RFI Domestic Footwear Manufacturing Processing Advancements

The Department of the Army, through DEVCOM Soldier Center at Natick, is seeking sources for domestic footwear manufacturing processing advancements to support re-shoring the military footwear industrial base and improve performance for the Warfighter. The effort focuses on identifying manufacturing gaps and process or equipment improvements that can increase domestic production capacity, strengthen domestic footwear technology, and improve the cost, quality, or performance of military footwear. Interested responders must have U.S.-based facilities capable of producing military footwear that complies with Berry Amendment requirements and applicable DoD purchase descriptions, and proposed work cannot change footwear design, materials, or construction in a way that would make it noncompliant; capital expenditures are also excluded, while prototype tooling, consumables, materials, labor, and short-term leases may be allowable. Responses are due by email to the listed Army contacts by 5:00 p.m. EST on 05 June 2026, with questions due by 5:00 p.m. EST on 02 June 2026, and no contract or funding is available from this sources sought notice.