DLA Aviation has issued a solicitation for 100 seat belts (NSN 1680-01-528-3687) used in the UH-60 helicopter. There are two approved sources for this item:
Technical data is available if other companies believe that they can produce this seat belt. Dealers of the above companies are also welcome.
UH-60-seatbelt 1680-01-528-3687
The last company to provide these to the military was Cobham Mission Systems (a large business) for $9,667 ea in quantity of 40. They were also supplied by Transaero, Inc for $8,640 ea in quantity of 319.
Based on past procurement history we estimate the value of this contract at $966,700. All offers are due by April 25, 2025.
To learn more, log into BidLink and put SPE4A7-25-R-0470 into Search for Anything at the top.
Tired of DIBBS / SAM and bid services that don’t understand defense contracting? Try BidLink for free at www.bidlink.net.
DLA Aviation has issued a solicitation for fiberglass electrical tape (NSN 5970-00-814-9606). This solicitation will result in an IQC (Indefinite Quantity Contract) to consist of guaranteed quantities for DLA Customer Direct Locations (CONUS, OCONUS and FMS). Delivery orders may be placed for a Base Period consisting of five (5) Years.
The item description is as follows:
GLASS FIBER, SILICON ADHESIVE COATED
3.000 IN. WIDE, 36 YD. LG, 0.010 IN. THICK
Complies with mil-spec MIL-I-19166
The last company to supply this item to the military was Aircraft & Commercial Enterprises (CAGE 8Z281) which sold for $97.65 in quantity of 36. This order was an “emergency contracting support branch requirement” which means “ship by fastest traceable means”. Pricing is all over the place, but a more realistic comparable was an order for 4,979 rolls at $58.25 per roll.
The government anticipates ordering 6,077 rolls each year over the five year contract. Based on this and an analysis of procurement history pricing we estimate the value of this contract at $1.7 Million.
All offers are due by April 17, 2025.
A quick review of the military market for these items yielded the following buying agencies:
SPE4AC – Corpus Christi Army Depot (CCAD) detachment (buying activity)
The 2025 National Defense Authorization limits divestment of F-15 and F-22 aircraft in order to maintain current fleet levels. In 2022 DOD planned to reduce the inventory of these aircraft in order to redirect those funds to newer programs. Unfortunately those older planes are still needed to keep adequate force levels.
The retirement of the oldest aircraft was decided because of the high costs that it would take to upgrade those fighters, so their retirement would free up resources to upgrade the rest of the two fleets.
The NDAA states:
Sec. 8164 prohibits divesting or prepare to divest any F-15 aircraft unless the Secretary of Defense certifies
to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate that such aircraft will
be replaced in a manner that maintains the current total aircraft assigned at a given unit and the readiness of
such unit.
The F-15E Strike Eagle fighters currently in service have two different engines, specifically 119 F-15Es powered by the Pratt&Whitney F100-PW-220 turbofan and 99 powered by the F100-PW-229. The newer -229 engines have a thrust rating of 29,000 lb, while the older -220 stops to 23,500 lb.
The Air Force planned to divest all Strike Eagles with the -220 engine by FY28, shrinking the fleet from 218 to 99 aircraft, using the freed-up resources to upgrade those 99 aircraft. The FY24 NDAA already limited the number of aircraft that could be retired from 119 to 68.
The FY25 NDAA is going to prevent the divestment of all 119 aircraft from happening for the foreseeable future, according to lawmakers.
For those with contracts relating to the F-15E and EX, it looks like you have a few more years of this business.
Tired of DIBBS / SAM and bid services that don’t understand defense contracting? Try BidLink for free at www.bidlink.net.
