MH-65E HOT MOCK-UP (HMU) TRAINING DEVICE

Description THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE (SSN). IT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS NOR IS THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD (USCG) SEEKING PROPOSALS FROM INDUSTRY AT THIS TIME. 1. INTRODUCTION The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is issuing this Sources Sought Notice (SSN) as a part of its market research to obtain a list of responsible sources that may exist to develop and integrate a digital fault system for a ground servicing maintenance training device. Additionally, responses will help to shape the appropriate acquisition strategy for this requirement. This SSN encourages potential responders to submit information (for market research) regarding the responder's corporate experience and capabilities relating to aviation training device systems integration, upgrades, and sustainment support. 2. DISCLAIMER This SSN is for informational purposes only. This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP). It does not constitute a solicitation and shall not be construed as a commitment by USCG to purchase any specific products or services. Responses in any form are not offers and USCG is under no obligation to award a contract as a result of this announcement. No funds are available to pay for prepartion of responses to this announcement. Any information submitted by respondents to this technical description is strictly voluntary. 3. SUBMITTAL INFORMATION Interested vendors shall submit a detailed capabilities statement to the contracting officer, Mr. Nathan Dolezal, at nate.dolezal@uscg.mil. Such statements shall be limited to ten (10) pages or less and shall address the following: (a) The company name, (b) The company's physical address, (c) The company's point-of-contact with a current phone number and email address, (d) A statement as to whether the company is small or large within the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code of 541330, "Engineering Services", and (e) The company's Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. To receive consideration from USCG, interested vendors shall submit their capability statements to the contracting officer (nate.dolezal@uscg.mil) no later than 1 PM Eastern Standard Time on Monday, 18 January 2021. Any capabilities statements submitted after this date and time may or may not be considered by the USCG. USCG thanks you for your interest in this work. 4. SCOPE The USCG is upgrading the fleet of MH-65 Short Range Recovery (SRR) helicopters to include reliability and capability improvements for the Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS). This includes installation of a digital cockpit display system and an upgraded digital weather/surface search radar, along with the integration of a robust Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) suite. It also includes the modernization of the digital flight deck with a Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS), common with the USCG H-60/Medium Range Recovery (MRR) and similar Department of Defense (DoD) aircraft. Once upgraded, the airframe will be re-designated MH-65E. The USCG Aviation Technical Training Center (ATTC) in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, supports the operational MH-65 fleet by providing training to Avionics Electrical Technicians (AETs) who maintain the aircraft. Instructors at ATTC teach in-depth electrical and avionics maintenance procedures and sophisticated troubleshooting techniques to the USCG enlisted aviation maintenance work force. This training is provided through formal "C" schools. A realistic ground-servicing trainer, called a Hot Mock Up (HMU), provides students with a fleet representative aircraft hull to learn maintenance and troubleshooting techniques. Photographs are attached to this posting for visual reference. Photo 1 - MH-65E HMU Hull Photo 2 - MH-65E HMU Cockpit Photo 3 - MH-65D HMU Fault System; Removed upon conversion to MH-65E Photo 4 - MH-65D HMU Fault System; Removed upon conversion to MH-65E Photo 5 - MH-65D HMU Fault System; Removed upon converstion to MH-65E Photo 6 - MH-65D HMU Instructor Operator System Dispaly Photo 7 - MH-65D HMU Smart Board The USCG is seeking qualified and interested vendors to design, develop, and integrate, a new digital fault system that will be used to inject aircraft system faults into the MH-65E HMU. The faults shall consist of opens (broken wires), shorts to ground, cross shorts, avionics software, and data bus failures. The ability to induce specific aircraft system discrepancies in a controlled environment allows instructors to train AETs to effectively identify and resolve genuine aircraft electrical and avionics discrepancies that occur in the MH-65 fleet while maintaining the safety measures necessary in a training environment. A co-located Instructor Operator Station (IOS) allows the instructor to select, deselect, and induce, multiple discrepancies simultaneously by way of a Windows 10 based laptop computer and mouse. The MH-65E uses MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429, 453 and 706 data busses, as well as Local Area Network (LAN). The USCG does NOT require an HMU with visual simulation solutions. It is important to note that many system faults will be unknown until operational aircraft are fielded and discrepancies are generated and documented; therefore, respondents should consider a solution with follow-on support. 5. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS Functionality: The instructor shall be able to induce a discrepancy from a list provided by USCG. The induction shall be instanteous and shall manifest precisely as it would in the cockpit of an operational MH-65E. The fault system wiring shall also be so that the students can isolate discrepancies down to the system, component, and wiring level. This includes communications, navigation, electrical generation, electrical distribution, and monitoring/display systems. Environment: The digital fault system will operate in a climate-controlled environment. However, special consideration should be given to the probability that high humidity conditions can occur. Development and Deployment: The solution may be developed at the contractor's facility; however, deployment of the solution shall be completed at the USCG Aviation Technical Training Center (AATC) in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Commonality: The USCG encourages commonality of the solution across all airframes to the maximum extent practicable. The intent of this consideration is to encourage economies of scale and easing of logistics complexity. However, the intent of commonality is not meant to constrain the technical solutions, but to gain efficiencies when possible. Please consider the following when responding: (a) Non-recurring engineering efforts (b) Technical integration support (c) Technical refresh and sustainment support, including potential obsolesence (d) Windows 10 compliance and integration (e) Agency cyber security compliance (f) Design or modification of software code (g) Fault system components and hardware sparing (not part of a/c configuration) (h) Technical data (Interface Control Drawings, Wiring Schematics, User Manual, and Software Maintenance and Troubleshooting Procedures)