E-3G Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) E-7A Wedgetail Mission Crew Training Device

THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. IT IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION. In Accordance With (IAW) Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) paragraph 15.201 (e.), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. This is a Sources Sought Synopsis (SSS); there is no solicitation available. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. The Government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation in this informational request. This is a request for market research information purposes only and does not constitute an Invitation for Bid or a Request for Proposal and should not be considered as a commitment on the part of the Government. Industry responses to this market research request are placed on notice that any information received by the Government does not ensure participation in any planned / anticipated future solicitations or contract awards. This SSS is requesting information and ideas from industry that have systems design, development, and sustainment experience in Command and Control (C2) mission systems, to determine what the capabilities and interests are in the marketplace for providing Mission Crew Training Set (MCTS) support for the E-3G Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) and E-7A Wedgetail Distributed-Operational Mission Simulator (D-OMS). This RFI seeks innovative approaches operating, maintaining and upgrading simulation software of the MCTS & D-OMS by providing services encompassing the following product support elements: Product Support Integrator (PSI), Engineering Technical Services (ETS), Operations, and Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE). Note: the E-7A Distributed - Operational Mission Simulator (D-OMS) is expected to be operational CY 27 BACKGROUND The E-3G and E-7A provide a highly mobile, flexible, survivable theater Battle Management (BM), Wide Area Surveillance, and C2 capability. They are capable of detecting, identifying, and tracking airborne and maritime targets at extended ranges as well as identifying air/ground emitters. AWACS/Wedgetail can relay - big picture information to C2 agencies and friendly aircraft. AWACS & Wedgetail provide worldwide response to situations requiring immediate on-scene C2 / BM using embedded real-time surveillance for employment of U.S. and allied combat air forces. AWACS/Wedgetail is critical to gaining and maintaining battle-space air superiority. AWACS/Wedgetail coordinates with both tactical and C2 assets in theater to execute the air mission. The AWACS MCTS is a high-fidelity simulation of E-3G mission system hardware, software, performance, and capability. The E-7 D-OMS is a high-fidelity simulation of E-7A Wedgetail mission system hardware, software, performance, and capability. This includes simulations of sensor systems, data-links, communication and navigation systems, constructive entities, common malfunctions, and databases. The MCTS/D-OMS enables crew members to train in a stand-alone mode or network mode with other Distributed Mission Operations Network (DMON) participants for a full range of composite force employment options. The MCTS/D-OMS has Instructor / Operator Stations (IOS) capable of managing the E-3G MCTS/E-7A D-OMS local and long-haul networking environment, as well as the briefing / debriefing function. The system is capable of simulating missions ranging from single ship engagements to full theater-wide composite forces capable of interacting with other Battle Management Command & Control (BM C2) elements. The Combat Air Force's (CAF) Distributed Mission Operations (DMO) program utilizes training simulation services at Air Combat Command (ACC), Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), and United States Air Forces Europe (USAFE) main operating bases for F-15C, F-15E, F-16 Block 50, F-22, F-35, A-10 and AWACS/Wedgetail platforms with interoperability between sites provided through the DMON. The following simulation hardware and software required for operation of the MCTS are Plexsys Proprietary to which the Government has no data rights: Hardware: Mission Audio Panels (MAP) Key Record Interface Panels (KRIP) Operator Work Stations (OWS) Instructor Operator Stations Touch Pad Computers VTC Hardware Software: Advanced Simulation Combat Operations Trainer (ASCOT) Sonomarc Communications Launch Control Simulation Platform Interface (SPI) Gateway Application Video Audio and Data for After-Action Review (VADAAR) DPA [Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) Protocol Data Unite (PDU) Analyzer] MSLITE If a company is capable of some, but not all of the consolidated requirements stated in this SSS, please provide a response with requirements/capabilities the company will provide. The Government requests respondents complete and return a capabilities statement, as described below, to assist the Government in identifying firms possessing the capability to provide sustainment support for the AWACS Block 40/45 system and E-7A D-OMS. The required level of security clearance is TOP SECRET (TS)-SENSITIVE COMPARTMENTED INFORMATION (SCI). A Foreign Ownership, Controlled or Influenced (FOCI) may submit capability statements in response to this SSS provided it has a Special Security Agreement (SSA) with Defense Security Service (DSS). Proof of the SSA must be provided with the capability statement. ALL RESPONSES ARE DUE NO LATER THAN (NLT) NOON, EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME (EDT), ON 25 October 2023. OVERARCHING REQUIREMENTS The Air Force Program Management Office (PMO) for AWACS Block 40/45 (AFLCMC/HBSM) and E-7A Wedgetail (AFLCMC/HBSA), is considering contracting with companies that possess capabilities to accomplish the operations, hardware and software support of the E-3G MCTS system and potentially E-7A D-OMS specified in this announcement. The E-3G PMO/E-7A PMO at Hanscom AFB, MA is responsible for fielding a mission crew training capability that ensures the trainers maintain concurrency with the aircraft. Currently, this capability is provided through an Performance Based Logistics (PBL) contract that meets the Air Force requirements. The Air Force intends to continue with PBL support on the AWACS Block 40/45 MCTS for as long as the aircraft is in the Block 40/45 configuration and likely for the E-7 Wedgetail D-OMS for the foreseeable future. The Block 40/45 MCTS services contract will initially include; four (4) MCTS units at the 552 Air Control Wing (ACW), Tinker AFB, OK; one (1) MCTS at the 558 Software Engineering Squadron (SWES), Tinker AFB, OK; one (1) MCTS at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, AK; and one (1) MCTS at Kadena AB, Japan. It is anticipated that one (1) D-OMS will replace one (1) MCTS at the 552 ACW in CY 27. The Contractor will be responsible for maintaining their simulation services concurrent with changes to the aircraft at the respective locations. Each AWACS MCTS site will connect into the DMON through a portal provided by the DMO Operations and Integration contractor and will have to meet the CAF DMO Interoperability Standards. The E-7A D-OMS will also be connected into the DMON. This is a PBL contract, planned to encompass the following product support elements: Operations and Maintenace, NRE, DMON updates. In addition, the MCTS/D-OMS Contractor will enter into a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the software sustainment organization, 558 SWEG at Tinker AFB, OK for the upgrade of the MCTS/D-OMS software suite. This contract requires the prospective Contractor to provide the following functional requirements: Interface Design and Control; Maintenance Planning; Packaging, Handling, Shipping and Transportation (PHS&T); Support Equipment; Sustaining Engineering to include Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS) / Obsolescence Analysis, Depot Level Support, Technology Refresh Implementation, and Configuration Management; Technical Data; Training; and Computer Resources. Planned requirements include: The Contractor shall enter into this contract with no interruption of training capability. The Contractor shall operate each MCTS/D-OMS, defined as ensuring that the systems are powered, configured, and available to complete daily tasks. Operation of the MCTS/D-OMS is defined as configuring the MCTS/D-OMS to be ready for training at the beginning of each training day, ensuring it remains operational throughout training events, and then securing it at the conclusion of the training day. The Contractor shall be responsible for operation of the MCTS/D-OMS including: ASCOT, SPI, Launch Control, DPA, Sonomarc, and VADAAR software; PLEXSYS Interface Products, Inc., for which the Government has no technical data / technical data rights. Each MCTS and the D-OMS at Tinker AFB is expected to operate sixteen (16) hours a day for five (5) days per week, year-round, excluding Federal holidays. Additionally, it is expected to operate one (1) weekend per month for eight (8) hours each day. The MCTS Operators will have 90 minutes between training sessions to perform system configuration changes based on a changed DMO scenario. The MCTS units at other locations will notionally operate eight (8) hours per day, five (5) days per week, year-round, excluding Federal holidays. The Contractor shall maintain each of the MCTS/D-OMS units. Maintenance is defined as the actions required to preserve and restore each of these systems to 95% or geater Full-Mission Capable (FMC) status. Maintenance activities include corrective actions to restore system functionality and preventive maintenance actions such as cleaning, testing, battery replacement, software installation, troubleshoot and replace defective parts and configuration to ensure future system availability. The Contractor shall ensure that the status of each system is accurately captured in either the IMDS or other specified maintenance tracking log and report as part of the quarterly metrics. The Contractor shall be responsible for accomplishing upgrades/modifications to the MCTS. Modifications may be the result of DMS issues or system upgrades. The Contractor shall ensure that its DMO Federate System design conforms to the DMO system security architecture, security standards, Mission Package (MP) levels and operational procedures / guidance established by the DMO O&I contractor for DMO events. The Contractor shall provide on-site technical experts. The Contractor shall develop, maintain and execute a process for the user to report issues requiring FSR support, reach-back support, or 558 SWEG assistance. The Contractor shall implement/maintain agreed upon security controls in the MCTS/D-OMS for a Moderate-Low-Low (MLL) system IAW the Joint Special Access Program Implementation Guide (JSIG). The Contractor shall work with the Government to provide the necessary artifacts for all MCTS/D-OMS Authorities to Operate (ATO)/ Authority to Connect (ATC), including but not limited to: Security Controls Traceability Matrix (SCTM), Risk Assessment Report (RAR), Plan of Action and Milestones (POAM), Security Assessment Plan (SAP) for the MCTS/D-OMS IAW the JSIG. The Contractor shall coordinate with the designated MCTS/D-OMS Government Information System Security Manager (ISSM) and Security Control Assessor (SCA), or their representatives, to ensure timely delivery and coordination of the required Assessment and Authorization artifacts. The Contractor shall provide Cyber Security Support to the Government for obtaining the ATO, ATC, and any other certifications as applicable the system requiring an ATO/ATC. CAPABILITIES STATEMENTS Interested parties shall submit a capabilities statement, with a cover letter, that is brief and concise, yet clearly presents evidence that the interested party is fully capable of providing the stated requirements with sufficiently qualified personnel. Capabilities statements may contain any information that the interested party feels is relevant in demonstrating its ability to meet the Government's requirements. The Government is specifically interested in the following information: Evidence of company's capability to maintain and sustain the AWACS Block 40/45 MCTS and E-7A D-OMS without limitation on a military installation(s) to include OCONUS. Describe how your company would perform all tasks within the contract without the Government providing Plexsys Proprietary Data. Describe company's past experience over the last five (5) years on projects similar in complexity to this requirement. Include relevant experience with performance-based contracts and/or airborne BM C2, or equivalent, system. Describe company approach to measuring and monitoring system functionality against a set of predefined performance parameters. Describe capabilities and experience in managing hardware and software sustainment projects, including subcontractor involvement. Include experience in project planning, work breakdown structures, resource allocations, schedule tracking, risk analysis and cost management. Describe capabilities and experience in mitigating DMS / Obsolescence issues in a COTS-intensive hardware and software environment. Describe approach to Configuration Management in support of software maintenance and capital equipment procurement requirements. Describe capabilities and experience in sustaining existing systems for which software maintenance is conducted predominantly by an organic depot. Describe your company capabilities for generating, handling, processing and storing classified material. Explain ability to have, or have access to, facilities capable of securely housing system hardware, simulator interface hardware, spares, system Line Replaceable Units (LRU) and System Replaceable Units (SRU) both as they arrive for and after completion of maintenance activities. Describe capabilities and experience in managing training and simulation systems. Responses shall include company name, physical and mailing address, and point of contact (POC) with associated e-mail address and phone number. Firms responding to this announcement should indicate whether they are an other than small business, small business, Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), 8(a)-certified business, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), or Historically Underutilized Business Zone Small Business (HUBZone). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this action is 336413, size standard 1,000 employees. All prospective contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database to be awarded a DoD contract. Respondents should also include their corresponding Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS Number) and Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code. A CAGE code can be obtained by successfully registering in the System for Award Management (SAM) at - www.sam.gov. Do not submit classified data. All information received in response to the sources sought that is marked PROPRIETARY will be handled accordingly. Proprietary information will be safeguarded IAW the applicable Government regulations. Proprietary information or trade secrets should be clearly identified. Capability statements shall be limited to a maximum of ten (10) 8x11-inch pages and may be sent via e-mail to the attention of Mr. Peter Foster with a subject line that reads - Mission Crew Training Training Device (SSS). Please ensure any documents attached to e-mail are .pdf, .doc, .docx, .xls, or .xlsx only. Any .zip or .exe files will not be considered. If you have any questions concerning this acquisition please send an email to the following AFLCMC/HBSK POCs: Mr. Peter Foster, Contracting Officer (781) 225-5383 peter.foster.5@us.af.mil Mr. Christopher Kearney, Contract Specialist christopher.kearney@us.af.mil Responses to this RFI will not be returned.