C-5 Honeycomb Contract Strategy

The Department of the Air Force is seeking qualified manufacturers to produce adhesively bonded honeycomb panels for C-5 Galaxy aircraft, which provide aerodynamic contours and structural integrity to airframes. The procurement requires vendors to meet extensive qualification requirements including submission of company capabilities summaries, detailed factory layouts, process specifications per STP60-101/102, quality assurance plans implementing AS9100 standards, and documentation of experienced engineering and production staff with prior aerospace bonded honeycomb panel manufacturing experience within the past three years. Key qualification criteria include strict control over adhesive storage (0°F or below), lay-up room environmental conditions (65±10°F, 60±15% relative humidity with minimum five air changes per hour), material tracking procedures, and bonding technician certification. The government will evaluate submissions based on engineering capability, process parameter control, quality procedures, and may conduct site visits with 30 days advance notice or require submission of a sample panel for destructive testing if documentation is insufficient. The pre-solicitation notice was posted on March 4, 2026, with a deadline of March 26, 2026 for industry questions and responses.

No set-aside designation is being used for this procurement. Lockheed Aircraft Corp. (CAGE 98897) is the original equipment manufacturer, with the C-5 Galaxy Division at AFLCMC/WLSEBA at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia serving as the engineering support activity. The estimated costs include $2,800 for document evaluation, $200–$1,700 for site visits, and $9,679.92 for sample panel inspection, based on FY2014 dollars. The qualification requirement was established following historical first article testing data showing a 17% rejection/conditional rate from 2006 to 2013, with the goal of streamlining procurement and reducing costs. The government will complete document review and provide response within 120 calendar days, with qualified sources exempt from first article testing but subject to process review if quality deficiency reports are filed.