69 -- F/A-18 E/F Low Fidelity Trainers

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR-Orlando) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, a delivery order under an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Contract (ID/IQ) with The Boeing Company, St. Louis, MO. under authority of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1, "Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements". As the design cognizant activity and builder of the in production F/A-18 E/F Aircraft, Boeing alone maintains the engineering expertise required to design, build and deliver high fidelity F/A-18 E/F Aircrew and Maintenance Trainers to meet critical fleet training requirement deadlines. The Boeing Company through their Flight Simulation division is funded by the F/A-18 E/F Aircraft Program to create aircraft systems software and modify aircraft Operational Flight Program (OFP) software for engineering simulations at Boeing that are used in the development of the F/A-18 E/F aircraft. These newly created and modified OFP software models are then reused in the development of F/A-18 E/F trainer systems. As part of the aircraft procurement program, Boeing developed and built the current F/A-18 E/F Aircrew and Maintenance Trainers and are currently responsible for design, fabrication, integration, documentation, shipping, installation and testing of the Block 2 upgrades to specific trainers. This sole source procurement will be for the procurement of four (4) low fidelity trainers, which will be used to support F/A-18 E/F Block 2 aircrew training while upgrades to existing high fidelity trainers are being completed. Utilizing a full-size cockpit and a sub-set of functional cockpit controls, these re-configurable Low Fidelity Trainers will be capable of providing simulation of a Lot 26/H2E configured F/A-18F aircraft to meet the objectives required for effective training of the Advanced Crew Station upgrade. Boeing will be responsible for fabrication and integration of the Block 2 configuration into Boeing's existing low fidelity trainer design. The delivery of the devices will have to be accomplished by approximately January 2005. Additionally, the Government has restricted and limited rights on certain noncommercial computer software and noncommercial software documentation and noncommercial technical data; therefore, the Government is unable to provide this information. Because the contract requires in-depth knowledge of the current aircraft design, Block 2 Configuration upgrade currently being incorporated in to the trainers, and the design of the trainers, award through competition would require substantial duplication of costs that the Government would not recover through competition and would create unacceptable delays in fulfilling the F/A-18 E/F's mission training requirements scheduled for January 2005. To meet timeframes, milestones, and schedules, Boeing has established relationships with key personnel, and has successfully designed, fabricated, integrated, and delivered F/A-18 E/F Aircrew and Maintenance Trainers and demonstrated the capability to perform the required effort. This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals. Interested sources may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirements. Interested sources must submit detailed technical capabilities, and any other information, which demonstrates their ability to meet the needs of the Government. Detailed capabilities must be submitted by email to Tim Cichon (timothy.cichon@navy.mil) in an electronic format that is compatible with Word 2000, no later than April 21, 2004. All information shall be furnished at no cost or obligation to the Government. Responses shall be limited to no more than FIVE (5) pages. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract action based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. No solicitation document is available. If no affirmative written response is received, the delivery order for the trainer devices will be awarded without further notice.