Sources Sought
B-52 Radar Pressurization Unit (RPU)
Dept of Defense · Dept of the Air Force · Sol. FA853926I-APQ166RPU
Due in 7 days
AI summary Beta
The U.S. Air Force (Robins AFB, B-52 Common Avionics) is doing market research for a new, qualified source to make the B-52 Radar Pressurization Unit (NSN 1280-00-898-3679, P/N 101-352). The Government does not own the technical data, so a new source would have to develop a form-fit-function replacement. This is a request for information only; it may lead to a competitive or small business set-aside contract.
Watch out for
- No technical data package. The Government has no rights to the manufacturing data, so a new source must reverse-engineer or develop a replacement and create its own test and qualification procedures, which is costly and risky.
the Government does not own the technical data package (TDP) or the rights to the data required for manufacture.
- Secret-level facility and personnel. Sources must have facilities and cleared people able to handle Secret information, which many small businesses do not have.
Interested sources must maintain facilities and cleared personnel for manufacturing, handling, storing, and maintaining information
- Conflicting response dates. The SAM.gov notice deadline is October 14, 2026, but the attached survey asks for responses by close of business 16 Sept 2026; the notice date is treated as current, so confirm with Lt. Collins.
Please send email responses no later than close of business on 16 Sept 2026.
- RFI only; small, specialized volume. Responding does not guarantee a solicitation or award, and the stated 10-year demand is only about 162 units of one part.
participation in this survey may not ensure participation in future solicitations or contract awards.
- Heavy qualification and compliance burden. The survey expects vacuum leak-rate, 60,000 ft altitude and vibration testing, obsolescence management, counterfeit-parts controls and NIST/DFARS cyber compliance, all of which add cost.
The B-52 RPU 1280-00-898-3679 must meet form, fit, function, and interface requirements as referenced in T.O. 15A3-3-24-3.
- Notice wording mixes repair and manufacture. The notice text mentions qualification to repair the unit, while the attached RFI describes developing a new source of manufacture and procurement; the scope of any future contract is unclear.
Full brief
What they want
- Identify sources able to develop and qualify a new source of the B-52 APQ-166 Radar Pressurization Unit (RPU) to the form, fit, function and interface requirements in T.O. 15A3-3-24-3
- Provide a solution for obsolete parts and engineering to handle future Deficiency Reports and Material Improvement Projects
- Complete Part I (business information) and Part II (capability survey) of the Contractor Capability Survey
- Support capability with documentation; if experience is lacking, explain how you would overcome it (teaming, subcontracting)
- Identify any work that should be set aside exclusively for small business
- Contract type
- Not stated (RFI / sources sought; future competitive and/or small business set-aside award being considered)
- Period of performance
- Demand is stated over a 10-year period (13 units immediate need, 1.24 units per month, 161.8 total); contract period not stated
- Offers due
- 2026-10-14 at 17:00 Eastern per the SAM.gov deadline field; the attached survey says close of business 16 Sept 2026 (see red flags)
- How to submit
- Email response to Lt. Brenden Collins, Logistics Manager, at brenden.collins@us.af.mil
What to include when you submit
- Complete Part I business information: company name, address, point of contact, CAGE code, phone, email, website and size under NAICS 334511
- State small business, woman-owned, small disadvantaged, 8(a), HUBZone, veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran status, and SAM registration (yes/no)
- State whether the company is domestically or foreign owned (and the country if foreign)
- Answer Part II capability questions on manufacturing, qualification without a full data package, obsolescence, commerciality, continuity of operations, foreign influence and cybersecurity
- Provide documentation supporting your capability; teaming and joint ventures are encouraged
- Send questions to Lt. Collins at the same email address
You must have
- Facilities and cleared personnel for work up to the Secret level
Interested sources must maintain facilities and cleared personnel for manufacturing, handling, storing, and maintaining information
- Future award may be a total or partial small business set-aside (NAICS 334511, size standard 1,250 employees)
awarded on a total or partial Small Business Set-Aside basis
- Survey asks about compliance with DFARS 252.204-7012 cyber requirements and NIST SP 800-171 self-assessment in SPRS; these appear as questions, not stated mandatory requirements
Has your company implemented the cybersecurity requirements set forth in DFARS clause 252.204-7012
- Survey asks about foreign ownership, control or influence and sanctions exposure
Current contractor
Great Lakes Manufacturing Corp. was the original equipment manufacturer. AeroControlEx Corp. is the only known current supplier for this NSN.
Not in the notice text
- Contract type, contract length and estimated value of any future award
- Place of performance / delivery
- T.O. 15A3-3-24-3 and technical drawings or samples available to a new source
- How a future award would be evaluated and what qualification (source approval) steps would apply
- Which response date is correct (October 14, 2026 vs 16 Sept 2026)
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Key facts
- Response due
- Oct 14, 2026, 9:00 PM UTC
- Posted
- Sep 14, 2026
- Notice type
- Sources Sought
- Solicitation
- FA853926I-APQ166RPU
- Agency
- Dept of Defense · Dept of the Air Force
- Office
- FA8539 Afsc Pzaba
- NAICS
- 334511
- Business type
- Electrical & electronic components
- Contracting contact
- 2d Lt Brenden Collinsbrenden.collins@us.af.mil4784978812
Full notice text from SAM.gov
The Government is conducting market research to identify potential sources with the expertise, capabilities, experience, and technical repair data necessary to meet qualification requirements to repair the B-52 Radar Pressurized Unit (RPU). The National Stock Number (NSN) and Part Number (PN) are as follows: NSN 1280-00-898-3679, P/N 101-352, Radar Pressurized Unit (RPU) This RFI is being conducted to identify different potential non-commercial sources in determining if a future contract effort can be competitively awarded and/or awarded on a total or partial Small Business Set-Aside basis. The applicable North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code assigned to this effort is 334511. The original equipment manufacturer for the B-52 RPU was Great Lakes Manufacturing Corp.; however, the Government does not own the technical data package (TDP) or the rights to the data required for manufacture. The Government has identified AeroControlEx Corp. as the only known current supplier for this NSN. To mitigate supply chain risks associated with a single source of supply and ensure long-term sustainment for the B-52 fleet, the Government's primary objective is to develop a new, qualified source for this item. Please note, this is a Request for Information only, the Government is not requesting any proposals in response to this posting.
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