The Marine Corps has issued a Request for Information from industry for a USMC Corpsman Assault Pack to possible be manufactured sometime in 2012-2013.
Like all contracts Marine, the timeline is aggressive. A total of 10,000 complete USMC Corpsman Assault Systems at a rate of 1,000 complete USMC Corpsman Assault Systems delivered NLT 60 calendar days post First Article Test (FAT) approval and a sustained rate of 2,500 complete USMC Corpsman Assault Systems per month with delivery beginning NLT 90 day calendar days post FAT approval.
According to the RFI, the USMC Corpsman Assault System includes the following:
Qty Item
(1) Corpsman Assault Pack (22″ x 14″ x 4″) similar to the USMC Assault Pack
(18) Medical Inserts of varying dimensions to be mounted inside of the Corpsman Assault Pack
(1) Sustainment bag (20″ x 14″ x 4″)
(1) Trauma pouch similar to USMC combat trauma bag, NSN 8465-01-571-5231
(1) Thigh rig similar to the Advanced Life Support (ALS) leg kit, NSN 6515-01-531-6535
Like the new Marine Corps Pack System (originally called FILBE), it looks to be a Government owned design. They aren’t looking for industry’s good ideas. They’ve already seen those at trade shows and site visits. Instead, they’re looking for companies to tell them how they’ll build them and for how much.
Bravo to the Marines for updating the Corpsman pack. However, RFIs like this don’t make much sense, at least for their intended purpose. They’re still building Marine Corps Pack System and know what is out there manufacturing-wise and what it costs. All it serves to do is to cost a company money to answer the RFI. And, the RFI even admits:
“THE SUBMISSION OF THIS INFORMATION IS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PROCURE ANY ITEMS/SERVICES, NOR FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR THE INFORMATION RECEIVED. NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENT EXISTS.”
Rather, look at this as a warning order that something is coming down the pipe. Interested companies have until 1 December. Good luck!