The U.S. Army recognizes that investments in producibility and advanced manufacturing will need to continue to be made to support a vast array of crucial activities, including but not limited to acquisition, sustainment, logistics, and ultimately the Army’s Modernization of its Organic Industrial base (OIB). In order to deliver impactful operational results, the US Army must modernize the OIB, particularly in the areas of Agile / flexible facilities, connected digital enterprise, advanced manufacturing, Digital Twin, automation, and cyber security. DEVCOM has coined these technologies collectively as Convergent Manufacturing.

With the focus on both “new capabilities” and “operational constructs” convergent manufacturing technologies will accelerate the OIB’s capability to get advanced solutions to the Warfighter while enhancing and optimizing the Defense Manufacturing Base for today and tomorrow’s missions.

This CSO will utilize a solicitation process authorized by DFARS Subpart 212-70. Under this CSO, the DoD will be allowed to competitively procure innovative commercial items, technologies, and services. CSO procedures provide a streamlined acquisition process and simplified contract terms resulting in FAR-based contracts awarded under Part 12 Commercial Item Procedures. Both traditional and non-traditional defense contractors may be awarded contracts under this CSO. Under a CSO DoD contracting officers may competitively select proposals received in response to a general competitive solicitation, similar to a broad agency announcement, based on a review of proposals by scientific, technological, or other subject matter experts.