Project Information

Bid Title

KC135 Life Raft Securing Device

Issuing Agency

DEPT OF DEFENSE

Location

Oklahoma

Published Date

Sep 28, 2026

Closing Date

Oct 9, 2026

Government Level

Federal

Status

Closed

Ref. #

KC135_LifeRaft_Securing_Device

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Set Aside

Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

Project Description

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KC135 Life Raft Securing Device

Active

Contract Opportunity

Notice ID

KC135_LifeRaft_Securing_Device

Related Notice

Department/Ind. Agency

DEPT OF DEFENSE

Sub-tier

DEPT OF THE AIR FORCE

Major Command

AIR FORCE MATERIEL COMMAND

Sub Command

AIR FORCE LIFE CYCLE MANAGEMENT CENTER

Sub Command 2

MOBILITY AIRCRAFT

Office

FA8105 AFLCMC WKK

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General Information

• Contract Opportunity Type: Sources Sought (Original)
• Original Published Date: Sep 28, 2026 09:57 am CDT
• Original Response Date: Oct 09, 2026 03:00 pm CDT
• Inactive Policy: 15 days after response date
• Original Inactive Date: Oct 24, 2026
• Initiative:
  • None

Classification

• Original Set Aside: Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)
• Product Service Code: 1680 - MISCELLANEOUS AIRCRAFT ACCESSORIES AND COMPONENTS
• NAICS Code:
  • 336413 - Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing
• Place of Performance:
  Tinker AFB , OK 73145
  USA

Description

The KC-135 fleet currently lacks engineering-approved, standardized methods for securing critical life-saving equipment, presenting a severe risk to crew safety during emergencies. While the raft position aft of the left overwing hatch utilizes secure, hard-mounted straps, the remaining stowage areas—forward of the left overwing hatch and forward of the aft hatch—rely on non-standard, field-expedient restraints such as passenger seatbelts or cargo tie-down straps attached to troop seat support bars. This lack of standardization introduces two critical vulnerabilities: it risks delaying crew evacuation times due to unfamiliarity with varied tie-down methods, and it leaves the crashworthiness of the rafts unverified by engineering authorities. To mitigate these safety risks while minimizing program cost and scope, the position aft of the right hatch will be eliminated from the aircraft configuration. Consequently, this modification effort seeks to develop and implement a field-level Time Compliance Technical Order (TCTO) to standardize and modify the remaining forward-left and forward-aft raft positions, replicating the robust, hard-mounted strap design currently utilized at the aft-left hatch location.

Attachments/Links

Contact Information

Contracting Office Address

• CP 405 736 4908 3001 STAFF DR STE 2AI 85A
• TINKER AFB , OK 73145-3303
• USA

Primary Point of Contact

• Dylan Amrein
• dylan.amrein@us.af.mil

Secondary Point of Contact

• Trae Warcup
• richard.warcup.1@us.af.mil

History

• Sep 28, 2026 09:57 am CDTSources Sought (Original)

Commodity Codes

• FSC 16Aircraft Components and Accessories

• NAICS 336413Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing

Related bids

Sep 29, 2026

[Sources Sought (Updated)] KC135 Life Raft Securing Device

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