Sources Sought
Mode5/TCAS/Surveillance Cloaking Capability
Department of Defense · Department of the Navy
AI summaryNaval Air Systems Command wants to find businesses, including small ones, that can provide systems engineering, avionics integration and test support to add Mode 5 (military aircraft identification), traffic collision avoidance (TCAS) and surveillance cloaking capability to two U.S. Marine Corps Boeing C-40A Clipper aircraft. Work is expected at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD. This is a sources sought notice for market research only; the response due date is November 5, 2026, 12:00 PM Eastern. More in the summary
Market research, not a bid. Replying is free and tells Department of the Navy who could do this work. Send a short reply to the contracting contact; no price is needed. See the contact
AI summary Beta
Naval Air Systems Command wants to find businesses, including small ones, that can provide systems engineering, avionics integration and test support to add Mode 5 (military aircraft identification), traffic collision avoidance (TCAS) and surveillance cloaking capability to two U.S. Marine Corps Boeing C-40A Clipper aircraft. Work is expected at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD. This is a sources sought notice for market research only; the response due date is November 5, 2026, 12:00 PM Eastern.
Who can bid
- Say your business size and socioeconomic status under NAICS 488190
How to submit: Email a PDF to Will Dagenhart at william.j.dagenhart.civ@us.navy.mil. What to include is under Full summary below. Check the solicitation's instructions on SAM.gov.
Things to watch
From the version posted Oct 21, 2026.
- Worth checking: Specific avionics and flight-test experience requested. The Government wants proof of past Mode 5, transponder, TCAS or cryptographic integration work, which a firm without aircraft avionics experience would struggle to show.
- Worth checking: Airworthiness and certification support. The work may include Government approval activities for the modified aircraft, which adds technical and schedule risk.
- Minor: Travel to other sites possible. Work may be needed away from Patuxent River, which affects cost and staffing.
Read from the notice text only.
Full summary
What they want
- Systems engineering, avionics integration and test support for two USMC Boeing C-40A Clipper aircraft
- Integrate five listed avionics items: APX-119-540 Transponder, Digital Control Panel, KIV-79 Crypto Applique, Personality Module and TPA-100B TCAS Computer
- Engineering analysis, integration planning, interface assessment, configuration management and installation support
- Ground- and flight-test planning and execution, anomaly resolution and test reports
- Technical-data development and technical program support, including technical interchange meetings, program reviews and risk management
- Place of performance
- Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, expected; travel or support at other Government or contractor sites may be required
- Estimated value
- Not stated
- Offers due
- November 5, 2026, 12:00 PM Eastern
- How to submit
- Email a PDF to Will Dagenhart at william.j.dagenhart.civ@us.navy.mil
What to include when you submit
- Email subject line: Sources Sought Response - USMC C-40A Mode 5/TCAS/Surveillance Cloaking Integration Support - [Company Name]
- Send the response as a PDF
- Company information: name, address, CAGE code, UEI, business size and socioeconomic status under NAICS 488190, and technical and contracting points of contact
- Relevant experience in the past five years: systems engineering, modification, integration, testing or sustainment of Boeing 737-derived, military transport or comparable aircraft
- Experience integrating Mode 5/Identification Friend or Foe, transponder, TCAS, surveillance, cryptographic or comparable avionics, and with the listed equipment if any
- Up to three relevant completed or ongoing efforts, each with a short description, period of performance, customer type and your role
- Technical capability: engineering disciplines, facilities, test equipment and personnel, and any Government-furnished equipment, information or support you would need
- Say whether you would be prime, subcontractor or teaming partner, name potential teaming arrangements, and recommend an acquisition approach, contract type, period of performance and schedule
- List major technical, supply-chain, schedule, airworthiness, test-resource and data-rights risks
- Clearly mark proprietary information; do not send classified, export-controlled or sensitive information unless authorized through an approved Government process
Not in the notice text
- Contract type, period of performance and value are not stated; the Government asks respondents to recommend them.
- Whether a security clearance or facility clearance is needed is not stated, though the work involves a cryptographic item.
- A future solicitation, statement of work and any set-aside decision are not yet posted; SAM.gov shows no set-aside.
Eligibility and how to respond
- No set-aside. Any business can reply, and no bid is being taken yet, but the notice names requirements for the work:
- The notice mentions export-controlled data. You may need a Joint Certification Program (DD Form 2345) approval to see the drawings.
- To respond, send a short reply to the contracting contact near the top of this page. No price is needed.
Notice details
- Posted
- Oct 21, 2026
- Notice type
- Sources Sought
- Office
- Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD
- Product/service code
- J015 · Maint/Repair/Rebuild of Equipment – Aircraft and Airframe Structural Components
- Business type
- Transportation, logistics & vehicles (FedReady's grouping, from NAICS 488190)
- Attachments
Past awards and competition
Who has won work like this before, the likely incumbent, and what similar contracts paid, from USAspending.gov.
Before you respond
Terms on this notice: Sources sought notice
Full notice text from SAM.gov
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