Thanks to valuable input from the University of Houston’s Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC) program, Galveston’s DS Imports LLC has increased its revenue by 10 percent and has begun expanding its manufacturing in the state.
DS Imports LLC., headquartered in Galveston, is a Texas-based company founded in 1985 with roots in eco-conscious textiles. Beginning with “Khadi,” a traditional Indian hand-spun and hand-woven cotton fabric crafted by small weavers using vegetable dyes and hand blocks, sustainability has been at the heart of the company’s mission from the start.
Recognized as a trusted source for sustainable packaging solutions made from recycled paper — such as disposable tableware, restaurant supplies, medical consumable packaging and carry bags — the company remains dedicated to reducing its carbon footprint by replacing single-use plastics with compostable and recyclable alternatives.
As part of its growth strategy, DS Imports aimed to provide support to the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Fendering Systems, a highly specialized and mission-critical program. The company needed to demonstrate strict compliance with federal regulations, namely the DFARS 252.225-7000 Buy American — Balance of Payments Program Certificate. This certification ensures that supplied products are domestically sourced and manufactured, aligning with national security and acquisition objectives.
To address these challenges, DS Imports partnered with the University of Houston’s TMAC program. The TMAC program officially began operations at UH on Sept. 1, and soon after its launch, UH Gulf Coast TMAC was already demonstrating impact by helping regional manufacturers achieve measurable results.
While DS Imports had significant manufacturing capabilities in India, the challenge was to expand their U.S. presence, accurately validate domestic content percentages, and ensure full compliance with Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations (DFARS and FAR). Without this certification, the company would not be eligible to compete for future defense contracts.
Under the guidance of Igor Chebotniagin, UH TMAC Business Advisor, TMAC provided critical support across several areas:
- Strategic Market Positioning: TMAC aided in improving and validating DS Imports’ profile on the Texas Manufacturing Network, strengthening their market presence and laying the groundwork for growth with a focus on U.S. domestic suppliers.
- Regulatory Analysis: They delivered a detailed examination of DFARS 252.225-7000 requirements and FAR 25.105 criteria, identifying key compliance points for critical components and items.
- Technical Product Evaluation: TMAC conducted a technical breakdown of DS Imports’ products, clearly delineating U.S. and Indian components with precise cost calculations.
- Domestic Content Justification: The team demonstrated that DS Imports met the “Exceeds 55% U.S. content” threshold, a key requirement for certification.
- Documentation Preparation: TMAC supported the preparation of compliant documentation, including the formal Buy American—Balance of Payments Program Certificate, integral to bid package.
- Strategic Guidance for Growth: TMAC advised on strategies to further increase U.S. content, including plans to expand manufacturing operations domestically.
TMAC’s partnership with DS Imports yielded outstanding results. DS Imports successfully achieved certification under Buy American requirements, confirming full eligibility to compete for U.S. defense contracts.
With TMAC’s support, the company secured a new contract projected to increase revenue by 10 percent. This milestone marked a major step in DS Imports’ expansion into the U.S. defense sector. The company also won the U.S. Navy Submarine Fendering Systems contract, ensuring sustained supply and service for this mission-critical program.
As a result of these efforts, DS Imports now manufactures, supplies and installs submarine fendering systems domestically, complementing its established operations in India. To build on this success, plans are underway to establish a new manufacturing facility in Texas, which will further increase domestic content, strengthen supply chain resilience and enhance competitiveness in future defense opportunities.
“Our company has been in the U.S. market for more than 20 years, always looking for ways to grow and serve new customers,” said Dharmesh Patel, the president and owner of DS Imports. “Entering defense contracting during such a complex regulatory environment seemed overwhelming. TMAC at UH gave us the clarity and support we needed.”
“With their help, we not only won a Navy contract but also manufactured, supplied and installed directly to the U.S. Navy. Looking forward, we plan to expand with a new facility in Texas and will definitely work with TMAC again.”