Deadlines-soon watchlist: vehicles open season, hyperspectral imaging market research, and multiple time-sensitive federal notices
Related opportunities
Executive takeaway
Today’s batch includes a high-impact GSA Light Vehicles Open Season announcement (with a defined Spring 2026 bid window), a technically specific Air Force market research notice for a “brand name or equal” hyperspectral imaging system, and several items where the attachments appear to carry the real requirements (including one that only says “see attached documents”). If you can’t validate the attachment set quickly, you may be better off passing rather than burning cycles on guesses.
What the buyer is trying to do
GSA Light Vehicles Program (Open Season Spring 2026)
GSA is announcing the ninth Open Season period under solicitation 47QMCA21R0008 for existing contractors to provide new model year (NMY) information on awarded line items and for existing contractors or new interested offerors to propose new models under the Light Vehicles Program. Models must comply with the applicable FY26 Federal Vehicle Standards and purchase descriptions published on GSAFleet.gov. A virtual Industry Day is scheduled to walk through the Open Season process.
Air Force Test Center hyperspectral imaging system (Sources Sought / market research)
The 96th Test Wing at Eglin AFB is conducting market research to identify sources that can provide a “brand name or equal” Hyperspectral Imaging System (HIS). The need is for one COTS SWIR/MWIR system, plus an option for an additional MWIR/LWIR system, used for remote detection, measurement, and real-time spectral analysis in a field-testing environment. The government will judge “equal” based on salient characteristics (with more detail in the attached technical requirements).
USACE McNary Navigation Lock tainter valve seal components
This notice provides minimal detail in the synopsis and directs vendors to the attached documents. Treat this as attachment-driven until proven otherwise.
BIA therapy services (Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy)
Two separate service needs are posted through the Indian Education Acquisition Office: Occupational Therapy Service (San Ildefonso) and Physical Therapy (SFES). Scope detail is not included in the snippets; expect the RFQ/attachments to define service hours, credentialing, performance location, and documentation requirements.
NASA NextSTEP-3 Appendix B (Moon to Mars Architectural Studies)
This is an informational planning update: the final solicitation is on hold until further notice, and the notice states it is not a request for proposal and that no proposals are to be submitted in response to the notice. NASA intends to establish a MATOC where only MATOC holders can compete for recurring directed-topic calls, with firm-fixed-price task orders and performance-based milestone payments.
DLA Aviation actuator housing (Sources Sought; approved source pathway)
DLA Aviation is conducting market research to determine if other companies can manufacture (or legitimately obtain) an actuator housing identified by NSN and part number. The notice emphasizes that firms seeking review as an “Approved Source” should submit a Source Approval Request (SAR) package per the attached guidance.
VA Sakura Tissue-Tek service agreement
A VA service agreement notice is posted with limited detail in the synopsis. This likely hinges on the statement of work in the solicitation package (equipment covered, service levels, parts coverage, response times, and required OEM authorization, if any).
What work is implied (bullets)
- GSA Light Vehicles Open Season: prepare NMY updates for awarded line items and/or propose new vehicle models; demonstrate compliance with FY26 Federal Vehicle Standards and GSAFleet.gov purchase descriptions; participate in the virtual Industry Day; complete any required vendor/company request forms noted in the announcement attachments.
- Air Force HIS market research: write a capabilities statement mapping your system to the government’s salient characteristics; document SWIR/MWIR (base) and MWIR/LWIR (option) coverage; provide evidence of high-speed scan performance at various resolutions (per attachment); confirm the turnkey configuration (ruggedized sensor head, three telescope assemblies, visible-light camera, GPS/IRIG-B interface, and dedicated control/analysis computer with software); confirm focal plane array requirements (including zero dead pixels).
- USACE seal components: interpret the attached specs/drawings/BOM; confirm material and dimensional compliance; prepare a quote/offer aligned to the set-aside and delivery terms stated in the attachments.
- BIA therapy services: staff licensed therapy personnel as required; deliver therapy services per the site’s schedule and documentation standards (verify in attachments).
- NASA NextSTEP-3 Appendix B: monitor for reissuance; review industry day materials/recording; pre-position teaming/solution concepts for future directed-topic calls once the MATOC on-ramp is active.
- DLA actuator housing sources sought: determine whether you can manufacture to the specified item or legitimately source it; if pursuing approval, assemble and submit a SAR package with technical substantiation per the attached program guidance.
- VA Tissue-Tek service agreement: confirm service scope and equipment model coverage; document service capability, parts logistics, and any required OEM training/authorization (verify in attachments).
Who should bid / who should pass (bullets)
- Bid (good fit) if you are:
- An OEM or authorized distributor/dealer able to propose compliant sedan/light truck/SUV models under GSA’s Light Vehicles Program and support Open Season submissions.
- A hyperspectral imaging OEM/integrator with a COTS SWIR/MWIR system (and potentially MWIR/LWIR) that can meet the stated turnkey configuration and performance characteristics (and can prove it in writing).
- A manufacturer of industrial seal components/materials that can meet USACE tainter valve seal requirements once validated in the attachments.
- A therapy services provider positioned for BIA school/community settings, able to meet any credentialing and documentation requirements defined in the RFQ/attachments.
- A precision aerospace manufacturer or qualified supplier ready to pursue DLA source approval via SAR for the specified actuator housing NSN/part number.
- A field service provider (potentially OEM-aligned) capable of supporting Sakura Tissue-Tek equipment under a formal service agreement.
- Pass (or deprioritize) if you are:
- Unable to access/validate attachment-driven technical requirements quickly (USACE, Air Force HIS, DLA SAR guidance, VA service agreement).
- Not prepared to document “brand name or equal” compliance in detail for the Air Force HIS (including the listed components and performance claims).
- Looking for an active NASA proposal action now—the NextSTEP-3 Appendix B notice explicitly says no proposals are to be submitted and the final solicitation is on hold.
Response package checklist
- For the Air Force HIS sources sought:
- Capabilities statement tailored to the salient characteristics (verify full list in attachments).
- Explicit “meets/exceeds” matrix for spectral ranges (SWIR/MWIR base; MWIR/LWIR option) and scan-rate requirements (verify in attachments).
- Description of the complete turnkey configuration (sensor head, three telescopes, visible camera, GPS/IRIG-B interface, dedicated computer + software).
- Evidence/documentation for FPA requirements, including the “zero dead pixels” claim.
- Any assumptions, constraints, or configuration options clearly labeled (avoid marketing-only language).
- For GSA Light Vehicles Open Season:
- NMY information updates for existing line items and/or submissions for new models.
- Compliance narrative to FY26 Federal Vehicle Standards and GSAFleet.gov purchase descriptions.
- Any required GSAFleet.gov user account/vendor request forms (verify in attachments).
- Internal calendar aligned to the estimated Open Season dates stated in the announcement.
- For USACE McNary seal components:
- Completed quote/offer per the solicitation instructions (verify in attachments).
- Technical compliance evidence (materials, dimensions, QA) (verify in attachments).
- For BIA therapy services:
- Staffing/credentials package and service approach (verify in attachments).
- Pricing/rate submission format required by the RFQ (verify in attachments).
- For DLA actuator housing sources sought:
- Sources sought response describing manufacturing capability or legitimate supply path.
- If pursuing approval: SAR package per the attached SAR program guidance (verify in attachments).
- For VA Tissue-Tek service agreement:
- Service capability narrative and coverage approach; OEM authorization/training evidence if required (verify in attachments).
- Quote structure and any required forms (verify in attachments).
Pricing & strategy notes
Because several notices rely on attachments and/or are market research, the best near-term pricing work is positioning: build a defensible basis of estimate and gather comparables rather than guessing a number.
- GSA Light Vehicles: research how FY26 Federal Vehicle Standards and GSAFleet.gov purchase descriptions influence allowable configurations and option packages; price strategy often comes down to which trims/features you can offer while staying compliant. Validate any submission templates and how model-year updates are evaluated (verify in attachments).
- Air Force HIS: price discovery should start with bill of materials for the required turnkey bundle (sensor head + telescopes + visible camera + GPS/IRIG-B + computer/software) and the performance risk premium for scan-rate and FPA requirements. If you’re proposing “equal,” budget time/cost for detailed technical substantiation.
- DLA actuator housing: if SAR is needed, factor the non-recurring effort to prepare technical data substantiation. Strategy hinges on whether you can credibly demonstrate equivalency/quality without overcommitting.
- Service agreements (VA Tissue-Tek): develop pricing around service levels and parts coverage once confirmed in the attachments; ensure your assumptions match required response times and included maintenance.
Subcontracting / teaming ideas
- Air Force HIS: OEM sensor provider + integrator for ruggedization/interface packaging + software/analysis workstation provider (if allowed by the requirement; verify in attachments).
- GSA Light Vehicles: manufacturers/OEMs teaming with authorized dealers/distributors that already understand the Light Vehicles Program submission mechanics.
- USACE seal components: seal manufacturer partnering with a materials testing lab or QA documentation specialist to speed compliance evidence (verify if required in attachments).
- BIA therapy services: prime therapy provider partnering with local clinicians for surge coverage and continuity (subject to RFQ rules; verify in attachments).
- VA service agreement: service provider teaming with OEM-authorized parts channels to reduce downtime risk (verify requirements in attachments).
Risks & watch-outs
- Attachment dependency: multiple notices provide little scope in the synopsis; if you can’t retrieve and digest attachments early, you risk a nonresponsive submission.
- Timeline confusion: at least one notice shows a posted date that does not align with the listed response deadline; rely on the active solicitation/notice documents and the contracting site record, not the scraped headline fields.
- “Brand name or equal” burden (Air Force HIS): the government expects “clear and convincing evidence” you meet all salient characteristics—especially performance claims and the required turnkey components.
- FPA ‘zero dead pixels’ requirement (Air Force HIS): if your standard acceptance criteria differs, resolve this before responding.
- DLA approved source pathway: SAR packages can be data-heavy; underestimating the effort is a common failure mode.
- NASA NextSTEP-3 status: the solicitation is on hold and the notice states no proposals should be submitted in response—treat this as monitoring and capture planning only.
Related opportunities
- 2022 Light Vehicles to include Sedans, Light Trucks, and SUVs
- Fast Scanner, Hyper-Spectral Imager
- MCNARY NAVIGATION LOCK TAINTER VALVE SEAL COMPONENTS
- R--Occupational Therapy Service, San Ildefonso
- R--Physical Therapy, SFES
- Moon to Mars NextSTEP-3 Appendix B, Architecture Studies
- ACTUATOR HOUSING, NSN 1620-016835794, Part-Number 42357-141
- J066--Sakura Tissue-Tek Service Agreement
How to act on this
- Pull the attachment set for each notice you care about and confirm the real submission instructions and due dates.
- For the Air Force HIS and DLA actuator housing items, draft a one-page compliance map first; only proceed if you can fully substantiate the requirements.
- For GSA Light Vehicles Open Season, align internal product/configuration owners to FY26 standards and the GSAFleet.gov purchase descriptions, then attend the virtual Industry Day for process clarity.
- If you need help triaging attachment-heavy notices and deciding bid/no-bid fast, route the opportunities to Federal Bid Partners LLC for capture support.