Short answer: DLA states required delivery in days after the date of order (ADO). If you can't meet it, DLA's master solicitation says to enter your own days ADO on the DIBBS quote. On automated buys that isn't treated as an exception, but on buys evaluated by hand extra days can count against you, so quote days you can keep.
What "days ADO" means
On a DLA RFQ, the cover sheet and each line item in Section B show the required delivery as a number of days, such as "DELIVERY (IN DAYS): 0120." ADO means after date of order. The clock starts when the order is issued, not when you see the email or get your supplier's confirmation.
Those days have to cover everything: getting material or parts from your supplier, making or inspecting them, packaging and marking, government inspection if it's at origin, and shipping to the depot.
What the master solicitation says
DLA's is incorporated into every automated RFQ. On delivery, it says:
- Required delivery is stated in days ADO.
- If you can't meet it, you must enter your delivery time on the DIBBS quote page in days ADO. That number should include time to deliver the production quantity, any required testing, and government inspection and acceptance.
- If first article testing is required, you must also meet the first article delivery requirement, or enter your own days for it, including time to deliver the test report if it's contractor testing.
- For automated evaluation, quoting delivery days different from the required days is not treated as an exception and doesn't by itself make the quote ineligible.
- When a buy is evaluated by hand, delivery can be an evaluation factor. Fewer days may get a preference, and quoting more days than requested may mean the quote isn't considered.
Checked against Rev-105 (May 20, 2026). Always use the revision linked from the RFQ or DLA's Policy and Directives page. The master solicitation is updated regularly.
How to build a delivery quote you can keep
Work backward from the depot dock:
- Supplier lead time. Get it in writing, in calendar days, for the exact part and quantity. Ask whether that's ship-from-their-dock or arrive-at-yours.
- Your processing. Receiving inspection, any machining or assembly, certificates, and paperwork.
- Packaging and marking. Military packaging with a QUP of one on a large quantity takes real time. So does waiting on packaging materials.
- Inspection. If the inspection point is origin, allow time for the government inspector to schedule and accept.
- Shipping. Transit time, plus time to process the shipment in DLA's Vendor Shipment Module. For FOB origin freight, the government arranges the carrier, and that takes a few business days.
- A margin for problems. One bad lot from a supplier can take weeks to replace.
Add it up. If the total is under the required days, quote the required days, or fewer if you're confident. If it's over, quote your real number.
Quoting fewer days than required
Some RFQs say expedited delivery is encouraged and that, on hand-evaluated buys, contracting officers may prefer quotes with fewer delivery days. Faster delivery can help you win, but only quote it if you can keep it. Late deliveries hurt your past performance, which DLA considers on hand-evaluated buys, along with risk assessments in the Supplier Performance Risk System ().
First article and production lot testing
When an RFQ has first article testing, the first article and the production quantity are separate lines with their own schedules. The first article schedule is in , and production normally waits for approval. Build both schedules:
- First article line: time to make the sample units, test them (or ship them for government testing), and deliver the report.
- Production line: time after approval to deliver the rest.
DLA's master solicitation also notes that when first article is waived, the contracting officer may negotiate a revised delivery, because the original schedule may have assumed first article time. For pricing and waivers, see First Article Testing for DLA.
After award: when you'll be late
Things slip. When they do:
- Tell DLA early. DLA's master solicitation asks suppliers to notify the administrative contracting officer promptly after award if they won't perform. Silence is worse than bad news.
- Use a Post Award Request (PAR). For DLA-administered orders, PARs on are how you reach the contract administrator. DLA's PAR type for this is VR01, Delivery Date Change, and the government may seek consideration for vendor-caused delays (). Give the reason, the new date and your supporting documents.
- Don't ship to an address from memory. When you ship, print fresh labels from VSM.
If the government asks you to expedite an order you already have, treat it as a change. Confirm in writing what's being asked, whether you can do it, and whether price or terms change, before you commit.
Common delivery-day mistakes
- Using the supplier's lead time without adding packaging, inspection and shipping.
- Forgetting the clock starts at the order date, not when you place your purchase order.
- Quoting the required days on a first article buy without building the first article schedule.
- Quoting aggressive days to win, then asking for an extension after award.
Where FedOpp fits
FedOpp flags rows where the required days look tight against your vendor lead time, along with first article and MIL packaging. Seeing those side by side helps you decide whether to quote the required days, quote your own, or skip. You quote on DIBBS yourself. FedOpp is $199 a month after a 7-day free trial.
See also How to Read a DIBBS RFQ and the DIBBS bid checklist.
Also see the on-time gate.
Also see how to bid on DIBBS.
Frequently asked questions
What does ADO mean on a DLA RFQ?
After date of order. Required delivery days are counted from the date the order is issued.
Can I quote more delivery days than DLA requires?
Yes. DLA's master solicitation tells you to enter your own days ADO on the DIBBS quote. On hand-evaluated buys, more days than requested may count against you.
Does quoting different delivery days disqualify an automated DLA quote?
DLA's master solicitation says quoting delivery days different from the required days isn't an exception for automated evaluation.
How do first article buys affect delivery days?
The first article and production lines have separate schedules. Production usually waits for first article approval, so plan both.
What should I do if I'll miss a DLA delivery date?
Tell DLA promptly and submit a Post Award Request on DIBBS using type VR01, Delivery Date Change, with the reason and a new date. DLA may seek consideration for vendor-caused delays.
Last verified 2026-10-08 · Author FedOpp
Sources
Practical notes, not legal advice. The solicitation controls.