Small Manufacturers Defense Initiative (SMDI) Program
Catalyst Connection’s Small Manufacturers Defense Initiative (SMDI) assists small and medium sized manufacturers across the state of Pennsylvania to participate in the Depart¬ment of Defense (DoD) procurement process.
Origin of the SMDI Program
In March of 2007, Catalyst Connection initiated the SMDI Program with the U.S. Army. The primary goal of the SMDI Program is to increase the number of qualified suppliers to the U.S. Army. The U.S. Army’s Armament, Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC), headquartered at the Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey, had an urgent need to streamline its supplier qualification and supply delivery model for prototype parts.
Catalyst Connection’s long term experience, expertise, knowledge and successful service to
Pennsylvania manufacturing has been utilized and leveraged to successfully launch the SMDI Program.
The SMDI Program is available to qualified suppliers at NO COST
In Order to Connect Pennsylvania Suppliers and DoD Buyers, SMDI:
- Analyzes supplier qualification requirements that match DoD specific supply needs.
- Utilizes processes and tools to help PA suppliers qualify to meet DoD’s technical and quality requirements.
- Streamlines the proposal process for DoD RFQs to make them simpler and faster.
- Quantifies the supplier procurement process with assessments and scorecards to build positive long-term relationships with DoD buyers.
The SMDI Success Story
- Over 200 Pennsylvania manufacturers have been qualified as DoD suppliers.
- More than $1 million in contracts have been placed with PA suppliers.
- DoD orders have been issued to 22 PA suppliers.
- 3 days, or less, turnaround time on RFQs.
- Transferable knowledge and experience that will help secure future work.
The Future of SMDI
Catalyst Connection is working to expand the the SMDI program in many ways. First and foremost, SMDI is always looking to build on its qualified supplier list. Second, we are looking to secure more DoD agencies to use the SMDI system. And finally, Catalyst Connection is working with large Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to use this system for commercial manufacturing.