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Request for Proposal: Design for Manufacturability Prototype Garment Demonstration
Great Opportunity to Help Shape the Future of Military-Grade Apparel Manufacturing
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: JULY 17, 2026
AFFOA’s Request for Proposal invites qualified domestic cut-and-sew manufacturers to undertake a Prototype Garment Demonstration as part of the DOW Design for Manufacturability Business Case Analysis Project. Building on the Commonality Recommendations Report, the initiative aims to validate manufacturability, cost impacts, and scalability of recommended design changes by fabricating physical prototypes and collecting manufacturing data under representative production conditions. Eligible combat uniform types include ACU/FR ACU, IHWCU, MCTCU, NWU Type III, and ACP, with AFFOA potentially awarding multiple contracts to capable industry partners.
Selected participants will fabricate two sets of prototypes: (1) a garment the proposer currently produces with the commonality changes, and (2) a garment they have previously produced or not produced with the same changes, covering coats and/or trousers. Benefits include access to furnished patterns and descriptions, the opportunity to produce up to 10 prototypes, comprehensive real-world production data, 100% quality inspection, and data rights that keep AFFOA’s data ownership while offering insights into manufacturability and cost drivers. The July 17, 2026 submission deadline requires proposals to include labor and material costs, risk mitigation plans, and adherence to existing Purchase Descriptions; no detailed Technical Data Package will be provided.
Ready to shape the future of military-grade apparel? Visit https://affoa.org/request-for-proposal-design-for-manufacturability-prototype-garment-demonstration/ to download the RFP materials, request the list of commonality recommendations, and access the proposal templates. Prepare and submit your Design for Manufacturability Proposal Template and Cost Proposal Template to proposals@affoa.org by July 17, 2026. For context on the program, you can also view AFFOA’s webinar on the DOW Design for Manufacturability on the same site.
Response Deadline: 07.17.2026
