Rockwell Collins Navigational Fusion Database Subscription Renewal

NOAA'S ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, EASTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-NORFOLK, OFFICE OF MARINE AND AVIATION OPERATIONS (OMAO) AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS CENTER (AOC) INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), WITH ROCKWELL COLLINS INC, OUT OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA FOR THE ROCKWELL COLLINS NAVIGATIONAL FUSION DATABASE SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL.

THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S (NOAA) REQUIREMENT THAT ROCKWELL COLLINS INC IS THE SOLE OWNER, DEVELOPER AND DISTRIBUTOR OF THE NAVIGATIONAL FUSION DATABASE SUBSCRIPTION. ROCKWELL COLLINS DOES NOT HAVE ANY AUTHORIZED PARTNERS/RESELLERS WHO CAN PROVIDE THE FUSION DATABASE SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL.

NOAA AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS CENTER (AOC) OPERATES THREE (3) KING AIR 350 AIRCRAFT THAT ARE ALL EQUIPPED WITH THE ROCKWELL COLLINS PROLINE 21 SERIES AVIONICS INCORPORATING THE FMS-3000 FLIGHT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (FMS) AND INTEGRATED FLIGHT INFORMATION SYSTEM (IFIS). THE FMS AND IFIS SYSTEMS PROVIDE ACCURATE NAVIGATION POSITION DATA THAT ALLOWS IT TO OPERATE UNDER INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (IMC) IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS / AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION MANUAL FAR/AIM.

IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE FAR/ AIM, THE FMA AND IFIS NAVIGATIONAL DATABASES MUST BE UPDATED ONCE EVERY 28 DAYS. THE UPDATES ARE REQUIRED TO BE LOADED INTO THE PROLINE 21 SYSTEM SO THAT THE MOST RECENT CHANGES WITH REGARDS TO AIRPORTS, AIRSPACE, WAYPOINTS AND NAVIGATIONAL AIDS ARE INCORPORATED INTO THE SYSTEM. WITHOUT THE UPDATES, THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT LEGALLY BE ABLE TO OPERATE WHILE UNDER IMC. THIS WOULD SEVERELY DEGRADE THE MISSION CAPABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT.

THE NAVIGATIONAL DATABASE UPDATES FOR THE FMS INSTALLED ON ALL THREE AOC KING AIRS ARE PROVIDED SOLELY BY ROCKWELL COLLINS. THIS PROPRIETARY DATABASE IS THE ONLY DATABASE THAT SUPPORTS THE KING AIR PROLINE 21 SERIES FMS-3000. UPDATES ARE PROVIDED BY PURCHASING AN ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION. THE ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION INCLUDES UPDATES THAT ARE DOWNLOADED VIA THE INTERNET ONCE EVERY 28 DAYS. ROCKWELL COLLINS IS THE ONLY COMPANY WHO PROVIDES THE REQUIRED DATABASE UPDATES FOR THE FMS-3000. MARKET RESEARCH HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY OTHER PROVIDERS THAT ARE CAPABLE OF PROVIDING NAVIGATION DATA FOR ALL REQUIRED AREAS.

THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS AND NO SOLICITATION PACKAGE IS AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, FIRMS THAT BELIEVE THEY CAN FULLY MEET THE GOVERNMENT'S REQUIREMENTS MAY SUBMIT SUBSTANTIATING DOCUMENTATION IN WRITING TO THE IDENTIFIED POINT OF CONTACT WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION OF THIS SYNOPSIS. SUCH DOCUMENTATION WILL BE EVALUATED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT TO CONDUCT THIS PROCUREMENT ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS. A DETERMINATION BY THE GOVERNMENT NOT TO CONDUCT A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT, BASED UPON RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE, IS SOLELY WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE GOVERNMENT. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE.