Request for Proposal - 20mm F-16 Ammunition Handling Set - NSN:1005-01-190-9802

24 AUG 2026 This notice is being updated to provide additional questions/answers as received by the USG and to issue the attached RFP Amendment 01.

Questions from Offerors:

1.  Are CMMC requirements required of subcontractors? Per DFARS 252.204-7021(d)(1) (ii) prime contractors are to Consult 32 CFR 170.23 related to the flowdown of the CMMC requirements, and flow down the correct CMMC level to subcontracts and other contractual instruments

Per DFARS 252.204-7021(d)(4) Prime contractors are to Ensure all subcontractors and suppliers complete prior to subcontract award, and maintain on an annual basis, an affirmation, by the affirming official (see 32 CFR 170.4), of continuous compliance with the requirements associated with the CMMC level required for the subcontract or other contractual instrument for each of the subcontractor information systems that process, store, or transmit FCI or CUI and that are used in performance of the subcontract

Per CFR 107.23 Application to subcontractors  (a) CMMC requirements apply to prime contractors and subcontractors throughout the supply chain at all tiers that will process, store, or transmit any FCI or CUI on contractor information systems in the performance of the DoD contract or subcontract. Prime contractors shall comply and shall require subcontractors to comply with and to flow down CMMC requirements, such that compliance will be required throughout the supply chain at all tiers with the applicable CMMC level and assessment type for each subcontract as follows:

(1) If a subcontractor will only process, store, or transmit FCI (and not CUI) in performance of the subcontract, then a CMMC Status of Level 1 (Self) is required for the subcontractor.

(2) If a subcontractor will process, store, or transmit CUI in performance of the subcontract, then a CMMC Status of Level 2 (Self) is the minimum requirement for the subcontractor.

(3) If a subcontractor will process, store, or transmit CUI in performance of the subcontract and the associated prime contract has a requirement for a CMMC Status of Level 2 (C3PAO), then the CMMC Status of Level 2 (C3PAO) is the minimum requirement for the subcontractor.

(4) If a subcontractor will process, store, or transmit CUI in performance of the subcontract and the associated prime contract has a requirement for the CMMC Status of Level 3 (DIBCAC), then the CMMC Status of Level 2 (C3PAO) is the minimum requirement for the subcontractor.

2. Can the Government First Article Test Requirements be waived?  Yes. Information regarding First Article Test Requirements waivers are provided on Block 11 of the Form 260 attachment to the RFP. In accordance with Block 11, paragraph c., offerors who have previously furnished production quantities of the same or similar articles to the Air Force, provided articles thus furnished, have exhibited satisfactory performance in the opinion of the Air Force; provided not more than 36 months have elapsed since completion of the contract. Under conditions stated in paragraph c., the cognizant engineering activity will decide whether or not the item has exhibited satisfactory performance in service and prepare and retain supporting documentation to fully justify this decision. The following information must be provided for the previously supplied article: Procuring Office, Contract Number, Date of Contract, and Specification Number and Revision.

3. If the First Article Test requirements are waived, will the applicable CDRLs be removed? Yes. Any CDRL applicable to First Article requirements will be removed for offerors who qualify for GFAT waiver.

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED CLARIFICATIONS/QUESTIONS:

Below is the clarification regarding the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements for the upcoming solicitation, based on current Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition regulations:

Required CMMC Level   CMMC Level 2 is required because this effort involves ITAR-controlled technical data and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Timing of Compliance-Pre-Award Requirement. While an active assessment is not required at the exact moment of the proposal submission, the selected awardee must have the required level active and verified in the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) at the time of contract award. The Contracting Officer cannot legally execute the award without this active status. Subcontractor Flowdown -  This pre-award certification requirement flows down to all subcontractors who will be handling CUI under this contract.

Below is a clarification regarding SAR Package Approvals:

20mm Mechanical Housing is classified as a Critical Application Item CAI, therefore, Source Approval Request SAR remains valid for 7 years from the date of the approval letter.

04 AUG 2026 UPDATE: For purposes of proposal submissions, the primary point of contact is PCO, Chrissie Smith, Christine.Smith.20@us.af.mil.  

SUBJECT:

This is a Request for Proposal for the production of the 20MM Mechanical Housing NSN 1005-01-190-9802.

Item Description:

NSN: 1005-01-190-9802

P/N: 209F953

The Transfer Unit Mechanical Housing NSN 1005-01-190-9802, P/N 209F953 is the transfer unit attached to the M61A1 gun and is gear-driven by the gun. The transfer unit assembly is attached to the gun feeder. Its function is to transfer live rounds from feed chute to the feeder assembly, and to transfer empty cases from the unload drive assembly into conveyor elements in the return chute. Gear-driven sprocket assemblies and guides within the transfer unit maintain positive control of the rounds and conveyor elements passing through the transfer unit. The transfer unit removes rounds from the conveyor, places the rounds into the extractor lip of the gun breech bolts, receives expended cases and unfired rounds from the gun breech bolts, and places them in the conveyor.

Acquisition Strategy:

This item will have an Acquisition Method Code/Acquisition Method Suffix code of 2/C, in which it Suitable for competitive acquisition for the first time. This part requires engineering source approval by the design control activity in order to maintain the quality of part.  Existing unique design capability, engineering skills, and manufacturing knowledge by the qualified source(s) require acquisition of the part from the approved source(s). The approved source(s) retain data rights, manufacturing knowledge, or technical data that are not economically available to the Government, and the data or  knowledge is essential to maintaining the quality of the part. An alternate source must qualify in accordance with the design control activity's procedures, as approved by the cognizant Government engineering activity. The qualification procedures must be approved by the Government engineering activity having jurisdiction over the part in the intended application. If one source is approved, AMCs 3, 4, or 5 are valid. If at least two sources are approved or if data is adequate for an alternate source to qualify in accordance with the design control activity's procedures, AMCs 1 or 2 are valid. 

Based on critical customer requirements, Defense Logistics Agency Weapons Support (DLA AW) seeks to award a indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract utilizing the strategy listed in Paragraph 2.0 Acquisition Strategy, to satisfy current and future Transfer Unit Housing Assembly requirements, by providing a contract vehicle for production orders issued to mitigate supply chain risks. The proposed procurement will be issued to offerors among approved and/or pre-qualified sources with proposals offering the best value to the Government in accordance with the tradeoff award procedures in FAR Part 15. Pre-qualified, but unapproved, sources will be required to produce First Articles. The proposed procurement will result in the award of up to three (3) multiple award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contracts to multiple sources with up to two awards set-aside to small businesses. Each contract will consist of five 12-month ordering periods. 

The DLA/AWB Contracting Office intends to award a competitive contract to for the manufacture of the 20mm Transfer Unit Mechanical Housing in support of the F-16 Aircraft program. Any interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement no later than closing date 10 Aug 2026 by Todd.stimus@us.af.mil and Chrissie Smith at christine.smith.20@us.af.mil.

Below is the clarification regarding the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements for the upcoming solicitation, based on current Department of Defense (DoD) acquisition regulations:

Requirement Area                             Compliance Details & Implications

Required CMMC Level

CMMC 2.0 Level 2     -   (Advanced) is required because this effort involves ITAR-controlled technical data and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Please note that CMMC 1.0 is obsolete.

Timing of Compliance  -  Pre-Award Requirement. While an active assessment is not required at the exact moment of the proposal submission, the selected awardee must have the required level active and verified in the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS) at the time of contract award. The Contracting Officer cannot legally execute the award without this active status.

Subcontractor Flowdown -  This pre-award certification requirement flows down to all subcontractors who will be handling CUI under this contract.

Below is a clarifification regarding SAR Package Approvals:

20mm Mechanical Housing is classified as a Critical Application Item CAI, therefore, Source Approval Request SAR remains valid for 7 years from the date of the approval letter

2 July 26 Below is a clarification regarding DFAR 252.204-7025 (CMMC)

When DFAR 252.204-7025 (attached) is referenced in any Government Solicitation, should the "blanks" (within the DFAR)  be filled in by the Government?

Answer - Yes, this information will be filled out by the Government