Defense Personnel Support Center/DPSC-FRDB-2, 2800 South 20th St., Phila., PA 19145-5099

A -- DLA APPAREL RESEARCH NETWORK (ARN) - DEFENSE APPAREL MANUFACTURERS SOUGHT Contact Thomas J. Hutchinson, Contracting Officer, 215-737-8611. The Defense Personnel Support Center is interested in identifying apparel manufacturers who currently or have in the past made apparel products for the Department of Defense to participate in the Defense Logistics Agency Apparel Research Network (ARN) Program. The objective of the Apparel Research Network (ARN) Program is to significantly improve the U.S. apparel industry's ability to meet Department of Defense requirements through a program of research, development, and technology transfer for the apparel and related industries, such as distribution, equipment, and materials suppliers. The Government will provide funding through the ARN Partners for the defense apparel manufacturer to participate in ARN projects including testing new and innovative concepts and ARN developed technologies. The Defense Logistics Agency Technical Enterprises Team, (ARN Program Office), will approve interested defense apparel manufacturers prior to the selection of any manufacturer for participation in ARN projects. Selection of manufacturers will be based upon the following priority of items for ARN concept implementation: 1) Army Dress Uniforms 2) Battle Dress Uniforms 3) Other ``Bag'' items 4) Other military sewn products excluding footwear. Each year ARN Partners are required to attend up to six one or two day workshops to coordinate ARN technical strategy, management, and reporting. It is anticipated that funds for travel expenses will be provided through MTIAC for defense apparel manufacturers to make presentations on ``manufacturing problems'' during scheduled ARN Workshop meetings. Interested defense apparel manufacturers should contact Tom Hutchinson, Contracting Officer, at the Defense Personnel Support Center, 2800 S. 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19145-5099. Email thutchinson@dpsc.dla.mil Telephone 215-737-8611. Facsimile 215-737-2486. (051)

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