Posted April 13, 2015

 

The National Council of Textiles Organizations (NCTO) is hosting a meeting on Wednesday, May 13 to meet with companies and organizations that plan to submit competitive proposals for the Revolutionary Fiber and Textiles Institute for Manufacturing Innovation (RFT-IMI).

 

The meeting will take place at the Textile Technology Center at Gaston College’s Kimbrell Campus. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will conclude once all potential proposers have completed their sessions. Registration opens at 9 a.m. Click here for the full schedule.

 

Background

 

On March 18, President Obama announced the intent of the federal government to seek competition for creation of the RFT-IMI. The Department of Defense’s ManTech (Manufacturing Technology) office is providing funding of $75 million to support the institute for five years. The institute is designed to accelerate innovation by investing in manufacturing technologies with broad technical applications and ManTech requires that it be industry driven. The intent is for the institute to bridge the gap between basic research and product development.

 

The RFT-IMI will address both military and commercial markets and it applies to the entire supply chain from design to end products. The Institute will be managed by a CEO and a board of directors or some other form of governance. Eligible applicants must have 501(c) (3) status with the IRS, and institutions of higher learning are ineligible to submit proposals. After the five years of ManTech funding, the institute is expected to be self- sustaining. Total funding, including matching funds over the five-year period, is expected to be at least $150 million.

 

The goal is for textile companies and organizations that supply the textile industry with equipment and machinery, chemicals, energy, etc. that might have interest in the IMI but have NOT yet “teamed” with a RFT-IMI proposal group to meet with potential proposers to gain a better understanding of the approaches being taken. Since the proposals are competitive, each proposal organization will meet individually with the industry group.

 

Based on the discussions with proposers, textile companies may wish to “team” with one or more proposal groups as the process moves forward. Companies or organizations can “team” with all proposers that might have special advantages. “Teaming” decisions will be made individually by organizations that wish to participate.

 

The RFT-IMI solicitation is expected to be released later in April and a “Proposer’s Day” will be announced by ManTech, which will follow soon after the solicitation. The Proposer’s Day will be for “informational purposes only” and attendance is not a prerequisite for submitting a proposal.  Anyone with interest may attend. 

 

Registration

 

Textile companies and organizations who wish to attend this event should register at RFT-IMI Registration and pay a $30 registration fee to offset expenses. Proposer Groups, including all team members who wish to participate, should identify themselves on the registration form and also pay the $30 fee. Proposer groups who wish to meet with industry to discuss their plans should contact Hardy Poole of NCTO right away by email here. If questions arise regarding this event, please contact Poole.