YOUNGSTOWN, OH, USA, May 26, 2026 — America Makes and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) are proud to announce the winners of a recent project call funded through the Office of the Under Secretary of War, Manufacturing Technology Office (OSW ManTech), worth a total of $1.7M. The project call, Joint Additive Qualification for Sustainment – Supplier Qualification (JAQS-SQ) – Group 1, aims to accelerate the integration of non-traditional suppliers and scale defense industrial base capabilities by training and supporting manufacturers to meet required process control documents (PCDs) for qualified additive manufacturing (AM) production. Up to five awards were anticipated.
The lack of robust AM training and audit programs that meet established standards, coupled with a restrictive, part-by-part qualification process that limits capacity and efficiency, continues to undermine government confidence. This project offers a significant opportunity to strengthen the AM supply chain by better aligning it with government acquisition requirements. By developing comprehensive training and audit programs, the JAQS-SQ efforts ensure that AM contract manufacturers implement essential process controls, fostering efficient, qualified production for government needs.
Below is the list of winners:
This award announcement represents the first group of suppliers under the JAQS initiative. Group 1 includes six suppliers focused on advancing laser powder bed fusion production capabilities in support of the DIB. America Makes is currently reviewing submissions for the JAQS-SQ Groups 2 and 3, with additional award announcements anticipated this summer. Project teams will report on their progress at the America Makes Technical Review and Exchange (TRX) and other industry events during program execution.
About America Makes
America Makes is the nation’s leading public-private partnership for additive manufacturing (AM) technology and education. America Makes members from industry, academia, government, workforce and economic development organizations, work together to accelerate the adoption of AM and the nation’s global manufacturing competitiveness. Founded in 2012 as the Department of Defense’s national manufacturing innovation institute for AM and first of the Manufacturing USA network, America Makes is based in Youngstown, Ohio, and managed by the not-for-profit National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM). For more information, visit americamakes.us.
