RFI_Australia_CHMT-EV_Final.pdf

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Australia’s CH-47F Chinook Helicopter Maintenance Trainer – Electrical/Virtual (CHMT-EV)

Capability Program Executive for Simulation Training and Instrumentation (CPESTRI), Training and Instrumentation (CPE STRI) - Request for Information (RFI) - Foreign Military Sales (FMS), Australia’s CH-47F Chinook Helicopter Maintenance Trainer – Electrical/Virtual CHMT-EV

PURPOSE

The U.S. CPE STRI is seeking information regarding the relevant experience and capabilities from industry partners interested in performing this potential requirement. This information will be used to:

• Determine which businesses exist that can meet the requirement.

• Assess the market's technical capabilities.

• Determine rough order of magnitude on cost and schedule.

• Identify commercial practices and solutions.

INTRODUCTION

The U.S. Army Contracting Command Orlando (ACC-O) is requesting information for developing, delivering, and supporting a) one (1) CH-47F Helicopter Maintenance Trainer

– Electrical/Virtual (CHMT-EV); b) delivery, installation, and commissioning at a designated facility in Australia; c) A spares package to support the sustainment of the CHMT-EV shipped to Australia; d) New Equipment Training (NET) for CHMT-EV; e) Technical manuals required for operation of CHMT-EV; and f) Post installation CHMT-EV technical help desk phone support for three (3) years.

U.S. Army CPE STRI, International Programs Office (IPO) is requesting information and data for potential procurement of the capabilities previously mentioned on behalf of the country of Australia.

REQUIRED CAPABILITIES

The Government requires:

1. One (1) CH-47F CHMT-EV System.

1.1. High-Level Design Concept - Vendors shall describe their high-level design concept for a hybrid physical/virtual trainer focused on electrical systems maintenance and troubleshooting.

1.2. Physical Fidelity and Design Concept - Vendors shall describe their design concept for the CHMT-EV. The response should address the trade-offs between physical fidelity, training effectiveness, and cost. The Government is seeking to understand the available options and their associated benefits. To facilitate this, vendors shall structure their response as follows:

1.2.1. Baseline Physical Configuration (Minimum Requirement) - Vendors shall provide a design concept and ROM for a baseline trainer that meets the following minimum physical requirements. This baseline shall represent a capable solution for core electrical maintenance tasks.

a) Core Structure: An open-frame or easily accessible physical mockup representing key CH-47F sections.

b) Cockpit Section: A representation of the flight deck including, at a minimum, the primary pilot/copilot circuit breaker panels (Panels C & D) and the overhead circuit breaker panel (Panel B).

c) Cabin/Avionics Section: A representation of the cabin area housing at least one primary electrical junction box (e.g., J-Box 1 or 2) and representative mounting and connectors for key electrical system LRUs.

d) Component Fidelity: Components such as circuit breakers, switches, and connectors shall be form-fit-function equivalents. Wiring harnesses shall be representative of the aircraft's electrical architecture to allow for realistic troubleshooting.

1.2.2. Recommend Fidelity Options (Priced Separately) - The Government recognizes that training effectiveness can be enhanced with increased fidelity.

Vendors are encouraged to recommend and separately price a range of options that build upon the baseline configuration. For each option, the vendor shall provide:

a) A clear description of the enhancement.

b) The specific training benefits this enhancement provides over the baseline (e.g., "enables troubleshooting of the APU start sequence").

c) The associated cost impact in the ROM.

Categories of such options can include, but are not limited to:

• Option A - Increased Airframe Scope: Inclusion of additional physical sections, such as the aft pylon, ramp area electrical components, or landing gear electrical interfaces.

• Option B - Higher Component Fidelity: Use of actual aircraft LRUs and components instead of form-fit-function equivalents for a more realistic maintenance experience.

• Option C - Expanded Subsystem Simulation: Integration of additional electrical subsystems beyond the baseline, such as the AFCS (Automatic Flight Control System) or specific mission equipment power paths.

• Option D - Your Recommended Configuration: Based on your company's experience, recommend what you believe to be the optimal configuration that balances cost and training capability and provide a detailed justification for your recommendation.

1.3. Instructor Operator Station (IOS)

The CHMT-EV shall be managed by a central Instructor Operator Station (IOS).

The IOS will serve as the instructor's primary interface to control the training scenario, inject electrical faults into the physical hardware, monitor student performance, and conduct post-scenario debriefs. The IOS shall provide the following capabilities at a minimum:

1.3.1. Fault Insertion: Provide a comprehensive library of electrical faults that can be inserted into the physical hardware in real-time or as part of a pre-built scenario. Fault types must include, but are not limited to, opens, shorts to ground, shorts between pins, and intermittent faults. The interface should allow the instructor to easily select the specific component, pin, and fault type.

1.3.2. Scenario Control: Provide robust control over the training simulation, including the ability to start, stop, pause, and reposition the scenario to a previous or pre-set state.

1.3.3. Real-Time Student Monitoring: Allow the instructor to monitor student actions in real-time. This includes tracking which circuit breakers are pulled, which test points are being measured, and the diagnostic steps the student is taking.

1.3.4. Data Capture and Debrief: Automatically capture all instructor inputs and student actions with timestamps. The system must provide a playback feature for After-Action Review (AAR) and debrief, allowing the instructor to review the entire scenario with the student.

1.4. Documentation - Provide a complete technical documentation package in English, including: Operator and Instructor manuals; Maintenance manual; an "As-Built" configuration baseline; and a recommended Spares/Consumables list.

1.5. Training - Provide on-site NET courses in Australia covering device operation, IOS usage, and basic maintenance tasks for the CHMT-EV system itself.

1.6. Help Desk Support - Provide a three (3) year technical help desk support service, accessible during Australian business hours.

2. Installation, facilities, and acceptance in Australia

2.1. Delivery, installation, and commissioning in Australia; minimal facility modifications are preferred. Vendors should state footprint, weight, standard power (230V/50HZ for Australia) and basic HVAC requirements. The cost of installation, delivery, and commissioning is expected to be included within the total cost. Vendors should ensure their submissions account for these associated costs.

2.2. On-site acceptance testing.

3. Written responses to this announcement should consist of the following:

3.1. Provide specific examples of past projects of similar scope and complexity, including the customer, platform, and period of performance.

3.2. Resources available to develop, produce, deliver, install, and commission the

CH-47 MT-EV

3.3. Provide an estimated, high-level schedule from contract award to final acceptance in Australia.

3.4. Detail your company's experience with FMS or DCS programs. Specifically address your experience with U.S. export regulations (ITAR), obtaining export licenses (e.g., Technical Assistance Agreements), and managing international logistics for defense articles to International Partners.

3.5. Your resources available should address production, sourcing, personnel, shipping, delivery, and support (repair and return).

4. An itemized Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost.

4.1. Vendors shall provide an itemized ROM for the Baseline CHMT-EV System as defined in the Required Capabilities. This ROM should include all hardware, software, documentation, training, help desk support, and international shipping/installation costs.

The Government encourages innovative approaches. Vendors are encouraged to recommend optional enhancements to the baseline CHMT-EV solution such as advanced immersive technologies such as Extended Reality (XR), which include Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Mixed Reality (MR).

ELIGIBILITY

The applicable NAICS code for this requirement is 333310 (Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing) with a Small Business Size Standard of 1,000 Employees. The Product Service Code (PSC) is 6930 (Operation Training Devices).

*NOTE 01: The current SBA Table of Small Business Size Standards can be found at https://www.sba.gov/document/support-table-size-standards

*NOTE 02: In accordance with 13 C.F.R. 121.104, the current calculation for dollar (monetary) value based NAICS codes is average total receipts over the last five (5) completed fiscal years

*NOTE 03: In accordance with 13 C.F.R. 121.106, the current calculation for employee based NAICS codes is average number of employees used for each pay period for the preceding completed 24 calendar months.

SUBMISSION DETAILS

Interested businesses should submit a capabilities statement package (no more than ten

8.5 X 11-inch pages, font no smaller than 10 point) that demonstrates the ability to meet the requirements outlined in this RFI.

The response to this RFI, including any capabilities statement, shall be electronically submitted to Ms. Carla Lopez-Pacheco, Contract Specialist, carla.lopez-pacheco.civ@army.mil and Mrs. Tanya Caceres, APM, tanya.e.caceres.civ@army.mil in either Microsoft Word (.docx) or Portable Document Format (PDF), via email no later than 12:00 Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 19 January 2026 and reference this RFI number in subject line of e-mail and on all enclosed documents. Information and materials submitted in response to this request WILL NOT be returned. DO NOT SUBMIT

CLASSIFIED MATERIAL.

If your organization has the potential capacity to provide the required products/systems, please provide the following information: 1) Organization name, address, primary points of contact (POCs) and their email address, Web site address, telephone number, and type of ownership for the organization; and 2) Tailored capability statements addressing the requirements of this notice, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, organizations should address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements.

All data received in response to this RFI that is marked or designated as corporate or proprietary will be fully protected from any release outside the Government.

*NOTE (LIMITATIONS ON SUBCONTRACTING): If you are a small business interested in being the prime contractor for this effort, please be advised that FAR clause 52.219-14 (Limitations on Subcontracting) (DEVIATION 2021-O0008) was updated in September 2021. The current clause adds the definition of “Similarly Situated Entity” and the 50% calculation for compliance with the clause. Small business prime contractors may now count “first tier subcontractor” work performed by a “Similarly Situated Entity” as if it were performed by the prime contractor itself.

To assist in our market research and set-aside determination for this effort, if you are a small business interested in priming this effort and plan to utilize a “Similarly Situated Entity” to meet the Limitations on Subcontracting requirements, please identify the name & Unique Entity ID/CAGE Code of the specific firm(s) you intend to partner/subcontract with to meet the requirements as well as their SB size status under the NAICS that you as the prime would assign for their workshare. Information regarding any planned “Similarly Situated Entity” should be included in answering any questions outlined in the SSN in order to assist the Government's capability determination.

mailto:carla.lopez-pacheco.civ@army.mil mailto:carla.lopez-pacheco.civ@army.mil mailto:tanya.e.caceres.civ@army.mil

DISCLAIMER

THIS RFI IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST

FOR PROPOSAL (RFP), REQUEST FOR QUOTE (RFQ), OR INVITATION FOR BID

(IFB) TO BE SUBMITTED. IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND

SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT.

RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS

UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS

ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF

RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY

RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY.