Open federal opportunities

61--RETAINER,BATTERY

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

DLA Weapons Support, part of the Defense Logistics Agency Maritime Columbus, is seeking a supplier for battery retainers—components that hold batteries securely in place within equipment assemblies. These parts support DLA's mission of providing weapon system sustainment and supply chain management for the Department of Defense.

Battery retainers fall under the broad category of electrical equipment and components manufacturing. DLA typically procures such items through its ongoing supply programs to maintain readiness across military platforms. The specific form factor, material, and performance requirements for this retainer see the solicitation.

Key facts

Who can bid

This opportunity is reserved for small businesses only under a total small business set-aside. Your firm must qualify as small under NAICS 335311. The Small Business Administration size standard for this code is 1,000 employees.

To qualify, you must:

• Be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) with active status
• Have a valid Unique Entity ID
• Certify your small business size status in SAM
• Meet any additional DLA supplier requirements, which may include qualifying to supply to the military supply chain

Manufacturers of electrical hardware, battery accessories, or related military hardware components are natural candidates. If you are a non-manufacturer, you may need to comply with the non-manufacturer rule and supply a domestically produced item from a small business manufacturer.

How to put together a competitive bid

Understand DLA's pricing expectations. DLA Maritime procurements for hardware items often involve evaluated pricing against historical buys or market data. Review DLA's Vendor Shipment Module and historical contract data if available for similar battery retainers.

Verify your manufacturing capabilities against the specification. Battery retainers for military use may need to meet specific dimensional tolerances, material specifications, or corrosion resistance requirements. The solicitation likely references a military or federal specification—obtain and review this document before quoting.

Assess your supply chain for raw materials. If specialty metals or finishes are required, confirm you can source domestically if Buy American provisions apply.

Calculate total delivered cost. DLA awards typically prioritize best value, balancing unit price, delivery, and past performance. Account for packaging and labeling to military standards, which often require specific barcoding and shipment markings.

Review DLA's ordering and delivery terms. This may be a requirements-type contract with indefinite delivery, meaning you'll need capacity to respond to individual orders over the contract period.

Highlight any relevant past performance. If you've supplied DLA, other defense agencies, or similar electrical components to commercial manufacturers, document this in your proposal. First-time DLA vendors should emphasize quality certifications and relevant production experience.

Next steps

1. Read the full solicitation on SAM.gov using solicitation number SPE7M127U0845
2. Note the deadline: Responses are due October 30, 2026
3. Download all attachments, including any drawings, specifications, and DLA's provisioned item order requirements
4. Verify your SAM registration is current and your small business representation is accurate
5. Submit your quotation through the specified method in the solicitation—typically DLA Internet Bid Board System (DIBBS) for this type of procurement

View the official notice on SAM.gov →