Manufacturers looking to sell to the Department of Defense for the first time or seeking to increase your DOD sales should always be on the lookout for items with only one Manufacturer. In this article we will quickly look at Antennas the DOD buys.
Government contractors spend much of their time searching for DOD bids and sometimes forget to spend time researching beyond that one bid opportunity. Reviewing data such as past contract sales (procurement history) of a specific company or commodity can lead you into directions you may not have seen. The data tells the story.
This week a question came up after reviewing some open government solicitations for antennas. We looked at a few of the NSNs listed, then looked at procurement history and listed manufacturers. Of the very small number of NSNs we reviewed a trend was beginning unveil itself – Only One Manufacturer. If you were a manufacturer of antennas or a similar/related product you might consider becoming a manufacturer of antennas for DOD.
Even if you don’t manufacturer antennas, there are millions of NSNs DOD buys on a regular basis and many of them will have only one listed manufacturer and the data will tell you. DOD opportunities lie way beyond bid searching and this is one of the ways successful government contractors think.
The Department of Defense is always looking for new manufacturers, however most of the time they are not knocking at your door, it’s up to you to find these opportunities and looking at the data is a great start.
BidLink provides quick access to detailed DOD contract data gathered from 100’s of sources over the past 20 years. Set up a Free trial NOW at BidLink.net
Are you are a new company looking to sell products to DOD or possibly improve your results in winning Department of Defense (DOD) contracts, here’s one tip – Find the most detailed contract award data you can.
Successful Government contactors know exactly what DOD buys and how they buy it.
If you know DOD buys products you sell using long term contracts, then that’s how you need to sell.
DOD purchases products using a variety of methods such as posted solicitations, long term contracts, and direct-catalog sales. Knowing which method(s) DOD buys products you want to sell, will greatly improve your chances of being awarded government contracts.
One of ways to quickest ways to find out how DOD buys products is to review past sales of companies currently selling those products you which to sell. The more detailed data you can find the better.
What I’m referring to when I mention details is – Exactly and I mean Exactly what was sold. Knowing details like manufacturer, part number and NSN will greatly increase your chances of being awarded the DOD contract, because you know the details guiding you on how to sell it.
Here is an example of what you might find on a government site such as FPDS:
Contract number: SPE7L7…
NAICS Code: 444130 – Hardware Stores
Product/Service Code: 5120 – Hand Tools, Nonedged, Nonpowered
Does the above data tell you what was sold? NO
Imagine how your business would thrive if you knew the details of exactly what DOD was buying and how they purchased it. You can obtain detailed data through FOIA requests or at places such as DIBBS (only for a limited time). Commercial subscription services specializing in Government contract data such as www.bidlink.net or consultants provide this type of information.
Here is an example telling you exactly what was purchased:
Contract number: SPE7L7…
NSN: 6230-01-513-2663
Description: Aluminum LED Lamp Flashlight, 2 AA, Black, 6 ¼ inch
Manufacturer: National Industries for the Blind
If a DOD buyer came to your catalog, you didn’t offer this item – they might just go somewhere else and you just lost the sale.
As descriptive words in a novel reveal the story, the detailed DOD contract data known as “past procurement history” can help you become a successful government contractor by telling you exactly what DOD is buying.
Companies buy tools, equipment, purchase software and consult with experts to become more efficient – BidLink one of the tools successful Government contractors have relied on for the past 20 years. Set up a Free trial NOW at BidLink.net
BidLink provides quick access to detailed DOD contract data gathered from 100’s of sources over the past 20 years.
We’ve found another way to get the beta.sam solicitations into BidLink while they fix their feed. You will see the new SAM results in your searches if they match.
Daylight Savings Time Ends – Don’t forget to set your clocks back tomorrow (Photo Credit jimgphotos.com)
Daylight Savings Time
What is Daylight Savings Time?
Daylight Savings Time (DST) is when clocks are moved one hour ahead of (local) Standard Time, creating the effect of more sunlit hours in evenings in the United States, European countries call it “Summer-time period”
When does Daylight Savings Time end?
Daylight Savings Time ends at 2:00 a.m. the first Sunday of November – this year it’s November 3, 2019. Clocks are moved back “falling back” one hour to local Standard Time. This transition from Daylight Savings Time to Standard Time effectively moves one hour of daylight from the evening to the morning.
When Daylight Savings Time begins we “spring ahead” effectively doing the opposite by moving one hour of daylight from the morning to the evening.
The Daylight Saving Time rules were changed in 2007 by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 in the interest of reducing energy consumption, we added a few weeks.
Daylight Saving Time Studies
Conflicting studies have been published over the years showing both positive and negative benefits of Daylight Saving Time, such as Energy savings and Potential health effects according to Congressional Research Service reports.
Standard Time
What is Standard Time?
Standard Time is a uniform time for a place (a zone) based on its longitudinal location in reference to the Prime Meridian. The Prime Meridian located at Greenwich, England is the chosen arbitrary reference point on the earth representing 0 degrees longitude. Standard Time zones are areas based on the longitudinal position (plus or minus) from the Prime Meridian.
The first Standard Time zone for the United States is minus (-) four hours from the Prime Meridian. On a world scale Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) formerly known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is the primary time standard used and is referenced to the Prime Meridian.
The worlds time zones
U.S. Time Zones
U.S. Time Zones
Which U.S. Government agency oversees the Nation’s time zones and Daylight Savings Time?
Defense Information Systems Agency
Department of Agriculture
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Department of Transportation
If you guessed choice 4, you are correct.
The Department of Transportation oversees Daylight Savings Time and Time zones.
History of Standard Time and Daylight Saving Time (DST)
Prior to the adoption of our current four-zone time system, both U.S. and Canadian railroad terminals across the country observed around a 100 different locally established time zones. In 1883 a four (4) time zone system was adopted by the railroads to reduce confusion and help govern their operations when it came to Interstate Commerce.
In 1918 the Federal Government enacted the Standard Time Act. The Interstate Commerce Commission had the responsibility to establish boundaries between the standard time zones in the continental United States. This responsibility was transferred to Department of Transportation (DOT) in 1966 after Congress created the DOT. (“It is the policy of the United States to promote the adoption and observance of uniform time within the standard time zones prescribed by the Act entitled An Act to save daylight and to provide standard time for the United States, approved March 19, 1918.”)
The “Uniform Time Act of 1966” established a system of uniform Daylight Saving Time throughout the Nation. Time zone boundaries can be changed by Congress or the Secretary of Transportation.
Currently Daylight Saving Time is not observed in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and most of Arizona.
Don’t forget to set your clocks back tomorrow…
BidLink is online search tool to find government information such as contracts, procurement history, solicitations, NSN/part number information and market research relating to the products and services the U.S. Government purchases. If you are interested to see specific contracts or find more information Sign up for a free trial Now at www.bidlink.net
Supermarket Sushi Preparation Table with Refrigerated Self-Service Grab and Go Display Case – CED 1D07
The Department of Defense buys commercial type Restaurant, Delicatessen and Supermarket supplies and equipment. DOD Departments and Agencies needs vary depending on the use of the item. Today we will quickly look at one item the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) buys on a regular basis: Supermarket Refrigerated Self-Service Display Cases for Sushi.
This Open Air Refrigerated Display Case with Sushi Preparation table is currently supplied to the Defense Commissary Agency by a small business. This company has sold over a Million dollars under a long term government contract supplying these sushi prep tables along with two other grocery store refrigerated self-service grab and go display cases; this contract is set to expire January 31, 2019, to see awarded contracts search on the word “sushi”.
DeCA delicatessen department, Commissary Equipment Description 1D07 describes the refrigerated display cases general operating specifications; “Table, Sushi preparation” is the official name. The refrigerated display cases are to be shipped ready to plug in and use. Specifications are available for any company to review with the solicitation.
What is it used for ?
As a sushi preparation area and self-service, grab-n-go refrigerated display case used in Defense Commissary Agency supermarkets.
Manufacturers of Refrigerated Merchandisers, Grab-N-Go Display Cases, Restaurant Supplies and Equipment or Supermarket supplies might be interested in this long term Government Contract.
Solicitation Details:
HDEC04-19-R-0037
Defense Commissary Agency
Supply & Equipment Division
Building P 11200, 1300 E Avenue
Fort Lee, VA 23801-1800
Item: Table, Sushi preparation Table, Sushi preparation
Various Sizes Requested
Small Business Set-aside
Base Year plus 4 Option Years
Interested in seeing other similar type items – search Federal Supply Class 4110 – Refrigeration Equipment (Includes Grocery Type Display Cases)
BidLink is online search tool to find government contracts, procurement history, solicitations, NSN/part number information and market research relating to the products and services the Department of Defense purchases. If you are interested to see specific contracts or find more information Sign up for a free trial Now at www.bidlink.net
Defense Commissary Agency – The Defense Department’s Supermarket
The Defense Commissary Agency is the Defense Department’s Supermarket. Military personnel and their families shop at these Military Supermarkets located on military bases worldwide. The Defense Commissary Agency known as DeCA currently operates 236 stores.
DeCA purchases both the equipment used in the stores, items like freezers, food display cases and shelving as well as the products sold in the stores. Most of the Government contracts for these items are awarded to small businesses.
Equipment the Defense Commissary Agency Buys – To operate the stores
Refrigerated grocery display cases
Freezers
Shelving
Food service equipment
Open air coolers
Pallet jacks
Meat slicers
Products sold at Defense Commissary Agency Stores
Any product you see for sale in any modern supermarkets is sold in the Defense Commissary Agency stores. Products sold include name brands as well as their own store brands such as HomeBase and TopCare.
DeCA sells its groceries and household supplies at a significant savings compared to commercial grocery stores. A five percent surcharge is applied patron purchases to finance buying store equipment, appliances and to modernize existing stores.
Small Business Contracts
68.96 percent of the government contracts awarded by the Defense Commissary Agency were awarded to small businesses in Fiscal 2018 according to DeCA.
Companies selling products in the categories above should consider the Defense Commissary Agency as one of many government agencies for finding potential government contracts.
Defense Commissary Agency Contracts and Solicitations
When searching for Defense Commissary Agency government contracts or solicitations use the same techniques used to find bids from any other Government agency. Use Federal Supply Class or Federal Group Codes as well as simple keywords.
BidLink is online search tool to find government contracts, procurement history, solicitations, NSN/part number information and market research relating to the products and services the Department of Defense purchases.
Gorman Rupp Hydraulic Pump Unit NSN 4320-01-618-6603 Part Number 03H14A-HYD/S1
The Defense Logistics Agency awarded the Gorman-Rupp Company an IDIQ contract for the manufacture of Hydraulic Pump Units for the HEMTT vehicles with a maximum potential contract value of $7,245,900.00. The M978A4 HEMTT Hydraulic Pump Replacement NSN The previous supplier of the old M978A4 HEMTT fuel pump assembly was Coordinated Defense Supply Systems.
Although the DOD contract announcement released yesterday did not mention any specifics to what they are purchasing, we performed some quick research in BidLink to see what we could find.
A quick look at Government contracts Gorman-Rupp was winning turned up some interesting results. There was a contract awarded in 2016 (Gorman-Rupp CAGE code 25567) for a 5 Year IDIQ contract to manufacture Hydraulic Fuel Pump Units (NSN 4320-01-618-6603) for use on the HEMTT M978A4 Vehicle.
A recent solicitation posted in BidLink (also in FedBizOpps FBO.gov) showed on open government solicitation from DLA Land Warren for a 5 Year IDIQ contract on “Hydraulic Pump Units” from Gorman-Rupp NSN 4320-01-618-6603 used on HEMTT vehicles.
HEMTT Fuel Pump Problems
A few years back there were problems with the fuel pump failing. The problem was the old pump did not meet build specifications, underwent internal component changes without going through proper ECP processes ended up having a high catastrophic failure rate due to a defective bearing. Since the fuel pump is used in HEMTT tanker fueling operations, it could no longer deliver fuel to the aircraft or vehicles it was providing.
The old M978A4 HEMTT fuel pump assembly NSN was 4320-01-579-1044, part number 03H14A-HYD. Coordinated Defense Supply Systems (CAGE code 4DEY3) distributor of parts supplied this NSN under contract SPRDL1-11-C-0056.
Today the M978A4 HEMTT Hydraulic Pump replacement NSN is 4320-01-618-6603. Gorman-Rupp owns the intellectual property of the pump and Oshkosh Defense is the OEM of the HEMMT M978A4.
Contract Number: SPRDL1-20-D-0006
Contract Type: indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ)
Contract Award date: October 10, 2019
Contract Awarded to: Gorman-Rupp Company, stock symbol GRC
Contract CAGE code: 25567
Contracting Office: DLA Land Warren
Depot Level Reparable (DLR)
Procurement operations
Warren, MI 48397-5000
APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar System
Today October 9, 2019 the Navy awarded Raytheon Company (RTN), $11,954,744.00 to procure spare parts in support of APG-79 radar system on the F/A-18 aircraft.
The APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar System is used on the F/A-18 Super Hornet. Today’s award – delivery order number N00383-20-F-UX00 was placed against Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) N00383-19-G-UX01.
Work will be performed by Raytheon in its factory in Forest, Mississippi which was expanded in 2015. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support is the contracting Activity.
BidLink is an on-line tool to quickly find government contract opportunities, review past contract awards, procurement history and a market research tool. Sign up now for a free trial at www.bidlink.net
The DLA Land and Maritime Batteries & Tires Division is currently looking for suppliers of 12 Volt rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries. Several government solicitations have been posted in the past few months for the item with NSN 6140-01-642-6920.
This current open solicitation is for Two hundred forty two (242) 12-volt rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries used on the hand carried portable Thales A/N PRC-148 Radio. This small rechargeable battery, which is about the size of your hand, is fairly expensive when compared to other Li-ion batteries used by the Department of Defense.
You can find this solicitation and thousands of others in BidLink, simply put this NSN 6140-01-642-6920 in a Bid Search to see the details. Note that this solicitation closes Friday Oct. 11.
BidLink is an on-line tool to quickly find government contract opportunities, review past contract awards, procurement history and a market research tool. Sign up now for a free trial at www.bidlink.net
