CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rheaply, a leader in the circular economy that combines a resource-sharing network with a user-friendly physical asset management platform, announced today that it has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract from AFWERX, a community of Air Force innovators who strive to connect Airmen to solutions across the force, to analyze the Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services’ excess property management.
DLA Disposition Services (DLA DS), an organization within the DLA, handles all surplus material from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). After receiving and evaluating surplus property, the DLA DS uses its Reutilization, Transfer, and Donation (RTD) program to allow the following groups to reclaim excess materials: DoD agencies, other federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofit educational, community, and public health agencies, and American taxpayers. Each year, DLA DS processes approximately $50B of surplus property, which can range from hardware to fitness equipment to vehicles. The disposition processes are currently being studied by Rheaply to provide recommendations for potential improvements.
By partnering with AFWERX and the DLA, Rheaply will work to help increase the mission capability and efficiency of the RTD process for DLA DS. Rheaply is currently in the discovery period of the design process, exploring how it can potentially modify its commercial offering and platform to achieve this goal. If successful, the work could mean reduced procurement costs and increased logistics capabilities not just for the Air Force but also across the rest of the United States armed services.
Mark Aicher, Business Support Director at DLA Disposition Services, stated, “DLA Disposition Services supports innovation, most particularly through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. We’re continually impressed with the value small business technologies have provided through R&D projects. DLA DS is an active proponent of small business not only through R&D, but in contract awards for our existing operations.”
“It’s both unique and exciting work, helping optimize the efforts of DLA Disposition Services, and we are proud to have been selected,” said Garr Punnett, Chief of Staff at Rheaply. “The scale of DLA Disposition Services operations is massive and complex, which gives Rheaply ample opportunity to innovate while also aiding the diverse group of organizations that can benefit from the DLA’s surplus resources.”
For Rheaply, this partnership comes on the heels of two other successful government partnerships. In June, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Eye Institute (NEI) awarded Rheaply a contract to improve management of scientific assets within the NEI Division of Intramural Research. In May, Rheaply, the City of Chicago, and World Business Chicago partnered to launch the Chicago PPE Market, a platform that uses Rheaply’s technology to connect the city’s small businesses and nonprofits with a network of local manufacturers and suppliers of protective supplies at cost-controlled rates to support safe reopening of businesses.
Over the next few months, Rheaply will continue to gather feedback from current or former military personnel about their experiences with the DLA’s RTD web process. If you meet those criteria and would like to provide feedback, please contact Rheaply at info@rheaply.com.
About Rheaply
A leader in the circular economy, Rheaply (pronounced REE-plee) enables companies to share and sell physical assets within and between organizations on its modernized asset management platform. With Rheaply’s Asset Exchange Manager (AxM)™, organizations in a number of verticals, including higher education, healthcare, technology, government, and retail, can gain transparency about and utilize available assets, which enables them to decrease procurement costs, storage costs, and unnecessary waste. To learn more about Rheaply, visi rheaply.com or follow @RheaplyInc.
