The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced a new phase in the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) plan to modernize the country’s air traffic control system. Secretary Sean P. Duffy said that the FAA is seeking proposals for a Prime Integrator who will oversee the construction of a new air traffic control system, with submissions due by September 21, 2025.
The procurement process has been accelerated and features an innovative contract structure designed to hold the selected integrator accountable for missed deadlines and incentivize performance.
“This is the next important step to making our skies safer and air travel more efficient. To avoid the missed deadlines and mistakes of the past, we’ve designed an innovative process to select and contract with one Prime Integrator,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “The bottom line: we are working at the speed of Trump, and we will not let government bureaucracy get in the way of results.”
“Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill, we have the down payment to start building a new system. The next step is getting the integrator on board, and we are on track,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “We are ready to get to work to make sure our controllers have the very best technology.”
Secretary Duffy has identified both hiring more air traffic controllers and constructing a state-of-the-art control system as priorities for his administration.
According to DOT officials, replacing current infrastructure will improve safety, reduce delays, and support advances in air travel. The modernization effort includes upgrades or replacements for radar systems, software, hardware, and telecommunications networks within FAA facilities across the country. The goal is to provide more reliable technology for air traffic controllers while improving efficiency and reducing outages.
The Prime Integrator chosen through this process will be responsible for managing these efforts—from acquiring needed capabilities to deploying new technologies nationwide.
More information about submitting proposals can be found at https://sam.gov.
