BA-21A Parachute Replacement
Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- ROUK-25-004
- Agency
-
AFLCMC Wright Patterson AFB
Lifecycle Management Center, Department of Defense
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 314999 All Other Miscellaneous Textile Product Mills
- Place of performance
- Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio 45433, United States
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Air Force Materiel Command Lifecycle Management Center (AFLCMC) at Wright Patterson Air Force Base is conducting a market assessment to identify vendors capable of providing a replacement parachute system for the BA-21A parachute currently used in B-52H ejection seats. The government seeks a lightweight, backpack-style parachute system that meets specific safety, performance, and compatibility requirements outlined in the attached Systems Requirements Document. Interested vendors must submit responses by February 4, 2026 at 12:00 PM EST demonstrating their technical capabilities, production capacity, cost estimates, and ability to meet system requirements. Responses are limited to 20 pages and must include detailed company information, NAICS code 314999 classification, product sheets, test data, and a Rough Order of Magnitude cost estimate. Vendors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM), and the government will evaluate responses based on demonstrated expertise with parachute systems, technical qualifications to meet the specified requirements, and capacity to support production.
The pre-solicitation notice currently includes no set-aside designation, though the government has indicated it may pursue a small business set-aside if at least two small business contractors demonstrate capability to perform at least 50 percent of the effort. The total production requirement is 546 parachute units to equip all B-52 aircraft including spares and training units, with the new system required to weigh between 17 pounds (objective) and 22 pounds (threshold), compared to the current 31-pound BA-21A system. The parachute system must support aircrew members weighing 122 to 350 pounds, provide a descent rate of no more than 24 feet per second, maintain a 15-year service life with annual repack cycles, and integrate seamlessly with existing B-52 ejection seats and aircrew equipment. No specific award value or budget range has been disclosed in this pre-solicitation phase, as the government is conducting market research to assess vendor capabilities and obtain cost information before proceeding to formal solicitation.
Notice text
AFLCMC/ROU is conducting a market assessment to identify potential sources and companies that may possess the expertise, capabilities, and experience with parachute systems to met AF requirements. To gather information on the current state and availability of vendors which can provide a solution to the BA-21A parachute system replacement efforts and comptabile with the ejection seat on the B-52 aircraft. The government is requesting feedback on the requirments contained within Attachment 2, systems requirement document. More information on this request can be found in Attachment 1, the sources sought synopsis.
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