: This project addresses the
following technology development areas as defined by the JPDO:
- The Evaluator at a strategic NAS-level;
- 4-D trajectory-based operations at a strategic NAS-level;
- Automated separation assurance; and
- Dynamic airspace configuration.
COLLABORATION INTERESTS: In order to address these technology
development areas, NASA seeks industry collaboration on system-level
capabilities in the following areas:
Integrated Adaptive Air and Ground Automation Concepts and
Technologies: Traffic flow management, separation assurance,
collaborative decision-making, shared situational awareness, centralized
and/or distributed control, air-to-ground and air-to-air information
sharing, dynamic airspace design, and 4-D trajectory operations and
performance-based operations.
Airspace Modeling and Simulation: Tools development, multi-agent
modeling, advanced concept modeling, safety and failure analysis, and
fast-time simulation.
System Analysis and Integration: Airspace requirements
definition; integration and architecture; and system engineering and
analysis.
A.2.2 NGATS Airportal Project: The NGATS Airportal Project will address technology development in three areas:
- The Evaluator at the terminal and airport surface level;
- 4-D trajectory-based operations at the terminal and airport surface level; and
- Super-density surface and terminal area traffic optimization.
COLLABORATION INTERESTS: In order to address these technology
development areas, NASA seeks industry collaboration on system-level
capabilities in the following areas:
Integrated Adaptive Air and Ground Automation Concepts and
Technologies: Traffic flow management, separation and spacing
assurance, collaborative decision-making, shared situational awareness,
wake and other hazard definition, efficient and safe wake spacing,
runway incursion prevention, closely spaced parallel approaches,
arrivals and departures balancing, dynamic terminal and airportal
configurations, surface traffic optimization, and integrated regional
airportal accessibility and design.
Airportal Modeling and Simulation: Tools development, multi-agent
modeling, advanced concept modeling, safety and failure analysis, and
fast-time simulation.
System Analysis and Integration: Airportal requirements
definition; integration and architecture; system engineering and
analysis.
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