Sole Source to South Bay Wire and Cable Company LLC for Tow Cable Per attachment

The Department of the Navy Naval Sea Systems Command is procuring 2,600 feet of specialized tow cable (Part# SB-51582 RevA) through a sole source acquisition from South Bay Wire and Cable Company LLC. This procurement addresses the obsolescence of sonar components where the existing tow cable has reached end-of-life status, requiring replacement with legacy-specification compatible equipment. South Bay Wire and Cable Company is the only vendor capable of meeting the legacy cable specifications and providing Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) within the first unit build timeframe. The solicitation indicates that alternative companies would require significantly more time to design, fabricate, and complete FAT testing while also needing government approval. The solicitation was posted on September 11, 2025, with responses due by September 15, 2025, providing contractors with only four days to submit proposals.

This procurement does not utilize any set-aside designations and specifically identifies South Bay Wire and Cable Company LLC of Idyllwild, California as the sole source contractor. The contract value falls above micro-purchase levels but does not exceed $250,000, qualifying it for simplified acquisition procedures under a firm fixed-price purchase order structure. The equipment must be delivered within 30 weeks after purchase order award, representing a substantial lead time for the specialized cable manufacturing. Performance will take place in Panama City Beach, Florida, with contract administration handled by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC-PCD). The procurement falls under NAICS code 335921 for Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing and PSC code 5995 for Cable, Cord, and Wire Assemblies for Communication Equipment.