Rotary Wing Flight Training and Support Services (RWFTSS) Sources Sought Notice

Sources Sought Notice

This Sources Sought Notice (SSN) is for planning and information purposes only to gauge market interest, technical capability, and financial capacity for Rotary Wing Flight Training Support Services (RWFTSS) at the US Army Aviation Center of Excellence (USAACE), Fort Rucker, Alabama. It is not a solicitation, RFP, RFQ, or IFB. The Government will not reimburse respondents for costs incurred in preparing a response.

Responses are sought from small businesses demonstrating technical skills to provide:

• Rotary wing flight training and flight training support.
• Support for newly assigned Army officers attending Initial Entry Rotary Wing (IERW) training.
• Flight Training Support and Flight Training Service Support for US Army and US Air Force aircrew and non-aircrew personnel.

Key task areas include:

• Training Program Operations: Conducting flight, simulator, and academic instruction; managing student workload; executing course evaluations and examinations; and scheduling students, instructors, and resources.
• Instructor Personnel Management and Quality: Managing Methods of Instruction (MOI) training, internal workforce training and evaluation, and instructor decertification/recertification.
• Administrative Requirements: Executing administrative duties, records management, and ensuring compliance with security regulations.

This notice does not specify contract type, period of performance, or estimated value.

Responses are due by 11:00 AM EDT, May 26, 2026, and must be submitted electronically to MICC-Fort Eustis. Responses shall not exceed 10 pages. The Government requests industry input on the Draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) and questions regarding commerciality and contract structure, to be submitted as a separate document.

Responses are sought from firms considered small under NAICS Code 611512 – Flight Training, with a small business size standard of $34.0 million. Small businesses may use teaming partners, but must provide at least 50% of the effort as a prime contractor.

• The Government anticipates the resulting solicitation will include Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 2 requirements.
• Respondents must provide information on their company, business size/classification, personnel capacity, financial capacity, and justification for why the requirement should not be awarded to a large business or a specific socio-economic set-aside.
• Industry input is also requested on whether the services are commercially sold and if a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract structure is appropriate.

Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This document outlines the requirements for continuous Rotary Wing Flight Training and Flight Training Support for US Army and US Air Force aircrew and non-aircrew personnel at Fort Rucker, Alabama. The goal is to provide initial entry rotary wing flight training and support for newly assigned Army officers, as well as flight training support for both Army and Air Force personnel.

• Provide all necessary personnel, equipment, and non-personal services for continuous Rotary Wing Flight Training and Flight Training Support.

• Conduct flight and academic instruction for various courses including Initial Entry Rotary Wing (IERW), Rotary Wing Instrument Flight Examiner (RWIFEC), Career Enlisted Aviator Rotary Wing Fundamentals (CEARF), and Special Mission Aviator Instructor Training (SMA IT).

• Support Air Force specific training such as Undergraduate Helicopter Training (UHT), Pilot Instructor Training (PIT), and Rotary Wing Qualification (RWQ).

• Manage student loads, scheduling, and provide necessary training materials.

• Ensure personnel meet specific qualifications, certifications, and security requirements.

• Performance will be measured against standards outlined in Technical Exhibit A, Performance Requirements Summary (PRS).

• Key performance indicators include qualifying students to specific standards for flight maneuvers, academic subjects, and evaluations.

• Contractor must maintain performance at or above the Minimal Acceptable Standard (MAS).

• The work will be performed at Fort Rucker, Alabama, including the main cantonment area, Cairns Army Airfield, and Shell Army Heliport.

• Off-base training facilities include the simulator training facility in Daleville, Alabama.

• Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) at Level 2 is required.

• Personnel must meet specific security clearance and access requirements, including obtaining Common Access Cards (CAC).

• Adherence to safety programs, environmental compliance, and applicable regulations is mandatory.

• Contractor must establish and maintain a Quality Control Plan (QCP) and Quality Management System (QMS).

• Specific personnel qualifications are detailed, including flight hours, certifications, and experience.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment 3 Self Service Copy Documents.xlsx", appears to be a detailed breakdown of training materials and publications required for various aviation courses, likely related to helicopter operations (TH-67, UH-72). It outlines the specific documents, their revisions, quantities, and formats (digital/hardcopy) needed for student and instructor guides across different training modules.

• Training Materials: Lists numerous flight training guides, task supplements, daily questions, checklists, operator supplements, and specialized manuals (e.g., AR 95-1, AFI, AFMAN).
• Aircraft Specifics: Mentions materials for TH-67 and UH-72 aircraft.
• Course Modules: Details requirements for Primary, Advanced, RWIFEC, RWIC, Advanced IFR, BWS, Academics, Safety, PIT, CEARF, CEARF-T, RWF, and SMAIT courses.
• Format & Quantity: Specifies whether materials are digital or hardcopy, the number of sheets/pages, revision numbers, and dates.
• Forms: Includes references to standard forms such as DA Form 5701-228-R and DD Form 175.

This attachment provides a comprehensive inventory of training documentation. Bidders may need to use this as a reference for understanding the scope of training services, the types of materials that need to be provided or managed, and the associated quantities. It is crucial for estimating the effort involved in producing, distributing, or managing these training publications as part of a larger contract.

Forms / Attachments / Pricing Sheets

This document is an Excel spreadsheet titled "Attachment 4 Regulation and Publications List.xlsx". It serves as a comprehensive list of federal, Department of Defense, Department of the Army, and Air Force regulations, publications, technical orders, and forms that may be relevant to the opportunity. It includes links to access many of these documents.

• Federal Regulations: Lists FAA, OSHA, and CFR regulations.
• Department of Defense Regulations: Includes DFARS, DOD Directives, and Manuals.
• Department of the Army Regulations: Encompasses Army Regulations (AR), Pamphlets (DA PAM), Field Manuals (FM), Training Circulars (TC), and Technical Manuals (TM) related to aviation, safety, information management, and facilities.
• Air Force Regulations: Includes Technical Orders (TO), Air Force Instructions (AFI), Air Force Handbooks (AFH), Air Education and Training Command Instructions (AETCI), and Air Force Manuals (AFMAN).
• Forms: Lists various DD Forms, DA Forms, TRADOC Forms, and USAACE Forms, many with direct links.
• USAACE Documents: Includes specific Program of Instruction (POI) and Courseware documents for aviation training.

This attachment is crucial for bidders to identify and obtain the specific regulations, standards, and forms that govern the performance of work under this opportunity. It provides direct links to many of these documents, facilitating compliance and proposal preparation. Bidders should review this list to ensure they understand and can meet all applicable regulatory and procedural requirements.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document, "Attachment 5," lists various flight training programs offered by the government. It appears to be a master course list that bidders may need to reference for understanding the scope of training services required for an opportunity.

The attachment is divided into three sections:

1. IERW Undergraduate Flight Training Program: Lists courses such as "IERW AVR (Comm Core) (UH-72A)" with associated Flight Training Guide/CMP and Program of Instruction dates.
2. Graduate Flight Training Program: Includes courses like "Senior IP / Instrument Flight Examiner (RW)" and "AQ (Aircraft Qualification/IP (Instructor Pilot) Transitition (UH-72A)", with their respective Flight Training Guide/CMP and Program of Instruction dates.
3. Air Force Flight Training Program: Details undergraduate helicopter training (UHT) and related courses (RWF, PIT, QUAL) for the TH-1H aircraft, as well as the Career Enlisted Aviator Rotary-Wing Fundamentals Course (CEARF) and TH-1H Special Mission Aviator Instructor Training (SMAIT), along with their version and program of instruction dates.

This list provides specific details on the types of flight training programs, aircraft, and associated documentation (like Flight Training Guides and Programs of Instruction) that may be part of the contract requirements. Bidders should review this list to understand the specific training capabilities and offerings that may be required for the opportunity.