Five year $871,000 contract for Voltage Regulators

M88 Vehicle recovery
M88 Vehicle recovery

DLA Land and Maritime has issued a solicitation for Voltage Regulators used on the M-88 vehicle recovery system.  This regulator has a National Stock Number of 6110-01-127-6491.  The resulting contract will have three base years and two option years for a total of five. Technical data is available for new vendors to compete.

This regulator was last sold to the military by Edel Engineering Development co for $1,815 in quantity of 254.  Five years prior they were sold for $875 in quantity of 148 by Electro-Tech, inc.

This current solicitation calls for an annual demand quantity of 96 with a total of 480 units over the contract term. The solicitation allows for a maximum dollar value of $1.48 Million.  Based on past procurement history pricing we estimate the value of this contract at $871,000.

All offers are due by October 6, 2025.

To learn more, log into BidLink and put SPE7LX-25-R-X036 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.

Army stocks up on medical supplies

Army medical supplies
Army medical supplies

We have identified 37 solicitations issued through DLA troop support which are destined for the U.S. Army.  These supplies are going to the MAB Global North Region warehouse in Germany.

The DLA Medical Air Bridge (MAB) is one program to modernize and expedite delivery of medical materiel to the Warfighters.  This is a good place for medical suppliers to look for business.  These MABs and Distribution networks serve as transshipments points where supplies are consolidated and shipped in bulk to overseas destinations.

The following items will likely be used in  the U.S. Army Health Clinic Vilseck at the Rose Barracks, Germany.  There is a tight timeline as these close on September 9.

solicitation_no description
SPE2DH-25-T-6224 BLANKET,HEATING
SPE2DH-25-T-6236 PAPER,LENS
SPE2DP-25-T-5212 ANALGESIC GEL,TOPIC
SPE2DP-25-T-5213 CEFTRIAXONE SODIUM,
SPE2DP-25-T-5219 BENZOCAINE AND MENT
SPE2DP-25-T-5220 FLUCONAZOLE TABLETS
SPE2DP-25-T-5221 AZITHROMYCIN TABLET
SPE2DP-25-T-5222 ALBUTEROL SULFATE I
SPE2DP-25-T-5223 LIDOCAINE,PATCH
SPE2DP-25-T-5224 MOXIFLOXACIN HYDROC
SPE2DP-25-T-5225 DOCUSATE SODIUM CAP
SPE2DP-25-T-5226 ARTIFICIAL TEARS SO
SPE2DP-25-T-5227 MUPIROCIN OINTMENT
SPE2DP-25-T-5228 SUNSCREEN AND INSECT REPEL
SPE2DS-25-T-428U CASSETTE,BLOOD-FLUID
SPE2DS-25-T-428V ELECTRODE,ELECTROCA
SPE2DS-25-T-428X SUTURE KIT,SURGICAL
SPE2DS-25-T-428Y CATHETER,INTRAVENOUS
SPE2DS-25-T-428Z WOUND CLOSURE KIT,U
SPE2DS-25-T-429D SUPPORT,PELVIC
SPE2DS-25-T-429M GLOVE,PATIENT EXAMINATION
SPE2DS-25-T-429V DIAGNOSTICS DEVICE,
SPE2DS-25-T-430T BLOOD RECIPIENT SET
SPE2DS-25-T-430U TUBE,TRACHEAL
SPE2DS-25-T-430V SHEET,BED
SPE2DS-25-T-430X GLOVE,PATIENT EXAMINATION
SPE2DS-25-T-430Y WOUND CLOSURE KIT,F
SPE2DS-25-T-430Z BANDAGE,ELASTIC
SPE2DS-25-T-431A CATHETER,INTRAVENOUS
SPE2DS-25-T-431D INSERTION KIT,CHEST
SPE2DS-25-T-431F TUBING,SURGICAL
SPE2DS-25-T-431G INDICATOR,TEMPERATU
SPE2DS-25-T-431J CAUTERY,BATTERY OPE
SPE2DS-25-T-432J COMPRESS AND BANDAG
SPE2DS-25-T-432N INTRAOSSEOUS INFUSI
SPE2DS-25-T-432P ADHESIVE TAPE,SURGI
SPE2DS-25-T-432Q AIRWAY,NASOPHARYNGE

Even though these are being procured through DLA, they are destined for the U.S. Army.

To learn more, log into BidLink and put the above solicitation numbers 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.

$300,000 DLA Solicitation for valves

Aircraft Launch and Recovery System
Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment (ALRE)

DLA Land and Maritime has issued a solicitation for valves used on the Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment which is used on aircraft carriers. This valve (NSN 4820-00-250-0213)  has a technical data package so new vendors can compete. The part number (and drawing number) is A404728-7N.

The last company to supply these to the military was Derbyshire Marine products which sold 3 units at $2,996 ea.  This current procurement calls for 111 units.  The highest quantity order in recent years was 34 units for $1,996ea, but this was before the rampant inflation of the post-Covid era. Derbyshire has been selling these exclusively since 2019 when PCX, inc. was the supplier.

Based on an analysis of past procurement history pricing we estimate the value of this contract at around $300,000.

All offers due by September 5, 2025. Vendors have 180 days from award to deliver the goods.

We selected this solicitation for BidLink News because DOD has announced that they are seeking more suppliers to make items for the ALRE.  You can learn more here:

https://ndia.dtic.mil/wp-content/uploads/2018/dla/D280_AircraftLaunchandRecovery.pdf

This solicitation was issued under Emergency Procurement Authority and is set-aside for small businesses.

To learn more, log into BidLink and put SPE7M1-25-Q-1435 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.

$62,000 solicitation for vehicle ladders

2541-01-479-5953 vehicle ladder
2541-01-479-5953 vehicle ladder

DLA Land and Maritime has issued a solicitation for 554 vehicle ladders (NSN 2541-01-479-5953).  These are used on light-medium tactical vehicle trailers.

These have been supplied to DOD since 2019 by Midwest Industries.  Prior to that several different manufacturers were competing.  They were sold to DLA for $113 in quantity of 149.  Based on past procurement history pricing we estimate the value of this contract at $62,602.

Tech data is available.  All offers due by September 4, 2025.

To learn more, log into BidLink and put SPE7L1-25-R-X024 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.

$300,000 solicitation for parachute bags

DLA Aviation has issued a solicitation for parachute deployment bags (NSN 1670-00-039-5073).  These bags are 36″ x 24″ x 10″ made from plastic polyamide.

They were last sold to the U.S. Military by Butler Parachute for $574 in quantity of 146.  Aerial Machine & Tool sold them for $1,096 EA for 340 units just a year prior.  One possible explanation is that Butler sold the first article test item for $4,156 while Aerial machine sold them for $1,500. It’s hard to predict the final price based on this data but the contract value should be somewhere between $43,800 and $328,800.  DLA has not published annual demand but over the past few years DLA has purchased around 350 units yearly.

Drawings are available for this item.  All responses due by September 16, 2025.

To learn more, log into BidLink and put SPE4A7-25-Q-1428 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.

 

$1.4 Million solicitation for HMMV Antenna

HMMV Antenna 5985-01-297-2971
HMMV Antenna 5985-01-297-2971

DLA Land and Maritime has issued a solicitation which will result in a five year contract for several different types of antenna. Technical data is available for these items and the government has provided 31 days for potential offerers to submit proposals.

NSN

Yearly demand

Past price / qty

Total Price

5985-00-217-0457

45

$540 / 27

$24,300

5985-01-306-4622

1086

$93 / 289

$100,998

5985-01-306-8110

797

$105 / 145

$83,685

5985-01-376-8012

182

$405 / 6

$73,710

Total for 1 year

$282,693

Total for 5 years

$1,413,465

All offers are due by September 15, 2025.

To learn more, log into BidLink and put SPE7MX-25-R-0072 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.

How common are small business set-asides like SDVOSB?

We were speaking with someone from a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB)  that wanted to look at contracts set-aside for companies that qualify.  This started a discussion about how common the various set-aside types are in open solicitations.  To provide some clarity we looked at all open solicitations (29,267 at the time of this article) and pulled a tally of the various set-aside types including small business, Service Disabled Veteran, HubZone, and others.

As we can see below, Service Disabled Veteran Small Businesses are receiving the most set-aside contracts.

Set-aside type Solicitations Percentage
Small business set-aside 5,094 17.41%
Service Disabled Veteran (SDVOSB) 803 2.74%
Woman Owned Small bus sole-source 155 0.53%
Hubzone Set-Aside 85 0.29%
Indian Small Bus 91 0.31%
8a program 27 0.09%
Indian Economic Enterprise 23 0.08%
Small Bus partial set-aside 12 0.04%
Economically Disadvantaged Woman Owned 9 0.03%
Very small business 7 0.02%

Small business set-asides are defined in FAR 19.5.  Hubzones are economically disadvantaged geographic areas as define by FAR 19.13.

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

$350,000 DLA solicitation for A/C relays

DLA Land and Maritime has issued a solicitation for supply of A/C Motor overload relays.  These relays are used on Virginia Class submarines.  The OEM is DRS Naval Power Systems (CAGE 27192) with part number 6957ED104-A1ATN.   This company is a large business with over 1,500 employees.  If two or more small businesses are likely to bid this item could be set-aside for small business (FAR 19.502-2).

This motor overload relay, NSN 5945-01-473-5426 was last sold to the military by Jo-kell, Inc. (CAGE 5V049) which sold them for $4,963 in quantity of 86 units.  The price almost doubled from $2,070 in early 2023.  Jo-Kell has been the only supplier of this item since 2015 when Revere Electric Supply (CAGE 0YM16) sold them.

This solicitation requires 71 units, which is the estimated annual demand over the next 24 months. Based on an analysis of past procurement history pricing we estimate the value of this contract at $350,000.  Contractors have 195 days after award to deliver the goods.

All offers are due by August 6, 2025.

To learn more, log into BidLink and put SPE7M2-25-Q-0947 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.

See NSN details on BidLink
See solicitation details on BidLink

$64,000 DLA solicitations for flags

8345-00-245-3640 Flag
8345-00-245-3640 Flag

DLA Troop Support has issued two solicitations for flags.  These items are relatively easy to produce and present an opportunity for new contractors to start selling to the government.

The first solicitation is for Pennant, Signal Flag NSN 8345-00-914-6085.  The solicitation requests 925 units.  The last company to sell these to the military was Dawn’s Early Lights flags which sold them for $29.85 each in quantity of 1500.  Estimated contract value $26,611.

The second one (from the same buyer) is for an Individual Flag NSN 8345-00-245-3640.  The solicitation quantity is 200 units.  Last vendor was Supply Room, Inc. which sold them for $185 in quantity of 100.  Estimated value $37,000.

Technical data is available for both items via mil-spec MIL-F-2692.  Both solicitations close July 29, 2025.

To learn more, log into BidLink and put SPE1C1-25-Q-0422 or SPE1C1-25-Q-0423 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.

See NSN details on BidLink
See solicitation details on BidLink

Pre-solicitation for F/A-18 aircraft fairing

FA18F Super Hornet
F/A 18F Super Hornet (Photo credit: Thomas Hensely)

DLA Aviation has issued a pre-solicitation for aircraft fairing assemblies for the F/A-18 aircraft. The government issues pre-solicitations when they are doing market research to see if other companies can produce an item.  Currently the only Boeing and Northrop Grumman are approved suppliers.  Pre-solicitations give prospective contractors the opportunity to determine if they can produce an item and inform the government if they can.  This could result in a solicitation being set-aside for small businesses.

There is no procurement history on this item.  The government has an estimated cost of $439,876.  There is also a “net” price of $62,483.  NSN 1560-01-646-6025 is described as “Aircraft Fairing Assembly Nozzle – Aft Fuselage”.  The Northrop part number is 74A343000-1013.  According the government data there are drawings available for this item.

Often when source controlled items like this are solicited there is not enough time for new contractors to obtain drawings and source approval.  Pre-solicitations are not commitments by the government but indicate that DOD is planning to purchase this item in the near future.  This allows additional time for companies to see if they can compete.

All responses are due by July 29, 2025.

To learn more, log into BidLink and put SPE4A5-25-R-0273 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.

See NSN details on BidLink
See solicitation details on BidLink