FAA Seeks Industry Input on Domestic Datalink Services Ahead of Potential Acquisition

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is conducting market research for domestic air-to-ground datalink services through a planned Domestic Datalink Services (DDLS) Industry Day at FAA Headquarters in Washington, District of Columbia. Scheduled for December 8–10, 2026, the event is intended to help the agency understand industry capabilities and shape acquisition planning and requirements. The FAA’s notice describes the activity as market research, not a solicitation, so it does not establish a current request for proposals or guarantee that a procurement will follow.

Companies interested in providing input must submit capability statements by November 10, 2026. The FAA may invite some respondents to participate in one-on-one discussions, offering selected firms a further opportunity to explain relevant capabilities and potential approaches. Those discussions and Industry Day participation should be treated as market-research engagement rather than a competitive evaluation or assurance of future contract access. Firms should follow the notice’s submission instructions and present information that directly addresses the services and monitoring scope under consideration.

The potential requirement may cover end-to-end domestic air-to-ground datalink services and monitoring. The FAA is considering a contract structure of up to 10 years, which could make service continuity, lifecycle support, and transition planning important areas for industry to address. The notice identifies the existing Domestic Communications Service (DCIS) contract as expiring on September 30, 2029. That date is a planning consideration for a possible future transition; it does not, by itself, establish a solicitation schedule, award date, or final requirement.

For prospective vendors, this is an early-stage opportunity to help inform the government’s understanding of the market before requirements are finalized. Companies should assess whether they can support the full service scope, including monitoring, and explain how their capabilities could support a transition from the existing DCIS arrangement while maintaining service continuity. The most useful response is likely to be specific about technical and operational capabilities relevant to domestic air-to-ground datalink services. Because the FAA has not issued a solicitation, firms should avoid treating the potential 10-year structure or anticipated transition as settled procurement terms and monitor subsequent agency notices for changes or formal acquisition actions.

• Capability statements are due November 10, 2026. Interested firms should submit by the stated deadline to be considered for possible follow-up discussions.
• The FAA’s DDLS Industry Day is scheduled for December 8–10, 2026, at FAA Headquarters in Washington, District of Columbia.
• The activity is market research, not a solicitation; participation does not guarantee a procurement or future award.
• The FAA is seeking input to shape acquisition planning and requirements for domestic air-to-ground datalink services.
• The contemplated scope may include end-to-end services and monitoring, making full-scope delivery capabilities relevant to respondents.
• The agency is considering a potential contract of up to 10 years; this is under consideration and is not a finalized contract term.
• The existing DCIS contract is stated to expire September 30, 2029, a date the FAA identifies as relevant to transition planning.
• The FAA may invite some capability-statement respondents to one-on-one discussions, but selection for a discussion is not a guarantee of a later procurement outcome.
• Prospective vendors should describe relevant service capabilities and transition considerations while monitoring for any formal solicitation or updated acquisition information.