KC-46 Maintenance Training System (MTS) Sources Sought Notice

Part 1: General Instructions This Sources Sought Notice (SSN) requests the following information for planning purposes in accordance with FAR 15.201(e): a) The Government is seeking information from potential sources possessing the expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet the requirements for the design, development, test, production, installation, integration, and sustainment of a KC-46 Maintenance Training System (MTS). b) Responses to this notice are NOT considered offers and WILL NOT be accepted by the Government to form any binding contract. c) Contractors/Institutions responding to this market research survey are placed on notice that participation in this survey DOES NOT ensure participation in future solicitations or contract awards. d) The Government WILL NOT reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation in this survey. e) Below and attached are preliminary documents describing an overview of the KC-46 MTS procurement and sustainment strategies. f) Also provided is a Contractor's Capability Survey, which allows you the opportunity to provide your company's background information and capabilities. The associated questionnaire provides you the opportunity to expound on your understanding of the program requirements and how best to meet them. g) If, after reviewing these documents, you desire to participate in the market research survey, you should provide documentation that substantiates your company's approach and capabilities in meeting these requirements. Failure to provide appropriate and sufficient documentation may result in the Government being unable to adequately assess your capabilities. If you lack specific experience in any particular area, please provide details explaining how you would overcome such lack of experience/capabilities in order to perform that portion of the requirement (e.g., teaming, subcontracting, etc.) h) If your company does not have the capabilities necessary to encompass the entire KC-46 MTSrequirement, but is capable of performing a specific segment of the requirement, respond by providing answers to all questions related to the segment(s) you are capable of performing and how it would be integrated into the overall KC-46 MTS requirement. i) Both large and small businesses are encouraged to participate in this survey. Joint ventures or teaming arrangements are permitted. The acquisition strategy has not yet been determined. Market research results will assist the Air Force in determining whether this requirement will be a full and open, a small business set aside, or a sole source acquisition. Note that, if there is sufficient demonstrated interested and capability among small business contractors, a key factor in determining if an acquisition will be a Small Business Set-Aside is that two or more potential small business prime contractors must be capable of performing at least 50% of the effort, as defined in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clause 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting. If it is determined that a small business set-aside is appropriate and your company anticipates submitting a proposal as the prime contractor for a small business set-aside, please provide specific details and rationale as to how compliance with FAR clause 52.219-14 would be achieved, including specific details regarding teaming arrangements, etc. If subcontracts are to be used, provide anticipated percentage of effort to be subcontracted and whether small or large businesses will be used. Teaming and/or subcontracting arrangements should be clearly delineated and previous experience in teaming must be provided. Note that, if this effort is not set-aside for small business, small business utilization will be considered. Request that large and small businesses provide a reasonable expectation for small business utilization as a percent of total contract value. Please provide supporting rationale for the recommended percentage. j) All responses to this survey are required to be made in writing (please, NO facsimiles). Written responses should be sent via e-mail andmust be received by the Air Force no later than 11:59 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on 23 December 2013. Please send your e-mail responses to: daniel.andrews@us.af.mil. NOTE: E-mail submittals with file sizes greater than 10Mbs must be broken down into several smaller submittals. Maximum file sizes of 5-8Mbs per submittal are recommended. k) Questions or requests for clarifications relative to this survey should be addressed via e-mail to the following Government points of contact: daniel.andrews@us.af.mil; thomas.mallets.2@us.af.mil; and joshua.looper@us.af.mil Part 2: Requirements Description The following part identifies key characteristics, initial requirements, planned activities, and foreseen topics associated with the program being planned. Please note - all information contained in this notice represents the Government's best understanding of the nature of the anticipated acquisition as of the posting date. The information is provided for consideration and planning purposes and is subject to change. 2.1 Program Overview The primary purpose of a KC-46 Maintenance Training System (MTS) is to provide realistic training to Air Force maintenance personnel who will maintain and support the KC-46A Tanker aircraft. The MTS program will be developed, fielded and sustained concurrent with the KC-46A Tanker aircraft program. The MTS acquisition strategy anticipates an initial seven-year firm fixed price contract (2+ year development phase, a production phase, and 5 one year operations/sustainment options) commencing in 2015. Current estimated program events include: Contract Award -3QFY15, Engineering Manufacturing Development (EMD) Complete- approx. 27 months after CA, 1st Suite Initial Production Start -4QFY16, Standup Annual Operations and Sustainment -1QFY17, Government Military Construction (MILCON) Complete -Feb 2017, On-site Contractor Installation and Verification Testing Complete -Aug 2017, 5-Level Upgrade Ready for Training (RFT) -Nov 2017, 2nd Suite Install -3QFY20 (see Attachment A, KC-46 MTS Acquisition Working Schedule). The MTS program shall provide the Air Force Using Commands with a "blended" training solution by integrating a mixture of Interactive Multimedia Instruction (IMI) along with a suite of high-fidelity Maintenance Training Devices (MTDs) augmented with the IMI. The MTS products shall support Government developed and lead classroom instruction as well as instructor-monitored Hands-on training. Comprehensive maintenance training will be provided by Government instructors to support initial qualification, transition, and continuation training for KC-46A maintenance personnel. The MTS shall introduce required knowledge and skills and allow the students to become proficient in servicing and maintaining the KC-46A aircraft, performing operational checks, and troubleshooting aircraft systems. Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSCs) that will specifically benefit from the MTS are: 2A5X1-Aerospace Maintenance Specialty (Crew Chief), 2A5X3A-Communication/Navigation/Missions Systems, 2A5X3B-Instrument and Flight Control Systems, 2A5X3C-Electronic Warfare Systems, 2A6X1-Aerospace Propulsion, 2A6X4-Aircraft Fuel Systems, 2A6X5-Aircraft Hydraulic Systems, and 2A6X6- Aircraft Electrical and Environmental Systems. The MTS shall use common software to simulate KC-46A aircraft functionality and shall enable the student to interact with the simulated aircraft systems as they would with the actual aircraft in real-time. The MTDs shall be augmented with IMI capabilities to help students locate components, perform maintenance procedures, observe internal systems responses, and to provide a physical reference/interface for hardware-related tasks. At this time the Government envisions procuring the following types of KC-46 MTS MTDs: Avionics/Cockpit, Flight Controls, Boom/Refueling Pods, Engine/APU, Fuel Systems, and Landing Gear (both Main and Nose). The quantities of devices required will be based upon projected student throughput analysis that is currently being evaluated. The MTS MTDs shall be installed and maintained at each Active Duty KC-46A Main Operating Base (MOB) within the CONUS. Actual MTS MTD locations will be determined through the Air Force's Basing process. The IMI shall be interfaced to real-time aircraft systems simulation and produce high quality interactive graphics. All IMI products shall be provided in accordance with MIL-HDBK-29612-3A, Development of Interactive Multimedia Instruction (IMI) (Part 3 of 5 Parts) requirements. IMI products shall include Interactive Courseware (ICW) and the software management tools used in support of instructional programs. The IMI shall be compliant with the latest version of DoD Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) Technical Standards. The MTS courseware shall also be accessible in a self-paced distributed learning capability available via the internet anytime and anywhere. Additionally, the Air Force is investigating the portability and access of IMI capability on commercially available hand-held devices. All MTS facilities, classrooms, MTDs, and the MTS Training System Support Center (TSSC) shall be networked to facilitate expedient software updates and access to shared IMI data. Additionally, the training network shall be configurable for collaborative training across classrooms and MTDs based upon the curriculum and Government instructor's needs. The MTS shall also be fully Information Assurance (IA) compliant and capable of interfacing with the Air Force's Advanced Distributed Learning Service (ADLS) system as well as Air Education and Training Command (AETC) and Air Mobility Command (AMC) training management/tracking systems. Under Development/Production phases of the program the MTS Contractor shall be responsible for designing, developing, acquiring, building, integrating, testing, installing, and verifying the MTS in accordance with the requirements outlined in the program Statement of Work (SOW) and System Specification. Immediately following contract award the MTS Contractor will be required to enter into Associate Contractor Agreements (ACA) with both the Aircrew Training Systems (ATS) Contractor and the KC-46A Aircraft Manufacturer to attain all required data outside that data which was originally provided as part of the bidders library. Furthermore, the MTS Contractor will be responsible for Concurrency Management during development (primarily focused on maintaining concurrency with the KC-46A aircraft development changes and any equipment changes/obsolescence issues). Under the Operations & Sustainment phase of the program the MTS Contractor shall be responsible for: operation and maintenance support for all MTDs and IMI to include reliability and availability performance measures; maintenance of and updates to MTD operations/user documentation; procuring, storing, inventorying, and managing all needed spares, special test equipment and support equipment (to include powered andnon-powered Aerospace Ground Equipment); the staffing and operation of the TSSC; and all MTS Concurrency Change Management (to include concurrency with the KC-46A aircraft, obsolescence issues, technical refresh, software licensing/maintenance, and process improvement recommendations) for the KC-46 MTS. 2.2 Draft Statement of Work (SOW) Attached is the latest draft version of the KC-46 MTS Program SOW (see Attachment B - Draft 131018v3, KC-46 MTS SOW). This draft SOW defines the current envisioned tasks to be performed by the Prime Contractor in the conductance and execution of the KC-46 MTS Program. The formal Request for Proposal (RFP) will establish the total program work and system performance requirements, both operational and functional, for the KC-46 MTS program. 2.3 Training Systems Requirements Analysis (TSRA) System Requirements Document (SRD) At this present time and in lieu of a draft MTS System Specification, attached is the AMC approved Initial Acquisition TSRA SRD (see Attachment C - KC-46 MTS Initial TSRA SRD). The SRD outlines the top-level requirements and provides conceptual system definitions and expected performance requirements for the KC-46 MTS based upon the analysis of the initial TSRA activities. The SRD also identifies recommended top level tasks that would be performed on each of the respective conceptual MTDs by projected trainee job series/AFSC. Part 3: Capabilities Survey 3.1 General Business Information: Please provide the following business information about your company/institution and for any teaming or joint venture partners: - Company/Institute Name: - Address: - Point of Contact: - CAGE Code: - DUNS Number - Phone Number: - E-mail Address: - Web Page URL: - Size of business pursuant to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 336413, size standard 1,000 employees. Based upon this 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) - Central Contractor Registration (CCR) (Yes / No) - A statement as to whether your company is domestically or foreign owned (if foreign, please indicate the country of ownership). - Please indicate number of employees relative to the indicated size standard 3.2 Capability Survey Questionnaire: Attachment D - Capabilities Survey Questionnaire is a listing of questions the Government seeks responses to in order to assess whether or not you have a complete understanding of the program identified herein and the associated requirements. Responses will also provide insight and substantiation into the capabilities of industry at successfully completing those requirements. Types of questions being asked are grouped into the following categories: General, Data/Documentation, Hardware Development/Production, Engineering Services and Software Development, Sustainment, and Commerciality. REMINDER: All responses to both Parts 3.1 and 3.2 are required to be made in writing. Please see "Part 1 - General Instructions" (item i) above for delivery requirements, and suspense deadline.