C-17 Aircraft Crew Cushion Sets with Covers

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

Department of the Air Force | 911th Airlift Wing, Pittsburgh Air Reserve Station, PA 15108

C-17 Aircraft Crew Cushion Sets with Covers (In-Stock COTS Procurement with Embroidery Option)

• Notice Type: Sources Sought / Market Research
• NAICS Code: 336413 — Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment
• Size Standard: 1,250 Employees
• Product Service Code (PSC): 1680 — Aircraft Accessories and Components
• Set-Aside Status: To Be Determined (Market Research for Potential Small Business Set-Aside)

1. Introduction & Purpose

This is a Sources Sought Notice (SSN) / Request for Information (RFI) issued by the 911th Airlift Wing, Pittsburgh ARS, PA in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10 (Market Research).

This notice is for planning and market research purposes only and does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Quote (RFQ), or an obligation on the part of the Government to acquire any services or supplies. Responses to this notice will be used by the Government to make an informed acquisition strategy decision. Specifically, the Government is determining:

1. Whether there are capable, qualified small businesses (including SDVOSB, WOSB, HubZone, and 8(a) concerns) that currently maintain compliant, finished Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) inventory to support a competitive Small Business Set-Aside.
2. Whether this requirement must be restricted to a sole-source procurement under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 (Only One Responsible Source) or FAR 13.106-1(b) (Soliciting from a Single Source) due to proprietary OEM data rights, exclusive distribution agreements, or immediate delivery constraints.

2. Description of Requirement & Delivery Schedule

The Government has an immediate requirement for the procurement of fully completed, finished Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) flight deck cushions and covers for C-17 Globemaster III aircraft crew seats, with an added option for custom unit embroidery.

Requested Items:

Item 1: C-17 Ipeco Crew Cushion Set With Covers

• Description: Cushion sets with covers, Blue Fabric & Gray Wool, compatible with Ipeco seating frames.
• Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Part Number (P/N): 6A-0140-1 (Manufactured by Oregon Aero, Inc.)
• Quantity: 39 Complete Cushion Sets (Each set includes cushions and covers for one complete seat position).

Item 2: C-17 Monogram Crew Cushion Set With Covers

• Description: Monogram seat cushion systems with covers, Blue Fabric & Gray Wool.
• Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Part Number (P/N): 31140-1-A (Manufactured by Oregon Aero, Inc.)
• Quantity: 2 Complete Cushion Sets.

Optional Requirement (All Items): Custom Embroidery

• Description: Custom embroidery to sew the 911th Airlift Wing logo directly into the fabric of the seat covers (backrest/headrest area).

Delivery Timeline:

• Strictly within ninety (90) days after contract award. Because of this compressed delivery window, the Government will not fund or allow for custom design, engineering, or extended manufacturing lead times. Only vendors with existing, fully qualified, and readily available stock (or those with proven capacity to deliver completed units with the requested custom embroidery within 90 days) will be considered.

3. Technical & Quality Specifications

To ensure crew safety, long-endurance pilot comfort, and airframe compatibility, all supplied cushion sets must conform to the military and commercial aviation standards outlined in Technical Order (TO) 42F-1-2 and OEM design specifications.

A. Flammability and Safety Standards

All cushion materials, covers, foams, adhesives, hook-and-loop tapes, and embroidery threads must meet the flammability requirements of:

• Federal Aviation Regulation (14 CFR) Section 25.853(a) (12-second vertical burn compliance).
• 14 CFR Section 25.853(b)/(c) (Revision 1988 or latest compliant version).
• Certification Requirement: Active flammability testing certification from an FAA-approved laboratory or equivalent military certification body must be available and provided upon contract award.

B. Material Composition Requirements

• Cushion Foam Core: Open-cell polychloroprene foam compound (commercially known as AIRFLEX foam, CAGE 48818, or equivalent) with an Indentation Load Deflection (ILD) rating of 30 to 40 and a nominal density of 2.6 to 3.2 pounds per cubic foot (pcf). Thickness must align with TO 42F-1-2 (typically 0.75 inches to 1.5 inches depending on the seat section).
• Adhesives: Neoprene-based contact or elastomeric adhesive (e.g., Stabond C-148B, CAGE 25670; or 1300L Adhesive, CAGE Code 04963) to secure cushion foam plies without degrading the polychloroprene compound.
• Upholstery & Covers: Heavyweight wool and blue fire-blocking fabrics (complying with FED-STD-595, color blue #15180 or Anton Maix Fabric Inc. Discovery #21 blue dot or equivalent). Contact surfaces must incorporate premium blue sheepskin and Trevira fire-retardant cloth for optimal moisture-wicking and comfort.
• Fasteners & Hardware: Hook-and-loop fastening tapes conforming to A-A-55126B (Type II, Class I, Black).

C. Construction, Assembly, & Embroidery Standards

• Stitching: All sewing and assembly must conform to FED-STD-751. Seams must utilize high-tensile nylon thread (Type II, Class A, Size E per V-T-295) with a stitch density of 7 to 11 stitches per inch. Double-row stitches must show two distinct, parallel stitch lines.
• Finishing: All web ends must be heat/melt-sealed to prevent fraying. No raw fabric edges may be visible on the finished, outside surface.
• Custom Embroidery: The 911th Airlift Wing logo must be embroidered directly onto the upper seat covers. Embroidery must use high-durability, flame-resistant polyester or rayon embroidery thread conforming to military flight deck standards, ensuring no compromise to the underlying flame-retardant properties of the cover fabrics.

4. Current Market Context & OEM Details

Market research indicates that:

• The Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the certified cushion systems for the Ipeco C-17 seating frames is Oregon Aero, Inc. (CAGE 48818 / Scappoose, Oregon).
• Oregon Aero, Inc. designates Coastal Seat Cushions, Inc. (CAGE 6XYT9 / Port Saint Lucie, Florida) as its exclusive military fixed-wing distributor.

A key objective of this Sources Sought Notice is to determine whether alternative small business suppliers exist who:

1. Are authorized distributors of the OEM products (Oregon Aero / Coastal Seat Cushions) with immediate access to compliant stock and the capability to apply custom embroidery locally, OR
2. Possess existing, fully qualified, non-developmental "or equal" cushion sets that are already manufactured, certified, and ready for delivery (including custom embroidery) within the 90-day window.

5. Information Requested from Industry

Interested small business concerns meeting the NAICS 336413 requirements are requested to submit a capability package (not to exceed 5 pages) demonstrating their ability to satisfy this requirement. Responses must include:

A. Corporate Profile

• Company Name, Address, and Website.
• Unique Entity ID (UEI) and CAGE Code.
• Business Size and socioeconomic status under NAICS 336413 (e.g., Small Business, 8(a), SDVOSB, WOSB, HubZone).
• Point of Contact (Name, Title, Phone, Email).

B. Technical Capability, Stock Availability, & Delivery Timeline

1. Supply Chain Role: Clearly state whether your firm is:

• The manufacturer of the required cushion sets (Oregon Aero, Inc.).
• An authorized distributor of Oregon Aero, Inc. / Coastal Seat Cushions, Inc. (Please provide proof of distributor status).
• A vendor proposing an existing, fully compliant "or equal" commercial product.

1. Stock Availability & Quantities: Confirm whether you currently have the requested quantities in stock or readily available:

• Item 1: 39 sets of P/N 6A-0140-1.
• Item 2: 2 sets of P/N 31140-1-A.

1. 90-Day Delivery & Customization Guarantee:

• Explicitly state whether your firm can meet the strict delivery deadline of 90 days after contract award.
• Confirm your capability to perform the custom 911th Airlift Wing logo embroidery onto the seat covers without delaying the 90-day delivery timeline.

1. Technical Compliance Verification: If proposing an "equal" product, provide proof that your existing product meets the "AIRFLEX" foam compound specifications, FED-STD-751 stitching standards, and 14 CFR 25.853 flammability certifications.

6. Submission Instructions & Disclaimer

Please submit your capability package via email to the Contracting Officer, Ryan Scott, at ryan.scott.34@us.af.mil and the Contract Specialist, Crystal Spurlin, at crystal.spurlin@us.af.mil no later than 28 August 2024 at 4:00 PM EST.

The subject line of the email should read: "Response to Sources Sought: C-17 Ipeco & Monogram Cushion Sets (Embroidery Option) - [Your Company Name]".

Disclaimer:

This notice does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service whatsoever. Respondents are advised that the United States Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this Sources Sought Notice; all costs associated with responding will be solely at the interested party’s expense. Not responding to this SSN does not preclude participation in any future RFP, if issued.