F-16 Grip Assembly, Contr

The Defense Logistics Agency Aviation seeks four each of NSN 1680-01-263-0648, an F-16 grip assembly controller, under solicitation SPRHA4-27-Q-0036, with quotations due November 30, 2026. The Set Aside line is Total Small Business. The RFQ attachment summary names Guardian Electric (CAGE 73949) and Essex Industries (CAGE 83533) as qualified sources, but the Set Aside line governs eligibility.

Award will be based solely on price, with all other evaluation factors combined significantly less important than cost. Offerors choose between two bids. Bid A requires first article approval, with one first article and three production units. Bid B omits first article approval and requires four production units. Both deliver by June 30, 2028. The Government will evaluate first article testing costs at $3,500 per item. Offered prices must remain firm for 120 days. Early and partial deliveries are authorized at no cost increase to the Government. Inspection and acceptance occur at destination.

DLA Aviation-Ogden, located at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, issued the solicitation. The primary contact is April J Blakeley at 385-591-8032. The NAICS code is 336413, and the PSC is 1680. The contract carries a DO-A1 rated order under the Defense Priorities and Allocations System. Items must comply with ISO 9001:2015, MIL-STD-130 marking requirements, and CMMC Level I certification.

The Manufacturing Qualification Requirements attachment, which states an estimated qualification cost of $4,000 and a 180-day completion timeline, requires offerors to satisfy ten sequential qualification requirements before award. These include a pre-award qualification article evaluated through form, fit, and function testing. The attachment lists waiver criteria QWC1 through QWC6. Qualification does not guarantee award, and the attachment states that a post-contract first article exhibit may be required. The part is Lockheed Martin drawing 16C1090, P/N 16C1090-1.

Technical data is marked Distribution D and designated Critical Technology, limiting distribution to Department of Defense and U.S. DoD contractors. The Engineering Data List restricts release to foreign-owned, controlled, or influenced companies pending Foreign Disclosure Office approval. The Air Force CDRL requires a Counterfeit Prevention Plan within 30 calendar days after award and a First Article Test report delivered concurrently with the first article.