Doing Business with DLA
Before starting, if you have Any questions, contact your local Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). Click on the "PTAP Program" link for information about this program and an up-to-date list of PTACs and the regions they serve.
Contracting with the Department of Defense (DoD) can be a bit overwhelming at first since defense contracting is different from selling to commercial customers. The most direct way to do business with us is through a contract between your firm and DLA.
Federal awards in excess of $550,000 ($1,000,000 for construction) are required to have a subcontracting plan with percentage goals for utilizing small business concerns. Usually firms make subcontracting agreements before bidding on a contract. You should market your capabilities to vendors who might have subcontracting opportunities. For more information, click on the "Subcontracting" link.
Two or more companies can form a team to bid on a contract. The team can be set up as a partnership, joint venture or as a prime with one or more subcontractors. Companies normally make such arrangements before bidding on a contract. CLICK HERE for more information on Teaming Arrangements and Joint Ventures.
The basic contracting rules for all federal agencies are found in the Federal Acquisition Regulation, commonly referred to as the FAR http://www.arnet.gov/far/. Additional rules, unique to Defense contracting, are set forth in the DoD FAR Supplement (DFARS) http://www.acq.osd.mil/dpap/dars/dfarspgi/current/index.html.
To do business with DLA, vendors need a D-U-N-S number from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B). The D-U-N-S Number is a unique nine-digit identification sequence, which provides unique identifiers of single business entities, while linking corporate family structures together.
CENTRAL CONTRACT REGISTRATION
http://www.ccr.gov/
Contractors must be registered in the DoD Central Contractor Registration (CCR) database prior to the award of any contract, basic agreement, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchase agreement.
Exception: Vendors who deal only in credit card purchases at a local level do not need to be registered in the CCR.
Register with DLA DIBBS
https://www.dibbs.bsm.dla.mil/
DLA's Internet Bid Board System (DIBBS) is a web-based application that provides the capability to search for, view, and submit secure quotes on Requests For Quotations (RFQs) for DLA items of supply. DIBBS also allows users to search and view Request For Proposals (RFPs), Invitations For Bid (IFBs), Awards and other procurement information related to BSM.
If you are unfamiliar with DIBBS, it is a web-based system and as such, registration is on-line. Simply click on https://www.dibbs.bsm.dla.mil/Register/ and follow the instructions.
Training
Resources exist to assist you with your effort to understand how to do business with DLA.
Doing Business With The Defense Logistics Agency, An Overview For New Vendors
This printable guide provides the basics on how to do business with the Defense Logistics Agency. It is targeted toward small businesses, new to doing business with DLA, to facilitate their competing more effectively for DLA contracts. The publication is in Adobe PDF.
Government Contracting: The Basics - http://www.acq.osd.mil/osbp/doing_business/Government%20Contracting%20062007.pdf
Marketing to the Department of Defense: The Basics –
http://www.acq.osd.mil/osbp/doing_business/Marketing%20to%20DoD.pdf
DOD Subcontracting Program: The Basics –
http://www.acq.osd.mil/osbp/doing_business/DoD%20Subcontracting%20102008.pdf
Or, go to the "DLA SB Offices" link to find a point of contact in an Office of Small Business Programs at a DLA purchasing activity.
