META_DAS_Request_for_Information_20190520_FINAL_R1.docx

Multi-Engine Training Aircraft (META) Request for Information (RFI)

05/20/2019

***THIS RFI IS FOR INFORMATION AND/OR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY***

Contracting Office Address:

Maria D. Maldonado (AIR 2.5.3.7) Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division 12211 Science Drive Orlando, FL 32826-3275 Phone: (407) 380-4014 Email: Maria.D.Maldonado@navy.mil

Technical Point of Contact (POC):

Mr. Pascual A. Spensieri (NAVAIR 4.0M) Bldg. 2187, Rm 1140-A6 48110 Shaw Road Patuxent River, MD 20670-1906 Phone Number: (301) 342-8136 Email: pascual.spensieri@navy.mil

DISTRIBUTION A. Approved for Public Release. Distribution unlimited.

NOTES:

THIS QUESTIONNAIRE IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY. This RFI is for information gathering and/or internal planning purposes only. It does not constitute a Request for Proposals (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. This RFI does not commit the Government to award a contract as a result of this announcement. No solicitation documents exist at this time. Thus, the Navy is NOT at this time seeking proposals and will NOT accept unsolicited proposals. This RFI does NOT constitute an Invitation for Bids (IFB), an RFP, a Request for Quote (RFQ), or an indication that the Government will contract for any of the items and/or services contained in this notice. Respondents are advised that the Government will NOT pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party's expense. Although not desired, partial responses to this RFI are acceptable. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website. It is the responsibility of the potential offeror to monitor this website for additional information pertaining to this request. If necessary to properly asses an offeror response, the Government may subsequently request amplifying and/or clarifying information from that offeror.

SUMMARY

This announcement constitutes a Request for Information (RFI) for planning purposes only. Its purpose is to obtain information relative to industry capabilities and systems that could be developed to satisfy the Navy’s current and future advanced multi-engine training aircraft needs, in addition to cost, delivery data and system capabilities. The information provided will be used to assess the current state of technology and inform whether the candidate system/s can satisfy the capability needs to perform missions in support of Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA’s) T-44 Multi-Engine Flight Instructor and Transition Curriculum (i.e. CNATRAINST1542.153C), T-44C Advanced Multi-Engine MPTS (i.e. CNATRAINST 1542.168), T-44C Multi-Engine Flight Instructor (i.e. CNATRAINST 1542.170), and T-44C Intermediate E-2/C-2 MPTS syllabi (i.e. CNATRAINST 1542.175).

The Naval Air Systems Command (AIR 4.0M), at the direction of the Naval Undergraduate Flight Training Systems Program Office (PMA-273), is conducting a Decision Support Analysis (DAS) to identify potential solutions. The responses will also assist in the requirements generation process, development of the acquisition strategy and budgetary submission. Each alternative currently comprises of three component capabilities: (1) A Multi-Engine Training Aircraft, (2) An Unit Training Device (UTD) and (3) an Operational Flight Training (OFT) Device. Material alternatives may include upgrades to existing systems, modifications to existing training aircraft, and new design systems. Appropriate multi-engine training media (i.e. simulator) is to be incorporated and developed as part of the material solution/concept.

BACKGROUND

Strategic planning by PMA-273 and Air Warfare, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV N98) has established future utilization projections for the T-44. Such rates, when compared to service life predictions highlight a potential shortfall of flight hours capability around the 2025 timeframe. Hence the urgency to plan for an advanced Navy multi-engine training capability now, given the normal acquisition timelines associated with development of new or upgraded systems.

CAPABILITY REQUIREMENTS

A multi-engine training capability is required to provide advanced training for the United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC). The T-44 currently supports Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA’s) T-44 Multi-Engine Flight Instructor and Transition Curriculum (i.e. CNATRAINST1542.153C), T-44C Advanced Multi-Engine MPTS (i.e. CNATRAINST 1542.168), T-44C Multi-Engine Flight Instructor (i.e. CNATRAINST 1542.170), and T-44C Intermediate E-2/C-2 MPTS syllabi (i.e. CNATRAINST 1542.175).

The USN pilot training programs will utilize both ground and flight training systems as part of an integrated solution to support intermediate and advanced multi-engine training events, to include simulators (i.e. multi-engine training media) and/or multi-engine training aircraft. Modernization efforts affecting the complexities of the Navy’s multi-engine aircraft fleet will likely drive needs to alter and/or re-balance training objectives supported by trainer aircraft and/or simulator hardware.

A summary of the aircraft training system capability requirements is provided in Table 1.

Capability Requirement Name/Number

Objective

Operational Environment

Environment Capable of overland and overwater operating environments to include all-weather, formation and low-level flight.

Profile 1 with 4 hours of loiter time

200 lbs. of baggage

Non-secure flight recording device with rapid off-board data transfer. Mission planning and upload capability.

Three (3) independent, logical groups of display. Clear display of control and performance instruments.

Same display functionality and information for either side. Selection of instructor only pages by designated cockpit.

Provide selectable repeater mode at both aircrew positions.

Mission Systems

Weather Radar and Surface Track Capable

Maintenance Concept Incorporate diagnostics and design for the maintainer attributes to minimize maintenance, repairs and cost per flight hour.

(flight hours) 20,000 hours and 65,000 landings (with a maximum up to 15 landings in one flight hour)

(UTD) Simulates the motions experienced in the Design Basis Aircraft.

(UTD) Virtual Reality (VR) capability to include accurate and relative aircraft sizing, shape, features, angle off, aspect angle and closure rates.

Table 1. META Capability Requirements and Gaps/Overlap Notes:

(1) Mission mid-point with 3 crew and 200lbs baggage, with maximum continuous power, at altitude for maximum speed

(2) At the maximum takeoff weight

(3) 100 feet per minute rate of climb at design mission mid-point with 3 crew and 200lbs baggage, with propeller feathered on inoperative engine and maximum continuous power on the other engine, with flaps and landing gear retracted

(4) At design mission take-off gross weight at sea level under MIL-STD-210A, Hot Day (103° F) conditions. with propeller feathered on inoperative engine and take-off power on the other engine, with flaps in the takeoff position, with landing gear extended

(5) Design mission take-off gross weight at sea level under MIL-STD-210A, Hot Day (103°F) conditions, no wind, brakes only

(6) In landing configuration at maximum landing weight

(7) Hot Day refers to Hot Daily Cycle during day light hours referenced in MIL-HDBK-310

(8) On average there will be 30 RFT aircraft per day, 69 sorties, and 137 flight hours per day, with 237 flight days per year Since Navy multi-engine trainer aircraft fly primarily in Continental North American airspace, solutions must be certified for airworthiness and flight safety in accordance with FAA, and NAVAIR (4.0P) flight certification authorities.

The Navy META sustainment concept also seeks to reduce ownership, operation, and support costs while increasing availability, if possible, when compared to the current T‐44 fleet.

The Navy utilizes three (3) levels of maintenance, Organization, Intermediate, and Depot. The optimal maintenance concept/sustainment strategy will be determined through the Product Support Analysis and the Supportability Analysis process. These processes are outlined in the TA-STD-0017 Product Support Analysis and the GEIA-HB-0007 Logistics Product Data Handbook. Technical Data to support three levels of maintenance will be required.

RFI INFORMATION

To understand how the USN and USMC could satisfy the capability needs identified for a future META, NAVAIR 4.0M is interested in obtaining the following information about the capabilities and performance of respondent's systems as they relate to the META and the capabilities listed above. Although not desired, partial responses to the questions below are acceptable.

1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 System Description

Provide a general description/overview of the proposed multi-engine training solution. Include applicable Standards, Programmatic and Technical Assumptions and Operational Capabilities integrated into each aircraft and/or simulator.

System Development and Integration Provide an overview of how system development will be accomplished, to include the following:

· Identification of any development product required to meet the demands of the META to include software and software integration.

· Modeling and/or simulation methods used for the system.

· Description of developmental testing needed for the proposed system, and test facilities necessary for the development of the proposed system.

Product Support Maintenance Approach Provide the product support approach for organizational, intermediate, and depot levels of maintenance for the proposed system, to include rationale and assumptions which led to the selected approach. Support maintenance data should include diagnostics, prognostics, and design for the maintainer attributes to minimize maintenance, repairs and cost per flight hour.

· Is there any peculiar support equipment associated with your concept(s)? If so, describe them for all levels of maintenance.

Cost and Schedule

Costs shall be submitted in Constant Year 2019 Dollars (CY19$), broken into recurring & non-recurring costs; and provided to a Level 3 indenture and in a MIL-STD-881C WBS format, if applicable. A Work-breakdown Structure (WBS) should be accompanied by a WBS Dictionary for mapping purposes. Costs shall relate back to a historical program (if any) and include description of any differences.

Schedule

Given a potential procurement quantity of 54 A/C and a procurement start of FY24, provide a notional program schedule. The schedule should contain the following phases and associated timelines:

· Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) Phase, if applicable

· Preliminary Design Timeline

· Critical Design Timeline

· Timeline to first flight

· Production and Deployment Phase

· Full Rate Production Decision

· Quantities per year

Furthermore, demonstrate how your schedule aligns to other historical efforts and describe activities which equate to a shorter duration compared to history.

During production, how long after a contract award can the government expect the first A/C?

Cost In accordance with your schedule, provide cost projections and estimates in the following areas. Include associated assumptions and cost methodology used in determining costs. Identify specific items where cost is based on actual costs incurred.

5.2 5.2.3 Research, Development Test and Evaluation (RDT&E)

· Provide a cost estimate for each developmental activity anticipated. Provide a description of the work being done, and explanations on how the cost estimates were build up. Provide the historical data used to develop the estimate.

· For any developmental activity, provide a cost breakout between the estimated labor and material costs.

· Identify unique government funded equipment/ information (GFE/GFI) items required to support development of the system concept.

· Describe what level of power and propulsion modifications will be required to support the system concept.

· Will the concept utilize off-the-shelf avionics, or do you anticipate derivatives or new development items?

· How robust is the projected test program? Based on history, what is the expected number of test flights? And will there be any new/novel concepts in your system that might drive an increased system complexity?

Procurement

· Provide the Unit Recurring Flyaway Cost in CY19$ for your potential solution.

· If your potential solution is a commercial variant, provide the Green Aircraft Unit Recurring Flyaway Cost, modification kit costs (for each modification), and customizing equipment cost (for each item).

· Are there any pre-planned system improvements that will impact the cost of the system? If so, explain those improvements and their cost impacts.

· Provide detailed substantiation information (i.e. analogous/actual cost information) to assist with estimate rationale and basis.

· If other cost above the Recurring Flyaway Cost are needed (Technical Data, Publications, Training Equipment, Support Equipment, SEPM, and/or Initial Spares), identify what is needed and provide cost data and justification for those items.

· If available, provide a Green Aircraft pricing catalog that prices out the different options available for your system.

Describe the production strategy associated with each conceptual design, to include the following:

· Do you have a stand-alone production line or is it shared with other TMSs?

· What is your maximum production capacity in a given year?

· Identify any potential teaming arrangements for major subcontractors

· Identify what items, if any, are to be procured and provided as GFE.

Sustainment

· For your potential system, provide the following:

· Maintenance MH/FH at beginning of life, mid-life, and 90% of life for the following:

· Scheduled Maintenance

· Unscheduled Maintenance

· Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF)

· Fuel consumption per gallon

· Engine Time-Between-Overhaul

· Reparable parts cost per flight hour

· Consumable parts cost per flight hour

· Average cost per flight hour for your potential system.

· Fuel consumption rate (gallons per flight hour).

· Average maintenance man hour per flight hour (MMH/FH) for scheduled maintenance at beginning of aircraft life, mid-life, and 90% life.

· Average MMH/FH for unscheduled maintenance and mean time between unscheduled maintenance.

· Total MMH/FH (sum of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance MMH/FH).

· Cost per flight hour for parts.

Air Vehicle Design Overview

Provide a general description/overview of the proposed system solution, to include airframe, definition of major sub-systems, propulsion, drivetrain, flight controls, and landing gear. Include design history data on aircraft design, completion date, first flight date and entry into service date (if applicable).

Geometry Provide scaled and dimensioned three-view drawings. Include both the outer mold line and a cut-away with major internal components.

Provide aircraft geometry information for all major components. To include:

· Fuselage, aerodynamic surfaces, the engine, and landing gear.

· Wind and tail geometry information, to include Area, Aspect ratio, Taper ratio and t/c.

· Landing gear geometry to include Tip Back Angle and Turn over angle.

Weights Provide a group weight statement in SAWE RP-8 format.

Aircraft Aerodynamics and Performance

· Provide the trimmed aerodynamic data, such as CL vs α, CD vs CL, L/D vs CL curves, Max CL, and AOA limits.

· Provide land-based take-off and landing performance along with engine out performance in regards’ to landing and take-off. At both sea level standard day and high hot day (4000ft at 95deg F).

· Provide mission performance on profiles #1, #2 and #3 shown in Appendix A. Indicate each mission segment altitude, airspeed time, distance, fuel and average fuel flow.

· Provide Time-on Station (TOS) vs. radius plots for various payloads at Gross Takeoff Weight and a 50% fuel load.

· Provide a 1-g level‐flight operating envelope map at Gross Takeoff Weight and 50% fuel load

· Provide EM and HM plots at relevant weight and payload combinations. Provide for all engines operational and for engine out condition.

· Provide the Maximum Gross Takeoff Weight, , Maximum Landing Weight, , Zero Fuel Weight. Empty Weight, and Usable Fuel Load.

· Provide EM diagrams for a clean configured aircraft at 80% and 50% fuel weights, full thrust, standard day, 15,000’. Diagrams should reflect turn rate, airspeed (Mach number), turn radius, specific power curves, and load factor (Gs).

Structures

· Provide your aircraft material mix (i.e. % composite, aluminum, steel, titanium, etc.).

· Describe your design limit load factor.

· Describe your design service life, including estimated service flight hours.

· How many landing and takeoff cycles are the landing gear designed to accommodate? Describe the consequences of 15 landing in a one-hour period.

· Does this aircraft share common parts with any other operational aircraft? If so, what are they?

Propulsion

· Describe the installed engine type, number of engines and technology details.

· Provide the installed engine geometry details.

· Provide the installed Specific Fuel Consumption at cruise and loiter.

· Provide the installed engine performance throughout the operating envelope.

· Describe power needed for engine cold start.

Avionics, Mission Systems and Instrumentation Provide a listing and description of the avionics/mission systems package, along with their Size, Weight, Power and Cooling (SWaP-C) needs, including SWaP-C available for future upgrades:

· Identify what Systems allow for VFR and IFR flight conditions on the aircraft.

· Define the all‐weather capability of the aircraft. What systems enable this? Is there an anti‐ice capability? And lightning strike survivability?

Cockpit and Human Systems Integration

· What is the range of anthropometric accommodation?

· Describe the aircrew survivability capabilities of the aircraft.

· Describe the cockpit design/layout. Include vison angle mapping for the pilot in order to have awareness in formation flight.

· What flight gear (helmet, vest, harnesses, etc.) is compatible for use with current aircraft/egress system?

· How would aircrew physiological monitoring be integrated into the cockpit without impairing aircrew or equipment performance?

Reliability, Availability and Maintainability (RA&M) Currently, the training command has identified that it requires ~30 Ready for Training (RFT) aircraft on any given day to execute the desired number of training missions. Please answer the questions below while also attempting to identify the total number of aircraft required to support the mission.

· Provide historical or projected Materiel Availability and Operational Availability for the aircraft. Description of the source data and assumptions used for these calculations.

· Describe any capabilities that enhance availability or turn-around time such as the ability to refuel with one engine turning

· Provide historical or projected Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) and Mean Time to Repair (MTTR) on equipment for the aircraft. Include a description of the source data and assumptions used for these calculations.

· Describe the maintenance plan that is in place for your aircraft. Provide information on recommended maintenance plan. What is the recommended frequency, estimated time to complete, supply chain considerations, tasks and other pertinent information regarding maintenance over the life span of aircraft? Provide any other guidelines for flexibility in maintenance planning and scheduling.

· Provide information on system health, diagnostics and prognostics monitoring.

Specifically, and within the timeframe for the META:

· Are there opportunities for Reliability, Maintainability, Supportability performance improvements within specific Design Engineering areas of your aircraft design – within which functional / physical aspects of aircraft design might they be found?

· What might be the underlying Engineering approaches/S&T’s applicable or envisioned for each identified aircraft functional / physical design improvement area?

· What opportunities might aircraft design present in terms of growth margin over the lifecycle, regarding Reliability, Maintainability, and Supportability design characteristics?

· Would any envisioned aircraft design improvement opportunities identified above potentially be applicable within any upgrade or modification to current Navy platforms, or primarily be applicable within new design starts?

Environmental Impact Considerations and Certification Requirements Identify any known environmental regulations or certification requirements (to include cybersecurity) which could impact the production, operation and maintenance of the META and provide information on hazardous materials inherent in the design of the system and used in operations and maintenance.

Production Describe production capabilities and production rate to produce this aircraft.

Ground Based Training Systems (GBTS) A GBTS which simulates the cockpit and flight characteristics of the proposed concept/solution is required to train students in the fundamentals of aviation, navigation, communication, systems function and management, crew resource management, and support learning objectives related to cockpit procedures/checklists including normal and emergency procedures of aircraft systems.

· Provide historical or projected availability or reliability of the GBTS and a description of the source data and the assumptions used in these calculations.

· Provide a full description of the GBTS, to include student and instructor hardware capabilities.

· Provide relative sizes and any significant environmental considerations for the UTD and OFT.

Simulator Design and Capability

· How does the flight simulator enable development of yoke‐and‐rudder and cognitive skills such as formation flying?

· Describe the field of view and visual display resolution of the various components of the GBTS. What is the visual acuity at tactical formation ranges off wingtip? (Desire is to have sufficient resolution and simulator fidelity to train students in close and tactical formation flying in the simulator.)

· How does the full flight simulator accurately replicate cockpit layout and flying qualities of the trainer aircraft, especially on the edges of the flight envelope?

· Can the described simulators be networked with other simulators to include tasks such as tactical formation flying? Can this be done between remote locations?

· Describe the range of emergency situations and environmental conditions simulated.

Training Courseware

· Are there any transformational capabilities you envision being able to incorporate into your ground‐based training system to further improve the Live, Virtual and Constructive (LVC) pilot training capabilities? If so, please describe them.

RFI RESPONDANT INSTRUCTIONS

· All final responses should be submitted via one CD ROM to the address below, no later than September 16th, 2019.

· Proprietary information should be clearly marked. And it is the responsibility or respondents to clearly mark submitted information with appropriate restrictive markings. Proprietary information must be clearly marked on the outside container and on the materials inside. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for any proprietary information not properly identified. Any materials submitted in accordance with this questionnaire which contain information that is marked as proprietary will be protected as proprietary information.

· No classified documents shall be included in your response.

· Information submitted in response to the RFI becomes the property of the US Government (except properly marked proprietary information) and will not be returned.

· Data submitted in response to this questionnaire will be distributed and discussed within the Government. Respondents are further advised that the government’s analysis of your responses will require disclosure of your responses to supporting contractor personnel. US Government support contractors will assist in the review of any data provided by respondents to this RFI. A non-disclosure agreement (NDA) has been signed by the support contractors with the US Government that precludes them from disclosing any data outside of the US Government. Accordingly, respondents are asked to provide concurrence in their submissions that the data submitted may be reviewed by US Government Support Contractors. All information will be handled by US Government and Support Contractor personnel as procurement sensitive information.

· Although not desired, partial responses to the above questions is acceptable.

· Any questions on this RFI must be directed to the below POC, via email at pascual.spensieri@navy.mil, no later than 15 days after the RFI announcement. No question will be accepted telephonically nor will any responses to questions be provided telephonically.

· The mailing address for questions and responses to this RFI is:

Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), Bldg. 2187, Room 1140-A6 Attn.: Mr. Pascual A. Spensieri (AIR 4.0M) 48110 Shaw Road Patuxent River, MD 20670-1906

· The US Government requires: One (1) electronic copy (compact disc) of the response. The electronic copy of your response must be in Microsoft Office 2010 or Adobe Acrobat XI readable formats.

· Respondents must provide identifying contact information, to include:

- Company name and address,

- Name, title, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address of point of contact,

- CAGE Code and DUNS Number (if applicable),

- Business type,

- An inventory list of all response files/elements which allow the Government to determine that the complete response has been received, and

- If your company is not the manufacturer of the component(s) being described, please identify the manufacturer and identify your relationship with the manufacturer.

APPENDIX A: Mission Profiles Mission Profile #1 (Design Mission)

Mission 1– Cruise to Mission Training, Descent for Extended Landing Pattern Training

Climb

Max ROC

Max Continuous

High Work Loiter

No Credit

To 1,000 ft.

Holding Pattern Loiter

No Credit to Landing

To Sea level

Taxi Shut Down

(1) Cruise alt no less than 15,000 and not greater than cruise ceiling (300 ft./min climb potential)

(2) This Segment captures a two-hour period of time in the holding pattern and with 32 or more touch and goes per flight with two Student Pilots and one Instructor Pilot. Vary the time on this leg to finish the mission with zero fuel.

(3) Reserve fuel is 5% of initial useable fuel and fuel required for 20min loiter at sea level at max endurance plus all engines operating.

Mission Profile #2

Mission 2 – Max Range Mission

Climb

Cruise out

End Cruise to Sea Level

(4) Maximize the distance on the Cruise legs so that the Reserve leg the aircraft has zero fuel.

Mission Profile #3

Mission 3 – One Touch and Go Evolution

Descent to touch down

Acceleration after Touch down

10 sec

Climb

180 deg. Turn

Cruise Downwind

1 min

180 deg. Turn to Approach

(AOB) Angle of Bank