What DLA Buys

What DLA Aviation (AVN) Purchases

DLA Aviation manages and provides over 1.8 million items (National Stock Numbers) to their customers. Some examples of what Aviation procures from Vendors:

• Repair parts for both fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft
• Bottled gases and cylinders
• Department of Defense (DoD) map repository of aeronautical, digital, hydrographic, and topographic map products
• Maintenance services to include repair, rebuilding, and acquisition of all types of industrial machinery (i.e., lathes and milling machines)
• Consumable hardware items such as screws, bolts, and rivets

What DLA Energy Purchases

DLA Energy provides globally resilient energy solutions to DoD and Non-DoD Government entities. 

• Manages petroleum products:
  • Jet fuels
  • Aviation and automotive gasoline
  • Heating oil and lubricants
  • Coal, natural gas, electricity and alternative fuels
• Manages aerospace energy:
  • Acquisition of missile fuels
  • Liquid propellants for space launch and satellites
  • Aviator’s breathing oxygen and other bulk industrial chemicals and gases

What DLA Land and Maritime (L&M) Purchases

DLA Land and Maritime manages consumable repair parts and depot-level repairable procurement operations for nearly 2,000 land-based and maritime weapon systems.

• DLA L & M purchases some of the consumable hardware items such as o-rings, packing and gasket materials
• Land supply chain manages:
  • Parts for land vehicle operations including maintenance kits, transmission, engine and suspension components, tires and batteries
  • Radios
  • Parts for small arms
• Maritime supply chain procures repair parts for the nation’s ships including electrical parts, valves, pumps, motors and cabling

What DLA Subsistence Purchases

The Subsistence supply chain provides food for the military worldwide. They are the sole supplier of food to all branches of the U.S. military, providing everything from operational rations to fresh fruit and vegetables. Subsistence also supports other non-DoD activities, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the State Department, and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

What DLA Medical Purchases

The Medical supply chain supports warfighters and their dependents around the world, from well babies to wounded warriors. To ensure their basic and critical medical and pharmaceutical needs are met, DLA’s support includes:

• Surgical items
• Preventive vaccines
• Pharmaceuticals
• Field hospital equipment
• Medical supplies for animals

What DLA Clothing and Textiles (C&T) Purchases

The Clothing and Textiles (C&T) supply chain provides clothing, textiles, and equipment to U.S. service members, other federal agencies, and partner nations. C&T procures more than 8,000 different items ranging from:

• Uniforms
• Footwear and undergarments
• Ecclesiastical items
• Flags
• Tents 

Factoring in the individual sizes of items, C&T manages more than 50,000 line items.

What DLA Construction and Equipment (C&E) Purchases

Through the Construction and Equipment (C&E) supply chain, Troop Support provides everything from light bulbs to bulldozers. This includes equipment to support fire emergencies and force protection, communication and tactical equipment, and metal to keep critical weapon systems operational.

• Construction and building supplies include:
  • Lumber
  • Metal products such as wire, sheet, plates and bars
  • Paint
  • Lighting and lamps
  • Electrical and plumbing supplies
  • Heating, ventilation and air conditioning supplies
  • Hardware
• Fire and emergency equipment supplied through Troop Support includes:
  • Marine lifesaving and diving equipment
  • Tactical search and rescue equipment
  • Personal protection gear
• Troop Support also manages a variety of storage equipment including: portable buildings, storage tanks, drums, cans, bottles, jars and bags

What DLA Distribution (DISTR) Purchases

DLA Distribution is the lead center for DLA’s network of distribution depots.

• Responsible for receipt, storage, issue, packing, preservation and transportation of DLA-managed items
• Purchases supplies and services in support of their mission
• Buys items such as packaging materials, conveyor systems, and other services to support the DoD distribution network

What DLA Disposition Services (DISP) Purchases

DLA Disposition Services manages worldwide reutilization, recycling, and disposal services for the military services. Disposition purchases supplies and services in support of their mission to include:

• Maintenance services for material handling equipment and disposal services
• Professional services, such as temporary help or consulting services
• Demilitarization services and precious metals recovery services
• Hazardous Materials services, handling, and disposing

What DLA Contracting Services Office Purchases

While the major subordinate commands listed above are DLA's major contracting activities, the DLA Professional Services (i.e., DLA Contracting Services Office (DCSO)) contracts with Vendors and suppliers to manage DLA enterprise-wide requirements, which include:

• Major Information Technology (IT) systems and programs
• IT products and services
• Business and facilities services
• Other enterprise services for DLA worldwide

DCSO is the DoD’s provider of document services and facilitates and acquires services and supplies to support the storage and sale of strategic materials inventory.