RFI - Flight Training - Rotary Wing (IFT-R) USAF

********************************** Update 16 Feb 2022* Draft PWS Uploaded ********************************* Request for Information (RFI) for Introductory Flight Training - Rotary Wing (IFT-R) for United States Air Force The purpose of this RFI is to engage early with industry and collaborate on flying training support. The goal of this RFI is to engage with industry and gather information that will help the United States Air Force (USAF) evaluate improved options to increase rotary pilot production and improve USAF pilot training. USAF's objective is to determine if your company can provide complete commercial services to meet pilot production requirements as outlined across the IFT-R RFI. This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Quote (RFQ), solicitation, or an indication that the government will contract for this requirement, or any similar requirement, at any time in the future. The government will not pay for information received in response to this RFI and is in no way obligated by the information received to take any action. Introduction: This RFI includes a description of IFT-R, and a Contractor Capability Survey that allows you to provide your capability. If, after reviewing these documents, you desire to participate in the Market Research, please provide documentation that indicates any legal, contracting, program or other hurdles you have identified that may prevent or inhibit performance of any portions of flying training, as defined by this RFI. Purpose: The government is conducting preliminary Market Research fact-finding to determine: The extent to which commercial sources are capable of conducting operations associated with contractor owned/contractor provided IFT-R as defined by this RFI (flying operations, simulations, academics, aircraft maintenance, etc.). Potential locations within the United States that are capable of supporting IFT-R as defined by this RFI. Efficiencies and cost savings that can be gained through approaches to all commercial aspects of IFT-R, as defined by this RFI. Description: The United States Air Force (USAF) is seeking to collect preliminary Market Research, including industry capability and interest in support of planning for a potential hypothetical long-term commercial services rotary wing training capability. Summary: The government is in the planning stages to assess industry ability to meet some or all of its potential future needs. Please review the information included in this RFI Announcement as well as the: Indicate your interest in response to this RFI by providing a completed Contractor Capability Survey (below) and IFT-R RFI Capability Matrix: Separate Attachment with the Title of this RFI to Mr. Javier Rangel, AETC.A5QR.FlyingOpsSupport@us.af.mil NLT 4:00 pm CST 11 Mar 22. Marketing materials are insufficient responses to this RFI. Please limit responses to no more than 5 pages. Please identify a representative to support further government inquiries/requests for clarification on submissions. Any questions about this RFI will be submitted NLT ten (10) days prior to the RFI response due date. Capability Survey Questions General Capability Questions: What is your current and/or planned maximum student throughput at the current/planned location(s) in relation to the number of instructors that can be provided? What do you see as the biggest challenges to fulfilling a fully IFT-R contract (Instructor Pilots, Maintenance Personnel, simulators, equipment maintenance, availability of aircraft to meet student throughput, etc.)? Why are these your biggest challenges? What Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) do you believe you may need to meet this requirement? Specific Capability Questions: Concept: Where would you base the operation? What are the location(s) of current and planned facilities to include primary and aux airfields? What is the proximity of those facilities to an Air Force Base(s)? How do you plan to meet the training airspace requirement (MOAs, low-level routes, traffic patterns, instrument approaches, etc.)? What innovations would you recommend that could supplement flying training? What PM qualifications do you think are necessary to lead and manage the IFT-R training location and workforce considering the size of this effort with student throughput? Why do you think these qualifications are necessary? How long prior to the start of a new contract period must the government provide the flying hour program, training calendar, class schedule and student flow through publication of the Program Allocation (PA) document and the PFT document? An Environmental Assessment (EA) resulting in a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), (Pub. Law 90-190; 42 U.S.C. - 4331 et seq.), and the Air Force Environmental Impact Analysis Process (EIAP), 32 C.F.R. - 98 may be required prior to any performance. Do your company have any concerns with a potential EA? If so then what are they? The Government anticipates that no mobilization period will be required. If your company does not concur with this please recommend a mobilization period and explain the activities that will be carried out by your company during this period. The Government anticipates a Firm-Fixed-Price contract could come from this effort. For purposes of this RFI, the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 611512, Flight Training. Do your company have any concerns with the potential use NAICS Code of 611512 or the use of an FFP contract type? If so, then what are they? How would you recommend the government structure contract flexibilities to enable fluctuations in student throughput, i.e. 88 +/- 10 pilots annually as an example? IFT-R may involve some conditions where Government specifications are required but they are not so prevalent that they would consider IFT-R as non-commercial or developmental. Do your company have any concerns with the potential commerciality determination of an IFT-R effort? If so then what are they? The Government anticipates holding a subsequent IFT-R Industry Day. At what juncture do you recommend the Government facilitates that event and what topics would you recommend be covered? List of Abbreviations and Acronyms AETC - Air Education and Training Command AFI - Air Force Instruction AFMAN - Air Force Manual CFI - Certified Flight Instructor CFII - Certified Flight Instructor - Instrument COR - Contracting Officer Representative CRM - Crew/Cockpit Resource Management CTS - Course Training Standard EFB - Electronic Flight Bag FAA - Federal Aviation Administration FMS - Flight Management System GFE - Government Furnished Equipment GPS - Global Positioning System IFR - Instrument Flight Rules IFT - Introductory Flight Training IP - Instructor Pilot ITD - Immersive Training Device MEI - Multi-Engine Instructor MOA - Military Operations Area PA - Program Allocation PFT - Program Flying Training PM - Program Manager RFI - Request for Information RFP - Request for Proposal RFQ - Request for Quote RNAV - Area Navigation SUA - Special Use Airspace USAF - United States Air Force VFR - Visual Flight Rules