As the Department of Defense continues to prioritize strengthening and expanding the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), small manufacturers like Big Valley Air (BVA) in Dunlap, Tennessee, are proving essential to national security readiness. Recently, this parachute manufacturer received an award of more than $350,000 with the Defense Logistics Agency to produce pull straps for Army parachutes – a critical component in ensuring the safety and operational capability of America’s airborne forces. 

Betty Sullivan, COO of Big Valley Air initially contacted the Tennessee APEX Accelerator to explore HUBZone certification and get answers to general questions about Defense Industrial Base (DIB) readiness. Recognizing the strategic importance of diversifying the DIB supplier network, particularly in critical areas like parachute systems, the APEX Accelerator team moved quickly to help BVA become a qualified DoD contractor. 

Betty said, “We were aware that there was help available for small businesses interested in doing government contracts. We wanted to ask a few questions just to see if there was anything the APEX Accelerator could do to point us in the right direction. And boy did they!”

Building DIB Capacity Through Strategic Support

East Tennessee APEX Counselor Jutta Bangs and Program Manager Paul Middlebrooks began working with Big Valley Air in 2024 to transform the company into a DIB-procurement ready supplier. They reactivated the company’s SAM registration, registered them in the DLA Internet Bid Board (DIBBS), and provided critical guidance on Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), an increasingly important requirement for protecting sensitive defense information across the supply chain. 

Within about six months, Big Valley Air had their first contract with DLA. Jutta and Paul continued working with them to ensure proper contract administration and full compliance with DoD requirements, reinforcing the company’s position as a reliable defense supplier. 

Jutta said, “Betty and her team asked questions and took to heart all the suggestions the APEX Accelerator recommended – including adding staff, rigorous quality control procedures and cross-training employees. BVA made strides towards procurement readiness in a short amount of time. This is exactly the kind of DIB expansion the Department of Defense needs to maintain operational resilience.”

Expanding DoD Manufacturing Capacity

According to Betty, “With the help of Jutta and Paul, we were successfully awarded our first contract right out of the gate and have already been awarded the option by the DoD for a second installment of pull straps. We hope this will position us to be in serious contention for a parachute contract.

“Jutta and Paul were always available to answer questions and offer advice. They explained the ins and outs of the application and registration processes. They encouraged us when it seemed like we’d never get there and counseled us when we needed insight into matters of how government contracting operates.”

Big Valley Air’s success represents more than just business growth – it strengthens the domestic industrial capacity that the DoD relies on for mission-critical equipment. By bringing new manufacturers into the defense supply chain, particularly for specialized items like parachute systems, the APEX Accelerator helps ensure supply chain resilience and reduces dependence on limited supplier networks.

Paul Middlebrooks said, “The success Big Valley Air has achieved exemplifies the benefits manufacturers doing business with the Department of Defense receive from the experience and resources the Tennessee APEX Accelerator can provide.”

Betty stated, “The work that I have done here at Big Valley Air and with the Tennessee APEX Accelerator has made me very proud to be a part of something bigger.”

Indeed, Big Valley Air is now part of something bigger: America’s Defense Industrial Base, working to keep our military personnel safe and mission ready.

Join the Tennessee APEX Accelerator in congratulating Big Valley Air on strengthening our nation’s defense manufacturing capacity!