Up to $150.8M for APOBS Minefield Breaching Kits
Sep 13, 2006 06:00 EDT
The Anti-Personnel Obstacle Breaching System (APOBS) is used to clear areas and create footpaths for troops moving in an area with mines or wire obstacles. It replaces the Bangalore Torpedo, which was heavier, took longer to set up, and required four times the number of people to carry.
Now small business qualifier Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Co. in Simsbury, CT has received a $12.6 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for production, testing, and delivery of APOBS. Video of APOBS in action can be found on the company’s web site [QuickTime, Low-Res 182 kb | Hi-Res 1.2 MB]. This contract also has the potential to increase in value very significantly…
The base year contract is for a quantity of 200 first article test units, testing support, technical data, inert models, and a maximum of 3,000 production units. The contract also includes options, however, which would bring its cumulative value to $150.8 million if exercised.
Work will be performed in Graham, KY (80%) and Simsbury, CT (20%), and is expected to be complete by September 2007. This contract was competitively procured via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities and Navy Electronic Commerce On-line, with 3 offers received by the US Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, VA (M67854-06-D-1021).
In 2004, APOBS was chosen by the US Army as one of the top military inventions of the year.
