Wolverine Tube Inc., Decatur, Alabama, has been awarded a $17,409,000 firm-fixed-price, fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, requirements-type contract for the Next Generation All Aluminum (NGAA) Cargo Pallet. This contract provides for the production of the 463L air cargo pallets, which will be used for the transport of cargo throughout the military airlift system of the C-5, C-17, C-130 and additional cargo aircraft.
Work will be performed in Decatur, Alabama, and is expected to be completed Nov. 18, 2022. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and five offers were received. Fiscal 2021 other procurement funds will be used but no funds will be obligated at the time of award. The U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is the contracting activity.
The universal cargo handling system using the 463L cargo pallet has been the mainstay for cargo movement since the early 1960’s, with the standard aluminum cargo pallet essentially unchanged in all of this time. Repair and replacement costs associated with these legacy pallets have prompted the Air Force to look at initiatives that will provide cost savings and/or process improvement, an ongoing key objective within Air Mobility Command.
A test team from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey has begun a year-long Logistics Service Test on the proposed replacement for the 463L cargo pallets. Testing began in May 2019 with 500 Next Generation All-Aluminum cargo pallets being delivered and put into service worldwide. The test article, an all-aluminum pallet, constructed with a corrosion-resistant aluminum skin on an all-aluminum core, is a form, fit and function replacement for the legacy pallet.
