Request For Information - Simulator, Aviation Fire Environment (SAFE)

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION for Simulator, Aviation Fire Environment (SAFE) RFI Number: Special Notice Number: SN-2013-03 Agency: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office: Forest Service Location: National Interagency Fire Center - Boise, ID RFI Issue Date: March 20, 2013 RFI Response Date: April 19, 2013 Submittal of information: The information requested by this RFI shall be provided, in writing, by close of business (4:30 p.m. Mountain Time) April 19, 2013 to the following address: U.S. Forest Service National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) 3833 South Development Avenue Attn: Mr. Michael McFarlane, Owyhee Building 106, Suite 1101-1 Boise, Idaho 83705-5354 Synopsis: This Request for Information is for Market Research and Planning purposes only. Classification Code: "U" Education and Training Services NAICS Code: 333318 Other Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing Size Standard: 1,000 Employees THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTEND TO AWARD A CONTRACT ON THE BASIS OF THIS RFI OR TO OTHERWISE PAY FOR THE INFORMATION SOLICITED. This RFI does not constitute a solicitation for proposals or the authority to enter into negotiations to award a contract. No funds have been authorized, appropriated, or received for this contemplated effort. This RFI is for planning purposes only and shall not be considered as a request for proposal or as an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any products or services. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of contractor submission of responses to this RFI or the Government's use of such information. The Government reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any contractor's input resulting from this RFI. Responses to this RFI will not be returned. Whatever information is provided in response to this RFI may be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available for future needs. The information provided may be utilized by the US Forest Service in developing its acquisition strategy and in its Statement of Objective and Performance Specifications. The information resulting from this RFI may be included/combined with other submissions in one or more options considered in the analysis of alternatives. Any proprietary information that is submitted may be used in establishing requirements of the future system but specific information will be safeguarded as proprietary. Contracting Office Address: Owyhee Building - MS 1100 3833 S. Development Ave. Boise, ID 83705 Primary Point of Contact: Michael McFarlane, Contracting Officer michaelmcfarlane@fs.fed.us 208-387-5695 Technical Point of Contact Eric Shambora, Aviation Safety and Training Specialist eshambora@fs.fed.us 916-764-2652 Description: The purpose of this announcement is to obtain market research regarding interested vendors/contractors who are capable of providing an aerial firefighting simulator system that will be used to replicate coordination of tactics and communications required in the fire environment. There are two bases for design criteria, Modular or Virtual, of which the contractor may address one or both. The simulation system must closely replicate environmental conditions as well as flight characteristics of aircraft utilized in Federal aerial firefighting. Primary objective: scenario/tactical training for licensed pilots that are new to, or refreshing in specific disciplines associated with, aerial firefighting. Design Requirements CRITICAL: - Six (6) or more simulation units (mobile option) - Ability to join multiple "players" from remote sites via internet connection (virtual option) - Multiple simulators (AC) participate in same scenario - Fire/smoke/retardant and water drop visualizations (through air and on ground) - Multiple A/C types, ability to add new (Rotary Wing and Fixed Wing, see Appendix A below) - Closed communication net-ability to talk sim to sim, instructors and students - Accurate performance characteristics (reflect differing gross weights, density altitude, altitudes, airspeeds, Loads (internal and external), G's, load/unload, speed and aero response in different configurations, stalls, degraded capabilities single engine, wind effects, turbulence) - Mission specific visualizations- aircrew view to front and sides, falling retardant/water, Bambi bucket, external loads (long line), rappellers, smokejumpers (parachutes), cargo (parachutes), helicopter fire fighter passenger load/offload DESIRED ADDITIONAL: - Ground personnel and vehicles- operable/moveable equip, view of drops and AC from ground - Replicate aircraft system failures/ degradations - Active cockpit gauges/instruments, failure modes - Accurate cockpit layouts (controls, gauges, avionics) Software Requirements CRITICAL: - Instructor control of scenario- customizable terrain, fire and weather manipulation, A/C manipulation, communications net, start/stop/pause/de-brief scenario - Fire behavior (adjustable direction, speed, intensity) - Terrain features- customizable, terrain modeler, Google Map overlays - Create custom, savable scenarios - Accident replication- crashes, Controlled Flight into Terrain, mid-air collision, tree/wire/structure impact - Instrument Meteorological Conditions- clouds/smoke - Weather manipulation- visibility, wind, turbulence, smoke, fire, cloud layers, rain, fog, lightning, microburst/downdraft - Depicted ground personnel/vehicles - Burnable urban interface- cities, buildings, houses - De-briefing tools- scenario record, playback, changeable views DESIRED ADDITIONAL: - Mechanical failures in drop zone (drop sys, flaps, clamshell, air brake, bucket or tank failure to drop, remote hook failure, High/Hot/Heavy (HHH) and Loss of Tail Rotor Effectiveness (LTE), and settling with power, power settling, etc) - Ability to add new aircraft types - IFR capable - Visualized lines cut by bulldozers - Location library for established airfields, operating areas - Low level flight environment- realistic graphics and flight performance Hardware: - Based on proposed trailered, shippable cased, or virtual versions - Multiple views/screens or wrap around display ( 180 degree max) - Interchangeable Yoke/Stick/Throttle Lever, Cyclic, Collective - Motion, seat rumblers, motion replication - Cockpit cameras for CRM training, scenario and cockpit recording/playback/ de-brief capability *same general and software requirements for virtual system Primary Application: Scenario training platform to be utilized during initial and refresher training of aerial supervision personnel operating in the fire environment. Secondary Application: Familiarization and training platform for use during exploration, testing, and fielding of new tactics, techniques, technology or associated equipment. Company information Requested: Vendors/Contractors who respond to this Request for Information (RFI), are requested to provide all of the following information in writing in response to this announcement and in accordance with the directions below: 1. COMPANY NAME 2. COMPANY ADDRESS 3. COMPANY POINT OF CONTACTS (NAME & TITLE) 4. POINT OF CONTACTS NUMBERS (OFFICE & FAX) 5. COMPANY'S SIZE STANDARD (USING NAICS CODE ABOVE) 6. TYPE OF BUSINESS (SMALL, LARGE, ETC.) 7. PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH AVIATION AND/OR SCENARIO SIMULATION SYSTEMS 8. DESIGN CAPABILITIES 9. MAINTENANCE AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT CAPABILITIES OF THE COMPANY Cost Information Requested: Additionally, all interested vendors/contractors shall also provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) that includes the following costs: 1. PER SYSTEM COSTS (SINGLE AND MULTIPLE QUANTITY BREAKS) 2. ANNUAL MAINTENANCE COSTS FOR EACH SYSTEM 3. PURCHASE/LEASE/LEASE TO OWN OPTIONS 4. USE COSTS PER DISPENSING CYCLE Cost estimates should be based on design, manufacture, level 2 drawings, support publications, and two years of follow on turnkey maintenance. TECHNICAL INFORMATION BEING REQUESTED: 1. PROPOSED DESIGN CONCEPT (VIRTUAL OR MOBILE) 2. COTS SOLUTIONS INCORPORATED 3. MANUFACTURING PROPOSALS 4. PROPOSED SYSTEM MAINTENANCE/UPDATE/TECH SUPPORT 5. ESTIMATED WEIGHT OF EACH SYSTEM (MOBILE) 6. SOFTWARE\HARDWARE SPECIFICATIONS INCLUDING FLIGHT SIMULATORS CAPABLE OF USING CLOUD BASED VMWARE VIRTUALIZATION TECHNOLOGIES TO PROVIDE: A. FLEXIBILITY TO HANDLE MULTIPLE FLIGHT-CONTROL SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATIONS AND DYNAMIC MODELS \SCENARIOS USING THE SAME SYSTEM B. FLEXIBILITY TO ALLOW TRAINING FROM ANY NETWORKED PC OR THIN CLIENT C. ABILITY TO HANDLE SYSTEM EXPANSIONS AND UPGRADES WITH MINIMAL HARDWARE INVESTMENTS BY LEVERAGING CLOUD BASED VIRTUALIZATION TECHNOLOGIES D. POTENTIAL FOR PRIVATE CLOUD IMPLEMENTATION THAT ALLOWS FLEXIBLE ACCESS AND AGILITY, LOCATED BEHIND THE SECURITY OF THE END USERS FIREWALL 7. TIMELINE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION 8. OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION RELATING TO THIS RFI Appendix A, Aircraft Types (not all-inclusive) Fixed Wing: BAe-146/Avro RJ-85 McDonnell Douglas DC-10 / MD-87 Lockheed C-130 / P2 Alenia C-27 Air Tractor (SEAT) Beechcraft King Air Rotary Wing: Bell 204/205/206/212/214/222/AH-1/BV-107 Eurocopter BO-105/BK-117/AS-350/SA-330 Sikorsky H-60/S-61/S-64 Hughes 500, Boeing CH-47, Aerospatiale SA-315