Presolicitation
LARS Hardware Refresh
Dept of Defense · Dept of the Air Force · Sol. FA8509-27-R-B005
Due in 12 daysSole source
The agency plans to award to one named company. Others can only submit a capability statement to challenge it.
AI summary Beta
The Air Force intends to award a sole-source contract to Cubic Defense Application, Inc. for a hardware refresh of the Lightweight Airborne Recovery System (LARS) used on the HC-130J. It covers design and testing (non-recurring engineering) and up to five test articles, over three years. The solicitation is expected October 21, 2026, with proposals around November 20, 2026.
Watch out for
- Sole source to a large business. The Government has named Cubic as the only responsible source, so other firms are unlikely to be considered.
The Government intends to issue a Sole Source Solicitation to: Cubic Defense Application, Inc.
- Authority cited. The notice says no other supplies or services will satisfy the need, which makes a challenge difficult.
Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements
Read from the notice text only.
Full brief
What they want
- Refresh LARS hardware (PLS v12 AN/ARS-6) because of component obsolescence
- Keep all current capabilities, including TAC, TAG and CSEL/NGSR compatibility
- Produce a Form, Fit, Function (FFF/F3) version
- Provide a minimum 10-year period of sustainability
- Perform design reviews and developmental and operational testing
- Deliver up to five test articles
- Contract type
- Sole source (FAR 6.302-1, only one responsible source)
- Period of performance
- Three years: one base period and two option periods
- Place of performance
- USA
- How they'll choose
- None stated; sole-source
- Offers due
- Approximate response date for receipt of proposal is November 20, 2026 (header shows 2026-10-21, the approximate issue date)
- How to submit
- Request a copy of the solicitation at www.sam.gov; electronic procedures will be used
Current contractor
No incumbent named; the intended sole-source awardee is Cubic Defense Application, Inc. (CAGE 87G32), listed as a large business
Not in the notice text
- Estimated value
- How a capability statement could be submitted
- Detailed technical requirements
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Key facts
- Response due
- Oct 21, 2026, 9:00 PM UTC
- Posted
- Oct 6, 2026
- Notice type
- Presolicitation
- Solicitation
- FA8509-27-R-B005
- Agency
- Dept of Defense · Dept of the Air Force
- Office
- FA8509 AFLCMC Wiuka
- Set-aside
- No Set aside used
- NAICS
- 541330
- Product/service code
- B541
- Business type
- Engineering, architecture & research
- Contracting contact
- Carolyn Blanncarolyn.blann@us.af.mil
Full notice text from SAM.gov
The Government has a requirement to obtain a hardware refresh of the Lightweight Airborne Recovery System (LARS), formally identified as Personnel Locator System (PLS) v12 AN/ARS-6, on the HC-130J due to the existing system being end of life from widespread component obsolescence. Any refreshed LARS are required to maintain all current system capabilities and project a minimum 10-year period of sustainability. Such capabilities include Terminal Area Communications (TAC), Terminal Area Guidance (TAG), and Combat Survivor Evader Locator/Next Generation Survival Radio (CSEL/NGSR) full compatibility. In addition, the LARS hardware refresh shall produce a Form, Fit, Function (FFF/F3) version of the current system. The USAF's MC-130J, the USAF's HH-60W, and the USN's MH-60S will benefit from a FFF hardware refresh of LARS as well. This effort will consist of the Non-recurring Engineering (NRE) required to produce a refreshed hardware configuration for LARS. This includes all necessary design reviews, developmental testing events, operational testing events, etc. It is also expected that up to five test articles will be required to fully prove out the refreshed LARS ability to fulfill the requirements described above. The effort associated with the retrofitting/fielding of the proved refreshed LARS will be a separate contract. The resultant contract is planned to have a period of performance of three (3) years, consisting of one (1) base and two (2) option periods. The Government intends to issue a Sole Source Solicitation to: Cubic Defense Application, Inc. 9233 Balboa AVE San Diego, CA 92123-1513 CAGE Code:87G32 Large Business The authority for this requirement is 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements. Electronic procedures will be used for this solicitation. Request a copy of the solicitation from the following website: www.sam.gov. Approximate issue date of the solicitation is October 21, 2026. Approximate response date for receipt of proposal is November 20, 2026.
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