Sources Sought
RFI - Repair of C-5 COMPUTER, DIGITAL
Department of Defense · Department of the Air Force
AI summaryThe Air Force (AFSC PZAAB, FA8538) issued sources sought notice 28-00023, a request for information (RFI), to find firms able to repair the C-5 Computer, Digital for the C-5 aircraft. The Government says MILTOPE CORPORATION is the only known repair source and that it does not own the repair data. Written responses are due November 20, 2026; the RFI is market research, not a contract offer. More in the summary
Market research, not a bid. Replying is free and tells Department of the Air Force who could do this work. Send a short reply to the contracting contact; no price is needed. See the contact
AI summary Beta
The Air Force (AFSC PZAAB, FA8538) issued sources sought notice 28-00023, a request for information (RFI), to find firms able to repair the C-5 Computer, Digital for the C-5 aircraft. The Government says MILTOPE CORPORATION is the only known repair source and that it does not own the repair data. Written responses are due November 20, 2026; the RFI is market research, not a contract offer.
Who can bid
- Open to large and small businesses. No set-aside is used, and joint ventures and teaming are encouraged.
- Firms are asked to show they have the repair data, expertise, capabilities and experience to meet the qualification requirements for this repair.
How to submit: Email to erika.bell.2@us.af.mil. What to include is under Full summary below. Check the solicitation's instructions on SAM.gov.
Things to watch (4)
From the version posted Oct 21, 2026.
- Serious: Government names Miltope as the only known repair source. The Government says it does not own the repair data and that buying the data or qualifying a new source is uneconomical, so a new firm would need its own repair data and capability to be considered.
- Worth checking: RFI only, no contract award. The Government does not plan to award a contract from this RFI, and responding does not ensure a place in a later solicitation or award.
- Minor: Classified material and cybersecurity questions. The survey asks about handling classified material, foreign ownership, control or influence, and cybersecurity under DFARS clause 252.204-7012, which can be hard for a small shop to answer.
Show all 4Show fewer
- Minor: No samples available. Potential suppliers cannot evaluate a unit first, so capability must be shown on paper.
Read from the notice and 1 attachment. Show which files.
- RFI for FD20602800023.pdf (read)
Full summary
What they want
- Capability responses from firms that could do depot-level test and repair of the C-5 Computer, Digital (two part numbers)
- Proof of the repair data, expertise, capabilities and experience to meet the qualification requirements
- Completed Contractor Capability Survey: business information, general capability, repair, commerciality, and continuity and cybersecurity questions
- If experience is lacking, an explanation of how the firm would cover the gap (teaming or subcontracting)
- Suggestions for any work that should be set aside exclusively for small business
- Future repair work would include obsolete parts resolution and engineering to look into Deficiency Reports and Material Improvement Projects (MIPs)
- Contract type
- Sources sought / request for information (market research only). No contract type is stated for a later buy.
- Place of performance
- Warner Robins, GA, USA (as given in the SAM.gov fields)
- Estimated value
- Not stated
- How they'll choose
- Not stated. Responses are treated as information only and are not scored as proposals.
- Offers due
- Nov 20, 2026, 3:00 PM Eastern
- How to submit
- Email to erika.bell.2@us.af.mil
What to include when you submit
- Email written responses to erika.bell.2@us.af.mil.
- Complete Part I (business information) for your company and any teaming or joint venture partners: name, address, point of contact, CAGE code, phone, email, web page, size under NAICS 811210.
- State whether you are small, woman-owned, small disadvantaged, 8(a), HUBZone, veteran-owned or service-disabled veteran-owned, whether you are registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR), and whether you are domestically or foreign owned.
- Answer the Part II capability survey: general capability, repair, commerciality, and continuity of operations and cybersecurity questions.
- Include documentation that supports your capability; without it the Government may be unable to assess you.
- If you lack experience in an area, explain how you would overcome it (teaming, subcontracting).
- Say which areas of work you believe should be broken out exclusively for small business.
Current contractor
MILTOPE CORPORATION, the original manufacturer, currently repairs the item under contract FA8538-23-D-0010 and is described as the known sole repair source. No count of expected awards or Government estimate is given.
Not in the notice text
- Quantities and units of issue for the two items (NSN 7021015615734UC, PN 714180-67; NSN 7021017028465UC, PN 714180-7100) are not stated.
- Contract type, length, options, delivery terms and estimated value of any later buy are not stated.
- The technical orders T.O. 5A13-5-29-3 and 5A13-5-30-3 that define form, fit, function and interface are referenced but not attached.
- Whether any follow-on buy would be open to competition or limited to Miltope is not stated.
Eligibility and how to respond
- No set-aside. Any business can reply: this is market research, and no bid is being taken yet.
- 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
- FA8538 AFSC PZAAB, Robins AFB, GA
- Product/service code
- J016 · Maint/Repair/Rebuild of Equipment – Aircraft Components and Accessories
- Business type
- Equipment repair & maintenance (FedReady's grouping, from NAICS 811210)
- Versions
2 versions have been posted, newest first.
- Oct 21, 2026 · Sources Sought (this version)Due Nov 20, 2026
- Oct 21, 2026 · Special NoticeDate Nov 20, 2026
- 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
C-5 COMPUTER, DIGITAL NAICS: 811210 The Government is conducting market research to identify potential sources that possess the repair data, expertise, capabilities, and experience to meet qualification requirements to purchase the COMPUTER, DIGITAL. The National Stock Numbers (NSN) and Part Numbers (PN) are as follows: Item: Computer, Digital NSN: 7021015615734UC PN: 714180-67 Item: Computer, Digital NSN: 7021017028465UC PN: 714180-7100 The Computer, Digital provides operator interface with the C-5 aircraft on-board embedded diagnostics system. The Digital, Computer is used for in-flight situational awareness of subsystem health and reports BIT codes while attached to a swivel base mounted on the C-5 navigator's table. The current sustainment life cycle for these items is 2050. The service shall include providing obsolete parts resolution along with the necessary engineering to investigate Deficiency Reports and Material Improvement Projects (MIPs). The COMPUTER, DIGITAL must meet form, fit, function, and interface requirements as referenced in per T.O. 5A13-5-29-3 and 5A13-5-30-3. However, the Government does not own the data or the rights to the data needed to compete the repair of this part. It has been determined to be uneconomical to reverse engineer the data, qualify a new source, or buy the data and/or data rights. MILTOPE CORPORATION is the only source of known repair for this system and has been since it was fielded. The COMPUTER, DIGITAL are currently repaired by MILTOPE CORPORATION under contract FA8538-23-D-0010. The RMC/RMSC code for the COMPUTER, DIGITAL, is R3/R. This service has been performed multiple times by MILTOPE CORPORATION, which is the original manufacturer of the COMPUTER, DIGITAL. Contractor shall furnish all material, support equipment, tools, test equipment, and services. The contractor is responsible for providing, maintaining, and calibrating all support equipment required at their facility or a subcontractor’s facility. Contractor furnished material or parts used for replacement shall equal or exceed the quality of the original material or parts. MILTOPE CORPORATION is the manufacturer of the COMPUTER, DIGITAL and the known sole source contractor for repair of this item. Contractors/Institutions responding to this market research are placed on notice that participation in this survey may not ensure participation in future solicitations or contract awards. The government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation in this survey. RFO 15.101(c)(3), applies to this request for information: The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of the RFI or otherwise pay for the information requested; and Responses will be treated as information only and not as a proposal. INSTRUCTIONS: The document(s) below contains a description of the COMPUTER, DIGITAL repair requirements and a Contractor Capability Survey. The Survey allows Contractors to provide their company’s capability. If, after reviewing these documents, you desire to participate in the market research, you should provide documentation that supports your company’s capability in meeting these requirements. Failure to provide documentation may result in the government being unable to adequately assess your capabilities. If you lack sufficient experience in a particular area, please provide details explaining how you would overcome the lack of experience/capabilities to perform that portion of the requirement (i.e., teaming, subcontracting, etc.) Identify any areas of work that your organization believes should be broken out exclusively for Small Business. Both large and small businesses are encouraged to participate in this Market Research. Joint ventures or teaming arrangements are encouraged. Questions relative to this market survey should be addressed to Erika Bell, Program Manager, 730-326-2103 or via email at erika.bell.2@us.af.mil.