WHAT IS THIS?

This is a long-term contract worth $1.7 billion between the U.S. Department of Transportation and The MITRE Corporation, a nonprofit research organization. Under this contract, MITRE runs a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) called the Center for Advanced Aviation System Development (CAASD), which provides technical research and expert advice to help improve the national air traffic control and aviation system.

WHY WAS THIS FUNDED?

FFRDCs (Federally Funded Research and Development Centers) are authorized by the federal government to give agencies access to long-term, specialized technical expertise that is difficult to maintain inside the government itself. The Department of Transportation uses this contract to get independent, ongoing research support for managing and modernizing the U.S. air traffic system.

WHAT PUBLIC PROBLEM IS IT TRYING TO SOLVE?

The U.S. air traffic control system handles millions of flights each year, and keeping it safe, efficient, and up to date requires highly specialized engineering and research that the government needs outside help to perform. This contract addresses the need to continuously improve aviation safety, reduce delays, and modernize aging technology in the national airspace.

WHO BENEFITS?

All Americans who fly, as well as airlines and cargo companies, benefit from a safer and more efficient air traffic system. The contract also supports the technical workforce at MITRE and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees who rely on CAASD research to do their jobs.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

Because this is a sole-source FFRDC contract with one organization over more than a decade, there is limited competition, which can reduce pressure to control costs and deliver results efficiently. Oversight of whether the research produced genuine improvements to aviation safety and operations is essential but may be difficult for the public to verify.

WHAT HAPPENS IF FUNDING IS REMOVED?

Without this contract, the FAA and Department of Transportation would lose a primary source of independent, long-term technical research for modernizing air traffic systems. This could slow down aviation safety improvements and make it harder to upgrade aging technology in the national airspace.

ARGUMENTS FOR

• •CAASD provides specialized, independent research that helps keep the U.S. air traffic system among the safest and most complex in the world.
• •FFRDC arrangements allow the government to access deep technical expertise over many years without the high cost of building and maintaining that expertise entirely within the government.
• •Long-term aviation research benefits every American who travels by air, supporting both safety and economic efficiency for airlines and passengers.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST

• •A $1.7 billion contract with a single organization over 11 years, with no competitive bidding, limits accountability and may not deliver the best value for taxpayers.
• •The contract type is listed as unknown, making it harder for the public to understand how costs are controlled or how performance is measured.
• •Some critics argue that the government relies too heavily on outside contractors for core technical functions that could potentially be built up within federal agencies over time.