RFI KC-46TS OperationsSustatinment Feb2026.pdf

KC-46 Aircrew and Maintenance Training

Systems Request for Information (RFI)

26 February 2026

Prepared By:

Air Force Lifecycle Management Center, PEO Training Directorate (AFLCMC/WN)

Simulators Division (AFLCMC/WNS)

1.0 PURPOSE

This Request for Information (RFI) is issued by the government to conduct market research in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10. The Government is seeking to identify sources capable of performing the consolidated Operations and Sustainment (O&S) for the entire KC-46 Training System (TS) enterprise and to solicit industry feedback on the proposed acquisition strategy.

This is an RFI only. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future.

2.0 BACKGROUND

As part of a comprehensive re-compete strategy, the government plans to consolidate all Aircrew Training System (ATS) and Maintenance Training System (MTS) O&S requirements into a single, functionally aligned contract. This effort is being competed separately from the KC-46 TS Production contract to maximize competition, especially for small business, and to align the contract structure with the distinct nature of sustainment services.

The Government anticipates awarding this effort as a Task Order under the Training Systems Acquisition (TSA) IV IDIQ contract. The anticipated Period of Performance (PoP) is approximately six years (a 90-day transition, a one-year base period, four one-year option periods, and a potential six-month extension). The government anticipates using a predominantly Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contract type.

3.0 SCOPE OF WORK OVERVIEW

The selected contractor will be responsible for the total lifecycle sustainment of the entire KC-46 training enterprise. The contractor shall provide all personnel, equipment, materials, and management necessary to meet the performance standards for the requirements listed below. Key responsibilities will include:

• Contractor Logistics Support (CLS): Providing all on-site personnel and resources required to operate and maintain the full suite of ATS and MTS devices across all Main Operating Bases (MOBs).

• Training System Support Center (TSSC): Operating the central engineering and software support hub for the entire training system enterprise.

• Courseware & Instruction: Managing, sustaining, and updating all courseware materials, and providing academic and simulator instruction.

• Enterprise Configuration Management (CM): Acting as the single CM authority for the entire training system baseline, including devices delivered under other contracts.

• Cybersecurity: Ensuring all training devices maintain their Authority to Operate (ATO) and comply with all DoD cybersecurity requirements.

• Program Management: Providing overall management of the sustainment enterprise.

4.0 REQUESTED INFORMATION FROM INDUSTRY

The Government requests that interested parties provide responses to the following sections.

SECTION A: CORPORATE CAPABILITY & EXPERIENCE

This section will be used to assess your company's capability to successfully perform as the prime contractor for this effort.

1) Question 1 (Corporate Experience): Please provide no more than three (3) examples of recent and relevant contracts where your company has served as the prime contractor for efforts of similar size, scope, and complexity. For each example, describe how your experience managing geographically dispersed sites, full-motion simulators, and a consolidated scope (e.g., CLS, TSSC, and courseware) is relevant to the KC-46 TS O&S requirement.

2) Question 2 (Transition Approach): Describe your high-level approach to managing the complex transition of taking over sustainment responsibilities from two different incumbent contractors (for ATS and MTS) simultaneously. Highlight your plan for knowledge transfer and retention of key incumbent personnel.

3) Question 3 (Small Business Participation): Describe your approach to maximizing small business participation on this contract. Please provide specific examples of the types of work you would envision subcontracting to small business partners.

SECTION B: ACQUISITION STRATEGY FEEDBACK

This section will be used to gather industry's perspective to help refine the Government's final acquisition strategy.

4) Question 4 (Performance Standards & Metrics): For a consolidated O&S contract of this scope, what are the most critical performance metrics the Government should use to measure success?

Beyond a standard device availability metric (e.g., 98%), what other Key Performance Parameters (KPPs) or Service Level Agreements (SLAs) would you recommend to effectively incentivize quality in areas like instruction, courseware maintenance, and cybersecurity?

5) Question 5 (Overall Acquisition Strategy Feedback): The Government’s overall acquisition strategy for the KC-46 TS enterprise involves two key decisions: 1) consolidating the separate ATS and MTS requirements into a single TS enterprise, and 2) separating that enterprise into two distinct contracts (O&S and Production). We are seeking industry’s perspective on the benefits of this overall approach.

a) Benefits of Consolidation: From your perspective, what are the primary benefits the

Government can expect to realize from consolidating the ATS and MTS O&S requirements into a single contract? Please address benefits in areas such as:

i) Cost Efficiencies (e.g., reduced program management overhead, economies of scale).

ii) Operational Benefits (e.g., integrated logistics, flexible staffing across all device types).

iii) Technical Standardization (e.g., a single point of accountability for enterprise-wide configuration management).

b) Benefits of Separation: From your perspective as a potential O&S prime contractor, what are the primary benefits of competing the O&S effort separately from the large-scale Production contract? Please address benefits in areas such as:

i) Fairer Competition (e.g., enabling companies that focus on services and sustainment, including small businesses, to compete as a prime).

ii) Clearer Lines of Responsibility (e.g., the O&S contractor is not responsible for latent design defects from the production line).

iii) Improved GFI Quality (e.g., receiving a formal, Government-accepted technical data package from the production contractor).

iv) Focused Prime Contractor Performance (e.g., allowing your company to focus on its core competence of sustainment without being distracted by factory production challenges).

6) Question 6 (Contract & CLIN Structure): What Contract Line-Item Number (CLIN) structure would you recommend for a contract of this nature? Please describe how you would structure the

CLINs to cover the distinct efforts of CLS, TSSC operations, courseware sustainment, and instruction.

7) Question 7 (Incentives): What performance incentive or disincentive structures would you recommend to motivate exceptional performance beyond the baseline PWS standards? Please discuss your views on structures such as Award Fee or Incentive Fee CLINs for a sustainment contract.

8) Question 8 (Data Rights & GFI): Describe your approach to managing Government Furnished Information (GFI), including technical data and software received from the separate KC-46 TS Production contractor. How would you manage data rights and configuration control in this multi-contractor environment?

5.0 RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS

• Responses should be submitted in Microsoft Word or PDF format and are limited to 20 pages.

• Mark any proprietary information clearly in your response.

• Please submit responses electronically to dasia.johnson@us.af.mil, william.durocher.1@us.af.mil, and lakin.tucker.1@us.af.mil no later than 0900 EST on Monday, 9 Mar 26.

6.0 DISCLAIMER

This RFI is not an RFP and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. The Government will not be liable for any costs incurred by respondents in the preparation or submission of information in response to this RFI. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked "Proprietary" will be handled as such.