CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR CORROSION AND FINISH TRAINING

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION #N68520-F2552/21-026 NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR CORROSION AND FINISH TRAINING The information presented in this overview communicates a Government need for Organizational, Intermediate, and Depot level Corrosion and Finish Training. The Government is in the process of determining whether to procure such training, or internally implement a training program. This Request for Information (RFI) is part of the Government's Market Research phase (pursuant to FAR Part 10) to determine if government or non-government organizations exist that are fully capable of performing a turnkey training program tasked with designing, developing, delivering, and sustaining corrosion and finish training for the United States Naval Aviation Commands. STATEMENT OF NEED Establish a Center of Excellence (CoE) for Corrosion and Finish Training focused on educating, training, and certifying qualified, proficient maintainers capable of performing corrosion identification, inspection, prevention, mitigation, repair, and restoration. Establishing either a government or a non-government turnkey organization and facility as the Center of Excellence for Corrosion and Finish training will: Centralize resources with high-demand and requiring a set of unique knowledge and skills Streamline contributions impacted by a wide range of areas to include training design, training development, simulation, tactical training equipment, assessment, certification, evaluation and aircraft maintenance subject matter expertise Improve training ROI through the consolidation of resources, infrastructure, and manpower Eliminate redundant courses being taught by multiple organizations Reduce training development, delivery times, sustainment, and infrastructure costs by increasing efficiencies and leveraging reusable assets Reduce or eliminate duplication of effort, and budgets, across multiple NAVAIR organizations BACKGROUND In June 2019, a Human Performance Assessment was conducted at three Naval Aviation Maintenance sites. The purpose of the assessment was to identify the barriers to performance for corrosion prevention, treatment, and repair. The team, interviewed 578 maintainers. The results uncovered the following corrosion issues which directly point towards process, behavior, attitude, management, and leadership barriers: 90% do not look for corrosion during routine maintenance 43% do not document corrosion during routine maintenance 31% do not document corrosion during a special inspection 83% not performing Pre-Lubrication 42% not in wash configuration 59% use trash bags to cover components 42% not using canopy covers 60% not using suction cups 82% not using correct CPC 87% not wet sealing, or rarely wet sealing fasteners 35% rushed by Maintenance Control In addition to these barriers, there were also issues in the categories of tools, technical publications, Support Equipment, Supply, and Training. The design of OPNAV Instruction 4790 Naval Aviation Maintenance Program (NAMP) approved courses was determined to be lacking and incapable of graduating proficient performers, with the requisite skills and knowledge needed to perform corrosion cleaning, inspection, treatment, mitigation, repair, and restoration. A gap analysis also was conducted to identify aircraft specific corrosion training for 15 platforms. The gap analysis revealed little to no corrosion training in any of the fielded courses supporting a platform. As a barrier, training is a contributor if there is a documented lack of knowledge and skill. During the conduct of this assessment, the team also evaluated current corrosion courses approved by the NAMP and identified corrosion training in support of a platform. Using various data sources of data including the data mentioned above, the Corrosion Management Board (CMB) members concluded a new set of aircraft corrosion and paint courses are required. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS To implement a fully turn-key approach to designing, developing, fielding, delivering, and sustaining proficiency based corrosion and finish training for the Fleet, the government needs to assess the viability of potential providers with all of the requisite skills needed to design, develop, teach, and sustain proficiency based corrosion and finish training. The potential provider must be highly skilled and have the ability to: Implement Instructional Systems Design Model to design and develop aviation mainenance training Develop Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes and convert to Learning Objectives mappped on a Career Trainng Continuum Construct Learning Hierarchies Determine Level of learning, Level of Interactivity, Level of Fidelity for each Learning Objective Determine optimal Instructional Strategies and Asessment Stratgies Conduct Training System Alternative and Media Analyses Develop Curriculum Oultines Develop course materials, tests, answer keys, performance checklists, instructional media and training devices Design proficiency based training vice information-based, familiarization training Design, construct, and sustain maintenance training devices to include tactical training equipment (TTE), stricken aircraft trainers, virtual reality maintenance trainers, and single and multi-system training devices Provide certified classroom instructors and simulator instructors/facilitators to support multiple course convenings scheduled concurrently Perform as a skills coach to support trainees during practice on TTE, stricken aircraft and devices Knowledge and experience with aircraft flightline operations Knowledge and experience in corrosion, paint, and finish policy and handbooks issued by the Naval Air Systems Command Provide an existing infrastructure to teach all courses, at a single site REQUESTED INFORMATION Please provide written responses to the following questions. Please load the questions and responses in an Exel Workbook. Use the sample courses identified in Atttachment A as a foundation from which to respond to each of the questions. If your organization is not comfortable answering each question, please indicate so next to the question. A. Infrastructure - please provide the data requested to describe the current infrastucture needed to establish a Center of Excellence for Corrosion and Finish training Identify the number of classrooms currently available in your organization, for an eight hour instructional day, five days a week. Identify the type and number of classroom based technology currently available in each classroom (projection systems, podium with instructor station, trainee computers and monitors, etc.). Identify the number of laboratory spaces, along with the square footage of each that are available for training devices, single system devices, multi-system devices, and stricken aircraft trainers. Identify special facilities, equipment and tools already available within your organization for corrosion and finish training. Identify number and sizes of spaces available for storage of corrosion and finish training tools, equipment, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), materials, and chemicals needed to support training. Identify maximum hangar space (square footage) available to train using tactical training equipment and stricken aircraft. Describe any outdoor space (square footage) available to train using tactical training equipment and stricken aircraft. What is your organizations capability to grow hangar and outdoor space if it is needed? Are there any known gaps or barriers to performance that could be identified as a risk to implementing a Center of Excellence within your current facility? Identify shortages in space, power, water, facilities, HVAC, ventilation, emergency eyewashes, showers, etc. B. Manpower and Personnel - please identify the number of personnel currently on staff with the requisite skills Identify the number of technical experts, currently in your organization, to include the following labor categories: Corrosion and Finish Instructors Aircraft Subject Matter Experts IT/IA Security Programmers Software Engineers Hardware Engineers Instructional Technologists Graphic Artists Videographers Simulation Engineers Technical Writers Other What is the average amount of experience each instructor has with teaching corrosion and finish courses, as a civilian instructor? What is the average amount of time it takes your organization to hire an individual once they have been identified as a viable candidate? Identify the number of instructional designers with degrees in Instructional Technology or Curriculum and Instruction? C. Training Design/Development - please provide the data requested to describe your organization's experience in training design/development Describe your organization's repeatable processes for designing and developing problem based learning. Provide past performance evidence of your ability to design, develop, and sustain training devices to include Tactical Training Equipment (TTE), stricken aircraft, single system trainers, multi-system trainers, and Virtual Reality Describe your organization's experience in developing trainee assessment plan, cognitive tests, psychomotor tests, diagnostic tests, and remediation tests. Recommend an approach to calculate the level of practice required for a skill to ensure trainees are proficient upon exiting the course. Recommend an approach to identify, establish, and measure skill proficiency for corrosion and finish Terminal and Enabling Learning Objectives. D. General - please provide the following general information about burdened rates, registration, housing, repeatable processes and risk/issues Identify your average burdened rate for the labor categories listed in B1 - Manpower Personnel. Describe your capabilities, processes, and tools employed to effectively and efficiently manage issues with military travel orders and berthing. Describe the number, types, and distance to your organization for housing near your facility (commercial and military). Explain your organization's experience in using CeTARS and eNTRS for registering, tracking, and graduating trainees. Please provide any risks, issues, or recommendations you may have related to building a Career Training Continuum for Corrosion and Finish training. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS/SOLICITATION If the Government decides to procure the required Organizational, Intermediate, and Depot level CoE for Corrosion and Finish Training, a competitive solicitation will be issued to select a single government or non government turnkey provider on a best value basis pursuant to FAR Part 15 to execute the Organizational, Intermediate, and Depot level CoE for Corrosion and Finish Training. The Government intends to pursue staggered design/development and implementation across FY22, with all content fielded by FY23. Full funding availability, for all requirements, may cause the the schedule to be compressed.