UPDATE -- Lacamas Laboratories, ACMI and Department of Defense Collaboration Yields Groundbreaking Results to Revitalize Domestic Chemical Production
May 01 2024 - 12:58PM
The American Center for Manufacturing & Innovation (ACMI) and
Lacamas Laboratories Inc. have demonstrated the first domestic
production in 15 years of an essential chemical input with multiple
uses, delivering proof of concept of the Department of Defense’s
(DOD) Critical Chemicals Pilot Program. The new production process
represents a significant milestone in the DOD’s effort to expand
and improve the manufacturing of critical chemicals used for
national security applications as well as other uses spanning
multiple industries, building greater resilience into the nation’s
chemicals supply chain.
“We are extremely proud to be working with the DOD and Lacamas
to accelerate domestic supply chain solutions for the nation’s
Critical Chemicals,” said John Burer, CEO and Founder of ACMI.
“This first-of-its-kind pilot program provides an innovative model
for leveraging private capital to support national security
priorities by tapping into the private sector ingenuity and the
ability to scale.”
Lacamas developed a fully domestic supply chain for the chemical
as a result of the program and is already seeing positive impacts
to their business. Upon learning of this domestic supply chain, one
of Lacamas’ pharmaceutical customers elected to adopt the fully
domestic option for its product as well. The product, a raw
material for an antiviral treatment that is also used as a
precursor for an important energetic material, had previously only
been produced in China. ACMI’s work with Lacamas validated three
criteria for success established by the DOD:
- Foreign dependency
reduction, by domestically manufacturing critical
chemicals
- Crossover commercial applications, with one
early example being a pharmaceutical company that is utilizing
Lacamas' supply chain for its own manufacturing needs; and
- Process
innovation, with a streamlined manufacturing process that
provides environmental benefits, including improved solvents
recycling, wastewater and power use reductions, and lower transport
impact.
“ACMI’s engagement with Lacamas has resulted in a comprehensive
manufacturing process that offers a number of important security,
economic, and environmental benefits,” said Anthony Di Stasio,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base
Resilience. “We are working with ACMI and Lacamas to incorporate
this newly validated domestic supply chain into our munitions
production programs.”
ACMI recently received a $15 million expansion on its original
$5 million contract with the DOD’s Office of Industrial Base
Policy, Manufacturing Capability Expansions and Investment
Prioritization (MCEIP) Directorate, to not only expand the list of
essential chemicals but to also bring in new academic and
commercial partners to expand pathways to onshore critical chemical
production. ACMI was awarded the initial contract under the DOD
Information Analysis Center's (IAC) multiple-award contract (MAC)
vehicle. These DOD IAC MAC task orders are awarded by the U.S. Air
Force's 74th Enterprise Sourcing Squadron to develop and create new
knowledge for the enhancements of the Defense Technical Information
Center (DTIC) repository and the R&D and S&T Community.
“The strategic alignment with ACMI provided new openings for our
streamlined production model,” said Dr. Allen Erickson, President
and CEO, Lacamas Laboratories. “The scientists at Lacamas are some
of the smartest in the world and this type of collaboration is
increasingly important as the nation continues to face complex
supply chain challenges.”
About Department of Defense, Office of Industrial Base
Policy, Manufacturing Capability Expansions and Investment
Prioritization (MCEIP) The Assistant Secretary of Defense
for Industrial Base Policy is the principal advisor to the Under
Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (USD(A&S))
for developing Department of Defense policies for the maintenance
of the United States defense industrial base (DIB), executing small
business programs and policy, and conducting geo-economic analysis
and assessments. The office also provides the USD(A&S) with
recommendations on budget matters related to the DIB, anticipates
and closes gaps in manufacturing capabilities for defense systems,
and assesses impacts related to mergers, acquisition, and
divestitures. IBP monitors and assesses the impact of foreign
investments in the United States and executes authorities under
sections 2501 and 2505 U.S.C. Title 10.
About American Center for Manufacturing & Innovation
(ACMI)The American Center for Manufacturing &
Innovation (ACMI) is committed to revitalizing the United States’
industrial base through strategic investments in emerging
businesses in critical sectors. ACMI’s innovative and holistic
approach, through its affiliates ACMI Federal, ACMI Capital, and
ACMI Properties, consolidates funding, resources, and expertise to
close gaps in the American industrial base, enhance supply chain
resiliency, and accelerate innovation. For more information about
ACMI, visit www.acmigroup.com.
About Lacamas Laboratories, Inc.Lacamas
Laboratories, Inc (Lacamas) is a large-scale contract manufacturer
of high quality pharmaceutical raw materials, intermediates and
fine chemicals located in Portland, Oregon. Lacamas has over 32,000
gallons of glass-lined, Hastelloy and stainless steel reactor
capability. For over thirty-five years, Lacamas' integrated team of
expert chemists has developed robust, practical processes and its
production managers and logistics workers have scaled-up and
delivered many thousands of tons of organic and inorganic chemicals
to customers around the world. For more information about Lacamas,
visit www.lacamaslabs.com
About DOD IAC ProgramThe DOD IAC, sponsored by
the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC), provides technical
data management and research support for DOD and federal
governments users. Established in 1946, the IAC program serves the
DOD science and technology, and acquisition communities to drive
innovation and technological developments by enhancing
collaboration through integrated scientific and technical
information development and dissemination for the DOD and broader
S&T Community.
Media ContactKaren HamillCommunications
Strategy Group (CSG)khamill@wearecsg.com