Like all commands, USSOCOM has unique requirements and it needs industry’s help solving them. The SBIR program is an opportunity for small businesses to conduct federally funded research.
See the list of topics and instructions at www.acq.osd.mil/osbp/sbir/solicitations. For additional details, visit www.sofwerx.org/sbir.
The event will be held at SOFWERX in Tampa, 19 – 20 November. Submit by 23 October 2019.
September 18, 2019 – Fredericksburg, VA
Aspetto, Inc., a leading manufacturer of armor and nylon solutions, is awarded a single Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) five-year contract for Ballistic Plate Carrier System’s. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) posted a requirement for a Ballistic Plate Carrier System to be used for training and law enforcement operations. The effort is integral to providing effective Use of Force equipment to officers and agents within CBP. The contract was open competition with no set-asides and encouraged the contractors to develop a solution that increased user efficiency and comfort. Aspetto offered their patented KWIQ Clip that provides the end user swift donning and doffing as well as robust load-bearing capabilities.
The company is honored to support the brave Border Patrol Agents who are working tirelessly to ensure our national security.
For more information, please visit www.Aspetto.com
A Federally Recognized 8(a) Entity GSA Contract # GS-07F-146GA
Contact:
Walter Clarke
VP Government Sales
540.547.8487
Email: walter.clarke@aspettoinc.com GSA Contract # GS-07F-146GA
Although Colt has announced they will no longer manufacture carbines for civilian sales, they continue to support government contracts.
Announced by the US Department of Defense for 19 September, 2019.
Colt’s Manufacturing Co. LLC, West Hartford, Connecticut, was awarded a $41,924,594 firm-fixed-price Foreign Military Sales (Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Federated States of Micronesia, Hungary, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Macedonia, Marshall Islands, Palau, St. Vincent and Grenadines, and Tunisia) contract for production for the M4 and M4A1 carbines. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 18, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-19-D-0116).
Terry Baldwin sent me a link the other day with this note:
I admit, this particular item of kit has really captured my interest. It seems from the pictures that the “final” version of the rucksack is even more of a large ALICE-clone than the prototypes suggested. The rigging geometry, likewise, would be very familiar to you or me. It also appears, from a separate slide briefing that it is being considered not only for Airborne units but also as a possible Service-wide replacement for the Molle Large. Note, the standard Molle waistpad / belt used with the prototypes has been replaced by what looks like an OCP version of the pad /belt on the Marine’s FILBE pack. The shoulder straps also have a new 4-point connection arrangement above the envelope pad. Interesting stuff.
He had run across a sources sought notice from earlier this year. The Army is looking to build more of its new MOLLE 4000 Airborne Rucksacks. What is interesting is the description. Up to now, it has only been intended for airborne troops.
Considering the numbers of 130,000 packs and the Army’s concentration on modernizing it’s Close Combat Forces, this looks like a possible fielding for the BCTs.
Here’s the info on the MOLLE 4000 Ruck:
“The new MOLLE Rucksack for Airborne and General Purpose Forces [ emphasis added] is a Government-owned design. It has an approximately 4000 cubic inch capacity and made of 1000 Denier nylon coated fabric, has an external frame, adjustable shoulder straps and an adjustable waist belt. The exterior of the rucksack has multiple storage pockets and pouches of varying dimensions. The interior of the main compartment of the rucksack has a pouch for carrying a radio / hydration bladder or other similarly sized equipment. The interior of the main compartment of the rucksack has a center zippered flap that divides the main compartment into two approximately equal upper and lower halves. The bottom of the rucksack has a separate [Air Items] storage compartment and above that a zippered access into the lower part of the main compartment.”
LTC Terry Baldwin (USA, Ret) contributed to this report.
The US Army is all-in on upgrading its Small Arms for Close Combat Forces to a Next Generation Squad Weapons configuration.
Not only have the proceeded to Phase II of their search for a new Automatic Rifle and Carbine chambered in 6.8mm by downselecting weapons from General Dynamics OTS, SIG SAUER and AAI Textron Systems, but they’ve just put out a call to industry asking for their NGSW IDEAs.
Through the Innovative Designs & Engineering Assessment (IDEA) Program, Project Manager Soldier Weapons, is seeking information on new, innovative, enabling technologies that can be applied to NGSW weapons, fire control, and/or ammunition. These technologies will be used for experimentation, technical evaluation, and/or assessment of operational utility focused on enhancing system performance, sustainment, and/or training. This information will advise/inform future NGSW requirements and may compliment or be integrated into existing programs such as the NGSW weapons, ammunition, and fire control.
With so many parallel efforts going on at once, it’s obvious they want these weapons to be ready as quickly as possible.
Vendors who want to participate have until the end of the year to submit, but my advice is to send a submission in as soon as possible, for proper consideration.
Rheinmetall is pleased to confirm the Lynx KF41 Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) has been selected by the Commonwealth of Australia to compete in the Risk Mitigation Activity (RMA) trials for the $15 billion LAND 400 Phase 3 program.
Lynx KF41 is a next generation tracked, networked and highly protected IFV which meets the stringent military requirements of LAND 400 Phase 3. The Australian Army needs a networked, protected and enabled IFV for close combat – to close in and defeat an enemy in the most dangerous and lethal environments for Australian soldiers.
Rheinmetall will deliver three Lynx IFVs to compete in RMA trials to be conducted in Australia. If successful, the Lynx IFV fleet will be manufactured in Queensland at Rheinmetall’s new Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence at Redbank south west of Brisbane.
Rheinmetall Defence Australia Managing Director, Gary Stewart, said: “We welcome the Commonwealth’s decision to select Lynx KF41 for the RMA trials and look forward to demonstrating the capability of our next generation infantry fighting vehicle.”
“We believe Lynx is the best vehicle in its class for Australian needs and it sets new standards in protection, mobility, lethality and knowledge needed to survive and defeat any adversary,” Mr Stewart said.
“Rheinmetall has developed this vehicle so it is positioned at an ideal level of maturity when Australia needs it to enter service in 2026 – and it has the inherent growth capacity and a growth path to extend these capabilities through its 40+ year life.”
Rheinmetall is already delivering an Australian Industry Network for Land 400 that builds an industrial capability in Australia. This includes creating high technology enduring jobs for hundreds of Australians by localising design and manufacturing expertise in electro-optics, weapon systems, fire control and sensor systems, turret manufacturing, variant design and manufacture, integration, armour systems, simulation, training and fleet sustainment.
Ben Hudson, Global Head of Rheinmetall’s Vehicle Systems Division, said: “We are delighted to have been selected in Australia for the next phase of this important program.”
“Design, development and manufacture of the Lynx in Australia for the Australian Defence Force will build on the advanced manufacturing jobs at our new MILVEHCOE as well as a strong national industrial network of Australian small and medium businesses across Australia,” Mr Hudson said.
Rheinmetall is delivering 211 8×8 BOXER Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRV) to the Australian Army from 2019 after the vehicle was selected by the Commonwealth after 12 months of RMA trials by ADF personnel in 2016-2017.
Both the BOXER and Lynx are modular. That means the vehicles can be reconfigured to achieve many different missions with high commonality. This allows for reconfiguration of the fleets for emergent operational needs, providing greater mission flexibility, reducing through-life costs, enabling faster introduction of new technology, and optimising ongoing fleet management.
“Rheinmetall has taken all of the significant benefits of BOXER and ensured they are part of the Lynx KF41 package,” Mr Stewart said, “with significant commonality between the vehicle fleets.”
“Extending our partnership with Army and the Commonwealth to deliver the Lynx for Land 400 Phase 3 would deliver a fully integrated armoured vehicle fighting force for the ADF.”
Millcreek, UT – September 17, 2019 OSS Suppressors LLC has begun shipments for the first Elite-QD (EL-QD 762) suppressor units as part the Heckler & Koch® (H&K) contract to deliver between 5,000 and 6,000 complete M110A1 Squad Designated Marksman Rifle (SDMR) systems to the U.S. Army.
“OSS is very honored to have been selected as the official suppressor for the Squad Designated Marksman Rifle. Coming on the heels of our selection as the official suppressor for the Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System (CSASS), it’s extremely gratifying to be able to deliver the superior suppression and precision these mission critical programs demand,” said John Spurrier, CEO OSS Suppressors. “OSS’s patented Flow-Through™ technology is increasingly being acknowledged by military programs around the world as the only suppression solution that allows weapon systems to run reliably while delivering exceptional sound suppression, accuracy and durability – in the most extreme conditions.”
“We’re proud and privileged to work with Heckler & Koch to support their SDMR contract and deliver this much-needed capability to every squad in the Army,” said Dennis Cunningham, Director Government Business Development and Sales.
The EL-QD 762 is a Flat Dark Earth (FDE) variant of the commercially available Helix-QD (HX-QD 762).
• Learn more about the EL-QD 762 here.
• View EL-QD 762 technology and testing White Paper here.
For more information on the SDMR contract, please visit hk-usa.com.
LONDON, Sept. 11, 2019 (DSEI STAND S-7 310) — L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) has been awarded contracts from two European nations totaling more than $100 million for Falcon manpack and handheld tactical radios. Deliveries of the AN/PRC-158, AN/PRC-160, AN/PRC-152A and AN/PRC-117G radios are underway, with completion expected in 2020.
The L3Harris AN/PRC-158 multi-channel manpack radio features a two-channel, software-defined architecture with integrated cross-banding between waveforms – providing new advanced capabilities while maintaining backward interoperability with legacy radios. The AN/PRC-160 is a stand-alone solution that provides data speeds up to 10 times greater than other existing high frequency radios. The AN/PRC-152A is a wideband networking handheld radio that provides simultaneous voice, video and data in a small form-factor, with ad-hoc capabilities. The AN/PRC-117G manpack is software defined, easily upgradeable with new waveforms such as MUOS, and is also NINE Suite B encrypted – allowing users to securely and easily interoperate with U.S., NATO and regional partners.
“Success in coalition operations depends on strong coalition partners and robust information sharing, from mission information down to voice communications,” said Keith Norton, Vice President, L3Harris Communication Systems. “These proven L3Harris radios are part of a series of overlapping European modernization programs to deliver advanced narrowband and wideband networking capabilities with greater interoperability for U.S. and other NATO allies during coalition operations.”
