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GMV 1.1 Requirement Update

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

We told you it was coming, and here it is. USASOC has released a combined sources sought announcement and industry day announcement for the Ground Mobility Vehicle (GMV) 1.1 requirement. To refresh your memory a little, check out the PEO SOF Warrior Briefing on Ground Mobility Systems. Basically, it’s a replacement for the current HMMWV-based GMV which finds its roots in the Desert Vehicle Mobility System (DMVS) developed by modifying HMMWVs and trailers by 5th Group’s B500 at Fort Bliss in the mid-1980s.

Offerors have been working on their vehicles for some time, with many saying that the long-time contender, the Flyer, remaining a favorite. We have already written about several vehicles and there are many more out there vying for a spot. Specifically, they are looking for:

“a Modified-Government off-the shelf (M-GOTS) vehicle with Special Operations Forces (SOF) peculiar modifications. This vehicle will be a highly mobile, CH-47 transportable platform with associated manuals, life cycle spare parts, mechanical/operator training, and a Government furnished C4ISR suite.”

Notice what is missing in that requirement; V22 compatibility.

Furthermore, the public notice explains USASOC’s proposed acquisition strategy and invites industry comment.

“a two phase approach wherein Phase I would include written proposal and certified test data provided at contractor’s expense, with an award of up to two contracts for further Test and Evaluation (T&E). Phase II would include Government purchases of approximately two prototypes for Engineering/Developmental Testing (DT)/Operational Testing (OT) from each vendor, with down select to single vendor and exercise of the production option.”

In order to gain access to specific info on the sources sought and industry day, potential offerors will be required to be registered with Central Contractor Registration (CCR) under NAICS code 336992. The sources sought closes at Sep 13, 2011 11:59 pm Eastern.

Posted in Contracts, Mobility | Comments Off on GMV 1.1 Requirement Update

Revision Wins German Eyepro Contract

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

Canada-based Revision Military has just captured a sole-source, multi-service contract to supply the German military with over 256,000 sets of a modified version of the Sawfly Military Eyewear System through 2013. The competition included a rigorous bid process and extensive in-service user trials including in-theater use in Afghanistan.

According to a press release from Revision Military:

“To have been selected as the standard issue brand following one of most rigorous bidding processes we’ve seen to date, is a testament to the people, processes and technologies that we employ to advance the science and performance of this vital piece of soldier equipment. We are proud to be the German military’s protective eyewear supplier of choice,” said Alex Hooper, Vice President, International Sales.

Revision developed a new lens shape and two specialty lens tints for this contract. One is for a specific-wavelength laser and the second for high altitude mountain operations. The 256,000 kits are available in three sizes – small, medium and large, will include clear, solar and vermillion lenses. Additional quantities of laser protective lenses and Prescription (Rx) Carriers are also included in the contract award.

revisioneyewear.com/sawfly

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Posted in Contracts, Eyepro | 5 Comments »

Commercial Army Combat Pant

Thursday, August 11th, 2011

PEO Soldier has finally dispensed with the awkward “Flame Resistant Improved Army Combat Uniform Trouser” and finally called it what it is, an Army Combat Pant (ACP). What’s even better is that they are taking the next step from the pre-solicitation released in late June and have a released a full solicitation for a Commercial Army Combat Pant. This methodology leaves the details open to the vendor and gives general guidelines on the construction of the pants to the vendor. Proposals are due by 25 August 2011 at 3:00 PM EST so if you have a product to offer you’d better get your submission together.


This is a photo of a prototype.

It is going to make a great companion for the Army Combat Shirt and this is a big win for the Soldier.

Make the jump to read all of the details
(more…)

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Posted in ACS, ACU, Clothing, Contracts, FR, PEO-Soldier | 15 Comments »

Soldier Systems SBIRs

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

The Army’s latest round of Small Business Innovative Research topics includes several from Natick Soldier Systems Center and PEO Soldier.

Natick Soldier RD&E Center

A11-126 Energy Reducing, Ruggedized, Solar Lighting System

A11-127 First Generation of Controlled-Release Bacteriocins/Anti-Microbials

A11-128 Lightweight Material for Full-Scale Parachutes

A11-129 Methodologies and Algorithms for Ground Soldier Load and Route Selection Decision Applications

A11-130 High-Efficiency Energy-Harvesting Battery Charger/Storage Unit

PEO Soldier

A11-134 Nanostructured High Performance, High Angle of Incidence Anti-Reflection Coatings

A11-135 Thermally Responsive Fibers for Environmentally Adaptive Textiles

Officially, the SBIR program:

“The goal of the dual-use SBIR program is to tap into the innovativeness and creativity of the small business community to help meet government R&D objectives. At the same time, these small companies develop technologies, products, and services which they can then commercialize through sales in the private sector or back to the government.”

SBIRs are a great, low-cost way for the Army to rapidly investigate technology development in industry. Broken up into phases, success is awarded with funding for further development. Several years ago, SOCOM’s Modular Glove System was developed by Outdoor Research through a SBIR.

This year’s solicitation is in pre-release with the solicitation opening on 29 August, 2011 and closing 28 September, 2011. Visit www.acq.osd.mil/osbp/sbir/solicitations/sbir113/army113.htm for additional information as well as full submission instructions.

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Posted in Contracts, Materials, PEO-Soldier | Comments Off on Soldier Systems SBIRs

Revision to Develop Next Gen Helmet

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

Recently, Revision was awarded a three-year contract with the U.S. Army’s Natick Labs Soldier Systems Center worth $1,990,340 to develop a next generation helmet. Although you probably consider Revision just an eye pro company, they have been hard at work developing other protective products. For example, take the Eye Shield and Maxillo Facial Protection they showed at the 2009 AUSA conference.

According to a press release from the office of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), “The new helmet will integrate both ballistic impact protection and blast protection from rotational forces that are believed to contribute to the relatively high number of brain injuries suffered by soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The helmet will have built-in communications systems, include enhanced chemical protection for the wearer, and will integrate a protection for the jaw and lower face.”

www.revisioneyewear.com

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Posted in Armor, Contracts | 15 Comments »

Breaking News – Nett Warrior Purchase Cancelled

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

Nett Warrior was the Army’s latest, in a long line of digitization efforts designed to increase the situational awareness of the Soldiers. But, earlier today we received reports that Nett Warrior, the culmination of over 20 years of development and testing, has been cancelled in favor of a Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) based handheld device combined with a Soldier radio. Numerous reports have recently mentioned experiments using the Android operating system on board the Joint Battle Command-Platform, developed by MITRE Corp. Apparently, they’ve paid off. Look for an RFQ on this piece soon.

This decision will come as a blow to three major defense contractors who have not traditionally participated in the Soldier Systems industry: Rockwell Collins, Raytheon, and General Dynamics. All three were contenders for the production version of Nett Warrior and all three invested a great deal of capital in preparing for this program. What’s just as bad are the countless small business vendors who had partnered with these companies who will have to make some tough decisions in the coming weeks.

One question comes to mind. Is this the first casualty of the new defense budget environment or a preemptive move by new PEO Soldier BG Camille M. Nichols to cut some chaff and protect the rest of her portfolio of programs from the budget axe?

While it’s not really all that surprising from an operational standpoint that Nett Warrior was cancelled, there has been a great deal of Congressional interest in the concept as it has transitioned from one program to the next over the past 20 years beginning with Land Warrior. You can go back a few more if you include SIPE (Soldier Integrated Protective Ensemble). It will be interesting to see if Congress once again breathes life into this program considering the number of jobs it represents.

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Posted in Contracts, Digitization, PEO-Soldier | 9 Comments »

Army Camouflage Improvement Effort Looks To Be On Track

Tuesday, July 12th, 2011

Yesterday, the Army released a pre-solicitation called simply, “Camouflage Fabric.”

The contents are simple. Notice, the “pattern will be provided” provision. This and the three different patterns on NY/CO with a fourth on 500D Cordura indicate that the pattern down-select is moving right along and the Army is preparing for the next testing phase.

LI 001, 1000 yds of camouflage pattern A (TBD)printed on 50/50 nylon/cotton fabric that meets visual and Infrared. Pattern will be provided., 1000, YD;
LI 002, 1000 yds of camouflage pattern B (TBD)printed on 50/50 nylon/cotton fabric that meets visual and Infrared. Pattern will be provided., 1000, YD;
LI 003, 1000 yds of camouflage pattern C (TBD)printed on 50/50 nylon/cotton fabric that meets visual and Infrared. Pattern will be provided., 1000, YD;
LI 004, 1000 yds of camouflage pattern D (TBD)printed on 500 Denier Nylon Cordura fabric that meets visual and Infrared. Pattern will be provided., 1000, YD;

Unfortunately, this is a “Reverse Auction.” Great for known commodities, not so great for new developments. Printing new camo patterns is in the realm of new developments. No one has probably printed these patterns before and it will take some time to get them to render properly. It becomes even more difficult when there is more than one substrate. Different fabrics absorb inks differently. I foresee a lot of developmental work to get these patterns right, so that they will get a fair shake during the testing phase. I hope no one loses their shorts on this one.

Posted in Camo, Contracts | 7 Comments »

The Individual Carbine RFP Is Out, But It’s Not Alone

Friday, July 1st, 2011

We wrote about the Individual Carbine RFP within 30 minutes of its release on Wednesday but nobody has said a thing on the web. Maybe it was too late in the day for folks to absorb or maybe its lack of performance details are hanging folks up but it’s on the street regardless.

From FedBizOpps.gov

“Amendment Notice 0011 [Combined Synopsis]

FedBizOpps notice Date: 2011-06-29

Description:

The U.S. Army Contracting Command (ACC) Picatinny Contracting Center, Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000, on behalf of the Program Manager for Soldier Weapons (PM-SW) Picatinny Arsenal, NJ is issuing the FINAL RFP.

All inquiries please contact: The U.S. Army Contracting Command (ACC) Picatinny Contracting Center, CCJM-MA, Bldg 45b, Mail Stop 10b, Attn: (KO), Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000”

PEO Soldier’s Dual Path Strategy makes matters even more interesting for potential bidders, there’s also a Solicitation for the M4 Product Improvement Program (PIP) – Forward Rail Assembly out there right now as well as the M4 Product Improvement Program (PIP) – Bolt Carrier Assembly. Since the search for a Bolt Carrier Group comes before the planned investigation of potential operating systems in the M4 Product Improvement Program (PIP), I’d have to say that there is no real interest in going to a piston design as the Army would have to yet again change Bolt Carriers to accommodate that operating system. The cart was definitely put before the horse on this one.

Finally, let’s not forget the purchase of up to 100,000 M4/M4A1 Carbine, 5.56mm going to open bid rather than straight to Colt.

If you’re in the small arms manufacturing business right now, you’re busier than a one legged man in an ass-kicking contest.

Posted in Contracts, weapons | 3 Comments »

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