Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
Fort Bliss Air Traffic Control Services
Department of Defense · Department of the Army
AI summaryThe Army's Mission and Installation Contracting Command at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, for U.S. Army Garrison Fort Bliss, wants a small business to provide air traffic control (ATC) services at Fort Bliss, Texas, around the clock. It is a request for proposals (RFP) set aside for small businesses. The response due date is November 4, 2026, 12:00 PM Pacific (3:00 PM Eastern). The current schedule has a 21-day phase-in, an 11-month base period and four 12-month option periods. More in the summary
AI summary Beta
This summary may miss requirements: 15 of 27 attachments weren't read (W911S826RA015 Amend 0001.pdf, J16_CBA_PATCO-Techwise_23MAR2024.pdf and 13 more). Check the attachments on SAM.gov.
The Army's Mission and Installation Contracting Command at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, for U.S. Army Garrison Fort Bliss, wants a small business to provide air traffic control (ATC) services at Fort Bliss, Texas, around the clock. It is a request for proposals (RFP) set aside for small businesses. The response due date is November 4, 2026, 12:00 PM Pacific (3:00 PM Eastern). The current schedule has a 21-day phase-in, an 11-month base period and four 12-month option periods.
Who can bid (4)
- Be a small business for NAICS 488111 (Air Traffic Control); the SAM.gov set-aside is Small Business Set Aside - Total
- All air traffic control staff need an active SECRET (Tier 3) security clearance for the life of the contract; an interim SECRET is allowed until the final one is granted
- Hold a current CMMC Level 2 (Self) status in SPRS before award for each system that handles federal contract information or controlled unclassified information (from the RFP's DFARS 252.204-7025 provision)
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- Staff must be U.S. citizens or otherwise authorized, with background checks for installation access (the PWS table of contents lists a U.S. citizen or authorization section)
Things to watch (9)
From the version posted Oct 20, 2026.
- Serious: Small business set-aside. Only small businesses under NAICS 488111 can bid; the size standard was not shown in the text that was read.
- Serious: SECRET clearance for every controller. You need a staff of cleared air traffic controllers ready to work; an interim SECRET is accepted only until the final one is adjudicated.
- Serious: Short phase-in with a cleared-staff roster. The conformed copy gives 21 days to transition in (the original RFP said 2 months), and the roster of cleared staff is due at the start of that period.
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- Serious: 24/7/365 staffing including holidays. The tower and AIC must never lack coverage, so you need enough qualified staff for three shifts, Sundays and every federal holiday.
- Serious: Cybersecurity certification required before award. The RFP requires a current CMMC Level 2 (Self) status in SPRS for any system holding federal contract information or controlled unclassified information, or you are not eligible for award.
- Worth checking: Contract type described two ways. The priced line items say firm-fixed-price, but the PWS says the Government will award a fixed-price indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract; ask the contracting officer which applies.
- Worth checking: Past performance references with a questionnaire. You must send a reference sheet per example and have your references return questionnaires directly to the Government, so line them up early.
- Worth checking: Key personnel, resumes and flight physicals. The PWS table of contents lists key personnel, resumes and certifications, and Class IV flight physicals for controllers; the details were not in the text that was read.
- Minor: Background checks for base access. Each employee needs a favorably adjudicated background check before getting a Common Access Card (CAC, the Army ID card).
Read from the notice and 12 attachments. 15 of 27 not read. Show which files.
- Conformed Copy of W911S826RA015 thru Amend 0001.pdf (read)
- Bliss_ATC_RFP_W911S826RA015.pdf (read)
- J01_ATC_PWS_FINAL_15OCT2026.docx (read)
- J01_PWS_11SEP2026.docx (read)
- J04_PWS_Attachment_3_Equipment_Listing_23JUL2026.pdf (read)
- L03_Performance_Assessment_Questionnaire_Cover_Letter.docx (read)
- J05_PWS_Attachment_4_Airfield_Small_UAS_SOP_14APR2025.pdf (read)
- J08_PWS_Attachment_7_BAAF_SOP_11DEC2023.pdf (read)
- L04_Performance Assessment Questionnaire.docx (read)
- J07_PWS_Attachment_6_SUAS_Incursion_Checklist_29APR2026.pdf (read)
- J15_DD254_5AUG2026.pdf (read)
- L02_Specific_Relevant_Contract_Reference_Sheet.docx (read)
- W911S826RA015 Amend 0001.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- J16_CBA_PATCO-Techwise_23MAR2024.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- J04_PWS_Attachment_3_Equipment_Listing_23JUL2026.docx: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- J03_PWS_Attachment_2_Deliverables_23JUL2026.docx: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- J06_PWS_Attachment_5_AIC_SUAS_Incursion_Checklist_1APR2025.docx: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- J02_PWS_Attachment_1_PRS_23JUL2026.docx: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- J10_PWS_Attachment_9_DA_FORM_3479_OCT2019.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- J14_PWS_Attachment_13_DA_FORM_3503_OCT2019.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- J17_WD_2015-5229_Rev31_27AUG2026.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- J09_PWS_Attachment_8_DA_FORM_2696_OCT2013.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- J11_PWS_Attachment_10_DA_FORM_3479-1R_JUN2003.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- L01_Subcontractor_Consent_Form.docx: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- J13_PWS_Attachment_12_DA_FORM_3502-R_JUN2003.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- J12_PWS_Attachment_11_DA_FORM_3479-6_JUN2003.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
- RFP Questions and Answers.pdf: not summarized: open it on SAM.gov
Full summary
What they want
- Run a non-approach-control tower at Biggs Army Airfield (BAAF) and an Airspace Information Center (AIC) that tracks flights over Fort Bliss airspace, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, including federal holidays
- Staff three daily shifts. Priced lines cover 1st shift Monday to Friday 0800-1600, 2nd and 3rd shifts Monday to Saturday, Sunday shifts, federal holiday shifts (10 Days in the base period, 11 Days in each option period) and site management
- Have every controller hold an active SECRET clearance (an interim clearance is allowed until the final one is granted)
- Monitor, coordinate and de-conflict drone (unmanned aircraft system, UAS) flights with manned aircraft, and report unauthorized drones; written incident report within 5 calendar days
- Train designated military controllers on the job and give position-qualification training to any military staff added during exercises
- Send a quality control plan (QCP: how you check your own work) within 30 days after award (Deliverable A001)
- Take over in a 21-day phase-in (QTY 21 Days) and hand over in a 7-day phase-out (QTY 7 Days) at the end
- Contract type
- Firm-fixed-price (FFP: one set price, whatever the work ends up costing) line items on the Standard Form 1449; the performance work statement (PWS) calls it a fixed-price indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract
- Period of performance
- Per the conformed copy through Amendment 0001: 21-day phase-in, 11-month base period, four 12-month option periods, 7-day phase-out, and up to 6 more months of extension at the Government's choice (original RFP: 2-month phase-in, 10-month base)
- Place of performance
- Fort Bliss, TX: Biggs Army Airfield tower (building 13488) and backup site (building 11210)
- Estimated value
- Not stated
- Offers due
- November 4, 2026, 12:00 PM Pacific (3:00 PM Eastern)
What they'll judge offers on
- Price (Factor 3)
- Past performance on same or similar air traffic control contracts, shown by reference sheets and questionnaires returned by your references
What to include when you submit
- Complete the Standard Form 1449 (SF 1449: the form you sign and return as your offer), including blocks 12, 17, 23, 24 and 30, and price every line item
- Send a Specific Relevant Contract Reference Sheet (Attachment L2) for each past performance example; the sheet lists the prime contractor if you were a subcontractor or teaming partner
- Each reference narrative covers a program description, technical performance, quality effort, security problems if any, management of goals and schedules, and major program risks
- Ask each reference to return the Performance Assessment Questionnaire (Attachment L4) to the contracting office by email (thomas.r.williams60.civ@army.mil), no later than 15 days after receiving the request or the RFP closing date, whichever comes first
- Give the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) unique identifiers from the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) for each system that handles federal contract information or controlled unclassified information
- Limits on how many past performance examples to send and their page counts are in Addendum paragraph L.7.2.4.6, which was not read
- Where and how to submit, and the full proposal format, are in the RFP instructions, which were only partly read
After award, you must have
- Give the Government a roster of cleared staff at the start of the phase-in period (Deliverable A002)
Not in the notice text
- Most of the RFP and conformed copy are only partly read (the middle of each, with Sections L and M: proposal instructions, evaluation factors and the full clause list, was left out). Amendment 0001 and the RFP Questions and Answers file are attached but not read; they are on SAM.gov.
- Where and how to submit offers, the question deadline, page limits and whether Amendment 0001 changed the response due date are not in the text that was read.
- The full evaluation method and factor order are not in the text that was read.
- Attached but not read: the performance requirements summary (J02), deliverables schedule (J03), forms, a wage determination (J17_WD_2015-5229_Rev31_27AUG2026.pdf) and a collective bargaining agreement (J16_CBA_PATCO-Techwise_23MAR2024.pdf); check wage rates and any labor terms there.
- The DD Form 254 (J15, the security classification specification) could not be read, so any facility clearance requirement is unknown.
- The SBA size standard for NAICS 488111 and the Government's estimate are not shown.
Eligibility and how to respond
- Set aside for small businesses: only a business that counts as small under this notice's NAICS code can bid as the prime contractor. More open small business set-asides under NAICS 488111
- How and where to submit is in the notice text and its attachments on SAM.gov.
- Service contracts usually set minimum pay rates (the Service Contract Act). Price the labor with the SCA price calculator.
Notice details
- Posted
- Oct 20, 2026
- Notice type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- Office
- W6QM MICC-JB Lewis-MC Chord, Joint Base Lewis MCCH, WA
- Product/service code
- M1BA · Operation of Air Traffic Control Towers
- Business type
- Transportation, logistics & vehicles (FedReady's grouping, from NAICS 488111)
- Versions
2 versions have been posted, newest first.
- Oct 20, 2026 · Amendment 0001 (this version)Due Nov 4, 2026 (changed)
- Sep 30, 2026 · Combined Synopsis/SolicitationDue Oct 31, 2026
- Attachments
Past awards and competition
Who has won work like this before, the likely incumbent, and what similar contracts paid, from USAspending.gov.
Before you respond
- How to respond to a solicitation (8 steps)
- How to read a government solicitation
- How to price a government contract
- Set-aside contracts explained
Terms on this notice: Solicitation, Set-aside
Full notice text from SAM.gov
20 Oct 2026 - The purpose of this change is to post Amendment 0001 and associated documents. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial services prepared in accordance with part 12. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Offers are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation number W911S826RA015 is issued as a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Air Traffic Control Services at Fort Bliss, TX. This acquisition is set-aside for small business concerns. This solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses by reference. The full text of provisions and clauses may be accessed electronically at www.acquisition.gov. Please see the attached solicitation for the following information: • A list of line-item number(s) and items, quantities, and units of measure (including option(s), if applicable). • Description of requirements for the services to be acquired. • Date(s) and place(s) of delivery and acceptance and f.o.b. point. • A list of solicitation provisions that apply to the acquisition. • A list of contract clauses that apply to the acquisition. • The date, time, and place for receipt of offer and point of contact. • Any other additional information.