Operational Aviation Training

**Amendment 001 is to add the attached Questions and Answers Documentation to help claify information in this Sources Sought Notice and extend the response date to 10-17-2008. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT A NOTICE OF SOLICITATION ISSUANCE. THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. This notice is issued for the purpose of developing a viable solicitation that will best communicate the Government's requirements to industry. Responses to this notice are strictly voluntary and will not affect any corporation's ability to submit an offer if and when a solicitation is released. The requested information is for planning purposes only and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued. There is no bid package or solicitation document associated with this announcement. No entitlement of payment by the government of direct or indirect costs or charges will arise as a result of the submission of contractor's information. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any improperly identified proprietary information. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations. Introduction: This is a Sources Sought Synopsis for an Operational Aviation Training Unit. The United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM) located at Brooks City-Base, Texas, trains 100% of the USAF's flight surgeons, Aerospace Medicine specialists and Aerospace Physiologists. Relocation of this mission to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio will enhance integration of the science, research and academic mission of USAFSAM, but will separate the organization from all likely sources of basic aviation training support. Background: The Aerospace Medicine specialists and Aerospace Physiologists receive their aviation training in the San Antonio area (Randolph AFB and/or Laughlin AFB). Current flying training for basic Aerospace Medicine Primary students is insufficient and "space available" only. No opportunity for basic or advanced flight familiarization training for Flight Surgeons, Resident Aerospace Medicine specialists or Aerospace Physiologists will be available at Wright-Patterson, AFB. The students will have to travel to other locations within the U.S. to receive their training, not only is this costly is not consistently available. Descriptions of Services: The government seeks a vendor to provide an "operational" aviation training unit in the Dayton, Ohio area during fiscal year 2010, but no later than 2011. Period of Performance will be for a period of no less than five (5) years. The vendor will offer curriculum-based aviation training on-site at Wright-Patterson AFB for Aerospace Medicine and Aerospace Physiology students and related staff, offer or assist with "ground school" lectures in a group setting, and provide a dedicated flying training unit that will permit student control with an instructor in all phases of flight. The flying demonstration and proficiency curriculum will be specifically designed to expose flight surgeon and aerospace physiology trainees to the rigors of flying, mission planning, modern cockpit symbology, disorientation, and instrument techniques and will ideally include capability for aerobatic flight. The curriculum would include spatial disorientation familiarization training and instrument training with an emphasis on human factors and disorientation awareness events, although there will not be a requirement for FAA private or instrument certification of trainees. This requirement is for a period of one year. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. You may contact Ms. Blanca E. Ruiz at the telephone number and email provided herein. DATA SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: The Information package should include the following items: 1. A brief description of your company's business size and business status (ie. small business, small disadvantaged business, woman-owned, HUBzone, service disabled veteran owned small business, and HBCU/MI); 2. Do you qualify under the 8(a) program? If you are a small business, do you also qualify under any of the sub-categories (small business, small disadvantaged business, woman-owned small business, HUBzone small business, service disabled veteran-owned small business or veteran-owned small business)? 2. What are your applicable NAICS codes? 3. Would you be interested in submitting a proposal considering the anticipated scope of work? If not, why? 4. Do you have sufficient experience in the anticipated scope that would allow the evaluator to assess your capability? If not, please explain. 5. What is the minimum and maximum dollar value project on which your firm would routinely consider submitting a proposal? 6. Are you aware of any DoD contracts dealing with commercial services for a "operational" aviation training unit? If so, provide the following: government POC, organization, phone number, email address, and contract number. 7. For Market Research purposes, please demonstrate your capability of being able to accomplish the services for an operational aviation training unit. Describe your qualifications, projects, and applicable experience. 8. Description of your capabilities and ability to provide the efforts described for these services. 9. Rough order magnitude (ROM) for providing efforts described for these services. 10. Please provide response as to what anticipated applicable NAICS code you would utilize for this effort. 11. Provide any additional comments regarding this Notice. 12. Do you see any issues/problems with the identified service? 13. Your comments /recommendations to achieve requirements described above. ALL INTERESTED RESPONDENTS PLEASE ENSURE ALL ANSWERS ARE COMPLETE. OMBUDSMAN: An ombudsman has been appointed to hear and facilitate the resolution of concerns from offerors, potential offerors, and others for this acquisition. 1. When requested, the ombudsman will maintain strict confidentiality as to the source of the concern. The existence of the ombudsman does not affect the authority of the program manager, contracting officer, or source selection official. Further, the ombudsman does not participate in the evaluation of proposals, the source selection process, or the adjudication of protests or formal contract disputes. The ombudsman may refer the party to another official who can resolve the concern. 2. Before consulting with an ombudsman, interested parties must first address their concerns, issues, disagreements, and/or recommendations to the contracting officer for resolution. Consulting an ombudsman does not alter or postpone the timelines for any other processes (e.g., agency level bid protests, GAO bid protests, requests for debriefings, employee-employer actions, contests of OMB Circular A-76 competition performance decisions). 3. If resolution cannot be made by the contracting officer, concerned parties may contact the Center/MAJCOM ombudsmen, Mr. Edward Noack, 3000 Sidney Brooks, Bldg 532, Brooks City-Base, TX 78235-5112, phone: 210-536-2319, fax: 210-536-6642, email: edward.noack@brooks.af.mil. Concerns, issues, disagreements, and recommendations that cannot be resolved at the MAJCOM/DRU level, may be brought by the concerned party for further consideration to the Air Force ombudsman, Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary (ADAS) (Contracting), SAF/AQC, 1060 Air Force Pentagon, Washington DC 20330-1060, phone number (703) 588-7004, facsimile number (703) 588-1067. 4. The ombudsman has no authority to render a decision that binds the agency. 5. Do not contact the ombudsman to request copies of the solicitation, verify offer due date, or clarify technical requirements. Such inquiries shall be directed to the Contracting Officer (Ralph Urias). The information received will not obligate the Government in any manner nor will the Government reimburse contractors for any costs associated with submittal of the requested information. This request does not constitute an Invitation For Bid or a Request For Proposal. Request for proposals, if and when issued, will be available on FedBizOpps.gov. As such, it is the potential offerors responsibility to monitor these sites for the release of any additional information. Central Contract Registration (CCR) will be mandatory for any resultant contract award. (See CCR website at www.ccr.gov). Responses to this RFI are due to the primary and/or secondary points of contact (listed above) by the response date identified above. Responses should include your company's name, address, telephone number, point of contact, and whether your company is a large or small business. Proprietary information should be clearly marked. Packages shall be delivered in electronic format. The electronic format may be in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) or compatible with Microsoft Office 2000 suite of software. All responses must be emailed to Blanca.Ruiz@brooks.af.mil or Ralph.Urias@brooks.af.mil. Please refer all questions regarding this RFI to the points of contact listed above.