Archive for the ‘Textiles’ Category

SAVE THE DATE(S)!
2012 North Carolina Military Business Center Major Events

• 2nd Sustainability Symposium for Southeastern North Carolina (Leland, North Carolina) – March 16, 2012 – Registration now open! Visit: http://www.ncmbc.us/2012SustainabilitySymposium.php
• Camp Lejeune / Cherry Point Small Business Outreach Events (Jacksonville & Morehead City, North Carolina) – March 27 & March 29, 2012 – Registration now open! Visit: http://www.ncmbc.us/032012_CampLejeune_CherryPointSmallBusinessOutreach.php.
• 3rd Annual North Carolina Federal Environmental Symposium (Fayetteville, North Carolina) – May 2, 2012 – For more information visit: http://www.ncmbc.us/2012NCFES.php
• 2012 NAVFAC Industry Forum and NC Roundtable (Virginia Beach, Virginia) – June 2012 (date TBA) – For more information visit: http://www.ncmbc.us/2012NCRoundtable.php
• North Carolina Federal Advanced Technologies Symposium (Chapel Hill, North Carolina) – July 17, 2012 – For more information visit: http://www.ncmbc.us/2012NCFATS.php.
• 11th Annual North Carolina Defense and Economic Development Trade Show (Fayetteville, North Carolina – August 7, 2012 – For more information visit: http://www.ncmbc.us/2012DefenseTradeShow.php
• 2012 North Carolina Aerospace Supplier Conference (TBD) – August 2012 – For more information visit: http://www.ncmbc.us/2012AerospaceConference.php
• 2012 North Carolina Federal Construction (FEDCON) & Infrastructure Summit (Wilmington, North Carolina) – October 10-12, 2012. For more information visit: http://www.ncmbc.us/2012FEDCONSummit.php.

*Event dates may be subject to change.

The Defense Contractor Academy will offer advanced instruction and a certificate of completion to existing, small business defense contractors to provide the tools needed to grow the defense contracting portion of their business portfolio.  A series of 9 classes will be offered over an 9-week period, once a week, beginning on January 19, 2012 and ending March 15, 2012.  Each session will include presentation of material and either a panel or guest business(es) to discuss their experiences regarding the topic of the session.  If your company is interested in a panel member or a guest business, please email smedickc@ncmbc.us.

Application.  To fill out an application for the Defense Contractor Academy, visit http://www.ncmbc.us/Spring2012DefenseContractorAcademy.php.  Applications will close on January 2, 2012 at 5:00 pm.  The Defense Contractor Academy committee will review applications and notify accepted participants by January 9, 2012 at the email account listed in the application. If you have any questions, please email smedickc@ncmbc.us.

Courses.

Who can attend from your company?  Companies may send different individuals from their organization to attend specific sessions of the Academy (i.e. the chief financial officer to attend the accounting and financing classes, business developer to attend Fundamentals and Source Selection sessions, etc.).

Cost.  Once your company has been approved by the Defense Contractor Academy committee, your organization will receive an invoice for payment.  The entire course (all 9 classes, including materials) is a total of $75.00.

Defense Contractor Academy Plaque.  In order to receive the Defense Contractor Academy certificate and plaque, your company must attend 7 of the 9 classes.  On the afternoon of the final class (March 15th), participating companies will receive their Defense Contractor Academy certificates and plaques.

Questions?  If you have questions about the Defense Contractor Academy, please email smedickc@ncmbc.us.

DLA Troop Support is not only using more Reverse Auction DLAD Clause: 52.215-9023 as part of all their solicitations, but now are going to the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) FAR Clause 15.101-2 per the presentation at the DOD/Footwear Industry Committee Meeting held 3 Aug 2011.

DLA is trying to increase their cost savings so that Trade-Off Best Value bids are changing to Technical Merit Equivalent to Price bids. The AAFA is pushing that DOD perform true domestic production searches before asking for Berry Amendment Waivers.

FAR 15.101-2 Lowest price technically acceptable source selection process.
(a) The lowest price technically acceptable source selection process is appropriate when best value is expected to result from selection of the technically acceptable proposal with the lowest evaluated price.

(b) When using the lowest price technically acceptable process, the following apply:

(1) The evaluation factors and significant subfactors that establish the requirements of acceptability shall be set forth in the solicitation. Solicitations shall specify that award will be made on the basis of the lowest evaluated price of proposals meeting or exceeding the acceptability standards for non-cost factors. If the contracting officer documents the file pursuant to 15.304(c)(3)(iii), past performance need not be an evaluation factor in lowest price technically acceptable source selections. If the contracting officer elects to consider past performance as an evaluation factor, it shall be evaluated in accordance with 15.305. However, the comparative assessment in 15.305(a)(2)(i) does not apply. If the contracting officer determines that a small business’ past performance is not acceptable, the matter shall be referred to the Small Business Administration for a Certificate of Competency determination, in accordance with the procedures contained in Subpart 19.6 and 15 U.S.C. 637(b)(7)).

(2) Tradeoffs are not permitted.

(3) Proposals are evaluated for acceptability but not ranked using the non-cost/price factors.

(4) Exchanges may occur (see 15.306).

The annual Advance Planning Brief for Industry (APBI) was held in Springfield VA. May 10 -12. This year over 1,100 attended, and many N.C. Textile Businesses were able to meet & network.

This is a chance to hear what the military is looking for from industry. They need a new type of leather USMC glove that will hold up better in wet conditions. Since the new T-11 Parachute is larger, they need a larger bag.  They will be putting out a new RFP for the Modular Airborne Weapons Case (MAWC) but need help with the design. They are also looking for a new type of clothing that can go from very cold to warm. This is just a small sample of the many topics and briefings held. Getting to meet with the end users, other textile businesses and buying offices make this event a must every year.

The session briefings will be posted at: http://nsrdec.natick.army.mil/APBI

Manufacturing Makes It Real Network Moves East
Fleet Readiness Center East in Cherry Point to Host Local Manufacturers

RALEIGH (May 6, 2011) – The next stop for the Manufacturing Makes It Real Network will be June 7 at the largest North Carolina employer east of Interstate 95, the Fleet Readiness Center East in Cherry Point. The Network, hosted by the Industrial Extension Service at North Carolina State University, celebrates manufacturing in North Carolina with a series of public events throughout the state.

FRC East, “the vertical lift center of excellence,” provides world-class maintenance, engineering and logistics support for Navy and Marine Corps aviation. Most of the 3,500 employees are civilians living in nearby communities. On June 7, they will provide a tour of the massive facility.

“We welcome manufacturers in our region to come and get to know each other,” said Col. L.S. Loch, Commanding Officer. “We look forward to demonstrating what we do to keep our armed forces ready.”

At this and all Network stops, local manufacturers are encouraged to attend and talk about what they make. There will be plenty of time for networking and making business connections.

The Network grew out of the demand from manufacturers to tell their stories to an enthusiastic audience – about the wide variety of products they make and the jobs they create — as experienced during the statewide Manufacturing Makes It Real tour, hosted by the IES during the week of September 27 – October 1, 2010

While the events are free and open to the public, the spotlight is on manufacturers. The Network is supported by manufacturers who join and receive promotional benefits and easy access to IES services.

At the previous Network event at Flextronics in Morrisville, 15 manufacturers told an audience of about 140 people about the products they make and their hopes to grow their businesses – and the state’s economy at the same time.

“We need manufacturing to pull us solidly out of this recession, and the Network provides that support as well as an opportunity to celebrate what is made in North Carolina,” said Terri Helmlinger Ratcliff, IES executive director and assistant vice chancellor for extension and engagement.

“We saw manufacturers at each stop on the tour meeting each other for the first time, even though their facilities are in the same zip code. We saw business being conducted. We knew we were onto a good thing. So, the Network was created.”
The June 7 event is scheduled for 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. All manufacturers will be encouraged to tell their story and bring a product to display. Tours of the facility will be conducted while networking takes place. While the event is free and open to public, anyone interested in attending is asked to register online. You must register to attend and registration closes June 2 for security reasons.

“Everyone is finally waking up to how important manufacturing really is,” said Ratcliff. “It powers the state’s economy and drives innovation. The Network exists to make sure that story is told over and over. Our future prosperity depends on it.”

The Network works to promote the image of manufacturing, but not as a lobbying force, Ratcliff said. That responsibility belongs to other state organizations.

The Manufacturing Makes It Real Network is a project of the Industrial Extension Service at North Carolina State University for the purpose of promoting Made in North Carolina products. IES has worked since 1955 to advance manufacturing in North Carolina. Since 2006, IES services provided more than $1 billion of value to the state’s manufacturers, and created or retained more than 5,000 jobs.

The Manufacturing Makes It Real Network charter members:

Silver
•    Keihin Carolina System Technology, Inc

Bronze
•    Air Components & Systems Ltd.
•    Cormetech, Inc
•    Falcon Metal Corporation
•    Flextronics International
•    Glen Raven Technical Fabrics LLC

Associate
•    Goulston Technologies Inc.
•    Max Daetwyler Corporation
•    Schneider Electric USA
•    TE Connectivity
•    Wayne Brothers, Inc.
•    Wilmington Box Co

For more information, visit: www.ies.ncsu.edu or call 919-515-2358

Rep. Kissell has introduced the ” Berry Amendment Extension Act” ( H.R. 679) in Feb. 2011.  This bill will prohibit DHS from buying certain textiles unless U.S. products.  The bill was sent to the House Homeland Security Committee.

Now if we could get them to do a DNAD for raw acrylic fiber! This is long overdue since they gave one for sandbags, but will not let it be used for other textile products.

The  APBI agenda has been posted for the 10 – 12 May event in Springfield Va. The sessions briefings will be posted at: http://nsrdec.natick.army.mil/APBI/

I will be attending, and hope to see a large number of N.C. Textile Businesses at the meetings.  Please give me a call if you would like to set-up special time to meet during the event.  828 349-3878

International Market Solutions (IMS) in conjunction with the North Carolina Department of Commerce recently held a one-day conference in Greensboro, NC, on “Military/Performance Textiles: A Strong Market for NC Companies”. Over 180 industry and government representatives were in attendance.

The November 10 conference included speakers from the private sector, academia and state and federal government who offered insights on research, trends, US military purchasing guidelines, foreign military markets, marketing strategy and other topics.

Commerce Sec. Keith Crisco offered keynote remarks supporting industry efforts in finding new markets. Featured speakers included Blan Godfrey, dean of NC State University’s College of Textiles; Lt. Col. Kevin Stoddard, deputy director for clothing/textiles at the Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia; and Jennifer Stewart, who specializes in defense procurement at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC.

In addition, the office of US Rep. Larry Kissell, D-8th District, offered his remarks on new US government requirements for military and security purchases, and Scott Dorney, Executive Director of the NCMBC, spoke to the overflow crowd regarding how the NCMBC can assist firms pursuing the federal marketplace.

Click here for the website containing all of the presentations.

And, don’t forget to stay up-to-date on federal textile opportunities by monitoring the NCMBC web page for Clothing and Textiles.