Clothing and Textiles

Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support Clothing and Textiles (DLATS), a sub-agency of the Defense Logistics Agency within the Department of Defense, is the DoD's principal procurement arm for military clothing, textiles, and associated components including helmets, body armor, insignia, and field gear. The agency executes transactional contracting at scale, issuing thousands of small-value purchase orders and RFQs annually against a fragmented supply base. DLATS operates through the Clothing & Textiles Directorate and distributes through DLA's regional distribution centers and specialized end-use depots.

Since 1997, DLATS has awarded 134,580 federal contracts with combined potential value of $34.81 billion and obligated $39.44 billion, indicating heavy reliance on price modifications and task-order execution against existing vehicles. Recent activity shows 6,846 awards in 2022, 7,434 in 2023, 8,089 in 2024, 7,681 in 2025, and 4,733 year-to-date in 2026. The most recent recorded award date is July 23, 2026.

Competitive concentration is moderately concentrated by award count and highly fragmented by potential value. Michigan Church Supply Co Inc. leads by award count with 5,497 awards and $4.4 million combined potential value, followed by Atlantic Diving Supply, Inc. at 4,425 awards and $87.1 million. Over the last five years, the top five primes by award count hold 40 percent of recent awards; by dollar value, the top five hold only 3 percent of combined potential value, reflecting DLATS's transactional model where many vendors receive single or low-count orders. Federal Prison Industries, Inc. carries the largest reported potential value at $292.2 million across 754 awards. Most contracted value flows through scattered small vendors transacting on a recurring basis—many awards carry potential value not reported in source data, typical of DLA's Schedule-based purchasing and low-dollar RFQ awards.

The set-aside mix reflects the statutory preference for protective employment: 81 percent of awards carry no set-aside designation, 18 percent are total small business set-asides, and less than 1 percent split across 8(a) Competitive, HUBZone, SDVOSB, and WOSB categories. A significant portion of the portfolio flows to Arizona Industries for the Blind and Travis Association for the Blind, designated final distribution points for many RFQ solicitations.

Recent contract opportunities span narrow-scope RFQs and broader planned acquisitions. Representative solicitations include oxygen mask receivers (NSN 8475013896117) due November 2, 2026, aircraft helmet pads (NSN 8475015373803) due November 23, 2026, and thread and coated cloth items set aside for small business. Planned acquisitions include a lightweight hard armor polyethylene composite plate set (five-year requirements contract, estimated annual quantity 1,200 sets, maximum 7,500 sets) and MOLLE Medium and Large Rucksack Sets (three-year tiered contract with guaranteed minimums of 1,445 and 4,000 units respectively). A sources-sought for domestic leather sheepskin hair-type manufacturers closed October 31, 2026, signaling future restricted-source procurement aligned with DFARS domestic-commodity preferences. Most RFQs require SAM registration and electronic submission; delivery typically targets DLA distribution depots with lead times of 90 to 300 days.