DLA Internet Bid Board System (DIBBS) Basics: What Every Foundry Should Know
DIBBS, also known as the DLA (Defense Logistics Agency) Internet Bid Board System, is the marketplace for anything the military needs to purchase to keep our warfighters supplied and mission ready.
Who uses DIBBS
DIBBS is used by a wide range of businesses, from large defense contractors to small and mid-sized manufacturers. If your company produces or distributes parts, components, or materials, DIBBS could be your direct line to one of the largest buyers in the world: the United States federal government. Vendors across industries including metal fabrication, electronics, textiles, and hardware regularly win contracts through DIBBS. The platform levels the playing field, giving businesses of all sizes a fair shot at securing government work.
What is sold on DIBBS
The DLA manages the supply chain for virtually everything the military uses day to day. That means DIBBS solicitations cover an enormous range of items: nuts, bolts, and fasteners; aircraft and vehicle parts; medical and pharmaceutical supplies; clothing and personal protective equipment; fuel and energy products; and much more. If it keeps a soldier in the field, a ship at sea, or a jet in the air, there is a good chance DIBBS has a solicitation for it. Each item is identified by a National Stock Number (NSN), a standardized 13-digit code that makes searching for specific opportunities straightforward.
How does DIBBS work
Registering on DIBBS is free. Once your business is set up in SAM.gov (the System for Award Management), you can create a DIBBS account and begin browsing active solicitations. Most awards on DIBBS are made through Invitation for Bid (IFB) solicitations, meaning the lowest technically acceptable offer wins. You can search by NSN, part number, or Federal Supply Class to find items relevant to your capabilities. Bids are submitted electronically, and awards are typically made quickly, sometimes within days of the solicitation closing.
Work smarter with ICON
Browsing DIBBS is powerful, but it can be overwhelming. With thousands of active solicitations at any given time, finding the ones relevant to your business takes time and patience. ICON solves that friction point.
ICON pulls its data directly from DIBBS and does the filtering for you. Instead of sorting through solicitations across every industry and commodity, ICON surfaces metal parts opportunities that match your capabilities, so you spend less time searching and more time bidding. ICON does not replace DIBBS; it simply makes DIBBS easier to navigate.
Think of ICON as a smarter front door (portal) to the same marketplace.
To get the most out of both platforms, you will need an account on each. Your DIBBS account remains essential, as you will use it to access the full solicitation details from directly within ICON. Registering for both is straightforward and worth every minute.
Why your business should be on DIBBS and ICON
The DLA spends billions of dollars each year procuring supplies, and much of that spending flows through DIBBS. For Casting, Forging, and Machining operators looking to grow into the defense market, the combination of DIBBS and ICON gives you both the marketplace and the edge to compete in it.
Get started today. Visit DIBBS Vendor Registration. Register for ICON at iconportal.com.
