Deadlines-SoOn Federal Opportunities: DLA Aviation Salinity Sensor (Sources Sought), Army MTCCS III (Sources Sought), VA Medical Carts (Brand Name or Equal) and More

Executive takeaway

Several time-sensitive notices are live right now, but they’re not all the same kind of “bid.” Two are sources sought market research efforts (DLA Aviation salinity sensor; Army MTCCS III), three are DLA/DOD RFQs for specific NSNs (ice storage chests, life preserver vests, oxygen valve assemblies), and one VA notice lays out a clear brand name or equal need for CAPSA Avalo auto-lock medical carts with a 60-day delivery requirement. There’s also a State Department pre-solicitation for a Translation & Interpretation BPA (solicitation not yet issued).

What the buyer is trying to do

DLA Aviation: NSN 6320-016057059 Salinity Sensor (Sources Sought)

DLA Aviation is conducting market research to determine whether other companies can manufacture (or legitimately obtain) a salinity sensor currently manufactured under Parker Hannifin Corporation part number 106107-00. There is no solicitation at this time; the immediate goal is to identify capable sources and potentially support “approved source” qualification.

U.S. Army ACC-Orlando: Mission Training Complex Capabilities Support (MTCCS) III (Sources Sought)

ACC-Orlando is surveying the market for interest and capability to perform Mission Training Complex support services. The described effort spans individual through collective Mission Command training, leadership training/development, MDMP support, warfighter functions training, first-person simulations (gaming), constructive simulations, and related operational support (planning through recovery), plus facilities management and administrative functions across multiple CONUS/OCONUS MTC locations. The government is explicitly using responses to shape the procurement approach (including possible small business set-asides and possible multiple awards).

VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System: Medical Storage/Transport Carts with locks (not a request for quotes)

The VA facility has a requirement for auto-lock medical carts in patient rooms and portable carts to secure medications/supplies for line insertion and blood draws. The requested items are “brand name or equal to” the CAPSA Avalo series treatment carts, with detailed salient characteristics (drawer configurations, colors, locking system, accessories) and delivery required within 60 days after award to VA Pittsburgh locations.

Other quick-hit DOD buys in this set

• DLA Troop Support is seeking quotes for NSN 4110-01-534-2682 Chest, Ice Storage (multiple line quantities; delivery by 30 days ADO to DLA Distribution San Joaquin).
• DLA Troop Support is seeking quotes for NSN 4220-01-113-8665 Life Preserver, Vest (quantity 2,457; delivery by 90 days ADO to DLA Distribution San Joaquin).
• DLA Land and Maritime is seeking quotes for NSN 1660-01-229-0947 Valve Assembly, Oxyg (two lines; delivery by 215 days ADO to DLA Distribution Jacksonville).
• USACE Tulsa lists Fort Gibson Station Service 480V Switchgear Replacement (very limited detail in the snippet).
• NAVSUP WSS Mechanicsburg lists a repair/modification buy for a CCA, RS-485/RS-422 with contractual clauses and a noted amendment to increase quantity (technical/contractual detail appears to be in the full document package).
• U.S. Embassy Algiers pre-solicitation indicates an upcoming BPA for expert translation/interpretation between English, Arabic, and French (solicitation not available yet).

What work is implied (bullets)

• DLA Aviation salinity sensor (sources sought): demonstrate ability to manufacture or legitimately source NSN 6320-016057059; pursue “approved source” qualification path as described in the notice.
• Army MTCCS III (sources sought): provide capability information covering MTC training delivery (individual to collective MC training), leadership development, MDMP support, WFF training, first-person simulation/gaming, and constructive simulation events (planning, setup, execution, recovery), plus facilities management, event scheduling, security/administrative support, and access control across multiple MTC sites (CONUS and OCONUS), including the ability to combine events into a simultaneous synthetic environment using fielded simulations and MCiS.
• VA medical carts: supply “brand name or equal” auto-relock medical carts with specific drawer configurations, colors, divider kits/sub-dividers, accessories/upgrades (as listed), and deliver within 60 days after award to VA Pittsburgh locations.
• DLA Ice Storage Chests (RFQ): quote and deliver specified quantities of NSN 4110-01-534-2682 to DLA Distribution San Joaquin within 30 days ADO.
• DLA Life Preserver Vests (RFQ): quote and deliver 2,457 units of NSN 4220-01-113-8665 within 90 days ADO; pull drawings/specs electronically as needed.
• DLA Oxygen Valve Assemblies (RFQ): quote and deliver NSN 1660-01-229-0947 quantities within 215 days ADO to DLA Distribution Jacksonville.
• USACE switchgear replacement: verify scope and submission requirements in the full posting/attachments (not included in snippet).
• NAVSUP CCA repair/modification: perform fixed-price repair actions and meet inspection/documentation requirements (e.g., ITP data items may be waivable if already on file); confirm details in the full solicitation/amendment.
• Embassy Algiers language BPA (pre-solicitation): prepare for a tri-lingual (English/Arabic/French) expert translation and interpretation BPA; await issued solicitation for submission instructions.

Who should bid / who should pass (bullets)

• Bid if: you are (or can become) an approved/manufacturing source for DLA-managed NSNs, and can document legitimate sourcing/manufacturing for the salinity sensor.
• Bid if: you have direct experience running distributed training support operations (including constructive simulations and Mission Command Information Systems integration) across multiple sites for MTCCS III.
• Bid if: you are an authorized reseller/manufacturer offering a true “equal” to CAPSA Avalo carts and can meet the exact salient characteristics and 60-day delivery window for the VA requirement.
• Bid if: you already sell the exact DLA NSN items (or can meet the requirements using the government’s electronic specs/drawings where applicable) and can hit ADO delivery timelines.
• Pass if: you cannot substantiate traceability/legitimate obtainment for the salinity sensor or cannot pursue the “approved source” path described.
• Pass if: you lack the capability to combine training events into a simultaneous synthetic environment using fielded simulations and MCiS (MTCCS III).
• Pass if: you cannot meet the VA’s detailed configuration requirements (locking system, drawer setup, specified colors/accessories) or the delivery timeline.

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

• DLA Aviation salinity sensor (sources sought): capability statement addressing ability to manufacture or legitimately obtain NSN 6320-016057059; include identifiers requested for the “approved source” review path (verify exact instructions in the notice).
• Army MTCCS III (sources sought): sources sought submission per the attached SSN (verify in attachments); ensure you address training support scope, multi-site operations (CONUS/OCONUS), and synthetic environment integration with fielded simulations/MCiS.
• VA medical carts: “brand name or equal” documentation mapping your offered product to each salient characteristic; quantities per listed line items; delivery plan meeting “no more than 60 days after contract award” (verify quote format and any required forms in attachments/solicitation record).
• DLA RFQs (ice storage chest; life preserver vest; oxygen valve assembly): electronic quote submission as permitted; acknowledge that specs/plans/drawings may be unavailable for some items; retrieve digitized drawings/mil specs electronically where noted (verify in the RFQ package at the link).
• NAVSUP repair/modification buy: confirm required contract data items (e.g., Inspection and Test Plan) and whether waivers apply; review payment/invoicing instructions and warranty requirements in the full document set (verify in attachments).
• USACE switchgear replacement: verify in attachments/solicitation for scope, site conditions, and proposal/price schedule requirements.
• Embassy Algiers BPA: no documents available until solicitation is issued; prepare past performance and language capability evidence for English/Arabic/French (verify in the solicitation once released).

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

• Separate “market research” from “quote now” work: for sources sought notices (salinity sensor; MTCCS III), focus on credible capability proof and how you’d execute—this is about shaping the acquisition path and getting on the radar, not racing to a lowest price.
• For DLA NSN RFQs: research recent procurement history for the specific NSN and delivery timelines, then model pricing around lead time risk and compliance with any electronic specs/drawings referenced in the RFQ package.
• For VA brand name or equal: build pricing around exact configuration compliance. Any deviation from salient characteristics can turn into an “unacceptable” technical determination—price won’t save a noncompliant cart configuration.
• For repair/modification (NAVSUP): confirm documentation/inspection requirements in Sections C/E and any applicable data items. Account for warranty obligation (“one year from date of delivery” is stated in the snippet) and administrative overhead to comply with invoicing/receiving instructions.
• For the Embassy BPA: since it’s pre-solicitation, begin benchmarking your language services rates against similar federal BPAs and decide whether you’ll price by page, hour, event day, and/or surge/after-hours—then validate once the solicitation is issued.

Subcontracting / teaming ideas (bullets)

• MTCCS III: consider teaming between simulation/training integrators and local site-support providers for facilities management, scheduling, access control, and administrative support across hub-and-spoke locations.
• VA medical carts: distributors/resellers may team with logistics/inside-delivery partners to ensure delivery to the specified VA locations within the required timeline.
• DLA RFQs: manufacturers can pair with DOD-experienced distributors to streamline electronic quoting and fulfillment to DLA distribution depots.
• Embassy language BPA: build a bench of qualified interpreters/translators for English/Arabic/French coverage, including capacity for on-site and remote support (final staffing requirements to be verified in the issued solicitation).

Risks & watch-outs (bullets)

• Deadline sanity check: several notices show response deadlines earlier than the posted date in the provided data—confirm the controlling deadline directly in the notice/attachments before spending bid & proposal dollars.
• DLA Aviation approved source pathway: becoming an “approved source” can be process-heavy; ensure you can provide legitimate sourcing/manufacturing evidence for the salinity sensor aligned to the NSN and referenced part number.
• MTCCS III scope breadth: the described effort includes training delivery, simulation integration, and operational/site support; gaps in any one area can weaken your sources sought response.
• VA “brand name or equal” trap: the salient characteristics are detailed (locking, drawers, colors, divider kits, caster/tracking upgrades, etc.). Any mismatch can be treated as non-equal.
• DLA RFQ drawing/spec availability: one DLA notice states specs/plans/drawings are not available; another indicates digitized drawings/mil specs can be retrieved. Verify what you can access and whether you can comply without proprietary data.
• NAVSUP repair documentation: the snippet references inspection/quality requirements and potential waivers for ITP data items if already on file—confirm what applies to your firm before committing to schedule and price.

Related opportunities

• NSN 6320-016057059, SALINITY SENSOR (Sources Sought)
• MISSION TRAINING COMPLEX CAPABILITIES SUPPORT (MTCCS) III (Sources Sought)
• VA Medical Storage/Transport Carts with locks (Brand Name or Equal)
• DLA: CHEST, ICE STORAGE (RFQ)
• DLA: LIFE PRESERVER, VEST (RFQ)
• DLA: VALVE ASSEMBLY, OXYG (RFQ)
• Fort Gibson Station Service 480V Switchgear Replacement
• CCA, RS-485/RS-422, in repair/modification of (NAVSUP WSS)
• Translation and Interpretation Services BPA (Pre-solicitation)

How to act on this

1. Open the BidPulsar notice link(s) above and verify the actual response deadline and whether attachments are required.
2. If pursuing a sources sought, draft a tight capability response that directly mirrors the described scope and any submission instructions in the notice/attachments.
3. If pursuing an RFQ, pull the solicitation package from the provided link, confirm delivery ADO requirements, and prepare an electronic quote that is compliant and traceable to the NSN/line items.
4. If pursuing the VA carts, build a compliance matrix to each salient characteristic and confirm you can deliver within 60 days after award.

If you want a second set of eyes before you commit, or help turning these notices into a compliant response package, reach out to Federal Bid Partners LLC for capture and proposal support.