Sources Sought - MXG Automated Benchstock

The 140th Maintenance Group at Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado, a component of the Department of the Army Colorado Army National Guard, is seeking to procure an automated vending benchstock/hardware machine through this Sources Sought notice issued on April 9, 2026, with responses due by April 28, 2026. This market research announcement is not a formal solicitation but rather seeks information on potential sources capable of supplying the automated system. The primary requirement is a relocatable automated bench stock machine that can manage inventory for aircraft maintenance operations, hold 1,000 or more unique items with a minimum of 940 items, maintain stock levels at 100% with a maximum 200% capacity per bin, and automatically generate Restock Reports when inventory reaches 50% to prevent stock-outs. Key capabilities include automated item deduction upon issuance, searchable items by National Stock Number (NSN), nomenclature, multiple part numbers, or bin locations, and elimination of manual red/green flagging systems in compliance with DAFI 21-101 and AFMAN 23-122 regulations. The Government has not specified formal evaluation criteria in this pre-solicitation notice but will use responses for acquisition planning and decision-making purposes.

This procurement carries no small business set-aside designation, and no incumbent contractor or current contractor information has been identified in the sources sought notice. The Government seeks information from both small and large businesses, with a small business size standard of 100 employees established for this requirement; interested companies must be classified under NAICS 423830 (Industrial Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers) or PSC 5140 (Tool and Hardware Boxes), though alternative classifications may be considered. The Government anticipates a firm-fixed-price contract award but has not published a specific budget range or total award value in this pre-solicitation notice. The automated system must occupy less than 25 square feet of floor space and be accompanied by warranty provisions including on-site or shipped repairs, on-site training, and setup assistance. Interested vendors should submit company information, capability statements, details on equivalent alternative products with manufacturing part numbers and National Stock Numbers, and any clarifying questions regarding the requirement specifications by the April 28, 2026 deadline.