Production and Installation of the Line-of-Sight (LOS) Link 16 system on MC-130J Platforms
Updated
Sources Sought from the Department of the Air Force. Due Nov 5, 2026, 4:30 PM (UTC-5), 13 days left.
| Solicitation number | FA8509-27-R-MCLOS |
|---|---|
| Agency | Department of the Air Force |
| Office | FA8509 Aflcmc Wiuka |
| Notice type | Sources Sought |
| Set-aside | None |
| Trade (NAICS) | Aircraft Manufacturing (336411) |
| Product or service code | R425 |
| Posted | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Response deadline | Nov 5, 2026, 4:30 PM (UTC-5) (13 days left) |
| Add the deadline to | Google Calendar · Apple / Outlook (.ics) |
Official notice and attachments
Description
This market survey is being conducted to identify potential sources that may be able to provide production kits and installation for the United States Air Force (USAF) MC-130J aircraft platform hereby referred to as MC-130J. This installation, integration, and support of a Line-of-Sight (LOS) Link 16 capability on MC-130J aircraft at multiple Government-designated locations. This support will provide the USAF MC-130J System Program Office (SPO) technical expertise, access to Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) proprietary data including but not limited to structural/component data, drawings, qualification data, and analysis techniques as required to adequately maintain operational, safety, suitability, and effectiveness (OSS&E) for the MC-130J platform.
Sole source to Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) is anticipated due to the lack of proprietary data and engineering expertise needed to perform this support effort. SNC is the only known sole qualified source for this requirement. The level of security clearance is secret and no foreign participation is needed for this requirement.
The Contractor will be required to furnish all material, support equipment, tools, test equipment, and services. The Contractor will be responsible for providing, maintaining, and calibrating all support equipment required at their facility or a subcontractor’s facility. Contractor furnished material or parts used for replacement shall equal or exceed the quality of the original material or parts.
Contractors/Institutions responding to this market research are placed on notice that participation in this survey does not ensure participation in future solicitations or contract awards. The Government will not reimburse participants for any expenses associated with their participation in this survey. In accordance with RFO 15.101: The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this solicitation or to otherwise pay for the information solicited except as an allowable cost under other contracts as provided in subsection 31.205-18, Bid and proposal costs, of the Federal Acquisition Regulation.
Although “proposal” and “offeror” are used in this Request for Information, your response will be treated as information only. It shall not be used as a proposal. This Request for Information is issued for the purpose of market research.
Additional information and instruction can be found in the attachment below. All responses and inquiries shall be addressed to the Primaty and Secondary contacts listed below.
Contracting contact
- Phillip Russell · [email protected]
- Courtney Showers · [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.
Notice history
- Oct 22, 2026: Sources Sought Due Nov 5, 2026, 4:30 PM (UTC-5)
- Oct 22, 2026: Sources Sought Due Nov 5, 2026, 4:30 PM (UTC-5)
Companies that win this kind of work
Federal contractors paid for aircraft manufacturing work, who also hold Air Force 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 Air Force awarded $83.0 billion in contracts in the last 12 months; its biggest suppliers were The Boeing Company, The Boeing Company and Raytheon Company. See what Air Force is buying now.
Aircraft Manufacturing contracts right now
There are 65 open government contract opportunities in this trade (NAICS 336411), 30 posted in the last 7 days; 45% are set aside for small businesses. The agencies buying the most are Defense Logistics Agency, Department of the Navy and Department of the Air Force. Most of the work with a stated place is in Alabama, Texas and Ohio. A notice in this trade gives a median of 12 days from posting to deadline; this one gives 14 days.
All open aircraft 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
- MD Capital Partners LLC $350,000 · Defense Logistics Agency · Oct 20, 2026
- Transaero, Inc. $461,426 · Defense Logistics Agency · Oct 19, 2026
- Alamo Aircraft, Ltd. $25,300 · Defense Logistics Agency · Oct 19, 2026
- DBR Industries, Inc. $103,770 · Defense Logistics Agency · Oct 19, 2026
- R & M Government Services Inc $103,210 · Defense Logistics Agency · Oct 13, 2026
From the award notices agencies publish.