SPECIAL NOTICE
A -- Request for Information (RFI) for Next Generation Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) Training Waveform
- Notice Date
- 12/9/2014
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL/RIK - Rome, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome, New York, 13441-4514, United States
- ZIP Code
- 13441-4514
- Solicitation Number
- RFI-RIK-15-02
- Point of Contact
- Gail E. Marsh, Phone: 315-330-7518
- E-Mail Address
-
Gail.Marsh@us.af.mil
(Gail.Marsh@us.af.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- RFI-RIK-15-02 1.0 GENERAL INFORMATION Title: Request for Information (RFI) for Next Generation Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) Training Waveform 2.0 FEDERAL AGENCY NAME Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, AFRL - Rome Research Site, AFRL/Information Directorate, 26 Electronic Parkway, Rome, NY, 13441-4514 3.0 INTRODUCTION This publication constitutes a Request for Information (RFI) as defined in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.201(e), Exchanges with Industry before receipt of Proposals, Requests for Information". Respondents should note that no funding has been specifically reserved for this announcement. We are soliciting Requests for Information abstracts only. Do not submit a white paper or proposal at this time. 3.1 REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) This announcement is not a request for proposals; therefore, responses to the RFI are not considered offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. NO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RFI RESPONSE. Refer to Section 5 of this announcement for instructions on submitting an RFI abstract. 3.2 SYNOPSIS Submission of an abstract is voluntary. Respondents are advised that AFRL is under no obligation to provide feedback with respect to any information submitted under this RFI. 4.0 TECHNICAL BACKGROUND: US Air Force organizations and officials have embraced Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) training as a viable method to adequately fulfill service readiness requirements. LVC training is a key element to reducing the time required to create combat readiness and operational proficiency, in a cost-effective manner. Real-time virtual and/or constructive entities will be injected into live aircraft to allow for the refinement and validation of the underlying scenarios to dramatically improve training effectiveness and efficiency, as well as overall mission readiness. Key to the success of the next generation LVC is the waveform choice. The waveform should be chosen based on how well it can meet future requirements of the LVC training community. It is imperative to come up with a long-term solution that fulfills the needs of the LVC communities for many years to come. This RFI seeks next generation LVC waveform capabilities. 4.1 Introduction: The Air Force needs to integrate live aircraft and virtual training assets through constructive elements that allow participants, whether live, virtual, or constructive to seamlessly engage with all training elements successfully. This capability will require bi-directional, secure communication between live and virtual players, as well as storing essential data during live missions that can be used during simultaneous debriefing of LVC sorties with the same level of fidelity. Among the information to be exchanged across data links is Time, Space and Position Information (TSPI). The current system that is used to exchange TSPI between training assets is called the Advance Range Data Systems (ARDS). The ARDS was originally fielded in the early 1990's with an expected lifespan of just eight to ten years. Almost twenty years past its designed usefulness, the need has arisen for a more up-to-date data link that can handle next generation requirements. 4.2 Requirements: Link security and encryption are critical. The requirement should include a provision that the waveform must be able to carry unclassified data as well as multiple levels of classified data. Therefore, it is desired that the next generation LVC waveform should have an MILS (Multiple Independent Layers of Security) feature to be able to move data up to TS/SCI level. The system as a whole should also be flexible to accommodate future upgrades while still fitting into form factor requirements. On fourth generation platforms, the system has a requirement to fit in the Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI) pod. On fifth generation platforms, the requirement must be able to fit in a Line Replaceable Unit (LRU). 4.3 LVC Waveform: The respondent should provide enough technical description of the proposed waveform and how it will satisfy the requirements of the next generation LVC system. Respondents can propose either existing or to-be-designed waveforms. For each proposed waveform, the respondent should indicate its current Technology Readiness Level (TRL). For the to-be-designed waveforms, the respondent should provide the timeframe and rough cost estimate (non-binding) needed for the waveform to reach TRL-6 and its implementation on hardware. In addition, the respondent should provide technical details of how the proposed waveform is compared to existing solutions in terms of the next generation requirements. For example, a table may compare TRL level, MLS capability, form factor, use of open standards, common interfaces, low latency messaging, and node joining/rejoining/departure, and other relevant attributes across the proposed waveform and existing waveforms. ACRONYMS ACMI Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation AF Air Force ARDS Advance Range Data Systems ATD Advanced Technology Demonstration FAR Federal Acquisition Regulations LRU Line Replaceable Unit LVC Live, Virtual, and Constructive MILS Multiple Independent Layers of Security TRL Technology Readiness Level TSPI Time, Space, and Position Information 5.0 REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ABSTRACTS 5.1 CONTENT All abstracts shall state that they are submitted in response to this announcement. RFI responses shall include the company name, address and the title, telephone number, mail and e-mail addresses of the point of contact having the authority and knowledge to discuss the RFI submission. The Government is assessing the current state-of-the-art and existing Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) training waveform solutions. The RFI responses should describe the product solution proposed, address coverage of the requirements stated in this RFI by the proposed solution, explain the potential advantage to the Air Force, and provide a rough order of magnitude for the cost of the proposed solution. NO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RFI RESPONSE. 5.2 SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS Multiple abstracts within the purview of this RFI announcement may be submitted by each respondent. Interoperability is a desired feature that the Air Force considers a positive factor in the final selection of the next generation waveform. Respondents are encouraged to elaborate on this extra feature. 5.3 SUBMISSION RFI abstract due date is January 5, 2015. 5.4 FORMAT The abstracts will be formatted as follows: Section A: Title, Period of Performance, Estimated Cost, Name/Address of Company, Technical and Contracting Points of Contact (phone, fax, and email) (This section is Not included in the page count.); Section B: Technical Summary. The abstracts shall be limited to 8 pages. All abstracts shall be double spaced with a font no smaller than 12 font size. In addition, respondents are requested to provide their Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) number, their Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number, a fax number, an e-mail address, and reference this RFI with their submission. All responses to this announcement must be addressed to the POC's, as discussed in Section 6.0 of this announcement. Respondents are required to submit at least one electronic copy to the Government technical point of contact (TPOC) in Microsoft Office Word, or Adobe Acrobat PDF format. 6.0 AGENCY CONTACTS Verification of government receipt or questions of a technical nature can also be directed to the cognizant TPOC. Primary TPOC Secondary TPOC Dr. Yassir Salama Nathaniel Rowe Telephone: 315-330-4977 Telephone: 315-330-7047 Email: yassir.salama.1@us.af.mil Email: nathaniel.rowe.1@us.af.mil Questions of a contractual/business nature shall be directed to the cognizant Contracting Officer, as specified below: Gail Marsh Telephone: (315) 330-7518 Email: gail.marsh@us.af.mil
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AFRLRRS/RFI-RIK-15-02/listing.html)
- Record
- SN03591653-W 20141211/141209235043-37d3a0ee7bf79f7762caf792c8ac0fa8 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |