Notice of Intent to Sole-Source - Memory Access Retrieval System (MARS)

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS, AN INVITATION FOR BIDS, OR A REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS. FURTHER, IT DOES NOT REPRESENT A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR COSTS INCURRED IN PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION OF DATA OR ANY OTHER COSTS INCURRED IN RESPONSE TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

The NTSB intends to award a sole source contract to APS Aerospace Corp to purchase the Memory Access Retrieval System (MARS).

The NTSB is mandated by federal law (49 USC 1116, 1131) to investigate and establish the facts, circumstances, and causes of all civil aviation accidents and serious incidents in the U.S., as well as defined accidents in other transportation modes. The NTSB’s Vehicle Recorder Division (RE-40) requires the capability to download data from a variety of vehicle recording devices, including Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVRs) and Flight Data Recorders (FDRs) to determine findings, recommendations, and the probable cause of an accident.

APS’s MARS system is a third-party system that complements manufacturer-provided tools that the NTSB already owns and uses on a regular basis. A non-manufacturer tool is important to provide the NTSB redundancy in case manufacturer tools fail, giving the agency a means to verify data from recorders using an independent tool when necessary. MARS can download recorders manufactured by L3, Honeywell, and Universal, with future support for additional manufacturers planned. MARS is also the only system currently capable of chip-level download of data from severely damaged FDRs and CVRs.

Without MARS, RE-40 will not have the ability to independently verify data downloaded from recorders and will not have a redundant means of downloading data should manufacturer tools fail or be unavailable. In such a situation, data recovery will be delayed and would likely require NTSB personnel to transport the recorder to a third party to read out the data, potentially at cost to the agency.

The intended sole source contract will be awarded in accordance with FAR 13.106- 1(b)(1), Soliciting from a single source. Contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name or industrial mobilization).

Sources capable of fully satisfying the above requirement are invited to submit a capability statement. At a minimum, this information, which must be prepared specifically in response to this notice must include: (1) identification of company or organization; (2) an assertion of existing, full capability to meet proposed requirements; (3) business/contracts/marketing office point(s) of contact; (4) notification of business size and /or special status; and (5) any additional information that may be useful to the successful procurement of the requirements, if solicited. The capability statement shall adhere to a five (5)-page submission limit plus web links and any specialized product descriptions. The statement of capabilities should include only information that clearly demonstrates the respondent's capabilities, expertise, and experience to provide the requirements described in this notice. General marketing material should not be included. The NTSB prefers that companies do not submit proprietary material. However, the Government recognizes that proprietary data may be a part of your submittal. If so, clearly mark such restricted or proprietary data and present it as an addendum to the non-restricted/non- proprietary information. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, which shall be considered by NTSB. Parties must submit information within ten (10) days of publication of this notice. NTSB will not return capability statements and the supporting documentation submitted in response to this notice. Telephone responses and inquiries will not be accepted.

You may email questions regarding this notice to the issuing office to P. Matt Hazlinsky via email at: matt.hazlinsky@ntsb.gov no later than 4:00pm EST on September 24, 2025. A contract is anticipated to be issued no later than September 30, 2025.