Action Kit: FAA/DOD Data Silos and DCA Crash NTSB Report

Event Type: Policy Change

Severity: MEDIUM

Affected Contractors: Aviation safety systems, data analytics, IT services, defense contractors supporting FAA/DOD safety programs

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Immediate Actions (This Week)

• [ ] Review active contracts and task orders with FAA, DOD (especially Army), and NTSB to identify any deliverables related to safety data collection, flight safety monitoring, or inter-agency data sharing
• [ ] Audit current data management practices for any aviation safety or flight operations support contracts to ensure compliance with existing FAA SMS and DOD Flight Safety Program requirements
• [ ] Identify gaps in your capability statements related to inter-agency data integration, safety management systems, and risk assessment analytics—these will be high-demand capabilities
• [ ] Brief your capture and BD teams on the NTSB findings and anticipated solicitation themes around data interoperability, safety analytics, and cross-agency information sharing
• [ ] Check your CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) and NIST 800-171 (NIST Special Publication 800-171) compliance posture if you handle CUI (Controlled Unclassified Information) related to flight safety data—expect heightened scrutiny on data protection controls given the inter-agency data sharing focus

Short-Term Actions (30 Days)

• [ ] Develop or update technical approaches for safety data integration solutions that address the specific NTSB recommendations (improved data analysis, inter-agency information sharing protocols, enhanced flight safety monitoring)
• [ ] Engage with your contracting officers on existing FAA and Army aviation contracts to understand if modifications or new requirements are being considered in response to the NTSB report
• [ ] Strengthen teaming relationships with partners who have complementary capabilities in data analytics, safety management systems, and aviation operations—multi-disciplinary teams will be favored for upcoming opportunities
• [ ] Update your past performance narratives to highlight any experience with inter-agency data sharing, safety data analytics, or risk assessment systems—even if not aviation-specific
• [ ] Monitor SAM.gov (System for Award Management) and agency forecast sites (particularly FAA and Army) for pre-solicitation notices related to safety data systems, flight safety monitoring, or inter-agency collaboration platforms
• [ ] Review your ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) compliance program if you support defense aviation operations—data sharing requirements may intersect with controlled technical data protocols
• ] **Conduct a capability gap analysis** against the [CMMC Compliance Guide (/insights/cmmc-compliance-guide) to ensure your data protection controls meet the likely requirements for handling sensitive safety data across agency boundaries

Long-Term Actions (90+ Days)

• [ ] Invest in R&D or capability development for AI/ML-driven safety data analytics, predictive risk assessment tools, and automated inter-agency data integration platforms—these will be differentiators in future competitions
• [ ] Pursue relevant certifications and accreditations such as FAA SMS implementation experience, DOD Flight Safety Program familiarity, and advanced NIST 800-53 control implementation for moderate/high impact systems
• [ ] Build strategic partnerships with agencies' existing safety system integrators and data platform providers to position for prime or key subcontractor roles on anticipated modernization efforts
• [ ] Develop case studies and white papers demonstrating your approach to solving inter-agency data silos, particularly in safety-critical environments—use these as thought leadership tools in capture campaigns
• [ ] Establish a dedicated capture pipeline for aviation safety and data integration opportunities across FAA, Army, and other DOD components—this will be a sustained area of investment
• ] **Enhance your security operations** following the [Secure Operations Guide (/insights/secure-operations-guide) to ensure your infrastructure can handle the sensitive, multi-agency data environments these contracts will require
• ] **Implement a CUI-compliant CRM and proposal system** using guidance from the [CUI-Safe CRM Guide (/insights/cui-safe-crm-guide)—you'll need to demonstrate secure handling of safety data throughout the capture and proposal process

Compliance Checklist

Given the NTSB findings and anticipated regulatory response, contractors should verify compliance with:

• [ ] NIST 800-171 Rev 2 (or Rev 3 when finalized) — All 110+ controls for protecting CUI, particularly access control (AC), audit and accountability (AU), and system and information integrity (SI) families
• [ ] CMMC Level 2 (minimum) — Required for DOD contracts handling CUI; expect CMMC Level 3 requirements for high-sensitivity flight safety data systems
• [ ] FAA Safety Management System (SMS) Requirements — Four-component framework (safety policy, safety risk management, safety assurance, safety promotion) per 14 CFR Part 5
• [ ] DOD Flight Safety Program (DODI 6055.07) — Mishap reporting, data collection, and analysis requirements for defense aviation operations
• [ ] NIST 800-53 Rev 5 Moderate Baseline (minimum) — For systems processing safety-critical data; high baseline likely for inter-agency safety data platforms
• [ ] ITAR Compliance (22 CFR Parts 120-130) — If handling technical data related to defense articles or military aircraft systems
• [ ] Data sharing agreements and MOUs — Ensure your contracts include clear protocols for inter-agency data exchange, data ownership, and security requirements
• [ ] Incident response and breach notification procedures — Per DFARS (Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement) 252.204-7012 and FAA cybersecurity requirements for safety-critical systems

Resources

• NTSB Final Report on DCA Midair Collision (https://www.ntsb.gov/) — Review full findings and recommendations
• FAA Safety Management System (SMS) Guidance (https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/sms) — 14 CFR Part 5 requirements and implementation guidance
• DOD Flight Safety Program (DODI 6055.07) (https://www.esd.whs.mil/DD/) — Defense aviation safety requirements
• NIST 800-171 Rev 2 (https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-171/rev-2/final) — Protecting CUI in nonfederal systems
• CMMC Model 2.0 (https://dodcio.defense.gov/CMMC/) — Cybersecurity maturity requirements for defense contractors
• NIST 800-53 Rev 5 (https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-53/rev-5/final) — Security and privacy controls for information systems
• Secure Operations Guide (/insights/secure-operations-guide) — Cabrillo Club's comprehensive security framework
• CMMC Compliance Guide (/insights/cmmc-compliance-guide) — Step-by-step CMMC preparation and assessment guidance
• CUI-Safe CRM Guide (/insights/cui-safe-crm-guide) — Implementing compliant business systems for CUI handling

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How Cabrillo Club Automates This

Cabrillo Signals War Room has already detected this NTSB report release and delivered this briefing within minutes of publication. The platform continuously monitors NTSB findings, FAA policy updates, DOD flight safety directives, and related regulatory changes across federal sources. You didn't need to manually track agency websites or set up dozens of RSS feeds—War Room identified the DCA crash report, analyzed its implications for government contractors, tagged the relevant NAICS codes (541512, 541330, 336411, etc.), mapped it to affected agencies (FAA, DOD, Army), and delivered this actionable intelligence directly to your dashboard. This ensures you're always first to know when policy shifts create new compliance requirements or business opportunities.

Cabrillo Signals Match Engine automatically rescored your opportunity pipeline the moment this event was detected. If you're tracking solicitations related to aviation safety systems, data analytics for DOD, or FAA IT modernization, those opportunities just became more competitive and more aligned with agency priorities. Match Engine updated keyword relevance scores for terms like "inter-agency data sharing," "flight safety monitoring," and "safety management systems," and adjusted agency alignment scores for FAA and Army opportunities. Your capture team can now prioritize the opportunities most likely to incorporate the NTSB's recommendations without manually re-evaluating every lead in your pipeline.

Cabrillo Signals Intelligence Hub has already tagged this event with the affected agencies (FAA, DOD, Army, NTSB), NAICS codes (541512 for computer systems design, 541330 for engineering services, 336411 for aircraft manufacturing, etc.), and contract vehicles (OASIS+, ASTRO, GSA (General Services Administration) Schedule 70). Use the saved search feature to configure alerts for follow-on solicitations matching this profile—when FAA or Army post RFIs or RFPs for safety data integration platforms or flight safety monitoring systems, you'll be notified immediately. The Intelligence Hub connects policy events like this NTSB report directly to procurement activity, so you can move from insight to capture action without manual research.

Proposal Studio (Proposal OS) helps you respond to the anticipated solicitations stemming from this event. When FAA or DOD release RFPs for safety data analytics or inter-agency information sharing platforms, Proposal OS generates compliance matrices automatically, cross-referencing the NTSB recommendations with solicitation requirements. The AI-powered technical approach generator pulls from your past performance database to draft solution narratives addressing data silos, safety management systems, and risk assessment—exactly the themes highlighted in the NTSB report. The bid/no-bid decision engine factors in this policy shift automatically, scoring opportunities higher when they align with the newly prioritized agency needs around aviation safety data integration.

Proposal Studio Workflow Tracker ensures your capture and proposal teams execute on these opportunities with full compliance rigor. When you move an FAA safety data system opportunity into active pursuit, Workflow Tracker automatically routes CMMC and NIST 800-171 compliance reviews to your contracts and security teams, tracks ITAR compliance verification if defense aviation data is involved, and generates audit-ready documentation packages for your FAA SMS and DOD Flight Safety Program compliance posture. The 9-gate capture management framework keeps your team aligned from initial opportunity identification through post-submission, with automated reminders for teaming agreements, past performance submissions, and security certification updates.

Ready to turn this policy shift into pipeline growth? Explore how Cabrillo Club's integrated platform transforms regulatory intelligence into capture advantage—from detection to proposal submission, all in one compliant environment.

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