WASHINGTON - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced its intention to acquire new analog Very High Frequency (VHF) Maintenance Communications Transceivers (MCT) through a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA).
Through the BPA, the FAA will acquire both handheld and mobile MCT configurations. Included in this acquisition will also be transceiver accessories such as microphones, speakers, antennas, battery chargers, spare replacement parts, and other related accessories.
The primary objective of the MCT is to provide FAA Technical Operations System Support Specialists the ability to communicate via analog voice communications with Air Traffic Controllers, Flight Check Aircraft and other personnel. The MCT will replace an older generation of MCT operated Double Side Band Amplitude Modulation (DSB-AM) mode transceivers that only operate in the 25 kHz DSB-AM mode.
The FAA is stressing that this BPA is not a contract. A BPA is an agreement between FAA and the contractor that allows the FAA to place future orders more quickly by identifying terms and conditions applying to those orders.
This acquisition is limited to the acquisition of MCT radios manufactured by Icom Inc. - specifically the Icom A25N (handheld radio) and the Icom A120 (mobile radio) along with accessories and repair services. The FAA is planning to purchase approximately 3,000 handheld units and 3,000 mobile units plus accessories over the three-year period of performance. This acquisition is restricted to small business resellers.
For more information, please contact Jorge R. Martell of the FAA at [email protected].