BALLOON, METEOROLOGICAL

The Defense Logistics Agency issued Solicitation SPE4A6-26-T-73G0 for the procurement of 227 meteorological balloons identified by NSN 6660-00-151-7773 and vendor part number KCI-100B from Kaymont Consolidated Industries, Inc. The balloons must be black or dark blue in color and require talc coating prior to packaging. Delivery is due by November 30, 2026, with a 177-day lead time, and products must be shipped FOB destination to DLA Dist San Joaquin in Tracy, California. All items must conform to MIL-STD-2073-1E for packaging and MIL-STD-129 for marking, including special marking code 32 for shelf life and adherence to Hazard Communication Standard labeling if applicable. The contract prohibits the use of additive manufacturing for any component, and any offer containing AM-produced items is automatically disqualified. Inspection and acceptance occur at origin, following FAR 52.246-2, with sampling governed by MIL-STD-1916 or ASQ H1331 Table 1 and requiring zero non-conformances for acceptance under zero-based plans. Critical, major, and minor attributes are assigned verification levels VII, IV, and II or AQLs of 0.1, 1.0, and 4.0 respectively. The contract incorporates numerous FAR and DFARS clauses with Deviation 2026-00038 applied to multiple provisions, including those related to Small Business Program Representation, Combating Trafficking in Persons, Employment Eligibility Verification, Sustainable Products, and Basic Safeguarding of Contractor Information Systems. The Buy American Act and Berry Amendment apply, with a $150,000 threshold, requiring disclosure of any non-domestic content. Contractors must maintain current SAM registrations and provide all required socioeconomic certifications, including small business, WOSB, 8(a), and service-disabled veteran-owned status. Compliance with NIST SP 800-171 cybersecurity requirements is mandatory, and Safety Data Sheets must be submitted prior to award. Payments must be processed through Wide Area WorkFlow, using required receiving reports and invoices, and contractors are subject to prohibition on internal confidentiality agreements and restrictions on the use of certain services or personnel. The solicitation is not a small business set-aside, and final awards are subject