C-130 Paint and Strip Services | Dept of Defense

 Notice of Intent to Sole-Source

Notice N68520-26-SIMACQ-JC00000-0186, a request for quotation, is being conducted under the authority of 10 U.S.C 3204(a)(c) and RFO FAR 6.103-2, as the requirement is estimated at $670,208.00. The Government intends to award this sole-source contract to Dean Baldwin Painting, LP (CAGE 1UUU6) due to circumstances of unusual and compelling urgency.

Justification for Sole Source & Urgency:

Interim Capability Gaps: FRCE is currently constructing a new aircraft maintenance facility at Kinston Global Transpark (GTP), North Carolina. While FRCE Detachment Kinston will begin providing depot-level Planned Maintenance Interval (PMI) services for C/KC-130T aircraft in September 2026, the permanent aircraft paint facility construction is not estimated to be completed until mid-2027. This contract provides the critical, interim aircraft painting services required during construction.
Severe Fleet and Mission Impact: The C/KC-130T aircraft has a strict operational schedule. Delaying the strip and paint induction will prevent the aircraft’s return to the active fleet by the mandated June 2027 deadline. This would lead to a direct degradation of overall military mission readiness and reduced aircraft availability for global tasking.
Vendor Qualification: Dean Baldwin Painting, LP is the only identified source possessing the immediate facility capability, qualified capacity, and schedule availability required to meet this compressed and urgent timeline.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REQUIREMENT

The Department of the Navy, Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE), intends to award a sole-source, standalone purchase order for the interim exterior de-painting and repainting of United States Navy (USN) C/KC-130T aircraft. This acquisition is set-aside for small business concerns and will receive a DPAS rating of DO-C9.

Scope of Work:

The contractor shall provide all personnel, technical capability, supervision, and non-personal services necessary to perform de-paint, paint, and weight and balance on USN C/KC-130T aircraft. Key technical parameters include:

De-Painting: Complete stripping of the exterior coating system in accordance with NAVAIR C/KC-130T PMI specifications, ensuring proper masking and corrosion inspection post-stripping.
Sealing: Restoration of defective, loose, or deteriorated exterior seams and fillet sealants (including wing panels, flap panels, and integral fuel tanks).
Painting: Application of polyurethane primer and topcoat schemes and semi-gloss exterior markings per Navy Paint Scheme Drawing 14E2990 and NAVAIR 01-1A-509.
Weight and Balance (W&B): Performing W&B re-assembly and final weighing utilizing the Aircraft Weight and Balance System (AWBS) in accordance with NAVAIR 01-1B-50 prior to Navy acceptance.
Delivery Schedule Requirements:

De-paint process completed within ten (10) calendar days of aircraft receipt.
Paint process completed within fourteen (14) calendar days of aircraft receipt.
Weight and balance completed within fifteen (15) calendar days of aircraft receipt.

INSTRUCTIONS TO INTERESTED SOURCES

This notice of intent is NOT a request for competitive proposals. However, in accordance with FAR 5.207, any responsible source that believes it can meet this requirement may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency.

To be considered, capability statements must clearly demonstrate:

Proof of an environmentally controlled, fully approved paint facility capable of housing and processing USN C/KC-130T aircraft.
Capability to meet the strict delivery schedule (10 days de-paint, 14 days paint, 15 days weight & balance).
Experience in working with NAVAIR-specific publications, standard drawings (such as DWG 14E2990), and compliance documentation.
Immediate capacity and schedule availability to accept aircraft inductions beginning in August 2026.

All responses must be received in writing no later than 31 August 2026 at 12:00AM EST  and must be submitted via email to the Contracting Points of Contact listed below.

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct competitive procurement.