Life Preserver, Vest
Updated
Sources Sought from the Defense Logistics Agency, for work in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Due Nov 3, 2026, 8:00 AM (UTC-5), 13 days left.
| Solicitation number | DLA-CE-SS-4220-01-708-3638 |
|---|---|
| Agency | Defense Logistics Agency |
| Office | DLA Troop Support |
| Notice type | Sources Sought |
| Set-aside | Small business |
| Trade (NAICS) | Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (315990) |
| Product or service code | 4220 |
| Place of performance | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Posted | Oct 20, 2026 |
| Response deadline | Nov 3, 2026, 8:00 AM (UTC-5) (13 days left) |
| Add the deadline to | Google Calendar · Apple / Outlook (.ics) |
Official notice and attachments
Description
GENERAL INFORMATION Document Type: Sources Sought / Request for Information (RFI) Notice ID / Tracking Number: DLA-CE-SS-4220-01-708-3638 Title: Life Preserver, Vest (Aircrew Emergency Egress) Procurement Type: Commercial Products / Modified Commercial Products (FAR Part 12 / FAR Part 13.5) NAICS Code: 315990 – Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (or 339999 – All Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing) PSC / FSC: 4220 – Marine Lifesaving and Diving Equipment Contracting Activity: Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Troop Support, Construction and Equipment Supply Chain, Philadelphia, PA Response Due Date: [Insert Date – e.g., 15 calendar days from posting] Contracting Points of Contact: Contracting Officer: James Lewicky (or Joel Dalafave) Contracting Office Address: DLA Troop Support, 700 Robbins Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111 Technical / Requirements POC: Thomas Scott, Product Specialist 1.
DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE OF NOTICE This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE / REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) issued for market research and planning purposes only in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10. This notice does NOT constitute a Request for Proposals (RFP), Request for Quotes (RFQ), or Invitation for Bids (IFB). It does not commit the U.S. Government to contract for any supply or service, nor will the Government reimburse any costs incurred by respondents submitting information in response to this notice.
The purpose of this notice is to: Conduct market research to identify potential qualified manufacturers, authorized distributors, or viable alternate sources capable of manufacturing or supplying the required Life Preserver Vest. Determine market capabilities for commercial or modified commercial items meeting military performance specifications. Assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition strategy, including potential set-aside opportunities (e.g., Small Business, SDVOSB, WOSB, HUBZone) or the necessity for other than full and open competition under FAR 13.501(a).
2. REQUIREMENT SPECIFICATIONS The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Troop Support is seeking information from industry regarding the following item required to support U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force aviation operations: Item Attribute Specification / Value Item Name / Description Life Preserver, Vest (Aircrew Egress) National Stock Number (NSN) 4220-01-708-3638 Current Approved Manufacturer TIAX LLC (CAGE Code: 1YHY2) Manufacturer Part Number (P/N) 100300-A Estimated Annual Requirement Approximately 120 each Estimated Ordering Period One-year base period (with potential multi-year option considerations) Delivery Terms FOB Destination (to designated DoD supply depots / CONUS stock locations) Critical Functional and Technical Requirements Mission Application: Critical life-support equipment issued to U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force aircrew members for emergency egress over water.
Mobility & Aircraft Integration: The vest is a modified commercial product engineered to permit unrestricted aircrew mobility within the tight, confined quarters of military aircraft cockpits and cabins. Parachute System Compatibility: The vest must be capable of being worn and donned simultaneously with standard military aircrew parachutes and harnesses without interference, snagging, or impedance to manual/automatic deployment mechanisms.
Technical Data Availability: The Government does not own a complete Technical Data Package (TDP), proprietary drawings, or manufacturing rights for Part Number 100300-A. The current approved source is TIAX LLC (CAGE 1YHY2). 3. EVALUATION OF ALTERNATE OFFERS / PRODUCTS In accordance with Defense Logistics Agency Acquisition Directive (DLAD) Procurement Notes: DLAD Procurement Note M06 (Evaluation of Offers for Part Numbered Items) DLAD Procurement Note L04 (Offers for Part Numbered Items) The Government will consider expressions of interest from manufacturers of the exact part number (or authorized distributors) as well as offerors proposing an alternate, reverse-engineered, or equivalent product.
Any respondent proposing an alternate product must be prepared to submit comprehensive engineering data, test results, qualification reports, drawings, and functional compatibility data to the DLA Product Specialist and Engineering Support Activity (ESA) for technical evaluation and approval. 4. REQUESTED CAPABILITY STATEMENT CONTENT Interested businesses that possess the capabilities and qualifications to supply the exact item or an ESA-qualifiable equivalent are invited to submit a written Capability Statement containing the following information: Section A: Vendor Profile Company Name, Address, and Website.
CAGE Code and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) active in SAM.gov. Primary Point of Contact (Name, Title, Phone Number, Email Address). Business Size and Socioeconomic Status under NAICS Code 315990 (e.g., Large Business, Small Business, SDB, WOSB, VOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone).
Section B: Technical & Manufacturing Capability Source Status: Indicate whether your firm is: The original equipment manufacturer (OEM) – TIAX LLC (CAGE 1YHY2). An authorized distributor/reseller of TIAX LLC Part Number 100300-A (include letter of supply or authorization). A manufacturer proposing an alternate or equivalent product.
Alternate Product Details (if applicable): Detailed specifications, part number, commercial catalog data, and high-level configuration drawings. Documentation showing compliance with aircrew confined space mobility and simultaneous parachute integration. History of ESA qualification, military airworthiness certifications, or FAA Technical Standard Order (TSO) approvals.
Manufacturing & Quality Management: Outline quality assurance certifications held (e.g., ISO 9001, AS9100) and current manufacturing capacity (ability to support an estimated 120 units per year). Lead Time: Estimated lead time for delivery following contract award (including first-article testing if proposing an alternate item). S
The description continues in the official notice.
Contracting contact
- Joel Dalafave · [email protected] · 215-737-2337
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 315990, a business counts as small if it has no more than 600 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 apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing work, who also hold DLA contracts (last 12 months): possible competitors, or partners to team with.
- Gentex Corporation $49.9 million in this trade
- Leading Technology Composites Inc $37.9 million in this trade
- Readyone Industries Inc $19.9 million in this trade
- Peckham Vocational Industries, Inc. $8.2 million in this trade
- Southeastern Kentucky Rehabilitation Industries, Inc $7.3 million in this trade
About the buyer
The Defense Logistics Agency awarded $46.2 billion in contracts in the last 12 months; its biggest suppliers were Amerisourcebergen Drug Corp, Atlantic Diving Supply, Inc. and W S Darley & Co. See what DLA 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.
Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing contracts right now
There are 11 open government contract opportunities in this trade (NAICS 315990), 7 posted in the last 7 days; 64% are set aside for small businesses. The agencies buying the most are Defense Logistics Agency, Department of the Air Force and Department of the Army. Most of the work with a stated place is in Maryland, Idaho and Pennsylvania. A notice in this trade gives a median of 14 days from posting to deadline; this one gives 14 days.
All open apparel accessories and other apparel manufacturing contracts
Coming up in this trade
Planned contracts from the agencies' procurement forecasts, often months before a solicitation. Plans can change.
Recent awards in this trade
- Atlantic Diving Supply, Inc. $108,900 · Defense Logistics Agency · Oct 20, 2026
- Southern Police Equipment Company, Inc. $2.0 million · Defense Logistics Agency · Oct 20, 2026
- Kennedy Inc $57,900 · Defense Logistics Agency · Oct 20, 2026
- Atlantic Diving Supply, Inc. $2.0 million · Defense Logistics Agency · Oct 19, 2026
- Avon Protection Systems Incorporated $2.9 million · Defense Logistics Agency · Oct 14, 2026
From the award notices agencies publish.