T38 Initiators

The Department of the Air Force Materiel Command Lifecycle Management Center at Hill Air Force Base solicits qualified suppliers for T-38 initiator cartridges (Cartridge Actuated Devices/Propellant Actuated Devices classified as Explosive 1.4C ordnance), with proposals due August 31, 2026. This is a qualified-source acquisition; new offerors must complete prequalification requirements before contract award and cannot be denied bidding opportunity if they meet standards by the award date, though award will not be delayed for unqualified sources. Only United States and Canadian suppliers are eligible.

Place of performance is Hill Air Force Base, Utah (7981 Georgia Street, Hill AFB, UT 84056). The procurement covers four initiator variants designated by NSN and part number: 1377-01-137-6039ES (1010-4), 1377-01-137-6040ES (1139-5), 1377-01-494-0468ES (6161100), and 1377-01-494-0471ES (6161200), with deliveries required by April 17, 2028. Item quantities are 111 units of initiator cartridges (NSN 1377-01-494-0471ES) and 123 units of initiator cartridge actuated devices (NSN 1377-01-494-0468ES). Currently approved sources are CED (Cage Code 93455) and Collins (Cage Code 17610). NAICS 325920, PSC 1377.

These items perform critical aircraft egress functions; qualification requirements include submission of prequalification notice, facility/equipment/personnel certification, qualification test procedure and report per DI-QCIC-81890 and MIL-C-83124 latest revision, material source identification with special test/inspection procedures and documented production process flows, and delivery of qualification articles demonstrating production capability, form, fit, and function. Estimated qualification costs range from $5,000 to $50,000 and estimated completion timeline is 360 days. Offerors with prior delay initiator production experience may request qualification waivers.

First article approval is mandatory unless waived based on prior contracts within 60 months. Contractors must comply with ISO 9001:2015 quality standards, maintain unique item identifiers and serial number markings per CAD/PAD Item Marking Instructions Version 1.6, and submit all required Ammunition Data Cards per MIL-STD-1168 through the Worldwide Ammunition-data Repository Program. Energetic materials are limited to 24 months from original manufacturing date with traceability to DoD-qualified manufacturers and ITAR Part 120/121 compliance. Percussion primers must be certified/recertified within 24 months.

Evaluation is best value per FAR 15.2 with Factor 1 (Technical—qualified vendor status and schedule) more important than Factor 2 (Price). Qualified vendor status must be Acceptable; schedule receives color/adjectival rating (Blue/Outstanding through Red/Unacceptable) based on Work Breakdown Structure, manageable work packages, clearly defined milestones with major phases and logical work progression, and realistic task durations not exceeding 10 pages in Excel, Word, PowerPoint, or Project format. Price is evaluated for reasonableness and total evaluated cost across all Contract Line Item Numbers. Government reserves right to award without negotiation or award no contract.

Required contract data items include Ammunition Data Cards, Engineering Change Proposals, Notices of Revision, Requests for Variance, Lot Acceptance Test Plans, Test/Inspection Reports, Failure Summary & Analysis Reports, Obsolescence Alert Notices, Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages Health Assessment Reports, and First Article Inspection Reports/Contractor Test Procedures. All shipments require advance Report of Shipment notification (24 hours prior for general shipments, 2 hours after departure for ammunition shipments) and coordination with Defense Contract Management Agency. Government will withhold payment until CDRL items A001, A005, A006, and B001 are delivered and approved. Offered prices must remain firm for 120 days. Surface transportation is F.O.B. origin from contractor facilities.