Live Virtual Constructive (LVC) training

This is a Request for Information (RFI) only. AFLCMC/EBY, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida is requesting information from industry for an Airborne Instrumentation System needed to replace the P5 Combat Training System (CTS). Future spectrum sell-off requires the USAF establish plans to begin vacating the current P5 training spectrum in the United States beginning in the 2025 time frame. A replacement CTS is under consideration to both comply with the spectrum constraints and to allow for a modernization path. Concepts with an upgrade path to enable Live Virtual Constructive (LVC) training in accordance with the Air Force Operational Training Infrastructure 2035 Flight Plan (Atch 1) for Combat Air Forces (CAF) aircraft is a feature of this Request for Information (RFI) that would be highly beneficial to the USAF. This notice DOES NOT constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), request for quote, invitation for bid, nor does it in any way restrict the Government to an ultimate acquisition approach. The Government encourages all responsible businesses, including small businesses, to respond to this RFI; however, the Government is not liable for any costs incurred by any respondent to prepare and/or submit its response to this RFI. The Government will not return submittals to the sender. As stipulated in FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. No solicitation (Request for Proposal) exists at this time; therefore, do not request a copy of the solicitation. The decision to solicit for a contract shall be solely within the Government's discretion. Respondents will not be individually notified of the results of any government assessments. The Government's assessment of the capability statements received will factor into whether any forthcoming solicitation will be conducted as a full and open competition or as a set-aside for small business, or any particular small business program. This RFI is intended to determine realistic System of Systems (SoS) solutions industry can deliver to accommodate vacating the current United States P5 training spectrum beginning in 2025 as well as establishing a path to meet warfighter requirements for an LVC enabled training system over time. The need to establish a capability beyond the current spectrum opens up the possibility of working towards achieving the DoD Directive 1322.18 which establishes military training policy to include, "Training realism shall be maximized through use of the live training domain supplemented by integrated virtual and constructive capabilities." The CAF LVC Vision dated 25 July 2014 (Atch 2) provides an overarching vision for a future training environment to support both legacy and 5th GEN fighters in blended training environments. Industry has been advancing technologies/capabilities with regard to virtual and constructive entities for over two decades providing a rich technical base to draw upon. In addition, the government has been planning for and modernizing organic resources needed for an LVC enabled training system. A realistic path to achieving the vision may be an incremental approach with a flexible, modular architecture that allows for pre-planned upgrades in the form of technology insertion over time. Industry capability areas of primary interest to the government are solutions ready for fielding starting in 2025 and should be accompanied by information for the state-of-the-art with regard to items listed in the Spectrum Relocation Capability Areas for Live, Virtual, and Constructive Training (Attachment 3). The need to vacate the existing 1755-1850 MHz band in the United States drives special interest in the two way wireless air-to-air, ground-to-air and air-to-ground datalink and potential future technical upgrades that may provide additional capability beyond 2025. Please submit a white paper, no more than 25 single-sided, single-spaced pages, 12-point font, and minimum one-inch margins, in Microsoft Word or compatible format. The white papers will be formatted as follows: Section A: Title, Name of Company and Background, Brief history highlighting past relevant experience (3-5 years) on similar systems; Section B: Company's Approach/Solution; Section C: System Description focusing on key attributes and technical maturity; Section D: Estimated Development costs and Average Unit Procurement Price rough order of magnitude for each system/subsystem; Section E: Project Schedule. In addition to the 25 page white paper, you may provide up to 5 PowerPoint or similar graphical charts to further explain your concepts and a single-sided operational view that provides a high level graphical and textual description of the operational concept. All respondents are requested to indicate if they are a US company, large business, small business, or small disadvantaged business IAW section 8(a) of the Small Business Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. 637(a)), or women-owned small business as describe by NAICS code 334511, "comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing search, detection, navigation, guidance, aeronautical, and nautical systems and instruments. Respondents are further requested to indicate their status as a Foreign-owned/Foreign-controlled firm and any contemplated use of foreign national employees on this effort. Those desiring to do business with the Air Force must be registered in the Governments System for Award Management System (SAM) located at https://www.sam.gov. Responses must be received by 4PM CST 30 Nov 2017. Offerors are advised that technical and cost/price data submitted to the Government in response to this RFI may be released to Government contracted advisors for review and analysis. The Government contracted advisor support will be provided by: ODYSSEY SYSTEMS Consulting Group, Ltd.; Alion Science and Technology Corp.; MACAULAY-BROWN, INC.; DCS Corporation; BH3 Corporation; Decypher Technologies; Physical Science Inc. Should there be an objection to this envisioned disclosure of white paper information, please contact the PCO immediately in writing with the basis of the objection. If you do not contact the PCO, you understand technical and cost/price data submitted to the Government in response to this RFI may be released to Government contracted advisors and consent to the release of any proprietary, confidential, or privileged commercial or financial data provided by the firm(s) named above in response to this RFI for Government contracted review and analysis. If the offeror wishes to restrict distribution of its white paper, it must be marked appropriately. All unclassified and classified responses should be marked accordingly, handled through appropriate channels, and reviewed to ensure consideration of operational sensitivities prior to submission. Government responses to general questions that are broadly applicable to all will be posted on the FedBizOpps website. Participation is strictly voluntary with no cost or obligation to be incurred by the Government. The Government will use your responses as part of market research for this acquisition. Please email or mail all questions, request for additional information and correspondence to this RFI to Kelly Pitts (vincent.pitts@us.af.mil) (850) 883-3241. Mailing address is 207 West D Ave, Eglin AFB, FL 32542. Please annotate the subject line of e-mail responses as: Live Virtual Constructive (LVC) training RFI. An Industry Day will be hosted on 24 Oct 2017 from 8AM-4PM CST, with a sign-in period from 7:30AM-7:50AM. This event will be held in the University of Florida Research and Engineering Education Facility (REEF), 1350 North Poquito Road Shalimar, Florida. One-on-one sessions will be hosted for all qualified system integrators only by appointment. These sessions will be conducted on 25 Oct 2017 from 8 AM-5PM CST. Those companies planning to attend are limited to 5 participants. Additionally, please coordinate one-on-one desires NLT COB 13 Oct 2017. Attachments: 1. Air Force Operational Training Infrastructure 2035 Flight Plan (provided upon request) 2. CAF LVC Vision - 25 July 2014 (provided upon request) 3. Capability Areas for Relocated Spectrum to Include Live, Virtual, Constructive