DRAFT Call for Solutions - Flight School Next (FSN)

Quick Summary

The Department of the Army, ACC-RSA, has issued a Call for Solutions (C4S) for the Flight School Next (FSN) program, a Contractor-Owned, Contractor-Operated (COCO) solution for Initial Entry Rotary Wing (IERW) Training at Fort Rucker, Alabama. This initiative seeks to establish the first fully commercial training platform for U.S. Army Aviation, training 900-1500 rotary wing pilots annually. The USG is no longer accepting additional Phase I submissions, as the opportunity is in later phases of evaluation.

Scope of Work

The selected contractor will provide a turnkey solution including contractor-owned aircraft, parts, maintenance, academic and flight instructors, and simulation (if required). Training must meet U.S. Army standards equivalent to FAA commercial helicopter pilot certification. Key requirements include a minimum of 131 flight hours per student, with at least 10 solo flight hours, and a maximum training course length of 22 weeks. The program must accommodate 900-1500 students annually, with flexibility for +/- 250 students, and train Foreign Military Students (FMS). Government-provided facilities, air traffic control, fuel, and other support services are available.

Contract & Timeline

• Type: Call for Solutions (C4S) under a Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO)
• Set-Aside: None specified
• Status: Not accepting additional Phase I submissions. Phase II presentations were due January 16, 2026. Phase III response dates will be communicated via Phase II Selection Notice Letters.
• Published: February 20, 2026 (latest activity date)
• Place of Performance: Fort Rucker, Alabama
• Contract Structure: Single contract with pricing elements for Year 1 (Build-Up), Years 2-10 (Transition/Student Load), and Years 11-26 (with Not-to-Exceed limits for Overhead, G&A, and Profit). Optional training opportunities must be priced separately.

Evaluation & Submission

Phase II presentations are evaluated on a selectable or non-selectable basis, with feedback to be incorporated into Phase III submissions. Multiple amendments (01, 02, 03, 04) have revised submission instructions, evaluation criteria, proposal formats (including Phase III Commercial Solution Proposal - CSP), and pricing elements. Offerors must adhere to specific formatting guidelines, including page limits (cover pages, tables of contents, and acronym lists do not count) and an increased Small Business Subcontracting Plan (SBSP) page limit of 15 pages. Detailed academic topics, flight tasks, and comprehensive regulatory compliance (U.S. Army and AVCOE regulations) are critical for proposals.

Contact Information

• Primary: Michael A. Metje (michael.a.metje.civ@army.mil, 5206747936)
• Secondary: Susan Ruzicka (susan.e.ruzicka2.civ@army.mil, 5206748460)