US Department of Defense seeks innovations in 3D printing and new metal alloys

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), through the Office of Innovation Capability and Modernization (ICAM) and in collaboration with the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), has issued a request for technical white papers. The goal is to develop and implement new metallic alloys and manufacturing processes to improve the performance of current and future weapon systems and defense platforms.

Many of the materials systems and manufacturing methods currently in use date back to the pre-Cold War era and limit the capabilities of modern defense systems. Although advances have been made in materials research, their integration often fails due to early requirements for material maturity and specifications in the development process. In addition, there is often a lack of funding in the early stages of development to bring materials to a manufacturing readiness level (MRL) that meets program milestones.

“For the past generation, most DoD-funded materials development has focused on cost savings and reducing construction timelines,” said Matthew Draper, Technical Director – Metallurgy and Manufacturing, ICAM. “However, in today’s era of renewed global power competition, there’s an urgent need to accelerate the transition of breakthroughs and discoveries into deployable equipment and capabilities.”

Particular emphasis is placed on achieving a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of at least 4 at the beginning and at least 8 at the end of the second phase. White papers must clearly outline how prototypes will be produced and tested to demonstrate the usability and benefits of the proposed technologies.

Interested companies or institutions must submit their proposals by January 31, 2025. All submissions are subject to strict requirements, including access to confidential information, which is only possible with a Defense Logistics Agency-certified DD 2345 form. The results should help to modernize material development and strengthen the DoD’s innovative strength in global competition.