America Makes Announces Defense Department Industrial Base Modernization Project Call

America Makes, in cooperation with the Manufacturing Innovation Institutes (MII) and the OSD Manufacturing Technology Program (ManTech) has announced the Department of Defense (DOD) Organic Industrial Base (OIB) Modernization Challenge Project Call which addresses dual-use applications that are responsive to the specific needs of the DOD and the domestic manufacturing industry. The DOD expects to award up to $2.5 million in funding for this challenge with individual project budgets not to exceed $500,000.

From planes and tanks to unmanned aircraft systems, MRAPs and beyond, past wars were fought and won by surging the industrial base to meet unanticipated wartime requirements. According to America Makes, in the future, wars will not just be won by how well we can manufacture materials and equipment, but by how efficiently we can modify and repair the equipment we have and return it to the battlefield. The key to enabling this critical capability lies in the OIB, depots, arsenals and shipyards, which in many instances are aging, inefficient and face extreme challenges on their modernization journeys.

This project call is focused on a single Special Topic Area (STA) derived from the DOD OIB and contains 10 focus areas. Project teams can select one or more focus areas to address. It is important to note that the project lead and all project team members must be America Makes members in good standing as of November 29, 2023. Please inform Cole.Miller@ncdmm.org of your intent to submit a concept paper.

The DOD OIB Modernization Challenge request for proposal (RFP) is separated into 10 focus areas:

1. Integrated hardware trackers
2. Improved technology to modernize manufacturing processes
3. Digitization to combat “part orphaning”
4. Qualification/certification technology and processes for part production using data rather than testing
5. Digitization of the “shop floor”
6. Development of the workforce in pursuit of the “virtual artisan”
7. Novel disposal and/or recycling techniques/technologies to accommodate demilitarization of equipment and munitions
8. Manufacturing or automation equipment that can work in an intrinsically safe environment
9. Development of digital Technical Data Packages
10. Other: Proposers may submit a technology or process not addressed above if they deem it relevant to Organic Industrial Base modernization efforts.

“It is an honor to lead this project call for the DOD and share this opportunity with our members who are committed to accelerating the use of additive manufacturing in the commercial and defense sectors and beyond,” says John Wilczynski, America Makes executive director. “Over the past decade, we have forged powerful alliances with trailblazers in the AM industry, government and academia to harness their cutting-edge designs, intellectual property and best practices to increase U.S. competitiveness, resiliency and security. This is yet another example of a funded effort that will challenge our membership and the industry-at-large.”

The proposal process includes two steps:

1. Concept paper and quad submission chart are due, as outlined in the RFP, by 11:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023.
2. Team presentation and supporting documentation submission (by invitation only) are due, as outlined in the RFP, by 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024.

Project Call Timeline:

• • Launch: Nov. 6, 2023

  • Kickoff Webinar: Nov. 9, 2023, 2-3 p.m., EST. Registration is required.

  • Membership Eligibility Deadline: Nov. 29, 2023
  • Submission Deadline for Concept Papers and Quad Charts MII for Down-selection: Nov. 29, 2023
• • Invitations for Presentation Phase Released: Jan. 12, 2024
  • Submission Deadline for Presentations and Supporting Documents: Feb. 1, 2024
  • Final Selections Announced: Feb. 29, 2024
  • Target Project Start Date: June 2024
  • Project Completion Date: Dec. 2024

Proposers for this project call are advised to reference the RFP for full details and guidelines.

America Makes is a public-private partnership for additive manufacturing (AM) technology and education. America Makes members from industry, academia, government, workforce and economic development organizations work together to accelerate the adoption of AM and the nation’s global manufacturing competitiveness. Founded in 2012 as the Department of Defense’s national manufacturing innovation institute for AM and first of the Manufacturing USA network, America Makes is based in Youngstown, Ohio, and managed by the not-for-profit National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM).

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