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Defense Logistics Agency COTS Cold Weather Program

Monday, February 10th, 2020

Although the services are working to update cold weather clothing, the Defense Logistics Agency has let a Blanket Purchase Agreement for Commercial Off The Shelf Cold Weather Clothing as a stop-gap measure. Currently, Army and Marine Corps units can order up to $250k from each group of items per quarter.

Current BPA holders are ADS, Darley, Unifire, and Danner. The equipment is delivered direct to the customer and is not stocked by DLA. Current agreements will last until 4/17/2021, but Bi-lateral Agreement could extend them up to an additional 36 months.

The program includes seven categories: Balaclavas, Boots (Full Regular & Wide sizes), Gaiters, Gloves, Mittens, Trigger Finger Mittens, and Socks. The image above is from a DLA briefing slide so the individual commodities are a bit compressed.

Brands include Outdoor Research, Belleville, Danner, Rocky, and Darn Tough. They plan to add Wild Things in both FR and NON-FR for Special Operations Customers Only as well as Half Sizes for Boots and possibly Mountaineering Gear.

All commercial items are assigned an NSN by size. Vendors may introduce alternates but they must be approved and no requisition will be delayed in order to approve an item. Any alternate will be added to the NSN as an acceptable part number.

Units CAN NOT specifically order one brand. Unit must accept any “or equivalent item” approved under the BPA.

The program is already a success. FY19 (May 2019 – September 2019) obligations were $10M.

• Socks – 150,000 PR
• Balaclavas – 34,000 EA
• Gaiters – 27,000 PR
• Boots – 6,600 PR
• Gloves – 3,500 PR
• TF Mittens – 3,000 PR

Posted in Boots, Clothing, Contracts | 1 Comment »

CBP Seeks Service Handgun Electronic Aiming Device for New Glock Pistols

Friday, February 7th, 2020

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued an RFI to industry for a “Service Handgun Electronic Aiming Device”, a government euphemism for a Mini Red Dot Sight for their recently fielded G47 and G19 pistols manufactured by Glock. The slides are Modular Optic System (MOS) cut.

According to the RFI, any candidate optics will be subjected to a righteous battery of testing which cannot result in a shift of more than 2 MOA. Tests include 25,000 slide cycles with 9mm +P ammunition and horizontal forward and rearward (slide cycle direction) g-forces in excess of 7000G. Yes, 7000G.

Here are the general requirements called out in the RFI:

• MOUNTING
o Shall be capable of mounting directly and securely to GLOCK model G47 and G19 MOS-configured handguns.
? Shall be designed specifically to mount to MOS profile slide, and not allow for movement when properly mounted. (semi-permanent thread-lock substances, such as Loctite, may be used)
o Shall mount to the handgun slide MOS-cut directly, without the use of adaptor plates.
? Shall not rely exclusively on screws to prevent movement. Must not allow for font/back or left/right movement once placed in MOS cut-out when held by gravity alone.
o Must allow visibility of back-up iron sights (properly installed Ameriglo Agent night sights) through the lower portion of display in case of optic failure. Shall not require the use of backup iron sights (BUIS) taller than the CBP-issued Ameriglo Agent Night Sights.

• TARGET VISIBILITY
o Aiming device shall not distort or otherwise interfere with clear view of target
o Mounted aiming device shall allow for a clear “target focus”
o Glass or transparent viewing window, if applicable, shall be resistant to fogging, water adhesion, or other environmental interference

• RETICLE
o Reticle shape shall be a dot
o Preferred color for reticle is red or green
o Reticle brightness shall be adjustable. Adjustability shall range from visible under direct sunlight to reduced illumination during nighttime operations.
o Reticle shall be designed to encourage rapid sight acquisition and alignment with target
o Reticle or aiming point shall be crisp, clear, and visible while shooter’s focus is on target (i.e. allows for target focus shooting, with minimal parallax distortion)
o Reticle size shall allow for precision aiming at various engagement distances
? A 3-7 Minute of Angle (MOA) dot is preferred
o If projected, reticle emitter must be fully enclosed or protected to prevent reticle diminishment or disappearance as a result of sand, dust, mud, water, or debris.
? Must resist reticle interference in the following orientations: downward (as holstered), horizontal (as aimed at target), and laterally (held 90 degrees left or right while aimed at target)
o Reticle shall have a hertz (Hz) frequency which appears to the human eye as a solid illumination point, even if moved rapidly from target to target
? Shall not appear to the shooter to flicker or lag when moved rapidly from one target to another
o Reticle shall be capable of being “zeroed” while mounted on a G19 and G47 handgun, and shall be adjustable for point of aim / point of impact (POA/POI)
? Adjustments to POA/POI (windage and elevation) should require the use of a tool (i.e. slot screw driver or allen/torx wrench)
? Adjustments should require deliberate action to adjust (i.e. finger pressure on adjustment screws should not be sufficient to adjust)

• POWER SUPPLY
o Shall be electronically operated by a removable and replaceable power source which is readily available on the commercial market (i.e. battery)
o Power source must be accessible for replacement without removing the aiming device from the firearm
o Device must be capable of remaining “on” for a minimum of 6 months while set to a daylight visible brightness setting without power supply replacement or recharge
? No shift in POA/POI when battery is replaced
? Daylight visible can be defined as immediately visible to the average shooter under direct sunlight
o Solar power is acceptable but not required, and shall not be the sole source of power or power replenishment (i.e. must still have replaceable power source)
o Ability to recharge the power supply without removal (i.e. charging cable) is acceptable but not required, and shall not be the sole source of power replenishment (i.e. must still have replaceable power source)

• SIZE/WEIGHT
o Shall not be larger than necessary to provide a clear aiming view
? Forward most edge of viewing window must be at least 3/8” behind top of ejection port to reduce likelihood of obscuring by hot gas or debris
? Sides must not protrude more than 1/16th” on either side of the slide when mounted
? Height must not be greater than 1 1/4th” when mounted, measured from the top most flat portion of the slide, not including sights
o Weight shall not interfere with consistent and reliable cycle of operations on the handgun
o Window(s) or viewing area of device, if applicable, shall be of sufficient size to allow clear and rapid acquisition of reticle, without impeding clear view of target

Industry responses are required by than 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 26th, 2020. See beta.sams.gov for details. SAMS is the replacement for FBO. It is a trainwreck, so if the link doesn’t work, search for ‘aiming.’

Posted in Contracts, LE, Optics, Weapon Accessories | 15 Comments »

Rheinmetall to Supply the Bundeswehr with Another 1,000 Trucks – Order Worth Almost €400 Million

Monday, January 27th, 2020

At the end of December 2019, the German Bundeswehr ordered a thousand logistic vehicles from Rheinmetall worth €382 million, including valued added tax. The order is the third call-off from a framework contract signed in July 2017 encompassing over 2,200 state-of-the-art military trucks, which the Bundeswehr is purchasing as part of its “Unprotected Transport Vehicles” project. Of the thousand vehicles just ordered, 675 have a five-ton payload, while the remaining 325 have a load-carrying capacity of 15 tons. Starting in January 2020, the trucks will be built at the Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles GmbH (RMMV) plant in Vienna, with delivery to be complete by the end of the year.

Featuring a basic military configuration, these robust, off-road-capable vehicles will be available to support the Bundeswehr’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF) 2023 mission.

Awarded by the Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) on 5 July 2017, the framework contract, which runs for a period of seven years, encompasses a total of 2,271 vehicles from RMMV’s HX family. As a first step, 558 vehicles were ordered right away. A further call-off of 252 vehicles followed in May 2019, and another 60 in November 2019.

Serving the twin modern imperatives of mobility and security, the Düsseldorf-based technology group is thus playing a key role in the project to modernize the Bundeswehr’s fleet of trucks, which includes thousands of vehicles. Most of the principal components – the engines, axles, transmissions and build-ons – are made in Germany. The vehicles are assembled at the RMMV plant in Vienna.

Particularly when it comes to multinational operations, the global presence of RMMV vehicles offers major advantages with regard to interoperability and logistics. Among others, current user countries include the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Denmark. Norway and Sweden have also placed substantial truck orders with Rheinmetall.

www.rheinmetall.com

Posted in Advertiser, Contracts, International, Mobility, Press Release | 3 Comments »

Rheinmetall books €110 million-contract to extend the service life of the Marder infantry fighting vehicle for the Bundeswehr

Sunday, January 26th, 2020

The Bundeswehr has contracted with Rheinmetall to carry out new measures for extending the service life of the Marder infantry fighting vehicle. In order to maintain the operational readiness of this tracked vehicle, the drivetrain of 71 Marder 1A5 vehicles will be replaced. During the 2020-2023 timeframe, Rheinmetall will be supplying the German military with a total of 78 conversion kits as well as vehicle tool kits and special tools, logistical support, an initial store of spare parts, and training and instruction. The order is worth around

€110 million, including value added tax. The service life extension will maintain and expand the capabilities of the Marder, which the Bundeswehr first fielded in 1971.

As a first step in replacing the drivetrain, a new powerpack will be installed in all of the vehicles, which will boost the Marder’s engine output from 600 to over 750 HP. The new powerpack will significantly enhance the tried-and-tested vehicle’s responsiveness. Here, the Bundeswehr has opted for a highly advanced, forward-looking new solution proposed by well-known German manufacturers.

Under a comprehensive development contract, the Marder fleet has already undergone significant modernization. For example, the new MELLS multirole lightweight antitank guided missile system has recently been integrated into various versions of the Marder infantry fighting vehicle, while a new driver vision system, a thermal imaging aiming device and a fire detection and extinguisher system have also been ordered. Series contracts have already been awarded for parts of this service life extension, with performance upgrades now reaching the troops.

First and foremost, these service life extension measures are designed to eliminate known obsolescent elements in the Marder. Here, individual measures can be supplied as modular conversion kits and – as part of planned maintenance operations, for example – integrated in order to assure ready availability of the vehicles.

Awarded to Rheinmetall in December 2019, this Bundeswehr order has the potential to lead to more service life extension measures both at home and abroad. Besides Germany, the armed forces of Chile, Indonesia and Jordan all use the Marder infantry fighting vehicle.

As a system developer and supplier, Rheinmetall has immense expertise and experience with the Marder. The weapons system first rolled off the assembly lines of the predecessor of the company now known as Rheinmetall Landsysteme GmbH in Kassel. Extremely reliable and battle tested, the Marder is set to serve as an important asset of Germany’s mechanized infantry units for several more years, even though the Bundeswehr is currently taking delivery of the last of 350 Puma infantry fighting vehicles intended to replace it.

Posted in Advertiser, Contracts, International, Mobility, Press Release | 2 Comments »

Blackhawk Secures Contract to Equip French Army with T-Series L3D Holsters

Tuesday, January 14th, 2020

Level 3 Holsters to be Furnished with Glock 17 Gen5 Pistols

VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia – January 14, 2020 – Blackhawk, a leader in the law enforcement and military equipment realm for over 20 years, announced today that it will participate in a contract for the French Armament General Directorate to equip newly furnished Glock G17 Gen5 pistols with new T-Series L3D holsters. The French Army recently selected the G17 Gen5 and multiple accessories to be used as their standard handgun and the new equipment, including the Blackhawk T-Series holster, will be distributed to the French troops within the first months of 2020.

As part of the contract, over 75,000 pistols, holsters and related accessories will be provided to the French Army over the next three years. The tender, launched in early March 2019, was open to multiple possible candidates who were asked to submit their entries for review. As part of the try-outs conducted by the French DGA, all equipment was subjected to a series of stringent tests to asses both the reliability and user-friendliness of the offered pistols and their accessories.

“The recent selection by the French Army to pair newly acquired Glock G17 Gen5 pistols with our T-Series L3D holsters is a tremendous validation of the innovation and durability featured in our new duty-rated holsters,” said Josh Waldron, President of Blackhawk. “We are extremely proud and honored to have been chosen by Glock to serve as the holster supplier for this tender. The French Army will be receiving our newest holster system that has been specifically engineered for compatibility with multiple platforms, making it one of the most versatile options available for military and police agencies.”

Developed with a low-friction, dual-density internal material, the T-Series holsters allows for a smooth and effortless draw, while its external design features a proprietary glass reinforced nylon and soft touch polymer lines for the upmost durability. Adding to its versatility, the T-Series L3D holster is standard with three different mounting options. User can select either the S.T.R.I.K.E®/MOLLE Platform, T-Series Duty Belt Loop or Blackhawk drop leg platforms, all featuring the patented Blackhawk Quick Disconnect System. This unique and one-of-a-kind system allows the holster to be quickly and conveniently moved from one platform to another with no tools required.

Designed to follow Blackhawk’s Master Grip Principle, all T-Series holsters have been specifically developed to allow the user’s hand to land naturally where it should in order to deploy the sidearm. This efficient movement pairs with a sound-dampening, low-friction, dual-density internal material that translates into a smooth, quiet draw.

For more information on the new L3D holster from Blackhawk or to view the complete line of T-Series holsters be sure to visit www.blackhawk.com.

Posted in Contracts, Holsters, International, Press Release | 1 Comment »

US Army Selects SIG SAUER for 300 Win Mag Sniper Ammunition

Friday, January 10th, 2020

NEWINGTON, N.H., (January 10, 2020) – SIG SAUER, Inc. is pleased to announce the selection of SIG SAUER Ammunition by the U.S. Army Contracting Command for a $10 million firm-fixed priced contract to manufacture the MK 248 MOD 1 and MOD 0 .300 Win Mag ammunition for use in U.S. Military sniper platforms.

Ron Cohen, President and CEO, SIG SAUER, Inc. began, “This award by the U.S. Army is validation of our state-of-the-art manufacturing that has resulted in the highest quality, and most precise, ammunition delivering on target accuracy for snipers in the field.”

The U.S. Military sniper.300 Win Mag ammunition will be manufactured at the state-of-the-art SIG SAUER ammunition manufacturing facility in Jacksonville, Arkansas.

“This is a very exciting development for SIG SAUER, and for the rapidly growing SIG SAUER ammunition division, and we are honored to be recognized by the U.S. Army,” concluded Cohen.

Posted in Advertiser, Ammo, Contracts, Press Release | 5 Comments »

TSSi Awarded New Interconnection Equipment Contract (IEC)

Thursday, January 9th, 2020

Harrisonburg, Virginia, January 8, 2020 – TSSi announces the award of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Interconnection Equipment contract (IEC), a (10) year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Multiple Award Contract (MAC), as the newest addition to the suite of contracting vehicles available to their customers. This $808 million contract aims to move the Government from decentralized procurement through a multitude of contract vehicles to a more holistic, all-encompassing long-term contract designed to support the constantly evolving requirements for interconnection products.

This intended purpose of the IEC is three-fold:

• Rapid Acquisition Capability

• Advance Planning

• Cooperation/Collaboration

Products included under the IEC are classified as any product and incidental service required by the DoD, or Federal Government at large, to connect weapons systems, computer systems and networks, global and tactical networks, radio networks, and more. Examples include, but are not limited to, cables, wiring, connectors, radios, and installation kits. TSSi anticipates its status as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business and their valuable supplier partner relationships to create a winning combination for contract customers.

TSSi is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business that has been providing specialized operational equipment and logistics support around the world since 1980. Our mission is to provide mission-focused, time-sensitive, value-added equipment and logistics services solutions, delivered with uncompromising integrity – anytime, anywhere

Posted in Contracts, Industry, Press Release | Comments Off on TSSi Awarded New Interconnection Equipment Contract (IEC)

French Army Announces Adoption of FN SCAR-H PR & Glock 17 Pistol

Tuesday, January 7th, 2020

The French Ministère des Armées has announced the €100 million procurement of 2,620 FNH SCAR-H PR, known within the French Army as the Fusils de précision semi-automatiques (FPSA).

The FPSA system is the product of OIP Sensor Systems and Telefunken-Racoms, associated with weapon producer FN Herstal and the company MEN. In addition to the rifle and associated ammunition (including armor piercing), they will be fielded within suppressors Asia well as I2 and IR optics.

Deliveries begin in 2020 and replace the FR-F2 in service since the 1980s. The new rifle is 7.62mm NATO and intended to engage targets out to 800m and is being fielded as part of an ongoing initiative aimed at increasing the capability of the individual Soldier.

The rifle is intended for use by Snipers who are considered the “Eyes of the section chief”, conducting long-range observation, intelligence and target neutralization missions.

Additionally, they have announced that they have awarded a contract worth € 44 million for a new semi auto pistol to Glock. It is said to be a G17 variant but the Army’s announcement contained no details as to which one. Glock is providing the pistols with some form of “night-time” sights. Sellier and Bellot is providing ammunition and UTM training kits.

By 2022, the contract of 74,596 will be fulfilled. They replace the PA MAC 50 (manufactured by Châtellerault) which date from the 1950s, and the PAMAS G1 (from the arms factories of Saint-Etienne). According to the Ministry of the Army, this is a joint service buy with 80% of weapons for the army, 10% for the air force and 8% for the navy.

These fieldings join the new H&K 416F carbine, new FR uniforms, helmets and body armor.

-Eric Graves sends

Posted in Advertiser, Contracts, International, Press Release | 4 Comments »