Sources Sought
Sources Sought: F-16 Transparencies
Department of Defense · Department of the Air Force
AI summaryThis is a sources sought notice, not a solicitation: the U.S. Air Force is looking for new manufacturers to make F-16 transparencies (aircraft canopy windows) and get qualified. PPG Aerospace is the only qualified source today. A follow-on multiple-award contract is planned, with an estimated ceiling of $85M; the response due date is February 16, 2027, 10:00 AM Mountain. 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
A newer version of this notice was posted Oct 22, 2026. See the latest version.
AI summary Beta
Summary of the version posted Oct 21, 2026. The notice was amended Oct 22, 2026. Check what else changed on SAM.gov. Some details are in the notice's attachments, which this summary didn't read. Check the attachments on SAM.gov.
This is a sources sought notice, not a solicitation: the U.S. Air Force is looking for new manufacturers to make F-16 transparencies (aircraft canopy windows) and get qualified. PPG Aerospace is the only qualified source today. A follow-on multiple-award contract is planned, with an estimated ceiling of $85M; the response due date is February 16, 2027, 10:00 AM Mountain.
Who can bid
- Meet the requirements in the MQR and EDL attachments to become a qualified manufacturer of F-16 transparencies
- A JCP printout or DD 2345 that lists the person requesting technical data, to get access to the drawings
Things to watch
- Serious: Qualification needed before you can win orders. PPG Aerospace is the only qualified source, and new makers must meet the qualification requirements in the attachments.
- Serious: Technical data needs JCP or DD 2345 proof. Drawings go only to requestors named on a Joint Certification Program printout or DD 2345, and other requests are rejected.
- Minor: Follow-on contract plan may change. The planned multiple-award contract, with an award timeframe of September 2027, is only an anticipated plan, so it is not a commitment.
Read from the notice text only.
Full summary
What they want
- Show you can make F-16 transparencies for NSNs 1560-01-462-2040, 1560-01-462-4551, 1560-01-497-5078, 1560-01-497-5956, 1560-01-497-5959 and 1560-01-497-6599
- Meet the requirements in the MQR and EDL attachments to become a qualified source; the Government owns the specifications
- Request technical data through the points of contact in the notice, with a Joint Certification Program (JCP) printout or DD 2345
- Foreign parties must tell the contracting officers so they can be cleared by the foreign disclosure office
- Contract type
- Sources sought; the planned follow-on is a multiple-award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ: orders placed as needed up to a ceiling) contract
- Period of performance
- Planned follow-on has a 5-year ordering period
- Estimated value
- $85M estimated total ceiling for the planned follow-on contract (the notice says this may change)
- Contract vehicle
- Planned follow-on multiple-award IDIQ, with on-ramping for newly qualified firms after award
- Offers due
- February 16, 2027, 10:00 AM Mountain (from the version posted Oct 21, 2026; amended since)
What to include when you submit
- Request technical data from the points of contact, with a copy of your JCP printout or DD 2345 that names the person requesting access
- Foreign parties tell the contracting officers they are a foreign party
- See the attachments for what to send in response
Current contractor
PPG Aerospace is named as the sole qualified manufacturing source today; no responses or capable-firm counts are given.
Not in the notice text
- The MQR and EDL attachments, which set the qualification requirements, were not read; the notice text points to them.
- What a response must contain and how to send it are in the attachments, not the notice text.
- The points of contact for technical data requests are not named in the text.
- Quantities for the six NSNs are not stated.
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
- FA8212 AFSC OLH Pzaba, Hill AFB, UT
- Product/service code
- 1560 · Airframe Structural Components
- Business type
- Aircraft, ship & vehicle parts (FedReady's grouping, from NAICS 3364)
- Versions
4 versions have been posted, newest first.
- Oct 22, 2026 · Amendment 0003Due Feb 16, 2027
- Oct 21, 2026 · Amendment 0002 (this version)Due Feb 16, 2027
- Oct 21, 2026 · Amendment 0001Due Feb 16, 2027 (changed)
- Oct 20, 2026 · Sources SoughtDue Feb 16, 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
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