By Michael Chambers
PICATINNY ARSENAL, NJ - In a landmark event to bolster the nation’s defense capabilities, Army Contracting Command – Rock Island (ACC-RI), on behalf of Portfolio Acquisition Executive Agile Sustainment and Ammunition (PAE AS&A) and Army Materiel Command (AMC), held an Industry Day event on 19-20 March 2026 focused on highlighting opportunities across the Organic Industrial Base (OIB).
The general session drew an impressive crowd of more than 450 industry partners and government leaders. The remarkable attendance and active engagement from all participants made the event an overwhelming success, fostering invaluable collaboration that is crucial for strengthening our nation's defense capabilities.
The objective of the event was to bring together government leaders and industry partners to discuss opportunities available across the OIB for public-private-partnerships (P3) and/or co-production at Government Owned, Government Operated (GOGO) installations, as well as with the Armament Retooling and Manufacturing Support (ARMS) Program at Government Owned, Contractor Operated (GOCO) installations. The government also provided an overview of Enhanced Use Lease (EUL) opportunities. Both traditional and non-traditional defense contractors attended and helped shape the outlook for utilization of P3s, co-production, and EULs across the OIB.
Liz Miranda, AMC Executive Deputy to the Commanding General, and Col. Jason Bohannon, Capability Portfolio Executive Ammunition and Energetics (CPE A&E), provided opening remarks that shaped the focus on the rising global demand for munitions and the pressing need to modernize our industrial infrastructure.
Companies in attendance were provided a comprehensive overview of key initiatives, including EULs, ARMS, P3s, an overview of GOGO sites, pyrophoric flares production, assured munitions initiatives, and market intelligence, as well as updates on the GOCO Construction and Iowa Army Ammunition Plant competitions. The government also detailed upcoming opportunities for a range of critical components, including projectiles, metal parts, fuzes, and propellants. A key focus of the event was identifying and addressing critical gaps within the OIB, where industry innovation and partnership can make a significant impact.
Following the general session, more than 120 one-on-one meetings were held with companies interested in providing solutions based on the information provided in the general session. The one-on-one meetings were a cornerstone of the event, allowing for focused, in-depth discussions between industry and government representatives.
Lynda Armer, Executive Director, ACC-RI, closed out the session emphasizing the need to build off the collaboration fostered at the event. “We look forward to growing critical capabilities across the OIB. The innovative solutions proposed by industry are a key step in this process,” said Armer. “These exchanges of ideas are fundamental to building the strong, collaborative relationships needed to advance our shared objectives.”
Industry partners were encouraged to respond to the U.S. Army Enterprise Strategic Capital Partnership Request for Information posted on SAM.gov with whitepapers detailing proposed solutions identified in the one-on-one meetings.