The New ACU: Changes
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The USA’s Army Combat Uniform (ACU) has undergone significant redesign over the last few years, along with the addition of a new fractal camouflage scheme called ACUPAT. Because of the wide variety of areas in which ACUPAT may have to operate and the desire to keep the number of potential uniform schemes to a minimum, ACUPAT is not as locally optimized as other advanced fractal patterns like Hyperstealth’s KA2 for Jordanian forces. It is also very closely derived from the US Marines’ MARPAT, rather than incorporating some of the more recent advances in the field. For all this, it’s an improvement over past conventional camouflage patterns. It also compelements the advances in ACU design undertaken by US Army’s “PEO Soldier,” drawing on feedback from the troops and an iterative testing cycle.

The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA recently issued a slew of firm-fixed-price contracts for the ACU coat and trousers, exercising option year 1. The total value of these six contracts is $97.7 million. Proposals were Web-solicited and 36 responded; date of performance completion is April 5, 2007. Unless otherwise indicated, work will be performed at the contract winner’s prime location only. Winners included:

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LCPL Sensing in MARPAT
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In a recent article covering Hyperstealth Biotechnology’s fractal camouflage patterns for vehicles, aircraft, and buildings, DID noted the Marine Corps’ new MARPAT digital camouflage uniforms, which are also based on the work of Dr. Timothy O’Neil. Small business qualifier Columbia Sewing Co. in Magnolia, AR recently won an $8 million firm-fixed-price contract for U.S. Marine Corps battle dress, desert and woodland camouflage blouse and trouser sets. This is an indefinite delivery/quantity type contract exercising four one-year options, the initial contact period will terminate on April 20, 2007. Proposals were solicited via Procurement Gateway and seven responded. The Defense Supply Center (DSCP) in Philadelphia, PA issued the contract (SP0100-06-D-0362).

One Marine can accomplish a lot. They need to be properly dressed for the occasion.

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DID has been focusing on some of the “high-profile, high glamour” items recently, but a lot of military spending is more quotidian. For instance, Lion Vallen Ltd. Parternship in Dayton, OH won a maximum $16 million firm-fixed-price contract for ordering, storing and receiving DLA owned goods for the clothing and textile supply chain, receiving material release orders and shipping to government customers. These include the US Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies.

Work will be performed in Dayton, OH and Suffolk, VA. This is a one-year service term option exercising its fourth year option, and the performance completion date is Nov. 20, 2006. There were 50 proposals submitted and 7 responded. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia in Fort Belvoir, VA issued the contract (SP0100-99-C-0333 (C )).

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...And more will wear
them, proudly

The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, PA recently awarded a maximum of $165.4 million in firm-fixed-price contracts for Marine Corps desert camouflage blouse and trouser sets. This is an indefinite-quantity type contract with a base year that will expire on Nov 4, 2006, plus four more one-year options. There were 60 proposals solicited, and four firms responded.

• American Apparel in Selma, AL won a maximum $98.6 million contract (SP0100-06-D-331).

• Propper International Sales Inc. in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico won a maximum $66.8 million contract (SP0100-06-D-332).

Nov 10 Addendum: Happy 230th Birthday to the US Marine Corps!

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New USAF PT Uniform

The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA has issued three firm-fixed-price/ indefinite-delivery contracts to small businesses for the Air Force’s new physical training (PT) uniform jackets. Proposals were Gateway solicited with five responses, and the contracts’ performance completion date is January 2008.

The contract values total $20.6 millon, and there are some interesting details re: the procurement program as well. The contract recipients were:

Combat Diver: Before

The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia in Philadelphia, PA has awarded 3 prime vendor contracts for the supply of tactical equipment, lifesaving equipment, diving equipment, search and rescue equipment, safety gear, hyperbarics, flight crew safety and deck crew safety items for Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies. This is a two-year base period contract whose completion date is Aug. 5, 2007, with 5 one-year option periods. If all contract options are exercised, the total contract value could exceed $500 million.

There were 21 proposals solicited and 10 responded. Three companies were then selected as Prime Vendors for qualified organizations to efficiently acquire certain equipment at fixed volume pricing, using an existing DSCP contract, where key items are warehoused by the manufacturers not the military in order to save money. The Prime Vendor program was initiated to serve the immediate needs of the war fighter and first responder where the hassle and delays of receiving critical equipment is not an option – so if you belong to a qualifying organization, you may wish to check out our links to the winners’ web sites, below…

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Small business qualifier Carter Industries Inc. in Olive Hill, KY won a maximum $10.3 million firm-fixed-price contract for the U.S. Army coats and trousers. Performance completion date is April 5, 2006. There were five proposals solicited and three responded. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP), Philadelphia, Pa. (SP0100-05-R-0053) issued the contract.

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