The Nation’s Combat Support Logistics Agency

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JAPBI DLA Troop 

Support Clothing and 

Textiles Update

Steve Merch, Director of Supplier 

Operations

November 04 2020
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COVID-19 Resilience

• Thank you to industry for their resilience and ability to 

adapt

– Initial impacts saw many firms shut down for a week to 

months

– Industry primarily back up and running since May and 

getting caught up on schedules

– Steps taken by industry

• Employee adherence to safety measures

• Intensive cleaning

• Reconfiguration of spacing requirements

• HVAC upgrades

• Plexiglas partitions

• Multiple shifts

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FY21 Projections

• FY21 contract obligations $1.57B compared to $1.62B in FY20

– Continue to reduce inventory costs

• Top projected obligation areas:

– Utility uniforms

– Cold weather clothing

– Individual equipment

• Delivery order length

– DLA understands impacts of shorter orders and is working 

to build back to 3 month length

• Some smaller dollar value programs to resume 3 month orders 

in Nov and Dec

• Larger dollar value programs projected to resume in Mar and 

Apr

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Market Research Primer

• Market Research is the act of engaging industry and reviewing government 

records to develop potential solutions for government requirements

– Industry participation is crucial

• Methods of Market Research

– Phone Calls or email exchanges with industry

– Questionnaire sent to industry

– Internet searches

– Request for Information or Source Sought notice published on System for 

Award Management (SAM)

– Draft solicitation seeking comments and/or pre-solicitation conference

– Review of same/similar government acquisitions

• Results of Market Research

– Finalization/adjustment of government requirements to match industry 

capabilities

– Development of acquisition strategy

• Number of contracts

• Length of Contract and delivery timeframes

• Set Aside or Unrestricted

• Berry Amendment

4 Source: Director’s Office DLA Slide Template

As of August 26, 2020
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Berry Amendment

• Governed by DFARS 252.225-7012 – Preference for Certain Domestic 

Commodities

– Fiber forward, must be a domestic production using domestic materials

– Exceptions

• Below simplified acquisition threshold

• To items listed in section 25.104(a) of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Fiber 

forward, everything must be a domestic supply chain

• Domestic Non Availability Determination (DNAD)

• Applies whether DLA is procuring clothing items for warfighter or another whole of 

government customer

• Firms must maintain documentation and should be vigilant their end

• Compliance monitored by contracting officer and Defense Contract Management 

Agency (DCMA) quality assurance representatives

• Domestic Non Availability Determinations

– Item not available in sufficient quantity and/or quality at fair market prices

– Market research driven

– Approved at Director of DLA level

– Recent dress clothing market research has been positive in identifying new 

potential new entrants to this segment of the industrial base

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Closing Thoughts

• Presidential elections – DoD and DLA workforce are 

apolitical in regards to their job duties

– Each administration has their objectives and priorities

– DoD/DLA workforce always strives for and takes pride 

in meeting the objectives and priorities

– We value the trust of the American people to perform 

our jobs to meet and exceed the needs to the 

Warfighter

• Thank you for your support to the Warfighter and your 

time today

• Questions and Answers

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