This episode features a team that changed the way training systems and support were being competed in the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Simulators Program Office. Program Manager Jacob Kolb and Contracting Officer Dustin Tatum led the C-17 Training Systems acquisition team in its use of Federal Acquisition Regulation 16.5 Fair Opportunity Selection procedures for a program valued over $900 million. They discuss how they tailored their selection criteria for a best value decision and how they also cut down the acquisition timeline significantly by documenting that the team may do interchanges with one, some, none or all offers. They stress the importance of following your process, communicating with stakeholders, and of course – having fun!

Acronyms:

FMS – Foreign Military Sales

ASP – Acquisition Strategy Panel

KC-135 BOSS – Boom Operator Simulator System

TSA III – Training Systems Acquisition

MAC – Multiple Award Contract

IDIQ – Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity

AFMC – Air Force Materiel Command

EN – Evaluation Notice

IN – Interchange

PWS – Performance Work Statement

SOW – Statement of Work

AFLCMC – Air Force Life Cycle Management Center

I/ITSEC – Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference

ACE – Acquisition Center of Excellence

Air Force Materiel Command Guiding Principles for Fair Opportunity Selection:

https://www.dau.mil/cop/ace/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=/cop/ace/DAU%20Sponsored%20Documents/Fair%20Opportunity%20Guiding%20Principles%20AFMC%20v2.6%20Final.docx&action=default&DefaultItemOpen=1

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