Repair of the B-52 CONECT
DEPT OF DEFENSE.DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE.AIR FORCE MATERIEL COMMAND.AIR FORCE SUSTAINMENT CENTER.FA8539 AFSC PZABA · Response deadline: Mon, 01 Feb 2027
What the government is buying
The Air Force Sustainment Center is soliciting for repair services for the B-52 CONECT system. CONECT—Combat Network Communications Technology—is a digital communications and networking upgrade for the B-52 Stratofortress bomber, replacing legacy analog systems with modern digital infrastructure to enable secure, networked operations with other aircraft and command elements.
This is a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) contract for military avionics and communications equipment. NAICS 811210 covers "Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance," which encompasses the specialized repair of complex military electronics systems. The work likely involves component-level diagnostics, repair, testing, and return-to-service of CONECT hardware to sustain operational readiness across the B-52 fleet.
The solicitation indicates this is a full and open competition with no small business set-aside used, meaning businesses of any size may submit proposals.
Key facts
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | Department of the Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, Air Force Sustainment Center |
| Notice type | Solicitation |
| Solicitation number | FA853927RB001 |
| NAICS | 811210 (Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance) |
| Set-aside | No Set aside used |
| Response deadline | February 1, 2027, 4:00 PM EST |
| Place of performance | see the solicitation |
Who can bid
This full and open solicitation is available to any qualified business, regardless of size. However, prospective bidders must demonstrate capabilities specific to defense electronics repair:
- Security clearance requirements: see the solicitation. Work on CONECT systems typically demands facility and personnel clearances given the classified nature of military communications technology.
- Technical expertise: Proven experience with military avionics, digital communications systems, or similar depot-level repair operations.
- Quality systems: AS9100 or ISO 9001 certification may be required; see the solicitation for specific quality standards.
- Government affiliation: Registration in SAM.gov, active Cage Code, and proper Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) compliance.
Smaller firms should realistically assess whether they can meet minimum thresholds for past performance, staffing, and infrastructure—or identify potential teaming partners with complementary capabilities.
How to put together a competitive bid
Given the electronics repair nature of this requirement and full-and-open competition:
Technical approach: Emphasize your diagnostic capabilities, repair turnaround timelines, and testing protocols. Detail your experience with similar military communications or avionics systems. If you have B-52 or bomber platform experience, highlight this prominently.
Past performance: Prepare relevant contract history showing on-time delivery and quality metrics for comparable repair programs. Include Defense Logistics Agency, OEM, or other military customers.
Cost/price strategy: Develop detailed cost buildup showing labor rates (engineer, technician, QA), material costs, overhead, and profit. Government evaluators scrutinize realism; investigate whether this is a cost-type or fixed-price contract in the full solicitation.
Compliance rigor: Address all DFARS clauses, data rights assertions, and cybersecurity requirements (NIST SP 800-171 / CMMC) explicitly. Missing mandatory requirements is a common disqualifier.
Facility readiness: Be prepared for pre-award surveys. The government may inspect your facility for ESD protection, secure storage, calibrated equipment, and appropriate environmental controls.
Next steps
Access the full solicitation FA853927RB001 on SAM.gov to review the statement of work, deliverables, evaluation criteria, and all contract clauses. Note the firm deadline of February 1, 2027, at 4:00 PM Eastern Time—late submissions are inadmissible in federal acquisitions. Register or update your SAM.gov profile immediately if not current, and confirm any security clearance prerequisites before committing proposal resources.
View the official notice on SAM.gov →