DLA Aviation is looking for companies to provide competition for this wing-lock control used in the F-18 aircraft. DLA estimates annual demand at 11 units, but BidLink’s data indicates they might require 16 each year.
The OEM for NSN 1680-01-125-2841 is Triumph Controls, LLC. Their part number is 7-43426-5. It was last sold in quantity of 125 for $5,999 each in April of 2018. A prior sale of 10 units was priced at $10,505 each.
DLA has determined that by making a sample of this unit available to contractors, they might be able to find more competition. Any contractor interested may be able to borrow or purchase a sample to reverse engineer. No drawings nor technical data package are available.
To see more information about this NSN, log into BidLink and put 1680-01-125-2841 into “Search for Anything”.
We’ve discovered a solicitation for 36 steering and brake assemblies that did not receive any responses from contractors. The last supplier was Ronal Industries in January 2020 for $34,997 in quantity of 9 units. Based on this price, the total contract value could be $1,259,892. Two years ago, the same assembly was sold to DLA for $15,264.
The recent procurement history leads us to believe that either the contractor missed this one or was unable to source the components for the assembly in time. Required delivery by DLA is 330 days. In either case, it could be an opportunity for another company.
Ronal Industries is the OEM for stock number 2530-00-008-3726. Their part number is 2587729. DLA indicates that data rights are uneconomical, but according to other government codes drawings may be available at Coastal Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama, Systems Station Dahlgren Division.
DLA does not provide information about which vehicle this system belongs. However, we know it’s for the left side and consists of a housing assembly, tube assembly, gear assembly, cam ring assembly, plate, and yoke. We’ve reached out to the buyer for more detail.
To learn more about this opportunity, log into BidLink and put SPE7L3-20-R-0059 into Search for Anything. The original PDF solicitation is available.
A new HH-60W combat rescue helicopter taxies in to its new home Nov. 6 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)
DLA Aviation is requesting proposals from companies that can provide door levers for the HH-60 helicopter. The resulting contract will have one base year and four option years. If all five years are executed, it could be valued at $250,000.
The last company to supply this latch was Kent Associates for $99 each in quantity of 492. It was also supplied by Tronson Manufacturing, Black Bay, Janel’s industries, and Coastal Defense Products. It was sold in smaller quantities through GSA in 2017 for $51.13, but recent DLA history indicates the price has risen.
DLA currently has a back-order of 697 units. They estimate annual demand at 607 units, with a guaranteed minimum quantity of 152. The contract value is capped at $250,000.
Proposals are due by Sept 2, 2020. A technical data package is available for download through cFolders, which is maintained by US Army Aviation and Missile Command (Redstone Arsenal).
If you would like to see this opportunity, log into BidLink and put SPE4A7-20-R-X950 into “Search for Anything”.
DLA Land and Maritime is soliciting 48 drag bags for use with the XM107 50 caliber rifle. The OEM is Barrett Firearms with a part number of 82143-3. It’s National Stock Number is 1005-01-534-4534.
The bag was last supplied to the military by Statz Corporation for $503.44 at 79 units. Other suppliers include New Era contract sales, JRB Solutions and RBY Industries. DLA estimates annual demand at 74 units.
The solicitation is set aside for Small Business Disabled Veterans. Offers are due by August 31, 2020.
To see this solicitation, log into BidLink and put SPE7L4-20-T-4469 into “Search for Anything”.
DLA Land and Maritime is soliciting 35 ammunition drum exit units for the M61A1 20mm Gatling Gun. This massive gun is mounted to the F-16 aircraft and can deliver 6,000 shots per minute and placing a controlled dispersion of projectiles in the path of the target.
The double-ended linkless ammunition feed system incorporates a compact lightweight composite rotary ammunition drum to store unfired and fired ammunition.
The only supplier of this item for the last 18 years has been Vermont Aerospace. It was last sold to the military for $7,657 each in quantity of 50.
A complete technical data package is available for this item. The solicitation has been set-aside for small business.
Responses are due 8/21/2020, although if you notify the buyer of your interest in competing, they may extend the deadline. DLA is always interested in generating competition for sole source items.
To learn more about this opportunity, log into BidLink and search SPE7L3-20-Q-0740 in “Search for Anything”.
So you’ve found a solicitation you want to bid, but it requires QPL. Here’s what you need to know about QPL and how to qualify.
The defense department maintains a Qualified Parts List (QPL) of information regarding products and manufacturers, as compiled and maintained by the individual Qualifying Activities (QA). Activity is just a fancy word for government agency. Different product classes are maintained by specific agencies. For example, rubber hose is maintained by DLA Land and Maritime, a division of the Defense Logistics Agency.
Items managed under QPL are broken down by military specification and Part or Identifying Number (PIN). For example, mil-spec MIL-DTL-13444J defines the standards relating to rubber hose and hose assemblies. A subcategory of this specification is defined by the PIN, which describes the specific characteristics.
Finding the agency that maintains a particular QPL is key to applying for inclusion on that list.
Finding the right mil-spec
You start with the National Stock Number which is in the solicitation. BidLink has a vast NSN lookup which includes whether the item requires QPL.
Note the words “Competitive – Controlled by QPL”. This means that you must be on the QPL to provide this item to the government. This particular item was listed on a solicitation valued at $17,880.
Next, we need the military specification number and PIN, which is also in BidLink.
Finding Mil-spec and PID in BidLink
In the Part Number Cross-reference, the first number MS52103Z-160760R is the PIN. These are usually preceded by the characters MS. The second number MIL-DTL-13444 is the mil-spec Document ID.
Look up the mil-spec
The official authority on military specifications is the Government’s ASSIST database. There is a quick search but in order to drill down to the Preparing Activity, a login is required. Registration is free.
Once you’re in, click search and enter the document ID. Several results will appear. Look for the most recent one and click it. It’s usually the top result.
Search for mil-spec (click to enlarge)
This takes you to a list of revisions for this spec as well as a litany of other information. Specifications are revised over time, so it’s important to have the most recent one.
Mil-spec details (click to enlarge)
Clicking the media logo next to the topmost revision (Revision J in this case) shows the most recent specification. Here’s a copy of MIL-DTL-13444 so you can see what one looks like. Within the spec you will see information relating to qualification requirements. Read it thoroughly.
Finding who manages the QPL
On the screen above, look for Preparing Activity. You can see that the QPL for this item is maintained by DLA Land and Maritime. The code next to this takes you to the agency contacts.
Contacts that mange this QPL (click to enlarge)
Clicking on a contact name will give you that person’s contact information. This is who you would reach out to regarding possible inclusion on the QPL for rubber hoses.
Specific contact details for QPL (Click to enlarge)
It takes time to be added to the QPL, but this has been shortened as DLA migrates from the legacy system to the Qualified Parts Database (QPD). As items are moved to the QPD, they will be moved off the legacy QPL. Additional information, including a list of companies which belong to a particular QPL can be found here: https://qpldocs.dla.mil/.
Belonging on a QPL proves to the government that you have the capability to build something according to the specification. This means that when bidding on a contract that requires QPL, you may be competing with fewer suppliers.
BidLink helps contractors find government business through it’s superior bid search engine. To learn more, create a risk free trial account.
DLA Aviation is looking for a supplier of switches for the F-15, F-16, F-17 and B-52 aircraft. This Indefinite Delivery Contract (IDC) has a base year and four option years. If all five years are executed, based on the quantities estimated by DLA, the contract could be worth $1.2 Million.
Companies who can supply the following items are encouraged to submit a proposal to DLA:
NSN
Recent price
Initial Quantity
5930-00-147-0261
$292
67
5930-00-988-7542
$332
112
5930-01-108-8972
$196
627
5930-01-191-1233
$194
185
5930-01-435-7675
$131
269
DLA may order more than these quantities up to a maximum contract value of $2,398,406.
Technical documents are available for download from cFolders. This is a 100% small business set-aside. Offers are due by September 14, 2020.
To learn more about this opportunity, log into BidLink and put SPE7MX-20-R-0149 into Search for Anything.
DLA Aviation is soliciting proposals for this humidity plug used in the FA-18 Hornet aircraft. The resulting contract is a five years Indefinite Delivery Contract (IDQ) with one base year and five options. The item, NSN 6685-01-081-7036 is a 5/8 x 1 3/8 aluminum alloy plug.
The only supplier over the last 8 years is AGM Container with a most recent price of $15.35 for 2,182 units. It has been purchased through DOD E-mall in much smaller quantities for $16.99ea.
DLA estimates annual demand of 4,476 units. If all five years of the contract are executed, the contract could be worth $343,533. Proposals are due by September 17, 2020.
Technical documents are available for download through cFolders. The item should comply with MIL-I-26860 and SAE AS26860.
To learn more about this opportunity, log into BidLink and search SPE4A6-20-R-0509 in “Search for Anything”.
DLA Aviation is looking for to issue an Indefinite Delivery Contract (IDC) for shock dampeners used on weapon systems. There are no technical characteristics on this item that describe what system is it used in, but the item is described by DOD as:
An item made of material having elastic properties. It may have rigid mounting facilities such as a flange(s), sleeve(s), stud(s) or the like. It is designed to isolate or dampen shock and/or vibration of a continuous or intermittent origin and serve as a support for a weapon system component to be isolated.
DLA does have a complete technical data package available for download through DIBBS cFolders. It is maintained by Naval Inventory Control Point (NAVICP). Source approval is required.
This item was last supplied to DLA by III Williams, Inc. for $253.50 each in quantity of 143. It has also been supplied by Herber Aircraft, Eastern Aerospace, Mid-coast Industries and T&L Sales. It is currently back-ordered at DLA.
This Indefinite Delivery Contract (IDC) will have one base year and four optional years. DLA Estimates annual demand of 216 units. If all five years are executed, they could purchase 1,080 dampeners making the contract worth $273,780. The contract will allow for a maximum quantity of 1,725 units over the five years if demand requires it.
This item, NSN 5342-00-560-8110 has two OEM part numbers; J5366-35 from Lord Corp / Parker, and GE 3999T02P01.
Offers are due by September 16, 2020. Estimated delivery time is 186 days from order.
To learn more about this RFP, log into BidLink and put SPE4A6-20-R-0496 in the “Search for Anything” box atop the screen.
Single seat F-16C Fighting Falcon production block 50 (Photo credit Robert Barnett)
DLA Aviation has issued a solicitation for five 15 volt regulators used on the F-16 and B-1 Bomber. The item’s official nomenclature is, “REGULATOR PLUS AND MINUS 15 VOLT SUBSTRATE ASSY”.
The regulator is part of the AN/APG-68 Radar set. Although the description is vague, a technical data package is available through DIBBS. The engineering drawings are under the Northrop Grumman part number 782R630G01. The National stock Number is 5998-01-400-1481.
The only two suppliers to date are Northrop Grumman and Harry Krantz. The last purchase by DOD was in 2014 for $11,260 @ 5 units. Although the most recent procurement history is from six years ago, there have been 12 solicitations (presumably unanswered) issued since then.
Offerers shall submit bids by August 21, 2020.
To learn more about this solicitation, log into BidLink and put SPE4A5-20-T-538F in the “Search for Anything” box.
