2nd T-6A Industry day questions and Answers 7April2021.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE

AIR FORCE LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT CENTER

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE KLAHOMA

7 April 2021

T-6A Avionics Replacement

2nd Questions/Answers

Provide List of Industry Day attendees.

-Answer: Provided in separate attachment.

Vendor Question: When can we survey field aircraft to take measurements?

- Answer: To be determined. At this time, RFI responses are helping to inform the

Acquisition Strategy.

Vendor Question: When is RFP going out? Will there be another RFI?

- RFP going out about March 2023. There will be another RFI later on in 2021.

Vendor Question: How many aircraft are getting ARP?

- Approximately 442 T-6A USAF aircraft will get ARP due to DMSMS issues.

Vendor Question: What is the schedule of aircraft modification and locations? If a vendor facility is designated, can pilots ferry aircraft to location? Will a CFT have to visit bases – which ones or at least how many? Will modification require at a depot maintenance hangar induction or Contractor Field

Teams at bases? How many aircraft throughput for modifications?

- Answer: RFI information welcomed on the vendor capability to do hangar induction or CFT. The industry RFI responses will help inform the Acquisition Strategy which is not yet set.

Vendor Question: With limit of 5 pages, what would you like focus?

- Answer: This RFI is an opportunity for vendors to make suggestions. No need to spend pages on marketing. Information on vendor capabilities pertaining to installation, integration, design, development, kitting, etc. helps us understand industry capability. Recommendations on contract types and strategy, schedule, execution, etc. is also welcomed.

Vendor Question: Will RFI submissions be shared with other vendors?

- Answer: No.

Vendor Question: What is the plan/schedule for upgrading GBTS? How are you aligning this with aircraft upgrade schedule to enable immediate training use?

- Answer: At this time, the RFI responses from Industry day regarding GBTS will help inform the

Acquisition Strategy for GBTS which has not been set yet.

Vendor Question: Are Navy aircraft included in ARP?

- Answer: No.

Vendor Question: Is USG interested in utilizing in-house software and services [USAF organic resources]?

- Answer: To be determined. The RFI responses will help inform the Acquisition Strategy at this time.

Vendor Question: What is budget?

Answer: To be determined.

Vendor Question: Would T-6 PO be interested in purchasing software or contracting development of software for Avionics functions, then providing it GFI to integrator?

- Answer: To be determined. The RFI responses will help inform the Acquisition Strategy at this time.

Vendor Question: How many aircraft will be available for Initial kit proofing?

- Answer: Unknown at this time. Providing RFI responses will help the USG as it formulates its

Acquisition Strategy.

Vendor Question: Is the USG considering an accelerated program?

- Answer: Undetermined at this time. RFI responses on capabilities will help inform the USG if this is desired.

Vendor Question: How will USG address Textron advantage?

- Answer: As the Industry Day RFI responses are reviewed, it will help inform the Acquisition

Strategy as the USG considers Textron’s capabilities.

Vendor Question: Is COMBS service part of this scope?

- Answer: COMBS service is currently a major part of the USG model for T-6A contractor logistics support and should be considered as part of this scope.

Vendor Question: Is CLS part of this scope?

- Answer: COMBS service is currently a major part of the USG model for T-6A contractor logistics support and should be considered as part of this scope.

Vendor question: Does the government require a systems integration lab (SIL) and do you prefer the SIL at vendor or onsite of a government facility?

- Answer: Yes, a SIL is required. It is not defined yet, location and management of it after contract

Vendor Question: Will USG personal be dedicated on site with vendor for collaboration during development?

- Answer: USG personnel are typically always involved at some level when vendors are on-site at a military base, whether just to provide access, personal protective equipment and help setup the aircraft and work stands. Beyond that, dedicated USG personnel support has not been determined.

Vendor Question: Will USG personal be on site for kit proofing and installation?

- Answer: USG personnel are typically always involved at some level when vendors are on-site at a military base, whether just to provide access, personal protective equipment and help setup the aircraft and work stands. Beyond that, dedicated USG personnel support has not been determined.

Vendor Question: Will T-6 program office consider SBIR?

- Answer: Undetermined at this time. The RFI responses will help inform the USG’s acquisition strategy with regards to SBIR.

Vendor Question: What are # of ground based systems requiring aircraft components?

- Answer: 74 Aircrew Training Device (ATD) simulators; 6 egress procedure trainer (EPT) mock cockpits.

Vendor Question: What are the Ground Based Training Systems supporting T-6?

- Answer: The ground base trainers are a part of an integrated training system including contractor support, aircraft, simulators, courseware.

Vendor Question: Are Desktop simulators, egress training devices, and GBTS update in this contract or separate?

Answer: These are intended to be a part of this effort.

Provide a list of all components that must be replaced by ARP.

- Answer: List is provided in separate attachment.

CFIT-P SRD (from last year’s RFI)

- Answer: Provided in separate attachment.

Vendor Question: What class of ADS-B In is sought?

- Answer: TBD. For RFI, recommendations are welcome.

Vendor Question: What parts will be repurposed?

- Answer: Any parts that are not impacted by DMSMS, end of life, or obsolete will be repurposed;

unless a cost, schedule, performance, or sustainment benefit is identified to justify replacement, and agreed by T-6 PO.

Vendor Question: May the instrument panel be replaced?

Answer: Yes. In order to accommodate ARP, existing panel may need to be replaced with minimal disturbance to other systems and airframe.

Vendor Question: Is there other USAF aircraft avionics that USG is interested in being similar with?

Answer: The pilot training pipeline image was provided in presentation to indicate the platforms that T-6 pilots will move on to. Considerations are preferred, where it does not place schedule, cost, or airworthiness at risk.

Vendor Question: What future capabilities does the USAF believe will be needed? What is the training curriculum plan?

Answer: No details available at this time.

Vendor Question: What is Updated Radio Suite definition?

Answer: No details available at this time. For RFI, recommendations are welcome.

Vendor Question: What kind of Data Entry Device is desired?

Answer: TBD. Cockpit Working Group to determine. For RFI, recommendations are welcome.

Vendor Question: Is Touchscreen acceptable?

Answer: TBD. Cockpit Working Group to determine. For RFI, recommendations are welcome.

Vendor Question: Will ARP include HUD?

Answer: This item is currently not in scope for ARP, but ARP RFP will indicate threshold, objective, and optional capabilities that we are interested in. ARP focus is on replacements for DMSMS components and updating cockpit for sustainability. For RFI, recommendations are welcome.

Vendor Question: Will ARP include HOTAS?

Answer: This item is currently not in scope for ARP, but ARP RFP will indicate threshold, objective, and optional capabilities that we are interested in. ARP focus is on replacements for DMSMS components and updating cockpit for sustainability. For RFI, recommendations are welcome.

Vendor Question: Will ARP include Flight Display & data Recording and Playback for training use?

Answer: This item is currently not in scope for ARP, but ARP RFP will indicate threshold, objective, and optional capabilities that we are interested in. ARP focus is on replacements for DMSMS components and updating cockpit for sustainability. For RFI, recommendations are welcome.

Vendor Question: Will ARP include TACAN?

Answer: This item is currently not in scope for ARP, but ARP RFP will indicate threshold, objective, and optional capabilities that we are interested in. ARP focus is on replacements for DMSMS components and updating cockpit for sustainability. For RFI, recommendations are welcome.

Vendor Question: Will ARP include Autopilot?

- Answer: This item is currently not in scope for ARP, but ARP RFP will indicate threshold, objective, and optional capabilities that we are interested in. ARP focus is on replacements for

DMSMS components and updating cockpit for sustainability. For RFI, recommendations are welcome.

Vendor Question: Will ARP include or future needs include secure crypto links and communications?

- Answer: This item is currently not in scope for ARP, but ARP RFP will indicate threshold, objective, and optional capabilities that we are interested in. For RFI, recommendations are welcome.

Vendor Question: Is USG interested in evidence based training?

- Answer: This item is currently not in scope for ARP, but ARP RFP will indicate threshold, objective, and optional capabilities that we are interested in. ARP focus is on replacements for

DMSMS components and updating cockpit for sustainability. For RFI, recommendations are welcome.

Vendor Question: Is USG interested in analytical services?

- Answer: This item is currently not in scope for ARP, but ARP RFP will indicate threshold, objective, and optional capabilities that we are interested in. ARP focus is on replacements for

DMSMS components and updating cockpit for sustainability. For RFI, recommendations are welcome.

Vendor Question: IS USG interested in integrating non-cooperative sensing, video and radar solutions into T-6?

- Answer: This item is currently not in scope for ARP, but ARP RFP will indicate threshold, objective, and optional capabilities that we are interested in. ARP focus is on replacements for

DMSMS components and updating cockpit for sustainability. For RFI, recommendations are welcome.

Vendor Question: What is the aircraft power bus architecture? Will the critical components require backup power?

- Answer: RFP will contain more information. The Safety Assessment should determine boxes needing redundant power. The Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) aircraft Prime Item

Product Function Specification (PIPFS), to be provided with RFP, refers to MIL-STD-704E, but the

ARP will be constrained by the aircraft power bus architecture.

Vendor Question: Are there obsolete parts on T-6B the USG desires addressed?

- Answer: T-6B is not in ARP scope.

Vendor Question: What are the differences in the USAF and USN requirements?

- Answer: USN aircraft are not in ARP scope.

Vendor Question: What criteria will the government use to asses compliance with open architecture?

- Answer: No details at this time. RFI responses will help inform the Acquisition Strategy and the follow on RFI later on in 2021.

Vendor Question: What criteria will the government use to asses compliance with open architecture?

- Answer: No details at this time. RFI responses will help inform the Acquisition Strategy and the follow on RFI later on in 2021.

Vendor Question: What do you mean by “There’s much more to supporting the ARP goals than MOSA”?

EN Answer: Goal is to sustain T-6A, even as training curriculum requirements change and new DMSMS issues occur. Everything “open” includes an system architecture that support hardware and interfacing system growth and changes, processing architecture using standards that allow multiple levels of DAL and growth with minimal impacts on existing applications, software development kits, API, libraries, build environment and documentation provided, interface control documents provided with

Government right to distribute, hardware open concepts for low impact by DMSMS, variables and data bus interfaces readable by partitions, minimize vendor lock, give USG data rights, and source code of interest delivered to USG without restrictions. Please indicate in RFI what items you intend to keep proprietary data rights. Intention of T-6A Program Office is to define criteria for RFP, with references to some open standards.

Vendor Question: What Open standards are imposed on ARP?

Answer: No details available at this time. Intention of T-6A PO EN is to define criteria for RFP, with references to some open standards.

Vendor Question: Do you see LVC incorporation?

Answer: This item is currently not in scope for ARP, but ARP RFP will indicate threshold, objective, and optional capabilities that we are interested in. ARP focus is on replacements for DMSMS components and updating cockpit for sustainability. For RFI, recommendations are welcome.

Vendor Question: What is the environmental requirements?

Answer: No details available at this time.

Vendor Question: Will the USG consider an offer with a finite DMSMS program?

Answer: ARP should be repairable and sustainable out to 2049.

Vendor Question: Is the avionics certified under FAA part 23?

- Answer: Yes, the T-6A aircraft has a Type Certification under FAA Part 23, including its Avionics.

Vendor Question: Is the aircraft conforming to Form 8100 / has an N-number?

- Answer: These aircraft do not have N numbers.

Vendor Question: Who obtains the STC?

- Answer: The USG intends for the vendor to obtain the STC.

Vendor Question: Who is responsible for the Continued Airworthiness?

- Answer: The vendor is expected to provide instructions for continued airworthiness to the USG for their STC.

Vendor Question: Are the compliance artifacts used for STC sufficient for DD-250?

- Answer: Later on in the acquisition process, the USG will provide the list of needed artifacts that are needed to satisfy USAF military airworthiness, but typically the artifacts from the STC cover most of these needs. However, for example, On Board Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS) and

UHF radio needed additional artifacts for military airworthiness.

Vendor Question: What artifacts are needed for MIL-HDBK-516C airworthiness cert?

- Answer: Later on in the acquisition process, the USG will provide the list of needed artifacts that are needed to satisfy USAF military airworthiness, but typically the artifacts from the STC cover most of these needs. However, for example, On Board Oxygen Generating System (OBOGS) and

UHF radio needed additional artifacts for military airworthiness.

Vendor Question: If an STC under FAA Part 23 Amendment 64 was obtained using ASTM F3153-15, instead of DO-178 for a software deliverable, would T-6 PO Airworthiness accept this?

- Answer: If the FAA determines this is an acceptable method, then the USAF will consider it as well.

Vendor Question: What airspace does USAF T-6 operate in?

- Answer: In MOA and civil airspace, regularly in and out of municipal airports.