Sources Sought
B-52 Solid-State Crystal Controlled Oscillator/Isolator Assembly
Dept of Defense · Dept of the Air Force · Sol. FA853926I-APQ166OSC
Due in 7 days
AI summary Beta
The Air Force (Robins AFB, GA) is running a Sources Sought / Request for Information to find companies that could build a new, second source for the B-52 radar Oscillator/Isolator Assembly (NSN 5955-01-089-1801, P/N 164-029-0001). No proposals are requested; it is market research to decide whether a future contract could be competed or set aside for small business. The government does not own the full technical data package, so any source would need to reverse-engineer a form, fit, function replacement.
Watch out for
- No technical data package. The government does not own the full manufacturing data, so a new source must reverse-engineer and qualify the part, which is costly and risky for a small business.
The Government does not own the complete technical data package (TDP) or the unlimited rights to the technical data required for manufacture.
- Secret-level facility and cleared staff. Interested sources need a facility and personnel cleared up to Secret, which many small firms do not have.
Interested sources must maintain facilities and cleared personnel for manufacturing, handling, storing, and maintaining information
- Nuclear hardness and demanding RF specs. The part must meet nuclear and EMP hardness plus tight X-band frequency stability and noise limits, which requires specialized design and test capability.
It must maintain nuclear survivability and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) hardness per Norden specification 000-R-0031.
- Response dates conflict. The notice lists a response deadline of 14 Oct 2026, but the attached RFI says responses are due 16 Sept 2026; the later SAM.gov date is likely current, but confirm with the contact.
Please send email responses no later than close of business on 16 Sept 2026.
- Small quantity, no commitment. Demand is only about 40 units over 10 years, and responding does not guarantee a future solicitation or award or reimbursement of costs.
participation in this survey may not ensure participation in future solicitations or contract awards.
- Part number mismatch. The attachment title shows NSN 5998-01-089-1801 while the notice and description table show 5955-01-089-1801, so confirm the correct item.
Full brief
What they want
- Capability responses from companies able to develop and manufacture a form, fit, function and interface replacement for the B-52 RTM A10 Oscillator/Isolator Assembly
- Evidence of experience with military X-band microwave hybrid assemblies and voltage-controlled oscillators
- Experience developing hardware without a complete technical data package (reverse engineering from samples or partial drawings)
- Ability to meet nuclear hardness (NHCI/EMP) requirements and handle classified material up to Secret
- Plan for obsolete parts, qualification testing, and engineering support for future deficiency reports and improvement projects
- Completed Contractor Capability Survey (business info, size and socioeconomic status, plus capability, supply chain, foreign influence and cybersecurity questions)
- Identify any work that should be set aside exclusively for small business
- Contract type
- Not stated: this is a Request for Information (sources sought), not a solicitation
- Place of performance
- Not stated in the notice; the government point of contact is at Robins AFB, GA
- Offers due
- 2026-10-14T17:00:00-04:00 (from the notice fields); the attached RFI document says 16 Sept 2026
- How to submit
- Email response to Lt. Brenden Collins, brenden.collins@us.af.mil (407 SCMS/GULBA, Robins AFB, GA)
What to include when you submit
- Complete the Contractor Capability Survey: Part I business information (name, address, POC, CAGE code, phone, email, web page, size under NAICS 334511) and Part II capability questions
- State whether you are small, woman-owned, small disadvantaged, 8(a), HUBZone, veteran-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, and registered in SAM.gov
- State whether the company is domestically or foreign owned (and the country if foreign)
- Provide documentation supporting your capabilities; if you lack experience in an area, explain how you would overcome it (teaming, subcontracting)
- Identify any areas of work that should be broken out exclusively for small business
- Joint ventures and teaming arrangements are encouraged
You must have
- Facilities and cleared personnel able to handle classified information up to Secret
Interested sources must maintain facilities and cleared personnel for manufacturing, handling, storing, and maintaining information
- Small business size standard under NAICS 334511 is 1,250 employees; a future award could be a total or partial small business set-aside
awarded on a total or partial Small Business Set-Aside basis
- Active SAM.gov registration and a CAGE code (asked for in the survey)
CAGE Code:
- Experience with nuclear hardness / EMP-hardened electronics (item is a Nuclear Hardness Critical Item, per Norden spec 000-R-0031 or equivalent)
This assembly is designated as a Nuclear Hardness Critical Item (NHCI).
- Cybersecurity posture: DFARS 252.204-7012, NIST SP 800-171 self-assessment in SPRS, and a POA&M (asked about in the survey; formal requirements for a future contract not stated)
Current contractor
No current repair or support contractor is named. The original manufacturer is Norden Systems (Northrop Grumman); Cobham is described as a secondary obsolete source.
Not in the notice text
- Whether and when a solicitation will be issued, and the contract type, value and period of performance
- Evaluation approach for any future award
- Referenced requirements documents (T.O. 11B34-2-9-4, design drawings, Norden spec 000-R-0031) are not provided
- Which response deadline is correct (14 Oct 2026 in the notice versus 16 Sept 2026 in the attachment)
- Place of performance and delivery schedule
Is this a fit for your business?
Create a free accountFedReady checks notices like this against your business profile, tracks deadlines, and alerts you to new matches. Creating an account is free.
Key facts
- Response due
- Oct 14, 2026, 9:00 PM UTC
- Posted
- Sep 14, 2026
- Notice type
- Sources Sought
- Solicitation
- FA853926I-APQ166OSC
- Agency
- Dept of Defense · Dept of the Air Force
- Office
- FA8539 Afsc Pzaba
- NAICS
- 334511
- Business type
- Electrical & electronic components
- Contracting contact
- 2d Lt Brenden Collinsbrenden.collins@us.af.mil4784978812
Full notice text from SAM.gov
The Government is conducting market research to identify potential sources with the expertise, capabilities, experience, and technical repair data necessary to meet qualification requirements to repair the Solid-State Crystal Controlled Oscillator/Isolator Assembly. The National Stock Number (NSN) and Part Number (PN) are as follows: NSN 5955-01-089-1801, P/N 164-029-0001, Oscillator, Crystal Controlled This RFI is being conducted to identify different potential non-commercial sources in determining if a future contract effort can be competitively awarded and/or awarded on a total or partial Small Business Set-Aside basis. The applicable North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this effort is 334511 (Search, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing). The Government does not own the complete technical data package (TDP) or the unlimited rights to the technical data required for manufacture. The original manufacturer of this item is Norden Systems (Northrop Grumman), and a secondary obsolete source is Cobham. To mitigate supply chain risks associated with a single source of supply, avoid obsolescence bottlenecks, and ensure long-term sustainment for the B-52 fleet, the Government's primary objective is to qualify a new, competitive manufacturing source that can deliver a form, fit, function, and interface replacement for this unit. Please note, this is a Request for Information only, the Government is not requesting any proposals in response to this posting.
Similar open opportunities
- RECEIVER-TRANSMITTE, IN REPAIR/MODIFICATION OFNAVSUP Weapon Systems Support (Navy) plans a sole source repair or modification of one receiver-transmitter unit.
- CIRCUIT BREAKERNAVSUP Weapon Systems Support (Navy) plans a sole source purchase of 3 circuit breakers.
- POWER INPUT CABLENAVSUP Weapon Systems Support plans a sole source purchase of 5 power input cables (NSN 1R-5995-016912189-BL, reference 4222AS0166-01), delivered FOB Origin.
- CIRCUIT CARD ASSEMB, IN REPAIR/MODIFICATION OFNAVSUP Weapon Systems Support plans a sole-source repair of 14 circuit card assemblies (NSN 7R-5998-016779794-CC), delivered FOB Origin.
- TEST KIT, HPThe Navy (NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support, Mechanicsburg) plans to buy 3 test kits (NSN 7H-6685-017081470-X5) manufactured to a technical data package.