15--LATCH ASSEMBLY,AIRCRAFT

A 100% Small Business Set-Aside solicitation is planned for an Indefinite Quantity Contract to procure the LATCH ASSEMBLY, AIRCRAFT (NSN 1560-01-406-8974) under a five-year base period with an annual estimated quantity of 200 units. Delivery will be FOB Destination, with inspection and acceptance occurring at the origin. Though the item is deemed critical, it is not classified as a Critical Safety Item. Contractors must comply with First Article Testing, Production Lot Testing, and Export Control requirements, and surge capacity is not applicable. The government intends to award this contract to a limited number of sources under FAR 6.302, with only three approved suppliers currently authorized: Centroid, Inc., Adams Rite Aerospace, and Apex Mfg. Co., Inc., each identified by their CAGE codes. No other sources are approved, and new entrants must submit a Source Approval Request to the assigned ESA for consideration. The government will not use commercial item acquisition policies and expects responses from small businesses capable of meeting the technical demand. Interested parties may submit proposals within 45 days of the notice publication, though this is not a formal request for proposals and the government retains sole discretion over whether to proceed with a competitive award. Participation in a potential reverse auction via the Procurex system is encouraged, and all offerors must be registered in SAM.gov to be eligible for award. The solicitation, expected to issue on May 4, 2026, will be accessible only through DIBBS in PDF format, and no paper copies will be provided. Evaluation will consider price, past performance, and other factors specified in the solicitation. The point of contact for inquiries is Christopher Rose, with additional support from Jeremy Prince, and the contracting office is located in Richmond, Virginia.