How to bid on Aircraft Nose Art Gerber/Plotter Printer for the DEPT of Defense

What the Air Force is buying

The Department of Defense, specifically the Air Force at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, is seeking a Roland TrueVIS XG-640 Printer/Cutter or an equivalent Gerber plotter. This equipment will be used to produce aircraft nose art. The solicitation also requires training on the equipment for Air Force personnel.

This is a good opportunity for small businesses that can supply specialized printing and cutting equipment and provide associated training. The delivery and performance must occur at Whiteman AFB, MO, within 120 days after the order is placed.

Key dates and deadlines

The solicitation was published on July 29, 2026. If you have questions about this opportunity, you must submit them by August 4, 2026, at 10:00 AM CST. Questions should be emailed to [email protected] and [email protected], and must be in a .pdf, .doc, .docx, .xls, or .xlsx document format. Answers will be posted publicly as an amendment to the solicitation.

Your complete quote must be received no later than August 6, 2026, at 1:00 PM EST. Quotes must remain valid for 30 calendar days from this submission deadline.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity is a 100% small-business set-aside, meaning only small businesses are eligible to bid. The NAICS code is 325992, Photographic Film, Paper, Plate, Chemical, and Copy Toner Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 1500 employees.

This bid is suitable for vendors who supply industrial-grade printer/cutter equipment, specifically large-format plotters capable of producing durable graphics for aircraft. Experience in providing equipment training is also essential.

How to respond

To access the full solicitation details and documents, click “View original source” on the portal. If the first click takes you to the portal’s homepage, click it again to go directly to the bid. You may need a free account to view some documents.

Your quote must be submitted electronically via email to both [email protected] and [email protected]. The email subject line must be “RFQ FA462526Q1050 Gerber Plotter Printer”. Your entire quotation must be contained in a single email and must not exceed 3 pages.

You must be registered and active in the System for Award Management (SAM) database at the time of your quote submission. Failure to be registered will make your quote ineligible for award. Your submission must include a firm-fixed-price quote and a technical capability narrative. Quotes with only pricing and no technical details will not be accepted.

Tips for a competitive response

Carefully review the Performance Work Statement (PWS) to ensure your proposed equipment and services fully comply with all specifications. Your technical capability narrative is crucial for demonstrating this compliance, as technical acceptability is evaluated on a Pass/Fail basis.

Ensure your firm-fixed-price quote is reasonable and covers all aspects, including the equipment, delivery to Whiteman AFB, and the required training. Since price is a factor, a competitive but realistic price is important. Double-check that your SAM registration is active well before the submission deadline to avoid disqualification.