The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) buys nearly every consumable item used by the Department of Defense (DoD) worldwide.  DLA manages millions of line items including aviation, land and maritime items, weapon systems spare parts, fuel, and critical troop-support items such as food, clothing, textiles and medical supplies.

Understanding DLA’s role and mission is a key to doing business with the agency.

Now, that task has become easier with the publication by DLA of a handbook that describes its buying needs, requirements, and acquisition procedures.

In all, DLA is comprised of nine supply chains responsible for purchasing commodities and services common to all military services and some federal civilian agencies.  These units — comprised of subsistence, clothing and textile, energy, construction and equipment, medical, aviation, maritime, land, and industrial hardware — are described in DLA’s new vendor handbook, along with each of the steps a vendor must take in order to do business with DLA.  Points of contact, small business goals and other information are provided as well.

To download a copy of the DLA vendor guide, click on this link: DLA Overview for Vendors – June 2016.

To download a copy of a fact sheet on DLA, click on this link: DLA One Page Overview.