How to Sell Products to the U.S. Military

Step 1 - get your congressman in your pocket. This is most easily done with cash.

Paint it green!

Show your product at a annual "weapon?" show to promote your product to the high military brass

The easiest method (if the costliest and most risky) would be to approach an existing military vendor with our idea. I'd suggest you look at someone that supplies in a related field but here you'd have to be careful or you run the risk of being ripped off.

Patent protection of your product is essential but in addition to this (but equally important) is a binding agreement with this vendor PRIOR to showing them anything of going into any details. This can be as simple as a non-compete or non-disclosure agreement but need to be clear and notarised.

Long term this is the route that'll make you the least money but the flip side is that it is the most likely to succeed. If you are confident enough in your product that you do not think access to market is vital - go it alone. If you have any doubts either in the product or in your ability to market it (and this remember would include setting up a manufacturing centre - very expensive) look at those existing vendors.

Patent protection is only as good as your ability to prosecute it if there is a breach of your idea. If you don't have the resources to prosecute anyone that uses your patented idea, it doesn't do you any good against unscrupulous competitors.

A non disclosure with or without a non compete agreement with any possible suppliers of parts or assemblies is essential to helping protect your ownership rights.

Argeed 100%, you need to be prepared to defend your rights throught the courts. However, without patent protection enforcing any other contract or agreement if more problematic and expensive.

Non disclosure and a non compete agreement are essential.

Since the Perry Amendment of the mid-1980s, DoD is purchasing many COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) items, moving away from Mil-Spec purchases of the past, so getting qualified won't be quite as expensive or time consuming as back then.

Google and research DARPA

Hooker

Military QPL's are more for existing products. There may be some information available through the QPL site for new product.

Here is the site:

http://www.dscc.dla.mil/offices/sourcing_and_qualification/default.asp

But many departments have been moved to PRI so you may end up starting here:

http://www.pri-network.org/Qualified-Product-Listing-(QPL)-.id.28.htm

I think the easiest way to go would be to just call them and ask. They have always been very helpful when I have dealt with them. Contacts are available through the first link I posted.

I feel your pain. Here is the hot tip. If you are fortunate enough to live near Florida, the AFB in Tampa [Mac Dill] has the ability to act like big Military.

This is the best advice you will ever get anywhere from anyone.

They have an office called TILO Technical Industrial Liason Office. here is the link http://www.socom.mil/soal/tilo.htm They look at technology that will benefit the military and cut through the red tape. If they feel it has merit, they will fund it!

Good luck and Godspeed, Joe

Hello my name is Adam

I have a contact that can help, Contact me at aspaul007@gmail.com, Thank you.