Materials Compatibility Test and Evaluation Services in support of Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI) and Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) programs

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued Solicitation Number 697DCK-26-R-00186, a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Materials Compatibility Testing. This initiative supports the Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI) and Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) programs. The contractor will provide technical, engineering, analytical, planning, and administrative support, including laboratory testing services in accordance with the project's Statement of Work. The contract involves both non-severable and severable research, with an optional line item for additional fuel testing labor support. The period of performance is from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028. The solicitation emphasizes adherence to FAA clauses, confidentiality of data, and specific invoicing and employment verification procedures. Key dates include a question due date of May 29, 2026, and an offeror due date of June 18, 2026, both at 1500 hrs ET.

This Statement of Work outlines materials compatibility testing for the FAA's Piston Aviation Fuels Initiative (PAFI) and Eliminate Aviation Gasoline Lead Emissions (EAGLE) programs. The objective is to identify unleaded fuel replacements for 100LL aviation gasoline by 2030, without compromising safety. The contractor will provide technical, engineering, and administrative support, including facilities and equipment, to perform extensive compatibility tests on various aircraft materials and fuel systems using both 100LL and FAA-provided unleaded fuels. Key deliverables include a post-award conference, weekly status updates, a detailed program schedule, monthly reports, raw test data, and final test reports for each material. The contractor is responsible for proper fuel handling, retention, and disposal, adhering to strict safety, intellectual property, and regulatory requirements. The FAA will provide specific materials and cover shipping/disposal costs for unleaded fuels. The period of performance is 36 months, with testing conducted in the Continental United States.

This government file, Attachment 2-Pricing Spreadsheet, outlines a comprehensive list of material and labor testing services related to fuel-wetted materials and systems. The document details various Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs) for testing categories such as metallic materials, non-metallic materials (slab stock and finished parts), paint systems, polysulfide sealants, fabric systems, O-rings, aircraft hoses, distribution hoses, lining, filters/coalescers, fuel bladders, resin pre-screening, finished composites property testing, vendor-supplied material tests, and several RTP (Rig Test Procedure) cold flow, storage stability, cold storage freezer, dynamic diaphragm, and sump drain valve tests. Each material test CLIN is offered for single or two unleaded fuels and baseline fluid/fuel, with some RTP tests also including a three-unleaded fuel option. The FAA anticipates awarding a maximum of one CLIN per test type/series, based on the number of fuels tested. Additionally, the file includes labor CLINs (022-027) for Project Leads and Senior Researchers to provide additional PAFI/EAGLE/Test support over 12, 24, and 36-month periods, with one or more of these labor CLINs being awarded at FAA discretion. The document serves as a pricing framework for these specialized testing and support services.

The Performance Questionnaire is a government document designed to solicit feedback on contractor performance for source selection processes. It is divided into sections for the offeror and the evaluating organization representative. The offeror provides contract details such as name, address, contract number, dates, total value, type, and a description of requirements. The evaluating organization representative assesses the contractor across seven key areas: Quality of Products and Services, Performance, Technical Requirements, Schedule, Cost Control, Customer Satisfaction, and an Overall Assessment. Each area is rated using a scale from Exceptional to Not Observed, with options for Very Good, Satisfactory, Marginal, and Unsatisfactory. The document also includes spaces for evaluator's name, position, organization, phone number, and months performance monitored, along with a section for general comments. This questionnaire is a critical tool for federal, state, and local government entities to evaluate contractor capabilities and past performance in the context of RFPs and grants.