It’s been a long process in finding a new soft armor insert solution for SOCOM’s SPEAR BALCS program. Originally, SOCOM issued the Sources Sought Notice in December of 2010. Finally, on May 16th of this year a contract was awarded to Protective Products Enterprises, Inc with a ceiling of $49,000,000.
As we understand it, criteria for selection was weight, performance (stand alone as well as while in issue carriers) and finally cost/ value to the Government, in that order.
This award is only for the soft armor inserts and not for any carriers which are competed under different contracts.