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62--LIGHT,NAVIGATIONAL,MAR

DEPT OF DEFENSE.DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY.DLA AVIATION.DLA AV RICHMOND.DLA AVIATION · Response deadline: Tue, 20 Oct 2026

What the government is buying

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Aviation at Richmond is soliciting bids for light, navigational, marine equipment—components used for maritime navigation lighting systems. DLA Aviation is the primary supply chain manager for aviation and maritime sustainment parts across the U.S. military services.

This falls under NAICS 336320 (Other Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing), which covers manufacturers of motor vehicle electrical and electronic equipment including lighting components. Marine navigation lights are safety-critical fixtures required on military watercraft to signal position and status during nighttime or low-visibility operations.

DLA typically uses Combined Synopsis/Solicitation notices to streamline purchasing for established commercial items—the synopsis and solicitation appear together, allowing vendors to review requirements and respond in a single process.

Key facts

Who can bid

This is an unrestricted procurement—any responsible business may bid, including small businesses, other-than-small businesses, and foreign entities if eligible under DLA rules. No socioeconomic set-aside applies, meaning competition is open to all qualified manufacturers or distributors.

To bid on DLA contracts, you must be registered in SAM.gov with an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). For manufacturing work, your SAM registration should list relevant NAICS codes including 336320. If you are a small business, verify your size standard for NAICS 336320 (typically 1,000 employees for this code) in SAM and consider whether your status may still offer evaluation advantages even without a formal set-aside.

Foreign manufacturers may participate but should confirm compliance with Buy American Act or trade agreement requirements applicable to DLA procurements; see the solicitation for specific domestic content rules.

How to put together a competitive bid

For DLA Aviation commercial-item solicitations, focus on these elements:

Technical compliance: Marine navigation lights must meet military specifications or commercial equivalents. Obtain the exact item specification referenced in the solicitation—likely a National Stock Number (NSN) or part number cross-reference. Confirm your product matches form, fit, and function requirements; deviations typically require technical data submissions.

Past performance: DLA evaluates delivery reliability and quality history. If new to DLA, emphasize comparable commercial or maritime contracts, ISO 9001 certification, or equivalent quality systems.

Pricing strategy: Research historical DLA purchases for similar items in FPDS or through SAM.gov award data. DLA often awards to lowest technically acceptable offerors for commercial items; aggressive pricing matters. Factor in:

• DLA's standard contract terms (FAR 52.212-4 for commercial items)
• Potential long-term requirements if this supports multi-year demand
• Packaging and labeling to military standards (MIL-STD-129)

Offer assembly: Submit through the designated method in the solicitation—typically electronic via DLA's procurement portal or email. Include required representations and certifications from SAM.

Next steps

Read the full solicitation on SAM.gov using solicitation number SPE4A627T1827 or the posted date October 13, 2026. The notice published here is the Combined Synopsis/Solicitation, so full specifications, quantity, delivery requirements, and submission instructions should be directly accessible.

Note the deadline: Responses are due October 20, 2026—only seven days after posting. DLA Aviation often runs short-fuse solicitations for stock replenishment; act immediately to download requirements and confirm your ability to respond. If technical data is required, request clarification early through the contracting officer contact in the solicitation.

View the official notice on SAM.gov →