UH-1Y/AH-1Z Aircrew Training Device Procurements and Upgrades

The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) Orlando intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, a Contract for the procurement of seven Flight Training Devices (FTDs) and Baseline Configuration Updates (BCUs) to the four fielded UH-1Y/AH-1Z flight simulators with Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (BHTI), Ft. Worth, TX. under authority of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1, "Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements". Currently, the only source of the design and software is BHTI. The anticipated contract value for this contract is $150M inclusive of all options. The H-1 Flight Simulator contract will provide for the acquisition of four UH-1Y FTDs and three AH-1Z FTDs, and the modification and upgrades of four fielded H-1 flight simulators. Specifically, the modification and upgrades effort is for one each UH-1Y and AH-1Z FTD, and one each UH-1Y and AH-1Z Full Flight Simulator (FFS) to technically refresh and maintain simulation concurrency with USMC platforms and continue supporting Training & Readiness Syllabus requirements for joint training. USMC aircrew training systems require maximizing capabilities amongst platforms. The H-1 contract will also provide for upgrades and modifications for Mission Computer Software Configuration Set (SCS) currency, USMC Aviation Training System interoperability, Brief/Debrief Stations, image generators and visual databases. The H-1 training systems requirements identified will support training in the full mission spectrum from planning through mission rehearsal including individual through joint interoperability levels encompassing events in the initial Rotary Wing Training and Readiness Matrix (T&R). Any new UH-1Y/AH-1Z training systems, modifications and upgrades must be fully integrated and interoperable with the currently fielded UH-1Y/AH-1Z aircraft and require the use of technical information that is not readily available to other contractors during design and development as the Government has neither the intellectual property rights nor data necessary to provide to another contractor. The UH-1Y/AH-1Z contract will also focus on reducing cost of ownership by optimizing existing hardware and software commonality across all H-1 FTD/FFS devices through the extensive use of common interfaces, data structures, hardware and software constructs. Award to any other contractor would result in substantial duplication of costs to the Government that would not be recovered through competition for the remaining devices to be procured and would create unacceptable delays in fulfilling UH-1Y mission training requirements and having adequate training devices delivered in time to support Initial Operational Capability (IOC) for the AH-1Z aircraft scheduled for 3rd quarter FY11. A competitive acquisition would allow for a new system to be introduced to the field that may not be integrated and interoperable with the existing eight training devices. This would require the Government to have two infrastructures in place for life cycle support or would require a significant rework of the current FTD/FFS design and development that would cost the Government additional non-recurring engineering (NRE) effort for first article development, testing, and retrofit of existing FTDs/FFSs. As the current sole designer, developer, integrator, manufacturer and supplier of USMC UH-1Y and AH-1Z aircrew training systems and hardware and software components that are common to the UH-1Y and AH-1Z, only BHTI possesses the requisite knowledge, engineering expertise, and data rights of the design required to design, build, modify, upgrade and deliver UH-1Y and AH-1Z aircrew training systems. This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals. It is a notice that outlines the Government's intent to contract on a sole source basis with BHTI. However, interested sources may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirements. Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government. In doing so, interested sources must submit detailed technical capabilities, ability to obtain UH-1Y and AH-1Z aircraft elements and simulation technical data, and any other information that demonstrates their ability to meet the needs of the Government. Detailed capabilities must be submitted by email to Ms. Mona Zahid (mona.zahid@navy.mil) in an electronic format that is compatible with Word 2003, no later than 22 January 2010. All information shall be furnished at no cost or obligation to the Government. Responses shall be limited to no more than TEN (10) pages. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract action based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. This synopsis is not to be considered a request for quotations or proposals. No solicitation document is available. No contract will be awarded on the basis of offers received in response to this notice, but will be used to determine if a comparable source is available and more advantageous to the Government. If no affirmative written response is received, the Contract for the UH-1Y/AH-1Z aircrew training devices will be awarded without further notice prior to award.