Qand A - Set 1 - AI Enabled Training.pdf

1. Does the Government require that the proposed Interactive Live Simulation platform, standard avatar library, standard scenario library, administrative/scheduling capability, and AI-enabled feedback-report capability be fully operational and commercially available as of the quote submission date, or may an offeror propose a combination of existing and customized components that will satisfy all requirements prior to commencement of training?

A: An operational system must be available as of quote submission date.

2. Regarding the required room manager / Interactive Live Simulation operator, is that individual expected to directly control, mediate, or generate the avatar’s conversational responses during trainee interactions, or may the avatar operate autonomously using AI while the live operator provides technical, administrative, and session-management support?

A: The AI may operate autonomously as long as the operator can provide the support above.

3. Does the Government require the contractor to provide an existing standard library containing a minimum number of avatars or scenarios? If so, can the Government identify the minimum quantity or range considered technically acceptable?

A: There are no requirements for a minimum number of avatars or scenarios.

4. May an offeror satisfy the AI-enabled avatar requirement through a licensed third-party platform or subcontractor, provided the prime contractor remains responsible for delivery and all requirements of the RFQ?

A: Yes, as long as the system functions and the prime contractor meets the requirements of RFO 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting clause.

5. For the custom scenario tailored to 655 ISRW operational requirements, will Government subject-matter experts provide the operational content, learning objectives, and reference materials necessary for scenario development after award?

A: Yes.

6. Is the Government requiring a specific existing commercial avatar/simulation platform, or will any solution be acceptable if it satisfies every stated functional and performance requirement?

A: The solution must meet the stated requirements.

7. For the requirement for “complete, unrestricted access” to the standard avatar and scenario libraries with editing rights, does the Government require access for the full 12-month period of performance, and are there minimum library-size or content requirements?

A: The Government will require access for the full 12 months.

8. May a small-business prime contractor satisfy the software/platform, live simulation operation, technical support, and/or AI-feedback requirements through a subcontractor or commercial technology partner, provided the prime remains responsible for overall performance?

A: Yes, provided the prime contractor meets the requirements of RFO 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting.

9. Does the Government require the contractor or platform provider to demonstrate prior federal/DoD performance, or is technical conformity with the RFQ sufficient?

A: Conformity with the RFQ is sufficient. The contractor must also be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov).

10. For the custom scenario tailored to the 655 ISRW operational elicitation environment, will the Government provide the required scenario content and subject-matter parameters after award, and should offerors assume that no classified information will be required to develop or execute the scenario?

A: The Government will provide scenario subject matter parameters after award. No classified information is required.

11. Is the 62-session-unit quantity expected to be scheduled throughout the 12-month period of performance at Government-selected intervals, subject to the RFQ’s scheduling/cancellation provisions?

A: Yes.

12. For AI-enabled feedback reports, are there Government-defined scoring dimensions, metrics, or report formats that the contractor must support?

A: Yes.

13. Instructor and simulation operator responsibilities Will the Government provide the elicitation instructor who observes learner performance and conducts instructional debriefs, or must the contractor provide that instructor in addition to the room manager/Interactive Live Simulation (ILS) operator?

A: The contractor must provide the elicitation instructor.

14. Use of each purchased training hour For each of the 62 purchased hours, may the three approximately 10–12-minute avatar conversations be allocated among different learners? Does the one-hour block include briefing and instructional discussion between conversations? Our understanding is that the required connectivity check begins ten minutes before the purchased hour and does not reduce the training time.

A: Yes, the conversations may be broken between learners.

15. Learner licenses and library access How many unique learners and Government instructor or administrator accounts should the quotation support? May learner accounts be reassigned during the delivery period? Does “complete, unrestricted access” to the standard library include independent practice outside the purchased live sessions, or access to all library content for use within those sessions?

A: Accounts may be reassigned. There will be no independent practice outside of purchased live sessions.

16. Platform readiness and technical conformance Must the underlying avatar platform be an existing commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) product at quotation submission or award? Alternatively, may an offeror integrate commercially available avatar technology with a separately developed simulation engine before the first scheduled training session?

A: An operational system meeting the requirements must be available as of quote submission date.

For the required human-in-the-loop face adjustments, which functions must the operator control during the conversation? Please identify any demonstration or technical evidence required to establish conformance with the visual-realism and live-interaction requirements.

A: The operator must control scenario environment and conversation flow.

17. Delivery schedule and scheduling rules What are the anticipated start and end dates for the 12-month delivery period, and when must the first training session occur? Does the Government expect the hours to be distributed throughout the year or concentrated into particular training events?

A: Anticipated delivery period is 30 Sept 2026 through 29 Sept 2027. Hours will be distributed throughout the year.

18. Security, hosting and Government network access Will the scenario materials, live conversations and resulting reports remain unclassified? Will any Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) be involved?

A: They will remain unclassified. Some CUI may be involved.

Please identify applicable hosting and cybersecurity requirements, including data retention and personnel eligibility. Must the platform operate on Air Force-managed computers without local software installation?

A: Yes, the system must function on Air Force managed computers without local software installation.

19. Licensed third-party delivery and applicable clauses Does the acquisition permit a small-business prime contractor to furnish a licensed third-party training package with subcontracted delivery support, while retaining contractual responsibility for performance?

A: Yes, provided the prime contractor meets the requirements of RFO 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting.

Please provide the complete incorporated provisions and clauses, including any applicable prime-contractor self-performance or limitations-on-subcontracting requirements.

A: Provisions and clauses are attached.

20. Pricing, acceptance and invoicing

Should the single unit price for Contract Line-Item Number (CLIN) 0001 include all required licensing and support costs, with the initial custom scenario and other package-level costs distributed across the 62 units? Will acceptance and invoicing occur as training hours and converted deliverables are completed, or may the annual licensed package be accepted and invoiced upon activation? This distinction will help us align supplier payment terms with the Government’s intended payment schedule.

A: Acceptance and invoicing will occur as training hours and converted deliverables are completed.