Internal Force Balance Calibration Body - United States Air Force Academy (USAFA)
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) is conducting a Sources Sought for market research to identify qualified sources, particularly small businesses, capable of providing a replacement Internal Force Balance Calibration Body. This critical component is needed to restore full operational readiness for wind tunnel testing at USAFA, CO. Responses are due June 2, 2026.
Scope of Work
The Department of Aeronautics (DFAN) at USAFA requires a newly engineered, robust calibration body to replace a degraded legacy unit. The current hardware's degradation limits high-fidelity aerodynamic data acquisition due to restricted calibration loads. The new calibration body must:
- Be fully compatible and interchangeable with the existing Aerophysics Research Instruments 0.75” Mk LVI Internal Force Balance.
- Be a cross-shaped device with precisely placed screw holes for applying loads to individual sensors.
- Include flexures to ensure load alignment.
- Be rated to repeatedly support loads up to 600 lbs, ensuring full-spectrum calibration capability (current calibration requires up to 250 lbs).
- Be constructed with specific materials including steel NF/SF flexure, steel rolling moment flexures, aluminum axial force adapter plate, steel axial force flexure, flexure fasteners, and model mounting pins.
- Include a box for parts and a protective case (e.g., Pelican Case) for transport.
Interested parties must demonstrate experience in manufacturing calibration hardware for proprietary wind tunnel balances, specifically addressing how they would achieve compatibility without access to the original manufacturer's design data.
Requested Information & Submission
This is a Sources Sought Notice for market research only and is not a solicitation. Interested firms should submit a capability statement (maximum five pages) addressing:
- Company Information: Name, Address, UEI, CAGE Code, Point of Contact.
- Socioeconomic Status: (e.g., Small Business, SDVOSB, WOSB, 8(a), HUBZone).
- Capability & Experience: Examples of commercial sales and product specifications related to this effort, including experience with teaming/subcontracting.
- Contract Vehicles: List any relevant GWACs, GSA FSS, or other contract vehicles.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Sources Sought / Market Research
- Set-Aside: None specified (market research for small businesses)
- NAICS: 334519 - Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing
- PSC: 6635 - Physical Properties Testing And Inspection
- Response Due: June 2, 2026, 10:00 AM MDT
- Published: May 21, 2026
Contact Information
Submissions and inquiries should be directed to Dawson Hopkinson (Contract Specialist) at dawson.hopkinson@us.af.mil and Melinda Lingley (Contracting Officer) at melinda.lingley@us.af.mil. The email subject line must be "Sources Sought Response: USAFA calibration body for internal force balances - [Your Company Name]".