SAM #2026_MarketSurvey_AJR_DefenderProgram

FAA seeks SaaS platform for next-generation tactical security flight tracking tool ('Defender')

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Headquarters (693JF9) is seeking information from industry regarding a commercially available Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform to replace its legacy Airspace Awareness and Detection System (AADS), with the new solution referred to as 'Defender.' - Government Buyer: - Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - Office: 693JF9 Headquarters - OEMs and Vendors: - No specific OEMs or vendors are named in the notice - Products/Services Requested: - Commercial SaaS platform for tactical security flight tracking ('Defender') - Must support real-time multi-source data ingestion - Advanced spatial filtering and map-centric capabilities - Role-based user hierarchies - Secure infrastructure with compliance to NIST 800-171/IL-4 equivalent - FedRAMP or AWS GovCloud certifications required - Sub-300ms latency for user interface interactions - Integration with external systems - Support for operational workflows for FAA, TSA, and other national security agencies - Unique or Notable Requirements: - Must handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Sensitive Federal Data (SFD) - Federal data rights must be maintained - Platform must be optimized for high-speed responsiveness and security - Designed for national defense and security of the National Airspace System (NAS)

Description

I.             INTRODUCTION / PURPOSE

The purpose of this Market Survey / Request for Information is to identify a commercially available Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution capable of meeting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operational requirements to replace the legacy air traffic monitoring system, Airspace Awareness and Detection System (AADS). 

The attached document establishes the AJR-2 high-level operational requirements for “Defender”  the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) next-generation tactical security flight tracking tool  and  defines the core capabilities necessary for FAA and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) mission use, including real-time multi-source data ingestion, advanced spatial filtering, and role-based user hierarchies. Furthermore, it outlines the essential operational workflows, external system integrations, and development milestones required to deliver a secure, map-centric application optimized for high-speed responsiveness.

 II.          NATURE OF COMPETITION

The FAA may consider the responses provided to this RFI to develop FAA's acquisition strategy.

III.          BACKGROUND

The Airspace Awareness and Detection System (AADS) is a mission-critical tracking platform used by more than 1,100 active users across the FAA, TSA, DoD, and other agencies to monitor the NAS. Since 2021, AADS has been maintained in a sustainment-only posture due to funding constraints and runs on obsolete hardware.  Consequently, new mission requirements—including integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Commercial Space Operations—remain on hold. The planned software effort will provide a chronological roadmap to design, integrate, and deploy core capabilities required for FAA and TSA missions, delivering a highly responsive, map-centric application supported by secure infrastructure and real-time data ingestion pipelines.

The National Airspace System (NAS) Defense Program (NDP) is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) system that provides the Department of Defense (DoD) and other National Security related groups with the necessary information to support their missions. Airspace Awareness and Detection System (AADS) is a website accessible to National Security Agencies that consumes publicly available data from various systems and also includes Aircraft Registry and TSA data. AADS then correlates the various source data with aircraft positional track data to provide a complete situational awareness of that aircraft, its owner, and its operator. It links real-time aircraft flight tracks with registry and security data to provide complete airspace monitoring threat detection and overall situational awareness. And it combines live aircraft position tracking with data from the FAA Aircraft Registry and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).  The FAA and ATO will now create the Defender program to replace AADS. This platform will be a national security tool that is used among various Federal agencies in support of National defense to include Security of the NAS.  Procuring the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform will offer a modern solution to replace the outdated AADS.

V.           REQUESTED INFORMATION / QUESTIONS TO INDUSTRY

 Please address the following questions in your market survey responses. It is not required to answer every question.

Provide any experience and performance related to software-as-a- service and cloud based systems  Is the product pure SaaS with architecture prepared to handle CUI/SFD data (NIST 800-171/IL-4 equivalent) Is FAA afforded the opportunity to see a demonstration of the product Describe rights of ownership of all input, transactional, and generated data Is your standard commercial licensing agreement modified to reflect federal data rights Describe any experience with the National Airspace System Operations Describe any certifications such as Fedramp or AWS Gov Cloud Describe any map-centric capabilities for complete Global NAS viewing Is your product able to optimize domain modeling which ensures UI interactions, spatial filtering to meet the sub-300ms latency requirement

VI.          LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

Attachment 1: Defender Requirements Document

VII.         SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Responses must be submitted via email no later than 3pm on Sept 2, 2026  to the following emails:

lucinda.davis@faa.gov and matthew.thompson@faa.gov.  

 Responses will not be returned.

The FAA is not seeking proprietary material. 

The FAA is not seeking marketing material.

Any and all material submitted – whether proprietary or not – may be used to develop FAA’s acquisition strategy. If respondents do not want specific information used in this manner, then such information should not be submitted. 

Providing a response to this Request for Information neither qualifies respondents for, nor excludes respondents from, responding to a resulting SIR, if any.

The FAA may contact one, some, all, or none of the respondents to the RFI to ask for additional information. This may include, but is not limited to, demonstrations of previously developed tools that companies choose to describe in their responses.

Please limit your responses to 10 pages. All questions must be sent to both Lucinda Davis and Matthew Thompson.

                                                             Government Points of Contact Information:

 Lucinda Davis - AAQ-250 - Contracting Officer       Matthew Thompson - AJR-223 - Technical Point of Contact                                                                           

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