In today’s defense and government contracting environment, knowing your customers and how they buy is crucial for success. If your parts or products aren’t properly cataloged within the Defense Logistics Agency’s (DLA) system, you risk being overlooked by buyers who rely on National Stock Numbers (NSNs), also known as NATO Stock Numbers, to make procurement decisions. As the U.S., NATO, and allied nations work to strengthen defense supply chains and industrial base resilience, NSNs are more important than ever.

The bottom line is if you want your products to be visible in defense and NATO procurement systems, they need to be tied to the right NSN. At Winvale, we offer NSN consulting to help companies conduct NSN research so you can ensure you are not missing out on DOD and NATO opportunities.

Common Challenges with NSNs

A lot of contractors in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) are missing out on key business opportunities because they don’t understand NSNs, know how to map their products to NSNs, or they can’t navigate the DLA systems. NSNs can be confusing and time-consuming, and many companies face challenges such as:

• Identifying existing NSNs: Determining whether a part already has an assigned NSN can be difficult without inside knowledge of DLA systems.
• Mapping part numbers: Translating your internal part numbers into DLA’s logistics language isn’t always straightforward.
• Catalog visibility issues: If your products and NSNs aren’t listed correctly, buyers can’t find them.  Which means lost business opportunities.
• System complexity: DLA systems such as DIBBS and iGIRDER can be difficult to navigate without prior experience.
• Research Challenges: NSN research can be frustrating with all of the outdated websites that offer information. Even DLA’s PUBLOG with all of it’s codes can make your head hurt.

How Winvale Can Help

At Winvale, we help companies close the NSN knowledge gap within the Defense Industrial Base. Our team of experts provides NSN consulting, including NSN and part number research and strategy. We also offer iGIRDER assistance, so you don’t waste time trying to navigate the system.

We’ve spent years helping defense and NATO contractors succeed in the world of government procurement. With offices in both Richmond, Virginia, and Wiesbaden, Germany, we are positioned to help companies in the U.S. and across Europe access opportunities with the Department of Defense and NATO. Whether you need to confirm if your product already has an NSN, or you want to ensure your catalog is properly aligned with DLA requirements, contact us below.