El Paso-based ReadyOne Industries has landed a major boost to its military production line, securing a $183.4 million contract modification from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Troop Support. The change pushes the total potential ordering value tied to its Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology (JSLIST) work to about $377.1 million. Company officials say most of the new hiring tied to the expansion will go to people with disabilities at the local facility, with immediate openings for sewing machine operators and production staff. Leadership is billing the move as a long-term production win for chemical-protective garments used throughout the U.S. military.
In a news release, ReadyOne said the latest modification builds on an initial award from September 2024 and is specifically geared toward producing JSLIST chemical-protective garments. The company described the order as “long-term production for mission-critical equipment used in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear environments” and emphasized that it is staffing up now to handle the increased workload. According to ReadyOne, the added funding raises the overall contract ceiling to roughly $377.1 million.
What the contract covers
JSLIST is the Defense Department’s program for lightweight chemical-protective suits, and DLA Troop Support typically acquires the gear through delivery orders and indefinite delivery vehicles that set maximum values for multiple orders. Contract announcements and delivery-order records list ReadyOne as a frequent supplier of JSLIST trousers and related overgarments, with assembly, quality checks and packaging all handled in El Paso. Government contracting indexes document those delivery orders and ceilings, underscoring that this is part of an ongoing program rather than a one-off win. For a look at past JSLIST work tied to the company, see contract listings on HigherGov.
AbilityOne rules and local hiring
ReadyOne operates under the AbilityOne program, a nationwide network of nonprofit agencies that supply goods to the federal government while creating jobs for people with significant disabilities. Guidance from the U.S. AbilityOne Commission outlines a statutory direct-labor requirement that typically results in a large majority of production hours, often referenced at around 75 percent being performed by people with disabilities, with specific exceptions detailed by the commission. In practical terms, that framework means the new DLA work is expected to translate into more manufacturing jobs in El Paso for residents who qualify for AbilityOne positions, with the company indicating it will prioritize local sewing and related production hires. For details on the labor standards and exceptions, see the U.S. AbilityOne Commission.
Craig Wellons, ReadyOne’s president and COO, said the contract modification signals strong trust in the company’s ability to deliver and will help sustain local jobs, according to KTSM. The company and local workforce advocates say the ramp-up will require additional sewing, inspection and packaging lines over the coming months, which they describe as a stable path to long-term employment for people with disabilities in the region.
