FAA Wants Two More UAS Test Sites
The FAA has issued a Screening Information Request (SIR) 697DCK-26-R-00019 for the FAA Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Site (UASTS) Selection 2.0.
This procurement is in support of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Advanced Air Mobility Integration Office (AUS).
The FAA-designated Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Test Site (UASTS) program originated via the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-95) and is currently codified in 49 U.S.C. § 44803 (“Unmanned aircraft system test ranges”).
After conducting a competitive selection process, the FAA designated six UAS Test Sites, which became operational in 2014 and began to conduct test flights. In 2016, the FAA added a seventh test site as mandated by the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016.
The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (P.L. 118-63) recently updated the UASTS program and under 49 U.S.C. § 44803(a)(2)(B) established that the “Administrator may select and designate as a test range under this section up to 2 additional test ranges . . . through a competitive selection process”.
The FAA may select and designate up to two additional test sites for expansion to the existing UASTS program. The FAA is seeking partners who can meet all requirements set forth as responsibilities of test range sponsors in 49 U.S.C. § 44803(e), as well as partners who have demonstrated expertise and future plans in the focus areas outlined in the Executive Order mandates. Selected Test Sites will be expected to demonstrate advances in technological capabilities as well as operational concepts and comply with the resulting OTA, a draft version of which is included as an attachment for review with this SIR.
The objective of the FAA UAS test site program is to enable a broad variety of development, testing, and evaluation activities related to public and civil UAS and associated technologies; and to the extent consistent with aviation safety and efficiency, support the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems into the NAS.
The FAA intends to conduct this competitive selection process through a phased proposal submission and phased evaluation process, with the potential to authorize and designate up to two new UAS Test Sites.
The FAA intends to competitively award up to two (2) Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) with SLTTs under this SIR.
The Government will make OTA awards to the Offeror’s determined to best meet the selection criteria which are included in this SIR and reflected in the evaluation of the proposals.
Source: SAM.gov
