Open federal opportunities

59--FUSE,CARTRIDGE

DEPT OF DEFENSE.DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY.DLA MARITIME.DLA MARITIME COLUMBUS.DLA WEAPONS SUPPORT · Response deadline: Fri, 30 Oct 2026

What the government is buying

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) is seeking suppliers for cartridge fuses—electrical safety devices designed to protect circuits by breaking the connection when current exceeds safe levels. This procurement falls under DLA's weapons systems support mission, meaning these fuses likely support military platforms, weapon systems, or associated ground support equipment rather than general commercial applications.

Cartridge fuses are cylindrical fuses that fit into fuse holders or blocks, common in industrial and military electrical systems. The item name "FUSE, CARTRIDGE" indicates a standard DLA-managed item, suggesting this may be a recurring requirement for the defense supply chain.

Key facts

Who can bid

This opportunity is 100% set aside for small business under the Small Business Set Aside - Total program. Only firms that qualify as small under NAICS 334413 (Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing) are eligible to bid.

Note: NAICS 334413 covers semiconductor and related device manufacturing, which includes fuse manufacturing when produced by establishments primarily engaged in semiconductor device manufacturing. Given the classification, potential bidders should verify their SAM.gov small business size standard aligns with this NAICS code. If your primary NAICS differs but you manufacture qualifying items under this classification, consult your SBA size determination or see the solicitation for applicability.

How to put together a competitive bid

For DLA fuse contracts, competitiveness depends on technical compliance and supply chain reliability:

Technical compliance: DLA typically requires strict adherence to military or federal specifications—likely MIL-PRF, MIL-SPEC, or commercial item descriptions. See the solicitation for the exact specification number and any Qualified Products List (QPL) or Qualified Manufacturers List (QML) requirements. QPL status often determines eligibility; if not currently qualified, the solicitation timing may not accommodate qualification.

Pricing strategy: DLA uses automated strategic sourcing and evaluates against historical pricing and DLA's own cost estimates. Research recent awards for similar National Stock Numbers (NSNs) in the 5920 (fuses) Federal Supply Class. Consider offering multi-year pricing if the solicitation includes option years.

Past performance: Be prepared to document manufacturing experience with similar electrical protection devices, particularly for defense or high-reliability applications. DLA Weapons Support prioritizes proven on-time delivery performance.

Source of supply: Identify any sole-source components or raw material constraints. Fuses with specialized element materials (silver, copper alloys) or ceramic bodies may have lead-time implications to disclose.

Contract terms: DLA awards are typically Firm-Fixed-Price with delivery orders against indefinite-delivery contracts. Review Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) clauses for counterfeit prevention, specialty metals compliance, and supply chain traceability.

Next steps

Access the full solicitation on SAM.gov using solicitation number SPE7M127U0839. The Combined Synopsis/Solicitation format means the notice itself may contain all necessary proposal instructions and evaluation criteria—no separate RFP release anticipated.

Critical deadline: Responses are due October 30, 2026. Given the 15-day posting-to-deadline window, this is a relatively fast procurement cycle typical of DLA's recurring item sourcing. Download all attachments immediately, verify QPL status requirements, and submit through SAM.gov or the specified electronic system. Late submissions are generally not accepted under DLA procedures.

View the official notice on SAM.gov →