We wrote about the Individual Carbine RFP within 30 minutes of its release on Wednesday but nobody has said a thing on the web. Maybe it was too late in the day for folks to absorb or maybe its lack of performance details are hanging folks up but it’s on the street regardless.
From FedBizOpps.gov
“Amendment Notice 0011 [Combined Synopsis]
FedBizOpps notice Date: 2011-06-29
Description:
The U.S. Army Contracting Command (ACC) Picatinny Contracting Center, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000, on behalf of the Program Manager for Soldier Weapons (PM-SW) Picatinny Arsenal, NJ is issuing the FINAL RFP.
All inquiries please contact: The U.S. Army Contracting Command (ACC) Picatinny Contracting Center, CCJM-MA, Bldg 45b, Mail Stop 10b, Attn: (KO), Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000”
PEO Soldier’s Dual Path Strategy makes matters even more interesting for potential bidders, there’s also a Solicitation for the M4 Product Improvement Program (PIP) – Forward Rail Assembly out there right now as well as the M4 Product Improvement Program (PIP) – Bolt Carrier Assembly. Since the search for a Bolt Carrier Group comes before the planned investigation of potential operating systems in the M4 Product Improvement Program (PIP), I’d have to say that there is no real interest in going to a piston design as the Army would have to yet again change Bolt Carriers to accommodate that operating system. The cart was definitely put before the horse on this one.
Finally, let’s not forget the purchase of up to 100,000 M4/M4A1 Carbine, 5.56mm going to open bid rather than straight to Colt.
If you’re in the small arms manufacturing business right now, you’re busier than a one legged man in an ass-kicking contest.
As “commenters” we often talk about the military wasting money. Certainly improving the M4 is not a waste, and the dual path strategy makes sense to me. However, asking for an improved rail is pretty wasteful when one already exist. The DD RISII is without a doubt one of the finest rails on the market and its battle proven. Why waste the money trying to reinvent the wheel. As for the bolt carrier I couldn’t agree more. There are many places the bolt could be enhanced, and done right it could mean much better reliability in an already reliable system.
Many would argue that there are several great rail systems out there. I don’t think the army’s out of line to take a look at them.
[…] by Daniel Defense that they are going home with a sizable chink of the Army’s small arms pie. As we reported last week, the Army’s dual path strategy to improve the current fleet of M4 carbines combined with an […]