Flight Simulator Evaluation Services

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION 1.0 Purpose and Nature of the Request for Information (RFI) The Department of National Defence (DND) is requesting industry feedback regarding the provision of Flight Simulator Evaluation Services to train and augment the simulator evaluation specialists of the Department of National Defence (DND). 2.0 Background 2.1 In May 2011, Transport Canada (TC) informed the DND that it would no longer be conducting the accreditation, re-accreditation, or recurrent evaluations of military flight simulators and trainers. Defence personnel have since assumed these responsibilities.  2.2 DND requires trained simulator evaluation specialists to determine if Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) simulators are acceptable for use as a direct replacement for in-flight training. In addition, DND must have the in-house ability to maintain them to the required quality standards. More simulator evaluation specialists are required within DND to achieve the RCAF’s strategic objective of prioritizing the use of simulation for aircrew training (RCAF Simulation Strategy 2025).  2.3 Historically, DND trained these simulator evaluation specialists by sending small numbers of employees to industry-provided simulator evaluation courses offered at third-party providers.  2.4 The Directorate of Tactical Aviation and Simulation (TA&S) is mandated to provide engineering support, Life Cycle Materiel Management (LCMM) support and carry out periodic simulator evaluations of the flight simulators which are used to train RCAF aircrew and maintainers. As part of its mandate to support the acquisition and sustainment of RCAF simulators, TA&S simulator evaluation require specialized knowledge and skills to conduct recurrent evaluations of in-service RCAF flight simulators. Several other DND units require the same set of knowledge and skills to fulfill their assigned roles and certify RCAF’s simulators to internationally-recognized standards. 2.5 A coordinated approach to train and augment simulator evaluation specialists in Canada is expected to bridge DND’s simulator evaluation specialist manpower gap, to ultimately achieve the RCAF objective of increasing the usage of flight simulation to train its aircrew. 3.0 The objectives of this RFI are as follows: Obtain industry feedback to the specific questions in Attachment 1; Provide industry with an early opportunity to provide feedback and recommendations on any aspect of the Draft RFP document (Attachment 2); and Open 1-on-1 virtual meetings with Canada’s TA&S team to potential bidders to discuss their understanding of the RFP process and their capability of meeting the requirements of the draft RFP. 4.0 Submission of Responses 4.1 Respondents to the LOI phase of the industry engagement should be potential suppliers to the requirement. Potential suppliers for this requirement may request a one-on-one meeting with Canada. 4.2 Written feedback, request for clarification, and, if applicable, request for a one-on-one meeting must only be sent to the DND Contracting Authority via email and are requested to be received by the Submission of Responses date indicated below, but are also welcome before that date. Submission of Responses: 28 Sep 2020. DND Contracting Authority Abbas Khokhar Department of National Defence 455 Boulevard de la Carrière Gatineau, Québec, Canada Telephone: (819) 939-4285 Email: DapServicesBidReceiving-DoaServicesReceptionDesSoumissions@forces.gc.ca 5.0 Schedule In providing responses, the following schedule should be utilized as a baseline: Letter of Interest (LOI) – 28 Aug 2020 Submission of Responses – 28 Sep 2020 One-on-One Sessions – October 14-16, 2020 RFP issued – November 2020 Contract Award – December 2020 6.0 Important Note to Respondents 6.1 This RFI is neither a call for tender nor a Request for Proposal (RFP). No agreement or contract will be entered into based on this RFI. The issuance of this RFI is not to be considered in any way a commitment by the Government of Canada, nor as authority to potential respondents to undertake any work that could be charged to Canada. This RFI is not to be considered as a commitment to issue a subsequent solicitation or award contract(s) for the work described herein. 6.2 Although the information collected may be provided as commercial-in-confidence (and, if identified as such, will be treated accordingly by Canada), Canada may use the information to assist in drafting performance specifications (which are subject to change) and for budgetary purposes. Respondents are encouraged to identify, in the information they share with Canada, any information that they feel is proprietary, third party or personal information. Canada will handle responses in accordance with the Access of Information and Privacy Act) (for more information: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/a-1/). 6.3 Respondents are asked to identify if their response, of any part of their response, is subject to the Controlled Goods Regulations. 6.4 Participation in this RFI is encouraged, but is not mandatory. There will be no short-listing of potential suppliers for the purposes of undertaking any future work as a result of this RFI. Similarly, participation in this RFI is not a condition or prerequisite for the participation in any potential subsequent solicitation. Respondents will not be reimbursed for any cost incurred by participating in this RFI. The RFI closing date published herein is not the deadline for comments or input. Comments and input will be accepted any time up to the time when/if a follow-on solicitation is published. 7.0 Volumetric Data 7.1 Any volumetric data included in this RFI is being provided to respondents purely for information purposes. Although it represents the best information currently available to DND, Canada does not guarantee that the data is complete or free from error. The Crown retains the rights to negotiate with suppliers on any procurement. Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.