Provide services to expand existing MEP capabilities to provide national supply chain optimization and to establish a supply chain intelligence network

Boise State University received a $400,000 cooperative agreement award from the Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology under the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program (CFDA 11.611) to provide supply chain optimization services. The award runs from June 1, 2023 through May 31, 2025 and aims to expand the university's existing Manufacturing Extension Partnership Center capabilities. Key deliverables include augmenting the Idaho Manufacturers Connect database; assessing small and medium manufacturers' supply chain needs; coordinating supplier scouting; and operating a regional product testing center. $100,000 of the award will be subawarded to the Idaho Manufacturing Alliance to support database updates and outreach promoting the database's capabilities to small and rural manufacturers statewide.

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to provide services to expand existing MEP capabilities to provide national supply chain optimization and to establish a supply chain intelligence network. Improve the resiliency and optimization for domestic supply chains in the MEP national network in the state of idaho.

Activities

Major activities included in this project are: expansion and augmentation of the idaho manufacturers connect database; research and assessment of manufacturers supply chain needs and current practices; supplier scouting program coordinated with partners; testing, learning from, and providing feedback on supply chain tools and resources via a regional food/product testing center focused on supply chain resiliency. Project activities will include connectivity to regional and nation network activities supporting nationwide supply chain optimization and a capable intelligence network.

Expected outcomes

Systems in place that will more readily enable 100% response to national supplier scouting inquiries, facilitate better responses to local requests for suppliers and oems, and track supply chain introductions and matches; means by which idaho OEM needs as well as supplier information and capabilities can be readily shared regionally and nationally; increase awareness of regional manufacturing supply chain strengths and opportunities to inform state economic development strategies.

Intended beneficiaries

Small and medium-sized manufacturers (smms) in the state of idaho.

Subrecipient activities

The recipient will subaward funds to the idaho manufacturing alliance with efforts in support of the database and the testing center.