DLA Aviation has issued a solicitation which will result in a long-term contract for supply of polyethylene cases for M4 and M16 rifles. This case holds 8 fully equipped M4s or M16s or any combination of the two. It includes a pressure relief valve and humidity indicator. Dimensions are 44.75″x34″x18.5.
The last company to sell these to the U.S. Military was Defense Venture Holdings which sold them for $1,978 each in quantity of 90. They were also sold by Beam Distributor. A similar item is manufactured by Pelican Products.
The contract to be issued will last for five years with an estimated annual demand of 121 cases. Based on past procurement history we estimate the value of this contract at $1.1 Million.
All offers are due by February 7, 2024.
To learn more about this opportunity, log into BidLink and put SPE4A7-24-R-0274 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 announced that the agency would like to see more competition to supply Earth Ground Clamps. Currently only one supplier is selling these devices to the U.S. Military.
The government has been purchasing the Fluke 1630-2, NSN 6625-01-561-9539. It has a resistance range from 0.025 to 1500 with a 35MM jaw opening. It measures earth ground loop resistances for multi-grounded systems using the dual-clamp jaw. This test technique eliminates the dangerous and time-consuming activity of disconnecting parallel grounds, as well as the process of finding suitable locations for auxiliary test stakes.
The only company supplying these to the military is International Television Corp, which sold 16 units for $1,997.92 each. A single unit online is retailing for $2,523. DLA purchases approximately 48 of these units each year.
There is no current solicitation for this item, but DLA procures it regularly and wants to line up other potential suppliers. If a suitable replacement is offered, the government will evaluate and potentially approve the new source.
To learn more about this item, log into BidLink and put 6625-01-561-9539 into the “Search for Anything” box. BidLink can assist your company in acquiring samples from DLA.
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The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has issued an RFP which will result in a five year contract to supply cowl frames for the B-52. This component is made with QQ-A-362 Fed Spec Single Material and has dimensions of 13.4″ x 3.5″ x 0.04″. The National Stock Number of the Boeing item is 1560-01-151-9424. Technical data is available for new companies to compete.
The current and only supplier is Aero Components which sold this item for $1,295 each in quantity of 29. DLA will issue periodic delivery orders against this contract with an estimated annual quantity of 60.
We estimate the value of this contract at $388,500. All offers are due by Dec 28, 2023.
To learn more about this opportunity, log into BidLink and put SPE4A7-24-R-0127 into the “Search for Anything” box. More solicitations like this can be found using BidLink’s intelligent solicitation search.
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While digging through the FAR, I found something that might be useful to our readers. One of our clients provides something for which there is a shortage of supply at DLA. Most of the business goes to an incumbent contractor who cannot keep up with the demand from the military.
The military is growing increasingly concerned with maintaining the supply base, and has taken steps to help more companies compete for in-demand items. For items were there may be a supply shortage due to a single company dominating the market, one might be able to convince the buyer to omit that company from a solicitation.
6.202 Establishing or maintaining alternative sources.
(a) Agencies may exclude a particular source from a contract action in order to establish or maintain an alternative source or sources for the supplies or services being acquired if the agency head determines that to do so would:
(1) Increase or maintain competition and likely result in reduced overall costs for the acquisition, or for any anticipated acquisition;
(2) Be in the interest of national defense in having a facility (or a producer, manufacturer, or other supplier) available for furnishing the supplies or services in case of a national emergency or industrial mobilization;
(3) Be in the interest of national defense in establishing or maintaining an essential engineering, research, or development capability to be provided by an educational or other nonprofit institution or a federally funded research and development center;
(4) Ensure the continuous availability of a reliable source of supplies or services;
(5) Satisfy projected needs based on a history of high demand; or
(6) Satisfy a critical need for medical, safety, or emergency supplies.
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DLA aviation is looking for companies to compete to produce this cable assembly used in the A-10 and F-16 aircraft. This cable, NSN 6150-01-628-9758 has a manufacturer’s part number of A13091-5. It is managed out of Hill AFB.
6150-01-628-9758
Currently there is only one supplier, Thales Defense, which sold this cable to the military for $2,784 ea in quantity of 130. DLA estimates that they will purchase 119 of these cables each year.
6150-01-628-9758
The government is so interested in finding additional suppliers that they are making samples of this item available for companies to reverse engineer. There are no drawings or technical documentation available at this time.
6150-01-628-9758
There is no current solicitation for this item, but DLA procures it regularly and wants to line up other potential suppliers.
To learn more about this item, log into BidLink and put 6150-01-628-9758 into the “Search for Anything” box. BidLink can assist your company in acquiring samples from DLA.
Tired of DIBBS / SAM and bid services that don’t understand defense contracting? Try BidLink for free at www.bidlink.net.
DLA Land and Maritime has issued a solicitation which will result in a five year contract for supply of metal trash cans. These trash cans (NSN 2040-01-347-0949) are constructed of .020″ – .025″ thick non-galvanized steel. A competitive data package is available for this item as described in drawing number 03950 H2040-800-1411 revision 8 DTD 05/09/1967.
The government will issue periodic delivery orders against this contract with a minimum quantity of 136 and maximum of 3,258. The government estimates annual demand at 2,173. The unit of issue is 1 dozen (DZ).
These trash cans were last sold to the military by DC Precision for $119 each in quantity of 1,370 DZ. They were sold in a smaller quantity of 175 by Germantown Tool Machine for $279.50 each.
Based on past procurement history we estimate the value of this contract at $1.2 Million. All offers due by Dec 6, 2023.
To learn more about this opportunity, log into BidLink and put SPE7MX-23-R-0117 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 has issued a solicitation which will result in a five year contract for branched wiring harnesses used in the M88 recovery vehicle. The solicitation covers two National Stock Numbers:
NSN
5 yr demand
Unit price
Total
6150-01-607-7132
55
$1,298
$71,390
6150-01-607-0301
375
$98
$36,750
The incumbent contractor is American Devices, Inc. A technical data package is available for both these items so new companies can compete. Based on past procurement history pricing we estimate the value of this contract at $108,140.
All offers are due by November 14, 2023.
Tired of DIBBS / SAM and bid services that don’t understand defense contracting? Try BidLink for free at www.bidlink.net.
To learn more about this opportunity, log into BidLink and put SPE4A6-24-R-X180 into the “Search for Anything” box. More solicitations like this can be found using BidLink’s intelligent solicitation search.
Part of an ongoing series of tips and information to help new contractors learn the business of Defense Contracting. Today we’re going to discuss a little known FAR regulation that I used to snipe a contract from a competitor.
This company controls more than 90% of the market for the sale of our type of data to the U.S. Military. One of the ways they have accomplished this is by getting buyers to use their overly restrictive Procurement Item Description (PID) in solicitations. This includes obsolete databases that are no longer available and not used by the government. When the government lists specific requirements in the PID anyone bidding has to be able to provide ALL of the requirements. You’re missing one, you’re out.
Sometimes the government will request a specific brand name when they believe that brand is the only one that can satisfy the government’s needs. FAR 8.405-6 Limiting Sources limits the ability to use brand names:
(b) (1) Brand name specifications shall not be used unless the particular brand name, product, or feature is essential to the Government’s requirements, and market research indicates other companies’ similar products, or products lacking the particular feature, do not meet, or cannot be modified to meet, the agency’s needs.
This procedure requires a Justification and Approval showing that the brand is the only one that satisfies the requirement.
Because of this limitation the government will often used “Brand Name or Equal” to provide the opportunity for competition. If a company can compete with a brand name requirement, they can ask the buyer to change the solicitation to Brand name or Equal. When using this provision the contracting officer must include a list of salient characteristics describing the item. This is described in FAR 11.104:
(b) Brand name or equal purchase descriptions must include, in addition to the brand name, a general description of those salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics of the brand name item that an “equal” item must meet to be acceptable for award. Use brand name or equal descriptions when the salient characteristics are firm requirements.
Here’s where exact wording is so important in government contracting. If the law specifically requires something, buyers are required to adhere to the letter of the law as it is written.
Sniping the contract
In our case, the buyer used our competitor’s brand name in the solicitation but failed to include the salient characteristics describing which features are required. When this happens, since the government didn’t specifically describe the requirements needed to be “equal” to the brand name, it is assumed that all bidders satisfy the equality requirement and it’s awarded to the lowest bidder. After the close of the solicitation, we reminded the buyer of this and won the contract.
The point is, know the FAR regulations and always be looking for mistakes that buyers make.
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DLA Aviation has announced that they are looking for additional suppliers to provide this externally threaded shank adapter ,NSN 4710-01-507-7949, used on the Eagle F-15, F-16, and A-10 aircraft. It is managed out of Robins AFB, GA.
Although the item doesn’t specifically say where its used, it’s probably part of some Control Unit such as an adapter for a solenoid shaft like a push/pull operation. It’s a simple item with a hole in the larger diameter of the shaft with a thread at the opposite end. The largest diameter is around a ½ inch with overall length about 1-1/2 inches.
There is only one supplier of this item, Hamilton Sunstrand, which last sold these for $415 ea in quantity of 26. DLA estimates that they will purchase 748 of these each year.
4710-01-507-7949
There are no drawings available but DLA is so interested in finding competition that they are making samples for companies to reverse engineer. This is a simple turned part that any machine shop can produce, and could provide a great opportunity for companies looking to get into defense contracting ahead of a possible recession.
4710-01-507-7949
Based an analysis of past procurement history pricing we estimate that the government will spend $310,420 each year on this item. DLA’s internal estimate is higher at $465,951.
4710-01-507-7949
To learn more about this item, log into BidLink and put 4710-01-507-7949 into the “Search for Anything” box. BidLink can assist your company in acquiring samples from DLA.
Tired of DIBBS / SAM and bid services that don’t understand defense contracting? Try BidLink for free at www.bidlink.net.
DLA Aviation has issued a solicitation for R134a refrigerant reclaimers, NSN 4250-01-555-7587. The resulting contract will have one base year and four option years for a total of five. This is a commercial off-the-shelf item. More than one contract may be issued to multiple suppliers if a single supplier is not able to keep up with the demand.
These reclaimers are used in a variety of military vehicles. The dimensions are 24″ x 34″ x 46″ with a description as follows:
FULLY COMPLIANT WITH SAE J-2788 STANDARD, 95 PERCENT RECOVERY EFFICIENCY, START TO FINISH AUTO-SEQUENCE PROGRAMMABILITY, 4 X 20 CHARACTER BACKLIT LCD DISPLAY, BEEPER ALARM TO NOTIFY USER WHEN A/C SERVICE IS COMPLETE, RUST FREE-DENT FREE MOLDED PLASTIC HOUSING
The last company to sell them to the military was Bosch Automotive (Part # 34788NI). It has also been supplied by Service Solutions, Integrated Supply, and SPX Corporation. An alternate part number EEAC325AB is from IDSC Holdings. They were last sold for $3,198 each in quantity of 24. The military expects to buy 775 units over the contract term.
Based on an analysis of past procurement history pricing we estimate the value of this contract at $2.4 Million.
All offers are due by Nov 3, 2023.
To learn more about this opportunity, log into BidLink and put SPE4A6-23-R-0466 into the “Search for Anything” box. More solicitations like this can be found using BidLink’s intelligent solicitation search.
