ROD,OPERATING
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 Department of the Navy, specifically NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support Mechanicsburg, is soliciting offers for Operating Rods. This opportunity is a Total Small Business Set-Aside and requires the supply of critical "Special Emphasis Material" for shipboard systems. Offers are due by March 27, 2026.
Scope of Work
This solicitation is for the procurement of Operating Rods that must conform to Naval Sea Systems Command drawing 7068535 item number 59, and Engineering Releases ERH841-0311A2, ERH841-0311A3, ERH841-0311A7, ERH841-311A10, ERH841-0311A12, ERH841-0311A16, and ERH841-0311A45. The material is designated as "Special Emphasis Material" (Level I, Scope of Certification, or Quality Assured) due to its crucial use in shipboard systems, where failure could result in serious personnel injury, loss of life, or loss of vital shipboard systems.
Key Requirements
- Material: Operating Rods must be made from QQ-N-286, form 2, annealed & age hardened, finish A. No weld repair is allowed on QQ-N-286 material.
- Certifications & Testing: Quantitative chemical and mechanical analysis is required. Certifications are needed for annealing, age hardening, and ultrasonic inspection on starting material (QQ-N-286 with diameter >= 4 inches). Slow Strain Rate Tensile Tests for QQ-N-286 must be performed by approved laboratories.
- Quality Assurance: Contractors must maintain a quality system in accordance with ISO-9001 (as amplified), with calibration system requirements of ISO-10012 or ANSI-Z540.3 with ISO-17025. Government Quality Assurance (GQA) at source is required, necessitating notification to DCMA.
- Traceability: Strict traceability from material to certification test reports (Objective Quality Evidence - OQE) is mandatory for Level I/SUBSAFE systems. Material must be marked with a unique traceability number, heat-lot, or heat-treat number, permanently applied per MIL-STD-792.
- Submissions: Certification data, including a Certificate of Compliance for Special Emphasis Material, must be submitted to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard via Wide Area Work Flow (WAWF) for review and acceptance prior to each material shipment. No material is to be shipped before acceptance.
- Configuration Control: Contractors must maintain equipment baseline configuration. Waivers/Deviations and Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs) for Class I or II changes require Government review and approval.
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Solicitation
- Set-Aside: Total Small Business Set-Aside
- Response Due: March 27, 2026, 8:30 PM ET
- Published: March 2, 2026
Evaluation
NAVSUP WSS Mechanicsburg will consider past performance in the evaluation of offers, in accordance with FAR 13.106(a)(2) and DFARS 252.213-7000.
Additional Notes
Access to drawings must be requested on the individual solicitation page on Contracts Opportunities at beta.SAM.gov. After requesting access, an email should be sent to the Primary POC. The Electronic Contractor Data Submission (ECDS) system is available for data submissions, questions, and waiver requests at https://register.nslc.navy.mil/. This order is issued pursuant to Emergency Acquisition Flexibilities (EAF).