How to bid on B-52 Aircraft Fairings for the Defense Logistics Agency

What the agency is buying

The Defense Logistics Agency needs aircraft fairings for B-52 planes. This is an opportunity for small businesses to supply a critical component for military aircraft. The contract is for an indefinite quantity over a five-year base period, with an estimated annual quantity of 40 units.

This procurement is a total small business set-aside, meaning only small businesses can compete. The delivery of production units will be 200 days after order. Inspection and acceptance will occur at the origin of shipment.

Key dates and deadlines

The solicitation is expected to be issued on or about August 3, 2026. The deadline for responses is September 22, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET. It is important to mark these dates and begin preparing your response as soon as the solicitation is released.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity is specifically for small businesses that can manufacture aircraft equipment, particularly fairings. Vendors should have the capability to produce items in accordance with specific drawings and part numbers. The item requires access to restricted technical data, so firms must be certified by the Department of Defense to access unclassified data per DOD 5220.22M. This certification is obtained by submitting DD Form 2345, Military Critical Technical Data Agreement, to the Defense Logistics Information Services.

How to respond

The solicitation will be available online via the DLA Internet Bid Board System (DIBBS). To access it, you will need to go to the DIBBS website. From the homepage, select “Requests for Proposal (RFP) / Invitation for Bid (IFB)” from the menu under the “Solicitations” tab. Then, search for and choose the specific RFP to download. The solicitation documents will be in Portable Document Format (PDF), requiring Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. A paper copy of the solicitation will not be available.

Tips for a competitive response

Given the requirement for restricted technical data, ensure your firm has the necessary DD Form 2345 certification in place well before the solicitation release. Without this certification, you will not be able to access the technical drawings needed to prepare a compliant bid. Review the drawing number and revision provided to understand the exact specifications.

Pay close attention to the estimated annual quantity and the five-year contract period. Develop a robust production plan that can meet the 200-day delivery requirement consistently. Since this is an Indefinite Quantity Contract, be prepared to scale your production as needed. Clearly outline your quality control processes, as inspection and acceptance will be at your origin.