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US Army Intends To Award Sole Source Contracts To 10 Companies For Sub Compact Weapons

Saturday, June 9th, 2018

Last month, Project Manager (PM)- Soldier Weapons (SW) queried industry about commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) Sub Compact Weapons (SCW). The SCW is a highly concealable sub compact weapon system capable of engaging threat personnel with a high volume of lethal and accurate fires at close range with minimal collateral damage. An SCW includes but is not limited to functional weapon, magazines, cleaning kits, suppressors, specialized tool kit (if required), spare parts, slings, carrying cases, manuals.

Based on what they learned, the U.S. Army Contracting Command – New Jersey (ACC-NJ), on behalf of Project Manager (PM)- Soldier Weapons (SW), intends to make the following Firm Fixed Price contract awards, on sole source basis, to the following:

Award Number: W15QKN-18-P-0034
Awardee: Colt’s Manufacturing Company LLC for CM9MM-9H-M5A, Colt Modular 9mm Sub Compact Weapon
Amount: $22,000.00

Award Number: W15QKN-18-P-0037
Awardee: Beretta USA Corporation for Beretta PMX Sub Compact Weapon
Amount: $16,000.00

Award Number: W15QKN-18-P-0038
Awardee: CMMG, Inc. for CMMG Ultra PDW Sub Compact Weapon
Amount: $8,500.00

Award Number: W15QKN-18-P-0039
Awardee: CZ-USA for CZ Scorpion EVO 3 A1 Submachinegun
Amount: $14,490.00

Award Number: W15QKN-18-P-0040
Awardee: Lewis Machine & Tool Company for MARS-L9 Compact Suppressed Weapon
Amount: $21,900.00

Award Number: W15QKN-18-P-0041
Awardee: PTR Industries, Inc. for PTR 9CS Sub Compact Weapon
Amount: $12,060.00

Award Number: W15QKN-18-P-0042
Awardee: Quarter Circle 10 LLC 5.5 CLT and 5.5 QV5 Sub Compact Weapon
Amount: $24,070.00

Award Number: W15QKN-18-P-0043
Awardee: SIG SAUER, Inc. for SIG SAUER MPX Sub Compact Weapon
Amount: $20,160.00

Award Number: W15QKN-18-P-0044
Awardee: Trident Rifles, LLC for B&T MP9 Machine Guns
Amount: $36,000.00

Award Number: W15QKN-18-P-0045
Awardee: Zenith Firearms for Z-5RS, Z-5P and Z-5K Sub Compact Weapons
Amount: $39,060.00

These weapons will be evaluated to help inform current capabilities for the Capability Production Document for the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence. Currently, Personal Security Detail (PSD) military personnel utilize pistols and rifles, however, there is an operational need for additional concealability and lethality. Failure to provide the selected SCW for assessment and evaluation will leave PSD military personnel with a capability gap which can result in increased war fighter casualties and jeopardize the success of the U.S. mission.

Posted in Contracts, PEO-Soldier, weapons | 55 Comments »

Barrett Communications completes contract for VHF modernisation program

Saturday, June 9th, 2018

Perth, Western Australia, June 11, 2018 – Barrett Communications have recently completed a contract worth AUD$7 million for tactical VHF equipment to an unnamed Middle Eastern military force. The new client has deployed the equipment as part of a planned modernisation of their existing military VHF systems.

The contract incorporated the full range of Barrett PRC-2080+ VHF equipment. The PRC-2080+ systems are designed for multi-role tactical military applications. This contract included the hand portable, manpack, mobile, base station and re-broadcast configuration. The Barrett PRC-2080+ system will provide secure voice and data communications over line of sight range.

Training was recently undertaken in country ready for full deployment within the coming months.

www.barrettcommunications.com.au

Tags: Barrett Communications
Posted in Comms, Contracts, International, Press Release | Comments Off on Barrett Communications completes contract for VHF modernisation program

US Army Seeks Novel Materials/Components/Designs for an Improved Hot Weather Army Combat Boot

Tuesday, June 5th, 2018

Although the US Army has made great strides in working with industry to offer a new Jungle Boot, they aren’t resting on their laurels. In fact, they’re already looking to improve the design. In late May, the the Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center released a request for information to industry for Novel Materials/Components/Designs for an Improved Hot Weather Army Combat Boot.

The primary goal of this RFI is to identify footwear vendors capable of manufacturing prototypes. Responses are also requested from footwear component manufacturers whose product may provide one or more of their requested capabilities. Interest is specifically in responses defining component materials, constructions, and/or footwear designs that are optimized for use in a hot weather environment (where temperatures range from 50 to 120°F), with a special interest in materials/designs that reduce footwear weight and increasing comfort.

The linked pdf describes the types of prototypes they are seeking.

Interested parties should visit www.fbo.gov.

Posted in Boots, Contracts, Materials | 3 Comments »

USMC Awards Sole Source Contracts For Cold Weather Boots And Socks

Saturday, June 2nd, 2018

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. —

Marines will stay warm during ambient cold weather operations with new boots and socks.

Marine Corps Systems Command intends to award sole source purchase orders for two types of Intense Cold Weather Boots and Intense Cold Weather Socks to improve Marines’ performance in cold weather environments. A total of 2,000 boots and 50,000 pairs of socks will be delivered from four vendors by Sept. 28.

“Based on market research, industry days and events such as Modern Day Marine, we narrowed our decision for the orders down to two companies for cold weather boots and two for socks,” said Todd Towles, program analyst for the Clothing and Equipment Team at MCSC.

There are currently no Marine Corps issue boots designed for use in the -20 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit range. The Temperate Weather Marine Corps Combat Boot was designed for a temperature range between 20 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and the Extreme Cold Weather Vapor Barrier Boot was designed for a range between -65 to -20 degrees Fahrenheit.

U.S. Marines and Sailors clean up trash before leaving their campsite at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, Calif. Marine Corps Systems Command intends to award sole source purchase orders for two types of Intense Cold Weather Boots and Intense Cold Weather Socks to improve Marines’ performance in cold weather environments. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. James Treviño)

This effort to acquire the cold weather boots and socks will help MCSC evaluate commercial off-the-shelf solutions and offer the potential to reduce or eliminate the current environmental protection gap, said Towles. The socks will have much higher wool content than the polypropylene wool socks Marines currently use. Additionally, the Clothing and Equipment Team is hopeful the new gear will offer increased water repellency, comfort and insulation in extreme cold weather environments.

MCSC’s Program Manager Infantry Combat Equipment will conduct a field user evaluation December 2018 through March 2019. The team will gather input from Marines as they wear the ICWB and ICWS prototypes at the Mountain Warfare Training Center, Fort McCoy and Norway.

Feedback regarding fit, form and function will be collected along with how well both prototypes of the ICWB and ICWS perform in sub-zero temperatures.

“The Army is conducting evaluations with similar boots and socks, so there is potential to have some consistency with our results and products,” said Lt. Col. Chris Madeline, program manager for ICE. “Marines will keep the prototype boots through the duration of testing. Once data is collected, it will inform future acquisition decisions and allow the Corps to purchase boots and socks that bridge the gap between the existing cold weather boots.”

The Clothing and Equipment Team falls under Program Manager Infantry Combat Equipment at MCSC.

By Kaitlin Kelly, MCSC Office of Public Affairs and Communication | Marine Corps Systems Command

Editor’s Note: The Intense Cold Weather Sock Contract was awarded to FITS Technologies and Ellsworth & Co. The Intense Cold Weather Boots will come from Belleville Boot Co and Dannebrog Boot Co.

Posted in Boots, Clothing, Contracts, Guest Post, MARCORSYSCOM, Mountaineering | 2 Comments »

US Army Seeks Manufacturer For 338 NM AP & 300 NM Ball Ammo

Friday, June 1st, 2018

Oh ye, of little faith. I know some of you still don’t believe that the US military is adopting 338 Norma Magnum and 300 NM for the Advanced Sniper Rifle System. But it’s true. In addition to US Special Operations Command, both the Army and Marine Corps are also in.

Consequently, the US Army Contracting Command – Picatinny Arsenal, NJ on behalf of the Project Manager, Soldier Weapons (PM-SW) has issued a sources sought notice for the manufacture and delivery of the following cartridges for precision sniper applications:

• .338 Norma Magnum (NM), XM1162, Armor Piercing (AP) Ammunition (DODIC: AC32)
• .300 Norma Magnum (NM), XM1163, Ball Ammunition. (DODIC: AC33)

The 338 NM AP and 300 NM will be produced to Government provided detailed specifications and accepted in Government specified test barrels.

The Government contemplates an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for Fiscal Years (FY) 20-25 for this acquisition (five years from date of award). The estimated quantity to be procured for each fiscal year is up to 2M for .300 NM and up to 1.2M for .338 NM AP at a production rate of 150,000 per month per cartridge type. Award is planned to be made in 1QFY20.

All responsible and interested sources should submit their capabilities to produce .338 NM AP and .300 NM like cartridge configurations. The respondent must demonstrate and provide valid documentation that they have the ability to produce a minimum of 1M of each cartridge type, annually. If a source is not capable or interested in producing both cartridges, the respondent should state which cartridges they are capable of producing.

Once a determination has been made by the Government as to the capabilities of the interested sources, the Government will release the required performance requirements and/or the detailed specifications.

Visit www.fbo.gov if interested.

Posted in Ammo, Contracts, SOF | Comments Off on US Army Seeks Manufacturer For 338 NM AP & 300 NM Ball Ammo

US Army Purchases 20 MRZR X Vehicles for Soldier Trials

Friday, May 18th, 2018

MINNEAPOLIS and ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (May 17, 2018) — Team Polaris® and its advanced M RZR® X multi-mode vehicle platform have been selected by the U.S. Army to be one of the robotic systems used by infantry brigade combat teams for the next year of trials as part of the Squad Multipurpose Equipment Transport (SMET) program.

“The optionally-manned MRZR X helps ease the transition from manned vehicles to unmanned because it maintains the functionality, drivability and multi-mission capability of a traditional MRZR,” said Patrick Zech, program manager, Polaris Government and Defense. “Providing the Army with the option for high speed operations or missions with a soldier driving behind a traditional steering wheel is an important part of our offering.”

As military forces worldwide look to lighten the warfighter’s load now and smartly network vehicles in the multi-domain battlefield in the coming years, the MRZR X provides an evolving, robotics capable, multi-mission platform. In addition, the MRZR X provides worldwide commonality with the MRZRs already in service in the U.S. and more than 30 allied nations.

“In addition to meeting or exceeding all of the current robotics requirements, we’ve designed a layered, modular, open architecture, integrating sensors and software that will make it easier for the Army to securely upgrade technology in the vehicles,” Matthew Fordham, group lead and associate division manager for Unmanned Systems and Security Products, Applied Research Associates Inc (ARA).

The MRZR X provides warfighters with a modular, multi-mission support platform and that has multiple modes of operation that span a broad spectrum from traditional operator driving, to multiple levels of autonomy, including the capability for remote control, teleoperation, follow-me, leader-follower and full autonomy. This allows the MRZR X to enhance and evolve mobility in varying roles including service as a robotic equipment mule, autonomous resupply vehicle, warfighter-driven squad carrier, logistics support vehicle, rescue mission enabler and high-speed casualty evacuation capability. In the future, the connectivity of the MRZR X will provide the ability to act as a networked node in the multi-domain battlespace.

ARA has been producing Modular Robotic Applique Kits (M-RAKs) for more than 20 years, with a specialty in off-road robotics, further enhanced by the acquisition of Neya Systems. The advanced MRZR X fully integrates the autonomy systems and optimally places the sensors to safeguard the technology while keeping the physical and software architecture open so it can spiral in future technology. The vehicle drivetrain is powerful and reliable, allowing for longer missions, high speeds and silent drive when needed – all on the very familiar, sustainable and intuitive MRZR platform.

Polaris Industries Inc., Applied Research Associates Inc. (ARA) and Neya Systems LLC formally teamed in 2017. The Team Polaris M RZR® X evolves squad mobility with advanced unmanned systems technology from ARA and the pioneering and unsurpassed autonomous systems behavior of Neya Systems. Team Polaris has many pursuits – together and individually – with U.S. services, allied militaries and commercial programs.

Team Polaris | Evolving Squad Mobility | Polaris.com/MRZRX

Tags: Polaris
Posted in Contracts, Mobility | Comments Off on US Army Purchases 20 MRZR X Vehicles for Soldier Trials

US Army Raises Ceiling on Colt M4 Contract for Foreign Military Sales

Monday, May 14th, 2018

Last week, Army Contracting Command Warren (ACC-WRN) issued a notice they were planning to modify a contract with Colt’s Manufacturing Company, LLC per FAR 6.302-1 that will result in an increase in the maximum contract quantity under the Firm Fixed Price, Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract W56HZV-15-D-0038 for the following items in support of Foreign Military Sales:

NSN: 1005-01-231-0973
Noun: M4 Carbine 5.56mm
PN: 9390000

NSN: 1005-01-382-0953
Noun: M4A1 Carbine 5.56mm
PN: 12972700

Specifically, the action will increase from the current number by 10,000 from 55,500 each to 65,500 each, of any combination of M4 and M4A1 Carbine Rifles.

Tags: Colt
Posted in Contracts, weapons | Comments Off on US Army Raises Ceiling on Colt M4 Contract for Foreign Military Sales

Updated – US Army Selects SIG Optic For Squad Designated Marksman Rifle

Thursday, May 10th, 2018

Earlier this year, the Army conducted a Limited User Evaluation of the Squad Designated Marksman Rifle. Based on the M110A1 Compact Semi Automatic Sniper System program, SDMR consists of a 7.62 NATO G28 rifle built by Heckler & Koch, equipped with an OSS Suppressor and Harris Bipod. The missing piece was the optic.

The Army’s Program Manager for Soldier Weapons invited industry, through the Tailored Logistics Support program, to submit 1-6x variable optics for the evaluation. They selected the SIG Optics TANGO6 1-6x Optic. It is a front focal optic and may recall that we previously covered this scope during Enforce Tac. Please note that this is not the mount which will be used on SDMR.

This optic was chosen specifically for the SDMR and as of now, the Directed Requirement is 6,069 systems. Funding is set for FY19.

The commercial TANGO6 optic was used by the Army Marksmanship Unit’s Daniel Horner during his win at this year’s USPSA Tactical Division. This marks his 10th win.

Update: We received this information from SIG SAUER.

“It’s truly an honor to be selected as the official optic for the Squad Designated Marksman Rifle, and it is very humbling to once again earn the trust of the US Army through this selection,” said Ron Cohen, President and CEO, SIG SAUER, Inc. “SIG SAUER is committed to providing the highest quality equipment for the military that surpasses expectations in durability, accuracy, and performance, so they have tools they can rely on for every mission requirement in the defense of freedom.”

The ruggedized SDMR TANGO6 1-6×24 riflescope features a Flat Dark Earth (FDE) anodized aircraft grade aluminum maintube, 762 Extended Range Bullet Drop Compensation (BDC) illuminated front focal plane reticle, an ultra-bright red horseshoe dot for fast daylight target acquisition, locking illumination dial, Power Selector Ring (PSR) Throw Lever, and a laser-marked scope level indicator for mount installation. The TANGO6 1-6X24 SDMR optic is a variant of SIG SAUER Electro-Optics commercially available TANGO6.

“SIG SAUER Electro-Optics fuses superior optical designs, advanced electronic technologies, and ruggedized mechanical systems tested to MIL-STD-810G at our R&D and assembly facility in Oregon, USA,” added Andy York, President SIG SAUER Electro-Optics. “We are firmly committed to supporting the US ARMY with this mission-specific riflescope that bridges the gap between close-quarters battle and mid-range tactical engagements.”

Tags: SIG Optics
Posted in Contracts, Optics | 34 Comments »