Distribution Letter

Month, Day, 2020
Dear Supply Chain Manager,
The U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Office of
Technology Evaluation (OTE), in coordination with the Defense Department’s U.S. Air Force
Sustainment Center (AFSC), is conducting a survey of organizations affiliated with the
maintenance, repair, and overhaul of systems supported by the Air Force.
The resulting data will afford AFSC an improved understanding of the attributes and
interdependencies of firms participating in their supply chain networks. Specifically, this
interagency effort will aid AFSC's ability to address diminishing manufacturing sources and
material shortages (DMSMS), foreign sourcing and dependencies, and other challenges facing
the Air Force’s sustainment posture.
Your organization is affiliated, either directly or indirectly, with AFSC sustainment activities.
Participation by your location and its affiliated CAGEs is vital to ensuring a robust assessment of
the sustainment ecosystem. OTE has worked in partnership with several other sectors of the
defense industrial base and we anticipate similar cooperation on this effort.
To begin, download the Microsoft Excel formatted survey and corresponding instructions at
https://bis.doc.gov/airforacesupplychain. For internal data collection purposes, a PDF version of
the survey can also be downloaded at this website. OTE will only accept survey submissions
through the the Census web portal, located at https://respond.census.gov/airforcesupplychain.
The survey and instructions are also available through the same Census portal.
Your location is required by federal law (50 U.S.C. App. Sec. 2155) to complete the Air
Force Supply Chain survey within 30 days of receipt of this letter. All information submitted
to BIS is protected as Confidential under provisions of the Defense Production Act and will not
be published or publicly disclosed, other than in aggregate form. At no time will such reporting
identify your specific organization. Such information is also protected from disclosure from
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.
If you have any questions regarding the survey, e-mail OTE staff @bis.doc.gov. By phone, if
needed, please contact survey support staff at (202) 482-7808. E-mail is preferred, and will
permit a more thorough understanding of, and response to, any queries.
Thank you for your cooperation. We look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,

Brad Botwin
Director, Industrial Studies
Office of Technology Evaluation