The Defense Production Act Title III program is one of three active authorities in the Defense Production Act, which was first signed into law in 1950 and was last renewed in 2018. The Title III program provides the President broad authority to ensure the timely availability of essential domestic industrial resources to support national defense and homeland security requirements through the use of highly tailored economic incentives. Specifically, the program is designed to create, maintain, protect, expand, or restore domestic industrial base capabilities.
The Defense Production Act Title III Office reports to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. The Defense Production Act Title III Office provides direction, guidance, and oversight to the Defense Production Act Title III program within the Department of Defense. The program is executed through the careful selection and implementation of projects designed to mitigate critical shortfalls in domestic defense industries.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT (FOA)
On July 12, 2019, the Defense Production Act Title III program, working with the Air Force Research Laboratory Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, AFRL/RX, issued a Funding Opportunity Announcement to solicit production technology project proposals. The Funding Opportunity Announcement is divided into two parts: the Open Funding Opportunity Announcement and the Funding Opportunity Announcement with Calls, and allows for white papers from industry and requests for project-related proposals, respectively. The Funding Opportunity Announcement is in effect until July 12, 2024.
For detailed information about the Funding Opportunity Announcement, please visit Solicitation #FA8650-19-S-5010.
The previous Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) with U.S. Army Contracting Command (ACC) (Solicitation #W15QKN-18-R-01HZ) will be closed.
On July 22, 2019, the President issued five Presidential Determinations authorizing the use of Defense Production Act Title III authorities to strengthen the domestic industrial base and supply chain for rare earth elements.
On June 10, 2019, the President issued a Presidential Determination authorizing the utilization of Defense Production Act Title III authorities to strengthen the domestic industrial base for the production of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) and their components.
On January 16, 2019, President Trump signed four Presidential Determinations pertaining to the production of critical chemicals used to manufacture DoD missiles and munitions —a sector deemed essential for national defense and highlighted in the Executive Order 13806 report.