Sorry for the short suspense on this but MARCORSYSCOM is holding an Infantry Equipping Challenge Industry Day on September 26th.
According to SYSCOM, the event is intended to inform Industry (to include Small Business) of the IEC objectives, planned events, schedules, processes, desired outcomes and to solicit Industry feedback. During this Industry Day event currently fielded Infantry equipment will be displayed and its’ requirements, capabilities, operation and areas for possible improvement will be discussed. Presentations on current and future operating environments, potential engineering assessment criteria, and current requirements will also be presented. The IEC is a series of associated events, with both engineering assessments and limited operational evaluations, the overarching schedule of these events will also be presented at the IEC Industry Day. At the conclusion of the open forum, Industry Day general session time will be made available to meet with those vendors desiring individual meetings with MCSC Program Managers and/or subject matter experts. Industry Day will be conducted on MCB Quantico, VA and the general session will occur 0830 – 1430 Eastern Daylight Time.
IEC is MCSC’s innovative process to identify and evaluate the best & most relevant equipment for Infantry Marines and then expedite transition of the associated capabilities as requirements and funding permit. The Challenge will look at equipping opportunities of both the overall Infantry Marine and more specifically, by primary MOS, including the 0311 MOS Riflemen, the 0313 MOS Light Armor Vehicle Marine, the 0331 MOS Machine Gunner, the 0341 MOS Mortarman and the 0351 MOS Infantry Assault Marine. IEC brings together stakeholders from across the Marine Corps requirements, acquisition, and technology development communities in a dynamic process to quickly evaluate and accelerate fielding of technologies that decrease the Infantry’s load, increase operational reach and reduce the reliance on the logistical train. MCSC’s metric of success for IEC is the accelerated fielding of material solutions for Infantry Marines.
Focus areas for each individual IEC event will be identified in the respective RFI for that event. General focus areas to be considered for IEC events include the following:
• Opportunities for equipment that is lighter, more capable, less burdensome, reduced logistical needs, reduced complexity/maintenance, or better tailored for the Infantry’s tasks
• Power management, generation, storage, harvesting and scavenging
• Infantry food; weight/bulk repackaging
• Individual and squad level water filtration systems
• Innerwear and outerwear clothing and other worn garments
• Medical and casualty gear
• Lightweight ammo
Certain systems and equipment are already the subject of concerted Marine Corps focus and hence will not be included in the initial IEC focus areas or are found in other RFI’s. (they may, however, be included in later IEC focused events). These areas include:
• Small arms
• Weapons, optics and sensors, including combined optics
• Drones
• Night vision goggles
• Radios
• Body armor
Interested parties must register by 14 September.
For more information, visit www.fbo.gov.
