Hill Airforce Base has submitted a solicitation for supply of Bus Multiplexers used in the F-16 A & C aircraft. This multiplexer, NSN 5895-01-448-8598 has a description as follows:
An item designed to combine two or more simultaneous intelligence signals for transmission over a single transmission facility. Includes both time division and frequency division types or combinations thereof. Does not include the transmission facilities.
This solicitation calls for 427 bus multiplexers. Technical data is available for new companies to compete.
It was last supplied to the military by Lockheed Martin for $1,039 each in quantity of 720. Based on past procurement history we estimate the value of this contract at $443,653.
All offers are due by May 2, 2022.
To learn more about this opportunity, log into BidLink and put SPE4A7-22-R-0397 into the “Search for Anything” box. More solicitations like this can be found using BidLink’s intelligent solicitation search.
DLA Aviation has issued a solicitation for Deployment Bags used to carry the T-11 personnel parachute system. This bag, NSN 1670-01-567-4708 has a part number of P/N 11-1-7063. The solicitation calls for 5,933 bags.
The last company to supply this bag was Mills Manufacturing which sold them for $151.63 each in quantity of 4,079. They were also supplied by Airborne Systems, Inc. Based on past procurement history pricing, we estimate the value of this contract at $900,000.
Technical data is available for new suppliers to compete. All offers are due by May 4, 2022. Suppliers have 662 days from date of award to deliver the goods.
To learn more about this opportunity, log into BidLink and put SPE4A7-22-R-0327 into the “Search for Anything” box. More solicitations like this can be found using BidLink’s intelligent solicitation search.
On November 20, 2018, the Defense Department switched their document generation system to use an antiquated document format called Dynamic XFA (XML Forms Architecture). XFA is not part of the PDF standard. It was included in Adobe LiveCycle in 2002 when the company acquired Canadian service provider Accelio, who was using XFA. This produced confusion as Adobe already had its own way of handling forms called AcroForms.
Adobe announced the discontinuation of the Dynamic XFA format in 2011. It is not part of the PDF 2.0 standard and is not included in their latest PDF creation tools.
This has been causing havoc all over DOD and the private sector as people have been unable to open many military documents with anything other than Adobe Acrobat Software. Attempting to open these files in the web browser produces this message:
“To view the full contents of this document, you need a later version of the PDF viewer. You can upgrade to the latest version of Adobe Reader from www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
For further support, go to www.adobe.com/support/products/acrreader.html”
This change affects documents from DIBBS, a primary source of solicitations and awards for the defense department. After receiving many complaints from end-users about the format change, DIBBS released this statement:
Some suppliers have commented that they cannot open the solicitation and/or awards on DIBBS. This is not an issue with DIBBS, but your browser settings when it comes to Adobe. The following links are provided that can assist and properly setting your computer to read Acrobat Adobe documents. A way of testing this being the issue, if you can download the PDF to your local PC and then open it, then you need to update the plug-in in your browser.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t help people who want to view the documents in a web browser instead of opening the bloated Adobe Acrobat program. It also doesn’t help people using Macintosh or anyone who wants to open these documents on an iPad, iPhone or Android. Shortly afterward, DIBBS began receiving complaints that their full-text search was not working. This is likely because their own system is unable to convert these Dynamic XFA documents into something that can be searched. When reaching out to DIBBS about the issue we received this response:
We did switch to another format due to security. This may be affecting the text search. The Tech Teams are still working to solve this. We were unaware of the original switch and have not been informed as to the solution to this yet.
The DIBBS Team
Its obvious that they have discovered the huge mistake and are attempting to resolve it. We anticipate that they will migrate to a standardized PDF format which would resolve the above issue. In the meantime, contractors are dealing with the inconvenience of trying to open these obscure files.
Because the format is obsolete, there are very few tools that can work with it. At BidLink, we have explored over a dozen different tools to potentially convert these files into normal, flat PDF files. So far, none of these tools produce an acceptable result. We will continue to look for solutions, but are hopeful that DOD will simply abandon Dynamic XFA entirely.
U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael Rack; Dili, Timor-Leste, June 18, 2011. Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher Farrington
By Tom Gerbe – Defense Industry Analyst – BidLink.net
The U.S. Defense Department has over 57,000 open solicitations that have gone unanswered. Among these items are cable assemblies that could be produced by informed manufacturers. As a data analyst for BidLink.net I have been combing through opportunities for readers of “Wire and Cable Technology” and have located a number of big ticket items for which the Government cannot find suppliers.
Many defense contractors aggressively compete for the lowest price in order to win bids, fighting against anywhere from two to twenty companies on each solicitation. There is an easier way — find bids for which there is no competition. One way to accomplish this is to find unanswered bids. In some cases current suppliers no longer manufacture a part for which there is still a need. In the examples below, there are several items which were designated as “small business” meaning that the defense department is required to purchase the part from a company under a certain size. A large company may have supplied the item in the past, but now it must go to a small business. This can spell opportunity for contractors who are paying attention.
Below are a list of solicitations from the Defense Department that are past the closing date but remain unanswered. Expired bids can be researched using the Quick Search at BidLink.net.
Solicitation #
Item name
Quantity
Stock Number (NSN)
Price Range (ea)
SPE4A013T0918
Cable Assembly
24
5995015219577
$2,888 – $4,631
SPE4A512T4824
Cable Assembly
7
5995015219577
$541 – $881
SPE4A512T5555
Cable, Adapter
2
5995013310791
$1,080 – $2,657
SPE4A013T0599
Cable Assembly
1
5995013622192
$3,292 – $16,336
SPE4A513Q2480
Cable Assembly
7
5995014551297
$12,566 – $16,332
SPE4A513T8337
Cable Assembly
19
5995015516163
$1,124 – $1,172
The prices above span a wide range, likely due to the lack of competition for these items. If the part is a critical item and there is only one company that can supply it, the Government will pay any reasonable price to obtain the part. This is reflected in the procurement history for the items above.
When a bid goes unanswered, it stays open even after the closing date. Over time, thousands of these unanswered bids remain in the system waiting for someone to respond with a quote. In some cases aircraft can remain grounded and equipment can go unused because the Government cannot find a qualified supplier. If you have not made an item for the Government before you may have to submit a Source Approval Request (SAR) to the agency in order to receive approval to sell the part to the Government.
Due to the sequester, the defense budget is shrinking causing companies to find new ways to compete. Locating solicitations for which there is no current supplier become a treasure trove for companies that know how to locate this business.
BidLink.net is a provider of defense industry information for contractors worldwide. This data includes millions of defense contracts, procurement history, part numbers and vendor details. This unique combination of resources allows BidLink to monitor and extract important information for the defense contracting industry. BidLink.net, based in Washington, D.C., provides bid search and notification services, competition analysis as well as part number (NSN) lookup to many military activities and thousands of private companies around the world.
For the news and tools to compete in the defense industry, go to www.bidlink.net.
By Tom Gerbe – Defense Information Analyst – BidLink.net
Ahead of the sequester, the Defense Department has already implemented significant cuts in defense spending. Defense spending dropped $15.1 Billion from FY 2011 to 2012 and this is before the eight percent across the board cuts are implemented starting March 1. Unlike the sequester, the reduction of spending in 2012 was not evenly distributed through the top four major procurement agencies. Data from the procurement history database at BidLink.net shows that the departments of the Army and Navy saw a reduction of $ 18.5 billion and $ 9.9 Billion respectively, while the Air Force and Defense Logistics Agency saw increases of $4.1 Billion and $7 Billion.
US Defense spending 2009-2012
A significant increase in spending for airframe structural components (Federal Supply Class 1560) was noticed, rising $3.3 Billion, $4.8B and $5.5B for 2010, 2011 and 2012. Many large contracts were awarded to prime contractors including Boeing (NYSE: BA), Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), EADS North America, McDonNell Douglass, Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) and MD Helicopter. Boeing received the largest contract for this supply class in 2012, through a modification to contract number N0001909C0022 for the purchase of eleven P-8A Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft. This modification for $1.9 Billion was issued in September of 2012 to be completed by May 2015. Eighty Six percent of this contract will be executed in the United States in areas including Seattle, Washington; Baltimore, Maryland; McKinney, Texas; Greenlawn and North Amityville, New York.
There was a surge of spending in the third quarter of 2012, followed by a twenty two percent drop in the fourth quarter according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Some of the quarterly decline is a cyclical drop due to the fiscal year ending in September, but much of the annual drop is a decrease in spending. This reduction in defense spending is primary cause of the almost 1.3% decline in GDP.
BidLink.net is a provider of defense industry information for contractors worldwide. This data includes millions of defense contracts, procurement history, part numbers and vendor details. This unique combination of resources allows BidLink to monitor and extract important information for the defense contracting industry. BidLink.net, based in Washington, D.C., provides bid search and notification services, competition analysis as well as part number (NSN) lookup to many military activities and thousands of private companies around the world.
For the news and tools to compete in the defense industry, go to www.bidlink.net.
By Tom Gerbe – Defense Information Analyst – BidLink.net
I have spent the last year sifting through about sixty million records of Government contract data from hundreds of different sources in an attempt to build a more comprehensive database of Defense Department buying activity. At BidLink, we consolidate information from many sources because often times a single source does not offer a complete picture. In some cases agencies will refuse to disclose pricing, some Government sources are missing huge swaths of data and some provide inaccurate information. By comparing data from many sources we are able to paint a more accurate picture of Government buying activity.
This data overhaul was finished just in time for the Top 10 Fastener Defense contractors of 2012. Looking at fastener buying activity by the Defense Department over the past four years we can clearly see a significant decline. This is due to the Government’s reduction in overall defense spending which started in 2009. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Pentagon cut defense spending by a staggering 22% in the fourth quarter of 2012. Some of the quarterly decline is a cyclical drop due to the fiscal year ending in September, but much of the annual drop is a decrease in spending. This reduction in defense spending is primary cause of the almost 1.3% decline in GDP.
DLA Purchases of Fasteners 2009-2012
An analysis of the competitive climate reveals that Herndon Products, Inc. is still the top fastener supplier to the Department of Defense (DOD) with a significant lead over the second place contender. Herndon Products based in O’Fallon Missouri generates $42 Million in revenue with approximately 85 employees. The Small Business Size Standard for Hardware Merchant Wholesalers, naics code 423710 is 100 employees. This is the threshold for small business designation which provides a competitive advantage over large companies.
Top 10 DLA fastener suppliers for 2013
The largest fastener contract won by Herndon Products is long term contract # SPM5AZ09D0004, which was awarded on 10/20/2008; It covers an array of bolts, screws, rings, nuts and washers. There were fourteen competitive bids for this contract. Not unexpectedly, many of the top companies are aerospace suppliers including Raytheon, a new addition to the top 10 list.
Examining total sales, Herndon Products (CAGE code: 3G1W3) is in the number one spot with almost $12 Million in contracts to the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). Columbia Nut and Bolt has been displaced by Wesco Aircraft Hardware as the second place winner with just over $7 Million in sales.
Top 10 DLA fastener suppliers for 2013 by sales
Adept Fasteners moved up four spaces to the #6 position from last year. New to the list for 2012 are Goodrich Corporation, Dialogic Fasteners and Sikorsky Aircraft. In 2011, the top contractor sold $13.8 Million in fasteners to DOD while the #10 position earned $3.6 million, as compared to $11.8 Million and $2.7 Million in 2012.
Although the decline in defense spending is dramatic, some of this is in preparation for the upcoming sequester which was supposed to take effect in January 2013. This could mean stabilization in defense spending going forward. While discussing the Pentagon’s effect on GDP in an e-mail release, Paul Ashworth from Capital Economics called it “The best-looking contraction in US GDP you’ll ever see”, expecting that this may be a one-time blip due to the impending belt tightening.
Another reason according to Michael O’Hanlon at the Brookings Institution is that Congress was late in setting the defense budget for 2012. The budget was finally pieced together through continuing resolutions passed in the winter. For a significant part of the year, the Pentagon did not know exactly how much it could spend.
BidLink.net is a provider of defense industry information for contractors worldwide. This data includes millions of defense contracts, procurement history, part numbers and vendor details. This unique combination of resources allows BidLink to monitor and extract important information for the defense contracting industry. BidLink.net, based in Washington, D.C., provides bid search and notification services, procurement history as well as part number (NSN) lookup to many military activities and thousands of private companies around the world.
This article was written exclusively for Fastener Journal. Comments? Send them to news@bidlink.net.
Four BQM-74E target drones launch from the USS Cowpens
By Tom Gerbe – Defense Information Analyst, BidLink.net
Defense cuts are not bad for everybody. Recently, we analyzed sales statistics for a broad base of industries including aerospace, tubing and piping, fasteners, safety equipment and more, looking at companies who win the most business. Industry by industry there is a distinct pattern, where large companies are trouncing the little guy by winning the lions share of contracts. For example, in an analysis of the top 10 suppliers of Tubing and Piping to the defense department only two companies, Rudy & Associates and BB&G Enterprises are small businesses.
When a company registers to sell to the Government, they must declare the company size in number of employees and annual sales. The Government uses this number to classify companies as small or large business. According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses account for about 50% of GDP. As a result, they want to support small business as much as possible.
Cutting Defense Spending
Small business competition may help the Defense Department achieve their goal of $487 billion in cuts over the next 10 years. DOD is so dedicated to promoting small business development that many Government buying centers have their own SBA offices. The stated goal of the DOD small business representative is “To create maximum opportunities for small businesses within DoD acquisitions.” Many contracts are awarded to large corporations that are the sole suppliers of billions in parts and services to DOD. Competition from small businesses can help reduce the cost of acquisition.
To provide support for the small business community, the Defense Department sets aside a percentage of overall contracting opportunities to companies under certain size. These contracts are often called, “Small Business Set-Asides”, because they are reserved for companies under a certain size. The Department of Defense has a stated goal of awarding at least 22% of contracts to small businesses in 2012, with the intent to increase that number each subsequent year. Each solicitation will specify the small business size, often 500 or 1,000 employees, under which the company must qualify in order to win a small business set-aside contract.
Winning Small Business Contracts
If a solicitation is set-aside, small business are chosen over large businesses, even if the large business submits a lower bid. In the case where the solicitation does not explicitly state a small business requirement, contractors can request the solicitation be re-classified if they qualify. This can be accomplished by contacting the small business representative for the agency that offered the solicitation.
If a small business is competing against a large company, a little known regulation can be used to your advantage:
48 C.F.R. 19.502-2 Total small business set-asides. (a) Each acquisition of supplies or services that has an anticipated dollar value exceeding $3,000, but not over $100,000 is automatically reserved exclusively for small business concerns and shall be set aside for small business unless the contracting officer determines there is not a reasonable expectation of obtaining offers from two or more responsible small business concerns that are competitive in terms of market prices, quality, and delivery.
If the contracting officer receives only one acceptable offer from a responsible small business concern in response to a set-aside, the contracting officer should make an award to that firm. If the contracting officer receives no acceptable offers from responsible small business concerns, the set-aside shall be withdrawn and the requirement, if still valid, shall be resolicited on an unrestricted basis.
Essentially any small business could take contracts from a large business as long as two or more small businesses compete. It might be worth while to notify one of your small business competitors about a contract just to take it from a big fish. At least two small companies may be on equal footing, whereas the large company can buy huge, discounted quantities or open factories overseas.
Small businesses have quite a bit of leverage against large companies when competing for Government business. By locating the right resources and knowing the rules, prudent contractors can find opportunities and win contracts. Small business is the backbone of the American economy. With the right tools and talent there are opportunities everywhere.
BidLink.net is a provider of defense industry information for contractors worldwide. This data includes millions of defense contracts, procurement history, part numbers and vendor details. This unique combination of resources allows BidLink to monitor and extract important information for the defense contracting industry. BidLink.net, based in Washington, D.C., provides bid search and notification services, procurement history as well as part number (NSN) lookup to many military activities and thousands of private companies around the world.
By Thomas Gerbe, Defense Information Analyst, BidLink.net
As we approach the one year anniversary of the 2011 Debt ceiling debate, the House of Representatives recently passed H.R. 4310: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. The total allotment for FY 2013 is $687 Billion, down $31.8 Billion from FY 2012. Part of this reduction was accomplished by streamlining procurement operations and cutting overhead. I.T. Resources are being consolidated, and the DOD’s reliance on outside contractors is being reduced.
One stated goal is to promote “real competition” whenever possible to drive productivity. Although the DOD issues millions of individual solicitations each year, a large amount of the defense budget goes to “prime contractors”. These are large companies including Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, Northrop Grumman, Pratt & Whitney, Raytheon and many others. They hold exclusive, long-term contracts for complex systems which last for years. Due to the nature of these systems, it is unlikely that any small business could compete for such contracts. However, DOD wants small business participation, which is accomplished by requiring large contractors to provide a “small business subcontracting plan” (FAR 19.7). This requires that large businesses subcontract a portion of the contract value to the small business community on contracts over $500,000 that have subcontracting possibilities.
According to HR 4310 section 1631, “The Governmentwide goal for participation by small business concerns shall be established at not less than 25 percent of the total value of all prime contract awards for each fiscal year and 40 percent of the total value of all subcontract awards for each fiscal year”. Small business concerns include companies owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, socially and economically disadvantaged individuals and women, as well as businesses under a specified number of employees or annual income. Size limits vary depending on commodity class, but the threshold is usually less than 500 employees. The Government is committed to expanding participation by small businesses by increasing the percentage of contracts offered to small businesses each year. Each Government program has a small business representative who can assist companies with obtaining contracts.
Small businesses that want to compete against large companies have additional leverage. If a large company is regularly awarded contracts on a particular part and two or more small businesses submit offers on an upcoming solicitation, they can ask to have the solicitation “set-aside” exclusively for small business. According to a BidLink study in December 2011, 28% of defense contracts for fasteners are awarded as sole source, meaning that only one company submitted an offer. This is exactly what the Government is trying to avoid.
ONE BIG BOLT
For Fastener Journal readers, I always like to find a recent order for a part that might be interesting. This month we will cover a part sold to DLA Aviation by Columbia Nut and Bolt, LLC (CAGE code 51792). The company is a large business with a reported 700 employees earning $20,000,000 annually. Columbia nut and bolt, based in Moonachie, NJ has a number of long-term contracts that provide a regular flow of business from the military.
This one is a prevailing torque, double hexagon, self-locking nut made from cobalt alloy. It has a height of 0.675 inches and an outside diameter of 0.950″. It has a surface treatment in compliance with MIL-C-8837 TY 2 and a dry film lubricant. The bolt is used on the Apache AH-64, and AH-64-D Longbow helicopter, and sells to DOD for a whopping $52.24 ea. This part was ordered using long-term contract SPM5AZ-08-D-0022, which the company won on July 29, 2008 and extends through July 2013. There was only one competing bid. The most recent delivery order was on May 10, 2012 for 303 units totalling $15,828.72. The Defense Department projects that it will purchase 4,691 units in 2012 and almost the same amount in 2013.
CONTRACT BUNDLING
It is a common practice for the Government to bundle lists of items into a single contract. Although bundling can potentially reduce costs or improve performance for federal agencies, it can also limit opportunities for small businesses to receive federal prime contracts. As a result, there have been a number of initiatives to limit contract bundling including the Small Business Act (P.L. 111-240) as well as a number of bills from the 112th congress. These initiatives include expanding the power of SBA to work with contracting agencies to restructure bundled requirements.
Even if your shop cannot produce a 1″ diameter double hex bolt, you may find other opportunities that are part of a bundled requirement. If you do, try contacting the buyer and locating the small business representative for that particular agency, and ask them if the part can be ordered separately. The SBA has increasing power and can be surprisingly helpful in changing requirements to support small business.
BidLink.net is a provider of defense industry information for contractors worldwide. This data includes millions of defense contracts, procurement history, part numbers and vendor details. This unique combination of resources allows BidLink to monitor and extract important information for the defense contracting industry. BidLink.net, based in Washington, D.C., provides bid consolidation, searching and notification services, as well as part number (NSN) lookup to many military activities and thousands of private companies around the world. Try our new full-text Government document search engine.
If you would like to see a video demonstrating how we found this part, and how you might find other parts of interest, scan the code below using your cell phone or tablet. Already reading this on a tablet? Then click here.
Comments? Send them to news@bidlink.net.
This article was written exclusively for “Fastener Journal” magazine.
Defense Department annual purchasing of Tubing and Piping (source:bidlink.net)
Despite a weak economy, U.S. Defense Department demand for tubing has been stable over the past five years with annual purchases totaling nearly $50 million. Metallic tube and pipe is an integral part of the military and all its divisions. Aircraft, navy ships and vehicles would not exist without the use tube and pipe. Construction of barracks, repair and maintenance of large and small equipment are also included. All types and sizes from simple dimensional stock to custom assemblies are consumed by the military. Numerous types of distributive systems on-board navy ships use piping everywhere to deliver drinking water, provide fire suppression, compressed air, steam, and hydraulic fluid. The typical aircraft carrier spans over 1000 feet in length and uses a lot of pipe.
An analysis of the competitive landscape exposes Sikorsky Aircraft as the top contractor by number of contracts with just shy of 1,480. Several of the major players are aerospace suppliers, showing the importance of tubing and piping to the aerospace industry. Sikorsky Aircraft is based out of Stratford, Ct with 17,457 employees and annual revenues of over $5 Billion.
DLA tubing and piping purchases by number of contracts (source:bidlink.net)
Prime Manufacturer Sikorsky won the largest award in 2010, long-term contract # SPM4AX09D9404. It covered many parts including a 1/2 inch metal tube assembly (NSN: 4710-01-095-6934) made from aluminum alloy 5052. The contract was originally awarded to the company on July 8th 2005 under contract number SPM400-05-D-9413. It has a base period of one year with options to extend (both bilateral and unilateral) for up to 10 years. The total contract amount for the base period of one year was an estimated value of $74,805,917.23, and covered dozens of different parts. It contains several National Stock Numbered items sole source to Sikorsky. The contract is currently in its 5th year. It also includes a performance fee which gives the contractor the ability to earn an extra 14% to 25% by exceeding the contract requirements for on time delivery during their evaluation period.
Prime manufacturers typically have subcontractors produce many of the components used in their end items, such as the Black Hawk helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky. The U.S. Government is always searching for additional suppliers of items that they consume, especially items which have only one source or sometimes no source. Companies interested in increasing their government sales will typically seek out these “sole source items” as the competition is limited, therefore potential profit margins could be high. The process many companies use in becoming an additional source is as follows: Determine which items are worth pursuing, obtain the actual part from the government or data if available, reverse engineer the item and become an approved source; possibly the only source.
DLA Purchases of tubing and piping by sales (source:bidlink.net -- click for larger image)
An analysis of annual sales reveals a different picture with GE Aviation taking the number one spot. Much of this is awarded through long-term contracts, where a vendor will win a bid to supply a list of parts to the Defense Department over several years. The Government will issue periodic delivery orders against these long-term contracts, reducing the need for a competitive bid every time they stock up. Periodically, these contracts will expire, allowing prudent contractors to take the business for themselves.
BidLink.net is a provider of defense industry information for contractors worldwide. This data includes millions of defense contracts, procurement history, part numbers and vendor details. This unique combination of resources allows BidLink to monitor and extract important information for the defense contracting industry. BidLink.net, based in Washington, D.C., provides bid consolidation, searching and notification services, as well as part number (NSN) lookup to many military activities and thousands of private companies around the world.
This article was written exclusively for TPJ – The Tube & Pipe Journal.
http://www.fma-communications.com/tpj/
Army Pfc. Paul Garland & Pfc. Sean McCall set up an antenna for voice and tactical communications. Photo by Chief Petty Officer Robert J. Fluegel.
The U.S. Defense Department purchased 22.2% more antennae in FY 2010 than in 2009. The charts below analyze the buying activity of the U.S. Defense Department’s Defense Logistics Agency for Antennas and Antenna equipment; Federal Supply Class 5985. An analysis of projected purchases for 2011 indicate demand similar to that of FY 2010.
Federal Supply Class 5985 includes Antennas, waveguides, and related equipment; Aerials; Masts; Tower Equipment; Attenuators; Couplers; Transmission Lines, but excludes Tower Structures.
Defense department antenna buying activity for 2006-2010
At BidLink.net, we have over 500,000,000 records of defense contracting data, including an archive of purchasing activity dating back to 1985. For this study, we analyzed 2010 buying activity for Antennae by both total number of contracts and total sales volume.
By contract volume, the leader is Harris RF Communication (CAGE 14304), with 314 total contracts in 2010. Harris RF Communication is a division of Harris Corporation located in Rochester, NY. The company is a manufacturer with over 1,500 employees. Their primary focus is radio and television broadcasting equipment, communications equipment and electronic components including antennas. They are certified to manufacture over 16,500 parts for the U.S. Military.
2010 Top 10 Antenna suppliers to U.S. Defense Department
By sales volume, Harris Corporation is the clear leader, with $9,666,106 in sales for 2010. Aviatech corporation (CAGE code 54520) is in second place with less than half the sales of Harris at $4.2 million. The largest antenna delivery order for Harris RF Communication in 2010 was SPM7M9-11-F-0001 awarded on October 7 for $512,000. They produced a total quantity of 400 antennae, National Stock Number 5985-01-559-0074 at $1,280 each. This is part of a larger GSA contract (GS-35F-0163N) which was awarded on December 9, 2002 and expires on December 8, 2012. The GSA contract covers 555 different line items.
2010 Top 10 Antenna suppliers to DLA by sales
As with the other industries we have analyzed, many of these companies have long term contracts with the defense department. This is where the defense department awards a contract to a single company, which may last for years. The government issues periodic delivery orders against this contract award until it runs out. This cuts down on the need to request quotes for every order, therefore reducing bureaucracy. Prudent companies can monitor the expiration of these long term contracts, and with sufficient information they can submit competitive bids and possibly win the contract for themselves.
BidLink.net is an aggregator of defense industry information for contractors worldwide. This data includes millions of defense contracts, procurement history, part numbers and vendor details. This unique combination of resources allows BidLink to monitor and extract important information for the defense contracting industry. BidLink.net, based in Washington, D.C., provides bid consolidation, searching and notification services, as well as part number (NSN) lookup services to many military activities and thousands of private companies around the world.
