CH-53 Depot Level Aircraft Modifications
Updated
Sources Sought from the Department of the Navy, for work in MCAS New River, North Carolina. Due Nov 5, 2026, 5:00 PM (UTC-5), 15 days left.
| Solicitation number | N00019-26-RFPREQ-APM261-0681 |
|---|---|
| Agency | Department of the Navy |
| Office | Naval Air Systems Command |
| Notice type | Sources Sought |
| Set-aside | Small business |
| Trade (NAICS) | Aircraft Manufacturing (336411) |
| Product or service code | K015 |
| Place of performance | MCAS New River, North Carolina |
| Posted | Oct 20, 2026 |
| Response deadline | Nov 5, 2026, 5:00 PM (UTC-5) (15 days left) |
| Add the deadline to | Google Calendar · Apple / Outlook (.ics) |
Official notice and attachments
Description
Disclaimer THIS SOURCES SOUGHT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. This is not a request for proposal. It does not constitute a solicitation and shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government.
Responses in any form are not offers and the Government is under no obligation to award a contract as a result of this announcement. No funds are available to pay for preparation of responses to this announcement. Any information submitted by respondents to this technical description is strictly voluntary.
Introduction The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), in support of PMA-261 Heavy Lift Helicopters Program Office is seeking sources that have the skills, experience and facilities required to successfully provide installation and material support of CH-53E/K Depot Level Aircraft Modifications. Taskings may include conducting Depot Level A-Kit installations, including but not limited to conducting recurring, non-recurring and prototype aircraft modifications in accordance with Engineering Changes to aircraft designated by the H-53 Program Office, PMA-261.
All work will be performed at Government owned CONUS and OCONUS locations. This sources sought is not a request for proposal. It is a market research tool being used to determine potential and eligible businesses capable of providing the services described herein prior to determining the method of acquisition and issuance of a Request for Proposal.
The Government is not obligated to and will not pay for any information received from potential sources as a result of this notice. Background PMA-261 is responsible for providing H53 Heavy Lift aircraft that are capable, reliable and supportable to the fleet in support of operational missions and objectives. A primary element in meeting this responsibility is by integrating the CH-53E/K aircraft with up-to-date warfighting capabilities, safety enhancements and reliability improvements through Depot Level aircraft modifications.
Anticipated Period of Performance The contract is intended to satisfy Government requirements for FY27 through FY32. Anticipated Contract Type The contract type is anticipated to be a stand-alone Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) utilizing Cost-Plus Fixed Fee, Cost Reimbursement, and Firm-Fixed pricing arrangements. Required Capabilities The specific requirement of the effort under this sources sought notice is to provide highly capable and experienced Depot Level artisans to inspect, disassemble, modify, assemble, perform post-inspection, operational checks (if required) and document aircraft modifications of CH-53E/K aircraft in accordance with applicable Technical Directives.
Primary sites for aircraft modifications will be MCAS Miramar and MCAS New River but will also occasionally require modifications at Government-owned OCONUS locations. Also, the ability to produce and deliver aircraft retrofit A-Kits to support the fielding of aircraft modifications. The tasking includes maintenance and supply support in compliance with CNAFINST 4790.2 series, DCMA 8210 and H-53 Maintenance Instruction Manual procedures with management and performance of the following services: Incorporate aircraft modifications Produce and deliver aircraft retrofit A-Kits Organization Level maintenance (Scheduled and Unscheduled) Prospective offerors MUST: Be able to stand-up aircraft modification capabilities to support aircraft inductions to provide the above support within thirty (30) days after contract award.
Eligibility The applicable NAICS code is 336411 with a Small Business Size standard of 1,500 employees. The Product Service Code (PSC) is K015. Businesses of all sizes are encouraged to respond; however, each respondent must clearly identify their business size.
Incumbent This is a follow-on requirement. The incumbent contractor is Adams Communication & Engineering Technology Inc. Submission Details All responsible sources are encouraged to submit a capability statement that addresses their ability to perform the full range of services described above at the Platform level at their own organic facilities and other locations. It is requested that interested businesses submit to the contracting office a brief capabilities statement package, in accordance with the directions provided below, (no more than 10 pages in length, single-spaced, 12 point font minimum) demonstrating ability to perform the service listed under the required capabilities.
This documentation must address at a minimum the following: Company Name; Company Address; Company Business Size, and Point-of Contact (POC) name, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address. Company profile to include number of employees, annual revenue history from the last five years, office location(s), UEI number, and a statement regarding current small/large business status; Prior/current corporate experience performing efforts of similar size and scope within the last five years, including contract numbers, contract values, Government point of contract with current telephone number, and a brief description of how the referenced contract related to the services described herein; Answers to the following questions, providing details, including contract numbers and any government POCs to demonstrate the experience claimed: Describe your experience (in the last 5 years) in providing rotary wing aircraft Depot Level Modifications.
Describe your experience with maintaining aircraft in accordance with the COMNAVAIRFORINST 4790.2 Series. Describe and quantify your ability to meet the required timeline from Task Order/Contract Award to aircraft induction for a CH-53E/K aircraft level modification event. List any external dependencies or GFE requirements to meet that timeline.
Describe your experience/capabilities in performing maintenance and modification work concurrently on C/MH-53E series aircraft or similar airframes. Describe your production experience/capabilities, engineering capabilities and internal processes in producing a
The description continues in the official notice.
Contracting contact
- Charles Johnson · [email protected]
- Jamie Schoemaker · [email protected]
As published on the official notice. Ask questions in writing and before any questions deadline the notice sets.
Is your business small enough?
For NAICS 336411, a business counts as small if it has no more than 1,500 employees (SBA size standard). This notice is set aside, so only businesses under that size, or in the named program, can bid. SBA table, current as of Oct 15, 2026.
Companies that win this kind of work
Federal contractors paid for aircraft manufacturing work, who also hold Navy contracts (last 12 months): possible competitors, or partners to team with.
- Lockheed Martin Corporation $13.9 billion in this trade
- The Boeing Company $9.0 billion in this trade
- Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation $2.6 billion in this trade
- Bell Textron Inc $1.8 billion in this trade
- Sierra Nevada Company, LLC $1.5 billion in this trade
About the buyer
The Department of the Navy awarded $129.6 billion in contracts in the last 12 months; its biggest suppliers were Electric Boat Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation and RTX Corporation. See what Navy is buying now.
Who can bid: Small Business set-aside
Total and partial small business set-asides are open to any business under the SBA size standard for the notice's NAICS code.
All open Small Business set-asides.
Aircraft Manufacturing contracts right now
There are 66 open government contract opportunities in this trade (NAICS 336411), 34 posted in the last 7 days; 47% are set aside for small businesses. The agencies buying the most are Defense Logistics Agency, Department of the Navy and Department of the Army. Most of the work with a stated place is in Alabama, Ohio and Missouri. A notice in this trade gives a median of 14 days from posting to deadline; this one gives 16 days.
All open aircraft manufacturing contracts
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From the award notices agencies publish.