Marine Common Aircrew Trainer

SOURCES SOUGHT FOR THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS (USMC) COMMON AIRCREW TRAINER (MCAT) PROCUREMENT PROGRAM (MCATPP). The Department of the Navy, Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD), Orlando, FL, is seeking potential sources with the ability to produce training solutions to satisfy USMC Enlisted Aircrew Training requirements, to include the Marine Common Aircrew Trainer (MCAT). The primary effort includes implementing a systems approach to training to analyze requirements, produce, deliver, and install approximately 12 MCATs to USMC MCAT locations. The requirement also will include a brief support period following delivery at each MCAT location. The MCAT is intended to be a single training system that provides training to enlisted aircrew (EAC) on the MV-22, CH-46E, CH-53E, and UH-1Y aircraft. Stand-alone KC-130J enlisted aircrew training solutions may be procured under this effort, if they cannot be delivered as part of the MCAT. The MCAT system will be used primarily to train the USMC EAC in skills essential for performing - wheels up tasks during various flight missions including, but not limited to, Assault Support, Combat Operations, and Transport missions. Specific training tasks will include, but not be limited to, aerial gunnery, scanning, hoist operations, external lift operations, and standard and emergency flight procedures, while emphasizing entire crew coordination - to include communication and training with all aircrew, via interoperation with aircrew simulators. Through the use of the appropriate Training Manuals and the Government-supplied Enlisted Aircrew Training Task Comparison (EACTTC) Report, the MCAT shall provide training scenarios appropriate for EAC to learn and become proficient with the specified tasks. The MCAT shall allow EAC to use their own gear during training, to include flight helmets, harnesses, communication equipment, and night vision devices. The MCAT shall provide simulated and actual interactions with pilot/copilot flight trainers and other MCATs to allow for both independent training and participation in distributed mission operations. The MCAT solution is intended to provide a common, multi-platform, approach to training to maximize hardware, software, and space economies, but may also include small quantities of back-end, fuselage, externals, or gunnery station trainers. The MCAT system shall be compatible with existing and future USMC common software baselines to the maximum extent possible. The MCAT will be required to be delivered with appropriate Information Assurance (IA) controls, and a certified - Authority to Operate (ATO) accreditation. Additional requirements will include hardware and software documentation, engineering drawings, initial provisioning of spares to support a 95% readiness rate, initial operator and maintainer instructional training, and integrated logistics support and documentation for eventual independent operation and maintenance. Written responses to this announcement should specifically address the following: 1) A submission of your firm's detailed capabilities to meet the requirements listed in the paragraphs above. 2) Your firm's specific experience with: a) Implementation of enlisted and/or non-aircrew training solutions to meet multiple aircraft platform training requirements in a single training solution, b) Production and delivery of training solutions to address enlisted and/or non-rated aircrew training, c) USMC enlisted aircrew training familiarity, d) (Other than USMC) Enlisted or non-rated aircrew training, e) Analysis of training requirements, developing and implementing training curriculum strategies using instructional systems development processes or the systems approach to training, f) Production and delivery of simulation-based training solutions to address operator aircrew training requirements, g) Production, integration and delivery of integrated visual systems, to include: projection systems, image generators, visual databases and display surfaces. h) Addressing supportability maintainability issues such as delivering hardware and software documentation and engineering drawings, i) Determining initial provisioning requirements of spares to support a required readiness rate. NOTE: Where applicable, for #1 or #2 above, include the following information: a) Government contract number, b) Contract value, c) Role your company played, d) Point of contact and current telephone number, 3) A discussion of any customary business practices that might affect the firm's fulfillment of the requirement or its relationship with the Marine Corps customer; 4) A discussion of any potential participation with small, HUBZone small, small disadvantaged or woman owned small business concerns; 5) A statement as to whether the firm has the resource capacity to produce and deliver the MCAT over the next 48-60 months; 6) A statement as to whether the firm responding to this announcement is a large business, or a small, HUBZone, small disadvantaged or woman owned small business. This announcement is published for informational purposes only. It does not constitute a solicitation and shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government. Responses in any form are not offers and the Government is under no obligation to award a contract as a result of this announcement. No funds are available to pay for preparation of responses to this announcement. It is requested that written responses be submitted as an attached Microsoft Word document, limited to 12 pages and eight megabytes size limitations, via email in time to be received by 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on 13 May 2009. Emails should be addressed to: Marcia.Yount@navy.mil Point of Contact: Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division Attn: Marcia Yount, Code 25321 12350 Research Parkway Orlando, Florida 32826-3224 Phone: (407) 380-4056 There are no other prescribed format requirements for the response to this announcement, but all firms are requested to follow the outline above. All firms responding to this announcement will be notified if a requirement is solicited. The results will be utilized to determine set-aside opportunities. All set-asides will be considered. The Department of the Navy will use the responses to the announcement to make an informed decision concerning the strategy it will pursue to meet its objectives and, if the Department of the Navy elects to proceed with a procurement, to structure the solicitation to maximize commercial sector interest and encourage truly innovative and imaginative proposals.