Strike Industries has officially been recognized as a GSA contractor for Federal, State, and Local agencies. Their CAGE Code, DUNS Number, Federal Tax I.D. and other information are available upon request. If you’re a procurement officer that requires a quote for large quantity orders, you can send an RFQ via email to sales2@strikeindustries.com or call 1-714-557-9831.
Further details can be found here: strikeindustries.com/shop/index.php/gsa
Today, I’m on assignment in Ohio at the ArmorSource factory. I’ve been here once before and I’ve got to tell you, it’s one of the cleanest factories I’ve ever seen. You can really feel the pride in what they do. And today, they’ve definitely got something to crow about. ArmorSource has literally just announced a major contract award from the Army. On hand is Sen Rob Portman (R-OH).
The LW ACH is in the center, surrounded by other ArmorSource helmets including boltless models and the Kryptek dipped rifle helmet.
There is a lot of win today. With this contract, the Army is capitalizing on the work accomplished on the Enhanced Combat Helmet by purchasing a lightweight version of the ACH. The standard ACH size Large has a max weight of 3.31 lbs. the new Lightweight version has a max weight of 3.05 lbs but ArmorSource’s version is coming in below that. That’s going to be great since we continue to mount equipment on the Soldier’s head. The LW ACH is not only lighter than the existing ACH, it also continues to provide the same level of protection. Additionally, ArmorSource is hiring 250 people to make these helmets for our troops. Improved protection for our men and women in uniform and American jobs. What could be better?
ArmorSource, LLC (ArmorSource) today announced its award for the first delivery order of the Lightweight, Advanced Combat Helmet (LW ACH). The award is a two-year, $92,681,250 fixed price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. The award marks a significant step in the Army’s efforts to lighten the soldier’s load, as this award will provide soldiers with the Army’s lightest helmet yet.
Ballistic Lab Manager John Stenson briefs Sen Portman on ArmorSource’s in-house testing capabilities.
The LW ACH, or AS-505, is the latest result of cooperation between industry and the Department of Defense (DoD) to best serve the men and women of our Armed Forces. By reducing the weight of the current Advanced Combat Helmet by four ounces, the LW ACH provides superior protection while alleviating the extreme weight burden soldiers must sustain on their head and neck. This critical piece of equipment will both better serve our men and women in uniform, and improve their operational readiness.
“We are extremely pleased to have been awarded this LW ACH order,” said Yoav Kapah, CEO, ArmorSource. “This helmet is a significant step forward for our soldiers. It provides improved ballistic head protection while reducing the overall soldier load. We take great pride in supporting our troops, and we’re honored that ArmorSource has been selected to partner with the DoD on this initiative.”
As the largest ballistic helmet manufacturer in the United States, ArmorSource’s state-of-the-art 120,000 square foot facility allows the Company an output capacity of over 500,000 helmets per year, and a strict on-time delivery history. To fulfill the LW ACH award on time, ArmorSource anticipates hiring up to 250 individuals in 2014.
Following a tour of the ArmorSource facility today, Senator Rob Portman, R-OH, said, “I couldn’t be more proud that helmets made by skilled, Ohio manufacturing will protect our men and women in uniform. I’m pleased that the Defense Department finally moved forward with this acquisition – our soldiers in the field need it. While we’ll see 250 new jobs here, our soldiers will be getting an advanced helmet that is lighter and keeps them protected on the battlefield.”
The initial LW ACH award will ship from ArmorSource to the Defense Logistics Agency for on-going sustainment of the U.S. Army starting in the third quarter of calendar year 2014.
As you know, US military uniforms must be Berry Compliant. This means that they have to be manufactured here in the US with US materials. It has long been difficult to maintain Berry compliance for materials to produce dress uniforms due to the relatively low numbers required. troops just don’t wear as many dress uniforms as they do field uniforms. So, it’s great to see companies like Burlington sticking with it to ensure that our men and women are clothed in quality, American apparel.
Burlington Industries LLC, a division of International Textile Group (ITG), announced today it has been awarded two contracts totaling a maximum of $160M by the Defense Logistics Agency to supply wool blend fabrics for use in the newly updated Army dress uniforms. These fabrics will be produced at the company’s facilities in Raeford and Cordova, North Carolina.
Burlington has been an integral part of the defense supply chain for more than 50 years, serving as a domestic resource for new fabric development and known for delivering quality products with consistent shade characteristics. “The award of these contracts demonstrates the strategic value that Burlington provides to the U.S. Military as the dominant supplier of worsted wool dress uniform fabrics for all branches of the military,” said Jeff Peck, President Burlington.
These awards follow four contracts previously awarded to Burlington this past April. These contracts, awarded over a five-year period, include a contract for khaki polyester/wool tropical shirt fabric for theU.S. Marine Corps with a maximum value of $21 million; a contract for green gabardine sponged fabric for jackets and pants for the U.S. Marine Corps with a maximum value of $28.5 million; a contract for khaki polyester/wool tropical shirt fabric for the U.S. Navy with a maximum value of $18 million; and a contract for gabardine sponged blue fabric for the U.S. Navy with a maximum value of $3.5 million.
Burlington’s Raeford operation is known for its superior consistency and repeatability of yarn color used to produce dress uniform fabrics. The wool top is dyed and spun into yarn and is shipped to the company’s Richmond plant in Cordova, NC where it is woven into fabric. The worsted wool and wool blend fabrics are returned to Raeford where they are finished and shipped to specified cutters to make the final uniform. The fabrics are engineered to provide the soldier with advanced durability and wrinkle-resistance. Skilled workers, many with more than 20 years experience, carefully tend to the yarn and fabric at each process. “It’s a matter of our employees’ taking pride in our products and the dedication they bring to building the fabrics for those who serve our country,” said Peck.
Tactical Tailor has joined forces with INFORCE in order to add their products to the TT GSA contract.
Above we see GW, Mike, Lindsey and Matt at SOG EXPO in El Paso, TX last week.
If the recent testimony by Ms. Lynne M. Halbrooks, Principal Deputy Inspector General, Department of Defense Inspector General before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform discussing issues with the US Army’s Individual Carbine program wasn’t enough to make you question the future of that program, the Army has released or updated several solicitation actions within the last week regarding the M4 Carbine Product Improvement Program including work on an improved bolt, heavy replacement barrel and Fire Control Selector Assembly.
The Dual Path strategy hedges the Army’s bets on a new rifle by improving the carbines they’ve already invested in while simultaneously searching for a replacement.
Recent FBO postings include:
M4 Product Improvement Program (PIP)-Bolt
M4 Replacement Barrel and Front Sight Assembly ( Heavy Variant )
M4 Carbine Product Improvement Program (PIP) Fire Control Selector Assembly
Earlier today, in a statement by Ms. Lynne M. Halbrooks, Principal Deputy Inspector General, Department of Defense Inspector General before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform entitled, “Opportunities to Reduce Waste and Improve Efficiency at the Department of Defense and Other Federal Agencies,” she made a rather interesting comment about the US Army’s proposed replacement for the M4/M16 family.
In another example, we are auditing the Army’s acquisition of the individual carbine program, which is an acquisition the Department may want to re-evaluate. We expect to report concerns that DoD may not have an established need for this weapon nor developed performance requirements for the $1.8 billion acquisition. Currently, the Army is modifying its existing M4 rifle and, at the same time, seeking to develop a new rifle. However, key performance parameters such as accuracy, reliability, and lethality have not been established. In addition, it is unclear what additional capability this new rifle will have over the modified M4. Further, the Army is seeking to acquire more rifles during a time when their total force structure will be reduced. We expect to issue our draft report within the next two months that will further elaborate on these concerns and provide recommendations for the Department to increase efficiencies.
Considering the Army’s dual path strategy that is alluded to in the statement which concurrently improves the performance of existing M4A1 carbines while simultaneously working to acquire an entirely new weapon, it is no wonder that DoD is reconsidering the replacement half of the equation. Industry analysts have long questioned the notion that a new weapon would offer a dramatic increase in performance without first undertaking a caliber and associated ammunition change. The IC program does not adequately do this. And then there’s Sequestration…
As last as last month, during the Military Mountain and Cold Weather Work Shop, snow camouflage was discussed and there was no formal requirement for it. So I found it most interesting that Natick’s Program Manager-Special Operations Forces Survival, Support & Equipment Systems (PM-SOF SSES) initially released a Sources Sought Notice for Winter/Snow Camouflage on 14 March and then just today released an additional Sources Sought Notice for Over Whites. Both were issued on FedBizOpps and they are looking for at this point are samples. Perhaps, from this an actual RFP will be developed and released.
It is important to note that this is for USSOCOM only and that the current US Army Camouflage Improvement Effort did not identify a requirement for Winter/Snow Camouflage. The US Marine Corps fields a pattern that was developed by HyperStealth but access to this pattern by other military organizations has been difficult.
For the Camo Pattern of which there are now a multitude of commercially derived examples, they are “…seeking winter/snow camouflage patterns for possible use on over white garments. The camouflage pattern should be designed to provide concealment in alpine to sub-alpine environments, where snow, ice and rocks are the primary environmental features.
Camouflage patterns submitted to this sources sought solicitation must be beyond the development phase, and be printable on lightweight synthetic materials.
Interested parties are asked to submit three yards of material, preferably a lightweight synthetic material, with the camouflage pattern printed on it for evaluation by PM-SOF SSES by 2 April 2013.” As you can see, not a lot of direction. It’s really more of a “hey, show us what you got.”
The Over White RFI on the other hand is a little more detailed.
“Parka
* Anorak style jacket large enough to fit over PCU Level 7/ high-loft jacket
* Half zip in the front center
* Large zippered pocket on the bottom front starting just below half zip, large enough to fit mittens
* Pass through pockets to access items in interior garment pockets or on body armor vest/load carriage
* Hood with drawstring which fits over helmet and PCU Level 7 hood
* Drawstring around the waist
* Coverage to approximately 4 inches below waistline when high-loft jacket is worn
Pants
* Full side zippers
* Two-way zippers
* Front button closure
* Two interior horizontal suspender attachment points
* Waistband with drawstring closure
* Mechanism at the end of each leg which will keep pants from riding up, i.e. hook or elastic band to attach to boots
The key physical performance characteristics that the material will be evaluated for are weight, compressibility and water resistance. Wind resistance and breathability are desired, but are secondary to the aforementioned key performance characteristics. The total cost of the parka is not to exceed $75, and the cost of the pants is not to exceed $50.
Companies are asked to submit one sample of the over white parka and pants in order to demonstrate the design, and can submit up to three different materials for evaluation. For each material submitted please include 2 yards of the material to be utilized for physical performance testing, as well as a report showing any test results already obtained for the material by 12 April 2013.”
As this thing was originally discussed at the Military Mountain and Cold Weather Work Shop so I’m happy to see that something came out of it.
After determining that the juice isn’t worth the squeeze, LaRue Tactical has decided to opt out of the US Army’s US Army’s Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System (CSASS) program which, as currently structured could resu in a replacement for the current M110 gas operated sniper rifle.
LaRue’s Thoughts on the M110 Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System (CSASS).
It’s no secret that LaRue Tactical is one of the contenders for the US Army’s Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System (CSASS). The CSASS solicitation is exploring the options for reconfiguring the existing M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System (SASS) currently available in Army inventory, or completely replacing the M110 with a new system.
At the recent SHOT Show, aisle-talk centered on impending and drastic military cuts. Rumors were flying, from aircraft carriers missing important scheduled maintenance, to drastically-reduced training flights, to warships stacking up in Pacific harbors …
Given the tsunami of cutbacks our military organizations are crashing head-on into, we feel the substantial costs required for LaRue Tactical to pursue the upcoming CSASS / M110-Upgrade would simply be a waste of resources.
While we believe that America’s Warfighters should always have the best, and that we are large enough to handle the project, our consensus is that the program will not gain full traction. We feel our money is better spent invested in people, processes, manufacturing infrastructure, and continued improvements to our product lines.
Henceforth, we are officially opting-out of the CSASS / M110-Upgrade solicitation.
However, let it be known that our doors are always open for OTS/OTC purchases … like recent customers: FBI-HRT, DEA, U.S. Marshals, DoE, Texas Rangers, just to name a few …
v/r,
Mark LaRue – President
LaRue Tactical
www.larue.com
