Intent to Sole Source – ISU® 90/70 Container Repair Services

1. Agency and Contracting Activity
163rd Mission Support Contracting, March ARB, CA

2.   Nature of the Action
The Government intends to award a firm-fixed-price, sole-source contract for the certified repair and maintenance of ISU® 90 (56000 Series) containers to AAR Manufacturing, Inc. (doing business as AAR Mobility Systems).

3. Authority
This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of RFO FAR 12.102.(1): "For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, Contracting Officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available."

4. Description of Requirement
The requirement is for specialized structural and airworthiness-certified repairs for the ISU® 90 (56000 Series) expeditionary containers. These units require repairs to [e.g., roof panels, floor assemblies, and cargo rails] to restore them to a "Mission Capable" status for airlift operations. 

5. Justification for Sole Source
AAR Mobility Systems is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the ISU® 90 container and holds the proprietary Level III Technical Data Package (TDP). This data includes the engineering blueprints, structural tolerances, and airworthiness certification data required to perform repairs that comply with MIL-HDBK-1791 (Internal Air Transport) and helicopter sling-load requirements.

Market research has confirmed that AAR Mobility Systems has not sold or licensed this proprietary design data to any other commercial entity. Therefore, they are the only source capable of providing repairs that maintain the original airworthiness certifications. Failure to use the OEM for these structural repairs would result in the loss of airlift certification, rendering the units unusable for their intended mission.

6. Closing Statement/Submission Instructions
This notice is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.

Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement in the future.

Responses are due by:  Monday, May 18, 2026, at 12:00 PM PST
Point of Contact: david.moreno.34@us.af.mil