Category: Industry News

DLA Aviation is conducting market research in an attempt to find additional suppliers for a list of parts used on the F-18 aircraft.  These components include structural supports, access covers, fuel feed assemblies, bushings, and aircraft skin. DLA provided an F-18 parts list in an attempt to attract small businesses who can provide the same manufacturing capability as Northrop Grumman, the current exclusive supplier.

They government explicitly requested responses from HUBZone Small Business concerns; Certified 8(a) Small Business concerns, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business concerns, and Woman-Owned Small Business concerns.  Any airframe companies with the capability to produce these items are encouraged to respond.

All offers are due by September 24, 2021.

To learn more about this opportunity, log into BidLink and put SPE4AX-22-R-0001 into the “Search for Anything” box.  More solicitations like this can be found using BidLink’s intelligent solicitation search.

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DLA Land and Maritime will be issuing a long-term contract for the supply of HumVee Brush Guards.  This brush guard, NSN 2510-01-491-6919 mounts on the front of the vehicle. The contract will last for up to five years with three base years and the option to extend for an additional two.  Periodic delivery orders will be issued for the term of the contract.

They were last sold to the military by Seastrand Engineering for $281.20 each in quantity of 339.  Single units retail for $550.  Other suppliers include OSM Corporation, DC Precision, and SSI Technology. There is no set quantity on this order, but DLA estimates that they will buy 585 brush guards each year.  Based on past procurement history we estimate the value of this contract at $821,925 if all five years are executed.

All offers are due by October 17, 2021.

To learn more about this opportunity, log into BidLink and put SPE7LX-21-R-0150 into the “Search for Anything” box.  More solicitations like this can be found using BidLink’s intelligent solicitation search.

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DLA Troop Support has issued a solicitation for women’s and men’s weather resistant gloves.  These gloves, NSN 8415-01-539-8176 will span sizes from small to X-large wide. The contract will be broken into two lots, one set-aside for small businesses and one that is unrestricted. The contract will span up to five years with one base and four option years against which DLA will submit periodic delivery orders. The green gloves are part of the Army Combat Uniform (ACU) and comply with military specification MIL-DTL-44419A.

There is no set quantity on the contract, but DLA estimates they will purchase 38,920 each year from each lot.  A minimum quantity is set at 9,575 each year and a five year maximum of 239,310 per lot.

They were last sold to the military by Nationwide Glove for $43.63 in quantity of 48 units. Based on past procurement history we estimate each lot is worth $8.4 million for a total contract value of $16.8 million over five years.

All offers are due by October 18, 2021.

To learn more about this opportunity, log into BidLink and put SPE1C1-21-R-0021 into the “Search for Anything” box.  More solicitations like this can be found using BidLink’s intelligent solicitation search.

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DLA Aviation is soliciting fluid valves used on the F-16 aircraft.  These regulating valves, NSN 4820-01-073-1798 have a maximum pressure rating of 60PSI.  The contract will have one base year and two option years for a total of three years against which DLA will submit periodic delivery orders.  Vendors have 327 days from date of order to deliver the goods. If you haven’t sold this part to the military before, a source approval request must be included with the bid.  Technical data is available on this item so companies can compete.

The last company to sell this valve to the military was Transaero, Inc. for $2,695 in quantity of 74.  A larger order for 275 units was priced at $2,195 each.  JBL System Solutions , a veteran owned business has also supplied this part.  There is no set quantity for this contract, but DLA estimates they they will purchase 143 of these valves each year.  Based on past procurement history we estimate the value of this contract at $1.1 Million if all three years are executed.

All offers are due by October 18, 2021.

To learn more about this opportunity, log into BidLink and put SPE7MX-21-R-0149 into the “Search for Anything” box.  More solicitations like this can be found using BidLink’s intelligent solicitation search.

 

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DLA Aviation is planning to issue a five year contract for supply of dial pressure gauges. These 4½” pressure gauges, NSN 6685-01-254-0482 have a range of 0 to 100 PSI.  Technical data is available on this item so new companies can compete.  This multi-year contract will have two base years with the option to extend for an additional two years.  DLA almost always exercises all option years of a contract unless there is an issue with the supplier. Periodic delivery orders will be issued against this contract for the entire term.

They were last supplied to the military by MMC Metrology for $1,150 in quantity of 13.  MMC has been the exclusive supplier of these gauges to the military since 2007.  There is no set quantity in the contract, but DLA estimates that they will purchase 146 units each year.  The guaranteed minim annual quantity is 37.  Based on past procurement history pricing, we estimate the value of this contract at $839,500 if all five years are executed.

This contract is set-aside for small businesses.  All offers are due by September 29, 2021.

To learn more about this opportunity, log into BidLink and put SPE4A6-21-R-XE18 into the “Search for Anything” box.  More solicitations like this can be found using BidLink’s intelligent solicitation search.

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DLA Aviation ASC Commodities Division is soliciting 10″ umbilical cables used on the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile.  Technical documentation is available on this item so new companies can compete.  A source approval request will be required along with the quote for vendors not already approved to make this cable, NSN 6150-01-506-9685.  Specialized cables can be a lucrative business, so it’s definitely worth looking at.

The last company to sell this cable to the military was ITT Corporation for $2,091 in quantity of 169.  Triac Systems has also produced this cable.  This current solicitation is for 397 cables.  DLA estimates annual demand at 130 units.  Based on past procurement history we estimate the value at $831,715.

All offers are due by October 13, 2021.  A first article test item is required before the remaining quantity is produced.

To learn more about this opportunity, log into BidLink and put SPE4A6-21-R-0623 into the “Search for Anything” box.  More solicitations like this can be found using BidLink’s intelligent solicitation search.

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DLA Troop Support, Clothing and Textile division is soliciting 48,200 yards of weather and fire resistant cloth.  They are used for the manufacture of protective covers and tarpaulins.  The 3 ply blue material will have a width of 50 inches.  Technical data is available on this item by specifications MIL-C-43006 and A-A-55308.

This material was last sold to the military by DAF Products for $6.69 in quantity of 14,544.  Other suppliers include Dandcote Corp, D.C. Humphry, and Snyder Manufacturing.  Based on past procurement history we estimate the value of this contract at $321,120.

All offers are due by October 13, 2021.

To learn more about this opportunity, log into BidLink and put SPE1C1-21-Q-0051 into the “Search for Anything” box.  More solicitations like this can be found using BidLink’s intelligent solicitation search.

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DLA Land and Maritime has issued a solicitation for Nickel Metal Hydride batteries.  These batteries, NSN 6140-01-490-4317 are used in various military communications devices including the AN/PSC-5 radio. It’s a multi-voltage rechargeable battery with a built-in charge indicator and according to the related Mil-Spec MIL-PRF-32052, which calls out a minimum capacity requirement of 4.8 ampere hours and nominal voltage of 12/24 Volts.  The OEM part number is BB-390/U NIMH.

The solicitation is for 1,205 batteries and one first article test item.  They were last sold to the military by Bren-Tronics, a leading supplier if batteries to the military for $210.55 each.  A first article test item was sold for $10,474.  DLA estimates annual demand at 9,281 units. Based on past procurement history pricing we estimate the value of this contract at $1.4 Million.

This is a perfect opportunity for a battery manufacturer interested in producing one of the most popular Mil-Spec batteries.

The contract is set-aside for small businesses.  All offers are due by Sept 20, 2021.

To learn more about this opportunity, log into BidLink and put SPE7L7-21-Q-0309 into the “Search for Anything” box.  More solicitations like this can be found using BidLink’s intelligent solicitation search.

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A NAICS code, North American Industry Classification System is a code which classifies a business establishment by type of industry.  NAICS codes are 6-digit codes, some are ambiguous e.g. 334419 – Defined as “Other Electronic Component Manufacturing”.  NAICS codes represent industry classifications, NOT product classifications.

The Department of Defense and SAM registration CAGE codes require choosing these codes which associates your company with the types of industries your company represents. DOD solicitations will list a NAICS code representing the item procured. The problem is when used in solicitations some codes are incorrectly chosen or don’t represent all items being procured, especially when one solicitation lists several items.

When using NAICS codes to search for government solicitations your results may be poor due to the fact that NAICS codes represents an industry and not products.  A more accurate way to search for products listed in DOD solicitations would be to use Product Codes otherwise known as Federal Supply Class codes FSC’s, these codes represent the Product Category of the item being procured and are the first four digits of the NSN.

Here is a perfect example of a DOD Solicitation that listed a NAICS code which did not relate to a majority of the items being procured.  SPE7MX-21-R-0120 lists NAICS 334419 Other Electronic Component Manufacturing and this solicitation lists a variety of products, 16 in total with a potential contract value of over 2 Million Dollars.

Here a just a few of the items listed in the above solicitation along with their associated FSCs which relate to the product category of the item.:

Hose Assembly – FSC 4720
Tube Nipple – FSC 4730
Linear Microcircuit – FSC 5962
Optical Prism – FSC 6650
Fuel Tank Parts Kit – FSC 2910

If your company was searching for government bids relating to any of the above items, your “Bid Search” probably would have not contained the NAICS code 334419 and you would have missed this one.  However if you searched for bids using FSC’s you would have a much better chance and more accurate bid results.

BidLink Software Systems is an industry leader in DOD Bid Search and Procurement Research tools.

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DLA Aviation is soliciting 600 PSI pressure gauges used in submarines.  These half inch dial indicating pressure gauges, NSN 6685-01-122-5941 have a 50 PSI graduation unit with minimum increments of 5 PSI.  The OEM is Ashcroft Pressure Gages.  The contract will have three base years and two optional years against which DLA will submit periodic delivery orders with a minimum quantity of 7 and a maximum of 27.

The last company to supply these to the military is MMC Metrology Lab for $450 each in quantity of 4.  There is no set quantity of this contract, but DLA estimates annual demand at 92.  If all five years of the contract are executed, it could be worth $207,000.

All offers are due by September 4, 2021.

To learn more about this opportunity, log into BidLink and put SPE4A6-21-R-XD71 into the “Search for Anything” box.  More solicitations like this can be found using BidLink’s intelligent solicitation search.

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