Defense Industrial Base Consortium

What Defense Industrial Base Consortium does

The Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) is a U.S. Department of War collaborative consortium, established in 2021 and managed by Advanced Technology International (ATI) under an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) with the DoW's Warfighting, Investments, Resourcing, and Execution (WIRE) office. It operates as a non-profit intermediary that uses the OTA contracting vehicle to bypass traditional Federal Acquisition Regulation requirements, enabling rapid award of research, prototyping, and production funding to U.S. and allied organizations addressing defense industrial base vulnerabilities—particularly in critical minerals, microelectronics, kinetic capabilities, energy storage, and bioindustrial manufacturing. Its core technical/product surface consists of standardized solicitation instruments (Requests for White Papers, Requests for Solutions, Requests for Project Proposals, and Open Announcements), the BIDS submission portal operated by ATI, and the recently launched DIBC Exchange platform for unsolicited white papers and quad charts.

DIBC does not itself generate revenue; instead it functions as a procurement facilitator that distributes federal awards issued by the DoW. Membership is free and open to industry innovators, traditional defense contractors, academic institutions, non-profits, and (since April 2024) organizations in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. By February 2026 the consortium reported 1,452 member organizations and cumulative awards exceeding $362.25 million across projects ranging from approximately $1 million to $500+ million per award, with notable awards to TTM Technologies ($30M, PCBs), Anduril Industries ($14.3M, solid rocket motors), Johns Hopkins University ($45.1M, kinetics), 5N Plus ($18.1M, germanium), ElementUS Minerals ($29.9M, gallium/scandium), and Alaska Range Resources ($43.4M, antimony trisulfide).

The consortium's go-to-market is event- and solicitation-driven: it recruits members through its website, hosts virtual Industry Days coordinated with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy, and convenes the annual DIB Accelerator conference (2026 edition scheduled August 25-27 in Philadelphia). Operational reach is delivered through ATI's administrative infrastructure in Summerville, South Carolina, and the BIDS portal handles compliance screening and proposal submission across global membership.

Name

Defense Industrial Base Consortium

Legal name

Defense Industrial Base Consortium

Website

https://dibconsortium.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Contracting and Procurement Services

NAICS

Public Administration (92), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Security Sector Reform (SSR) & Defense Institution Building (BPADAFAE)

Keywords

• Defense consortium
• Government contracting
• Defense industrial base
• Critical minerals supply
• OTA funding programs

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. OTA Awards to Members: DIBC does not generate revenue itself but facilitates the award of federal funding to consortium members. Awards are made through Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) and can be either expenditure-based or fixed-price. The consortium has awarded over $362 million in total funding across multiple projects including critical minerals, solid rocket motors, microelectronics, and bioindustrial manufacturing.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DIBC is a U.S. Department of Defense consortium managed by Advanced Technology International that operates through an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) to enable rapid research, prototyping, and commercial solution acquisition from industry, academia, and non-traditional contractors. It facilitates federal awards across critical defense subsectors including critical minerals, kinetic capabilities, microelectronics, energy storage, and bioindustrial manufacturing through competitive solicitations and a member submission platform.

Product overview

The Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) is a U.S. Department of Defense collaborative initiative managed by Advanced Technology International (ATI) that operates through an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) consortium model. The consortium provides a single point of entry for organizations to access defense programs, offering multiple solicitation pathways including Requests for White Papers (RWP), Requests for Solutions (RFS), Requests for Project Proposals (RPP), and Open Announcements. Key offerings include the DIBC Exchange platform for white paper submissions, the DIBC Awards Program tracking government contracts (exceeding $362M in total funding), and annual events like DIB Accelerator. The consortium covers critical sectors including Strategic and Critical Materials, Kinetic Capabilities, Energy Storage and Batteries, Microelectronics, Bioindustrial Manufacturing, and Emerging Manufacturing Technology. Membership is open to industry innovators, traditional defense contractors, academic institutions, non-profits, and non-traditional contractors, with recent expansion to include organizations in Canada, UK, and Australia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DIBC Membership Program Free membership program providing organizations access to defense procurement opportunities through Other Transaction Agreements, members-only submission portal, and collaboration with government program offices. Open to U.S. organizations and since April 2024, international organizations in Canada, UK, and Australia.
• OTA Consortium Model (Other Transaction Agreement) Streamlined contracting vehicle that enables rapid research, prototyping, and commercial solution acquisition from industry, academia, and non-traditional contractors for federal government use, bypassing traditional FAR-based procurement requirements.
• Request for Solutions (RFS) Solicitations Competitive solicitation process for defense solutions where respondents submit proposals for specific defense requirements. Includes active solicitations such as Defense Manufacturing Readiness Exercise (RFS-26-02).
• Request for Project Proposals (RPP) Solicitations Competitive solicitation process for larger-scale defense projects, including RPP-BES-26-01 for Military-Critical Cylindrical Cells and RPP-CM-26-01 for Domestic Processing Capabilities of Critical Minerals covering 13 strategic materials.
• Request for White Papers (RWP) Solicitations Competitive solicitation process for specific defense requirements where respondents submit white papers. Covers sectors including Microelectronics (RWP-MIC-24-01), Kinetics (RWP-KIN-24-01/02/03), Bioindustrial Manufacturing (RWP-BIO-24-01), Critical Chemicals (RWP-KIN-24-03), and Alternative Market Analytics (RWP-CC-24-01).
• Open Announcement OA-24-01 Comprehensive open solicitation covering multiple critical defense sectors including Strategic and Critical Materials, Kinetic Capabilities, Energy Storage and Batteries, Castings and Forgings, Microelectronics, Workforce Development, Small Unmanned Aerial Systems, Submarine Industrial Base, Space Industrial Base, and Emerging Manufacturing Technology.
• DIBC Exchange Platform Member platform providing an avenue for DIBC members to share innovative concepts and potential solutions aligned with emerging government priorities. Accepts White Papers and Quad Charts submissions with plans to expand to additional submission formats.
• DIBC Awards Program Program tracking government awards made through DIBC solicitations for critical minerals, solid rocket motors, germanium/silicon optics, gallium/scandium supply, microelectronics, and bioindustrial manufacturing. Total funding awarded exceeds $362 million.

Quantifiable outcome

• $362 million+ in total funding awarded to members
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and supporting.

• Pennsylvania Convention CenterminorOthers · 25 August 2026Venue for DIB Accelerator 2026 conference scheduled for August 25-27, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA. The conference will feature over 60 industry partners and Government resourcing representatives.
• Office of the Assistant Secretary of War (ASW) for Industrial Base PolicycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2026ASW(IBP) senior leaders participate in DIBC Industry Day events to discuss upcoming RPPs and strategic priorities. Key speakers include Honorable Michael Cadenazzi, ASW(IBP) and Mr. Jeffery Frankston, Acting Deputy ASW for Industrial Base Resilience.
• Advanced Technology International (ATI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerATI serves as the managing organization for DIBC, operating the consortium OTA model, maintaining the BIDS submission portal, and providing administrative support for all consortium activities. ATI is headquartered in Summerville, South Carolina and has been instrumental in establishing and operating DIBC since its inception.
• Department of War (DoW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Department of War, through its Warfighting, Investments, Resourcing, and Execution (WIRE) office, established the Other Transaction Agreement that enables DIBC to operate. DoW provides funding authority, sets strategic priorities, and reviews/approves awards through the consortium.
• Office of Strategic CapitalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates in DIBC Industry Day events and provides insights on funding strategies for critical minerals and defense industrial base projects.
• Washington Headquarters ServicessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates in DIBC Industry Day discussions on strategic and critical minerals RPPs and defense industrial base priorities.
• Allied Nations (Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, 50+ nations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDIBC has expanded membership to organizations in Canada, UK, and Australia. Allied partnership networks spanning over 50 nations are being developed to create diversified sourcing pathways and reduce dependence on Chinese processing capacity for critical minerals.

Scale indicators6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aviation and Missile Technology Consortium (AMTC): OTA consortium for aviation and missile technology research and prototyping under DoW. Operates with the same Other Transaction Agreement model, solicitation structures (RWP, RFS, RPP), and member recruitment approach as DIBC.
• Sensor Systems and Platform Technologies Consortium (SSPT): OTA consortium supporting sensor and platform technology research for DoW. Operates with the same consortium model, OTA framework, and member-funded solicitation approach as DIBC.
• Information Warfare Research Project (IWRP): OTA consortium also managed by Advanced Technology International focused on information warfare and cyber capabilities for DoW. Closely comparable model with same parent managing organization, same OTA framework, and same solicitation architecture.
• Naval Surface Technology & Innovation Consortium (NSTIC): OTA consortium managed by ATI focused on naval surface ship technologies. Direct peer given shared managing organization, shared OTA framework, and shared mission of expanding the defense industrial base through non-traditional contractor participation.
• System of Systems Consortium (SoSC): Defense-focused consortium supporting system-of-systems integration and engineering research. Operates under OTA authorities similar to DIBC with overlapping member organizations and similar government customer base.
• Weapons and Systems Engineering Consortium (WSEC): OTA consortium managed by ATI focused on weapons and systems engineering capabilities. Closely comparable defense industrial base mission and operational model to DIBC.
• DoD Ordnance Technology Consortium (DOTC): OTA consortium supporting ordnance and energetic materials research, prototyping, and testing. Comparable consortium structure serving defense industrial base needs through member-funded solicitations managed under similar OTA authorities.

Broad incumbents

• Consortium Management Group (CMG): Established consortium management firm operating multiple DoD and federal R&D consortiums. Comparable in providing the back-office infrastructure that enables OTA consortiums, though broader across multiple federal agencies beyond DoD.
• Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Procurement Consortia: DLA operates supplier-facing programs that coordinate defense industrial base capacity. A broader incumbent in the same mission space of strengthening domestic defense supply chains, though using traditional FAR-based mechanisms alongside consortium models.

Others

• Advanced Technology International (ATI): The consortium management organization that operates DIBC (and several other defense OTA consortiums). Not a direct peer but a deeply embedded service provider/operator whose performance directly determines DIBC's execution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DIBConsortium
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dibconsortium

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Defense Industrial Base Consortium