A Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) is a flexible contracting mechanism that enables faster access to innovative reverse engineering, manufacturing and sustainment services. A long duration solicitation, it is designed to seek innovative, commercially available solutions for specific government problems or needs, known as “areas of interest.” You can add, change, or retire these areas over time. Depending on intent and legal authority, awards can be made through FAR-based contracts or other transactions (OTs)
CSOs offer an alternative to traditional acquisition processes by streamlining procurement, reducing administrative burden, and expanding access to non-traditional industry partners with proven capabilities. This proven pathway is ideal for programs facing obsolescence, gaps in technical data, or the need to source components that are no longer supported by the original manufacturer.
Through the CSO framework, Parts Life, Inc. enables faster access to manufacturable technical data packages, form-fit-function replacements, remanufactured assets, and prototype validation aligned with mission requirements. It offers the flexibility to address obsolescence and DMSMS sustainment and modernization solutions that result from mission critical assets being used past their intended lifecycle. We deliver Mission Impaired Capability Awaiting Parts (MICAP) with speed, and provides acquisition teams with a responsive, compliant option to leverage commercial solutions.
Here’s how we use the CSO to support you:
Sustainment Solutions Driven by Customer Requirements
Government stakeholders define the sustainment requirement or obsolescence issue. Parts Life, Inc. responds with proven methodologies such as R.O.P.E. to technically validated a solution, whether it’s a manufacturable technical data package or a remanufacturing solution, in accordance with AS9100D-certified quality standards.
Legacy Platform Support Delivered Through Streamlined Contracting
Parts Life, Inc. has provided engineering and manufacturing support across multiple legacy platforms within the Air Force and Navy. Through the Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO), these capabilities can be offered in a contracting format that aligns with federal acquisition policies, allowing for competitive awards without initiating a full FAR Part 15 procurement or issuing a new formal solicitation.
Clear Communication and Rapid Response Through the CSO Framework
The CSO framework enables two things we prioritize: clear communication and fast response. We submit concise concept papers based on your area of interest, collaborate with your technical team to develop an alternate source, and once approved, rapidly prototype and manufacture part or component.
Maintaining Line-of-Sight Through Every Phase of Execution
Starting with your unique customer requirements, we begin to develop and design solutions that can be implemented under a FAR-based contract or through other approved vehicles, depending on your authority. The CSO gives you flexibility, and we align to that with transparency on pricing, delivery, and technical approach. Our team collaborates directly with your team to deliver technically sound, schedule-driven solutions with continuous communication, traceability, and documented progress at each milestone to support informed and responsive program decisions.
Direct ESA Collaboration Enabled by CSO Contracting Flexibility
Because the CSO allows for phased submissions and rolling awards, our team is available to collaborate directly with Engineering Support Authorities (ESAs) to develop iterative solutions for mission critical platforms facing multiple sustainment and modernization issues. In cases involving DMSMS challenges, lack of OEM support, or time-sensitive readiness requirements, Parts Life, Inc. can provide responsive engineering and sustainment solutions through the CSO framework, eliminating the need to initiate a new solicitation or formal procurement process.
CSOs enable faster collaboration, streamlined execution, and outcomes that directly support mission objectives. For engineers, program managers, suppliers, and contracting teams seeking to address sustainment challenges, resolve component gaps, or reduce lead times, our proven and trusted contracting vehicles provides a flexible and compliant path to engage with our engineering and manufacturing capabilities.
Benefits of CSOs Process Efficiency and Adaptability
- Iterative or cyclical set of steps
- Imparts schedule efficiencies through the reduction of duplicative steps for multiple needs or requirements
- Flexibility in evaluation timeline; industry collaboration and response can happen on a recurring basis
- Schedule efficiencies leveraging CSOs to streamline the evaluation cycle
- Fluid updating of CSO as new areas of need or issues are discovered
- No need to submit a full solicitation package for each requirement
- Engineering Support Authorities can collaborate directly with our team to determine solutions
✅ How CSOs Improve Readiness:
- Simplifies ongoing procurements
- Enables faster transitions from problem to solution
- Maintains the flexibility to adapt as mission needs evolve
Parts Life, Inc. is a certified AS9100D engineering service provider, manufacturer, and alternate source supplier for DMSMS and obsolete replacement components on military systems and subsystems. Our value-added reverse engineering processes address missing or incomplete technical data needed prior to manufacturing. Services, such as R.O.P.E.® (Rapid Obsolescence Planning and Execution) and 5R® (Reverse Engineering, Remanufacturing, Recertify, Repair, Replicate) deliver manufacturable technical data with source approval to manufacture replacement parts. In our Prototype Integration Facility, parts and components are manufactured and tested for form, fit, and function to ensure each piece meets and surpasses OEM requirements.
