Critical systems maintained by the military require parts that cannot fail. Everything from power systems to hardware and gaskets must meet the original OEM specifications or it cannot be installed in systems deemed critical. Items that require source approval will say so in BidLink’s NSN lookup:
For these items, the military maintains a list of companies that are approved sources. Any company can apply to become an approved source by submitting a Source Approval Request Package (SAR package). The SAR package must include all the technical data needed to demonstrate that the prospective supplier can competently manufacture or perform Repair, Overhaul, Maintenance and Modification (ROMM) of the item requiring source approval to the same level of quality or better than the system prime contractor, major subsystem contractor, or OEM.
There are four levels of Source Approval Requests:
SAR 1 – Actual Item — These SARs are received from suppliers who have manufactured or performed ROMM on the exact item on the OEM technical data for the prime contractor, OEM, another service, or a civil sector under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) identically.
SAR 2 – Similar Item — These SARs are received from suppliers who have not previously manufactured, repaired, or overhauled the subject item, but have manufactured or performed ROMM on items similar in complexity, design, criticality, manufacturing/repair/overhaul processes, materials, and application for the: a) Prime Contractor, OEM, or another service using OEM data; b) civil sector under FAA PMA based on identically.
SAR 3 – New manufacturer — This category covers offers that do not meet Category I or II criteria but have the OEM’s technical data and intend to produce to the ESA approved technical data package.
SAR 4 – Alternate Item — Received from offers that are proposing an alternate part as the equivalent to the OEM part. Alternate items may only be considered when the Sourcing Handbook Section 1.9 criteria are met. Reengineering is the creation of an alternative design or manufacturing process and should be addressed via Engineering Change Process MIL-HDBK-61A, Configuration Management Guidance.
Where to submit the SAR
If there is an open solicitation for a NSN which you want to submit a SAR, please submit the SAR directly to the buyer noted on the solicitation. If you are submitting a SAR for a NSN with no open solicitation, please send it to the Competition Advocate SAR Program office address:
SAR Program DLA Aviation
Attn: DLA AVN-DU (SAR Program Manager)
8000 Jefferson Davis Highway
Richmond, VA 23297-5100
For contracts at DLA Land and Maritime:
DLA L&M Alternate Offer Monitor – BPP
Directorate of Business Process
P.O. Box 3990
Columbus, OH 43218-3990
dscc_ao-sar@dla.mil
For more detail on submitting a Source Approval Request (SAR Package), read the DLA guidance. An example Source Approval Request can be found here:
To find solicitations that require source approval, log into BidLink.
