FAA said Friday it is soliciting bids from companies for NextGen-related work contracts with an approximate combined value of $7 billion, the largest award in the agency’s history. Under the umbrella awards, called System Engineering 2020 (SE2020), FAA said it will award as many as five separate contracts for research and development and systems engineering work that will help the agency deliver NextGen. FAA said the contracts will be awarded to teams of companies, up to three of which will perform research and development work and two of which will perform systems engineering work. This work will complement and enhance major NextGen initiatives already under way, such as Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast, System Wide Information Management and Data Communications. Contract teams will focus on a series of operational capabilities, including Trajectory Based Operations, Collaborative Air Traffic Management and Reduced Weather Impact, according to the agency. Five-year contracts will be awarded next summer, with subsequent three- and two-year options.