Continued Services for TH-57 Aircrew Training Services (ATS)

The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWCTSD) Orlando negotiated and awarded, on a sole source basis, a contract for continued, end-of-life, services to the Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) for Rotary Wing Pilot training in the TH-57 Training System with FlightSafety International Defense Corporation, Fort Worth, TX (henceforth FlightSafety), under the authority of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1, “Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.” The expected period of performance of the contract is 4 months. The overall price of the contract action is $2,818,292.00.

FlightSafety, under its current, competitively awarded, TH-57 Aircrew Training Systems (ATS) contract, provides Contractor Instructors (CIs) and contractor-owned FAA “Level 7” certified Flight Simulation Training Devices (FSTDs) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whiting Field, FL.  This effort provides all ground-based support to CNATRA for TH-57 rotary wing pilot training requirements at Training Air Wing FIVE (TW-5).

The anticipated logical follow on sole source award will extend the services provided under this effort by 4 months, due to delays in delivery of the Advanced Helicopter Training System (AHTS) aircraft (TH-73A) and resultant delay in CNATRA’s ability to transition pilot production into the AHTS pipeline.

There are three reasons why performing any other contract action (than negotiating a sole source agreement with FlightSafety to continue TH-57 performance) would not be feasible, i.e. would not meet CNATRA need. The first is schedule; in order to not gap the CNATRA requirement, two Level 7 FSTDs, at a minimum, would have needed to be installed, tested, and RFT by 01 May 2025. The second is FlightSafety’s competitive edge with regard to costs associated with these FSTDs. The cost of acquiring, fielding, and maintaining at least two such trainers (in addition to costs such as maintaining instructors) cannot feasibly be offset by the estimated value of the contract.  The third, and arguably the most important, is risk.  CNATRA can accept zero risk to its pilot production and any acquisition strategy other than sole source would have added risk.

Small businesses interested in subcontracting/supplier opportunities are also encouraged to notify the Government POC identified below as well as the NAWCTSD Office of Small Business Programs at damion.m.bailey.civ@us.navy.mil.

This acquisition was procured on a sole source basis under statutory authority of 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c) (1) as implemented by the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-1 (only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements). The Justification and Approval (J&A) related to this action will be posted to SAM subsequent to this Award Notice. Matters pertaining to this notification may be directed to Christopher Chase Couture via email at christopher.c.couture.civ@us.navy.mil.

Awarded contract N6134025C0011 to FLIGHTSAFETY DEFENSE CORPORATION for 2818292.00 on 2025-04-28.