C-5 seals successor project

DLA WEAPONS SUPPORT - RICHMOND is issuing this sources sought as a means of conducting market research to identify potential small business suppliers for C-5 aircraft seals (see attached NSN list) for supporting global DoD customer needs. This exploration may lead to multiple contracts.  The Request for Proposal for this small business set-aside is anticipated to be awarded in September 2027. Contracts will be for a period of 5 years. Technical Orders and Qualification Requirements are not available. Potential sources shall be capable of furnishing all labor, materials, facilities and equipment required to accomplish the new manufacture of the item(s). Generally, this entails the procurement/manufacture of component parts, inspection, testing, preservation/packaging, and shipping.

The C-5 Galaxy, a large military transport aircraft crucial for the US Air Force's heavy airlift capability, relies on seals for preventing air and pressure flow out of the aircraft allowing it to maintain pressure at altitude and giving the desired aerodynamic qualities to the wing and moving components. This initiative aims to ensure a high supply of quality C-5 seals to support the 90-day production flow schedule.

Seals furnished under this effort must be products that are authorized by the qualifying activity for listing on the applicable source qualification list (SQL) before contract award. The C-5 engineers at Warner-Robbins Air Logistics Complex (WR-ALC) developed a source qualification statement (SQS) for this purpose to qualify offerors for the SQL. Offerors must demonstrate their capability to manufacture seals to the engineering source activity (ESA) as described in the SQS. Those offerors deemed technically qualified will be added to the source approval worksheet.

The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement. Unit prices will be established at the time of contract award. The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this procurement is 336413.  

THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME. This request for capability information does not constitute a request for proposals; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred.

If your organization has the potential capacity to perform these contract services, please provide the following information: 1) Organization name, address, email address, Web site address, telephone number, and size and type of ownership for the organization; and 2) Tailored capability statements addressing the particulars of this effort, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, organizations should address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements.

The government will evaluate market information to ascertain potential market capacity to 1) provide services consistent in scope and scale with those described in this notice and otherwise anticipated; 2) secure and apply the full range of corporate financial, human capital, and technical resources required to successfully perform similar requirements; 3) implement a successful project management plan that includes: compliance with tight program schedules; cost containment; meeting and tracking performance; hiring and retention of key personnel and risk mitigation; and 4) provide services under a performance based service acquisition contract.

BASED ON THE RESPONSES TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE/MARKET RESEARCH, THIS REQUIREMENT MAY BE SET-ASIDE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES OR PROCURED THROUGH FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION, and multiple awards MAY be made. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions.

Submission Instructions: Interested parties who consider themselves qualified to perform the above-listed services are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by October 5, 2026.  All responses under this Sources Sought Notice must be emailed to andrew.collins@dla.mil.

If you have any questions concerning this opportunity, please contact: andrew.collins@dla.mil.