How to bid on Piston Insulator, Thermal Brake for DEPT of Defense

What the agency is buying

The Department of Defense is seeking piston insulators for thermal brakes used on UH-60A, UH-60L, HH/UH-60M, and UH-60V helicopters. This will be a five-year indefinite-quantity contract. The estimated annual quantity is 840 units.

This is a 100% small-business set-aside, meaning only small businesses can compete for this opportunity. The delivery schedule requires units to be delivered 205 days after receipt of an order.

Key dates and deadlines

This Request for Proposal (RFP) was published on August 24, 2026. The solicitation itself is expected to be issued on or about September 8, 2026. The deadline for submitting your proposal is October 08, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET. All offers must be submitted by this time to be considered for award.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity is suitable for small businesses specializing in aircraft parts manufacturing, specifically those with experience in National Stock Number (NSN) 1630-01-114-9530, 1000240510. The NAICS code for this procurement is 336413, which covers other aircraft parts and auxiliary equipment manufacturing.

Firms that can meet a 205-day delivery schedule after receiving an order and are capable of manufacturing configuration control and critical application items will be well-suited. The government will not provide specifications, plans, or drawings, so offerors should have access to or be able to develop these based on the source control drawings.

How to respond

To respond to this solicitation, you must obtain a copy of the solicitation document. This will be available via the DLA Internet Bid Board System (DIBBS) on or about September 8, 2026. You will need to complete a copy of the solicitation to be considered for award.

To access the opportunity on the portal, click the “View original source” link. 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 all documents, though this is not always required.

Tips for preparing a competitive response

Since this is an Indefinite Quantity Contract, clearly outline your production capacity and ability to meet the estimated annual quantity of 840 units over the five-year term. Emphasize your capability to deliver within the 205 days ARO requirement.

The final contract award decision may consider price, past performance, and other evaluation factors. Ensure your proposal highlights relevant past performance, especially for similar critical application or configuration control items. Address how you will manage Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) requirements. Since source control drawings apply and the government will not furnish specifications, clearly state your approach to manufacturing based on these drawings.