Industry Day Overview QandA.docx

The Government appreciates those companies who attended and the resulting dialogue at the Industry Day 6-8 June 2011 at Seymour Johnson AFB. As requested, attached is the list of Industry Day attendees, and we encourage potential offerors to register as an “Interested Party” on FedBizOpps. Additionally, the Government has attached the briefing slides from the event. While the intent of the Industry Day was to exchange information on potential offerors capabilities along with the program overview, the Government is also in the process of developing many specific requirements and an acquisition strategy. However, the Government acknowledges potential offerors eagerness to obtain additional information on particular aspects of the program along with further information within the Draft RFP and RFP to adequately propose. Responses to questions during One-on-One sessions were intentionally kept general and non-specific in order for the Government to compile and distribute more specific responses to all interested parties, which are below.

The Government is in the process of completing its market research, at which point a set-aside decision and NAICS determination will be made in conjunction with ASC/SB. The Government acknowledges industry eagerness on this decision to assess subsequent options. Over the summer, the Government intends to refine and finalize the TDAS requirement, compile relevant data for potential offerors to assess workload and costs associated with the requirement, and develop an acquisition strategy. The culmination of these efforts will result in a Draft RFP, which will allow for additional exchange of information to ensure a successful acquisition.

1. List of Training Devices and Pictures – The F-15 TDAS program consists of 25 Maintenance Training Devices (MTDs) and 6 Avionics Training Devices (ATDs). The F-15 MTDs are Trainer Field Equipment (TFE) which provide students with the ability to become proficient in the maintenance of the aircraft. This knowledge can be obtained in a classroom environment and hands on training using hardware and avionics devices, which replicates actual aircraft equipment and functions. The F-15 ATDs provide initial avionics training and development of proper aircrew coordination in comprehensive flight, mission, and tactics environments. The instructor(s) are able to monitor student performance while controlling training environment, e.g., scenarios, malfunction insertion, communication, etc.

Nellis AFB (1) Sheppard AFB (1) Mountain Home (1) Seymour Johnson AFB (1) RAF Lakenheath (1)

Mountain Home (1) Seymour Johnson AFB (1)

Nellis AFB (1) RAF Lakenheath (1)

Mountain Home (1) Sheppard AFB (2) Training System Support Center (2) Seymour Johnson AFB (1) RAF Lakenheath (1)

Seymour Johnson AFB (1) RAF Lakenheath (1)

F-15E Integrated Avionics Trainer (IAT) – Is a PC-Based, Hands On Throttle And Stick (HOTAS) ATD. Initial HOTAS schoolhouse training provides aircrews with the knowledge and skills required for warfare tasks. The main objective of the IAT is to provide initial aircrew training and development of proper aircrew coordination in comprehensive flight, mission, and tactics environments. Instructor led familiarization training is used to teach basic cockpit procedures, as well as training in navigation, targeting, weapons delivery tactics, instrument, and data interpretation, radar and electronic warfare operation.

Trainer Field Equipment (TFE) TFE-2, F-15C Automatic Flight Control System Trainer – Consists of three separate panel’s representative of comparative aircraft sections. Facilities instruction in location and identification of integrated avionics, hydraulics and electrical systems components and their operational checkout, fault isolation, and repair.

TFE-6, F-15C Main Landing Gear and Arresting Gear Trainer – Is used by maintainers for operation and identification of components inspections, alignment, and operational checkout. Troubleshooting procedures for hydraulics, electrical, and mechanical portions of the landing gear system are taught.

TFE-7, F-15C Seat and Canopy System Trainer – Ejection seat and canopy system operation, component identification and location training as well as operational checkout procedures, inspection, alignment, troubleshooting, and repair of the system are taught. The trainer contains inert ejection system components along with related subsystems, trainer-peculiar components, and electrical wiring necessary for an operational trainer system.

TFE-20, F-15C Armament System Trainers (AST) – Supports classroom training for checkout of the F-15C Armament system using Flight Line Support Equipment. Panel containing aircraft components and control console housing aircraft cockpit controls/indicators and instructor controls, malfunction switches and loading/display panel to simulate weapons loading/firing sequences. Used to teach armament technicians in the operational checkout procedures, inspections, alignment, troubleshooting, and repair of the armament system.

TFE-21, F-15E Aircraft Maintenance Trainers (AMT) – Consist of high fidelity cockpits connected to a computational system that provides high fidelity aircraft component operational simulations that support normal operation as well as malfunction simulations. Instructors can train students in Avionics Systems, Electrical Power/Lighting System and Power Plant Systems with simulated performance both with and without malfunctions of F-15E systems. This enables student training in all aspects of equipment maintenance, operational checkout, alignment, and troubleshooting procedures, and repairs. Trainer implements job guides and CRT display provides training feedback and reinforcement.

TFE-24, F-15E Armament Load Trainer (ALT) – consists of a simulated, full size, highly realistic F-15E aircraft built from salvaged parts. The trainer has a forward cockpit attached to a computational system that provides high fidelity aircraft component simulations. The trainer supports armament technician training.

TFE-25, F-15E Seat and Canopy Trainers – consist of actual F-15B forward fuselages that provide egress training, maintenance inspection, seat and canopy removal and installation and cockpit familiarization. The trainer contains inert ejection system components along with related subsystems, trainer-peculiar components, and electrical wiring necessary for an operational trainer system.

2. TSSC and TFE Locations – The Government does not presently anticipate a contract requirement to locate the TSSC or maintenance training technicians in St. Louis and Sheppard AFB respectively. The Governments primary requirements consist of the TSSC function located CONUS and maintenance trainer response requirements of 48 hours for Sheppard AFB, 72 hours for other CONUS locations, and 96 hours OCONUS.

3. TSSC: GFP, Software, Licenses, Relocation, TEP, Labor Matrix – The Government would like to provide clarification and additional information on the TSSC. First, it was briefed that the TSSC is Contractor owned. To clarify, the TSSC is located at a contractor facility in St. Louis, but is comprised of GFE. Presently the contractor performs TSSC functions within a FFP program management CLIN and a FP LOE CLIN consisting of engineering hours. Second, the Government is investigating the firm TSSC requirement and the most effective method to obtain the requirement along with its inclusion in the acquisition to ensure competitive pricing within the Total Evaluated Price (TEP). Third, regarding the TSSC in relation to response #2 above, the awardee will need to take the GFP and relocate the TSSC following contract award. Additionally, contract requirements for the TSSC are anticipated to include the contractor obtaining software, licenses, support equipment, facility, and labor to accomplish TSSC functions outside of the engineering hours to execute LOE upgrades, concurrency, etc. Fourth, and generally speaking to the previous TSSC points, the Government is working through the requirement and how to comprehensively include within the acquisition TEP. However, due to the importance of the TSSC and widespread industry interest the following are notional possibilities. The Government could break the TSSC pricing/ordering out in two components: (1) FFP TSSC operations including FFP PWS operational and day-to-day requirements, (2) FP LOE engineering consisting of X yearly labor hours from a pre-priced fully burdened labor category matrix. For proposal purposes, the Government could provide estimated or most probable quantities to evaluate. The matrix could also apply to larger negotiated ECPs and those requiring materials and subcontracts under a separate ECP ordering CLIN. Again, this is only a preliminary, notional example to provide industry insight.

4. OFP – The starting point for the trainer simulations in the IAT, TFE-21, or TFE-24 is the Operational Flight Program (OFP). This is the main software program that runs or interfaces most the aircraft functions like engines, weapons, radar, etc. From each OFP upgrade, either in the cycle suite updates or out of cycle ECP changes, the OFP is handed off to another Government program administered at Hill AFB. This program takes the OFP product and adds the necessary modules to allow it to run in a low fidelity simulator. The out product from that program is provided to the F-15 TDAS program as GFI.

5. Security - The present security requirement is Secret Collateral. The Government is presently evaluating future requirements and its bearing with respect to the acquisition and inclusion within an ordering schedule for a competitive mechanism included in the TEP.

6. ECP Overlap, Transition, Overlap –All associated work under the current contract is scheduled to conclude on 31 Dec 2012. Additionally, there is not present or anticipated 3rd party program work. The Government is evaluating possibilities for contractor overlap. However, the awardee will need to relocate GFP from current contractor’s site to a new location and establish a TSSC.

7. Distributed Mission Operations (DMO) – The program does not have any DMO requirements.

8. Data Library – The Government has not yet completed a data library; however, data was a common theme mentioned and we anticipate compiling and providing the following data library, likely in conjunction with the Draft RFP. Below is an outline of items that we expect to release in the bidder’s library:

· Drawings

· User Manuals

· Spares List

· GFP/GFE List

· Field Service Reports (FSRs)

· Engineering Accomplishment Reports (EARs)

· Trainer Configuration Working Group (TCWG) minutes

· Host Base Support Agreements

· Design Documents

· Acceptance Test Procedure (ATP)

· Procedure Manuals used within TSSC

· Configuration Management Documents

· Re-Compete Support Package Hopefully the information contained herein will enhance each company’s understanding of F-15 TDAS systems and help develop an initial competitive strategy. The Government enjoyed meeting all teams and its members. Thank you!

image3.emf

Microsoft_Office_Word_97_-_2003_Document1.doc image4.emf

Microsoft_Office_Word_97_-_2003_Document2.doc image5.emf

Microsoft_Office_Word_97_-_2003_Document3.doc image6.jpeg image7.jpeg image8.png image9.emf image10.jpeg image11.jpeg image12.jpeg image1.jpeg image2.jpeg