INSULATION, PIPE, Brand or Equal: K-FLEX

This solicitation, identified as N0040626QS166 and issued by the Naval Supply Fleet Logistics Center Puget Sound, is a total small business set-aside under FAR 19.5 for the procurement of insulation pipe covering and sheet, specifically “brand name or equal” to K-FLEX products. The contract anticipates awarding a firm fixed price agreement for supplying non-halogen rubber pipe insulation in tubular and sheet forms, designed for anti-sweat and refrigerant applications on surface ships and submarines. Materials must strictly comply with military and naval standards, including MIL-PRF-32514 (Type I, Grade A, Class 1, Form 1 and 2), EB4013, and NAVSEA Standard Item 009-11. The solicitation explicitly prohibits the use of ArmaFlex products and emphasizes full technical compliance documentation if an equal product is proposed. Deliveries are to be made FOB origin with government-arranged, no-cost transportation to the specified destination of Sasebo, Japan; shipments to Bremerton, Washington are prohibited. Prospective offerors must submit detailed quotations by 03 March 2026, 12:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, including manufacturer identity, country of origin, estimated time after receipt of order (ARO), and confirmation of destination compliance. The solicitation includes extensive packaging and marking requirements conforming to ASTM-D-3951, MIL-STD-129, and MIL-STD-2073 standards to ensure protection and traceability throughout multimodal transport, with special stipulations for wood packaging treatment and hazardous materials compliance. Inspection and acceptance will occur at the government destination warehouse in Yokosuka, Japan, with the government responsible for verification of delivered items per contract specifications. Evaluation will be based on a trade-off process considering technical merit, delivery schedule, price, and past performance with no strict weighting. The procurement incorporates numerous FAR and DFARS clauses addressing security prohibitions, foreign business restrictions, payment procedures (WAWF mandatory invoicing), and prohibitions on certain telecommunications equipment. The agency contact for the solicitation is Denise Manor, with transportation coordination handled by NAVSUP WSS at no cost to the contractor, although tariffs or customs fees must be included in line item pricing. Overall, this contract represents a highly regulated, small business-focused procurement supporting Navy insulation requirements with strict compliance, packaging, and delivery controls to meet operational readiness in overseas naval facilities.