IDEAS FOR TRAINING IN A JOINT SYNTHETIC BATTLESPACE POC William L. Curtice, (513) 255-2885, ext 235/Contracting Officer, Kenneth J. Lang, (513) 255-2826, ext 442. CBD SPECIAL NOTICES: ALL DEFENSE INDUSTRY: CALL FOR IDEAS TO SUPPORT A REVOLUTION IN USAF TRAINING. The Chief of Staff, USAF (CSAF) has directed all AF commands to analyze our capability to support a revolutionary move toward the goal of training in a Joint Synthetic Battlespace as envisioned by the Four Star Summit on Modeling and Simulation (M&S). Air Force Materiel Command, in partnership with its support commands, is developing a response to the CSAF covering implementation of revolutionary training concepts with integrated solutions and equally revolutionary changes in business practices to support this goal. Recent major changes in DOD acquisition policy allowing much greater flexibility for acquisition agencies need to be put to the test. AFMC wants your inputs on any and all subjects related to the Revolutionizing Training Initiative. A STRAWMAN VISION OF REVOLUTIONARY TRAINING: The need to train in increasingly complex environments continues to grow with proliferation of advanced weapons technology while increased cost and expanding real world constraints of live training exercises limit their effectiveness. Expanded M&S capabilities in distributed environments will enhance training and reduce costs while increasing realism and effectiveness of training. Warfighters and Maintainers of the future will prepare for war in an Integrated Operations Environment (IOE) merging real world and synthetic operations to support all aspects of training, weapons system development, tactical strategies and analysis, Joint theater level operations, mission planning, mission rehearsal, and more. We need your inputs and responses to implementing an IOE which will overcome the constraints of real world limitations while preparing our warfighters. SYNOPSIS OF A STRAWMAN REVOLUTIONARY AFMC BUSINESS MODEL: Revolutionizing training requires major changes in our business model, away from fixed requirements and stable technology assumptions, to a model based on rapidly evolving requirements and technology. This business model envisions direct user involvement in an evolutionary development approach. Integrated Product Teams (IPTs) of warfighters, developers, planners, buyers, logisticians, and industry will create the IOE through collaborative efforts to integrate all systems and devices which support it. Development will be structured to deliver a family of systems leading to the end vision. Acquisition organizations will exploit new business approaches to provide the warfighter flexibility as the IOE is developed, fielded, tested, and expanded. The Training Systems Product Group (TSPG) is leading the AFMC team in preparing the AFMC response to subject CSAF tasking. To accomplish this goal, we are soliciting inputs throughout AFMC and INDUSTRY to draft a plan to develop an integrated solution that results in the creation of the capability described above. This voluntary solicitation invites industry input to and influence over the outcome of this important initiative. QUESTIONS FOR INDUSTRY: 1. Do you agree with the above strawman vision of Revolutionizing Training supported by an integrated operations environment? What would you change based on developing technologies? 2. What business model characteristics, features, or approaches do you recommend acquisition agencies incorporate to support the user market we serve? 3. How can the Government/Industry team best leverage simulator technology (database, devices, networks, environments, etc.) to meet user requirements and provide an IOE capability? 4. What are the challenges that could impede the achievement of the IOE? What advances in technology or changes in business practices are required to overcome these obstacles? 5. What technologies and developments are you involved in that will contribute to the development of the training vision and IOE? 6. What future role do you see for your company as we aggressively move into this new training environment? 7. What organizational changes or structure do you believe will be required to optimally achieve the Revolution in Training concept? 8. Any other comments or contributions? THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTEND TO AWARD ANY CONTRACT ON THE BASIS OF THIS NOTICE. PARTICIPATION IS TOTALLY VOLUNTARY AND WILL BE UNCOMPENSATED. NOTE: We will assume that any materials not specifically marked as proprietary or competition sensitive are open for public discussion and releasable in various public forums. If you wish to send in materiel that you consider proprietary or competition sensitive, please mark it clearly and we will handle it appropriately. RESPONSES AND POINTS OF CONTACT: The AFMC POC is William L. Curtice, ASC/YWE, (513) 255-2885 ext 235. Questions can also be directed to Lt Col Don Poe (ext 237), Maj Dan Narigon (ext 243) or Alan Russell (ext 245). Please E-Mail responses to YWETA@asc-yw.wpafb.af.mil. Responses received by 10 Aug will be used for building the preliminary report. Documents may also be submitted via our web page at ``tspg.wpafb.af.mil'' by selecting the ``Revolutionizing Training in the Air Force'' program. Industry can also make inputs through any participating IPTs. If E-Mail or a participating IPT is not an option, fax your inputs to (513) 476-4651. An Ombudsman has been established for this acquisition. The only purpose of the Ombudsman is to receive and communicate serious concerns from potential offerors when an offeror prefers not to use established channels to communicate his/her concern during the proposal development phase of this acquisition. Potential offerors should use established channels to request information, pose questions, and voice concerns before resorting to use of the Ombudsman. Potential offerors are invited to contact ASC's Ombudsman, Mr Daniel Kugel, ASC/SY, Bldg 52, 2475 K Street, Suite 1, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7642, at (513) 255-3855, with serious concerns only.

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