AFICA Undergraduate Pilot Training for USAF Helicopter Pilots (UPT-H)

Request for Information (RFI) for Undergraduate Pilot Training Support for United States Air Force Helicopter Pilots (UPT-H) This is an RFI in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation, 52.215-3 - Request for Information or Solicitation for Planning Purposes (Oct 1997). Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Only United States companies will be considered for contract award. Introduction: 1. This RFI includes a description of the UPT-H requirement, a Contractor Capability Survey which allows you to provide your company's capability, Draft Performance Work Statement, and Course Training Standards. 2. If, after reviewing these documents, you desire to participate in the market research, you should provide documentation that supports your company's capability in meeting these requirements. Failure to provide documentation may result in the Government being unable to adequately assess your capabilities. If you lack sufficient experience in a particular area, please provide details explaining how you would overcome the lack of experience/capabilities in order to perform that portion of the requirement (i.e., teaming, subcontracting, etc.) 3. Marketing materials are considered an insufficient response to this RFI. Please limit responses to no more than 15 pages, and identify a representative to support further Government inquiries and requests for clarification of the information provided, if needed. Respondents should indicate which portions of their responses are proprietary and should mark them accordingly. 4. Both large and small businesses are encouraged to participate in this Market Research. Joint ventures or teaming arrangements are encouraged. 5. The Government anticipates a Firm-Fixed-Price contract could come from these efforts. For purposes of this RFI, the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 611512, Flight Training, and the small business size standard is $27.5 Million in annual gross receipts. Purpose: 1. We are conducting market research to determine: a. Determine the extent to which commercial sources are capable of conducting the full range of operations associated with UPT-H (flying operations, academics, aircraft maintenance, billeting, dining, security, etc.)? b. Determine potential locations capable of supporting UPT-H requirements. c. Determine efficiencies/cost savings which can be gained through different approaches to all aspects of the UPT-H requirements? d. Determine a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) estimate pertaining to the cost and level of effort of this service. Description: Currently, the Air Force Undergraduate Flying Training (UFT) process for those students destined for USAF helicopters or tiltrotor aircraft involves three levels of training: Initial Flight Training (IFT), UPT-H (currently Fixed Wing using T-6 aircraft) and SUPT-H training at Ft. Rucker, Alabama flying the TH-1H. The proposed training would require contractor provided training with contractor developed syllabus designed to meet the USAF provided Course Training Standards (CTS). We are seeking innovative approaches to produce UPT-H using new technology, fixed wing and rotary wing, or rotary wing only options. The training service will need to provide classroom, aircraft and simulator events that support the instruction of students to safely aviate, navigate, communicate, manage aircraft systems, and practice sound crew resource management, in both visual and instrument conditions within the US National Airspace System (NAS). The service will require providing all personnel, aircraft, aircraft maintenance, facilities, transportation to and from the airport for students, food, lodging, and security for full operations. The student produced by this service will continue on to airframe specific training (CV-22, HH-60, UH-1). - Student Load. The student load may vary from 70 to 120 per year with varying class sizes; current average of 75 pilots per year. The service will also support the Career Enlisted Aviator Rotary-Wing Fundamentals (CEARF) course. This course provides enlisted Special Missions Aviator (SMA) students with initial skills training for follow on graduate level training. - Student Load: The student load may vary from 175 to 200 per year with varying class sizes; current average of 190 students per year. Student Training Objective: Qualify undergraduate helicopter pilots for a pilot rating and entry into advanced follow-on training courses. Provide all foundational skills essential for success as aircrew members. Specifically, course graduates are proficient in: a. Operating a helicopter in terminal and enroute airspace. b. Flight planning and conducting flight operations under Visual and Instrument Flight Rules to include day, NVG and IFR operations in the terminal and enroute environment. c. Conducting a mission profile in a defined area. Be able to understand and exploit the physics and handling characteristics of a turbine powered helicopter. d. Hover, normal, and marginal power operations. e. Straight ahead, low-level and hovering autorotations. f. Control and performance concept of instrument flying, instrument procedures to include instrument takeoff, departure, enroute procedures, enroute descents, RNAV operations, and instrument approaches. g. Formation procedures and operations. h. Night Vision Goggle (NVG) operation and use. i. Remote procedures and operations to include NVG remote. j. Task management, situational awareness, risk management / decision-making, CRM, and emergency procedures required to safely and effectively accomplish the mission. k. The understanding of aircraft systems capabilities, aircraft directives, and local procedures and demonstrate proficiency in applying procedures from all applicable source guidance. (See attached PWS and CTS for more detailed information) Aircraft The aircraft should have the ability to operate in the continental United States, during day and night. The aircraft shall be capable of performing multiple mission profiles to include: basic handling characteristics, multiple instrument/visual approaches, enroute navigation, visual low level navigation, basic formation. The aircraft shall be tolerant of normally expected student errors (i.e. imprecise aircraft control, hard landings etc.) Aircraft fly-over noise level must be in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulation (FAA) 14 CFR Part 36. Aircraft shall be FAA certified IAW 14 CFR Part 27. Aircraft Operators Manual/Technical orders to be provided by contractor. Aircraft flight manual will provide all necessary technical information for the contractor and the Government to derive applicable Operating Limits and Boldface (Critical Action Procedures) for student training. The contractor will also provide checklists for all normal and emergency procedures. MX/Logistics Support The contractor shall be responsible for providing a complete maintenance package and technical support for the aircraft and simulator. The maintenance package for the aircraft shall include organizational, intermediate and depot level maintenance, maintenance management, aircraft scheduling, and provisioning of repair parts and supplies. Aircraft will be maintained, inspected and repaired to FAA type certification and airworthiness standards. Location The training will be conducted at contractor provided location that adequately meets the Training Area requirements outlined in the attached PWS. Training facilities must provide or allow: - A student to receive proper crew rest within the required time period. - Proper nutrition throughout the day. - Access to fitness facilities - Proper areas for study and access to course material - Mission Planning/briefing/de-briefing Summary: It is the Government's intention to identify sources that can meet the above criteria. All interested business concerns shall indicate interest in responding to this RFI by providing a completed Contractor Capability Survey (below) to 338 SCONS, Mr. Stephen Pritchett, stephen.pritchett@us.af.mil NLT 4:00 pm CST 6 Mar 18. Any questions about this RFI need to be submitted NLT 10 days prior to the RFI response due date. NOTE: This RFI is for research purposes only, no decision to pursue an acquisition or identification of a contracting organization to be responsible for an acquisition has been made. This information is for market research only. This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP), solicitation or an indication that the Government will contract for this requirement. The Government will not pay for information received in response to this RFI and is in no way obligated by the information received. ? CONTRACTOR CAPABILITY SURVEY UPT-H Part I. Business Information Please provide the following business information for your company/institution and for any teaming or joint venture partners: - Company/Institute Name: - Address: - Point of Contact: - CAGE Code: - Phone Number: - E-mail Address: - Web Page URL: - Size of business pursuant to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: Based on the above NAICS Code, state whether your company is: - Small Business (Yes / No) - Woman Owned Small Business (Yes / No) - Small Disadvantaged Business (Yes / No) - 8(a) Certified (Yes / No) - HUBZone Certified (Yes / No) - Veteran Owned Small Business (Yes / No) - Service Disabled Veteran Small Business (Yes / No) - System for Award Management (SAM) (Yes / No) - A statement as to whether your company is domestically or foreign owned (if foreign, please indicate the country of ownership). ? CONTRACTOR CAPABILITY SURVEY(cont'd) UPT-H Part II. Capability Survey Questions General Capability Questions: 1. Describe briefly the capabilities of your facility and the nature of the services you provide. Include a description of your staff composition and management structure. Also state whether or not your current location has ever received a Finding Of No Significant Impact as the result of a Government conducted Environmental Assessment. 2. Describe your company's past experience on previous projects similar in complexity to this requirement. Include contract numbers, a brief description of the work performed, period of performance, agency/organization supported, and individual point of contact. 3. Describe your company's capabilities and experience in producing academic courseware and curriculums. 4. Describe your company's capability to house and feed 200 Special Missions Aviator (SMA) students and provide temporary lodging for 90 pilots per year. 5. Describe your company's capability to provide security to the forecasted number of students, staff, aircraft, and facilities. 6. Describe your company's capability to perform aircraft maintenance on required aircraft. 7. What is your company's current maximum sortie and flying hour capacity per month? 8. Are there specific requirements in the documentation that we provide that would currently preclude your services from being a viable solution to our requirement? 9. What do you see as the biggest challenges to fulfilling the UPT-H contract (e.g. Insurance, Aircraft Availability, Training Area)? 10. What provisions of the general requirements delineated in this RFI that pertain to the Flying Training Program Objectives/Student Training etc. would you change to improve the training or make the operation more efficient? 11. How much time would you require to respond to an RFP for this effort? Specific Capability Questions: 1. What is your overall concept for fulfilling this requirement? (The Government welcomes all forms of services or partnerships that could potentially be provided, in the vendors' opinion is the best way to support the requirement.) Provide a training phase breakout and associated training time/flight hours for each phase. 2. Provide with your overall concept a ROM estimate for a 5-year and 10-year performance period. 3. Where would you base the operation? What primary and aux airfields would you use? How do you plan to meet the training area requirements as addressed in the draft PWS? 4. Do you currently own or lease the facilities/training area you would propose (hangars, administrative offices, training classrooms, billeting, dining, remote landing sites, low-level navigation area)? If not, how do you intend to fulfill the facility/training area requirements? What is or will be the general configuration/layout? 5. Which aircraft would you propose using and during which phases of training if employing multiple aircraft? Would the aircraft be new or used? How many aircraft would you employ? 6. What will be your concept of ops for the flying training? 7. Do you have sufficient instructors to meet this requirement? Of your current instructors, how much and how recent is their experience in flying with NVGs, performing low-level operations, and flying formation? 8. If your concept includes government furnished equipment/property, describe what would need to be provided. 9. How long of a mobilization period would be required from contract award to full operations? Please explain. 10. How long do you think you would need to put together a proposal for this requirement? 11. Are there capabilities listed that you feel could not be accomplished by a commercially available solution? List of Abbreviations and Acronyms AETC - Air Education and Training Command ATD - Aircrew Training Device CTS - Course Training Standards DME - Distance Measuring Equipment DoD - Department of Defense FAA - Federal Aviation Administration FAR - Federal Aviation Regulation GPS - Global Positioning System IFR - Instrument Flight Rules IFT - Instrument Flight Trainer ILS - Instrument Landing System MX - Maintenance SMA - Special Missions Aviator TACAN - Tactical Air Navigation UHF - Ultra High Frequency UPT-H - Undergraduate Pilot Training Helicopter USAF - United States Air Force UTD - Unit Training Device VFR - Visual Flight Rules VHF - Very High Frequency VOR - VHF Omnidirectional range WST - Weapons System Trainer ? Attachments Draft PWS Course Training Standards (CTS) ______________________________________________________________ Update 1 Feb 18 Answers to Questions 1-8 have been answered and posted to this announcement. ______________________________________________________________________ Update 2 Feb 18 Appendix 2-A Course Training Standards (CTS) have been revised. ______________________________________________________________________ Update 8 Feb 18 - Answers to Question 9-14 have been answered and posted to this announcement. - Per Q&A 9-11 PWS has been revised for reference corrections and included in this announcement. ______________________________________________________________________ Update 12 Feb 18 This update is confirmation of the 1 Feb Q&A government response that extended RFI responses to make them due on 6 Mar 18 by 4:00 P.M. CMT. ______________________________________________________________________ Update 26 Feb 18 - Answers to Questions 15 - 21 have been answered and posted to this announcement. This concludes this period of Q&A. If you submitted a question and did not see the response posted here, promptly notify the POC for this posting. - As a result of the Q&A for this update, the PWS has been revised and included in this announcement.