The US Air Force is preparing to award contracts to operate and update some of its aircrew training systems. Competitions are under way to provide training services and systems for the Boeing B-1B and C-17, as well as Lockheed Martin C-5 and C-130 programmes.
The C-5 competition is to take over the provision of aircrew training services. The winner of the C-17 competition, meanwhile, will provide additional simulators as well as training services. The B-1B contract is to modify and maintain the existing devices.
All three contracts are to be awarded under the Air Force's Training Systems Acquistion (TSA) programme, which is intended to streamline procurement by limiting competition to prequalified bidders, namely Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Systems, plus small businesses Camber and Intelx.
Recompetition of the C-130 contract, performed by Raytheon for the past 11 years, will not come under the TSA umbrella when it gets under way early next year, industry believes. The contract will include upgrading of the USAF's C-130 simulators to commercial Level C standard.
Source: Flight International
