MQ-4C Universal Lifting Sling

Pursuant to FAR 15.101(c)- This is a Request for Information only. There is no solicitation package available. This Sources Sought is being posted to satisfy the requirements of Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 206.103-170(d).

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), Lakehurst intends to solicit, negotiate, and make an award on a sole-source basis with VEP Manufacturing Inc., CAGE Code: 5C905, for the procurement of the Universal Lifting Sling, Part Number (P/N) 4106AS0150-2 and NSN: 1730-01-665-8764, and for the upgrade of the Universal Lifting, P/N: 4106AS0150-1 and NSN: 1730-01-665-8764 to the current confiuration. This procurement is in support of the MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) Program Unite States Navy.

The Universal Lifting Sling is a designated Aviation Critical Safety Item. DFARS 209.370-3(a) states that "the head of the contracting activity responsible for procuring an aviation or ship critical safety item may enter into a contract for the procurement, modification, repair, or overhaul of such an item only with a source approved by the head of the design control activity." For these particular items, the technical authority is NAWCAD Lakehurst. VEP Manufacturing Inc., is currently the only approved source for this item. In order to award to any company other than the approved source, an engineering and quality assurance audit would need to be performed on an interested company.

For companies interested in becoming an approved source, a Source Approval Request (SAR) is necessary, which involved the submission of a SAR package. Please contact the Point of Contact identified in this post for more information about the SAR package and approval process.

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) ONLY.

This RFI is issued for information and planning purposes and is issued in conformance with DFARS PGI 206.103-170; it does not constitute an Invitation for Bid (IFB), a Request for Proposals (RFP), or a Request for Quotes (RFQ). This RFI does not commit the Government to award a contract for any supply or service whatsoever. The Government WILL NOT pay for any information received in response to this RFI, and the Government will not compensate the respondent for any cost incurred in developing the response to this RFI. Respondents are notified that a formal solicitation may be announced under a separate SAM announcement. Any requests for copies of solicitations will not be addressed since this is an RFI, not an IFB, RFP or RFQ. Responses will be treated as information only, and not as proposals. Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP. Any comments provided may or may not be included in a formal solicitation. The Government will not release any information marked with a proprietary legend received in response to this RFI to any firms, agencies or individuals outside the Government without written permission in accordance with the legend. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned.

All interested parties should send company information and descriptive literature on currently available products that meet the Navy's requirements, as described above. With the response, include a point of contact, phone number, email address, website information, CAGE code, and Business Size Status for the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code of this RFI. Any responses in reference to this RFI shall be submitted electronically to the Point of Contact associated with this RFI no later than the requested responses date.