Deadlines soon: fast-turn DoD/VA buys plus two sources-sought to shape

Executive takeaway

This batch is a mix of immediate-turn RFQs (DLA supply items and a USACE electrical replacement), a service RFQ with a controlled site visit (Navy generator maintenance/repair), and two market research notices where your response can shape the eventual acquisition (Army MTCCS III and DLA Aviation salinity sensor approved-source interest). If you can’t quote quickly and cleanly, pass on the “closing today” items and focus on the Navy generator RFQ (deadline in February 2026) and the sources-sought responses.

What the buyer is trying to do

Generator maintenance and repair (Navy)

The Navy is seeking generator maintenance and repair support under an RFQ that has been amended multiple times, including a site visit requirement with strict instructions and an update that opens competition beyond small businesses.

COMET (DIA/MSIC) draft solicitation (not an RFP yet)

This is a draft release to give industry read-ahead for a complex COMET requirement supporting the Missile and Space Intelligence Center’s research, development, and sustainment of hardware, systems, and software capabilities, plus foundational military intelligence enabling all-source analysis and enabling services. The draft Q&A period is indicated as closed, and the government states additional questions may come during the eventual RFP period.

NSN salinity sensor sources sought (DLA Aviation)

DLA Aviation is performing market research to determine if other firms can manufacture or legitimately obtain the salinity sensor item and to identify potential approved sources. No solicitation is issued at this time.

MTCCS III sources sought (Army ACC-Orlando)

ACC-Orlando is assessing the market for a broad mission training complex support requirement spanning mission command training, simulations (including first-person/gaming and constructive simulations), facilities management, event scheduling, access control, and related admin/security support across multiple CONUS and OCONUS locations. The government notes the outcome may influence whether the eventual requirement is set aside for small business (full or partial) and that multiple awards may be made.

VA medical carts (brand name or equal; not a request for quotes)

VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System describes a need for auto-lock medical carts (Avalo series treatment carts, brand name or equal) with detailed salient characteristics and a delivery expectation of no more than 60 days after award to a Pittsburgh, PA location.

DLA RFQs: life preserver vests and ice storage chests

DLA Troop Support is buying specific NSN items via RFQ with stated quantities and delivery timelines to DLA Distribution San Joaquin, with electronic quoting noted.

Fort Gibson station service 480V switchgear replacement (USACE)

USACE has a requirement described as Fort Gibson Station Service 480V Switchgear Replacement. (Verify full scope in the solicitation documents.)

Repair/modification of CCA RS-485/RS-422 (Navy NAVSUP WSS)

NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support is buying a firm-fixed-price repair action with delivery timing shown, inspection/acceptance terms referencing Sections C and E, and payment via Wide Area Workflow instructions. The description snippet indicates an amendment increasing quantity and mentions that certain inspection/test plan data items may be waived if already on file.

What work is implied (bullets)

• Navy generator work: plan for a controlled site visit (follow instructions precisely), then provide a maintenance/repair approach aligned to the attached synopsis/solicitation and updated RFQ.
• USACE electrical: execute a 480V switchgear replacement (verify technical requirements, outages, commissioning, and submittals in the solicitation).
• DLA supply delivery: quote and deliver NSN items to DLA Distribution San Joaquin within stated ADO timelines (90 days for the life preserver vests; 30 days for the ice storage chest line items).
• NAVSUP repair: provide fixed-price repair/modification for the CCA RS-485/RS-422 item(s), align to inspection/acceptance clauses, and plan for warranty terms as stated (verify details in Sections C/E and DD1423 reference).
• VA carts (planning only): be able to meet “brand name or equal” salient characteristics for auto-relock locking medical carts and deliver within 60 days after award (if/when it becomes an RFQ).
• Sources sought responses: for MTCCS III, demonstrate capability to deliver multi-site training/simulation operations and support; for the salinity sensor, show ability to manufacture or legitimately obtain and pursue approved-source review steps.

Who should bid / who should pass (bullets)

• Bid if you can attend/comply with the Navy generator site visit requirements exactly and can price maintenance/repair work based on the RFQ attachments.
• Bid if you already supply the DLA NSN items (life preserver vests / ice storage chests) and can quote immediately with confidence on delivery to DLA Distribution San Joaquin.
• Bid if you are an electrical contractor integrator that routinely replaces 480V switchgear and can respond quickly once you confirm the full USACE scope and submittals.
• Bid if you are an established depot/repair house aligned to NAVSUP WSS repair flows and can comply with inspection/test expectations (including any ITP requirements/waivers noted).
• Pass if you cannot meet a same-day turnaround (for the notices closing on February 6) or you don’t have the supply chain in hand for the NSN items.
• Pass if you can’t meet “brand name or equal” medical cart salient characteristics (or you can’t support 60-day delivery) if VA later requests quotes.
• Respond (don’t bid) to sources sought if you want to influence acquisition strategy or positioning for MTCCS III / salinity sensor approved-source qualification.

Response package checklist (bullets; if unknown say “verify in attachments”)

• Confirm closing time/date and submission method in the RFQ/RFP PDFs (verify in attachments).
• Navy generator RFQ: acknowledge Amendments (including the one that opened it beyond small business) and follow the Site Visit Instructions (Attachment 4) precisely (verify in attachments).
• DLA RFQs: prepare an electronic quote for the applicable NSN line item(s), quantities, and delivery schedule stated in the notice; confirm any drawings/specs availability (life preserver vest includes access to digitized drawings/specs; ice storage chest indicates specifications/drawings not available).
• USACE switchgear: include required technical approach, schedule, and submittals as required by the solicitation (verify in attachments).
• NAVSUP repair: ensure compliance with inspection/acceptance requirements referencing Sections C/E, delivery timing, WAWF invoicing instructions, and warranty terms (verify full clauses in attachments).
• Sources sought: provide capability statements and requested details per the attached sources sought notices (verify in attachments).

Pricing & strategy notes (how to research pricing; do not invent pricing numbers)

For the “deadlines soon” RFQs, pricing discipline is mostly about speed + defensibility:

• DLA NSN items: benchmark your unit pricing against your recent sales history for the same or similar NSNs and the operational cost of meeting the stated ADO delivery timelines to DLA Distribution San Joaquin. Where specs/drawings are available (life preserver vest), confirm compliance risks before discounting.
• USACE switchgear replacement: build price from material lead times (switchgear), outage windows, testing/commissioning, and any submittal/approval cycle burdens (verify requirements in the solicitation).
• Navy generator maintenance/repair: treat the site visit as a pricing risk reducer—use it to validate access, conditions, and any constraints described in the attachments. Make sure your quote structure matches the RFQ’s CLIN/line item structure (verify in attachments).
• NAVSUP repair/modification: price around the fixed-price repair expectation, including inspection/test labor and any data requirements (noting the snippet’s mention that certain ITP data items may be waived if already on file).

Subcontracting / teaming ideas (bullets)

• For USACE switchgear, consider a switchgear OEM/authorized service partner for startup/testing support (verify if required in the solicitation).
• For Navy generator work, pair a prime with a specialty generator service firm if you need deeper bench strength for troubleshooting/repairs.
• For MTCCS III (sources sought), form a team that covers simulations integration, training operations, facilities management, and access control across distributed locations.
• For VA medical carts, align with a distributor/manufacturer that can document “brand name or equal” compliance against the salient characteristics list and meet the delivery timeline.

Risks & watch-outs (bullets)

• Site visit gatekeeping: the generator RFQ notes that if instructions are not followed precisely, site visit attendance will be denied. Treat this as a bid/no-bid gating item.
• “Closing today” timing: multiple DLA/Navy/USACE notices show February 6 deadlines—late quotes won’t be competitive (or accepted).
• Approved-source limitation: the ice storage chest notice lists an approved source; confirm whether you can quote as an alternate and still be considered.
• Sources sought ≠ solicitation: the salinity sensor and MTCCS III postings explicitly state market research posture and no award obligation.
• Draft COMET posting: not an RFP; dates and details are subject to change, and Q&A is noted as closed in the update.
• Brand name or equal (VA carts): failure to map every salient characteristic can derail an “equal” offering; build a compliance crosswalk if it moves to RFQ.

Related opportunities

• Generator Maintenance and Repair
• Fort Gibson Station Service 480V Switchgear Replacement
• 59--CCA,RS-485/RS-422, IN REPAIR/MODIFICATION OF
• 42--LIFE PRESERVER,VEST
• 41--CHEST,ICE STORAGE
• NSN 6320-016057059, SALINITY SENSOR (Sources Sought)
• MISSION TRAINING COMPLEX CAPABILITIES SUPPORT (MTCCS) III (Sources Sought)
• 6515--Medical Storage/Transport Carts with locks (Not a Request for Quotes)
• DRAFT Solicitation: COMET (DIA/MSIC)

How to act on this

1. Immediately sort these into closing today vs. closing later vs. sources sought / draft.
2. For any RFQ you pursue, pull the attachments and build a compliance checklist (site visit, specs, delivery, invoicing).
3. For sources sought, submit a focused capability response aligned to the notice’s intent (market research, approved-source interest, or set-aside shaping).
4. If you want a second set of eyes before you commit, contact Federal Bid Partners LLC to help triage, interpret attachments, and package a compliant response.