C-5 Honeycomb Contract Strategy

The Air Force seeks to qualify a single source for the design, manufacture, and inspection of C‑5 aircraft bonded honeycomb structural panels. Prospective vendors must submit a comprehensive capabilities summary that includes a detailed factory layout and a complete inventory of composite/metal‑bond equipment (autoclave, oven, adhesive‑storage freezer, and lay‑up room air‑quality control). Demonstrated ability to perform ultrasonic and radiographic NDT per STP‑60‑101 §7, and documented experience producing aerospace bonded honeycomb panels for commercial or military programs (with contract number, value, part number, and quantity shipped for the past three years) are required. The submission must contain an AS9100‑compliant Company Quality Plan, a Supplier/Sub‑contractor QA Plan, proof of qualified production‑management and engineering staff, and internal process orders confirming lay‑up room and adhesive‑storage controls. Vendors must also provide a manufacturing plan, certification of bonding technicians, and independent test results (tensile‑shear and drum‑peel) on five STP‑60‑101 samples, as well as a corrective‑action procedure for any Government Quality Deficiency Report. The Government will issue a 30‑day notice for a site visit to verify (a) conversion of C‑5 loft data to tooling and finished parts, (b) controlled adhesive storage, lay‑up, and cure processes with statistical process control, (c) compliance with lay‑up room environmental requirements (positive pressure, ≥5 air changes/hr, 65 ± 10 °F, 60‑15 % RH, monitored twice daily), and (d) an adequate training and certification program. If documentation is insufficient, the vendor may be required to fabricate a sample panel from a Government‑provided Technical Data Package within 150 days; the panel will be destructively tested. All work must be performed in a single geographic location for surface preparation and cure cycles, with other post‑bond operations permissible elsewhere. Contact: Steve Warren, AFLCMC/WLSEBA, Robins AFB, GA.

Notice ID

521b866a47e04cf6902f0dd5bf7cf0a4

Solicitation Number

C-5-Honeycomb-Contract-Strategy

NAICS Code

N/A

Classification Code

N/A