DATC spells progress for defense prototyping

A public-private partnership between the U.S. Army's TARDEC and SAE International is making it easier for suppliers to engage the government on military ground-vehicle technology projects.

A slogging bureaucracy, miles of “red tape” and a sea of acronyms are just some of the hurdles that keep many suppliers from working with the U.S. defense industry on ground-vehicle projects. For years the government, led by the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), sought to develop a streamlined procurement process. Their aim was to speed the adoption of private-sector innovations, particularly for prototype development, while expanding access for smaller, non-traditional military suppliers.

A breakthrough came in 2016, when TARDEC partnered with SAE International's Industry Technologies Consortia affiliate to form the nonprofit Defense Automotive Technologies Consortium; DATC currently has 190 members-70% of which are non-traditionals. The consortium serves as a gateway between the government and the auto industry for OTA Prototype projects (OTAs, or Other Transaction Agreements, run for seven years, during which up to $700 million in projects can be awarded).