JSTARS Flight Crew and Mission Crew Training and Support
Sources Sought Synopsis
Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS)
for Flight Crew and Mission Crew Training and Support
CAUTION:
The Joint STARS Program Office is seeking responsible sources for the execution and administration of a comprehensive training program for Flight Crew and Mission Crew Training (FCT/MCT) for the E-8 weapon system. E-8 Flight Crew and Mission Crew Training consist of academic and training device instruction in support of Qualification Training (QT), Upgrade Training (UGT), Cross-Training (XT), Requalification Training (RQ), Senior Officer Course (SOC), and Integrated Release (IR) Difference Training (DT), as well as courseware development and maintenance and web-based training. Training requirements for the wing are based on Programmed Flying Training (PFT) established by the Combat Air Forces (CAF).
Contractors/Institutions responding to this request for information/market survey are notified participation in this survey may not ensure participation in future solicitations or contract awards. The government will not reimburse respondents for any expenses associated with their participation in the request for information/market survey.
BACKGROUND:
The E-8 is a modified Boeing 707-300 series commercial airframe extensively re-manufactured and modified with the radar, communications, operations and control sub-systems required to perform its operational mission. The most prominent external feature is the 27-foot (8 meters) long, canoe-shaped radome under the forward fuselage housing the 24-foot (7.3 meters) long, side-looking phased array antenna.
The radar and computer sub-systems on the E-8C can gather and display detailed battlefield information on ground forces. The information is relayed in near real-time to the Army and Marine Corps common ground stations and to other ground command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence, or C4I, nodes.
The antenna can be tilted to either side of the aircraft where it can develop a 120-degree field of view covering nearly 19,305 square miles (50,000 square kilometers) and is capable of detecting targets at more than 250 kilometers (more than 820,000 feet). The radar also has some limited capability to detect helicopters, rotating antennas and low, slow-moving fixed wing aircraft.
As a battle management and command and control asset, the E-8C can support the full spectrum of roles and missions from peacekeeping operations to major theater war.
Joint STARS evolved from Army and Air Force programs to develop, detect, locate, and attack enemy armor at ranges beyond the forward area of troops. The first two developmental aircraft deployed in 1991 to Operation Desert Storm and also supported Operation Joint Endeavor in December 1995.
Team Joint STARS men and women have contributed tremendously to overseas contingency operations, flying more than 130,000 combat hours in support of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Odyssey Dawn, Unified Protector, Freedom's Sentinel, and Inherent Resolve. Their operational resume includes support of six Combatant Commands including U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Africa Command, and U.S. Europe Command.
Team Joint STARS was the first organization in the USAF to activate under the Air Force's Total Force Initiative as a "blended" wing. America's first "Total Force" wing, the former 93rd Air Control Wing, an active-duty Air Combat Command unit, and the 116th Bomb Wing, a Georgia Air National Guard unit, were deactivated Oct.1, 2002. The 116th Air Control Wing was activated blending Guard and active-duty Airmen into a single unit. In October 2011, the Active Associate construct was formed by the newly activated 461st Air Control Wing as a member of Team Joint STARS.
Team Joint STARS through the 116th/461st ACW, is the only unit operating the E-8C and conducting the Joint STARS mission.
PURPOSE/DESCRIPTION:
The Joint STARS Program Office is surveying the market to determine those sources qualified to perform work under this effort. The contract is expected to include the following regarding training support and services for the E-8 weapon system:
- General program management responsibilities including; planning, organizing, staffing, administering, and controlling all contract activities, and to ensure cost, schedule, and technical objectives are achieved.
- Reference Air Force Handbook 36-2235, Volume 9, Information for Designers of Instructional Systems, Application to Technical Training, when developing or maintaining training requirements.
- The Contractor shall provide managerial and administrative support to ensure all training requirements and materials are up-to-date and consistent with current Joint STARS aircraft baselines and support all training requirements for the programmed flying hours.
- Accomplish maintenance support for specified training systems.
- The Contractor shall provide web based training (WBT) development and maintenance in support of FCT and MCT as directed by the wing OG, HQ ACC, and HBGC. WBT development and maintenance includes development of new course material and maintenance of existing course material. WBT media will facilitate scheduling flexibility and self-paced learning, while allowing centralized control of course material. All developed WBT lessons will reside on wing servers for remote access and/or be available for stand-alone work on personal computers.
- Flight Crew Training
- The Contractor shall oversee and coordinate the operational aspects of Joint STARS Flight Crew Training. Oversight and coordination includes the following:
- Liaison between program and project management, and the wing. Assess and evaluate FCT issues and develop solutions to meet objectives of the wing. Monitor FCT progress and mitigate issues with the wing. Coordinate with wing training and develop relevant presentations as requested by the wing OG. Provide various meeting support as requested by the wing.
- The Contractor shall plan Qualification Training (QT) and Flight Crew Training (FCT) support based on availability of the primary FC Training Aircrew Training Devices (ATD), Weapon System Trainer (WST), and Navigator Training System (NTS).
- The Contractor shall conduct Simulator Block CT using the Weapon System Trainer (WST) and the Navigator Training System (NTS). Training will consist of academics and non-integrated and integrated Aircrew Training Device (ATD) sessions. The integrated ATD sessions involves the Pilot/Flight Engineer with the WST and the Combat Systems Officer with the NTS. The Contractor shall provide instructor personnel and training opportunities to support the number of CT sessions for Pilots, Flight Engineers, and Combat System Officers as required and based on operational availability of the WST and NTS. Coordinate with the wing for training availability when training devices are non-operational.
- The Contractor shall provide academic instruction for Pilots, Co-pilots, Flight Engineers, Combat System Officers, the Flight Crew Training Flight Instructor Course upgrade, and Instrument Refresher Course. This includes classroom preparation, presentation of course training materials, research and answer of student questions, monitoring of written and practical evaluations, grading of tests, and recording of training data in student's training folder. Academic instruction will be completed in accordance with the most current approved HQ ACC syllabus for each FCT unless amended by the Government. Specific academic instruction duties include the following:
o Research technical material to ensure currency of training materials.
o Provide feedback and redline copies to courseware developers to facilitate improvements to training materials.
o Coordinate with Government Subject Matter Experts (SME) regarding course matter. Gather, compile, and organize SME inputs, student feedback, and other documentation for changes to courseware.
o Provide instruction when conducting practical device training sessions.
- The Contractor shall provide training device instruction daily, throughout the week, and unit training assembly (UTA) weekend support as directed by the Government. Support for UTA weekend may include academic training, integrated block CT for WST/NTS, and non-integrated block CT for WST/NTS. Contractor will be provided 14 days written notice prior to UTA weekend support. The Contractor shall also support additional CT aircrew training device sessions as directed by the wing to support short-notice surge training for Pilots, Co-pilots, Flight Engineers, and Combat Systems Officers. The Contractor will be provided seven days written notice prior to surge training sessions.
- The Contractor shall provide instructors to operate WST and NTS devices and Instructor Operator Stations during scheduled FCT device training. Contractor instructors will insert various training scenarios simulating real-world missions to educate students in mastering desired learning objectives.
- The Contractor shall maintain and update the FCT courses and associated course control documents and ensure all are concurrent with the E-8C aircraft production baseline, as modified by Integrated Releases and Engineering Change Proposals, and consistent with wing operational procedures and directives. Contractor shall host and support various review and block update meetings as required. Contractor is required to ensure all training information is updated as necessary to maintain relevance and currency to latest threat scenarios, to include the following:
o Ensure all instructor training information, technical, and engineering data necessary for the various training systems are consistent with current weapon system configuration.
o Ensure all course instructor guides and student handbooks, visual aids, scenario development, tests, lab and instructor worksheets, and any other administrative training requirements are current in support of Qualification Training and Crew Training.
o Develop and update WST/NTS crew training scenarios ensuring responsiveness to real-world contingencies, current flying environment, and current threat levels. Scenario updates shall be completed as required by the wing OG. Qualification training device scenarios and exercises shall be consistent with syllabus changes and wing OG and/or the wing Combat Training Squadron training requirements.
- Mission Crew Training and Support
- The Contractor shall oversee and coordinate the operational aspects of Joint STARS Mission Crew Training. Oversight and coordination includes the following:
o Liaison between program and project management, and the wing. Assess and evaluate MCT issues and develop solutions to meet objectives of the wing. Monitor MCT progress and mitigate issues with the wing. Coordinate with wing training and develop relevant presentations as requested by the wing OG. Provide various meeting support as requested by the wing.
o The Contractor shall plan Qualification Training and Mission Crew Training support based on availability of the primary Mission Crew Training Aircrew Training Devices, Weapon System Trainer, and Navigator Training System.
- The Contractor shall provide academic instruction for Mission Crew Commander (MCC), Deputy MCC, Senior Director Technician, Airborne Weapons Officer, Airborne Operations Technician, Airborne Radar Technician, Communications Systems Technician, Airborne Target Surveillance Supervisor, Airborne Intelligence Officer/Technician, and all upgrades including the Mission Crew Flight Instructor Course. This includes classroom preparation, presentation of course training materials, research and answer of student questions, monitoring of written and practical evaluations, grading of tests, and recording of training data in student's training folder. Academic instruction will be completed in accordance with the most current approved HQ ACC syllabus for each MCT unless amended by the Government. Specific academic instruction duties include the following:
o Research technical material to ensure currency of training materials.
o Provide feedback and redline copies to courseware developers to facilitate improvements to training materials.
o Coordinate with Government Subject Matter Experts (SME) regarding course matter. Gather, compile, and organize SME inputs, student feedback, and other documentation for changes to courseware.
o Provide instruction when conducting practical device training sessions.
- The Contractor shall provide training device instruction daily, throughout the week, and unit training assembly (UTA) weekend support as directed by the wing. Training device instruction facilitates practical mission operator simulator training sessions in the Mission and Maintenance Trainer, Prime Mission Equipment Maintenance Training Device, and other Aircrew Training Devices. Support also includes additional Crew Training Aircrew Training Device sessions. These additional sessions will provide crew position training to support short-notice surge training requirements requiring up to 10 Instructors/White Force team members to complete Crew Training scenario requirements.
- The Contractor shall provide Instructors and White Force team members to operate the Instructor Operator Workstations and training devices during scheduled mission simulator training. Contractor instructors will insert various training scenarios simulating real-world missions to educate students in mastering desired learning objectives. The Contractor will be provided seven days written notice prior to surge training sessions.
- The Contractor shall conduct Mission Crew Training Continuation Training simulator scenario events using White Force team members in the Mission and Maintenance Trainer. Mission Crew Training Continuation Training events requiring support include Distributed Mission Operations Continuation Training events working with external units, and non-DMO Continuation Training events requiring all internal White Force team member support to complete training requirements. Both events require detailed planning and wing specific inputs on scenario and training requirements for crew members. Contractor support shall include a pre-brief, if requested by the crew, and debrief for the crew following simulator session. Pre-brief should confirm the selected scenario will meet crew's training objectives, confirm the Mission and Maintenance Trainer peripheral requirements, and ensure a crew communications plan is provided prior to scenario start. Continuation Training scenarios are scheduled by the wing OG Scheduling office based on wing unit requirements and OG scheduling priorities.
- The Contractor shall maintain and update the MCT courses and associated course control documents and ensure all are concurrent with the E-8C aircraft production baseline, as modified by Integrated Releases and Engineering Change Proposals, and consistent with wing operational procedures and directives. Contractor shall host and support various review and block update meetings as required.
- Contractor is required to ensure all training information is updated as necessary to maintain relevance and currency to latest threat scenarios, to include the following:
o Ensure all instructor training information, technical, and engineering data necessary for the various training systems are consistent with current weapon system configuration.
o Ensure all course instructor guides and student handbooks, visual aids, scenario development, tests, lab and instructor worksheets, and any other administrative training requirements are current in support of Qualification Training and Crew Training.
o Attend and when required to meet Programmed Flying Training requirements, provide classroom and device instruction.
- The Contractor shall develop, convert, and revise scenarios at the request of the wing OG. The Contractor shall provide topics, host, and provide minutes for Scenario Development and Maintenance Working Group meetings at the request of wing OG training.
- The Contractor shall provide for Distributed Mission Operations across the USAF and other DoD services. The Contractor shall provide support and infrastructure for pre-exercise, exercise, post-exercise, and brief/de-brief activities. Support of DMO includes the following:
o Provide Computer Generated Forces System Operators. Provide Computer Generated Forces device Operator Training for Contractor support personnel and military personnel when requested.
o Support all associated DMO meetings and weekly teleconferences as required.
o Support required unit-to-unit DMO events per contract year. DMO event includes the following:
Develop Computer Generated Forces exercise scenarios for each DMO event. Support pre-event meetings and teleconferences. Complete pre-event system set-up and checkout. Provide support for event exercise briefing. Conduct event exercise. Provide support for event exercise de-briefing. Develop and maintain lessons learned files.
- The Contractor shall provide Integrated Release Differences Familiarization training sessions to Joint STARS personnel identified by the wing. Familiarization training will focus on differences between current E-8 software configuration and Integrated Release software configuration. Familiarization sessions will be accomplished at the direction of the wing and include one session to support Robins AFB, Det-2, 605th Test Squadron Functional Check Flight training requirements. Familiarization training will consist of presentations and laboratory exercises.
- The Contractor shall develop new or modify existing scenarios for mission crew training systems to support Integrated Release Difference Training when necessary.
- The Contractor shall accomplish Transportable Mission Support Sub-System (TMSS) and related support equipment difference training when Integrated Releases affect Transportable Mission Support Sub-System operations/equipment. This training will be developed separately from aircrew training and include necessary technical and engineering data and updated training information to ensure sufficient knowledge training of TMSS.
Requirements are outlined within guidance provided by USAF and Department of Defense publications. It is expected the Contractor personnel shall have the necessary technical skills and certifications to meet contract requirements. Interested firms should submit a written product demonstrating how they plan on providing technically compliant solutions for the Joint STARS weapon system during the support and sustainment timeframe listed. If a firm believes it would be competitive in providing necessary support and sustainment capability, then it should submit a product not to exceed 50 pages, with text of 12-font Times New Roman, and graphics should have no smaller than 10-font text. Commercial brochures will not be accepted. Without written permission from the respondent, the Program Office will not release to any firm, agency or individual outside of the Government any information marked "Proprietary."
LIMITATIONS:
None anticipated.
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Responding firms should clearly indicate the following:
a. Experience in developing, testing, and producing systems similar to the E-8C;
b. Production capabilities sufficient to provide cost effective and timely solutions;
c. Previous platform integration and systems engineering expertise and experience, as evident in program success and citations from customers (firms should elaborate how they would propose a working relationship with another firm that has Total System Performance Responsibility (TSPR) for all upgrades made to the E-8C;
d. Government Furnished Equipment and/or Information required in order to perform the work;
e. A subcontracting plan for small business concerns;
f. The approach to coordinate logistics support planning activities with Northrop Grumman Corporation in order to support their Total Systems Support Responsibility (TSSR) sustainment contract responsibilities;
g. The approach to coordinate software development/integration activities with Northrop Grumman Corporation in order to support the Total System Support Responsibility (TSSR)
h. The approach in obtaining exact design/implementation documentation from Northrop Grumman Corporation to allow the performance of work described in this synopsis.
2. If, after reviewing these documents, you desire to participate in the market research, you should provide documentation that supports your company's capability in meeting these requirements. Failure to provide documentation may result in the government being unable to adequately assess your capabilities. If you lack sufficient experience in a particular area, please provide details explaining how you would overcome the lack of experience/capabilities in order to perform that portion of the requirement (i.e., teaming, subcontracting, etc.)
3. Both large and small businesses are encouraged to participate in this Market Research. Joint ventures or teaming arrangements are encouraged.
4. Questions relative to this market survey should be addressed to Capt Stacylee Johnson, Stacylee.Johnson@us.af.mil
5. Responses must be received no later than 12:00 p.m. EST 04 October 2019. Responses must be sent electronically via AMRDEC SAFE (https://safe.amrdec.army.mil/safe/) to: Stacylee.Johnson@us.af.mil
PART I: Business Information:
1. Please provide the following business information for your company/institution and for any teaming or joint venture partners:
a. Company/Institute Name
b. Address
c. Point of Contact
d. CAGE Code
e. Phone Number
f. Email Address
g. Web Page URL
h. Size of business pursuant to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code: 334511
2. Based on the above NAICS Code, state whether your company is:
a. Small Business (Yes/No)
b. Woman Owned Small Business (Yes/No)
c. Small Disadvantaged Business (Yes/No)
d. 8(a) Certified (Yes/No)
e. HUBZone Certified (Yes/No)
f. Veteran Owned Small Business (Yes/No)
g. Service Disabled Veteran Small Business (Yes/No)
h. System for Award Management (SAM) (Yes/No)
i. A statement as to whether your company is domestically or foreign owned (if foreign, please indicate the country of ownership)
PART II: Capability Survey Questions
1. Describe briefly the capabilities of your facility and the nature of the goods and/or services you provide. Include a description of your staff composition and management structure.
2. Describe your company's past experience on previous projects similar in complexity to this requirement. Include contract numbers, a brief description of the work performed, period of performance, agency/organization supported, and individual point of contact (Contracting Officer or Program Manager).
3. Describe your company's capabilities and experience in generating technical data, engineering drawings, and manuals. Identify what software programs are utilized to generate these data products and what formats are available for delivered items.
Stacylee Johnson, Contract Specialist, Phone 4782223626, Email stacylee.johnson@us.af.mil - Adrian V. Oliver, Lead Contracting Officer, Phone 478-222-3629, Email adrian.oliver.2@us.af.mil
