Special Operation Forces (SOF) Aircraft (C-130J) Logistics Sustainment Support (SALSS)

This contract is a sole-source, five-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) award to Lockheed Martin Corp for logistics sustainment support of Special Operations Forces C-130J aircraft variants (AC/HC/MC-130J), issued under the solicitation FA8509-26-R-SALSS. The contract includes a 12-month basic ordering period and four annual ordering periods, with orders authorized from the award date through the end of Ordering Period IV, covering fiscal years 2024 through 2028. The award justification cites FAR 6.302-1 due to Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company’s exclusive ownership of proprietary technical data, source code, testing tools, and unique manufacturing expertise, making it the only responsible source capable of providing the required sustainment services without impractical or prohibitive reverse engineering efforts. The prime contractor is located in Marietta, Georgia, with performance primarily centered at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, under the oversight of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. The contract encompasses a broad range of technical and logistics support tasks structured through Contract Line Item Numbers (CLINs), including program management, engineering change proposals, provisioning of spare parts, management of diminishing manufacturing sources, software integration, deficiency reporting, contractor travel, government-furnished equipment management, and delivery of technical data packages under Contract Data Requirements Lists (CDRLs). Pricing arrangements vary across CLINs, utilizing Firm Fixed Price, Cost Plus Fixed Fee, and Cost Reimbursement No Fee structures to align with the nature of the work, while some items are designated as Not Separately Priced. Although the contract specifies performance locations, delivery requirements around packaging, shipping, and marking, no explicit compliance with MIL-STDs for packaging or preservation is detailed, and no formal inspection or acceptance protocols are defined in the available documentation. No monetary values, quantities, or ceilings are provided in the CLINs, preventing determination of the contract’s total estimated value. The award reflects a trade-off basis, prioritizing technical uniqueness and mission-critical sustainment capability over cost minimization, with provisions identified for future consideration of purchasing technical data rights to potentially enable competition in subsequent phases.