CALL FOR SOLUTIONS: STANDALONE OPPORTUNITY

OPPORTUNITY TITLE: 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) Virtual Maintenance Trainer (VMT)

• Solicitation / Funding Opportunity Number: TBD-VMT-2026

• Agency: Department of the Army

• Command: U.S. Army Capability Program Executive, Simulation, Training, Test and Threat (CPE ST3)

• Program O ice: Product Manager, SOF Training Systems (PdM STS)

• Primary Location o� Per�ormance: Special Operations Aviation Training Battalion (SOATB), Fort Campbell, KY

• Release Date: 1 September 2026

• Submission Deadline (Phase 1): 1700 EDT, 9 September 2026

• Primary Point o� Contact: Blake McIlvane, blake.l.mcilvane.civ@army.mil or Cassandra Kurth, cassandra.d.kurth.civ@army.mil

1. PROGRAM OVERVIEW & BACKGROUND

1.1 Purpose

The Product Manager, SOF Training Systems (PdM STS), in coordination with the Systems Integration Management O ice (SIMO), is seeking innovative commercial solutions to develop, field, and support a modernized, high-fidelity, and fully standardized Virtual Maintenance Trainer (VMT) system.

This Call for Solutions (CFS) is issued under Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) procedures. The Government intends to award a standalone commercial contract to a single vendor capable of delivering a complete virtual training package comprising software development, hardware delivery, curriculum integration, and on-site support infrastructure.

1.2 Training Gap and Context

Historically, new aviation maintainers attended the Special Operations Aviation Training Battalion (SOATB) Maintainers Course following Enlisted Green Platoon (EGP) to build hands-on skills before entering operational units. With that course no longer active, incoming maintainers arrive at operational units with inconsistent baseline proficiency.

This critical training gap elevates early-phase error rates, delays qualification timelines, increases supervisor workload, and introduces overall risk to airframe and aircraft readiness.

This gap is further compounded by:

1. Modern Aircra�t Complexity: The high and rising technical complexity of Special Operations Forces (SOF) rotary-wing platforms.

2. Legacy Technical Manuals: Relying on legacy paper-based maintenance manuals converted into static PDFs, which o er no interactive flexibility or visual adaptability.

3. Fleet Divergence: Rapid modification cycles across aircraft variants that prevent consistent, hands-on training prior to real-world task assignment.

4. Declining Experience Baseline: A declining average experience level across the available military maintenance force.

1.3 Maintenance Readiness Level (MRL) Alignment

The VMT solution must directly support the Regiment’s three-stage Maintenance Readiness Level (MRL) progression system:

• Basic Mission Trained (BMT): Supervised maintenance operations; familiarity with MOS task list.

• Basic Mission Qualified (BMQ): Semi-independent maintenance; demonstrated proficiency in core tasks.

• Fully Mission Qualified (FMQ): Expert level; capable of training others and managing complex troubleshooting.

The primary intent of the VMT is to ensure new maintainers arrive at their operational companies already fully trained to BMT standards and prepared for a structured, objective, first-time evaluation toward their BMQ qualification.

2. SCOPE & TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

The selected contractor shall deliver a modernized, high-fidelity, and fully standardized Virtual Maintenance Trainer (VMT) system. The solution must deliver full Individual Critical Task List (ICTL) coverage �or MH-60 maintainers.

2.1 Core System Capabilities

To be considered for award, the proposed solution must meet or exceed the following technical requirements:

1. Guided and Unguided Procedural Walk-Throughs: Deliver full ICTL coverage for MH-60 maintainers. Provide "guided" modes (step-by-step visual, audio, and text-based hints matching technical publications) and "unguided" modes (assessment-based, where no hints are provided and trainee performance is recorded).

2. Dynamic Fault Simulation: Provide an AI-enabled fault generation engine that simulates avionics, electrical, hydraulic, and powerplant malfunctions with adjustable di iculty levels. The simulation must dynamically calculate system reactions based on diagnostic actions (e.g., tracing digital schematics, applying virtual multi-meters). Faults must range in complexity from BMT baseline tasks to advanced FMQ-level troubleshooting scenarios.

3. Fleet Divergence and Variant Familiarization: Provide high-fidelity 3D models of all major MH-60 variants utilized by the 160th SOAR. The contractor shall maintain currency with fleet modification cycles to ensure maintainers are familiarized with variant-specific di erences without removing physical mission airframes from operational service.

4. Next Generation Technical Manual (NGTM) Integration: Embed a fully interactive, hardware-agnostic digital technical manual framework within the 3D space.

Maintainers must be able to view dynamic schematics, highlight electrical or fluid paths, and navigate step-by-step procedures inside the mixed-reality environment.

5. Automated Per�ormance Assessment & A�ter-Action Review (AAR): The system must record all trainee steps, diagnostic choices, errors made, safety violations, and execution times. This data must feed into an automated AAR tool that generates instant, objective feedback and tracks progression metrics to establish an objective baseline for first-time BMQ evaluations.

6. Device-Agnostic Access: The software architecture must be highly flexible, supporting mixed-reality headsets, desktop workstations, and standard web browsers compatible with the Army's vte.mil hosting environment.

7. Instructor Monitoring and Subject Matter Expert (SME) Reach-Back: Provide an Instructor Operator Station (IOS) interface allowing instructors to monitor trainee viewpoints in real-time, inject faults on the fly, draw virtual annotations, and take control of scenarios. The system must support remote mentorship capabilities where a dispersed SME can view what the maintainer sees in real-time.

8. Minimal Hardware Footprint and Network Compliance: The physical components of the VMT must fit within company-level maintenance shops and existing SOATB classrooms. The software must run without requiring active wireless components to meet strict SOCOM cybersecurity and network accreditation standards.

2.2 Prioritized Maintenance Tasks (Stand-Alone Sim)

The VMT must realistically simulate the visual, spatial, and mechanical interaction required to perform the following critical tasks:

• Task V-2410 (Major Component Procedural Rehearsals): Step-by-step guided and unguided removal, inspection, disassembly, and installation of major 2410-tracked components, specifically including turbine engines and transmissions.

• Task V-3100 (Interactive Fault Diagnosis & Troubleshooting): End-to-end troubleshooting loops for electrical faults, hydraulic systems, cockpit avionics failures, and powerplant malfunctions. Maintainers must use virtual diagnostic tools to isolate faults.

• Task V-1130 (Weapon System Maintenance & Mal�unction Clearance): Visual and spatial manipulation to diagnose, clear, and repair weapon system malfunctions (e.g., M-134 Minigun and M-240 Weapon Systems) aligned with standard physical manipulation steps.

• Task V-9900 (Configuration Familiarization): Visual inspections, pre-flight checks, and component locations unique to diverse MH-60 configurations.

2.3 Environmental and Coordination Requirements

• Classroom Conditions: Devices will be housed in climate-controlled SOATB classrooms. All components must operate between 68°F and 78°F. The systems must run reliably on standard commercial power sources and incorporate an integrated Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) within the IT rack.

• Synthetic Training Environment (STE) Compatibility: Ensure data exports, 3D assets, and terrain databases are compatible with the STE and wider Army Virtual Training Suite standards.

• Analytics Dashboard: Provide a web-accessible dashboard tracking student throughput, average time-to-proficiency, and historical error rates to measure programmatic Return on Investment (ROI) against benchmarked AFSOC Virtual Hangar achievements (which demonstrated a 50% reduction in training timelines).

3. ACQUISITION APPROACH & PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The Government intends to award a Standalone Commercial Contract resulting from this

CSO.

3.1 Period o� Per�ormance

The period of performance shall consist of two distinct phases over a total of 12 months:

• Phase 1: Initial Deployment and System Integration (45 Days) o Day 0: Contract award.

o Days 1–30: Software finalizing, packaging, hardware procurement, and shipment to SOATB.

o Days 31–37: Installation and comprehensive on-site performance testing in designated classrooms.

o Days 38–45: Deployment and initial orientation of Field Service Representatives (FSRs) and SOATB instructors.

• Phase 2: VMT Trainer Employment and ROI Evaluation (Day 45 – Month 12) o Ongoing curriculum support, software sustainment, technical support, and data aggregation for ROI analysis comparing experimental (VMT-trained) and control maintenance companies.

3.2 Place o� Per�ormance

Primary performance will occur at the Special Operations Aviation Training Battalion (SOATB) classrooms, Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Company-level shops, flight line areas, and outstation support will be conducted as directed.

4. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

This standalone CSO will use a Two-Step Evaluation Process to minimize vendor bidding costs while ensuring a rapid, high-quality selection.

4.1 Step 1: Solution Brie� Submission (Phase I)

Interested parties are invited to submit a Solution Brie� that directly addresses the requirements in Section 2 of this Call.

• Format: Page-limited written document (not to exceed 10 pages) or a slide deck (not to exceed 15 slides) in PDF format.

• Content Requirements:

1. Technical Approach: Describe the software architecture, mixed-reality integration, variant-management framework, and technical manual interface

(NGTM).

2. AI Engine & AAR Capability: Explain how the AI-driven fault generation and automated After-Action Review (AAR) operate.

3. Hardware & Deployment Plan: Outline physical footprint, standard power/UPS compliance, and your approach to meeting the 45-day Phase 1 deployment timeline.

4. Commerciality & Past Per�ormance: Provide evidence that the proposed technology is commercial or adapted from commercial products. Include up to three (3) examples of similar training systems successfully delivered.

5. Rough Order o� Magnitude (ROM): Provide a total estimated price for both Phase 1 and Phase 2.

4.2 Step 2: Demonstration & Full Proposal (Phase II - By Invitation Only)

Following the evaluation of Step 1 Solution Briefs, highly rated vendors may be invited to:

1. Provide a live technology demonstration (virtual or in-person) showcasing their software agility, MH-60 variant high-fidelity modeling, and instructor interface.

2. Submit a Formal Written Technical and Price Proposal finalizing the implementation plan and pricing schedules.

5. EVALUATION CRITERIA

The Government will evaluate Phase 1 Solution Briefs and Phase 2 Proposals based on the following criteria of equal importance:

1. Technical Merit and Feasibility: The degree to which the proposed solution addresses and delivers the core VMT system capabilities (guided/unguided tasks, AI fault generation, NGTM integration, and device-agnostic accessibility).

2. Schedule and Execution Capability: Vendor's ability to successfully meet the aggressive 45-day Phase 1 delivery, installation, and FSR/instructor orientation schedule at Fort Campbell.

3. Commerciality and Innovation: The degree to which the vendor utilizes mature Commercial-o -the-Shelf (COTS) mixed-reality technology and innovative software platforms to minimize long-term military sustainment overhead.

4. Price Reasonableness: The overall value of the proposed hardware, software licenses, deployment, and ongoing technical support, evaluated against commercial market rates.

6. SECURITY & CYBERSECURITY COMPLIANCE

The contractor must comply with the strict cybersecurity and physical security requirements necessitated by work with the 160th SOAR.

6.1 Access and Personnel Security

• AT Level I Awareness Training: All contractor and subcontractor employees must complete AT Level I Awareness training within 10 calendar days of contract award (available at http://jko.jten.mil).

• Common Access Cards (CAC) & Installations Access: Personnel requiring CAC must undergo a favorably adjudicated Tier 1 background investigation in accordance with Army Directive 2014-05. Non-CAC personnel requiring installation access must comply with National Crime Information Center Interstate Identification Index (NCIC-III) and Terrorist Screening Database standards.

• iWATCH Training: Contractor employees must complete local iWATCH Army training within 30 days of contract award.

6.2 Cybersecurity and In�ormation Assurance

• Network Restrictions: The software must run without requiring active wireless components to meet SOCOM cybersecurity and network accreditation.

• OPSEC Program: The contractor must develop an OPSEC Standing Operating Procedure (SOP)/Plan within 90 calendar days of award.

• Cyber/IT Certifications: Contractors supporting Cyber/IT functions must be certified upon contract award in accordance with DoDM 8140.03, DFARS 252.239.7001, and AR 25-2.

• CUI and NIST Compliance: Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) must be protected in accordance with DFARS 252.204-7012 (NIST SP 800-171). Vendors must have an active assessment score within the Supplier Performance Risk System

(SPRS).

7. QUESTIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

All administrative, technical, or contractual questions regarding this Call for Solutions must be submitted in writing to the Points of Contact listed below:

Blake McIlvane - blake.l.mcilvane.civ@army.mil and

Cassandra Kurth - cassandra.d.kurth.civ@army.mil

Interested vendors are encouraged to register as interested parties on www.sam.gov to receive updates, answers to submitted questions, and amendments to this Call.