The Department of War announced three awards totaling $39.6 million to expand the solid rocket motor industrial base via Title III of the Defense Production Act.
The awardees are ICF Mercantile in Warren, N.J.; Materials Resources in Xenia, Ohio; and SPARC Research in Warrenton, Va. These awards support the government’s objectives to enlarge the munitions industrial base, bolster supply chain resiliency, and increase domestic production in strategic priority areas. Â
“These strategic investments in our solid rocket motor industrial base are crucial to ensuring the Department of War continues to have access to the munition propulsion systems required for our national security,” said Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey. “By partnering with industry through the Defense Production Act, we are strengthening the resilience of our supply chains and growing domestic manufacturing capacity that is vital to maintaining our technological edge.”
Using DPA Title III funds, the three new awardees will strengthen supplier relationship management production capability by modernizing existing facilities and improving manufacturing processes.
ICF was awarded $9.3 million to establish the first domestic production source of rayon filament cellulose precursor rayon, which will in turn support the production of Carbon Phenolic Ablatives used in SRM and Re-Entry Body heatshields. ICF’s solution is based on Ionic Liquid technology that is an environmentally safe precursor for fiber cellulose production. This will also increase the capacity for rayon fibers and lower material costs for SRM production.
ICF Mercantile is a family-owned fiber solutions company and leader in technical textiles, with over 150 years of combined expertise in designing, developing, and delivering specialty-engineered fiber solutions.
The company operates from processing facilities in Warren and Berkeley Heights and creates mission-critical components for industries that demand exceptional performance and precision.
This announcement brings the total number of DPA Title III awards made to the SRM industrial base under a recent Defense Industrial Base Consortium Other Transaction Agreement solicitation to four, for a total of $53.9 million.
