SOURCES SOUGHT _ REQUEST FOR INFORMATION Synthetic Training Environment (STE) Virtual Collective Training Software (VCTS) Solution

DEPT OF DEFENSE

Notice type
Sources Sought
Solicitation #
VCTS
Posted
June 17, 2026
Response due
June 25, 2026
Place of performance
Orlando, FL

What this opportunity is

The Department of Defense is conducting a Sources Sought notice to gather information on existing or near-mature software solutions for the Synthetic Training Environment (STE) Virtual Collective Training Software (VCTS). This effort is aimed at identifying Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) and Government-Off-The-Shelf (GOTS) solutions that can integrate with current training hardware. This opportunity is suitable for small businesses with capabilities in software development and integration, particularly those with products at or near Training Readiness Level 8. Note that this is an RFI for market research, not a solicitation for proposals, so interested vendors should focus on providing information rather than submitting bids.

Analysis by Mindy, grounded in the SAM.gov notice.

Description

Request for Information (RFI) for Synthetic Training Environment (STE) Virtual Collective Training Software (VCTS) Solution 1. PURPOSE This announcement constitutes an RFI notice for planning purposes. This is NOT a Request for Solution (RFS). No solicitation documents exist at this time. The Army is conducting market research to identify existing, mature, or near-mature software capabilities that could support or evolve into a unified Virtual Collective Training Software Solution for battalion-and-below training within the Synthetic Training Environment. Please NOTE, this VCTS effort is a new effort name and was previously identified as the Training Simulation Software & Training Management Tool (TSS/TMT) effort, targeted for RFS posting in 3QFY26. This RFI seeks information to: • Understand current Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS), Government-Off-The-Shelf (GOTS), and hybrid solutions that can interface with, drive, or integrate alongside current RVCT hardware and associated virtual training peripherals, to deliver a unified virtual training environment • Identify technical maturity (with an objective preference for Training Readiness Level (TRL) 8 or near-TRL 8 solutions), integration feasibility, scalability, and the vendor’s production and procurement capability to support fielding and sustainment • Validate, refine, and assess the feasibility of the Army’s requirements and underlying assumptions before release of a formal RFS This RFI does not constitute a request for proposal and does not commit the Government to any acquisition. 2. BACKGROUND The STE is the Army’s modernization effort intended to evolve into a single, interconnected training architecture that will enable units from Soldier/Squad through Army Service Component Command (ASCC) to train across live, virtual, constructive, and gaming environments. While the components of STE exist today as independent or partially integrated capabilities, Capability Program Executive Simulation, Training, Test & Threat (CPE ST3) is working toward greater technical convergence among these systems in future increments. • Next Generation Constructive (NGC): capability that delivers constructive simulation for the Brigade level and above. • One World Terrain (OWT): capability that provides a 3D global terrain capability and associated information services to replicate the physical and operational environment. • Reconfigurable Virtual Collective Trainer (RVCT): software-agnostic hardware system that provides immersive, platform-specific virtual training for ground and aviation crews and serves as the primary hardware baseline that virtual training software must drive or integrate with. • Training Simulation Software (TSS): software capability that drives the RVCT hardware for high fidelity virtual simulation. • Training Management Tool (TMT): software capability that provides exercise Plan, Prepare, Execute, and Assess (PPEA) application and User Interface (UI) to serve as a common enterprise tool for RVCT scenario building and initialization. This capability also provides constructive collective training for battalion-level and below. • Games for Training (GFT): capability that provides a virtual desktop gaming environment for combined arms tactical training that allows user-generated content to rapidly modify or build mission environments for experimentation and mission rehearsal The modernization of the Army's virtual training environment is at a critical juncture. The Army requires a mature, stable software solution capable of driving the RVCT (Ground and Air variants) and supporting current and future virtual training concepts. Past development efforts have highlighted the need for improved system stability, entity scalability, and rapid integration of emerging requirements and capabilities (e.g., drone integration, complex air-to-ground integration, new platforms). To close training capability gaps and maintain readiness, the Army is expanding its acquisition approach to the Virtual Training Environment. Where the current virtual training solution has relied largely on GOTS software architecture with some COTS components, this RFI seeks to identify existing GOTS, COTS, or hybrid solutions that may be incorporated into the virtual training environment, provided they can drive, or integrate with, RVCT hardware, modified RVCT hardware, and other user-desired virtual training capabilities and peripherals to deliver a unified virtual training environment for battalion-and-below. For this effort, battalion-and-below collective training is defined as the integration of battalion-level constructive command and control and Command Post Exercise (CPX) style functions with immersive, company and platoon level virtual collective training executed in RVCT or with other virtual peripherals. While battalion-level constructive effects provide operational context and staff interaction, company and platoon level training remains the priority for virtual collective training. 3. AREAS OF INTEREST FOR MARKET RESEARCH Respondents should address any applicable areas below, at a high, descriptive level. 1. Current Capabilities and Product Maturity a. What existing virtual simulation or training products does your organization provide that could support battalion-and-below collective training, with particular emphasis on near-term company- and platoon-level virtual collective training priorities, and battalion-level constructive integration in the longer term? b. What level of technical maturity (TRL 8, or near-TRL 8 objective) and fielded use cases can you share? 2. Architecture and Integration Approaches a. Describe your product’s technical architecture, particularly as it relates to modular design principles, open and standards-based interfaces (e.g., Distributive Interactive Simulation (DIS), High Level Architecture (HLA), Future Airborne Capability En

Source: SAM.gov, as posted. Verify the current solicitation before responding.

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