AETC Responses to IPT CSO and SOO Questions.pdf

Number Document Page Paragraph Question/Comment Government Response

1 AETC SOO for IPT 7 6.1.4.1

Request the Auto Pilot requirement be deleted from the CSO & program requirements. 3 Axis Auto Pilot is not a requirement for the FAA certs trained requested by the Air Force.

The Government will remove the 3 Axis Auto Pilot requirement.

2 AETC SOO for IPT 7 6.1.4.1

The Air Force can request/mandate a certain number of hours of simulator time to gain a familiarization of auto pilot operation and failure. Instrument and ME phases can afford addition of familiarization time.

The Government will remove the 3 Axis Auto Pilot requirement.

3 AETC CSO for IPT 19 Syllabus and Training Plan

The phrase "up to a maximum of 450 candidates each year" relates to a UPT base. Do you mean this to be a "450 candidates per location" vs "per offeror?"

Suggest Air Force change wording to "up to a maximum of 450 candidates per location."

Government anticipates a requirement of 150 graduate minimum throughput per location and will remove the maximums. Minimum of 4 vendors.

T-6 Shortened training syllabus

Prerequisite of 25 hours of multi-engine time is a prereq to start the T-6 shortened syllabus. Request AETC change from prereq of "25 hrs." to prereq of "multi-engine private add-on certificate in accordance with FAA PART 141"

The Government will remove the 25 hour prerequisite from the T-6 syllabi.

5 AETC CSO for IPT 4 3.11 If the IPT contract is a Firm-Fixed Price type contract, will incentives like award fees or performance incentives be used?

No incentives will be included in the contract.

AETC Responses to Industry Questions on the Initial Pilot Training Commercial Solutions Opening and the Statement of Objectives dated 26 Feb 2025

AETC Responses to Industry Questions on the Initial Pilot Training Commercial Solutions Opening and the Statement of Objectives dated 26 Feb 2025

6 Industry Day

Contract Structure - Pricing Discussion

The goal of the IPT contract is to graduate well trained capable pilot trainees in a safe and effective environment, while also meeting a demanding timeline. The Air Force is asking each offeror to build training infrastructure similar to an Undergraduate Pilot Training base. The Air Force does not guarantee a specific number of students, and yet it may reduce the number of students or increase the number of students based on its internal pipeline variables.

In the same way the Air Force cannot guarantee a set number of students for each class, civil aviation academies cannot predict an exact number of flight hours per student to earn the Private, Instrument, and Multi-engine FAA certs.

To successfully serve the Air Force in this contract, civil aviation academies must invest large amounts of capital on equipment and infrastructure to provide IPT training, for up to 3 classes simultaneously, with 27-30 students each - most importantly - within a demanding timeline The one constant is the infrastructure required at each airport.

Each academy must also contract, or build, lodging for 80+ students that meets the contract specifications. Infrastructure costs are expenses to the civil academy regardless of class size the Air Force delivers. The most equitable way to meet the demands listed above, and therefore create an environment where civil academies can meet the Air Force "North star" performance expectation of IPT, the contract should contain a Fixed Cost CLIN which would cover infrastructure costs at each IPT location. The Fixed Cost infrastructure CLIN could be paid monthly, and gives the Air Force capacity to use as it requires -similar to existing UPT bases.

Assuming a Fixed Cost Infrastructure CLIN - only one variable cost would remain -actual flight hours and supplies used by each student trained. So, for accounting purposes, the Air Force would have fixed payments to each IPT location each month and an invoice for number of hours flown. Fairly uncomplicated accounting, once the program is in operation.

The Government anticipates the use of a per student lodging rate that will be billed for each student at the start of the training. For aviation fuel, the Government anticipates the use of a Time and Materials CLIN. For certifications, they will be priced on a per candidate rate and billed at completion of the candidate's completion of each certification or at time of candidate removal from the course for failure to meet certification standards.

7 Pricing Discussion Pricing Discussion

Fuel cost fluctuation demands a variable flying hour cost. The contracting speaker at industry day seemed to indicate one price for each FAA cert earned.

Variable hours per student and fuel cost fluctuations should drive an ability for vendors to increase base contract flying hour cost when justified by fuel cost increases.

The Government anticipates the use of a Time and Materials pricing structure for fuel.

on the Initial Pilot Training Commercial Solutions Opening and the Statement of Objectives dated 26 Feb 2025

8 Pricing Discussion Pricing Discussion

If the IPT contract is a Firm-Fixed Price type contract, will incentives like award fees or performance incentives be used?

No incentives will be included in the contract.

9 SOO 7 6.1.4.1.

Cockpit Avionics. ...3-Axis Auto-Pilot...

Question: Will aircraft with a 2-Axis Auto-Pilot satisfy SOO requirements?

The Government will remove the 3 Axis Auto Pilot requirement.

10 CSO 5 3.1.5

Anticipated Number of Awards: The Government reserves the right to fund all, some, one, or none of the proposals submitted; may elect to fund only part of a submitted proposal; and may incrementally fund any or all awards under this

CSO.

Question: For industry to invest in resources to support IPT (and most have to invest to acquire training assets that are ICW SOO requirements), it is essential to understand and have AETC state the minimum annual student production for each awardee to justify industry investment.

Government anticipates a minimum requirement of 150 graduate throughput per location and will remove the maximums. Minimum of 4 vendors

11 CSO 5 3.12

Anticipated Number of Awards: The Air Force anticipates 4 awards initially and additional awards each year...

Question: If the government allows a single bidder with multiple teammates to provide training at separate operating locations, will the government mandate student production at each location? Or will the government will allow the bidder to designate how many students at each location will be trained annually?

Question: Will AETC limit the annual number of IPT students to each awardee to 450 students if an awardee is capable of training higher annual IPT student numbers?

Government anticipates a minimum of 150 graduate throughput per location and will remove the maximums. Minimum of 4 vendors

12 SOO 3 2

Question: How will annual student loads be evenly distributed among all awardees or will awardees be expected to compete for student allocations based on performance, availability, and/or other criteria?

The Government anticipates distributing candidates based on the contractor's capabilities, performance and infrastructure.

on the Initial Pilot Training Commercial Solutions Opening and the Statement of Objectives dated 26 Feb 2025

13 CSO 6 5.2.3

Phase III Technical, Cost, and SOW Proposal:

Question: Would the government consider adding an Economic Price Adjustment (EPA) clause in accordance with the Principal Director, Defense Pricing and Contracting, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (John M. Tenaglia) memorandum dated 25 May 2022, subject: Guidance on Inflation and Economic Price Adjustments?

Question: Can the gov't confirm that fuel is a contractor-provided cost and will not be a NTE or reimbursable line item?

The Government anticipates the use of a per student lodging rate that will be billed for each student at the start of the training. For aviation fuel, the Government anticipates the use of a Time and Materials CLIN. For certifications, they will be priced on a per candidate rate and billed at completion of the candidate's completion of each certification or at time of candidate removal from the course for failure to meet certification standards. As this will be determined to be a commercial service a cost reimbursable CLIN is prohibited IAW FAR 16.301-3(b).

14 SOO 10 7.1

Table 7.1. PO-1

Question: Will the government provide an expanded list of the items identified in FAR 52.212-4 paragraph f, that highlights conditions that result in late graduation beyond contractor control?

The list in para. f is not all inclusive thus each situation will be handled on a case by case basis and is subject to the Contracting Officer's judgment.

15 SOO 11 7.1

Table 7.1. PO-8:

Question: Could the government identify the specific FAA three-year average mishap frequency and severity rate metric that will be used to evaluate PO-8?

The Government anticipates using contractor-provided safety data and reports. Those being FAA or NTSB data that shall be provided to the Chief COR per paragraph 6.1.6 of the SOO. Data provided should showcase safe flying operations that ensures the safety of all IPT participants.

16 CSO Attach. 3 Para. 4

Estimated Price/Schedule: Provide a ROM price and notional schedule for how this concept could be implemented within the DoD.

Question: What does the USG mean by implement concept within the DoD?

The Government means "How long will it take you to implement your approach to provide the certifications in the SOO?"

on the Initial Pilot Training Commercial Solutions Opening and the Statement of Objectives dated 26 Feb 2025

17 CSO Attach. 2 Para. 9

Price Portion: The cost/price portion of the solution brief shall include a ROM cost/price estimate per candidate. No detailed price or cost information should be included; only a time- phased bottom-line figure should be provided.

Question: Does the above refer to a time-phased approach with payment due prior to each course (PPC-ASEL, AIR, PPC AMEL), or a single price for all three courses with changed prices each year during execution depending on class size and account for escalation?

Question: When conducting IPT training using different training locations, can the bidder submit a separate cost for training at each location that accommodates the differences in cost of services, cost of labor, and cost of living conditions in each area?

The Government anticipates the use of a per student lodging rate that will be billed for each student at the start of the training. For aviation fuel, the Government anticipates the use of a Time and Materials CLIN. For certifications, they will be priced on a per candidate rate and billed at completion of the candidate's completion of each certification or at time of candidate removal from the course for failure to meet certification standards.

Yes, Offerors may submit pricing for different locations. For all FLSA covered employees the most recent Wage Determination from the Department of Labor located on SAM.gov should be taken into consideration.

18 SOO 5 5.1.7

Lodging.

Question: Will the Gov't allow the use of a 24/7 cafeteria (pay as you go), on-site and co-located with lodging rooms be used in place of providing kitchen facilities?

The Government has removed the kitchen requirement from IPT.

Students will receive per diem based on the training location, providing a 24/7 cafeteria will be at offeror's discretion.

19 SOO 6 6.1.4

Aircraft.

Question: Will the Gov't allow the use on non-glass cockpit configured single-engine training aircraft to conduct flight training for RPA Pilots and CSO students?

The Government anticipates the use of non-glass equipped aircraft for CSO and RPA candidates on the IPT contract but may move towards all candidates being trained in glass-equipped aircraft by 2030.

20 CSO

Pricing Discussion

What is the payment schedule for this project? The Government anticipates the use of a per student lodging rate that will be billed for each student at the start of the training. For aviation fuel, the Government anticipates the use of a Time and Materials CLIN. For certifications, they will be priced on a per candidate rate and billed at completion of the candidate's completion of each certification or at time of candidate removal from the course for failure to meet certification standards.

on the Initial Pilot Training Commercial Solutions Opening and the Statement of Objectives dated 26 Feb 2025

Pricing Discussion

Will funds be allocated for each class/individual/the whole contract The Government anticipates the use of a per student lodging rate that will be billed for each student at the start of the training. For aviation fuel, the Government anticipates the use of a Time and Materials CLIN. For certifications, they will be priced on a per candidate rate and billed at completion of the candidate's completion of each certification or at time of candidate removal from the course for failure to meet certification standards.

Is there a penalty if a member of a class is not able to complete in 139 days? The Government anticipates a certain attrition percentage.

Anticipated late graduations will need early communication with the USAF to identify contractor or Government shortfalls. Each will be handled on a case by case basis.

Security: Please explain the plan for obtaining TSA clearance so that foreign students can begin training.

The Government is familiar with TSA requirements and international candidates will have the appropriate TSA clearance to begin training upon arrival at the training location.

Pricing Discussion

Would the government consider funding the purchase of aircraft to supplement those planes already on hand in order to facilitate this contract?

The Government will not provide funds to purchase aircraft.

In previous RFI's there was mention of CSO and RPA personnel. Will such personnel be included in the final bid or is this just for pilots?

The Government anticipates RPA and CSO candidates to receive a PPC or certain hours of the FAA Part 141 Appendix B as noted in the paragraph 5.1.5 of the Statement of Objectives.