Helium Trailer Recertification
Awarded Limited / Sole Source Justification Posted
- Solicitation number
- 20151542
- Agency
-
Customs and Border Protection
Department of Homeland Security
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- Contract number
- 70B02C25C00000050
- NAICS code
- 336212 Truck Trailer Manufacturing
- Place of performance
- United States
- Points of contact
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a sole source justification for helium trailer recertification services essential to maintaining the Tethered Aerostats Radar System (TARS), which provides critical border surveillance along the U.S. Southern Border, Florida Keys, and Caribbean regions. The contract, awarded to Western Sales & Testing, Inc. on June 30, 2025, addresses the urgent need to recertify 15 out of 30 existing helium tube trailers that are either out of certification or nearing the end of their certification period required by U.S. Department of Transportation regulations. CBP justified the sole source procurement based on Western Sales & Testing's unique qualifications, including 60 years of experience, central facility location, capacity to store up to 30 trailers, and ability to complete trailer turnaround within 10 weeks. The procurement was deemed critical to prevent potential disruption of 24/7 surveillance operations that could create a national security crisis, as these trailers store gaseous helium essential for aerostat operations across TARS' seven operational sites plus additional TMSS and TAS locations. Market research, including a Request for Information, identified only one capable vendor, supporting the sole source determination for this time-sensitive requirement.
Notice text
The Tethered Aerostats Radar System (TARS) provides for long-range search and track of air and surface targets, providing multi-domain awareness to CBP Air Marine Operations Center (AMOC), Caribbean AMOC (CAMOC), Office of Border Patrol (OBP), United States Coast Guard (USCG), and the U.S. military. The TARS program is comprised of aerostats, aerostat support systems, radars, weather equipment, communications systems, winch systems, facilities, special purpose vehicles, associated equipment, and personnel necessary to accomplish the mission.
DLA Aerospace Energy (DLA-E) provides helium product to TARS’ seven operational sites, TMSS two operational sites, and 4 TAS operational sites. All sites require gaseous helium, which is stored in helium tube trailers onsite. Helium provides direct lift aerial support to Aerostat, radar, and other surveillance tools to overcome line of sight constraints to deter illegal activity along the U.S Southern Border, Florida Keys, and portions of the Caribbean. The trailers used to store and provide helium are required to be recertified every 5-10 years to comply with U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Pipeline and Material Safety regulations. Currently, TARS has thirty (30) trailers of which fifteen (15) are out of certification or near the end of the certification period. Recertification will avoid disruption of site operations that will create a potential national security crisis due to site Non-Mission Capability (NMC). CBP requires trailer support to ensure 24/7 365 continuous operations and maintenance of TARS operational sites. Due to the potential national security crisis, critical nature of this requirement, timeline, resources, and cost, CBP requests a vendor that can meet and or exceed the requirements to recertify helium trailers and ensure the continuation of TARS operations across the fleet.
Awarded contract 70B02C25C00000050 to unknown vendor for unknown amount on 2025-06-30.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Justification and Approval Trailer Certification_Redacted.pdf |
Notice history
| Notice | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| This notice | Limited / Sole Source Justification | |
| Domain Awareness Persistent Surveillance (DAPS) Helium Trailer Recertification | Pre-Solicitation |
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