The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has made a direct award of an definitized single award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract number 693KA8-26-D-00018 to Frequentis USA, Inc, for Digital Remote Towers. This award was made using tview on SAM.gov

Section 161 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 laid the groundwork for the development and implementation of remote tower systems (RTSs) to support the modernization of air traffic control services. This initiative aims to explore and deploy RT technology as a cost-effective and efficient alternative to traditional air traffic control towers (ATCTs), particularly in rural and small community airports. The RT program is designed to enhance the FAA's ability to integrate innovative technologies into the National Airspace System (NAS) while maintaining the highest standards of safety and efficiency. RTs provide Visual Flight Rules (VFR) services that extend air traffic control capabilities to underserved areas. The RT program supports the modernization of ATCT infrastructures and promotes cost efficient tower solutions at VFR airports within the (NAS). The program facilitates the evaluation and deployment of RTs, ensuring that they seamlessly transition into real-world operational environments. This initiative supports the FAA's mission to modernize air traffic management and maintain safety and efficiency across the NAS. Under FAA direction and safety oversight, selected airports will integrate and operationalize RT technology, leveraging the insights gained from the System Design Approval (SDA) at the Tech Center. Additional research goals and objectives for government-funded activities may be outlined for sites in specific tasks under the IDIQ. This will help the government evaluate and improve RT technologies in its efforts to continually improve the safety and efficiency of the NAS. This will support the collection and analysis of data essential for: 1. Optimizing RT operations within a multi-runway operational environment. 2. Evaluating the performance and reliability of remote sensing and communication technologies under varied operational conditions. 3. Assessing the infrastructure requirements and scalability of RTS in broader deployment and diverse airport settings. 4. Collecting operational data to inform future policy, safety approvals and implementation decisions. Justification for a Direct Award is summarized as follows: Frequentis (FRQ) is an established global provider of air traffic management and RT solutions. FRQ has deployed digital tower systems internationally and specializes in mission-critical communication and control systems for aviation environments. FRQ has worked in coordination with the FAA and the William J. Hughes Technical Center to develop, and configure, a RTS aligned with FAA safety, human factors, and operational requirements. The FRQ RTS is the only solution that has progressed through the FAA's SDA process to date. While other vendors offer RT technologies globally, no other system has achieved comparable advancement within the FAA's design approval and integration framework. Selecting an alternative vendor at this stage would require duplicative design approval activities, additional technical evaluation, …