Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, S.W., Attn: ASU-310, Washington, DC 20591

B -- LAAS GOVERNMENT INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIP POC Susan D. Eicher, Contracting Officer, 202-358-5168 or Ray Swider, Program Manager, 202-358-5428 E-MAIL: click here to contact the Program Manager for technical questions, via e-mail., ray.swider@faa.dot.gov. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is interested in developing a partnership or partnerships with a consortium or consortia of interested commercial and government entities, for the purpose of developing the Local Area Augmentation System (LAAS) for navigation and precision approach of aircraft. Navigation functions will include point to point navigation within the service volume of the LAAS data broadcast, including navigation on the surface of an airport served by LAAS. Precision approach will include all categories (Category 1, 2, and 3), including roll out guidance after landing. The FAA will contribute partial financial resources for the development and refinement of LAAS. FAA financial resources will only be available for stage two. This contribution shall be made as milestone payments for satisfactory development of LAAS, in accordance with the FAA's systems specification and future Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) which are under development in RTCA SC-159, WG-4A. TheFAA envisions that any consortium would work in conjunction with the FAA on LAAS development in two stages: LAAS for Category I followed by LAAS for Categories II and III. The two stages are intended to provide an early operational approval of LAAS CAT I for future FAA acquisition with operational approval of LAAS CAT II/III to follow. Estimated completion by the end of FY 1999 for Stage one, with stage two completed by the end of FY 2002. Limited funding requires that the FAA conclude agreements with the most qualified partnerships. Consortium (consortia) members shall only include entities that have a business interest in early LAAS development and operational implementation. At a minimum, the FAA requires that consortium members have expertise in differential GPS (particularly LADGPS for aviation), flight operations, and terminal operations, particularly high density terminals (Class B airspace). A consortium would at least include a vendor of LADGPS equipment, an avionics vendor, a user (i.e., airline), and an airport, although the consortium could have broader membership. Other consortium members who do not have a particular expertise relevant to the developmental work for LAAS, may choose to contribute financial resources that would aid the consortium. Data rights are negotiable and will be discussed at the time written agreements are drawn up. The FAA will conduct a briefing on LAAS Government Industry Partnership tentatively planned on 2March 1998. Details on the conference will be published by 16 February 1998, on the Internet . This announcement is not a request for proposals, a promise to issue an RFP, or a promise by the Government to pay for information received in response to this announcement, nor is this announcement a guarantee that the Government will enter into a partnership with entities that furnish information. Inquiries about this announcement can be directed to Mr. Ray Swider, LAAS Program Manager, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), AND-730, 800 Independence Ave., SW,Washington, DC 20591. Mr. Swider can also be reached at 202-358-5428, by FAX at 202-651-7699, or by E-Mail at ray.swider@faa.dot.gov. (0022)

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