Sources Sought
Modified WC-130J RTP APN-241 Weather Radar Sustaining Engineering Support Research and Support Task
Department of Defense · Department of the Air Force
AI summaryThe Air Force expects to give this work only to Northrop Grumman Corporation (a sole source), and this sources sought notice is market research to see if other firms can do it. Other firms can send proof of capability by the response due date, November 12, 2026, 4:00 PM Eastern. The work is sustaining engineering support for the modified WC-130J APN-241 weather radar, planned as a 2-year contract with a 6-month extension option. 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 expects to give this work only to Northrop Grumman Corporation (a sole source), and this sources sought notice is market research to see if other firms can do it. Other firms can send proof of capability by the response due date, November 12, 2026, 4:00 PM Eastern. The work is sustaining engineering support for the modified WC-130J APN-241 weather radar, planned as a 2-year contract with a 6-month extension option.
Who can bid
- Be capable of working with, and have access to, Northrop Grumman equipment
- Have access to Northrop Grumman Corporation and its databases that hold the APN-241 radar engineering software
- Be able to install the APN-241 weather radar and troubleshoot system discrepancies
Things to watch (4)
From the version posted Oct 22, 2026.
- Serious: Sole source to Northrop Grumman anticipated. The Government expects to award to Northrop Grumman alone. Other firms can only send capability documentation by the response due date to try to change that.
- Serious: Access to Northrop Grumman databases required. Sources must have access to Northrop Grumman and its engineering software databases, which a firm outside that company may not be able to get.
- Minor: Information request only, not a solicitation. This request for information (RFI) is for planning, does not promise a later solicitation, and the Government does not pay for responses.
Show all 4Show fewer
- Minor: On-site travel to Eglin AFB. Two engineers must support work on site at Eglin AFB, for a total of three 5-day trips, which adds travel cost.
Read from the notice text only.
Full summary
What they want
- Engineering studies to resolve reliability and maintainability problems and obsolete-part issues on the WC-130J RTP APN-241 weather radar (RTP is written that way in the notice)
- Find and propose fixes for Diminishing Manufacturing Sources (DMS) problems, where parts makers stop supplying, and analyze failure trends from depot (major repair) and field-level shops to support MC-130J CR-2M developmental testing
- Install the APN-241 weather radar and troubleshoot system discrepancies
- Sustaining engineering support and repair of the modified configuration: RTP part number (P/N) 780R270G13 (National Stock Number, NSN, 5841-01-546-5654), Transmitter Module (1A05) P/N 444R372G02 (NSN 6130-01-433-9452) and General-Purpose Processor Module P/N 824R061G13 (NSN 5998-01-564-1569)
- Ensure the equipment can detect rain rates in real time directly in front of the aircraft, either proving or disproving the capability
- Engineering support during developmental testing, not to exceed 400-man hours
- On-site support at Eglin AFB for two engineers, for a total of three 5-day trips
- The Government will provide this equipment as government-furnished equipment (GFE): RTP P/N 780R270G10 (NSN 5841-01-522-1618), Transmitter Module (1A05) P/N 444R372G01 (NSN 5841-01-433-9455) and General-Purpose Processor Module P/N 824R061G06 (NSN 5998-01-534-5169)
- Period of performance
- 2 years plus a 6-month extension option, beginning in FY27 and continuing through FY29
- Place of performance
- Beavercreek Township, OH, USA per SAM.gov; on-site support at Eglin AFB
- Estimated value
- Not stated
- Offers due
- November 12, 2026, 4:00 PM Eastern
What to include when you submit
- Provide documentation supporting proof of your company's capability to meet the requirements
- If you lack experience or capability in an area, explain how you would overcome that gap for that part of the work
Current contractor
No incumbent is named. The Government anticipates a sole source award to Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC), Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code 11982, the company ID used in government contracting.
Not in the notice text
- Where and how to send an RFI response, and any format or page limits, aren't stated.
- Quantities of the listed items and the contract type aren't stated.
- The Government says the system is not a commercial item, and no samples are available for suppliers to evaluate.
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 22, 2026
- Notice type
- Sources Sought
- Office
- FA8509 AFLCMC WIUKA, Robins AFB, GA
- Product/service code
- R425 · Support – Professional: Engineering/Technical
- Business type
- Engineering, architecture & research (FedReady's grouping, from NAICS 541330)
- Versions
3 versions have been posted, newest first.
- Oct 22, 2026 · Amendment 0002 (this version)Due Nov 12, 2026
- Oct 22, 2026 · Amendment 0001Due Nov 12, 2026 (changed)
- Sep 23, 2026 · Sources SoughtDue Oct 23, 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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