The Old Guard Swords and Sabers

The U.S. Army’s 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as “The Old Guard,” is soliciting the manufacture and delivery of ceremonial NCO swords and officer sabers to maintain historical authenticity and military tradition during official events. The contract, identified by solicitation number W91QV1-26-Q-A036, requires suppliers to produce 150 NCO swords and 50 officer sabers per base period, with four option periods allowing for additional quantities of the same items, up to a maximum of 1,000 total units over a six-year contract life. All items must strictly conform to the military specifications USAFA CU 945-05, including detailed standards for materials, craftsmanship, dimensions, and finish, with zero tolerance for critical defects in blade quality, soldering, and burr removal. Each delivery must include complete assemblies with scabbards and covers made of 80% polyester and 20% cotton fabric, dark blue dyed and properly cushioned with felt. The contractor must perform a significant portion of the work in-house and is bound by limitations on subcontracting, with no more than half the total cost—excluding materials—allowed for subcontractor use. All delivered items must carry a Unique Item Identifier (UII) marked via a Data Matrix barcode compliant with MIL-STD-130, using ISO/IEC 16022 ECC 200 encoding, and must include enterprise and serial identifiers as dictated by DoD standards. Packaging and shipping must adhere to MIL-STD-129 requirements for labeling and handling. Inspection and acceptance occur solely at Fort Myer, Virginia, with final verification following MIL-STD-105, Inspection Level III, requiring acceptability thresholds for major and minor defects. The contract is awarded under a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) method, prioritizing the lowest bid from technically conforming offerors who are not suspended or debarred. Proposals must include physical samples, test results on metal and plating, completed SF-1449 and SF-30 forms, and be submitted by email to designated points of contact no later than July 28, 2026. Payment is processed through the Wide Area WorkFlow system using DoDAAC HQ0490 at Fort Myer, with no monetary value disclosed due to absence of unit pricing in the request. The contracting office is located at Fort Bel