Clothing & Textiles Directorate

Clothing & Textiles is a component of DLA Troop Support, a primary level field activity of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). In Fiscal Year 2012, C&T's sales of clothing, textiles and equipment to military personnel worldwide surpassed $1.9 billion. While buying more than 8,000 different items ranging from uniforms, footwear and undergarments to ecclesiastical items, individual equipment, flags and tents, C&T actually manages over 31,000 line items when individual sizes are factored into the item mix.

No Zero Based Sampling for C&T Contracts

A memo has been issued from DCMA-QA providing clarification regarding zero-based sampling. The following is an excerpt from that memo:

New Information/Guidance/Tools:

• The objective of DCMA QA surveillance is to verify that suppliers Quality Assurance or Inspection Systems are adequate to present only conforming products to the Government for acceptance. DCMA QA should not be duplicating the supplier's inspection.
• The DCMA Product Assurance Instruction requires the use of a zero based sampling plan, when sampling procedures are used for product acceptance unless specified otherwise in the contract.
• Where the customer has provided lot and/or item acceptance criteria via contract, specification reference or Quality Assurance Letter of Instruction (QALI) that is incompatible with a zero based sampling plan e.g. an aggregate weighted defect point system, the customer specified sampling plan shall be used by DCMA QA personnel.
• Where the supplier has demonstrated positive performance the following criteria may be employed for skip lot sampling:
  • When 4 consecutive lots have been accepted under the customer specified sampling plan, sampling may be reduced to 1 of every 2 lots (50%)
  • When 3 consecutive lots have been accepted under the 50% skip lot approach, sampling may be reduced to 1 of every 4 lots (25%)
  • When 3 consecutive lots have been accepted under the 25% skip lot approach, sampling may be reduced to 1 of every 8 lots
  • Skip lot lot sampling shall be discontinued with 1 rejected lot

Notice to Industry - Berry Amendment Change

Prior to Friday, January 6, 2006, the Berry Amendment (10 U.S.C. 2533a) provided that the Department of Defense could not buy an article or item of "clothing" that was not grown, reprocessed, reused, or produced in the United States. On January 6, 2006, President Bush signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006. Section 833 of the Act added language to 10 U.S.C. 2533a stating that the restriction applies to "clothing and the materials and components thereof, other than sensors, electronics, or other items added to, and not normally associated with, clothing (and the materials and components thereof)."

Therefore, all new solicitations/contracts and any orders/options placed against existing contracts must adhere to the above. Also, all RFPs issued prior to January 6, 2006 and not awarded must comply.