Archives for November 2023 | BidLink Defense Industry News

November 29, 2023November 29, 2023

$388,500 solicitation for B-52 cowl frame

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has issued an RFP which will result in a five year contract to supply cowl frames for the B-52. This component is made with QQ-A-362 Fed Spec Single Material and has dimensions of 13.4″ x 3.5″ x 0.04″. The National Stock Number of the Boeing item is 1560-01-151-9424. Technical data is available for new companies to compete.

The current and only supplier is Aero Components which sold this item for $1,295 each in quantity of 29. DLA will issue periodic delivery orders against this contract with an estimated annual quantity of 60.

We estimate the value of this contract at $388,500. All offers are due by Dec 28, 2023.

To learn more about this opportunity, log into BidLink and put SPE4A7-24-R-0127 into the “Search for Anything” box. More solicitations like this can be found using BidLink’s intelligent solicitation search.

Tired of DIBBS / SAM and bid services that don’t understand defense contracting? Try BidLink for free at www.bidlink.net.

See NSN details on BidLink — See solicitation details on BidLink

November 29, 2023

FAR 6.202 Establishing or maintaining alternative sources.

While digging through the FAR, I found something that might be useful to our readers. One of our clients provides something for which there is a shortage of supply at DLA. Most of the business goes to an incumbent contractor who cannot keep up with the demand from the military.

The military is growing increasingly concerned with maintaining the supply base, and has taken steps to help more companies compete for in-demand items. For items were there may be a supply shortage due to a single company dominating the market, one might be able to convince the buyer to omit that company from a solicitation.

6.202 Establishing or maintaining alternative sources.

(a) Agencies may exclude a particular source from a contract action in order to establish or maintain an alternative source or sources for the supplies or services being acquired if the agency head determines that to do so would:

(1) Increase or maintain competition and likely result in reduced overall costs for the acquisition, or for any anticipated acquisition;

(2) Be in the interest of national defense in having a facility (or a producer, manufacturer, or other supplier) available for furnishing the supplies or services in case of a national emergency or industrial mobilization;

(3) Be in the interest of national defense in establishing or maintaining an essential engineering, research, or development capability to be provided by an educational or other nonprofit institution or a federally funded research and development center;

(4) Ensure the continuous availability of a reliable source of supplies or services;

(5) Satisfy projected needs based on a history of high demand; or

(6) Satisfy a critical need for medical, safety, or emergency supplies.

Tired of DIBBS / SAM and bid services that don’t understand defense contracting? Try BidLink for free at www.bidlink.net.

November 16, 2023

DLA wants more competition on this cable assembly; $325,108 annually

DLA aviation is looking for companies to compete to produce this cable assembly used in the A-10 and F-16 aircraft. This cable, NSN 6150-01-628-9758 has a manufacturer’s part number of A13091-5. It is managed out of Hill AFB.

Currently there is only one supplier, Thales Defense, which sold this cable to the military for $2,784 ea in quantity of 130. DLA estimates that they will purchase 119 of these cables each year.

The government is so interested in finding additional suppliers that they are making samples of this item available for companies to reverse engineer. There are no drawings or technical documentation available at this time.

There is no current solicitation for this item, but DLA procures it regularly and wants to line up other potential suppliers.

To learn more about this item, log into BidLink and put 6150-01-628-9758 into the “Search for Anything” box. BidLink can assist your company in acquiring samples from DLA.

Tired of DIBBS / SAM and bid services that don’t understand defense contracting? Try BidLink for free at www.bidlink.net.

November 7, 2023

$1.2 Million DLA solicitation for metal trash cans

DLA Land and Maritime has issued a solicitation which will result in a five year contract for supply of metal trash cans. These trash cans (NSN 2040-01-347-0949) are constructed of .020″ – .025″ thick non-galvanized steel. A competitive data package is available for this item as described in drawing number 03950 H2040-800-1411 revision 8 DTD 05/09/1967.

The government will issue periodic delivery orders against this contract with a minimum quantity of 136 and maximum of 3,258. The government estimates annual demand at 2,173. The unit of issue is 1 dozen (DZ).

These trash cans were last sold to the military by DC Precision for $119 each in quantity of 1,370 DZ. They were sold in a smaller quantity of 175 by Germantown Tool Machine for $279.50 each.

Based on past procurement history we estimate the value of this contract at $1.2 Million. All offers due by Dec 6, 2023.

To learn more about this opportunity, log into BidLink and put SPE7MX-23-R-0117 into the “Search for Anything” box. More solicitations like this can be found using BidLink’s intelligent solicitation search.

Tired of DIBBS / SAM and bid services that don’t understand defense contracting? Try BidLink for free at www.bidlink.net.

November 1, 2023

$108,140 DLA contract for wiring harnesses

DLA Aviation has issued a solicitation which will result in a five year contract for branched wiring harnesses used in the M88 recovery vehicle. The solicitation covers two National Stock Numbers:

NSN	5 yr demand	Unit price	Total
6150-01-607-7132	55	$1,298	$71,390
6150-01-607-0301	375	$98	$36,750

The incumbent contractor is American Devices, Inc. A technical data package is available for both these items so new companies can compete. Based on past procurement history pricing we estimate the value of this contract at $108,140.

All offers are due by November 14, 2023.

Tired of DIBBS / SAM and bid services that don’t understand defense contracting? Try BidLink for free at www.bidlink.net.

To learn more about this opportunity, log into BidLink and put SPE4A6-24-R-X180 into the “Search for Anything” box. More solicitations like this can be found using BidLink’s intelligent solicitation search.