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DIBC-RFS-26-02
Response Deadline
Jul 21, 2026, 3:59 AM(EDT)21 days
Eligibility
Contract Type
Solicitation
***FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. FOR INTERESTED VENDORS, PLEASE FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS IN THIS RFS AND ITS INCLUSIVE ATTACHMENTS AS DIRECT QUESTIONS TO THIS SUBMITTER WILL NOT BE ANSWERED.***
Request for Solutions (RFS) under Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) Other Transaction Authority (OTA) Number: HQ0034249C00B
RFS Number: DIBC-RFS-26-02
Title: Defense Manufacturing Readiness Exercise
RFS Issue Date: June 25, 2026
Questions Due Date: July 1, 2026
Submission Due Date: July 20, 2026 23:59 ET
Attachments
Attachment 1 — DIBC-RFS-26-02 Statement of Need
Attachment 2 — Warranties and Representations (submit in Stage 1)
Attachment 3 — Copy of Stage 1 survey (complete at provided link in Stage 1)
Attachment 4 — DMRE Exercise overview slides
Attachment 5 — Telecommunications Representation (only submit if requested)
Attachment 6 — DIBC WIRE Project Quad Chart (only submit if requested)
Attachment 7 — Cost & Pricing Breakdown (only submit if requested)
Attachment submission note: Not all attachments are required with the initial Stage 1 screening submission. The Government may request specific additional information to include required forms that will be issued upon selection from selected respondents after screening, targeted exchanges, plan review, order-size decision, milestone review, or award-readiness review.
1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Defense Manufacturing Readiness Exercise (DMRE)
The Defense Manufacturing Readiness Exercise (DMRE) is a phased prototype effort conducted under the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) to identify, assess, develop, and evaluate manufacturing capabilities that may contribute to qualified, contractable, and usable defense production capacity. This effort supports both the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) mission and broader Industrial Base Policy (IBP) objectives by improving manufacturing readiness, strengthening domestic production capability, increasing industrial-base resilience, expanding awareness of available and adaptable manufacturing capacity, and generating decision-grade evidence to inform future industrial-base planning, readiness investments, and mobilization activities. This RFS is issued under the DIBC to solicit responses for a phased prototype project under 10 U.S.C. § 4022.
The prototype OTA is intended to improve Government’s understanding of:
The DMRE is intended to improve understanding of the conditions, resources, interventions, constraints, and planning activities required to increase manufacturing readiness for future defense production requirements.
Information generated throughout the exercise, as part of the prototype OTA, may contribute to industrial-base planning, manufacturing-readiness assessments, and development of a Civil Readiness Manufacturing Network (CRMN) plan designed to improve visibility into manufacturing capabilities, facilities, production roles, readiness conditions, readiness-preservation opportunities, and industrial-base response options.
CRMN outputs are an intended product of the exercise and may be used to inform future manufacturing-readiness planning, capability preservation, readiness investments, industrial-base analysis, and future exercise activities.
The DMRE seeks participation from both traditional and nontraditional performers (as defined by 10 U.S.C. § 3014), including companies with little or no prior defense contracting experience.
The Government is interested in both manufacturing-side and design-side participants.
Manufacturing-side participants may include, but are not limited to:
• Manufacturers
• Contract manufacturers
• Component suppliers
• Assemblers
• Tooling providers
• Testing and inspection providers
• Manufacturing engineering providers
• Logistics and production-support providers
Design-side participants may include but are not limited to:
• Design owners
• Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
• Current producers
• Technical-data holders
• System integrators
• Organizations possessing production knowledge, supplier relationships, qualification expertise, manufacturing constraints, or production opportunities relevant to exercise objectives
Areas of interest may include, but are not limited to:
• Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS/UAV)
• Electrical assemblies
• Wiring harnesses and connectors
• Electronics assemblies
• Precision mechanical components
• Tooling, fixtures, and test equipment
• Manufacturing engineering
• Testing and inspection
• Contract manufacturing
• Production-support capabilities
• Supplier-network coordination
The Government is particularly interested in identifying opportunities to better understand and connect available manufacturing capacity with production opportunities, production constraints, technical-data availability, and manufacturing-readiness requirements.
Participation in the DMRE does not constitute selection for award, qualification for future work, or entitlement to participate in later phases. A response to this RFS throughout any phase will not entitle the responder to any costs for preparation and submission of its response, nor will it entitle the responder to the participation costs
The Government reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to manage this effort to ensure that it best meets the Government’s requirements and needs. This includes, but is not limited to the Government’s authority to:
INDUSTRY PARTICIPATION OVERVIEW
The Defense Manufacturing Readiness Exercise (DMRE) utilizes a two-stage process designed to identify, assess, develop, and evaluate manufacturing-readiness opportunities relevant to future defense production requirements.
The DMRE seeks participation from:
As stated above, the Government will utilize a two-stage process as follows:
Stage 1 – Screening and Discovery
During Stage 1 the Government intends to identify manufacturing capabilities, facilities, production opportunities, production constraints, design ownership, technical-data availability, and industrial-base opportunities that may warrant additional development or prototype participation.
Participants are requested to submit high-level, non-proprietary information regarding capabilities, facilities, production interests, and manufacturing-readiness potential. This applies for both Topic 1 (Group 3 UAS / UAV Bounded Production Roles) and Topic 2 (Munitions Wiring Harness / Connector Bounded Production Roles) as described within the Statement of Need (SON).
Potential outcomes include, but are not limited to:
Stage 2 – Prototype Development and Readiness Assessment
During Stage 2, the Government intends to develop, validate, and assess manufacturing-readiness opportunities through milestone-based prototype activities.
Stage 2 activities may include, but are not limited to:
Participation in one stage does not guarantee participation in any subsequent activity, award, milestone, or funding decision.
1.2 ELIGIBILITY AND DIBC MEMBERSHIP
This Request for Solutions (RFS) is issued under the DIBC OTA in support of a prototype effort focused on manufacturing readiness, industrial-base resilience, and domestic production capability.
For Stage 1, respondents are not required to be DIBC members, unless otherwise specified.
However, only DIBC members may receive a prototype Project Sub Agreement award under the DIBC OTA.
Respondents selected for prototype award consideration must complete applicable DIBC membership, eligibility, representation, certification, and award-readiness requirements prior to award execution.
Submission of a response does not guarantee:
The Government and Consortium Management Organization (ATI) may provide additional award-readiness instructions as necessary.
1.3 MANUFACTURING READINESS CANDIDATE POOL
The Government may establish and maintain a Manufacturing Readiness Candidate Pool (“Candidate Pool”) throughout the exercise during Stage 1.
The Candidate Pool is intended to preserve awareness of firms, facilities, production-role concepts, teaming concepts, conversion plans, and other manufacturing-readiness opportunities that may warrant future consideration.
Placement in the Candidate Pool does not constitute:
• A prototype award;
• Selection for award;
• Continuation into a later phase or stage;
• Qualification determination;
• Readiness determination; or
• Commitment to future participation.
The Candidate Pool is an awareness and reconsideration mechanism that allows the Government to preserve visibility into firms, facilities, production-role concepts, teaming concepts, conversion plans, and other manufacturing-readiness opportunities that may warrant future review or prototype award consideration.
2.0 SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
2.1 RFS Questions and Communications
Communication with Government personnel regarding this RFS is prohibited after the RFS release date unless otherwise authorized in writing. Members shall not contact the Government Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) regarding this effort. The status of submissions will not be discussed until the evaluation process is complete.
All questions regarding this RFS shall be submitted through the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) Consortium Management Organization (CMO), Advanced Technology International (ATI), Attn: DMRE at DIBC.Contracts@ati.org no later than the date and time specified in the RFS posting. Questions received after the stated deadline may not be answered.
Questions shall not contain proprietary information, export-controlled information, classified information, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) not authorized for release, or other restricted information.
The Government reserves the right to publish questions and answers when doing so would benefit the respondent community. Questions and answers may be posted without identifying company information and may be edited to remove identifying or restricted information.
Administrative or submission-related questions may be directed to the DIBC CMO, ATI, at DIBC.Contracts@ati.org until the submission deadline.
Government Technical Point of Contact (TPOC)
Amanda Hawkins
Senior Advisor, Industrial Base Resilience
Industrial Base Policy
The Government TPOC is identified for technical coordination purposes as an authorized Government representative. Respondents shall not contact the Government TPOC regarding this RFS unless expressly authorized through ATI, the DIBC Consortium Management Organization, or another official Government communication.
Upon completion of the evaluation process, respondents will be notified of their status and may receive feedback as described in Section 4 of this RFS.
2.2 Submission Method
Stage 1 – Electronic Questionnaire Submission
Stage 1 responses shall be submitted exclusively through the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) Advanced Technology International (ATI) Acquisition Management Platform (AMP) at: https://dibc-amp.ati.org/dashboard
The Stage 1 submission shall consist solely of responses to the electronic questionnaire contained within the AMP submission process (see link in the above paragraph). The questionnaire included as an attachment to this RFS is provided for reference purposes only and mirrors the information requested through the electronic submission process.
No additional white papers, capability statements, presentations, technical volumes, marketing materials, or supplemental documentation shall be submitted as part of the Stage 1 response unless expressly requested by the Government. The Government will only consider the questionnaire submitted through the AMP during Stage 1 evaluation process.
Stage 1 submissions must be received by the date and time specified in this RFS posting. The Government will not consider late submissions. An automated AMP receipt confirmation will be provided upon successful submission.
Stage 2 – Additional Submission Requirements
Respondents selected to advance to Stage 2 will receive additional instructions from the CMO or authorized Government personnel regarding submission requirements, formats, content, deadlines, and evaluation criteria.
Stage 2 submission requirements may include written plans, technical documentation, supporting evidence, schedules, cost information, teaming arrangements, facility data, or other materials necessary to assess the respondent's proposed approach. Detailed instructions will be provided separately to selected respondents.
The Government reserves the right to establish additional submission requirements and procedures for Stage 2. All such requirements will be communicated through official channels.
2.3 Protection of Information
Respondents shall not submit any of the following (for either Stage 1 or Stage 2):
3.0 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The Government intends to minimize respondent burden by requesting only the information necessary to support screening decisions, discovery activities, prototype decisions, milestone decisions, and readiness assessments.
3.1 Stage 1 Screening Submission
Purpose
Government identification of firms, facilities, production capabilities, design owners, current producers, technical-data holders, and manufacturing opportunities that warrant additional discovery.
Required Submission
Stage 1 Screening Questionnaire (see RFS 2.2 for the submission link; see attachment 3 to the RFS for reference purposes only).
Information Requested
The Government intends Stage 1 to rely primarily on high-level, non-proprietary information. Again, as stated above the response must address either Topic 1 (Group 3 UAS / UAV Bounded Production Roles) and/or Topic 2 (Munitions Wiring Harness / Connector Bounded Production Roles) as described within the SON.
Information may include, but is not limited to:
Respondents may participate as manufacturers, contract manufacturers, suppliers, assemblers, testing providers, tooling providers, design owners, current producers, technical-data holders, system integrators, or other organizations capable of contributing to manufacturing-readiness objectives.
Detailed technical data, proprietary designs, trade secrets, customer-sensitive information, or export-controlled information is not requested by the Government during Stage 1.
3.2 Discovery Activities
The Government may conduct discovery activities with selected participants.
Discovery activities may include, but are not limited to:
Participation in discovery activities does not constitute selection for award.
3.3 Stage 2 Prototype Activities
Prototype Award Consideration
Following completion of Stage 1 screening, discovery activities, and any additional Government review, the Government may select one or more respondents for prototype award consideration.
The award decision is intended to determine whether a firm, facility, production role, teaming concept, or conversion approach warrants initiation of a prototype effort under the DIBC OTA.
Selection for prototype award consideration may be based on factors including:
• Relevance to the Statement of Need;
• Credibility of the proposed production role;
• Facility and manufacturing suitability;
• Potential contribution to exercise objectives;
• Discovery findings;
• Award-readiness status;
• Availability of funding; and
• Other Government considerations.
Selection for prototype award consideration does not guarantee continuation beyond any subsequent milestone, phase-gate, or Government decision point.
Illustrative milestone structures may be established as part of the applicable Project Sub Agreement.
Specific milestone requirements, deliverables, schedules, and payment structures will be established through the applicable Project Sub Agreement.
4.0 STAGE DECISIONS, AWARDS, AND CONTINUATION
The DMRE uses a two staged process to identify, assess, develop, and evaluate manufacturing-readiness opportunities. Throughout the exercise, the Government may make screening decisions, prototype award decisions, milestone continuation decisions, readiness assessments, qualification determinations, and other exercise-related decisions.
These decisions are intended to focus Government resources on the most promising manufacturing opportunities, readiness activities, and industrial-base insights identified during the exercise.
These decisions are not:
4.1 Stage 1 Decisions
The Government will use the following decision question during Stage 1 evaluations:
Does this opportunity warrant additional development, discovery, or prototype participation?
Potential Stage 1 outcomes include:
• Advancement to discovery activities;
• Advancement to prototype award consideration;
• Placement in the Manufacturing Readiness Candidate Pool;
• Small Business Readiness Award consideration, if applicable; or
• No Further Action.
Placement in the Manufacturing Readiness Candidate Pool preserves the Government’s ability to reconsider the respondent at a later time but does not constitute prototype award consideration, selection, continuation, qualification, or commitment to future participation.
4.1.1 Candidate Pool Reconsideration Decision
The Government may periodically review firms, facilities, production roles, teaming concepts, or conversion opportunities maintained within the Manufacturing Readiness Candidate Pool.
Decision Question
Does the available evidence support prototype award consideration for this Candidate Pool participant based on exercise objectives, Government priorities, industrial-base needs, available funding, and current manufacturing-readiness requirements?
Potential Outcomes
• Advance to prototype award consideration;
• Retain in Candidate Pool;
• Update Candidate Pool status;
• Request additional information;
• Conduct additional discovery activities; or
• No Further Action.
This decision is the mechanism by which Candidate Pool participants may later be considered for prototype award and is separate from Stage 2 milestone continuation decisions.
4.2 Stage 2 Milestone Review and Continuation Decision
Applicability
This decision applies only to participants that have received a Stage 2 prototype award, milestone authorization, or other written Government authorization to perform Stage 2 prototype activities.
Decision Question
Do completed milestone activities, submitted deliverables, readiness evidence, exercise findings, and Government priorities justify continuation, modification, expansion, reduction, execution authorization, readiness assessment, reserve status, or discontinuation of the prototype effort?
Potential Outcomes
• Continue authorized prototype activities;
• Modify scope, production role, teaming concept, milestone structure, or execution approach;
• Authorize a subsequent milestone;
• Expand or reduce authorized activities;
• Proceed to bounded conversion execution;
• Proceed to qualification, acceptance, or readiness assessment activities;
• Place the performer, facility, production role, or teaming concept in reserve for future consideration;
• Discontinue prototype activities; or
• No Further Action.
This decision is distinct from the Government’s decision to place a respondent in the Manufacturing Readiness Candidate Pool or to select a respondent for prototype award consideration.
5.0 EVALUATION CONSIDERATIONS
The Government may apply different evaluation considerations at different stages because each stage is intended to answer different readiness and prototype-management questions. The Government will utilize decision questions outlined in RFS 4.1, RFS 4.1.1, and RFS 4.2 depending on the stage of the evaluation process.
Evaluation considerations may be applied qualitatively, quantitatively, or through a combination of methods.
The Government is not required to assign equal weight to all considerations and may emphasize considerations most relevant to exercise objectives, industrial-base needs, manufacturing-readiness goals, or prototype activities.
The Government may also consider portfolio balance, manufacturing-sector diversity, geographic diversity, small-business participation, nontraditional participation, industrial-base resilience, and overall exercise value.
Stage
Government May Consider the Following:
Stage 1
Manufacturing relevance; facility relevance; production capability relevance; design-owner relevance; current-producer relevance; technical-data relevance; production-opportunity relevance; manufacturing-capacity matching value; manufacturing-readiness potential; available capacity; quality systems; manufacturing adaptability; discovery value; industrial-base value.
Stage 2
Teaming viability; production approach viability; manufacturing feasibility; planning credibility; tooling readiness; workforce readiness; supplier readiness; execution performance; readiness outcomes; industrial-base value; Government value.
6.0 PROTOTYPE STRUCTURE, AWARDS, AND AUTHORITIES
The Government may utilize a combination of:
The Government will make awards utilizing authority under 10 U.S.C. §4022.
Stage 1
Stage 1 primarily consists of screening, discovery, readiness-development, and prototype-selection activities.
The Government may make Small Business Readiness Award(s) to selected small businesses where additional readiness-development activities would improve understanding of manufacturing-readiness potential, production opportunities, industrial-base value, or future prototype participation. A Small Business is a business concern that qualifies as a small business concern under applicable SBA size standards. Small Business Readiness Awards are prototype-related readiness-development activities authorized at Government discretion and are not procurement contracts, grants, or guarantees of future prototype participation.
Stage 2
The Government anticipates utilizing a single prototype award structure to support Stage 2 activities.
Stage 2 activities may be organized through milestone-based line items associated with specific deliverables, completion events, and payment events.
Illustrative milestone structure:
Milestone
Illustrative Deliverable
M1
Teaming Concept, Production Role Definition, and Production Approach
M2
Conversion Plan and Supporting Assessments
M3
Validation Package
M4
Execution Evidence and Demonstration Results
M5
Readiness Assessment and Final Findings
The milestone structure, deliverables, payment events, continuation decisions, and funding allocations may vary based on participant role, scope, exercise objectives, and Government determination.
The Government may authorize continuation, modification, expansion, reduction, suspension, or discontinuation of activities based on milestone completion, readiness findings, industrial-base objectives, funding availability, or exercise priorities.
The Government may make awards to individual participants, multiple participants, participant teams, manufacturers, contract manufacturers, design owners, current producers, technical-data holders, system integrators, suppliers, or other entities determined relevant to exercise objectives.
Participants may contribute manufacturing capacity, production capabilities, design ownership, technical data, supplier relationships, production knowledge, production constraints, qualification expertise, integration expertise, or other manufacturing-readiness information relevant to exercise objectives.
Participation in the DMRE does not guarantee production opportunities, future procurement
actions, follow-on awards, or future funding commitments.
The Government retains all rights provided under applicable OTA authorities, the DIBC OTA, applicable Project Sub Agreements, and applicable law.
7.0 SECURITY, DATA RIGHTS, AND EXPORT CONTROLS
7.1 Security and Controlled Information
Respondents shall identify any cyber, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), Covered Defense Information (CDI), export-control, facility-access, personnel-access, security, classification, data-access, or secure-digital-environment requirements that could affect participation in the exercise or performance of any prototype activities.
Performers shall handle CUI, CDI, and other controlled information in accordance with the DIBC Base Agreement, applicable Project Sub Agreement terms, and applicable law and regulation.
The Government does not anticipate the need for classified information during Stage 1 screening and intends to rely primarily on high-level, non-proprietary information during initial screening activities.
7.2 Export Control
Respondents are responsible for identifying potential International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR), foreign ownership, foreign sourcing, foreign participation, or other export-control implications associated with their proposed approach.
Respondents are responsible for complying with applicable export-control laws, regulations, and award requirements.
7.3 Intellectual Property and Data Rights
Respondents shall identify any restrictions on the Government's use of technical data, computer software, manufacturing processes, business information, or proprietary information.
The Government does not seek unnecessary disclosure of trade secrets, proprietary manufacturing processes, customer-specific information, or detailed technical data during Stage 1 screening.
Applicable data-rights treatment, assertions, restrictions, and deliverable requirements will be addressed in the applicable Project Sub Agreement.
8.0 DELIVERABLES AND REPORTING
Specific deliverables will be negotiated after selection, award, authorization, or continuation based on the applicable Statement of Objectives (SOO), Statement of Work (SOW), milestone structure, and prototype-management approach.
Depending on phase and scope, deliverables may include, but are not limited to:
Additional reporting, milestone reviews, demonstrations, technical exchanges, or status updates may be required based on the nature of the prototype effort.
9.0 FUNDING, PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE, AND TECHNICAL LIAISON
9.1 Anticipated Funding
Anticipated initial aggregate funding for the exercise is approximately $15,000,000, to be allocated across multiple potential awards and activities (i.e., across Stage 1 and Stage 2). The Government may consider adding more funding in the future, but it is not guaranteed.
Subject to the availability of funding, applicable authority, exercise priorities, and Government determination, the Government may consider additional funding up to $100,000,000.
Funding may be allocated across:
Funding allocations, timing, and priorities may change throughout the exercise.
9.2 Period of Performance
While the goal is to complete the DMRE within 9 months from RFS issuance, the Government reserves the right to extend this timeline or cancel the DMRE at their discretion. The candidate pool list will be retained for future use.
Specific periods of performance, milestones, continuation decisions, payment gates, and authorization points will be established through the applicable Project Sub Agreement, milestone plan, authorization, or modification.
10.0 FOLLOW-ON PRODUCTION OR IMPLEMENTATION
The Government may consider follow-on prototype activities, manufacturing-readiness efforts, readiness-preservation activities, follow-on production opportunities, CRMN-related activities, or other implementation efforts following successful completion of all or part of the prototype effort, subject to applicable authority, the terms of the DIBC OTA, funding availability, and Government determination.
Participation in the DMRE does not guarantee future funding, production opportunities, follow-on awards, participation in subsequent phases, or any other Government activity. Nothing in this RFS obligates the Government to pursue follow-on work of any kind.
Consistent with 10 U.S.C. § 4022 and applicable law, the Government may consider follow-on production efforts, including through contract or transaction mechanisms, without the use of competitive procedures for participants that successfully complete all or part of the prototype effort.
Successful completion will be determined by the Government based on achievement of prototype objectives, completion of required milestones, generation of decision-grade evidence, validation of manufacturing-readiness outcomes, satisfaction of applicable acceptance criteria identified in the Project Agreement, Statement of Work, or milestone documentation, and Government acceptance of the prototype effort.
The Government may determine that all or part of the prototype effort has been successfully completed where results demonstrate particularly favorable, unexpected, or operationally valuable outcomes that justify transition to follow-on implementation or production.
If a selected participant does not demonstrate satisfactory progress toward prototype objectives, the Government reserves the right, subject to funding availability and Government needs, to pursue additional awards or prototype activities with other respondents whose submissions were evaluated under this RFS and determined to provide value within the scope of the original competition.
11.0 DISCLAIMER
This RFS is issued for prototype-development, manufacturing-readiness, and industrial-base assessment purposes.
This RFS does not obligate the Government to:
The Government reserves the right to:
The Government retains all rights provided under applicable OTA authorities, the DIBC OTA, applicable Project Sub Agreements, and applicable law.
Jordan Adaro
DEPT OF DEFENSE
DEPT OF THE ARMY
AMC
ACC
ACC-CTRS
ACC-ORLANDO
W6QK ACC-ORLANDO
W6QK ACC-ORLANDO
12211 SCIENCE DR
ORLANDO, FL, 32826-3224
NAICS
Aircraft Manufacturing
PSC
UNMANNED AIRCRAFT