Amend_01_Updated_Q&As_(31_May).docx

Updated Q&As posted with Amendment 01

19. On page 33 of the PWS, Section 5.2, C2 ISR Aircraft, the table indicates that there are notes associated with all of the bases. No notes are visible. What notes should be associated with this table?

Response: The notes listed below Section 5.0, table 5.1. Fighter, relate to ALL tables under Section 5.0.

20. On page 34 of the PWS, Section 5.4, Bomber Aircraft, the table indicates that there are notes associated with all of the bases. No notes are visible. What notes should be associated with this table?

Response: Same response as question 19 above.

21. On page 34 of the PWS, Section 5.5, Rescue Aircraft, the table indicates that there are notes associated with all of the bases. No notes are visible. What notes should be associated with this table?

Response: Same response as question 19 above.

22. On page 31 of the PWS (Appendix 1, Section 3.1.3, Continuation(CT)/Instructor Upgrade Training for T-38 pilots, note (3) states “This requirement will be priced out as a separate CLIN titled “AETC T-38 at Randolph AFB, TX.” Does the government wish to see a separate CLIN number, and price for every contract year?

Response: Yes, this is an optional CLIN that needs to be priced separately from the other CLINS. It will be priced for every contract year. An optional CLIN for the base and all option years has been added to the contract.

23. On page 31 of the PWS (Appendix 1, Section 3.2, Formal Training Unit), the second sentence in the section says “Basic Qual courses will be split into 3 different phases: 3 hours TR, 1 hour A/A and 1 hour A/G.” This equals 5 hours. On page 4 of the PWS, Section 1.5.1.1 FTU CRM Training, the last sentence before the table says “The FTU course will be a 4 hour block of instruction…” Which is correct?

Response: The “3 hours TR” is a typo error. It should read “2 hours TR” with the total FTU course being a 4 hour block of instruction. The PWS has been revised to reflect this change.

24. On page 34 of the PWS (Appendix 2, Section 1, Bombers), the table does not show a need to develop an FTU TX course for these aircraft. However, page 32 of the PWS (Appendix 1, Section 4.2, Formal Training Unit (FTU) Personnel) seems to indicate the need for an FTU ReQual/SORC class for all types. Is this a full FTU (4 hour) class, or is this similar to the 2 hour FTU TX courses for other aircraft types?

Response: Under this PWS, only Fighter aircraft require a separate TX course to be developed for pilots and WSO’s that transition back to their respective fighter (Table 2 of Appendix 2). Other aircrew who transition back to their respective aircraft will take their MDS specific CT course as they go through the TX course.

25. Please confirm that Table 5.1 on page 38 of the PWS (Appendix 3, Section 5, Additional CRM Training Materials) represent totals for the contract per year, not totals per MDS per year.

Response: Yes, it represents totals for the contract year, not per MDS.

26. Please confirm that Table 5.2 on page 38 of the PWS (Appendix 3, Section 5, Briefing Guides for AFRC) represent totals for the contract per year, not totals per MDS per year. For example, the contractor will provide one Fighter Plug and Play Brief in 2018, not one for each of the Fighter types in AFRC (A-10, F-15E, F-15, etc.).

Response: Yes, one per each of the 5 listed in the table (Fighter, RPA, AE, AWACS and Bomber).

27. For Course Ware Development purposes, can you please define what you mean and/or the differences between new courseware “development” vs “completely revised”?

Response: In this case completely revised refers to a new CT course. The 4th sentence of para 1.5.1.3 of the PWS has been re-worded as follows: “New CT courses with new training material and new case studies will be implemented at a minimum of every 2 years, more often if in accordance with (IAW) the contractor’s ISD Management Plan and the final negotiated contract”.

28. So that we can accurately price travel and labor hours, can you provide any potential options for the “TBD RPA Bases”?

Response: At this time, we do not know the locations of where these MQ-9 units will be located. All we do know is that they will be located at a current USAF CONUS base.

29. Can we assume that AE units’ training will be accomplished on drill weekends or annual training event and that unit personnel will be made available during that time for CRM training?

Response: Yes. As stated, you will make one trip annually to each unit and train as many personnel that are available.

30. Class sizes: can we assume the customer will work to schedule and help us fill classes? Are there historical numbers available for average class sizes?

Response: The contractor is responsible for working with each unit to schedule CRM training. Class sizes vary by location, the number of people to train and the FTU syllabi. Some small FTU classes and operational units train only 4 students per class. Larger bases with hundreds of aircrew to train per year have larger class sizes.

31. Are there historical numbers on re-teach/accomplishment factors or non-availability of unit personnel for classes? If the vendor is scheduled to perform a class but less than 8 personnel are available to be trained, is there a remedy plan from the Government?

Response: The contractor will provide training IAW with its’ Training Workload Management Plan (PWS 1.7) and the PWS. The contractor will not be required to provide any additional training other than what is outlined in their TWMP. Per PWS paras 1.5.1, the contractor should be prepared to teach any CRM class that has 4 students up to 20 students.

32. Is there any specific requirements for the Learning Management System or Training Management System (LMS/TMS)? Do we need to integrate with individual units’ LMS/TMS Response: All requirements of the LMS/TMS are listed in PWS para 1.7.2. This LMS/TMS is not required to integrate with any other USAF unit LMS/TMS.

33. Because the courseware will include FOUO data, should we assume that LMS/TMS access needs to be protected by measures such as Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) or other encryption methods?

Response: The LMS/TMS does not need to be protected by measures such as Public Key Infrastructure or other encryption methods. Any case studies that are loaded on the website must be sanitized to meet all FOUO and USAF Mishap Prevention Program regulations.

34. On page 89 of the RFP, Section 7.2, Paragraph E, Subparagraph Workload Analysis Charts, what does the government mean by “…cross-matrixing of requirements…?”

Response: Cross-matrixing refers to the utilization of a person across multiple labor categories. For example, some courseware personnel are trained in multiple labor categories of courseware development. Also, an Instructor/ISME can be the SME for courseware development as well as a classroom instructor.

35. On page 95 of the RFP, Section 4.1.1, Subfactor B, Aspect 3: LMS/TMS, second bullet states “All data, files, records, lessons, reports, etc. from the current LMS/TMS will transfer to any proposed LMS/TMS architecture without loss of material or fidelity.”

a) What format(s) are currently used to store the data/records?

Response: The current contractor uses a commercial of the shelf (COTS) LMS/TMS to store data/records. Per PWS para 1.7.2, the current contractor will be required to provide all data on the LMS/TMS “in a usable format at the completion of the contract”. All necessary information will be provided during phase-in of the new contract.

b) What is the size of the current archive?

Response: Same response as question 35.a above.

c) Is the current LMS/TMS COTS or proprietary?

Response: COTS.

36. On page 13 of the PWS, Section 1.10.1 AFRC Briefing Guides, it states: “All briefs will be compatible with Federal Desktop Core Configuration (FDCC) computer equipment.” This prompts the following questions:

a) Did they intend to include US Government Computer Baseline (USGCB) for Windows 7 systems in this as well?

Response: The current standard for USAF desktop configuration is Windows 7. The USAF is currently migrating to Windows 10 but will not be fully operational until after contract award.

b) Does this simply mean that any documents provided must be compatible with older versions of Windows (XP/Vista)?

Response: No, Windows 7 is the minimum.

c) Or does it mean that these briefs need to be created on FDCC/USGCB compliant computers?

Response: Same response as questions 36.a and 36.b above.

37. On page 25 of the PWS, Section 4.18, Facility Security Clearance Requirements, states “The contractor must possess or obtain a facility security clearance at the classification level of Secret prior to contract award. Page 4 of the PSW, Section 1.5, Overall Requirements, states “All courses will be developed and taught using UNCLASSIFIED training resources.” What is the government’s reason for requiring a Secret facility security clearance to develop an unclassified program?

Response: Even though all courseware developed is at the unclassified level, the contractor will have access to safety mishap information (ref PWS para 4.16) which must be protected as outline in AFI 91-204. Also, CRM instruction may take place in areas on USAF bases that are in a secured area requiring the instructor to have a security clearance to access the area (ref PWS para 4.15).

38. On page 28 of the PWS (Appendix 1, table 1.3), there is a note (2) that states “Requires four trips annually to support SO FTU.” This SO FTU is not reflected in Paragraph 1.4 immediately below it. Should this be treated as a 2 hour course?

Response: The SO FTU support is reflected in para 1.4 of the Appendix 1. It is listed in the column as “Grand Forks AFB, ND, RQ-4, Basic-Qual, and 60” to train per year. We list the note in Table 1.3 to remind the contractor that they have to make 4 trips annually to support the SO FTU students.

39. On page 29 of the PWS, (Appendix 1, table 1.4), there is a UIP course listed for Tyndall AFB. Is this a different course than the INST course? If they are the same, is this number of students already accounted for in Table 1.1 of the PWS?

Response: No, these are the same courses. The Gov’t has revised Table 1.4 and deleted the 3rd row “Tyndall F-22A UIP – 10” and added the 10 to the Tyndall CT requirement in Table 1.1.

40. Are pilots who meet the criteria of Section 4.1.3, but have no experience as a mission crew member in a particular MDS, acceptable as instructors for a class composed only of mission crew members?

Response: Yes, if they were a pilot of that weapon system and are familiar with the mission crew and how they interact as a crew.

41. On page 5 of the PWS, Section 1.5 Overall Requirements, paragraph 1.5.1.4 Instructor CRM Training, states “The contractor shall train instructors to use CRM Performance Assessment Tools to…” Do these Performance Assessment Tools already exist, or will the contractor be required to create them?

Response: Yes, they do exist and will be displayed at the Pre-proposal conference.

42. Based on the requirement found in PWS 4.1.3 and MDS count numbers by location found in Appendix 1 and to ensure the correct qualified Instructor/SME student Ratio, can the RQ-4, MQ-4, and RQ-170 be considered similar enough for CRM purposes to be taught by an instructor with any of those platform qualifications?

Response: Yes.

43. Based on the requirement found in PWS 4.1.3 and MDS count numbers by location found in appendix 1 and to ensure the correct qualified Instructor/SME student Ratio, can all variants of the same basic platform (i.e., F-15C/E, F-16C/D be considered similar enough for CRM purposes to be taught by an instructor with any of those platform qualifications? Is the QF-16 to be trained under the F-16 syllabus or under the same syllabus as the RQ-4, MQ-4, and RQ-170?

Response: Yes to the first question. Per the 2nd question, the QF-16 is listed as a separate CT course in Appendix 2, para 3.

44. IAW PWS 1.5.1.1 FTU BQ Training “course will be a 4 hour block of instruction” and IAW PWS 1.5.1.2 FTU Requal or TX training “This course shall be 2 hours in length”. In Appendix 1, 3.2.2 and 3.2.3, do the F-35 TX and BQ both require 4.0 hr training courses as they are FTU’s?

Response: The BQ course is 4 hours and the TX course is 2 hours.

45. Are the Global Strike E-4 FTU count numbers listed Appendix 1, 4.2 at Offutt AFB in addition to the numbers listed in the Appendix 1, 1.4 CAF FTU Offutt or are they included in the Offutt numbers?

Response: The numbers are separate. The reference to “E-4” was deleted in para 1.4 for ACC FTU training numbers at Offutt AFB.

46. Are there any new courses to be instructed that there is no existing courseware currently available at contract award?

Response: No.

Ref: Appendix 1, 3.1 on Pg 31, “AETC pilots are required to take CT CRM annually”

47. How does this requirement coincide with the requirement stated in PWS 1.6.6 Pg 11 “Under no circumstance should the same courseware or training material, including the same interpretations or discussions of a mishap scenario, be taught to the same student more than once throughout the life of the contract.”? Can Instructors receive the same CRM training more than once or does the caveat “AETC CT courses will have new case studies added on an annual basis (per the AETC requirement for annual CRM CT)” satisfy that requirement?

Response: Reference PWS para 1.5.1.3 Continuation Training (CT) CRM, 6th sentence states “AETC CT courses will have new case studies added on an annual basis (per the AETC requirement for annual CRM CT)”. Changing the case studies on an annual basis revises the courseware making it different than the previous course.

48. Is there an LMS/TMS currently in place and, if so, will it be made available to the awardee for review? If an LMS/TMS will not be made available to the awardee, will the files from the previous LMS/TMS be made available to the awardee?

Response: Yes, the current LMS/TMS will be demonstrated during the pre-proposal conference. All files located on the LMS/TMS will be available to the awardee during phase-in.

49. IAW Ref 1.7.2, Pg. 12, “The contractor shall develop an automated CRM LMS/TMS.” What is the expected deliverable timeline on this system?

Response: It should be operational at the start of the contract.

50. Is there a specific location where the Contract Manager and alternate as well as the Security Manager must reside or is it at the discretion of the contractor?

Response: Discretion of the contractor.

51. IAW 4.1.3, pg. 18, “single seat fighter experience will be required for teaching single seat CRM and large aircraft experience will be required to teach large aircraft CRM”, what is required for the RQ-4, MQ-4, and RQ-170 i.e. drones?

Response: Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) experience is desired to teach all RQ-4, MQ-4 and RQ-170 CRM classes. Per PWS Para 4.1.3, “the Government will give some flexibility with this requirement in regards to the newer Weapon Systems”.

53. IAW 2.3, pg. 31, Note 2: “(2) The contractor will be prepared to teach any of the following CT courses during each site visit: Any bomber, any fighter and any C2ISR class. The unit will inform the contractor at least 30 days prior to the training the types of courses required during the annual visit.” Does this mean 30 days out the contractor will know exactly who needs to deploy to these locations or is the contractor still responsible for deploying a bomber, fighter, and C2ISR instructor on each of these deployments regardless?

Response: The contractor will send one instructor to Guam annually to provide 2 days of CRM training. The contractor will decide which type of instructor to send 30 days prior based on the type of CRM classes to be taught.

54. What is the name of the current LMS/TMS system?

Response: The current contractor uses a commercial off the shelf (COTS) LMS/TMS to store data/records. We do not know the name of the product.

55.a. Will all of the data (e.g., student information and learning objects) and source files from the current LMS/TMS system be provided to the awardee in digital format for migration to any new system?

Response: On page 95 of the RFP, Section 4.1.1, Subfactor B, Aspect 3: LMS/TMS, second bullet states “All data, files, records, lessons, reports, etc. from the current LMS/TMS will transfer to any proposed LMS/TMS architecture without loss of material or fidelity.”

55.b. What format will that be?

Response: IAW para 1.7.2 of the PWS, the incumbent contractor is required to transfer all material on the LMS/TMS to the Government “in a usuable format at the completion of the contract.”

55.c Will the awardee be provided the source files for all CWD material to include graphics, videos and course studies?

Response: Yes (ref PWS paras 1.6.8 and 3.3).

56.a. What hard-copy documents or hand-outs are required to be given to trainees during the course?

Response: There are none specified in the PWS.

56.b. Will the new awardee be given copies or examples of those handouts and instructional material that is currently provided to trainees?

Response: Yes.

57. Are we to understand that all production costs for materials are to be included in individual CLIN pricing?

Response: Yes, all production costs for materials should be included in your CLIN pricing.

58. Please validate the requirement in this procurement to handle classified information at another contractor’s facility or government activity.

The requirement is valid because some government facilities require a facility clearance (in addition to individual security clearances) to access classified areas where CRM classes are taught (block 11a of the DD254), and access classified information to develop CRM case studies. Even though all CRM training is “UNCLASSIFIED”, the contractor may be required to access "CLASSIFIED" information to develop the CRM case studies. CRM PWS reference Section 4.18.

59. Would the Government be willing to sponsor the winning contractor for a facility security clearance and change the requirement that such clearance be in place prior to award?

Response: The Government has considered the request and will not change the requirement because of the reasons stated in Q&A 58 above and the PWS requirements. Therefore, IAW 5352.215-9000 FACILITY CLEARANCE (MAY 1996) included in the RFP, the offeror must possess, or acquire prior to award of a contract, a facility clearance equal to the highest classification stated on the Contract Security Classification Specification (DD Form 254) attached to this solicitation.