M678584-25-9-9000_List of Questions and Answers_FINAL.pdf

Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) Suite of Training Systems (STS)

Request for White Papers (M67854-25-9-9000)

Questions and Answers

Enclosure 1:

1. Will the EC use multiple loadouts at the same time in a classroom, or will each classroom have only one loadout per class?

A: Currently one loadout per class.

2. Assuming multiple classrooms, will student’s data need to be copied from one physical classroom to another? Or will the student’s data reside in a central repository?

A: Student data should be centrally located and accessible from all classrooms.

3. Regarding point 6, will the EC student’s learning data need to be copied to the DTT as well? Student’s individual data will be housed in a central repository.

A: The DTT data will be separate.

4. In a world of advanced training methods such as virtual & mixed reality, would you like to allow students to either be in a headset or on a desktop monitor? E.g., preference of the student on how they experience the lesson could be up to them. Or would you like the Instructor to make certain lesson plans only in virtual reality and some only on desktop monitors?

A: The EC should be a demonstration and practical application tool separate from the lesson. The instructor must have the ability to view class notes utilizing the EC, but the EC should not be just another passive display mechanism to show material but an interactive practical environment allowing the student to conduct practical application of skills they’ve just been taught.

5. Regarding future vehicle variants and MRVs, what process do you currently use for courseware and technical manual revisions? Who will be responsible for keeping the ACV STS up to date with new variants and MRVs content? Who is the final source of truth?

A: The STS Team receives quarterly updates to the technical manual and would plan to incorporate these changes quarterly during production and sustainment of the systems.

Updates to the technical manual and courseware should not be planned for the prototyping effort. The production contract sustainment section would cover the vendor updates to existing systems and planned MRV additions for the eventual contract holder(s) based on Government Furnished Information and or additional 3D scans of a production MRV. .

6. What type of tools or features would be most beneficial for instructors to facilitate real-time lesson adjustments based on student performance?

A: Practical Application tests/quizzes based on the ELOs and TLOs of the lesson. Not just multiple-choice questions but interactions with the virtual space to demonstrate mastery of nomenclature, maintenance tasks, assembly, disassembly, etc. The results of these tests/quizzes should immediately go to the instructor to both inform them of overall student mastery of all topics and individual student struggles so tailored remediation can immediately occur.

7. What existing systems or platforms do you currently utilize that the EC needs to integrate with?

A: The EC should integrate with the existing Driver Training System for demonstration purposes and plan to integrate the Gunner Station of the forthcoming Crew Gunnery Trainer in FY27 also for demonstration purposes. The Driver Training System currently uses an Unreal Gaming Engine. The EC will also need to integrate with the Marine Corps Training and Information Management System (MCTIMS).

8. What are some key performance indicators (KPIs) for keeping students engaged with the training material?

A: The results of tests/quizzes for the EC. The correct execution of Maintenance Tasks for the DTT.

9. Are there any documents that exist which explains the current EC?

A: The EC does not currently exist.

10. Are there any legacy systems or databases that will need to be integrated into the ECs?

A: No. There are no legacy systems or databases that will need to be integrated into the ECs.

11. Has the Government conducted an analysis to determine the specific tasks that will be trained for each course and, if so, can the Government provide those for ROM development purposes? If not, can the Government provide an estimate of the IMI levels required and how many hours of content are expected for each (e.g., 24 hours of IMI at Level 3)?

A: This data is still in development, for cost purposes the Government will define the tasks to be developed at a later date. For the prototyping phase, the DTT will have 10 maintenance tasks to be developed to show future potential of the system.

12. Will each EC be on its own isolated network, or will all ECs be networked together? If not isolated, will the ECs be connected to a larger DoD network?

A: The ECs should network together to share student data, there are limited plans to integrate in the future with MCTIMS, but initial planning should not consider this feature.

Enclosure 2:

1. On point 3 and 4, are there specific examples of maintenance tasks you can give us?

A: If selected for the competitive prototyping phase a list of 10 maintenance tasks with their sub steps will be provided.

2. Is it the Government’s opinion this is a mostly physical set of tasks, augmented by technology to enhance training?

A: The Government does not concur with this opinion.

3. “The PTT shall have no less than three (3) Type 2 mockups with no less than one (1) mockup being mobile.” Does mobile refer to being able to move around a building or have the capability of being moved to other locations? Can it be of a different size?

A: This refers to the suspension system of the vehicle and having a single wheel assembly capable of being moved to different locations. This single wheel assembly is what is required for the prototyping phase.

4. Section 2, 3, 4 – “maintenance tasks identified” – could you provide this list of tasks?

A: This list of 10 tasks will be provided for the competitive prototyping phase.

5. Are there weight requirements for each component to be removed to match the in-vehicle weights? Possible conflict with #9. Depends on definition of minimum meaning “one” or “as required per the Technical Manual (TM).”

A: This option is still under consideration by the Government and will be decided at a future date.

6. Could you help clarify the following: “The PTT shall have two types of mockups. Type 1 is an ACV-P powerpack remove and install trainer. Type 2 is an ACV-P suspension station remove and install trainer. These mockups will allow maintainer students to perform all identified tasks on the mockups simultaneously.” How many students should be able to perform all tasks simultaneously?

A: Students usually perform these tasks in teams, ranging from 2 to 8 personnel.

7. For the PTTs, does the Government intend for the contractor to perform the analysis to determine which remove and install tasks should be trained on the PTT Power Pack and Suspension Mockups, or are those tasks already selected?

A: The Government will select these tasks.

Enclosure 3:

1. On point 3, would it be safe to say this is a digital version of the PTT?

A: Negative, the DTT will trace symptoms (i.e., fault codes/inoperable electronics/leaking fluids) through the TM procedures to identify the deficiency and perform a repair. The PTT allows for routine maintenance checks that are done with sufficient regularity that the Government does not want to put the wear and tear on an actual vehicle.

2. “The Diagnostic Task Trainer (DTT) will replace the capabilities of the legacy, unsupported, and obsolete maintenance Training Device.” What are these legacy maintenance training systems?

A: These are legacy systems for the Marine Corps’ old amphibious vehicle platform the AAV and these obsolete trainers will not be provided by the Government.

3. Under DTT and PTT, could you clarify the following sentence: “begin formal design activities in 3QFY25 culminating in the purchase of one to two test articles with test activities commencing that same quarter.” Is the vendor supposed to get one to two systems ready within one quarter?

A: The vendor will begin building the prototype in 3QFY25 and the Government intends to provide Marines as part of Limited User Evaluations to give the vendor feedback on their design choices. These events are not scored and are solely for the vendor to gather feedback from the end user. The Government intends to conduct a Field User Evaluation at Camp Pendleton, CA at the end of 4QFY25 where the prototypes will be tested by the end users and evaluated by PM AAA for potential future production contract awards.

4. Is the assumption that the ROM requested corresponds to the prototype and development phases which are valued between $6-12M or does the $6-12M range include the 9 EC, 5 PTT, and 33 DTT production systems associated in the production phase?

A: Just the prototyping phase.

5. The PMAAA Suite of Training Systems RFI refers to “The Government …. not currently owning the required rights to the ACV Technical Data Package (TDP); with a requirement for Contractors to scan and model 3-D both virtually and hardware of the required components and their constituent parts, should a contract be awarded for this effort.

The Government will provide access to an ACV (a vehicle) as Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) to the successful Contractor, should a contract be awarded for this effort.” 1. Is this still a requirement for the prototype and development stage? 2. If required, when should the scanning be conducted?

A: Yes, this is a requirement. Initial plans are for a Prototype OTA award in mid-April 2025, with Post Award Conference/Technical Interchange Meeting (PAC/TIM) in the first half of May 2025 and the 3D scanning of the vehicle to be conducted approximately from mid-May 2025 to mid-June 2025.

6. When will the “existing EC maintenance software” be made available?

A: There is no existing EC maintenance software.

7. #5, 6 – Could we get those work packages now?

A: These packages will be made available during the competitive prototyping phase.

8. Can the Government provide more details of the required, existing EC maintenance software?

A: There is no current EC maintenance software.

9. Does the Government plan to provide available technical data for the development of the ECs and DTT? If yes, can the Government provide a list of available technical data for ROM development purposes? Although 3D models and training can be created with minimal existing data, technical data such as technical manuals, CAD data, 3D models, existing courseware and desktop trainers reduce development costs in execution.

A: The Government has a TM but does not have comprehensive CAD data or 3D models.

The existing courseware should not be incorporated into the EC as the EC is a demonstration and practical application tool. The Government desires a digital twin of the ACV for the EC with significant features that allow for the disassembly of the vehicle and ability to view the vehicle and its subcomponents to be able to teach complex systems virtually.

General:

1. In regard to ROM pricing for STS quantities, spares, and COMS/CLS, Please confirm if this is for the full roll-out and if this includes software?

A: ROM pricing should include software development. The Government encourages the use of COTS hardware with significant investment into a software-based system.

2. Are there any established baseline requirements or limitations regarding networking and infrastructure that we should consider in the design and implementation?

A: The system should be an internal closed network that does not communicate with the internet.

3. Are there any existing cyber security protocols that we must adhere to when designing the networking infrastructure?

A: This will be discussed during the competitive prototyping phase with the selected vendors.

4. When will the “existing EC maintenance software” be made available?

A: No such software exists.

5. Is there a TDP, TM, or other documentation that could be provided with respect to the ACV powerpack and suspension station?

A: If selected for prototyping, the TM will be shared as GFI.

6. There is no information requests on a Vendor's capabilities. Will the Gov't take into account previously submitted material from the RFI and site visits from the Market

Research Phase to determine if a contractor has all required capabilities and past performance.

A: The Government plans to use only the information submitted by the vendor in their white paper submissions. There is adequate leeway for the vendor to include any information regarding its productive capability or history in proposing its approach within the page limitations.

7. RWP Section 6: The Government states its plan is to begin formal design activities in

3QFY25 (for the DTT and PTT) culminating in the purchase of one to two test articles with test activities commencing that same quarter. Can the Gov't clarify if the Government is planning to begin testing in 3QFY25 or in the same quarter that the contractor proposes delivery of the prototype units?

8. A: The vendor will begin building the prototype in 3QFY25 and the Government intends to provide Marines as part of Limited User Evaluations to give the vendor feedback on their design choices. These events are not scored and are solely for the vendor to gather feedback from the end user. The Government intends to conduct a Field User Evaluation at Camp Pendleton, CA at the end of 4QFY25 where the prototypes will be tested by the end users and PM AAA for future production contract awards.

9. RWP Section 8: Can the Gov't please confirm that the "Text should be double-spaced" for the proposal?

A: White papers will not be disqualified for using single space text.

10. Should the Electronic Classroom (EC), Part Task Trainer (PTT), and Diagnostic Task

Trainer (DTT) built as an all-in-one application suite or separate applications?

A: Separate applications on the same software backbone.

11. Can we get a more detailed description on the Instructor Operator Station (IOS) capabilities?

a. Should the IOS allow for the instructor to real-time make adjustments to training?

b. Should the IOS allow the instructor to make changes to a course?

c. Should the IOS allow the instructor to view multiple students at the same time?

A: Detailed IOS requirements will be refined during the competitive prototyping phase.

12. Will there be data captured to determine student performance only on the PTT or the other systems as well? The whitepaper enclosures only speak about data collection within the PTT section.

A: All training systems should capture data on student performance.

13. Should the data that's captured be stored on something such as a database, or log files that are sent to a server?

a. Should the data be analyzed and provide users/instructors with an after-action review?

A: Yes, additionally data should be exportable to an easily readable and transferable file, such as Excel or PDF, to be transferred to the MCEN network for entry into a training record system.

14. Will we be provided documentation on the various work packages that are required for each individual system? Examples include Common Remote Operated Weapons Station (CROWS), and Amphibious Combat Vehicle Basic Repairer (ACVBR)?

A: If selected for the competitive prototyping, all applicable work packages will be provided.

15. Will we be provided with the existing legacy, unsupported and obsolete maintenance training devices? Or any details of this system?

A: There is no existing legacy, supported, or obsolete training devices. The ACV has no legacy systems. AAV legacy systems will not be provided.

16. Are there specific expectations for the student workstations – i.e., virtual reality / augmented reality / mixed reality / screen-based instruction or are the decisions for optimized training up to the contractor?

a. The enclosures state to provide 3-D movable first-person point of view functions, is there any need for tactile feedback for components – i.e., a virtual/physical combination?

A: The Government is looking for innovative approaches to these problems and does not wish to commit to a single course of action at this time.

17. Is there an estimate of how much training will be done using Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality?

A: The Government estimates in excess of 100 hours of training using the EC will be completed for each 60-day course.

18. Are submission required to be double-spaced?*

A: No, White papers will not be disqualified for using single space text.

19. Will the Government reduce font size and spacing for tables, call outs, graphics, etc.?

A: Yes, font size and spacing for tables and graphics may be revised. Please ensure all the tables and graphics are legible. The Government may disregard any illegible, obscure, incomplete, or incoherent submissions.