MQ-4C Universal Lifting Sling

The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) Lakehurst intends to solicit and negotiate on a sole-source basis with VEP Manufacturing Inc., CAGE Code: 5C905 for the procurement of the Universal Lifting Sling, Part Number (P/N) 4106AS0150-2, NSN: 1730-01-665-8764, and for the upgrade of the Universal Lifting Sling, PN: 4106AS0150-1, NSN: 1730-01-665-8764 to P/N: 4106AS0150-2. This procurement is in support of the MQ-4C MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) Program, United States Navy. The Universal Lifting Sling is required to safely hoist different MQ-4C air vehicle components. 

The Government intends to solicit this requirement under the authority of FAR 12.102(a), which states, for decisions to restrict competition for acquisitions valued at or below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold (SAT), to document the decision that only one source is available, and the basis for the decision. A solicitation will NOT be posted following the close of this synopsis, unless alternate offerors are identified.

The Universal Lifting Sling is a designated Aviation Critical Safety Item. DFARS 209.270-3(a) states that "the head of the contracting activity responsible for procuring an aviation or ship critical safety item may enter into a contract for the procurement, modification, repair, or overhaul of such an item only with a source approved by the head of the design control activity." For these particular items, the technical authority is NAWCAD Lakehurst. VEP Manufacturing Inc., is currently the only approved source for this item. In order to award to any company other than the approved source, an engineering and quality assurance audit would need to be performed on an interested company. The audit process generally takes 12 months, which is an unacceptable delay to contract award and delivery. The required SE is the only part validated and verified for compatible use on the MQ-4C Triton, and no other items can be sourced to meet this requirement.

Alternate offerors must submit a Source Approval Request (SAR) package within fifteen (15) days of the publication of this synopsis to the Point of Contact identified on this pre-solicitation synopsis in order to be considered for evaluation to become a qualified source. Once received, the SAR package will be forwarded to the Technical Authority (TA). The SAR package shall contain the following documentation:

• Copies of complete configuration drawings for similar items which your company has produced within the last three years, including test procedures for which your company has been:
  • Qualified to manufacture, and;
  • Which is similar, i.e., required the same materials, manufacturing processes, inspections, tolerances and similar applications as the items for which you are seeking approval.
• Copies of the complete process/operation sheets used to manufacture the similar item, including, but not limited to, detailed shop sketches. These plan must note those operations and processes performed by subcontractors/vendors.
• Complete copies of purchase orders, shipping documents, etc., that document delivery of production quantities of the part to the Original Equipment Manufacturer or Military service. Provide the most recent copies of these documents.
• A detailed comparative analysis of the differences and similarities between the similar part and the part(s) for which you are seeking approval. This analysis should include materials, configuration, tolerances, process requirements, dimensions, castings, forgings, etc.
• Copies of inspection method sheets used in the manufacturing and at final inspection. These sheets should include actual tolerance, print requirements, inspection services, sources performing the operation, and level of inspection. Critical characteristics should be discernable from all other characteristics.

THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS.

However, the Government will consider all responses received within fifteen (15) days after the date of publication of this synopsis. Registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) at https://www.sam.gov is mandatory for consideration. A determination by the Government not to open this requirement to competition based on the responses to this notice will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Information provided herein is subject to change and in no way binds the Government to solicit for an award of a contract. Responses must be received within fifteen (15) days of publication of this notice via email, no later than 4:00 PM Eastern Time on 30 July 2026 to Mairen Flanagan, mairen.e.flanagan.civ@us.navy.mil.