I'm looking for more information on a recent request by the
USAAVNC, US Army Aviation Center, AKA Aviation Proponency for a
new Flight Records software solution to be designed.
I am primarily looking for more information on this recent software project.
I would also like,
1) the location that the army publishes requests for software style projects.
2) The status and bid prices of ongoing USAAVNC projects.
3) A list of upcoming USAAVNC projects.
4) The process used for a company to offer it's services or bid on a project. |
Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
24 Feb 2004 08:45 PST
Any of these look like possibilities?
--PRESOL Fixed Wing Flight Training and Flight Training Support
Services, Fort Rucker, Alabama | 19-Jan-03 - FBO#0413
--Flight School XXI (FSXXI) Simulation Services at United States Army
Aviation Center, Ft. Rucker, Alabama. Period of performance is 26
September 2003 thru 31 March 2023. | 28-Sep-03 - FBO#0670
--Engineering Development and Support for the Simulator Training
Research Advanced Testbed for Aviation (STRATA)Facility | 04-Jun-03 -
FBO#0552
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Clarification of Question by
inzzane-ga
on
24 Feb 2004 10:25 PST
The top one seems like it may be close.
--PRESOL Fixed Wing Flight Training and Flight Training Support
Services, Fort Rucker, Alabama | 19-Jan-03 - FBO#0413
For more clarification on the project, The specific project I am
looking for deals with replacing the current AFRS ("Automated flight
records System"), which deals with flight crews IFRF ("Individual
Flight Records Folders") and is used by Army Aviation Operations
Specialists ( whos job is classified in the army as MOS 15P ).
Hopefully this helps a little more.
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Clarification of Question by
inzzane-ga
on
24 Feb 2004 10:28 PST
The top one seems like it may be close.
--PRESOL Fixed Wing Flight Training and Flight Training Support
Services, Fort Rucker, Alabama | 19-Jan-03 - FBO#0413
For more clarification on the project, The specific project I am
looking for deals with replacing the current AFRS ("Automated flight
records System"), which deals with flight crews IFRF ("Individual
Flight Records Folders") and is used by Army Aviation Operations
Specialists ( whos job is classified in the army as MOS 15P ). It is
more of a database/data entry software that produces reports.
It will not deal with simulators in any way. (Mentioned because
simulators are a large part of USAAVNC)
Hopefully this helps a little more.
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Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
24 Feb 2004 11:29 PST
'Fraid I'm not seeing anything that even resembles the task you're
describing. Can you let me know a bit more about how/where you
learned of this request.
Was it a formal govenrment RFP?
Perhaps it is a contractor who has been on board for many years and is
now looking for a subcontractor?
Anything more you can add would be a big help.
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Clarification of Question by
inzzane-ga
on
24 Feb 2004 12:02 PST
OK, here is my situation. I have been designing a large software
program for sell to the military. Through sources in the USAAVNC that
"should" know, I have heard that they have currently have hired a
company to begin designing a system extremely similar to the one I
have already designed.
So I am looking for information on 1) where the RFP is, 2) the status
of it (still accepting bids, etc.) and 3) any bid amounts from the
other competition if available. Or even a good contact at the USAAVNC
that would deal with this area.
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Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
24 Feb 2004 19:18 PST
inzzane-ga,
Whew. I've been all over the RFP map on this one, and have just not
been able to come up with the activity you've described. The closest
I got was:
=====
Lear Siegler Services Inc., Annapolis, Md., is being awarded a
$28,317,496 (base year total) firm-fixed-price contract with a
cumulative total of $159,944,436 for rotary wing flight training and
flight training support services. The contractor shall conduct initial
entry and graduate rotary wing flight training and flight training
support services consisting of flight academics, flight simulator
training and actual aircraft flight training and shall provide all
management, administration, supervision, labor, equipment, tools,
materials and other items of services necessary to perform the work,
except what is specified in the contract as government furnished. Work
will be performed at Fort Rucker, Ala., and completion is expected by
Sept. 30, 2006 (if all options are exercised).
=====
It could well be that flight records software development is a subtask
on this (very substantial) contract, but I can't say for certain.
Best I can do at this point is offer to give you the ABC's of where to
go on the web and how to "fish" for information on both existing and
new RFP's. It would probably be a skill worth your taking the time to
develop, since you seem to be very interested in knowing what the
USAAVNC is up to in software development, and when and how and with
whom they are contracting out to get it done.
If you would like that sort of information posted as an answer to your
question, let me know, and I'll be happy to assist you.
pafalafa-ga
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Request for Question Clarification by
byrd-ga
on
24 Feb 2004 19:46 PST
Hi Inzzane,
My son, although technically an MOS 67T (UH-60 Helicopter
Repairer/Crew Chief) nevertheless was pressed into service for a year
or so (fairly recently) at Wheeler AAF in Hawaii, doing
computer-related stuff in the hangar, including the type of
record-keeping you're talking about. At one time he mentioned being
approached by a recruiter for some software company about a possible
job after his stint was up. He's gone in a different direction and so
never contacted that person, but I just emailed him to ask if he
recalled who it was they represented, and any other information he
might remember about the flight records software and procedures.
Don't know if he'll recall, or even if the information will be of any
use if he does, but just wanted to mention that I had a request out
there. Fingers crossed on a response.
Regards,
Byrd-ga
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Request for Question Clarification by
tutuzdad-ga
on
24 Feb 2004 19:59 PST
I didn't find anything related to the project you are referring to but
I did find someting quite surprising - I found the current Automated
Flight Records Program (AFRP) dated February 6, 2001 and also the
associated patches which can actually be downloaded via the web from
an official military source. It should be noted too that this appears
to be a current document stating that this particular version is "NEW"
and presumably anyone can download it and examine it if they wanted
to.
Would you like me to post this as an answer if no one can answer your
question about the project you are looking for? It won't provide you
with anything new about recent or upcoming projects but it may be very
enlightening in terms of what they are presently using.
Regards;
tutuzdad-ga
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Clarification of Question by
inzzane-ga
on
25 Feb 2004 01:21 PST
I have located the company that has this program in production if this
helps at all. Here's the link.
http://www.cobrocorp.com/afrs.html
tutuzdad. If this is not the AFRS version 4.2 then I am interested.
byrd. I believe the system your son worked on was the ULLS-A
(determined by the MOS) which does have similarities, but is not the
one we are looking for.
pafalafa. I am definitely interested in the How To approach as well.
Maybe you can come up with something now that I have then company link
above.
Thank you all.
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Clarification of Question by
inzzane-ga
on
25 Feb 2004 01:22 PST
I have located the company that has this program in production if this
helps at all. Here's the link.
http://www.cobrocorp.com/afrs.html
tutuzdad. If this is not for the AFRS version 4.2 then I am interested.
byrd. I believe the system your son worked on was the ULLS-A
(determined by the MOS) which does have similarities, but is not the
one we are looking for.
pafalafa. I am definitely interested in the How To approach as well.
Maybe you can come up with something now that I have then company link
above.
Thank you all.
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Clarification of Question by
inzzane-ga
on
25 Feb 2004 01:26 PST
I have located the company that has this program in production if this
helps at all. Here's the link.
http://www.cobrocorp.com/afrs.html
COBRO Division, Westar Aerospace & Defense Group
Attn: Human Resources
807 Donnell Blvd., Suite N
Daleville, Alabama 36322
tutuzdad. If this is not for the AFRS version 4.2 then I am interested.
byrd. I believe the system your son worked on was the ULLS-A
(determined by the MOS) which does have similarities, but is not the
one we are looking for.
pafalafa. I am definitely interested in the How To approach as well.
Maybe you can come up with something now that I have then company link
above.
Thank you all.
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Request for Question Clarification by
tutuzdad-ga
on
25 Feb 2004 07:16 PST
It is V4.2 (V42759 to be more precise) but it also provides access to:
Two V4.2 patch files (1.25mb and 1.7kb respectively)
AFRP V4.2 FAQ
and V42759 itself
Just let me know if these are of interest.
tutuzdad-ga
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Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
25 Feb 2004 09:05 PST
I suspect that the situation is this: Cobro/Westar does not have a
contract with USAAVNC. Instead, either the Army or one of the other
contract holders has purchased the rights to COBRO's software, and
uses it in the context of automatic management of the flight records.
Such an "off the shelf" procurement might not necessarily show up in
contract offerings/contract management databases.
You can see a similar arrangement in use in a contract between DynCorp
and the US State Dept:
http://www.ciponline.org/colombia/052305.htm
where DynCorp manages the AFRS using Cobro software supplied by the government:
"F. Existing hardware will be provided as GFP (see Section C, Exhibit
II). Rights to use the Advanced Maintenance System, version 6 (AMMS6)
application, by MicroWest Software Systems, Inc. have been purchased
by the Government and will be provided as GFP. The program has been
customized to provide specific data needs. Also in use is the Logbook
Automation System (LAS), by COBRO Corporation, customized for specific
needs. The Logbook Automation System software (both original and
customized version) will be provided as GFP. However, the source code
for this software is not owned by the Government. Additional hardware
and/or software required for the CMDRS shall be provided by the
Contractor."
==========
Once again, I think the best I can do here is to offer some general
instruction on how to conduct a thorough search for RFP/contract
information.
Tutuzdad has also offered to supply some information about existing software.
Let us know if you would like one or the other of us to provide the
information we have offered as an answer to your question.
Thanks.
pafalafa-ga
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Clarification of Question by
inzzane-ga
on
25 Feb 2004 12:54 PST
Apologies for the delay.
tutuzdad. Thank you for your efforts, but the site you have found is
the version 4.2 for the 759 program we are attempting to replace.
pafalafa. Please submit the How To's as the answer, as I believe you
hit the spot with your last link. I will have to review it, but the
AFRS system that I am searching for information on, is likely a part
of the LAS deal mentioned in your link. I dont quite understand how
these "off the shelf" deals work, but will try to figure them out.
Thank you.
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Request for Question Clarification by
byrd-ga
on
25 Feb 2004 13:14 PST
Hello Inzzane-ga,
My apologies for not getting back to you sooner. I had an obligation
earlier today and have only now returned here to see your
clarifications. I did receive word from my son. Yes, you're right -
the system he used was the ULLS-A, but he had some other information
to share that might possibly be of use/interest to you. So I'm going
to go ahead and just paste what he said, and then give you a link to
the place he recommended:
"...the comapny was called COBRO. Their job was to electronically file
aircrafts' paper records (both maintenence and historical)
electronically and to check for accuracy in how they were written, and
make sure any errors were corrected. At the time I ran the reporting
system, I was using a system called Unit Level Logistics System for
Aviation. That is an old DOS-based program used Army-wide through
several levels such as ground maintenence, supply, and other
logistics. The only Windows interface I had with the program was
through the network server.
I DID hear talks about a new Windows-based reporting and electronic
storage system (I can't remember the name), but from what I
understand, it had been presented to the Army and was just an idea on
the table. Hope that helps! Oh, and anything this guy needs to sell to
the army, his best bet I would think would be to address AMCOM first
becore the actual Department of the army. AMCOM is aviation and missle
command...that department is involved with EVERYTHING."
Since Pafalafa-ga has already given you a couple of links to the COBRO
website, I'll just give you this one - to the AMCOM acquisitions
center: https://wwwproc.redstone.army.mil/acquisition/
And here's an additional link to another pages on the site, a search
page for recently awarded contracts:
https://wwwproc.redstone.army.mil/acquisition/contract_search.html
And this is the U.S. Government procurement technical assistance
center. Scroll down about 1/3 of the way for Army info:
http://www.paptacs.com/buying.htm
Please let me know if this information is helpful to you.
Regards,
Byrd-ga
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Request for Question Clarification by
byrd-ga
on
27 Feb 2004 04:12 PST
Hello Inzzane,
I just wanted to let you know that I will be out of touch for most of
today (Friday), but will check your question this evening or tomorrow
morning to see if you've decided yet whether any of the offered
clarifications meet your needs. I believe you'd asked pafalafa-ga to
post his information in the answer box, but I think that since that
was before I'd posted the other possible info and links for you, he is
also waiting to see whether or not those might better suit your needs.
Either way, as soon as you let us know, either he or I will be happy
to post the suggested information in answer to your question, or
continue to search if you think you need more. Thanks for the
clarification.
Cheers,
Byrd-ga
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Clarification of Question by
inzzane-ga
on
27 Feb 2004 10:47 PST
My apologies on the delay. I will review these links and information,
and will let you know tomorrow. Thank you,
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Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
27 Feb 2004 10:56 PST
Hello inzzane (and, for that matter, Hello byrd-ga),
Byrd-ga is right. I've been holding off answering your question since
there was new, and very relevant, information posted that may be of
interest to you.
In fact, byrd-ga's posting has helped me to better understand the lay
of the land on all this, and to track down some additional information
on contracts related to flight records and the like.
Take your time, and when you've reviewed all the info thus far, let us
know how you would like us to proceed.
pafalafa-ga
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Clarification of Question by
inzzane-ga
on
28 Feb 2004 09:45 PST
See..here it happens again. I expect a bunch of bad replies, and one
good one that would make it easy to choose, but I get multiple good
replies and have to decide between 2 excellent researchers. Why cant
it ever be easy? ;)
Thank you all for all of the interest on this thread. There have been
some VERY good replies that have left me even more interested than
before, and I have learned a lot from your posts. But alas, I must
choose one. I'd like to see byrd-ga's answer for my questions, as I
believe he may have slightly more experience with the USAAVNC area.
Thank you pafalafa for your interest in this, as both were very
interesting and relevant to the question.
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