Augmented Reality-Virtual Reality_RFI 70ZA0127AIRC12001.pdf

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) Training Devices

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) Office of Aviation Acquisitions (CG-AIR-A) is releasing this Request for Information (RFI) / Sources Sought Notice pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 10, Market Research. This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP) or Request for Quote (RFQ). This request for capability information does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service, whatsoever. Further, the USCG is not at this time seeking proposals or quotes and will not accept unsolicited proposals or quotations. Submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary. This RFI is being used as a Market Research tool for informational purposes and for preliminary planning purposes to identify potential sources that possess the required experience and expertise to provide the required support. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement or any follow-up information requests. Small and large businesses are encouraged to respond.

1. Introduction and Purpose

The USCG is seeking to understand current industry capabilities in developing, deploying, and maintaining Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) training devices and solutions utilizing VR headsets tailored for Pilots, Aircrew, and Maintainers across multiple airframes. The USCG is specifically interested in training configurations for the following platforms:

• HC-130J

• HC-144B

• MH-60T

• MH-65E

2. Scope

The envisioned scale of this effort includes approximately 200 headsets distributed across the fleet to support both operational and specialized training environments. For vendor estimation and calculation purposes, this distribution covers:

• 26 Operational Air Stations: 5 headsets per site.

• 2 Aviation Training Centers: Aviation Technical Training Center (ATTC) Elizabeth City, NC & Aviation Training Center (ATC) Mobile, AL. 35 headsets per site.

A critical requirement is establishing common hardware at Coast Guard units across the fleet to reduce the logistical and maintenance footprint, coupled with the capability for instructors to conduct, monitor, and guide training remotely.

The desired capability must enable personnel to complete role-specific training in a virtual environment, with a primary focus on:

• Checklist Procedures: Virtual execution of standard operational checklists, including comprehensive aircraft pre-flight inspections, engine/system start-up, and shutdown procedures.

• Emergency Procedures: Realistic simulation of in-flight and on-deck emergencies requiring immediate and accurate procedural responses.

• Systems Knowledge: Interactive familiarization and functional understanding of aircraft systems and avionics.

• Maintenance Procedure Cards (MPCs): Step-by-step virtual execution and sign-off of USCG MPCs to build muscle memory and procedural compliance without requiring physical aircraft availability.

• Aircraft Diagnostics: Interactive aircraft diagnostics capabilities to include Built in Test (BIT) menus, interpreting fault codes, replacement of Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) and diagnosing intermittent failures on systems such as Automatic Flight Control, Flight Management System, CAAS, Engines, Main & Auxiliary transmissions, Hydraulics and various sensor systems. VR can simulate network failures using virtual diagnostic tools to pinpoint and solve the problem, which is far more efficient and safer than training on the actual mission system.

3. Applicable NAICS Codes & Size Standards

To capture the diverse landscape of AR/VR aviation training, the USCG has identified the following active North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes for this market research effort:

NAICS

Code Description

SBA Small Business Size Standard Primary Scope of Use

541511 Custom Computer Programming Services

$34.0 Million Custom AR/VR software development, game engine coding, and virtual MPC step integrations.

541512 Computer Systems Design Services

$34.0 Million Turn-key VR system integration, including the selection, configuration, and secure network integration of COTS VR hardware paired with custom training software.

While multiple NAICS codes may be explored during market research to capture both specialized software and hardware systems integration vendors, in accordance with RFO FAR 19.103, only one single NAICS code representing the principal nature of the procurement will be assigned at the time of any formal solicitation).

4. Disclaimer

No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response to this RFI. The Government reserves the right to use any information provided by respondents for any purpose determined necessary and legally appropriate, including using technical information provided by respondents in any resultant solicitation.

5. Information Requested

If your company has demonstrated experience in developing, fielding, and sustaining AR/VR simulation platforms utilizing VR headsets for aviation flight or maintenance training, please provide the following information:

1. Company Name

2. Address

3. Website

4. Point of Contact (POC) Name

5. POC Email Address

6. POC Telephone Number

7. Socioeconomic status

8. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)

9. What specific Government Furnished Information (GFI) or technical data (such as OEM CAD data, Flight Manuals, or specific Maintenance Procedure Cards) does your system require to build out these virtual environments, and what can be adapted from commercially available files?

10. Existing Contract Vehicles & Interagency Agreements (IAA): Does your company currently have existing government-wide acquisition contracts (GWAC) (such as GSA), DoD/DHS-wide strategically sourced contracts, or agency-specific vehicles (such as U.S. Army PEO STRI, Navy NAWCTSD, or Air Force Simulators Program Office) that would support an Interagency Agreement (IAA) or direct order by the USCG? If yes, please provide the contract number, the prime contract holder, the managing agency, and the agency Point of Contact (POC) information.

11. Contract Structure & Business Model:

• Contract Type: What type of contract (such as firm-fixed price or cost-reimbursement) have you been issued before for this type of work? Do you recommend one type or perhaps a hybrid model?

• Software Licensing Model: Describe your software licensing structure (such as per-headset annual subscription, enterprise/unlimited license, or perpetual license with annual maintenance).

• Hardware Technology Refreshment: How does your business model account for the rapid obsolescence of commercial VR hardware? Do you offer hardware leasing options or technical refreshment cycles?

12. Provide any general comments, thoughts, and feedback your company would share regarding this RFI.

13. Technical Capability & Student Analytics: Please address your company's capability to deliver VR headset-based solutions that replicate aircraft environments for Pilots, Aircrew, and Maintainers. Specifically, describe how your platform facilitates training for standard checklist procedures (pre-flight, start, and shutdown), emergency procedures, systems knowledge, and MPCs. Include details on:

• Common Hardware & Multi-Airframe Support: How does your solution support standardized hardware across multiple different airframes (HC-130J, HC-144B, MH-60T, and MH-65E) to reduce the logistical and maintenance footprint?

• Remote Instructor Capability: Describe your platform's ability to allow instructors to oversee training, inject faults, and interact with students remotely across a distributed fleet.

• Open Standards & Non-Proprietary Architecture: Is your system built on open architecture (such as OpenXR)? Can a third party or the government modify and ingest new checklists or MPCs into your platform without OEM lock-in?

• Physical Footprint & Tracking: What is the minimum physical space/footprint required per training station? Does your solution require external mounting hardware/sensors, or does it utilize inside-out tracking?

• Fidelity & Interactivity: What level of hand-tracking, controller interaction, or haptics is supported to build authentic muscle memory for complex cockpit or maintenance tasks?

• Student Performance Metrics: How are student performance metrics, checklist errors, and completion times tracked, scored, and logged? Does the system export data to standard Learning Management Systems (LMS) via xAPI or

SCORM?

14. Teaming Arrangements: If significant subcontracting or teaming would be required (for example, combining a hardware Original Equipment Manufacturer with a specialized software developer), companies should address the logistical, administrative, and management structure of such arrangements.

15. Cybersecurity & Network Architecture (Critical): Please address how your VR hardware and software solution meets DoD/DHS cybersecurity frameworks:

• Air-Gapped Capabilities: Does the system require an active internet/cloud connection to function, or can it operate in a completely air-gapped (offline) environment?

• Account Requirements: Do the headsets require external commercial user accounts (such as Meta or HTC Enterprise) to initialize or operate?

• Authority to Operate (ATO) History: Have your software or hardware components previously received an ATO on any DoD or federal network? If yes, please provide details.

16. Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) Cost Estimate (For Market Research & Planning Purposes Only):

To assist the Government in understanding cost drivers and total cost of ownership, please structure your ROM estimate across the following primary cost elements:

1. Non-recurring engineering (NRE) / Initial Software & Content Development: Estimated initial cost to develop, validate, and deliver interactive virtual cockpits, systems simulations, checklist logic, MPCs, and interactive diagnostic environments for the four specified USCG aircraft platforms.

2. Hardware Procurement & Peripherals: Estimated unit and aggregate hardware cost for 200 government/military grade VR headsets, controllers/tracking peripherals, protective cases, and necessary local client workstations (if required for headset processing).

3. Software licensing & Sustainment: Projected annual recurring cost for software licensing (per-device or enterprise), ongoing cybersecurity vulnerability patching, software maintenance, and remote instructor network management support.

4. Deployment, Integration & Train the Trainer (initial fielding): Estimated cost to field, configure, calibrate, and conduct initial ‘Train the Trainer’ orientation across the USCG enterprise (including ATC Mobile and ATTC Elizabeth City).

5. Hardware Technology Refreshment: Estimated cost model or recurring options for refreshing headset hardware at projected obsolescence milestones.

6. Any Warranty Considerations

6. Submission Instructions

Interested parties are invited to submit their responses in accordance with the guidelines below:

• Submission Deadline: No later than 2:00 PM EST on November 23, 2026.

• Delivery Method: All responses and clarifying questions regarding this RFI must be emailed directly to:

o To: Sharita.L.Leathers@uscg.mil o Cc: Joel.M.Gibney2@uscg.mil.

o Subject Line: RFI Response: Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) Training Devices - [Your Company Name]

• Formatting & Size Restrictions:

o File Format: MS Word or Searchable PDF format.

mailto:Sharita.L.Leathers@uscg.mil mailto:Joel.M.Gibney2@uscg.mil o Page Limit: Written responses must not exceed 15 pages (excluding cover page)].

o File Size: Email attachment must not exceed 10MB.