The FAA has a unique set of contracting rules and regulations. While they use Federal Business Opportunities (FBO), it is not their primary site for posting opportunities. They have been given a waiver from following the Small Business Act although they do have their own small business development program. They use different socio-economic categories in their set-asides (they do not recognize woman-owned businesses or businesses in HUBZones). They have their own rules for teaming/joint ventures. They don’t use the FAR. They have their own acquisition management policy and guidance. If you plan on contracting with them, you need to understand how the FAA is structured and which rules apply.
CONTRACTING METHODS
RECEIVE A PRIME CONTRACT. The direct way to do business with the FAA is through a contract between your firm and FAA. When FAA needs something that costs at least $100,000, Contracting Officers (COs) notify the business community by advertising on the FAA Contract Opportunities website at https://faaco.faa.gov/. They post announcements even if they believe there is only one qualified vendor and are proposing a “single source” award. Check this site frequently, or request an e-mail to be sent to you whenever a new announcement is posted by subscribing to Contract Opportunities. To subscribe to Contract Opportunities, you will need to complete the electronic form through the e-mail subscription link at https://faaco.faa.gov/. Although FAA Contracting Opportunities is the official site for FAA’s announcements, our contracting opportunities also appear on the Government-wide Federal Business Opportunities website at https://www.fbo.gov/.
TEAM WITH ANOTHER FIRM ON A CONTRACT. Two or more companies may form a team to submit an offer on a contract. The team can be set up as a partnership or joint venture, or as a prime with one or more subcontractors. Teaming is particularly appropriate in complex acquisitions. Note that there are specific guidelines on teaming and joint ventures, so please refer to FAA’s Acquisition Management System Procurement Guidance at http://fast.faa.gov.
RECEIVE A SET-ASIDE CONTRACT. As a part of a Government-wide effort to encourage small businesses, FAA may reserve certain planned contracts for small business. Subcategories of small business that may be set-aside include:
Small Business
Very Small Business
Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business
Small Business Owned and Controlled by Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individuals (8(a) certified).
In awarding these contracts, FAA can restrict competition to a particular category of small business. Up to three categories may also be combined for a Combined Set-Aside. More information is on the FAA Small Business Development office website at http://www.sbo.faa.gov
RECEIVE A TASK ORDER CONTRACT/SUBCONTRACT UNDER ELECTRONIC FAA AND SIMPLIFIED TASKS (eFAST). The FAA entered into master ordering agreements (MOA) with multiple small businesses, including women-owned, 8(a)certified, service-disabled veteran-owned, and socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses to provide comprehensive management, engineering and technical support services. The eFAST program is a multi-year MOA program and a preferred contracting vehicle for fulfilling FAA’s small business goals. Additional information is online at http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_units/acquisition/efast. The FAA is currently recompeting the e-FAST Agreements. The next opportunity for small businesses to obtain one of these agreements will be in late 2020 to early 2021.
GET ON A QUALIFIED VENDORS LIST (QVL). FAA uses QVLs to establish pools of vendors who meet FAA’s qualifications for certain categories of work, such as construction. Each FAA purchasing office (discussed above) issues their own opportunity to get on their QVL. Companies get on the lists by responding to FAA QVL advertisements and demonstrating they meet the minimum requirements. Response to initial Request for Information and Sources Sought is often mandatory in order to be considered for the QVL process. Once the list is established, and FAA has work that fits in the category, they can solicit offers solely from the firms on the list. FAA provides an opportunity to be added to a QVL at least once a year. QVLs are used for both supplies and services.
RECEIVE A RESEARCH GRANT. The FAA Technical Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey operates their research grants program. Grants are generally awarded for research, and unlike contracts, which require the delivery of a specific product, have flexibility to allow the recipient freedom to explore research concepts that provide the most innovative results. More on the FAA Aviation Research and Development Grants Program is available at http://www.grants.gov/search-grants.html?agencies%3DDOT%7CDepartment%20of%20Transportation.
Bottom line is that contracting with the FAA is from contracting with most government agencies that use the FAR. If your company has items or services that FAA has a requirement for, get smart on their rules and regulations.