Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III Solid Rocket Mortors Project | Apply Online

FAQs: DPA Title III Solid Rocket Motors Project (FOA RQKM 2014 0007)

What is this funding opportunity?

This was a U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) cooperative agreement opportunity under the Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III program. It was focused on strengthening and modernizing the U.S. industrial base for solid rocket motor production.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?

The Funding Opportunity Number was FOA RQKM 2014 0007.

What was the main purpose of the project?

The main purpose was to invest in modernized, digitally enabled manufacturing capability for solid rocket motors, described in the announcement as establishing a "digital factory." The intent was to improve efficiency, reliability, and responsiveness of domestic production for defense needs.

What does the opportunity mean by a "digital factory" for solid rocket motors?

Based on the description provided, the "digital factory" concept signaled interest in advanced manufacturing practices such as improved digital process control, stronger production data capture and traceability, better planning and scheduling, and tighter integration across design, engineering, and manufacturing operations.

Which missile programs were specifically supported by this effort?

The effort was aimed at solid rocket motors used by the Missile Defense Agency, including major missile programs such as:

• Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IB
• Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIIA
• Patriot Advanced Capability Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC MSE)

What types of improvements or investments were emphasized?

The project emphasized upgrading state-of-the-art production equipment and production support equipment related to solid rocket motors. The modernization focus was tied to improving manufacturing outcomes and production support systems.

What outcomes was the government seeking?

The stated outcomes included:

• Lower unit cost
• Fewer nonconformances (fewer defects, process escapes, or out-of-spec conditions leading to rework or scrap)
• Shorter lead times from order to delivery

Why was reducing "nonconformances" an explicit goal?

Solid rocket motor manufacturing is described as high-consequence and highly regulated, where defects and out-of-spec conditions can drive rework, scrap, schedule delays, and increased costs. The opportunity explicitly targeted fewer nonconformances to improve quality and delivery performance.

Was this opportunity focused only on a single prime contractor?

No. A key feature described was a focus on merchant supplier capability, rather than improving only a single prime contractor pipeline.

What is meant by "merchant supplier capability" in this opportunity?

As described, the opportunity emphasized enhancing supplier capabilities so they could serve a broader customer community, including both Department of Defense (DoD) and non-DoD customers. The intent was to strengthen the overall supply chain by supporting competitive, capable domestic sources.

How does this relate to DPA Title III goals?

The description indicates the investment was aligned with DPA Title III goals of reducing industrial base fragility, avoiding single points of failure, and ensuring critical domestic production capabilities are available to meet demand surges.

What type of funding instrument was used?

The funding instrument was a cooperative agreement.

What does a cooperative agreement imply for how the project would be managed?

It implies the government expected substantial involvement during performance, compared with a more hands-off grant, based on the description provided.

How was the opportunity categorized (administratively)?

It was categorized as discretionary, with an activity category listed as science and technology and other research and development.

How many awards were anticipated?

The program anticipated making one award.

What was the estimated total funding level?

The estimated total funding level was $20,000,000.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. The opportunity required cost sharing or matching from the awardee, indicating the recipient was expected to have financial and organizational commitment in the outcome.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was described as unrestricted and open to any type of entity, subject to any specific clarifications in the full announcement.

When was the opportunity posted?

The posting date was January 14, 2014.

What was the closing date for submissions?

The original and current closing date was March 14, 2014.

When was the opportunity archived?

The archive date was April 13, 2014.

What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number was 12.800 (Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program).

Who was the point of contact for access issues or assistance?

The listed point of contact was David H. Hall, Agreements Negotiator. The phone number provided was 937-656-9092.

Which government organization was responsible for the opportunity?

The opportunity was issued by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and it referenced solid rocket motors used by the Missile Defense Agency.

Was the work strictly research, or did it include production modernization?

While the activity category was listed under science and technology and other research and development, the description emphasized production capability modernization, including upgrades to production equipment and production support equipment for solid rocket motors.

What supply-chain problem was this project trying to address?

The provided description points to capacity constraints, quality issues, and vulnerability from limited sources as key challenges in solid rocket motor production. By modernizing manufacturing and improving merchant supplier capability, the opportunity aimed to make the supply chain more stable and responsive.