Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III Submarine Valve Regulated Lead Acid Batteries Project | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III Submarine Valve Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) Batteries Project was a U.S. government funding opportunity aimed at strengthening and expanding domestic industrial capacity to manufacture submarine-grade VRLA batteries. The core intent was to ensure the United States had reliable, world-class, U.S.-based production sources capable of meeting Navy submarine needs in a way that is sustainable over the long term, especially in terms of quality, delivery timelines, and cost. In practical terms, the program was designed to reduce reliance on fragile supply chains and to make sure critical battery production know-how, tooling, and quality systems existed within the domestic manufacturing base.

Technically, the project focused on producing VRLA batteries that meet Department of Defense performance requirements for U.S. Navy submarine operating conditions. A key performance target highlighted in the announcement was an eight-year life expectancy, paired with minimal operational intervention over that service life. “Minimal intervention” was defined in the description through examples such as fewer cell replacements, fewer cell isolations, and reduced need to modify charge profiles. This reflects the reality that submarine battery reliability is not just about initial capacity, but also about maintaining consistent performance and safety across varied and demanding operational scenarios, where maintenance opportunities can be limited and the cost of failure is high.

From an industrial perspective, the opportunity emphasized using mature industrial manufacturing capabilities and robust quality management systems to achieve affordable production at the required performance level. That means the government was not only interested in laboratory-scale improvements, but in translating capability into repeatable, high-quality manufacturing processes that can deliver at scale with predictable outcomes. The language about “affordable production” signals an interest in cost-effective manufacturability, process control, yield, and supply assurance, not simply pushing for the highest possible technical performance at any cost.

Another notable feature of the project was its attention to “enhancing merchant supplier capabilities” so the resulting industrial improvements could serve a broader customer base, including both DoD and non-DoD communities. This suggests the government’s preferred end state was a healthier commercial-industrial ecosystem where suppliers can remain viable by selling into multiple markets, which in turn helps maintain capacity, workforce expertise, and competitive pricing for defense needs. In DPA Title III terms, this is consistent with building enduring domestic capability rather than a one-off, program-unique production line.

Administratively, this was a discretionary funding opportunity issued by the Air Force Research Laboratory under the Defense Production Act Title III framework. The instrument type was a Cooperative Agreement, which generally implies substantial government involvement during execution compared with a standard grant, often including collaboration on milestones, technical direction, and oversight. The activity category was Science and Technology and other Research and Development, indicating the scope likely included process development, validation, qualification activities, and production readiness work, not just basic research.

The opportunity anticipated up to two awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $19,360,000. A cost sharing or matching requirement applied, meaning recipients were expected to contribute some portion of project costs through non-federal funds or in-kind contributions, which is common in industrial base and manufacturing capacity efforts where the government wants the performer to have financial stake and long-term commitment.

Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, open to any type of entity, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full text of the announcement. Key dates included a posted date of December 19, 2013, an original closing date of February 3, 2014, and an updated closing date of March 17, 2014. The opportunity was later archived on April 2, 2014. The funding opportunity number was FOA RQKM 2014 0010, and it was associated with CFDA 12.800 (Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program).

For access issues with the full announcement, the listed point of contact was Laura Ortiz, Agreements Negotiator, reachable by phone at 937-656-9883.

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