COMMAND AIRCRAFT CREW TRAINING (CACT) PROGRAM FOR ACADEMIC AND SIMULATOR TRAINING ON THE UC-35D AIRCRAFT

The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) has issued solicitation N6134026R1017 for commercial services to support the Navy’s Command Aircraft Crew Training (CACT) Program, specifically for academic and simulator training on the UC-35D aircraft, a military variant of the Cessna Citation Encore/CE-560. This requirement focuses on delivering pilot training at a Title 14 CFR Part 142 certified training center equipped with an FAA-certified Level D full-flight simulator for the UC-35D. The contract is planned as a Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) sole source award to FlightSafety International, the sole operator of the required simulator meeting strict fidelity and safety standards to prevent negative training outcomes. Training will include initial, recurrent, upset prevention and recovery training (UPRT), simulator periods, and non-aircraft-specific international procedure courses, all delivered as stand-alone offerings with no prerequisite training aside from eLearning components. The contractor is responsible for providing all instructors, instructors, training materials, simulators, and administrative support, ensuring compliance with UC-35 Model Manager Approved Training Syllabi, and submitting syllabi for government review and approval. The anticipated contract duration is 60 months, from approximately 30 October 2026 through 30 October 2031, with all performance conducted at the contractor’s facility in Wichita, Kansas. NAWCTSD expects this commercial acquisition to be awarded using FAR Part 12 procedures with standard commercial clauses, offering a firm-fixed-price, requirements-type structure. Formal proposals are due by 1600 EST on 10 July 2026 and must be submitted electronically via email to the Contract Specialist, William Dahlstrom. The solicitation includes detailed requirements for certified personnel, training infrastructure, courseware, and compliance monitoring but does not identify specific option periods, pricing data, or extensive special contract clauses like security clearances or OCI provisions. Evaluation will prioritize technical acceptability based on strict adherence to mandatory capabilities outlined in the solicitation, consistent with a lowest-price technically acceptable (LPTA) basis under FAR Part 12. The solicitation also emphasizes socioeconomic disclosures and business size classification in accordance with NAICS code 611512, with submissions limited to a 10-page capabilities statement formatted per instructions. The exclusive place of performance and the sole source award approach underscore the program’s critical need for high-fidelity, accredited simulator training to maintain aircrew readiness and safety.