Air traffic control services and airport operations management. Find active federal and state air traffic control contracts — AI-scored against your profile across SAM.gov and 200+ portals.
Annual federal spend under NAICS 488111 is estimated at $2-3 billion, dominated by the FAA's Air Traffic Control (ATC) modernization and operations contracts. The DoD also procures ATC services for airfields, with the Army, Navy, and Air Force issuing separate contracts. Work is typically awarded via IDIQs and task orders, with some large one-off contracts for system development. Demand is driven by regulatory mandates (NextGen), aging infrastructure, and increased air traffic. Competition is high among large integrators, but small businesses can find opportunities in support services, tower operations, and training.
These agencies are the largest buyers of air traffic control services and products in the federal government. Each awards contracts under NAICS 488111 regularly — build relationships with their small business offices first.
To win ATC contracts, focus on FAA's acquisition pattern: they use a mix of small business set-asides (8(a), SDVOSB, HUBZone) for support services and training, while larger system integration contracts are full-and-open. The highest-leverage move for a small business is to pursue subcontracting opportunities with prime holders of FAA's large IDIQs (e.g., ATCT, STARS) and build past performance in tower operations or maintenance. Register in SAM and get a DUNS, but also actively seek teaming agreements with primes on FAA's eBuy.
ATC work is bought via LPTA for commoditized services (e.g., tower staffing) and best-value tradeoff for complex systems. Common vehicles include GSA Schedule 541 (Professional Services), FAA's eFAST, and DoD's IDIQs like AFCAP. Evaluation emphasizes past performance, technical approach, and safety record.
FAA requires contractors to have FAA-certified controllers for tower operations. For system development, ISO 9001 and CMMI certifications are often mandatory. Security clearances (Secret or Top Secret) may be needed for DoD contracts.
Yes, for ATC services, you need an FAA Air Traffic Control Tower Operator Certificate (ATCT) or equivalent. For equipment, you may need FCC licenses for radio frequencies. Check the solicitation for specific licensing requirements.
Award sizes vary widely: small tower operations contracts can be $1-5 million annually, while large system modernization IDIQs can exceed $500 million over 5-10 years. Task orders often range from $100,000 to $50 million.
Yes, but typically for support services (training, maintenance, staffing) rather than core ATC operations. Set-aside contracts under 8(a) or SDVOSB are available for smaller scopes. For major systems, small businesses usually subcontract.
For contracts over $150,000, Miller Act bonds (performance and payment) are required. Some FAA contracts may require bid bonds. Surety limits can be high; small businesses should seek SBA surety bond guarantees.