BidLink Defense Industry News

Portable Exothermic Cutting Unit (PECU) Kit NSN 4240-01-272-3841

The Portable Exothermic Cutting Unit (PECU) Kit is used on many U.S. Naval ships to perform maintenance operations. It’s an exothermic torch, a cutting torch, used to cut through thick metals on ships.   The PECU is ignited when oxygen passes through an expendable cutting rod, a spark is generated from a battery powered igniter. One of the NSNs for Portable Exothermic Cutting Units is 4240-01-272-3841.

Each Portable Exothermic Cutting Unit kit comes with a variety of complimentary items such as Cutting Electrodes NSN 3439-01-325-7641, Welders Gloves NSN 8415-00-268-7860, Welders Helmets NSN 4240-01-645-9397.  This specific welding helmet includes a full facepiece that can be used with either Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) respirators, Supplied Air or Air-Purifying Respirators (APRs).

An open government solicitation was posted yesterday for the specific model of Welders Helmet NSN 4240-01-645-9397, part number 805438-08, 3M Scott Weld-O-Vista Facepiece.

To see this specific solicitation, search on the NSN  4240-01-645-9397

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The U.S. Military buys a variety of Flashlights, Headlamps and Helmet Lights for all sorts of purposes and lots of them.

When searching for open government solicitations, knowing (or figuring out) the specific name of “what the military calls it” can sometimes be tricky.  In this specific solicitation they reference the item as a “Flashlight” with NSN being 6230-01-603-7205.  

This solicitation specifically asks for ones manufactured by two well-known companies Streamlight or Princeton Tec.  They will accept products manufactured by either company.

Depending on the person or company selling these items may refer to it by either name Flashlight, Headlamp or Helmet Light, well the Military calls it a “Flashlight”.  When searching for open government solicitations this is important because if you search on the wrong word Headlamp or Helmet Light you’d miss this $200,000 solicitation for Headlamps or Helmet Lights.  They plan on buying a quantity of 2,595 ea.

Streamlights CAGE code is 56654 and Princeton Tec. CAGE is 9X319.  The referenced part numbers, UPCs are 080926-14510-8, item # 14510 or Princeton Tec. GHOST-MPLS-MC. With the manufacturers calling them Streamlight Sidewinder Compact II Military light, or Princeton Tec. Ghost X MPLS tactical headlamp.

The Lighting division of DLA Troop Support is the buying office.

When searching for open government solicitations capturing everything you wish to see, be sure to set up your searches using every combination of potential words and or FSC’s or talk to your procurement search expert.  To see this specific solicitation, search on the NSN 6230-01-603-7205.

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New Navy Ship, The Landing Ship Medium (LSM)

The Navy Marine Corps team celebrates a 2.6 Billion Dollar government contract awarded to build new Medium Landing Ships for the Marine Expeditionary Forces.

The Navy Portfolio Acquisition Executive Maritime (PAE Maritime) team used a non-traditional contracting method by creating a Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) Request for Proposal (RFP) to oversee the acquisition of the new Medium Landing Ship (LSM).  Typically government contracts of this size take around 8 months to go from RFP to contract award, this one took 5 months.

Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) awarded the prime contract for the Medium Landing Ship (LSM) Vessel Construction to TOTE Services LLC of Jacksonville, Florida CAGE code 0B1X4.  The contract award is N00024-26-C-2421, it was solicited under the solicitation N00024-26-R-2421

The initial production will include building up to eight LSMs.  This VCM contract will be directed by the Navy giving TOTE Services the ability to execute and manage subcontracts with Bollinger Shipyards CAGE code 64513 for construction of one LSM and Fincantieri Marinette Marine CAGE code 0VP52 construction of four LSMs. TOTE Services LLC the Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) has the flexibility to determine the best award strategy for up to three additional vessels.

Medium Landing Ship (LSM) Program

The Medium Landing Ship (LSM) Program was previously known as the Light Amphibious Warship (LAW) program and is to include procuring between 18 to 35 ships.

These new amphibious ships are to support the Marine Corps.  The Medium Landing Ship to be used by Marine Expeditionary Forces I MEF and III MEF.  It will provide Marine forces the critical intra-theater littoral mobility required in contested environments such as the First Island Chains forward-stationed in Japan.

First and Second Island Chains

The first LSM ship is anticipated for delivery fall of 2029.

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An Aircraft Life Preserver Vest being tested NSN 4220-01-113-8665

The Military buys these commercial style Aircraft Life Preservers all the time.

DLA Troop Support Construction and Equipment division regularly posts a new open government solicitation every few months.  DLA Troop Support C&E has been buying on-average a quantity of 2,400 each time, prices ranging from $125-$150.00 each.

This commercial style Airline Life Preserver, Vest NSN 4220-01-113-8665 is again open for bid.  The estimated contract value is around this time is $333,500.00 for this order alone. 

This Life Preserver, Vest NSN 4220-01-113-8665 is built to the Commercial Specification A-A-50652.  Only one company has won all of the past awards for many years and they are  NOT a manufacturer.  Since the commercial government specification is available it’s open to any manufacturer or new awardee that’s a small business.   

As a note for New Companies looking to sell to the Defense Department, keep in mind that DoD never wants only one source, they are always looking for new suppliers.

To see this government solicitation or past procurement history for Life Preservers and many others simply search on “Life Preserver”

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Helicopter Rappelling Operations using a Snap Link, Rappeller – Aluminum Carabiner NSN 8465-01-561-6950

Snap Link, Rappeller Aluminum Carabiner for climbing and Rappelling Operations

U.S. Soldiers from the Marines, Army, U.S. Air Force Special Operations and the Navy use these devices to either rappel down a building or out of a flying Helicopter like the MH-60S Sea Hawk. Helicopter Rope Suspension Techniques (HRST) rely on two basic pieces of equipment a Snap Link Rappeller otherwise known as a Carabiner and a rope.

Today most carabiners are made out of aluminum. One of the National Stock Numbers (NSNs) they buy a lot is NSN 8465-01-561-6950 Snap Link, Rappeller Aluminum Carabiner made by CAGE code 41YU4 and has been sold to DLA Troop Support Clothing and Textiles by Atlantic Diving Supply many times.

Selling to the Military can be hard especially when you are not familiar with their confusing naming conventions for the items they purchase. However, if you use the right search engine to find the open government solicitations it can be really easy. The bid search results will typically list the “government name” along with further detail on what it actually is which in turn helps you learn their naming conventions, then you can create really accurate solicitation searches saving you a ton of time.

Using a Snap Link, Rappeller to rappel down a wall

This week we found an open solicitation for these Snap Link, Rappellers: the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Troop Support Clothing and Textiles supply chain office is looking to buy 7,500 Snap Link, Rappellers. It would be much easier if the government solicitation read like this “The Defense Logistics Agency is looking to buy 7,500 Carabiners, or mountaineering equipment”. However you can easily find this government bid opportunity by searching for bids under Federal Supply Classes or FSC 8465 .

This Snap Link, Rappeller carabiner has the National Stock Number (NSN) of 8465-01-561-6950.

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The Department of Defense is actively buying Swords and Sabers through the U.S. Army Mission and Installation Contracting Command (MICC) Fort Belvoir Virginia office.

Today we were looking for open government solicitations, specifically the type of item a soldier might use as part of their personal equipment.  To find such items we searched using the category “Individual Equipment”.  The types of items that fall within this category are things like Duffel bags, Ammunition belts, sleeping bags, Knapsacks etc. One open government solicitation that piqued my interest was a RFQ for 1,000 Historically Authentic Swords, Sabers and Scabbards to be used by the 3^rd U.S. Infantry Regiment.

The 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment, also known as “The Old Guard” is the Army’s official ceremonial unit and escort to the United States President. Serving our nation since 1784 and is the oldest active-duty infantry unit in the U.S. Army.

This solicitation for Swords is a potential 5-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract for the purchase of up to 1,000 Swords and Sabers to be used by The Old Guard military personnel performing ceremonial duties.   The specification USAFA CU 945-05 for the Stainless-Steel Non-Commissioned Officer NCO Swords, Sabers and Scabbards is included with the solicitation.

Items will be shipped directly to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment in Fort Myer Virginia which is located right next to Arlington National Cemetery.

To find this open government solicitation (or similar ones) search for bids using the Federal Supply Class (FSC) 8465 which is for Individual Equipment. 

We did find some procurement history for Army NCO Swords sold thru GSA were priced in the $300 to $500 dollar range.  If you take the average, this potential contract for Swords could be worth near 400,000 dollars.

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The DoD posts solicitations for this specific Mil-Spec Foam Firefighting Nozzle on a fairly regular basis. It’s typically solicited out of the same office DLA Troop Support Construction and Equipment, they buy hundreds of this specific Firefighting Nozzle on a regular basis mainly from the same Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). This specific company they have been buying from is a not a manufacturer.

Most of the past solicitations for this specific NSN have been Set-Aside (included the one posted today) to companies certified as a “Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business”. In those past solicitations including todays open solicitation, the contracting officer has also stated that the Government has a complete data package making this item Competitive. What this means is a company interesting in manufacturing this item has a chance of becoming a new supplier.

This specific solicitation could be worth around $250,000 for this single order. To see this and other solicitations like this, the simplest way is to search with using the Item Name “Nozzle”. Item Name searching is another great way to accurately find Government solicitations.

Specifications for this Firefighting Nozzle are 125 GPM, 1-1/2 inch Foam Nozzle with Pistol Grip and Bail handle for shipboard use. Mil-Spec MIL-N-24408

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The DLA Troop Support Clothing and Textiles supply chain posted an RFP last week worth potentially over 150 Million Dollars for Sleeping Bags, quotes are due August 14, 2026.

This multi-year solicitation could potentially result in the Department of Defense buying up to a total of 670,000 items including complete Season Sleep Systems, Sleeping bags, Stuff sacks and Bivy Covers.  The resulting contract awards will end up going to two (2) separate awardees, both unrestricted – Hub Zone and a Total Small Business Set Aside. DoD says there are drawings available.

The U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) Natick Contracting Division initially put out a solicitation on March 31, 2009 on behaf of the US Marine Corps looking for companies to provide a Three-Season Sleep System consisting of a sleeping bag, mesh storage bag, bivy cover, and waterproof compression stuff sack.  

Today RDECOM is know known as the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Soldier Center (DEVCOM Soldier Center).  They are located at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center in Natick, Massachusetts, under the Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command.  This division at DEVCOM Soldier Center in Natick, Massachusetts helps develop and design equipment for soldiers.

Today troops from both the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army use these Sleep Systems and Sleeping Bags as part of their basic equipment. They are under the management of Organizational Clothing and Individual Equipment / Personal Protective Equipment or PM OCIE / PPE.

The Three Season Sleep System (3SSS) they plan to buy is designed for use in temperatures down to minus 13 degrees Fahrenheit in conjunction with designated cold weather clothing layers. They weigh less than two pounds.

This Open Government Solicitation includes both the Complete Sleep System and the individual components. All NSN are listed in the solicitation.

The two Complete Sleep System NSNs are listed below and the others can be found by viewing the open bids, simply search on the Federal Supply Class (FSC) 8465 which is Individual Equipment

8465-01-573-4326 – 3 Season Sleep System Regular size

8465-01-576-5222 – 3 Season Sleep System long size

Each Complete Sleep System contains multiple NSNs to see the component parts simply search on the NSN to see the components.

To see this solicitation as well as others relating to Sleeping Bags, search on the FSC 8465.

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The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Weapons Support Land division posted a solicitation seeking a quantity of 907 Battery Packs for use with L3harris Night Vision Goggles.  This NSN 6130-01-613-2616 Item Name “Battery Power Supply” is used within the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Programs.  It powers the Binocular Night Vision Device (BVND) AN/PVS-31B

According to budget materials the U.S. Navy already has 2,312 Binocular Night Vision Devices (BVND) AN PVS-31B with plans on purchasing an additional quantity of 230 in 2027 at a cost of $12,800.00.

There are other versions of this Night Vision Goggle used by the services, probably needing similar battery packs.

Two companies having sold this NSN to the DoD in the past are Atlantic Diving Supply CAGE code 1CAY9 and Maxa Beam Searchlights CAGE code 02JL5 both are non-manufacturers.

This solicitation is a 100 percent Small business set aside, L3harris the manufacturer can’t bid on this item since they are a large business.  Potential contract value over $750,000.

To see this or other battery or power supply related government solicitations, search for bids using the Federal Supply Class (FSC) 6130.

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15-Pound Carbon Dioxide (Co2) steel Fire Extinguisher Used on almost Every U.S. Navy Ship

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Troop Support Construction and Equipment, Maintenance, Repair and Operations Services division is currently preparing a Massive Request for Proposal (RFP) to procure potentially 28,000 Fifteen-Pound Co2 Fire Extinguishers.

These portable 15-pound steel cylinder Fire Extinguishers are used on nearly every type of U.S. Naval ship.  Fire Extinguisher specifications are defined in Mil-Spec MIL-E-24269, It’s a Class-1, Type 1 device.

This Pre solicitation was issues under codes:
NAICS 339999 – Portable fire extinguishers manufacturing
FSC 4210 – Fire Fighting Equipment

Be sure your saved searches are set up using these codes, Item Names or the NSN 4210-00-203-0217 directly to see this RFP.

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