RETAINER, SPECIAL

The Defense Logistics Agency, under the Department of Defense, has issued a solicitation for 33 units of a specialized retainer identified by NSN 5342-01-297-8785 under solicitation number SPE4A5-26-T-309N. The contract is set to be awarded under FOB Origin terms, with delivery required to the DLA Distribution New Cumberland Facility in Pennsylvania by a need ship date of January 10, 2027, and an original required delivery date of August 5, 2027. The solicitation includes a 159-day delivery timeframe as directed. Although pricing details are not specified, offerors are expected to provide proposals via the DIBBS portal by the response deadline of August 3, 2026. The item must comply with rigorous packaging and marking standards, including ASTM D3951 and MIL-STD-129, with mandatory 2D Data Matrix barcoding for unique item identification and supply chain traceability. While IUID marking is explicitly excluded, all packaging must adhere to DLA’s Master List of Technical and Quality Requirements, which supersedes standard specifications. Preservation methods must prevent corrosion and moisture damage, and all containers must be marked per federal hazardous material regulations, with Safety Data Sheets submitted prior to award. The contract incorporates over two dozen FAR and DFARS clauses governing compliance with labor, environmental, cybersecurity, and ethical standards, including Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities, Combating Trafficking in Persons, Employment Eligibility Verification, Sustainable Products, and Safeguarding Covered Defense Information. Several clauses have been modified under deviation notices issued in 2026 to allow flexibility in implementation. Contractors must provide a Unique Entity Identifier and CAGE code, and are required to represent their small business status and eligibility for socioeconomic programs such as WOSB, SDVOSB, and HUBZone. The contract prohibits the use of covered defense telecommunications equipment from specified Chinese entities and mandates adherence to NIST SP 800-171 cyber assessment requirements. Payment will be processed exclusively through WAWF, and all deliveries are subject to destination inspection under zero non-conformance standards, with sampling methods based on MIL-STD-1916 or ASQ H1331. Contractors must also comply with ethics rules governing former DoD officials and must inform employees of whistleblower protections. No specific evaluation factors or award basis are disclosed, and