DOD Announces $74.9 Million in Defense Production Act Title III COVID-19 Actions

By DOD News Release - December 7, 2020

Pfc. Kelly Buterbaugh, a combat medic with the Delaware Army National Guard, gives instructions to a motorist during a drive-thru coronavirus testing mission at the University of Delaware’s Science, Technology and Advanced Research Campus in Newark, Delaware, May 29, 2020. About 25 soldiers and airmen with the Delaware National Guard supported the saliva-based testing of roughly 400 people at the STAR Campus location. U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. Brendan Mackie

The Department of Defense announced eight Defense Production Act Title III actions to sustain and strengthen essential domestic industrial base capabilities and defense-critical workforce in the shipbuilding, ground systems, clothing and textile, and aircraft industries, utilizing funds appropriated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

These actions will help retain critical workforce capabilities throughout disruptions caused by COVID-19 and restore some jobs lost due to the pandemic.

DOD is closely partnered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, providing almost $2.9 billion in life-saving medical services, supplies and equipment to service members and federal agencies in the nation’s whole-of-government approach to the COVID-19 pandemic.

DOD announces $1.5 Million DPA Title III agreement with Bender CCP to strengthen the domestic shipbuilding industrial base

As part of the national response to COVID-19, DOD entered into a $1.5 million agreement with Bender CCP under Title III of the DPA to sustain critical industrial base capability and capacity for U.S. Navy propulsion shaft repair and manufacturing.

This DPA Title III investment will allow Bender CCP to expand its domestic production capability and capacity by purchasing core machining, transportation and paint equipment. This will result in reductions in dry-dock times, increased logistical security, and improved responsiveness to meet future surface and sub-surface fleet requirements. Additionally, this investment will enable Bender CCP to retain a highly-specialized workforce put at risk by COVID-19.

Bender CCP, headquartered in Vernon, California, will be the principal place of performance.

DOD announces $2.3 million agreement with NCA Solutions to strengthen the domestic ground systems industrial base

As part of the national response to COVID-19, DOD entered into a $2.3 million agreement with NCA Solutions through the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences’ Commercial Technologies for Maintenance Activates contract under DPA Title III to sustain critical industrial base capability and capacity for refurbishment capabilities for U.S. Army parts and equipment.

This DPA Title III investment will allow for the purchase and installation of two vapor ultrasonic degreaser machines. The vapor ultrasonic degreaser machines are utilized to remove thick layers of grease and dirt from large parts such as road arms, as well as small firearms. Without vapor ultrasonic degreaser machines, personnel must manually clean parts with hoses and wire brushes, creating a high cost of burden and situations where personnel are exposed to contaminants. The vapor ultrasonic degreaser machines will increase the quality of the reclaimed parts and maintain vehicle and weapon readiness for the U.S. Army, ensuring the U.S. government gets dedicated long-term industrial capacity to meet the needs of the nation. Additionally, this investment will enable NCA Solutions to retain a highly-specialized workforce put at risk during the disruption caused by COVID-19.

This investment will ensure the U.S. government retains production and supply chain continuity of a vital, domestic small-business supplier within the ground systems industrial base to meet the needs of the nation while maintaining and protecting a skilled workforce during the disruption caused by COVID-19.

The amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) enters General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO), Oct. 27, 2020. Bataan is in port at General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard for a maintenance availability. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Matthew F. Brown

NCA Solutions is based in Largo, Florida. The vapor ultrasonic degreaser machines will be manufactured by Baron Blakeslee Inc. in Williamstown, West Virginia, and installed at the Anniston Army Depot in Anniston, Alabama.

DOD announces $3.0 million in DPA Title III agreements with Bernard Cap and Aurora Industries collectively to strengthen the domestic clothing & textile industrial base

As part of the national response to COVID-19, DOD entered into initial agreements with Bernard Cap for workstation and environmental control upgrades worth $900,000 and for sustainable production upgrades worth $840,000 under Title III of the DPA. The purpose of these efforts is to sustain critical industrial base capability and capacity for U.S. military uniforms. These Title III investments will allow Bernard Cap to continue production of critical uniforms, and invest in future clothing and textile capabilities. These efforts will drive future cost savings for the U.S. government while ensuring the U.S. military continues to have access to these vital domestic capabilities. Additionally, these investments will enable Bernard Cap to retain critical workforce capabilities throughout the disruption caused by COVID-19 and to restore some jobs lost due to the pandemic.

Also as part of the national response to COVID-19, DOD entered into initial agreements with Aurora Industries for workstation and environmental control upgrades worth $488,000 and for sustainable production upgrades worth $821,000 under Title III of the DPA. The purpose of these efforts is to sustain critical industrial base capability and capacity for protective apparel and equipment. These Title III investments will allow Aurora Industries to continue production of critical protective apparel and invest in future textile capabilities. These efforts will drive future cost savings for the U.S. government while ensuring the U.S. military continues to have access to these vital domestic capabilities. Additionally, these investments will enable Aurora Industries to retain critical workforce capabilities throughout the disruption caused by COVID-19 and to restore some jobs lost due to the pandemic.

A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III assigned to Travis Air Force Base, Calif., flies over the Chugach Mountains during cold weather aircraft maintenance procedures training at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Nov. 19, 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jonathan Valdes Montijo)

These investments will ensure the U.S. government retains production and supply chain continuity of vital, domestic small-business suppliers of clothing and textile equipment to meet the needs of the nation while maintaining and protecting a skilled workforce during the disruption caused by COVID-19.

Bernard Cap LLC headquarters in Hialeah, Florida, and Aurora Industries, LLC headquarters in Puerto Rico will be the principal places of performance.

DOD announces $5.1 million DPA Title III agreement with IDEAL Fastener Corporation to strengthen the domestic clothing and textile industrial base

As part of the national response to COVID-19, DOD entered into a $5.1 million agreement with IDEAL Fastener Corporation to sustain and expand critical industrial base production of zippers.

IDEAL Fastener Corporation intends to expand the footprint of its current facility to allow for additional machines and update aging systems to increase operational efficiency. The company will also create new capability to manufacture all zippers commonly used by DOD. The increased production capability and capacity will ensure the U.S. government continues to have access to this domestic supplier of Berry Amendment compliant zippers for use in military uniforms and gear.

This DPA Title III investment will offset financial distress brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and enable IDEAL Fastener Corporation to retain current staff and create 35 new jobs.

IDEAL Fastener Corporation’s headquarters and manufacturing plant located in Oxford, North Carolina, is the principle place of performance.

DOD announces $63 million DPA Title III contract with the Boeing Company to strengthen the aerospace industrial base

As part of the national response to COVID-19, DOD entered into a $63 million contract with the Boeing Company to maintain critical aerospace industrial base capabilities and ensure the continued viability of critical sub-tier suppliers for the aircraft supply chain.

Due to the effects of COVID-19, the U.S. aerospace industry, in particular the Boeing Company and members of its supply chain, have experienced significant downturn in their commercial businesses. These Title III funds will maintain critical industrial base capabilities severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through exercising the supply chain for newly manufactured, properly scaled stock of critical defense technology F117 engine spare parts. The F117 engine powers the C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft.

This DPA Title III investment will enable the Boeing Company and their sub-tier suppliers, including small, minority-owned, women-owned and veteran-owned businesses, to retain or reinstate more than 11,000 American jobs. It is critical to national defense that the Boeing Company and their affiliated companies remain viable and working.

The Boeing Company unit performing this contract is based in Long Beach, California; however, this effort will impact a variety of firms throughout the United States.