The Department of Defense (DoD) has initiated eight Defense Production Act Title III actions as a means of retaining workforce capabilities throughout disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The action would also restore some jobs lost due to the pandemic while sustaining and strengthening essential domestic industrial base capabilities and defense-critical workforce in the shipbuilding, ground systems, clothing, and textile and aircraft industries.
Authorities indicated the effort utilizes funds appropriated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. The DoD has partnered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide almost $2.9 billion in life-saving medical services, supplies, and equipment to service members and federal agencies.
The allocations include a $1.5 million DPA Title III agreement with Bender CCP to strengthen the domestic shipbuilding industrial base; a $2.3 million agreement with NCA Solutions to strengthen the domestic ground systems industrial base; a $3 million DPA Title III agreement with Bernard Cap and Aurora Industries collectively to strengthen the domestic clothing & textile industrial base; a $5.1 million agreement with IDEAL Fastener Corporation to sustain and expand critical industrial base production of zippers; and a $63 million DPA Title III contract with the Boeing Company to strengthen the aerospace industrial base.