Market Research for Specialized Flight Test and Evaluation Training Services

1. Purpose

The Department of War (DoW) is conducting market research to identify interested and capable businesses that can provide test pilot training in support of the US Air Force Security Assistance Training (AFSAT) squadron.

This Sources Sought Notice is issued for market research and planning purposes only. It does not constitute a solicitation, request for proposal, request for quote, commitment by the Government, or promise to issue a solicitation in the future. The Government will not reimburse any costs associated with preparation or submission of a response.

Responses will be used to assess market capability, commercial availability, acquisition alternatives, and the availability of small-business concerns capable of performing the anticipated requirement as a prime contractor.

2. Anticipated Requirement and Preliminary Training Demand

The Government is seeking information from firms capable of providing flight-training services that may include:

• Flight instruction for test pilot training
• Ground-school instruction and courseware;
• Instructor pilots and, if applicable, simulator instructors;
• Aircraft, simulators, training devices, facilities, equipment, and associated support;
• Student scheduling, training administration, and records management;
• Evaluation, qualification, proficiency, or recurrent-training events;
• Safety management, quality assurance, and accident/incident reporting processes;
• Training status, student performance, and completion reporting; and
• Other associated services that are necessary to deliver the required training outcomes.

3. Required Course Offerings and Course-Specific Response Requirements

Interested parties must demonstrate the capability to provide the entirety of the following courses and specialized curricula:

Category

Course Title

Duration / Certification

Professional

Traditional Professional Course (NATO STANAG 4578 / SETP-Compliant Flight Test Qualification; EASA Part-FCL.820 Approved Category 1 (Lead Flight Test) and Category 2 Flight Test Rating Training via an authorized EASA Approved Training Organization (ATO))

50 Weeks

Professional

Standard EASA Cat 1 Certified

31 Weeks

Professional

Traditional EASA Category 2 Course

20 Weeks

Professional

Performance and Flying Qualities Professional Course

26 Weeks

Professional

System Professional Course

26 Weeks

Unmanned Systems

UAV Systems Testing

Specialized

Short & Specialized

Pre-TPS Course

Short Course

Short & Specialized

Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) and Night Vision Goggle (NVG) Testing

Short Course

Short & Specialized

Introduction to Systems Testing

Short Course

Short & Specialized

Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) Course

Short Course

Short & Specialized

EASA Approved Training Organization Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT)

Short Course

Short & Specialized

Spin Training Course

Short Course

Short & Specialized

Crew Resource Management for Flight Testers

Short Course

4. Anticipated Mandatory Institutional Accreditations, Approvals, and Credentials

The Government anticipates that a future solicitation may require the successful contractor to maintain the following institutional accreditations, approvals, and credentials. Respondents shall provide verifiable documentation of their current status, including the issuing organization, approval/accreditation number where applicable, scope, effective date, expiration date, and any pending renewal or limitation.  Mandatory accreditations may be satisfied by the prime contractor, a joint venture partner, or a designated and formal subcontractor/teaming partner at time of proposal submission/prior to contract performance.

4.1 Collegiate Accreditation

Accreditation as a degree-granting institution by an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, such as the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), or another recognized accrediting agency.

4.2 Engineering-Program Accreditation

Accreditation by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) for a relevant Master of Science program.

Response requested: Identify the applicable graduate program, ABET-accreditation status, and relationship of that program to the flight-test curriculum.

4.3 European Union Aviation Safety Agency Approval

Status as a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Approved Training Organization (ATO) approved to provide flight-test training for issuance of EASA Category 1 and Category 2 flight-test ratings, as applicable to the proposed courses.

Response requested: Provide the ATO approval and scope of privileges and identify the specific courses that support EASA Category 1 and/or Category 2 flight-test ratings. EASA rules describe the authority of approved training organizations to provide training for Category 1 or 2 flight-test ratings, with potential extension for other flight-test categories and personnel under specified conditions. 

4.4 Federal Aviation Administration Air Agency Certificate

An active Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Agency Certificate under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Part 141 - Pilot Schools, including the applicable approval for pilot special preparation under Appendix K.

Response requested: Provide the certificate number, current status, applicable approved courses, and any limitations relevant to the anticipated requirement.

Preliminary training demand:

• Estimated students annually: 10-15
• Estimated classes/training iterations annually: 10
• Estimated flight hours, sorties, simulator hours, or other workload metric: Integrated live-fly, variable-stability, and synthetic simulation environment
• Anticipated period of performance: 5 years
• Anticipated start date: 1 Oct 2027

All quantities and dates are estimates for market research purposes and may change.

For each course, respondents shall provide:

• A course description and current syllabus or curriculum summary;
• The basis for any stated certification, rating, or credential awarded upon course completion;
• Course duration, format, location, and maximum student capacity;
• Instructor qualifications and available aircraft, simulators, test assets, laboratories, and other instructional resources;
• Any prerequisites, minimum student qualifications, medical requirements, or flight-hour requirements;
• The number of times the course has been delivered within the preceding [insert timeframe]; and
• Any limitations, lead times, or dependencies affecting ability to provide the course.

5. Capability Statement Content

Interested firms should submit a capability statement of no more than 10 pages, excluding cover page and attachments. The capability statement should include:

Company information

Legal business name

UEI and CAGE code

Business address

Website, if available

Primary business point of contact, using business contact information

Proposed NAICS code(s)

Business size and socioeconomic status under the proposed NAICS code

Technical Capability and Past Performance
Provide the course-specific capability information required by Section 3 and the accreditation, approval, and credential documentation required by Section 4. In addition, provide up to 3 examples of recent (last 3 years) and relevant (proven track record of similar work that demonstrates ability to deliver specified courses and services and possesses required accreditations) past performance including customer type, period of performance, scope, training volume, and complexity.

Acquisition and Market Feedback
Address whether the requirement is commercially available without material modification; recommended contract or ordering structure; principal cost, schedule, mobilization, and performance risks; and recommended outcome-based performance measures.

Teaming and Subcontracting
Identify whether the firm intends to perform as a prime contractor, subcontractor, or teaming partner, and identify the discrete functions it can perform.

Structure capability submissions into functional tracks (e.g.)

- Track A: Comprehensive Graduate TPS Curriculum (Fixed/Rotary Wing)
- Track B: Unmanned / RPA Flight Test Systems
- Track C: Modular Short Courses & Specialized Aviation Safety

6. Questions for Industry

The Government requests responses to the following questions:

1. Can the full course portfolio and credential requirements be performed by a single prime contractor? If not, identify logical functional groupings or teaming arrangements.
2. Is the anticipated requirement commercially available without material modification?
3. What requirement features may unnecessarily restrict competition?
4. What changes would improve the viability of small-business prime or subcontractor participation?
5. Are there material regulatory, safety, airfield-access, insurance, staffing, or supply-chain risks the Government should consider in refining the requirement?

7. Submission Instructions

Submission Method: Submit responses electronically to the designated Government response mailbox or other approved method identified in this notice.
Subject Line: “Sources Sought Response – Flight Training Services – FA300226R0099”
Response Deadline: 04 October 2026, 12:00 p.m., CDT
Questions Deadline: 17 September 2026, 12:00 p.m., CDT

338 ESS/PKBB POC and Email addresses:

Contracting Officer - Micael Jiggets: micael.jiggetts.1@us.af.mil

Contracting Officer/Specialist - Johanna Parrish:  johanna.parrish@us.af.mil 

Contracting Specialist Caroline Stouffer: caroline.stouffer.1@us.af.mil

8. Important Notice

This notice is solely for market research. The Government is not seeking proposals, quotations, or binding offers at this time. A response to this notice is not required for participation in any future solicitation. The Government may use information received to refine the requirement, determine acquisition strategy, evaluate small-business capability, and decide whether to issue a future solicitation.