Active
Request for Information (RFI): DOD Design for Manufacturability and Business Case Analysis
Advanced Functional Fabrics of America (AFFOA) is seeking information via conference calls with industry stakeholders in the cut-and-sew, automation, and manufacturing technology sectors to support the Department of Defense (DOD) clothing and textiles modernization, including the Joint Clothing & Textile Modernization Initiative (JCTMI). This RFI aims to gather insights, case studies, best practices, and resources to quantify the benefits of implementing design-for-commonality process changes in military combat clothing, such as the Advanced Combat Uniform (ACU), Flame Resistant ACU (FR-ACU), Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform (IHWCU), Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform (MCCUU), and Navy Working Uniform Type 3 (NWU III). Beyond single-garment analyses, the RFI is designed to roll up comparable feature-level metrics (e.g., pocket construction, cuff width, closure type) into a holistic DOD view of potential commonality. This will allow the Government to assess alternatives consistently, using a quantified methodology across Services, thus reducing production costs, enhancing automation opportunities, and streamlining manufacturing processes through standardized design features and materials.
Key Opportunity: Responses to this RFI will inform the selection of 2-3 garments for physical prototyping, with potential contract R&D opportunities for industry partners to collaborate with AFFOA in manufacturing and testing prototypes to validate cost savings and manufacturing efficiency improvements.
Please refer to this document for further information:
http://affoa.org/wp-content/uploads/AFFOA_DFM_RFI_Sept2025.pdf
Response Deadline: 11.19.2025
