“MOVE NOT UNLESS YOU SEE AN ADVANTAGE; USE NOT YOUR TROOPS UNLESS THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE GAINED; FIGHT NOT UNLESS THE POSITION IS CRITICAL. IF IT IS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE, MAKE A FORWARD MOVE; IF NOT,STAY WHERE YOU ARE. SITUATION DICTATES FORCE NEEDED TO OVERCOME YOUR ENEMY.”
-Sun Tzu
30 days until SHOT…more to follow…..
Still no down select announcement for the Camouflage Improvement Effort from the Army and they won’t answer, let alone acknowledge, our emails.
Perhaps it will be tomorrow.
The statement was released yesterday by Australia’s Roggenwolf.
You might recall that Roggenwolf Tiwazâ„¢ was developed specifically as a possible answer the U.S. Army’s identified need for a family of camouflage patterns. Unfortunately, we have been advised that Tiwazâ„¢ has been eliminated from the final down-select, and will no longer be a participant in the U.S. Army camouflage improvement effort.
We know that this news will be just as disappointing to our supporters as it was to us. However, it must be said that we actually achieved more than we thought was possible, back in June; and that those achievements are largely due to the support and encouragement of our enterprise partners, Bradford Printing & Finishing, and Premier Defence Agencies.
In spite of this set-back, Roggenwolf continues to pursue other opportunities in North America, Europe, and the Asia–Pacific region. As always, our design philosophy is built upon the belief that an effective camouflage uniform not only conceals its wearer in country, but reinforces its wearer’s sense of identity.
This statement was received this morning from Digital Concealment Systems
In advance of the US Army Camouflage Improvement effort down select due to take place on December 15th, we wish to inform our loyal supporters and partners that we will not be a part of the final down select. As the process moves forward we wish all of the finalists the best.
With regards to our pattern family submission, we set out to do something radically different from the accepted norm, based on our A-TACS concept, but wholly unique. The pattern submission was designed and specifically suited to meet the requirements set forth in the initial RFP. However, our patterns use more color and use it in a different way than most patterns, making them a challenge to evaluate using the pre-existing and outdated methodology for evaluation outlined in the RFP–the same methodology that produced the current UCP pattern. Often times, it is easier to take the path of least resistance than to raise the bar and develop new standards. After all, the end result is to offer the best possible concealment to our service men and women.
Now with the introduction of our new A-TACS FG Camo platform, Digital Concealment Systems will coninue to focus on it’s core mission. To provide new technology and the very best concealment options to Special Operations, Law Enforcement and Tactical Professionals worldwide. It is our firm belief that those individuals who lay their lives on the line each and every day in service, deserve nothing less.
The letters have been sent…winners and losers, as well as an odd third category that we’ll cover, have been informed of their status and are quickly formulating plans of action.
We look forward to the Army (hopefully) making a formal announcement soon to disclose the finalists and their patterns.
We also fully expect to see a lot of new camouflage patterns hitting the market. Remember, just because a pattern wasn’t selected as a finalist doesn’t mean it isn’t viable. There were only so many spots available and the Army’s selections were based on their requirements. While we want to see the US Army choose the best family of patterns for their needs, we’ll report what we observe as the market judges the rest.
Earlier this year, Marine Corps Special Operations Command purchased Fire Resistant Operational Gear uniforms in the old Woodland camouflage pattern under a sole source contract from Crye Precision. Interestingly, the old Woodland pattern was specified so that MARSOC personnel would blend in with their Afghan (ANA Commandos) counterparts.
Unfortunately, MARSOC asked for the uniforms in an older variant of the FR Defender-M fabric. A little over a year ago, the Marine Corps had adopted an improved version of TenCate’s Defender-M fabric for their FROG ensembles that is more abrasion resistant and the US Army followed suit soon after. We’re still unsure why MARSOC didn’t specify the newer Defender-M from jump street but by late summer KitUp! had broken the story that the special versions of FROG were falling apart. Around the same time, a similar fate befell Australian MultiCam uniforms called Operational Combat Uniforms which also relied on the older fabric.
Since then, both MARSOC and the Australians have purchased new uniforms in the latest, more robust 6.5 oz version of Defender-M which boasts twice the tear strength of the previous variant.
PEO Soldier, through its Soldier Maneuver Sensors Office, has announced B.E. Meyers as the winner of the Green Laser Interdiction System (GLIS) Program. This latest award calls for an initial delivery of 12,542 units of the new GLARE® MOUT Plus non-lethal laser, and provides for additional orders in 2012 and 2013.
“This win is the culmination of two years of effort to develop and deliver the best non-lethal laser device to the U.S. Army†said Brad Meyers, CEO of B.E. Meyers. “Military units across the globe are challenged to provide security and safety while also minimizing the danger to civilians. Non-lethal lasers have been proven to save lives by reducing the number and severity of incidents with non-combatants, and are a great addition to these young soldier’s capabilities.â€
ADS, Inc is the procurement solutions provider for this program, and will service the requirements of PEO Soldier via the Special Operational Equipment Tailored Logistics Support (TLS) Program. ADS and B.E. Meyers have a long history together serving our nation’s men and women in uniform, having provided thousands of GLARE® MOUT devices to the U.S. military since 2007. Today, this partnership continues to grow as B.E. Meyers and ADS work together to provide industry-leading solutions in the non-lethal space. “ADS is the right partner to work with to get our GLARE MOUT Plus devices deployed. They have a great team, legendary customer focus, and a global reach. Together we will deliver success to PEO Soldier and the U.S. Army.†said B.E. Meyers President and COO, Dr. Greg Quarles.
You may have heard a whisper here, or a rumor there that Special Operations Technologies and their owner Jim Cragg had been debarred from federal contracting. Well, the truth of the matter is that they were on GSA’s Excluded Parties List System which serves as a clearing house for debarred parties but they’re not there anymore.
They were placed on the list on 1 September of this year in a proposed status and removed just over two months later after it was determined by the Army’s Suspension and Debarment Official that they should not be debarred. SOTech’s owner was a federal witnesses against Joseph Marak and somehow was inadvertently placed on the debarment lost along with Marak and the prosecution’s other main witness Skedco. Both Marak and Skedco thus far remain on the list, although, it’s highly unlikely Marak will be removed based on his fraud conviction.
After speaking with the Army’s SDO, we found out it’s not that hard to be placed on the list. It seems, if somebody accuses you of wrongdoing, or just makes a clerical error, the Government places you on the same list as those that have been debarred for cause. You sit in a proposed status during the investigation. Not only are you in the same database as those who are debarred for cause, you can’t compete for Government contracts until they take you off the list. Doesn’t matter how innocent you are, you look guilty. Until the investigation is complete, you look like a crook.
Fortunately for SOTech they only sat in limbo for two months. Now, they are back in the mix.
Look for an article next week where we take a look at how this happened and how the system is flawed to the point that a company must pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees in order to stay in business and clear their name.
In the meantime, check out the Excluded Parties List System for yourself. www.epls.gov
