The Nation’s Combat Logistics Support Agency Established 1961

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Product Test Center 

Analytical The Future 

Of Source Sampling

Jamie Hieber

November 17, 2021
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What is Source Sampling?

• Testing is conducted on the finished cloth at the source, prior to 

manufacturing the end item.

• May include end items.

• Requirements for Source Sampling are in your contract, which 

also covers lot notification, acceptance testing and shade 

evaluation

• A test report and signed DD 1222 must be sent to the DLA PTC 

for every lot.

• Source Sampling is a way for contractors to ship on their own 

testing results. Contracts with a shade evaluation clause, or 

acceptance testing cannot ship without passing results from the 

PTC-Analytical
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Physical Testing/Source Sampling

• FOR physical (non-shade) testing: in accordance with clause 52.246-9032, the 

contractor's approved qualified laboratory will be required to forward a completed 

test report for each lot of components to the address below. The QAR or the 

Suppliers Source Sampling Representative (SSSR) will forward the completed DD

form 1222.

• Samples for physical testing will only be forwarded upon request to:

DLA Product Testing Center Analytical

700 Robbins Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19111

ATTN: BLDG 5D

EMAIL: paactlab@dla.mil

• THE USE OF ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF DD FORM 1222 IS 

AUTHORIZED (and encouraged!) 

• Send to: paactlab@dla.mil
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The Future

• Currently the source program is reliant on a “paper-based” system using 

email and faxed submittals using various electronic formats or hand-written 

forms. Current processes also rely on manual review and sign off steps. 

• New technologies offer great efficiencies for suppliers, labs, and PTC to 

automate procedures, enabling consistent data forms and reports.

• DLA is adapting a commercially available technology for our needs, 

transitioning from a manual review process to an electronic, data driven 

process. 

• This effort will enable DLA Troop Support to:

– strengthen its partnership and communication with the Clothing & 

Textile industrial base, and 

– increase the visibility of material and end item quality requirements. 

As a result, DLA Troop Support and its industrial base will increase its 

capability to deliver the highest quality clothing and individual equipment items 

to the warfighter.
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Common Issues 

• The PTC is seeing shade reports with no corresponding lot 

notification or source report.

• Contract number, specification number, and lot number is different 

on lot notifications, shade DD1222’s and source DD 1222’s

– They should all match! Each time!

– We should see a source report within 90 days of a lot notification, 

and or a shade report

– We expect a lot notification 10-14 days before a lot is sampled, 

and should be coming to the PTC. Send to: paactlab@dla.mil

• Prime’s please communicate to your sub-contractors what is expected 

based on your individual contracts.

• If you need help, reach out to your KO, and the PTC to see if we can 

shed light on your questions.
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How Can We Make This Easier 

For Everyone?

• The Product Test Center has embarked on a modernization program 

to streamline processes and update its systems to maintain the quality 

control of materials used to construct clothing and equipment for 

today’s warfighter.

• The MUST Source Sampling Tool is a commercially available textile 

testing and supplier collaboration system that has been modified to 

meet the specific workflow requirements of the DLA supply chain. 

• The MUST Source Sampling Tool merges Prime Contractors, 

Material Suppliers and Independent Testing Labs into one 

standardized system.

• The PTC-Analytical has been working with two different Offerors. 

This year we selected our provider.

• Based on feedback from those vendors who participated, we are 

moving forward .

Technology Is The Future!
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Source Sampling Improvements 

through Offeror 2 Software

• Streamlined process & interface

– Notifications and Reports generated within same system 

with minimal input from user

– Provides consistent “paperwork” between all contractors

• System guides the user

– Won’t allow next step if something was missed

• Setting up “Request for Test” (Notification) sets up the lab 

report

– Lab report comes pre-assigned with tests from specification

– Spaces for required test specimens

– System does the math (averages, etc)
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Source Sampling Improvements 

through Offeror 2 Software
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Source Sampling Improvements 

through Offeror 2 Software
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Source Sampling Improvements 

through Offeror 2 Software
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Source Sampling Tool Roll-Out

• Continue Final Phase of Development

• Reach out to participants of original pilot study to ask for help 

as we work through the new system

• On-board fabric suppliers in phases to submit all fabric reports 

through the system

• Focus on high volume fabric suppliers

• When on-boarding the fabric suppliers, include their associated 

primes

• Considerations for timing supplier on-boarding

• Past engagement with Source Sampling Tool User Evaluation

• Past engagement with R&D/PTC efforts

• Stability

• PTC will contact participants prior to on-boarding coordination