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

The University of Nevada, Reno received a $400,000 cooperative agreement award from the Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology under the Manufacturing Extension Partnership federal grant program (CFDA 11.611). The purpose of the award is to provide supply chain optimization services and establish a supply chain intelligence network to improve resiliency and optimization for domestic supply chains in Nevada. Key activities include responding to all supplier scouting requests, recruiting original equipment manufacturers and small and medium manufacturers to participate, gathering and analyzing supplier capability data to map local supply networks, and identifying gaps and opportunities to connect manufacturers. Outcomes include outreach to all original equipment manufacturers in Nevada, generating an average of 10 supplier scouting requests over two years, and recruiting at least 100 small and medium manufacturers to participate by providing manufacturing expertise and capacity data. The University does not intend to issue subawards under this cooperative agreement, which runs from June 1, 2023 through May 31, 2025.

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 nevada.

Activities

The major activities to be performed include 1) responding to all supplier scouting requests, 2) creating awareness of supplier scouting and supply chain optimization services available through our center and across the MEP network, 3) recruiting OEM and SMM participation in supplier scouting, resilience, and optimization initiatives, 4) gathering and analyzing supplier capability and capacity data to map local supply network ecosystems, 5) identifying OEM supply chain gaps and help to fill those gaps by connecting smms to these opportunities, 6) identifying new service offerings to augment and optimize supply chain resilience, and 7) tracking, measuring, and reporting SMM supplier scouting introductions, matches, and supply chain projects.

Expected outcomes

This project is anticipated to result in outreach to all oems in nevada and to generate an average of 10 supplier scouting requests over the course of two years. This project anticipates recruiting at least 100 smms to participate in this project by providing detailed information of their manufacturing expertise, capabilities, and capacity. This project anticipates the inclusion of available limited supplier data from other smms. This project is anticipated to develop up to two new supply chain resilience service offerings, one per year, based upon feedback from participating oems and smms.

Intended beneficiaries

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

Subrecipient activities

The recipient does not intend to subaward funds.