U.S. Army Security Assistance Training Management (SATMO) Aviation Training and Technical Assistance Related Services

Amendment 01 Description provided at bottom of announcement.  

Amendment 02 Points of Contact updated.

INTRODUCTION

The Army Contracting Command (ACC) Orlando is issuing this sources sought notice and holding an industry day as a means of conducting market research to identify parties having in the capability and the resources to support the requirement to provide agile, specialized and cost effective Security Assistance Teams (SATs) in order to facilitate security assistance programs that build partnership capacity as well as defense and security relationships; that promote specific U.S. security interests, including all security assistance activities; develop allied and friendly military capabilities for self-defense and multinational operations; and provide U.S. forces with peacetime and contingency access to host nations in support of United States Army Campaign Plan and U.S. national security objectives.

The intention is to award a new Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC)  Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

Minimal Continental United States (CONUS) performance (Program Management) and Phase-In Period will occur.  Predominantly performance will be Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS). 

*NOTE 01:  The OCONUS portion required will have contractor performance under potentially austere, physically demanding, and stressful working conditions.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND

U.S. Army Security Assistance Training Management (SATMO) is a subordinate command under the U. S. Army Security Assistance Command (USASAC), a Major Subordinate Command (MSC) of Army Material Command (AMC).  SATMO executes the overseas portion of the U.S. Army’s Security Assistance Enterprise Outside Continental United States (OCONUS) training and technical assistance mission. SATMO plans, forms, prepares, deploys, sustains and re-deploys Continental United States (CONUS)-based (from the continental U.S.) SATs to execute OCONUS  Security Cooperation missions in support of Geographic Combatant Command Theater Security Cooperation Programs and U.S. foreign policy  (For the purposes herein, the terms “Security Assistance” and “Security Cooperation” mean “Foreign Military Aid.”).  

SATMO staff teams with active component Army, active component members of other services, reserve component Army, reserve component members of other services and DoD civilians.  SATMO may use contractor services if none of these are available for a given Aviation SAT mission to support rotary wing aircraft.  Because of long lead-times for non-contract personnel, and current operations tempo, SATMO anticipates an increasing requirement for contractor support, especially for Aviation skills including flying, maintenance and operational planning. Additional requirements will include the same aviation skills as previously listed but for Non-Standard Aircraft. In this case non-standard aircraft are all types not currently employed by the active component, this includes legacy air frames. In accordance with the Assistant Secretary of the Army for (Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology) (ASA (ALT)) memorandum dated 6 January 2010, all Non-Standard Aircraft training not procured through the United States Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) Acquisition Center shall be referred to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Procurement) (DASA (P)), the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition Policy and Logistics) (DASA (APL)), and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Defense Exports and Cooperation) (DASA (DEC)) for review and evaluation and ASA (ALT) for approval prior to any commitment and execution by any other acquisition office.   Specific skill requirements will be identified at the Task Order (TO) level. When it is known that uniformed personnel will not be available, contractor support will become the first option considered.  In other cases, the more rapid reaction time of contractors may be a governing factor in using contractor teams.  Aviation SATs deployed because of this contract may be a single Contractor employee, a combination of Department of Defense personnel and Contractor employee(s), or entirely Contractor employees.

Aviation services will be provided during the Aviation SAT execution phase and during the post deployment stage of an Aviation SAT mission cycle.  The aviation services required are divided into two (2) categories: rotary wing training related services and rotary wing technical assistance related services.  The example subtasks and explanations listed below are representative of Aviation SAT rotary wing missions that SATMO may accomplish during a TO.

Potential technical assistance related mission sets are Fast Rope Insertion and Extraction System (FRIES), Special Patrol Insertion and extraction system (SPIES), Hoist, External Loads, Over water, Helicopter Arial Refuel (HAR), High Altitude Aviation Training Site (HAATS), Aerial Gunnery, Aviation Special Operations, and Air Assault/Air Movement. Provide any supporting documentation reflecting the experience.  Potential qualified trainers and advisors of USAACE rotary wing pilots (SP/IP, ME/MTP, AMSO, ASO), 15 series Military Occupational Specialty codes (MOS), MOS maintainers (15B,15D,15F,15G, 15H, 15N,15R, 15Y), and 15 MOS crew members (15T, 15U) with additional qualifications of standardization instructor (SI)/ flight instructor (FI), and flight engineer (FE) and personnel capable of establishing base operations training capabilities.

SPECIFIC TASKS

Tasks listed herein are only examples and are not to be performed unless issued on a Task Order.  These are intended to provide a sampling of the types of missions (and inherent requirements) which could reasonably be expected to be resourced and executed by the contractor.  The list is by no means exhaustive, either in the nature or the scope of possible missions.

Training Related Services.  SATMO provides Aviation training, maintenance training, and advisory services to customer-Host Nations in several different major areas. 

Conduct aviation assessments to:

Determine aviation training requirements.

Identify aviation areas requiring technical assistance (maintenance, logistics, standardization, etc.).

Host Aviation Engineering Directorate (AED) sourced airworthiness assessment teams.

Evaluate aviation safety processes and programs.

Conduct formal academic and flight training:

Initial rotary wing qualification courses to train crewmembers in the basic skills required to operate an aircraft under day, night, and instrument condition.

Aircraft qualification courses to train crewmembers to operate a specific aircraft.

Aircraft series transition courses to train crewmembers that are already qualified on a specific aircraft to operate a new or different version.

Training on advanced aviation skills such as night vision systems, aerial gunnery, formation flight, etc.

Crew Chief, Flight Engineer, and crew communications courses.

Graduate-level aviator Instructor Pilot and Maintenance Test Pilot qualification courses.

Non-aircraft specific pilot courses on aviation mission planning, aerodynamics, aviation medical issues, etc.  The contractor will have access to the Host Nation aviation mission planning system/device on any TO that requires AMPS duties. 

Conduct formal academic and hands-on demonstration training:

Individual Aircraft Repairer general and aircraft specific maintenance courses.

Aviation Organizational/Line Unit maintenance courses.

Aviation Intermediate/Allied Shops maintenance courses.

Training on advanced maintenance skills such as technical inspection, quality control, production control, maintenance management, etc.

Training on supporting aviation systems including ground support equipment, special tools, aviation sets/kits/equipment, and air traffic control communication systems.

Provide advice, informal training, mentorship, and assistance to:

Enhance unit flight and tactical operations.

Conduct individual and collective sustainment training.

Promote host nation aviation safety.

Assist to establish host nation aviation systems, programs, processes, and SOPs; especially in the areas of safety, operations, training, standardization, maintenance, logistics, and sustainment.

Inform host nation personnel of US Army Aviation best practices and lessons learned.

Technical Assistance Related Services.  Provide technical assistance and expertise required to operate, maintain, sustain or return complex customer-nation aviation systems to operational readiness. Examples include: Conducting specific aircraft systems-related training courses, assisting the customer to implement an automated aviation technical supply system, or advising them on how to establish Aircrew Life Support Equipment (ALSE) training program.  Each TO will address specifics on the required technical assistance tasks to be performed. 

Generic Aviation Maintenance Related Technical Assistance Task Statement.  Provide technical assistance and expertise to repair, modernize, inspect or validate the mission readiness of host nation aviation equipment or weapon systems and its components.  All final inspections will be accomplished by the Government or customer-nation.  Training of customer-nation personnel is not the primary focus during these missions.  Any training benefit derived is collateral to the primary mission.  Essential Maintenance Related Subtasks may include:

Inspect, troubleshoot and repair equipment (type of equipment TBD at TO level) IAW an Army Aviation and Missile Command Aviation Safety Action Memo (ASAM) or Safety of Flight Message (SOFM) to restore the equipment (type of equipment TBD at TO level) model helicopter to mission readiness status.

Operational Planning.  Analyzing emergent requirements and assisting in plan development to meet those requirements.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

All flying Contractor members shall meet the qualification requirements of DCMA INST 8210.1D (AR 95-20). 

ELIGIBILITY

The applicable NAICS code for this requirement is 611512 (Flight Training), with a Small Business Size Standard of $34.0M. The Product Service Code is U099 (Education/Training - Other). Businesses of all sizes are encouraged to respond; however, each respondent must clearly identify their business size in their capabilities statement.

*NOTE 01:  The current SBA Table of Small Business Size Standards was updated 17 March 2023; since the beginning of 2022, the SBA has regularly updated the table to account for inflation.  Businesses must update their SAM.gov profiles to have their small business status reflect the most current small business size standards.  Until updated, the SAM profiles will continue to display the small business status under outdated 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. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The estimated period of performance consists of five-year base with performance commencing in late May 2027. The Government may issue by bi-lateral extension extend the ordering period of this contract for up to an additional five (5) years provided the maximum (total contract minimum) designated in the schedule has not been exceeded. Therefore the total duration of the ordering period of performance, including the extension, shall not exceed 10 years.

The contract type for task orders is anticipated to be a Firm Fixed Price. The base Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts estimated ceiling is $249M.

The Government is currently refining the acquisition strategy, and the planned approach has not yet been finalized. Your firm’s responses to this posting will assist the Government with its development.

INDUSTRY DAY is being held on 3 February 2025.  Individual Breakout Sessions are being held 4 February 2025. Instructions on how to register for industry day and individual breakout sessions are contained in the attachments.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SESSION: Individuals are encouraged to submit their technical questions via email to Ms.Shaniel Escoffery email [email protected] and Ms. Glenda Torres, email [email protected]. no later than 3 pm, 9 January 2025.  Technical questions submitted in advance will be addressed during the Questions and Answers Session at industry day, followed by an open discussion where the panel may address technical questions from the audience. No new technical questions are being accepted.

SUBMISSION DETAILS (CAPABILITIES STATEMENT)

Contractors are requested to submit a capabilities statement including a cover sheet of no more than 15 pages. Font shall be no smaller than Arial 10. The cover page should include company name, address, and points of contact including phone numbers and e-mail addresses.  The cover sheet shall not count towards the page count.

The deadline for response to the capability statement, industry day registration, and individual breakout session registration is no later than 3 pm, EST, 9 January 2025. All responses under this sources sought notice, industry day notification, and individual breakout registration must be e-mailed to Shaniel Escoffery,[email protected] and Glenda Torres, email [email protected].

This documentation must address at a minimum the following items:

1. List the types of rotary wing pilot, maintainer, or base operations training capabilities your company had provided before or is currently providing.  Provide contract numbers for reference, if these contracts are with the Army or other Department of Defense contracts.
2. Describe your company’s capability and capacity to  provide qualified trainers and advisors of U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence (USAACE) rotary wing pilots (standard pilot, instructor pilot, maintenance test flight evaluator, maintenance test pilot, aviation mission survivability officer, and aviation safety officer), and 15 series Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) jobs related to maintaining, repairing, and operating military aircraft such as maintainers (15B,15D,15F,15G, 15H, 15N,15R, 15Y) and crew members (15T, 15U) with additional qualifications of standardization instructor/ flight instructor, and flight engineer, and personnel capable of establishing base operations training capabilities.
3. Describe  your company’s experience (with examples)  training and assisting in the following mission sets: FRIES, SPIES, Hoist, External Loads, Over water, HAR, HAATS, Aerial Gunnery, Aviation Special Operations, and Air Assault/Air Movement. Provide any supporting documentation reflecting the experience.  This list of mission sets is not all inclusive and experience on any other type of mission sets can also be provided.
4. Describe the company’s experience  preparing employees for OCONUS deployment and meet all DoD Foreign Clearance Guide requirements for passports, visas, training and pre-deployment preparations.
5. Does your company have experience with training, advising, and assistance with foreign customers with differing cultures to include language barriers in an austere environment? Please include OCONUS locations, types of performance/services provided, and contract numbers.
6. Can or has your company managed a task of this nature? If so, please provide details.
7. Can or has your company managed a team of subcontractors before? If so, provide details.
8. What specific technical skills does your company possess which ensure capability to perform the requirements detailed above?
9. Provide a statement including current small/large business status and company profile to include number of employees, annual revenue history, office locations, DUNs number, etc.
10. A statement indicating if your firm is a large or small business under NAICS code 611512; if small business, please indicate any applicable socio-economic status [i.e., 8a, Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB), HUBZone, Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), or Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB).

Your firm’s response to this Sources Sought, including any capabilities statement, shall be electronically submitted in either Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF).

The information provided to this Sources Sought shall not be proprietary and may be utilized to assist the determination of the acquisition strategy to follow for this future effort.  The information will be retained to document the Market Research Report and will be classified as Controlled Unclassified Information under Acquisition/Procurement disposition. 

All questions must be submitted to the contract specialist identified above. The Government is not committed nor obligated to pay for the information provided, and no basis for claims against the Government shall arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought.

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.

DISCLAIMER

THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A “REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)” 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. RESPONSES WILL NOT BE RETURNED TO THE RESPONDER. NOT RESPONDING TO THIS NOTICE DOES NOT PRECLUDE PARTICIPATION IN ANY FUTURE REQUEST FOR QUOTE (RFQ) OR INVITATION FOR BID (IFB) OR RFP, IF ANY ISSUED. IF A SOLICITATION IS RELEASED, IT WILL BE SYNOPSIZED ON THE GOVERNMENT-WIDE POINT OF ENTRY (GPE). IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF POTENTIAL OFFERORS TO MONITOR THE GPE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THIS REQUIREMENT.

AMENDMENT 01- Providing Slides presented by the Govt at Industry Day, as well as the KTR POC Email list.  Questions received are under review and will be provided at a later date.  All documents have been cleared for released.