Army Combat Cloth Face Cover

Abstract

The Army Combat Cloth Face Covering (CCFC) effort was initiated in response to the SECDEF memorandum signed April 5, 2020, subject: DoD Guidance on the Use of Cloth Face Coverings. In the memorandum, the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) committed to implementing all measures necessary to mitigate risks to the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The memorandum signed by the SECDEF directed that all individuals on Department of Defense (DoD) property, installations, and facilities should wear a face covering when they were unable to maintain the proper social distance in public areas or work centers. Program Executive Office Soldier was directed by the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology) to identify contracting sources that could manufacture face coverings on an expedited timeline. The purpose of this study is to identify the acquisition strategy for the Army’s CCFC program. The goal is to determine if the pursued acquisition process was the most proficient approach in terms of cost, schedule, and performance. This research identifies the Army’s acquisition approach, policies, and procedures and provides recommendations on how to improve similar requirements in the future.