General Information
The DLA Aviation and DLA Land & Maritime (L&M) Major Subordinate Commands (MSCs) purchase replenishment part items of supply for their respective supply chains through either a competitive nature, approved manufactured part number, or a qualified products list (QPL).
It is important to review the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) subpart 217.75 , Acquisition of Replenishment Parts, Procedures, Guidance, and Information (PGI) 217.7506 , Spare Parts Breakout Program, at the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) and Procedures, Guidance, and Information (PGI) site to understand how items are coded. DFARS PGI 217.7506 provides definitions for codes such as Acquisition Method Codes (AMC) and Acquisition Method Suffix Codes (AMSC).
Where to Find Supply Item Information
Web Federal Logistics Information Service (WebFLIS) is where you can view information about supply items including the National Stock Number (NSN), the item name, manufacturers and suppliers (including part numbers), through a web interface connected to Federal Logistics Information Service (FLIS) data. Visit WebFLIS for more information.
Suppliers can use it to see AMC/AMSCs, Sources, and who manages the item (Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, DLA).
How DLA Buys Replenishment Parts
Competitive items
Drawings/specifications can be accessed through the DLA Internet Bid Board System (DIBBS) Collaboration Folders (cFolders) located on the main page , within the bid board on open solicitations, or direct login to cFolders .
Approved Manufactured Part Number items
If you are not an approved source, you will have to submit a Source Approval Request. AMSC “C” = This part requires engineering source approval by the design control activity.
Qualified Products List items
Requires demonstration of capability to perform by the qualifying activity listed on QPL. AMSC “T” = Acquisition of this part is controlled by QPL procedures. Competition for this part is limited to sources which are listed on or are qualified for listing on the QPL at the time of award (see FAR part 9 and DFARS part 209 ).
Replenishment Parts Purchase or Borrow Program
The Replenishment Parts Purchase or Borrow (RPPOB) Program permits a U.S. Domestic business to visually inspect, borrow, or purchase government owned material to replicate (reverse engineer) the item with the goal of becoming an alternate source of supply. This may result in a Source Approval Request (SAR).
DLA Aviation managed items in the Parts Catalog have a minimum of $40,000 Annual Demand Value (ADV) and are on public display at DLA Aviation in Richmond, VA. Breakdowns of each item are shown in the Parts Catalog Spreadsheet. Display room staff can show contractors in DIBBS how to see annual demand.
DLA Aviation RPPOB Program email is dscr.boc@dla.mil.
DLA L&M managed items in the RPPOB Candidate List have a minimum of $40,000 ADV and a limited number of the items are on public display at DLA L&M in Columbus, OH. The items on display are rotated. Visit the Resources page of the DLA Small Business website to view the web-based visual display.
DLA L&M RPPOB Program email is DSCC.Partrequest@dla.mil.
Source Approval Request
Source Approval Request (SAR) package is an assembly of information required of a prospective new supplier for a specific item that is currently procured as other than full–and–open. A SAR contains all technical data needed to demonstrate that the prospective contractor can competently manufacture the item to the same level of quality or better than the approved source.
What goes into a SAR package? Detailed information on SAR technical data package submissions for DLA Aviation and L&M are on the DLA Small Business website Resources page located at .
If you are submitting a SAR for a NSN with no active solicitation, you will need to send your SAR package to the appropriate point-of-contact for DLA Aviation & DLA L&M. For DLA Aviation, please send an email to dlaavnsmallbus@dla.mil, subject "request a SAR drop off." For DLA L&M, send it via email at DSCC_AO-SAR@dla.mil. (Note the underscore _ between DSCC and AO)
If there is an active solicitation for a NSN for which you want to submit a SAR as an “Alternate Offer,” please submit it directly to the buyer noted on the solicitation. SAR’s will not be evaluated for items that are already designated as fully competitive such as those items coded AMSC “G” and described by drawings and specifications. (NOTE: This applies to active solicitations only)
The SAR package process typically takes between 90 to 120 days to complete.
Alternate Offers
An Alternate Offer (AO) is a package of data, submitted for evaluation against an active solicitation, so your company and product information can be reviewed and potentially qualify to be listed as an “Approved Source” in future procurements.
Per Integrated Policy Memorandum NO. 97-0011, an AO is an offer, under an active solicitation, to provide an item which is from other than an approved source and/or is not the exact part numbered item cited in the Acquisition Identification Description (AID). To be approved the alternate offeror's product must be identical to, or be physically, mechanically, electrically, and functionally interchangeable with, the product cited in the AID.
An AO should not be confused with a SAR. A SAR is a manufacturer's proposal supplemented by data that includes all of the Engineering Support Activity (ESA) data required for a competent manufacturer to produce an item that is equal or better than the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) designed part.
Suppliers should submit AOs in response to a solicitation or open purchase request directly to the assigned contracting officer. Suppliers must submit a valid quote along with the complete technical data package to the buyer
Free Training
DLA provides free training opportunities to small businesses through Training, Knowledge, and Opportunities (TKO) Seminars and Webinars. Topics include, but are not limited to, AOs, Pricing, RPPOB/Reverse Engineering, First Article Testing/Product Lot Test, Technical Data Packages, and SARs
Register for a training by following the registration instructions within the event of your choice.
Contact Us
Submit an inquiry for assistance within the DLA Small Business Programs Office Contact Inquiry option. Choose DLA Aviation or DLA Land & Maritime in the “Which Buying Organization do you need assistance with?” field.
Additional information and resources can be found on the DLA Small Business website.