Connecting Suppliers with DLA

THELINK

pm

Issue 13

July 2019

2019 TKO 

Mark Your Calendars!

TKO Seminars are 

FREE!

Learn how to do business with 

the Government

September 10 –11

November 5—6

Register at: https://tko.dla.mil/

All seminars are in 

Columbus, OH 

8AM—4PM

www.dla.mil

www.facebook.com/dla.mil

www.twitter.com/dlamil

www.youtube.com/user/

dodlogisticsagency

SMALL BUSINESS WEBINARS 

WITH SPECIFIC TOPICS

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Do you have any comments or ideas for articles for our next issue of “The Link”?

We would love to hear them! Send your comments and ideas to the DIBBS 

mailbox at: DibbsBSM@dla.mil

July 9 2—3 PM EST Resolving Issues with Orders

July 16 2—3 PM EST DIBBS Quoting

August 13 2—3 PM EST Alternate Offers

August 20 2—3 PM EST Source Approval Request (SAR)

September 3 2—3 PM EST Pricing

September 17 2—3 PM EST Cyber Security

Webinars are held using Adobe Connect. Registration is required. Please go to 

https://tko.dla.mil/Public/Main.aspx and check which webinar you would like 

to view and then click the “Register” button.

You can also find self-lead training on multiple subjects at: 

https://tko.dla.mil/Public/Documents.aspx?locid=2
Why Didn’t I Win That Award?

Here are some possible reasons as to why suppliers may not be winning fully automated awards:

1. Quotations received are considered late. Your quote must be submitted by 3:00 PM Eastern time when the auto 

evaluation process begins. 

2. Supplier and manufacturer are not JCP certified on export control items. 

3. Supplier’s quote does not include approved QPL item if called for. 

4. Supplier’s business type is not associated with solicitation’s set-aside type. 

5. Submitting a quote as “Bid with Exception.” A Bid With Exception is used to indicate exceptions are being taken to 

the solicitation requirements. The following are considered exceptions to the solicitation requirements and will 

force a bid type of "Bid with Exception":

 Quoting an alternate product or otherwise taking exception to the solicitation’s item description;

 Exceptions to packaging requirements;

 Exceptions to FOB point;

 Quoting destination inspection on a solicitation requiring origin inspection;

 Exceptions to required quantity;

 On automated solicitations (T or U in the ninth position of the solicitation number), quoting a quantity variance which is outside the acceptable range specified in the solicitation;

 Quoting “None” when Higher Level Quality Requirement is required,

 Quoting the use of child labor

Clarification of Specialty Metals Clauses

DFARS clauses 252.225-7008 and 252.225-7009 are included in the solicitation when specialty metals (as defined in the 

clause) restrictions apply. The complete text of the clauses is very detailed and contains most of the information we 

need to know. 252.225-7008 applies to the acquisition of bulk metal. 252.225-7009 applies to manufactured items and 

components. The clauses are generally included over the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT) when they apply to the 

solicitation.

When either clause is included, acceptable specialty metals shall be melted or produced in the United States or its 

outlying areas. Exceptions are listed at DFARS 225.7003-3 and summarized in the clause text itself. Because each contract stands on its own, properly applying an exception is intricate and can be difficult. If the exception description is 

not clear or the supplier is in doubt, suppliers should contact the contracting officer for questions. Suppliers should 

also indicate which exception they think applies. 

Any time acceptable materiel is NOT available, the supplier can still submit an offer but shall clearly indicate the 

country of origin of the specialty metal on their offer. 

PLEASE REMEMBER TO CHECK DIBBS NOTICES

Please remember to check DIBBS notices regularly. Notices are posted at the bottom of the DIBBS home page. These 

notices will notify suppliers of any current issues, outtages, expected upcoming maintenance, and other important 

supplier information. 

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There has been a recent fix to the DIBBS RFQ Database Search and the RFQ Solicitation Text Search filters. Suppliers 

can now choose more than one filter in the “show only” category under the Database Search or under “Filter” in the 

Solicitation Text Search. 

For example: suppliers looking for small business AND woman owned small business opportunities with technical 

documents will be able to select all three and DIBBS will return results with all three filters applied. It is important to 

remember suppliers are still required to select a search category or query string at the very top of the search criteria. 

When using the RFQ Database Search, those categories include: NSN/Part Number, Federal Supply Class, Solicitation 

Number, Purchase Request (PR), Nomenclature, Approved CAGE, and Approved Part Number. For the Solicitation Text 

Search, suppliers can use any key word. 

For additional RFQ Database Search or Text Search help see the hyperlinks located in the RFQ section below the RFQ 

database search. These hyperlinks are labeled “Additional RFQ Database Search Help” and “Additional RFQ Text 

Search Help.” 

DIBBS Search Filters
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Aviation Suppliers: 

Un-Awarded Solicitation Opportunities

Is your company eager to do business with the Government? All too often thousands of solicitations close without 

receiving qualified offers. Solicitations offer valuable information as to the Government’s requirements (i.e., what 

material is needed and the quantity), terms and conditions (e.g., packaging, delivery, inspections, etc.), the required 

information which must be included in a quote, and the evaluation criteria (i.e., how the suppliers will be evaluated). 

Suppliers are highly encouraged to browse DLA Aviation’s Un-awarded Solicitation Opportunities spreadsheet on 

DLA’s Small Business website to find open solicitations. Each solicitation provided in the spreadsheet identifies potential manufacturing sources. If interested, please use the DIBBS link to search, view, and submit secure quotes.

We want to hear from you! Dealers and distributers should research and contact potential sources of supply. 

Manufacturers should provide a valid quote or submit a Source Approval Request (SAR) to the acquisition specialist 

noted on the solicitation. For help in completing the request, please access the Source Approval and Management 

Handbook. The DLA Aviation SAR analyst can be reached at 804-279-5114. For additional assistance, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has a variety of programs and services established in an effort to expand the number of 

businesses capable of participating in government requirements. Vendors are encouraged to use resources such as 

the SBA’s Small Business Development Centers Program

and DLA’s Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP)

to take advantage of the various 

training, education, and advisory services, as well as, publications, financial programs, and 

contract assistance. The DLA 

Aviation Small Business Program Office can be reached by 

calling 800-227-3603 or via 

email at 

dlaavnsmallbus@dla.mil.

Thanks to our Suppliers for their Mission Essential Support of the Warfighter