DLA Plans to Buy 11,250 Oakley Sunglasses Through Small Business Set-Asides

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Troop Support Construction and Equipment division has issued two solicitations for 11,250 units of military-grade eyewear to support the Universal Third-Party Logistics (U3PL) Program. These solicitations, valued at more than $500,000, target Improved Ballistic Eyewear (IBE) systems manufactured by ESS, a subsidiary of Oakley, Inc. This procurement is significant for the defense contracting sector as it utilizes Small Business Set-Asides to fulfill high-volume requirements for the military's Clothing and Textiles supply chain.

The DLA Troop Support Construction and Equipment division recently posted solicitations SPE8E6-26-Q-0541 and SPE8E6-26-Q-0539 for the procurement of Improved Ballistic Eyewear (IBE). These solicitations specifically request the ESS Crossbow Kit and the Profile NVG Unit Issue Black Kit, which are essential components of the Military Eyewear Protection System (MEPS) used by the U.S. Marine Corps and other units. The acquired inventory will be managed through a Third-Party Logistics (3PL) warehouse operated by Industries of the Blind (IOB) under the DLA’s U3PL Program.

Because these contracts are designated as Small Business Set-Asides, the original manufacturer, ESS (CAGE code 1NG39), is ineligible to bid directly due to its parent company, Oakley, Inc., being classified as a large business with over 1,500 employees. This creates a competitive opening for small business contractors to secure an award estimated to be worth over half a million dollars. The DLA frequently employs this 3PL strategy, as the majority of its Clothing and Textiles business relies on third-party logistics for warehousing, transportation, and inventory management.

The procurement involves items listed on the Army’s Authorized Protective Eyewear List (APEL), emphasizing the technical standards required for the contract. According to historical procurement data, the incumbent contractor for these requirements is identified by CAGE code 1CAY9. This upcoming award underscores the DLA's ongoing commitment to integrating small businesses into its specialized supply chain while maintaining a steady flow of protective equipment to military personnel.