FAA Enterprise Network Services (FENS)

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has made a direct award of undefinitized single award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract number 693KA8-26-D-00016 to AT&T Enterprise Services, LLC. (AT&T), for FAA Enterprise Network Services (FENS). This award was made using the FAA’s Acquisition Management System (AMS) waiver authority granted for the FAA’s Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS). Through this initial undefinitized action, the FAA anticipates a multi-billion dollar IDIQ contract to result upon definitization for a period of performance of up to 15 years. The IDIQ includes an initial FENS Task Order (693KA8-26-F-00278) for early start-up planning and development activities, valued at $74,300,000.00. This simultaneously awarded task order is the only funded effort of the undefinitized contract at this time.

Program Overview: The FENS program will provide highly available and secure communications, information management services, functions, and capabilities required by the FAA to support its continuing mission of providing the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world. In addition, FENS will provide access to administrative information systems and functions including e-mail, payroll, and online training. To meet applicable security standards and policies, FENS services will be segmented into distinct Networking Capabilities, e.g., Critical Services, Essential Services, and Administrative Services, and others as defined by the Government. The ability to support secure communications within FENS Networking Capabilities, and between FENS Networking Capabilities and external networks (e.g., the Public Internet) is also required.

The justification for a direct award is summarized as follows:

Critical Timeline: This accelerated acquisition is required to support the December 2028 operational deadline for BNATCS. The current FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure network can no longer adequately support NAS operations or BNATCS requirements. A competitive procurement would require a minimum of 22 months, making the December 2028 deadline impossible to meet.

Strategic Decision for Tier-1 Provider: The FAA determined that direct engagement with a Tier-1 telecommunications provider (one that owns core network infrastructure) is essential for mission requirements, providing superior network resiliency, cost efficiencies, and simplified accountability.

Limited Market: Only three Tier-1 telecommunications providers exist in the United States. Competition given the critical timeline is not feasible to meet mission requirements, and AT&T is willing and ready to meet the FAA’s requirements.

Only Available Tier-1 Provider: AT&T is the only Tier-1 provider currently willing and able to commit resources to meet the BNATCS timeline.

FENS Program Knowledge: AT&T participated in the original 2020 FENS competitive procurement and recent FAA market research activities.

Existing FAA Relationships: AT&T currently supports FAA's ADS-B and Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) programs, providing familiarity with FAA telecommunications requirements and NAS infrastructure.

Technical Capability: AT&T possesses necessary Tier-1 core network infrastructure, nationwide footprint, network engineering expertise, and operational capabilities to support approximately 4,500 FAA facilities with 24/7/365 mission-critical operation.

Additionally, any of these factors standing alone would still result in the same decision.

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