# KC135 Life Raft Securing Device

Canonical: https://abierto.us/opportunities/kc135liferaftsecuringdevice

- Solicitation number: KC135_LifeRaft_Securing_Device
- Notice type: Sources sought
- Status: Open. Offers due October 9, 2026 at 4:00 PM EDT
- Department: Department of the Air Force
- Agency: Department of the Air Force
- Contracting office: FA8105 AFLCMC WKK (FA8105)
- NAICS: 336413 Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing
- Product or service code: 1680 Miscellaneous Aircraft Accessories and Components
- Set-aside: Total small business set-aside
- Place of performance: Tinker AFB, Oklahoma
- County: Oklahoma County (FIPS 40109). https://abierto.us/counties/oklahoma-county-ok-40109
- First posted: September 28, 2026
- Last posted: September 28, 2026
- SAM.gov: https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/fc4a16c305144dd39b12b7ef390d8976/view

## Description

The KC-135 fleet currently lacks engineering-approved, standardized methods for securing critical life-saving equipment, presenting a severe risk to crew safety during emergencies. While the raft position aft of the left overwing hatch utilizes secure, hard-mounted straps, the remaining stowage areas—forward of the left overwing hatch and forward of the aft hatch—rely on non-standard, field-expedient restraints such as passenger seatbelts or cargo tie-down straps attached to troop seat support bars. This lack of standardization introduces two critical vulnerabilities: it risks delaying crew evacuation times due to unfamiliarity with varied tie-down methods, and it leaves the crashworthiness of the rafts unverified by engineering authorities. To mitigate these safety risks while minimizing program cost and scope, the position aft of the right hatch will be eliminated from the aircraft configuration. Consequently, this modification effort seeks to develop and implement a field-level Time Compliance Technical Order (TCTO) to standardize and modify the remaining forward-left and forward-aft raft positions, replicating the robust, hard-mounted strap design currently utilized at the aft-left hatch location.

## Attachments

- [Life Raft Securing Device SSS RFI Updated.pdf](https://sam.gov/api/prod/opps/v3/opportunities/resources/files/a3118e174e6d4714aeb2ec75ba96e72b/download)

## Publications

- September 28, 2026: Sources sought, due October 9, 2026 at 4:00 PM EDT. Notice fc4a16c305144dd39b12b7ef390d8976. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/fc4a16c305144dd39b12b7ef390d8976/view

## Points of contact

- Dylan Amrein, dylan.amrein@us.af.mil
- Trae Warcup, richard.warcup.1@us.af.mil

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Source: SAM.gov Contract Opportunities bulk extract. Confirm deadlines on SAM.gov before responding. Cite https://abierto.us/opportunities/kc135liferaftsecuringdevice.