Vendor Qualification Additive Manufacturing Processes

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION:

Vendor Qualification Additive Manufacturing Processes

Introduction and Purpose

In support of Army Directive 2025-14, the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center (DEVCOM GVSC) is reviewing and qualifying Additive Manufacturing (AM) vendors for Army ground applications which supports readiness for future demand signals. GVSC is seeking information from vendors wishing to qualify their additive manufacturing processes and materials for use as alternative manufacturing methods.

Background

The Department of War faces a significant sustainment challenge where original equipment manufacturers, suppliers, and traditional manufacturing methods like casting or forging are no longer available. Furthermore, critical data such as the original design specifications, loading conditions, and safety margins for these components are often inadequately documented, making traditional component requalification a costly and time-prohibitive endeavor. DEVCOM GVSC is therefore exploring a risk-based qualification framework that focuses on a practical approach: verifying that a given AM process can consistently produce parts with material properties that meet or exceed the minimum requirements specified on the original legacy drawings, rather than establishing new, exhaustive design allowables.

DEVCOM GVSC is particularly interested in methodologies that leverage modern, high-strength AM materials.  Information is requested on industry's capabilities to qualify parts using a simplified statistical validation, such as confirming the lower bound of an AM material's strength distribution remains safely above the legacy specification's minimum requirement (e.g., μ - 3σ > S_min). Respondents are encouraged to provide data on their ability to implement such a risk-informed strategy, especially for non-critical components, to help accelerate vendor qualification, improve part availability, and enhance the resilience of the...