19AF Remote Sim Instruction RFI.docx

Request for Information (RFI)/Sources Sought (SS) for Remote Simulator Instruction (RSI)

This Request for Information (RFI)/Sources Sought (SS) seeks information regarding availability and capability of all qualified sources, large and small businesses, to perform a potential requirement. Responses received may be used for acquisition strategic decision-making purposes only. This announcement does not constitute an Invitation for Bids, Request for Proposals, or a Request for Quotations, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a contract or otherwise pay for the information solicited or any follow-up information requests. The Government does not intend to award a contract based on this notice. Companies responding to this RFI/SS notice are advised that participation does not ensure involvement in any future solicitation or contract award. Contact with Government personnel, other than those specified in this RFI/SS, by interested firms or their employees regarding this requirement is not permitted.

Small Business Information The Government reserves the right to determine whether a Small Business (SB) set-aside is appropriate for this acquisition based on responses to this notice. To support a Government SB set-aside determination, interested SB concerns must provide sufficient written information to indicate their capability to successfully perform and manage all the requirements listed herein. Please include business type (Large Business, Small Business (SB), Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), 8(A)-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business (8a), Hubzone Small Business (HUBZone), Woman-Owned Small Business (WOSB), Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)) based upon the NAICS 611512 Flight Training, Size Standard $34M.

Purpose:

The Government is conducting preliminary Market Research fact-finding to determine:

a. The extent to which sources can provide solutions to conduct all operations associated with a robust Remote Simulator Instruction program as defined by this RFI.

b. Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) for the upfront and sustainment cost and level of effort as defined by this RFI.

Description:

To increase pilot production output, production efficiency, and pipeline modernization, the United States Air Force (USAF) seeks new means to increase throughput. This RFI requests a solution that connects its legacy Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) simulators to Remote Instructor Stations via commercial internet and government virtual private network (VPN), at a single location and/or “at-home”, with required cyber security compliance to reach an Authority to Operate (ATO).

Summary:

It is the Government’s intention to research available sources to meet the above criteria as part of this preliminary Market Research RFI. The Government may use responses to this RFI to determine industry’s capability to perform the services outlined within this RFI; determine the commerciality of this service; the capability for small businesses to perform this service; and any other determination as required by the Government. The main emphasis is to determine industry capability to provide a robust Remote Simulator Instruction solution, enabling a bigger pool of hires for the Government.

Scope:

Simulator training is a significant part of aviation training. In UPT, it can be as much as 33% of skill-based syllabus events. Therefore, simulator instructors are in high demand. The location of the USAF pilot training bases has led to hiring challenges of said instructors, driving a demand for remote work options. The Government is asking industry to provide said remote work options.

The solution should accommodate the use of current UPT simulators and commercial internet. Options to modify current simulators will be entertained but solutions should also include integration with simulators in their current state. Current Simulators use both single screen and dome style visual systems that the remote instructor would need repeated. The remote instructor station solution should be acceptable in an office setting or a “home-office” setting.

In response to this RFI, please identify innovative technology that can remain flexible, while showing the capability to advance and incorporate new technology.

In addition, please provide an anticipated timeline for completion.

Government Expectations:

The Government is contemplating an initial small-scale effort with modification and/or integration of 4 dome style simulator devices and delivery of 5 Remote Instructor Stations: 4 “office” devices and 1 “home-office” device.

Contracting Office Address 338 ESS/PKA, 2021 First Street West, JBSA-Randolph, TX, 78150-4302 Indicate your company’s interest in response to this RFI by providing a completed Contractor Capability Survey (below), with the Title of this RFI to Mr. Trevor Talamantez at trevor.talamantez@us.af.mil, NLT 4:00 pm CST 13 May 2024. Marketing materials are insufficient responses to this RFI. Please limit responses to no more than 15 pages and please identify a representative to support further government inquiries and requests for clarification on submissions. Any questions about this RFI will be submitted NLT five (5) business days prior to the RFI response due date.

NOTE: The Government is under no obligation to consider information received after the due date as part of the formal market research for this acquisition.

CONTRACTOR CAPABILITY SURVEY

Part I. Business Information Following the numbering scheme below, please provide the following business information for your company/institution and for any teaming or joint venture partners:

1. Company/Institute Name:

2. Address:

3. Point of Contact:

4. Unique Entity ID Number:

5. Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code:

6. Phone Number:

7. E-mail Address:

8. Web Page URL:

9. Size of business pursuant to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: 611512 Flight Training, $34M

10. A statement as to whether your company is domestically or foreign owned (if foreign, please indicate the country of ownership)

11. Identify business size and socio-economic status, pursuant to NAICS listed above and pursuant to FAR 52.219-1, Small Business Program Representations (Mar 2023), by marking all applicable categories shown below.

12. Can your company accomplish all tasks contained within the scope outlined in this RFI?

13. Please provide with your company’s overall concept a ROM cost estimate.

14. What does your company see as the biggest challenges to fulfilling a RSI solution?

15. Describe any experience and contracts within the last three years your company has as a PRIME or First Tier 1 Subcontractor to perform contracts similar in scope and complexity to the scope of this RFI. Please provide contract numbers, dollar value and what services your company performed as related to the scope of this RFI.

16. List NAICS code(s) the respondent usually performs under (must be listed in SAM.gov):

a. Company’s role in the performance of the requirement:

i. Prime or Subcontractor

ii. If Subcontractor: What functions did your company perform? Were they core functions? What percentage of the contract did your company perform?

iii. Other (please describe)

17. If respondent is a small business, how does your company intend to meet the Limitations on Subcontracting requirements set forth in FAR 52.219-14 (i.e., partnership, teaming, joint-venture, subcontract, etc.) and how would your company plan to select a qualified subcontractor to ensure compliance with the attached draft PWS document?

18. List any contracting vehicle, with contract number, that your company possesses (i.e. GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) w/ applicable SIN(s), OASIS Contract, etc.) that would be within scope of this RFI.

19. What Government Furnished Equipment (GFE)/Government Furnished Property (GFP) will your company require?

20. What contract structure would your business recommend for the contemplated scope and what functions may be set aside for small business subcontracting opportunities?

21. What requests, stipulations, or constraints delineated in this RFI would you change to improve the training or make the operation more efficient?

22. Briefly describe your company’s capabilities to finance, mobilize, and manage services contracts similar to this requirement.

List of Abbreviations and Acronyms AETC - Air Education and Training Command FAR - Federal Acquisitions Regulations GSA – General Services Administration GFE – Government Furnished Equipment GFP – Government Furnished Property HUBZone - Hubzone Small Business MAS - Multiple Award Schedule NAICS - North American Industry Classification System NLT - Not Later Than RFI - Request for Information ROM – Rough Order of Magnitude SAM - System for Award Management SB – Small Business SDB - Small Disadvantaged Business SDVOSB - Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business SS - Source Sought USAF – United States Air Force WOSB - Woman-Owned Small Business