Open federal opportunities

31--BEARING,BALL,DUPLEX

DEPT OF DEFENSE.DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY.DLA AVIATION.DLA AV RICHMOND.DLA AVIATION · Response deadline: Fri, 23 Oct 2026

What the government is buying

DLA Aviation is procuring bearing components for military applications. The item description "BEARING,BALL,DUPLEX" refers to precision ball bearings configured in a duplex arrangement—two single bearings paired together to handle combined radial and axial loads with high rigidity. This configuration is common in aerospace and defense systems where exact positioning and load-bearing capacity are critical. Bearings in this category typically support rotating machinery in aircraft engines, landing gear assemblies, and other mission-critical equipment.

DLA Aviation serves as the primary procurement arm for aviation-related supplies across all military branches. Purchases through this agency support weapon system readiness and sustainment operations worldwide. The NAICS code 332991 indicates this falls under "Ball and Roller Bearing Manufacturing."

Key facts

Who can bid

This opportunity is reserved for small businesses under NAICS 332991 only. To qualify, a manufacturer must meet the Small Business Administration's size standard for this code (generally measured by average annual receipts or employee count).

Eligible bidders should verify their business profile in the System for Award Management (SAM) reflects small business status for NAICS 332991. The "Total" set-aside means no large business participation is permitted as a prime contractor—though subcontracting arrangements may still apply.

Bearings procured by DLA typically must meet strict military or aerospace quality standards. Bidders should confirm their products carry necessary certifications (commonly including AS9100 for aerospace quality management and specific military specifications). See the solicitation for exact technical and qualification requirements.

How to put together a competitive bid

Prepare your technical response. DLA Aviation solicitations for bearings typically require detailed specifications conformance, material certifications, and traceability documentation. Confirm your product matches the exact National Stock Number (NSN) or specification cited—bearing procurements are highly standardized and substitution rarely permitted without explicit approval.

Review DLA's Vendor Shipment Module (VSM) requirements. Successful DLA suppliers must demonstrate capability to ship to military distribution centers with proper labeling, packaging, and electronic submission of shipment data.

Understand MIL-SPEC and QPL status. Many bearings require qualification to military specifications or listing on the Qualified Products List (QPL). If your product lacks required qualification, evaluate whether testing and submission timelines could meet delivery expectations.

Price strategically. DLA awards frequently to lowest-price technically acceptable (LPTA) criteria for standard hardware items. Research historical pricing through tools like FPDS or DLA's own market intelligence, and ensure your cost structure accounts for unique defense contracting requirements such as wide area workflow (WAWF) invoicing and potential Berry Amendment compliance for domestic content.

Register in required systems. Active SAM registration, Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS)/CPARS access, and WAWF enrollment are essential.

Next steps

Read the full solicitation on SAM.gov using solicitation number SPE4A627T4458. Confirm all technical specifications, delivery requirements, and evaluation criteria directly from the source document. Note the response deadline of October 23, 2026—DLA typically enforces strict deadlines with limited flexibility for standard hardware procurements.

View the official notice on SAM.gov →