Advance Contract Award Notice:
Provision of Remote Pilot Operators Support Services for the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Control Operations
1. Advance Contract Award Notice (ACAN)
An ACAN is a public notice indicating to the supplier community that a department or agency intends to award a contract for goods, services, or construction to a pre-identified supplier, thereby allowing other suppliers to signal their interest in bidding, by submitting a statement of capabilities.
If no supplier submits a statement of capabilities that meets the requirements set out in the ACAN, on or before the closing date stated in the ACAN, the contracting officer may then proceed with the award to the pre-identified supplier.
2. Definition of the requirement
The Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Air Force (CAF) requires a Contractor to provide Remote Pilot Operators (RPO) services for the Visual Flight Rules (VFR) simulation suites located at the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Control Operations (CFSACO) in Cornwall, Ontario. The RPOs assist with the training of Aerospace Controllers (AEC) students and Aerospace Control Operators (AC Ops) students by using the proprietary software programs provided by UFA Incorporated’s called ATTOWER Simulator, ATTowerLite and ATLIVE. The RPO uses the ATTOWER Simulator to deliver life-like simulation-based scenarios which are commonly encountered at Air Traffic Control Towers at military airport bases across Canada. The ATTOWERLite proprietary software program is used by CFSACO students for after-hours training which the RPO administers the training to CFSACO students on how to use the software. The ATLIVE proprietary software tool is used by CFSACO instructors and students. The RPO are required to provide technical expertise on ATTOWERLite and ATLIVE to train the instructors and the students on how to use this software.
Remote Pilot Operators have two main responsibilities. First, the RPOs must follow realistic air traffic control scenarios and the subsequent execution of control instructions in VFR, Ground and Flight Advisory simulations. To do this, the RPO must manually input control instructions into the ATTOWER graphic user interface which results in simulated air and ground traffic. Second, the RPO must verbally respond to the control instructions as a simulated Pilot, Terminal Controller, or vehicle. Throughout the simulations, the RPO will make verbal requests to the Controllers to accomplish the simulation training goals.
Secondary responsibilities of RPO’s include supporting ATTOWERLite and ATLIVE by training instructors and students on how to operate ATTOWERLite and ATLIVE. The RPOs must also configure both systems for use to meet CFSACO’s daily training requirements.
To accomplish this, CFSACO requires up to four (4) RPO at the Basic Skill Level and one (1) RPO Specialist at the Advanced Skill Level. These services will be required on an "as-and-when-requested".
3. Criteria for Assessment of the Statement of Capabilities (Minimum Essential Requirements)
Any interested supplier must demonstrate by way of a Statement of Capabilities that it meets the following requirements:
3.1 Provide four (4) RPO Specialists working at a Basic Skill Level who must use the ATTOWER, ATTOWERLite and ATLIVE proprietary software to perform the following activities:
a. Generate or amend realistic air traffic control scenarios which may include military aircraft, civilian aircraft, different weather patterns, various times of day, wildlife (birds, deer, or similarly sized animals) and vehicles on the taxiways;
b. Validate generated or amended scenarios ensuring they meet training goals;
c. Execute air traffic control instructions in VFR, Ground and Flight Advisory simulations.
d. Operate display/keyboard/Voice Communication to simulate the actions and communication of pilots and remote air traffic control facilities during training exercises;
e. During simulation exercises verbally initiate or respond to voice prompts from students, input proper entries into the system to simulate pilot actions, translate displayed information into appropriate ATC terminology, and respond to the student utilizing proper phraseology;
f. During simulation exercises use proper Air Traffic Radio/Telephony including use of a simulated Voice Communication Software (VCS);
g. Operate the simulator pseudo pilot position;
h. During simulation exercises employ knowledge of aircraft and vehicle operations, navigation and performance in an ATC controlled environment for both VFR and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) procedures and civil and military operations to create realistic training scenarios.
i. As required, train instructors and students on how to utilize ATTOWERLite and ATLIVE.
j. Configure ATTOWER, ATTOWERLite and ATLIVE for training session use
k. Troubleshoot minor configuration issues with ATTOWER, ATTOWERLite and ATLIVE.
3.2 Provide one (1) RPO Specialists working at an Advanced Skill Level who must:
a. Perform all the tasks of the RPO Specialist – Basic Skill Level.
b. Code and validate the ATTOWER, ATTOWERLite and ATLIVE simulator databases and simulations;
c. Perform configuration management of the edits performed to the simulator database; and
d. Provide technical support in the ATTOWER, ATTOWERLite and ATLIVE simulator and its graphic user interface.
3.3 Provide RPO Specialists who must meet the following education and experience:
a. Minimum Education – High School Diploma
b. Completed UFA Incorporated’s ATTOWER ACADEMY; and
c. Have demonstrated experience in air traffic control pertaining to advanced military VFR and IFR flight operations and procedures.
3.4 Provide RPO Specialists who must demonstrate that they have a complete understanding of basic to advanced military and civilian aviation operations and how it pertains to military air traffic control.
3.5 Provide RPO Specialists who must demonstrate that they can fulfill all RPO requirements in ATTOWER, ATTOWERLite and ATLIVE with a work rate commensurate to meet CFSACO’s training needs from basic to advanced training levels.
3.6 Constraints
3.6.1 Work location
The Contractor must provide RPO services at CFSACO which is located in Cornwall, ON.
4. Applicability of the trade agreement(s) to the procurement
This requirement is subject to the provision of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA), Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA), Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CCoFTA), Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement (CHFTA), Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA), Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement (CPaFTA), Canada-United Kingdom Free Trade Continuity Agreement (Canada-UK TCA), and the World Trade Organization Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO-AGP).
5. Justification for the Pre-Identified Supplier
UFA incorporated is the only known firm that offers ATTOWER ACADEMY, ATTOWER equipment, ATTOWERLite, ATLIVE and supporting ancillary training support systems for CFSACO.
6. Government Contracts Regulations Exception
The following exception to the Government Contracts Regulations is invoked for this procurement under subsection 6(d) "only one person or firm is capable of performing the work".
7. Ownership of Intellectual Property (IP)
The Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the ATTOWER, ATTOWERLite, ATLIVE software suite is UFA Inc are the owners and developers of the software/hardware on the system currently in use.Additionally, all RPO’s employed by UFA Inc attend ATTOWER ACADEMY which is a bespoke course focused on the ATTOWER suite and graphic user interface all of which reside within UFA Inc IP and as such would not be available from any other competitor.
8. Period of the Proposed Contract
The period of the proposed contract is from 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2026.
9. Option to extend the Contract Period
The proposed contract will have the option to extend the term of the contract by three (3) years, one year at a time, under the same terms and conditions.
10. Estimated Cost of the Proposed Contract
The estimated all-inclusive value of the Contract, including option periods is approximately
$5,000,000.00 including applicable taxes.
11. Name and address of the pre-identified supplier
UFA Inc.
Suite 220, 12 South Summit Avenue
Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
208777
12. Suppliers' right to submit a statement of capabilities
Suppliers who consider themselves fully qualified and available to provide the goods, services or construction services described in the ACAN may submit a statement of capabilities in writing to the contact person identified in this notice on or before the closing date of this notice. The statement of capabilities must clearly demonstrate how the supplier meets the advertised requirements.
13. Closing date for a submission of a statement of capabilities
The closing date and time for accepting statements of capabilities is 19 July 2024, 14:00 EDT.
14. Inquiries and submission of statements of capabilities Inquiries and statements of capabilities are to be directed to:
Monique Thompson, DAP 2-3-3
Senior Materiel Acquisition and Support
Directorate of Aerospace Procurement (DAP)
Department of National Defence
Email: DapServicesBidReceiving-DoaServicesReceptionDesSoumissions@forces.gc.ca
