Helicopter Pilot Qualification Training in Support of Foreign Military Sales, Exclusively for AH-64E Guardian Aircraft
RFI Number: W900KK-RFI-20-FMS_AH-64_AQC DISCLAIMER: THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION IS ISSUED SOLELY FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. THE GOVERNMENT WILL USE THE INFORMATION RECEIVED TO DETERM... RFI Number: W900KK-RFI-20-FMS_AH-64_AQC DISCLAIMER: THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION IS ISSUED SOLELY FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. THE GOVERNMENT WILL USE THE INFORMATION RECEIVED TO DETERMINE ITS ACQUISITION STRATEGY. THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS NOTICE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND IS NOT BINDING ON THE GOVERNMENT. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION, INVITATION FOR BID (IFB), REQUEST FOR QUOTE (RFQ), OR REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP), AND IS NOT A COMMITMENT BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO PROCURE SUBJECT SERVICES/SUPPLIES. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT WILL NOT PAY FOR INFORMATION REQUESTED NOR WILL IT COMPENSATE ANY RESPONDENT FOR ANY COST INCURRED IN DEVELOPING INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. ADDITIONALLY, ALL SUBMISSIONS BECOME GOVERNMENT PROPERTY AND WILL NOT BE RETURNED. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY. NOT RESPONDING TO THIS RFI DOES NOT PRECLUDE PARTICIPATION IN ANY FUTURE RFP, IF ANY IS ISSUED. IF A SOLICITATION IS RELEASED, IT WILL BE SYNOPSIZED ON THE GOVERNMENT-WIDE POINT OF ENTRY WEBSITE (HTTPS://BETA.SAM.GOV). IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE POTENTIAL OFFERORS TO MONITOR THIS SITE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO PROPRIETARY, CLASSIFIED, CONFIDENTIAL, OR SENSITIVE INFORMATION SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN YOUR RESPONSE. 1. PURPOSE: The U.S. Army Contracting Command-Orlando (ACC-ORL) on behalf of the U.S. Army's Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI), is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) for the U.S. Army. This RFI is being released under NAICS Code 611512, Flight Training. The Army is exploring various methods and industry capabilities to provide AH-64E Guardian helicopter Aviator Qualification Course (AQC) training and Aviator Qualification Course Transition (AQC-T) training in support of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) only. THIS IS A RFI ONLY. No solicitation is available. This RFI is released pursuant to FAR Part 15.201(e) Exchanges with Industry, and is issued for the purpose of conducting market research. 2. BACKGROUND: The U.S. Army is limited in its capacity to provide the institutional training at Fort Rucker necessary to provide Aviator Qualification Course training to our FMS customers while meeting U.S. Army helicopter pilot training requirements. To maximize Army readiness and support to our FMS partners, the Army is exploring new and various methods of delivering contracted pilot training that optimizes a portfolio of training programs, utilizing alternate locations to Fort Rucker in the U.S. or overseas locations. The FMS training should provide capabilities equivalent to those required for U.S. Army aviators. 3. REFERENCES: DCMA Instructions 8210-1c (Location: https://www.dcma.mil/Portals/31/Documents/Policy/8210-1c/Contractors_Flight_and_Ground_Operations_DCMA_INST_8210.1C_Change1.pdf) Army Regulation (AR) 95-1, Flight Regulations (Location: https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/AR.aspx) Army Regulation (AR) 95-20, Contractor's Flight and Ground Operations (Location: https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/AR.aspx) Army Regulation (AR) 95-27, Operational Procedures for Aircraft Carrying Hazardous Materials (Location: https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/AR.aspx) Training Circular (TC) 3-04.3, Aviation Gunnery (Location: https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/TC.aspx) Training Circular (TC) 3-04.4, Fundamentals of Flight (Location: https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/TC.aspx) Training Circular (TC) 3-04.9, Commander’s Aviation Mission Survivability Program (Location: https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/TC.aspx) Training Circular (TC) 3-04.11, Commander’s Aviation Training and Standardization Program (Location: https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/TC.aspx) Training Circular (TC) 3-04.12, Aviation Mission Planning Forms (Location: https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/TC.aspx) Training Circular (TC) 3-04.14-1, Flying Operations – Weather for Aircrews (Location: https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/TC.aspx) Training Circular (TC) 3-04.16, Airfield Operations (Location: https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/TC.aspx) 4. OBJECTIVE: Provide a training solution for foreign pilots to achieve aircraft qualification on the AH-64E helicopter model in support of FMS. Responses to this RFI will be used to assist the Army in making appropriate management and business planning decisions regarding the training of foreign pilots. Responses to this RFI will also be used as market research to identify the available pool of interested industry vendors. 5. SCOPE OF WORK: The general scope of work will be to provide Aviator Qualification Training (ground and flight) on Apache AH-64E model for an estimated 50-100 foreign pilots per year. Training will be accomplished on FMS customer owned aircraft and simulators, at a location to be determined. The preferred location is CONUS but OCONUS is acceptable. All base operations, maintenance and infrastructure shall be provided at a U.S. Government facility or a private facility. Foreign pilots entering the course shall possess the U.S. required English Language Training Proficiency level of 80 or higher and will not require offeror provide on-site English language training. Foreign pilots shall be technically knowledgeable in the basic elements of the rotary wing aviation platforms of their individual nation's type/model/series rotary wing aircraft, at the major component level. FMS customers should source appropriate equipment (flight suits, helmets, etc.) necessary to conduct the training. Manuals will be provided in English (without translation) to the students to allow for an immediate refresh of lessons learned during practical application. 6. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS: A. If the training contract is executed on U.S. soil, then hangar and airfield facilities shall be compliant with DCMA Instructions 8210-1C. 1. Hangars must be rated/capable for size and fire suppression for storage/maintenance of fueled AH-64 aircraft (typical 15,000 lbs. Gross Weight with 2,500 Lbs. JP8) or the offeror must submit a daily defueling procedure. 2. Airfields must have adequate runways and hover areas to allow for practice of Apache flight procedures to include running landing, landing to a hover, low- level hovering, and out-of-ground-effect (OGE) hover at up to 80 feet above ground level (AGL). Off-site stage fields or training areas may be used to meet this requirement. 3. All fixed facilities (airfields and stage fields) must have 8210-1C compliant crash rescue services and ground-to-air communications. 4. There must be terrain flight routes/training areas that allow for OGE hover, nap-of-the-earth (NOE), and low-level flight training within 30 minutes flight time from the main airfield. B. Maintenance facilities and procedures shall be compliant with DCMA Instructions 8210-1C. The offeror shall be required to accept custody of foreign-owned AH-64 aircraft and perform daily scheduled and unscheduled AH-64 maintenance for extended periods with FMS-provided spares. C. Ammunition Storage Facilities and Ammunition Handling Capabilities. The Offeror shall provide appropriate ammunition storage facilities and ammunition handling capabilities to support live fire training of 30mm gun and 2.75" rockets. D. Aviator Qualification Courses. The offeror shall conduct formal AH-64E Aviator Qualification Courses (AQCs) utilizing the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence (U.S.AACE) AH-64E Pilot Aviator Qualification Course Program of Instruction (POI). The course will qualify rotary-wing aviators in five (5) stages: Contact, Day System (Enclosed Cockpit/Bag), Night Vision System, Night Vision Goggle, and Gunnery Phases. Training will consist of approximately 130 total hours (70 hours of hands-on flight and 60 hours of simulated flight training) in the AH-64E helicopter and Longbow Crew Trainer (LCT) for the full AQC and approximately 21 total hours (6 hours of hands-on flight and 15 hours of simulated flight training) for the AQC-T. E. Student Support Services. If conducted outside of FMS partner nation borders, the Offeror shall provide Student Support Services for foreign military students undergoing AH-64 training at the facility to include: academic administration, transportation, and limited meals (during training hours). 7. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED EQUIPMENT/SERVICES: The Offeror can expect the U.S. Government or a Foreign Military Sales Partner Nation to provide the following support to the AH-64 training program: A. Training Devices and Courseware. The Offeror shall receive access to a Partner Nation-owned Longbow Crew Trainer (LCT). The Offeror may receive access to other pilot/crew training devices that are being procured by the FMS Partner Nation. The Offeror shall receive U.S. Army Training Support Packages (TSP), approved for release to the FMS students, containing the required courseware for all formal AH-64 courses required to be taught. B. AH-64 special tools, ground support equipment (GSE), and test equipment. The Offeror shall be provided custody or access to any AH-64-specific equipment required to operate, service, repair, or maintain the training aircraft by the FMS Partner Nation. The Offeror shall be responsible to provide common aviation tools and GSE. C. AH-64-specific repair parts and items. The Offeror shall be receiving aircraft spare parts and unique items required to maintain the training aircraft along with access from the Partner Nation’s FMS supply chain. D. Access to U.S. Government Range Facilities. The Offeror shall receive access to appropriate military aerial gunnery ranges capable of supporting AH-64 30mm gun and 2.75" rocket initial qualification live fire tables. E. AH-64 Ammunition. The Offeror shall receive required quantities of 30mm gun and 2.75" rocket ammunition to support initial qualification live fire requirements. F. Diplomatic clearance and Air Worthiness Certification for the operation of foreign-owned aircraft within the National Airspace System. Delivery of training to foreign military personnel will be conducted under an International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) exemption under the appropriate FMS case. 8. CAPABILITY STATEMENT: The critical capability to be determined through this RFI is to identify any commercial capability that exists and the possible methods to deliver AH-64E Apache training as described. This RFI is to solicit input, through concepts or capability statements from interested parties with the specialized capabilities necessary to perform the entire requirement or to perform the entire requirement subject to the augmentation of the contractor's capabilities with key Government assets (simulators, actual helicopters, specialized facilities, airfields, etc.). This market research will also assist the Army in identifying and minimizing barriers to competition, identifying small business capabilities, identifying risks, identifying potential requirements and contract alternatives, and identifying appropriate contract terms and conditions. 9. RESPONSES REQUESTED All responses from interested parties must include the Company Name, Email Address, Telephone Number, and Physical Address of the Point of Contact for the organization. Additional information (e.g. DUNS/CAGE Code, type of small of business (if applicable), North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS)) is also requested inclusive of the corporate status (Small Business or Large Business) as compared to the size standard of that NAICS Code. Respondents are welcome to suggest NAICS codes for use in any future acquisition activities related to this RFI. The Government requests that no proprietary or confidential business data be submitted in a response to this notice. The Army reserves the right to use any and all non-proprietary information obtain from this notice in any manner deemed appropriate by the Army. All responses to this RFI must be submitted electronically (via email) to glenda.m.torres.civ@mail.mil and to marnita.r.harris.civ@mail.mil with file sizes not to exceed 8 MB to ensure delivery. All responses must be received by 25 September 2020 at 10:00 AM (EDT). *NOTE (LIMITATIONS ON SUBCONTRACTING): If you are a small business interested in being the prime contractor for this effort, please be advised that the FAR clause 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting, has changed. Deviation 2020-O0008 Revision 1 is now in effect which adds the definition of “Similarly Situated Entity” and changes the 50% calculation for compliance with the clause. Small business primes may now count “first tier subcontracted” work performed by similarly situated entities as if it were performed by the prime itself. Please read the full text of the clause deviation 52.219-14 Class Deviation 2020-O0008, dated 03 April 2020 at https://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/class_deviations.html. To assist in our market research and determination of any applicable small business set-aside 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 Limitation on Subcontracting, please identify the name & 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 this RFI in order to assist the Government's capability determination.
Data sourced from SAM.gov.
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