$67.3M for ACH Headgear

ACH in action

Gentex Corp. in Carbondale, PA received a maximum $67.3 million firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract from the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP) in Philadelphia, PA. for Advanced Combat Helmets. At current prices, that will buy more than 160,000 helmets, though the ACH also comes with a number of accessories. They will be made available to the US Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, all of whom have personnel serving as ground troops. The date of performance completion is Nov 21/10. This proposal was originally Dibbs solicited with 3 responses, and contract funds will expire at the end of FY 2009 (SPM1C1-09-D-0003).

The ACH replaces the old PASGT helmet in the Army, and offers a number of improvements including exposed ears to improve hearing, a set mount for night vision gear, better protection against bullets in covered areas, and a system of internal pads that improve protection against blasts and their accompanying potential for brain trauma. That padding has been a source of controversy, as the US Marines’ Light Weight Helmets (LWH) have been criticized for lacking this feature. Gentex manufactures a variety of American military helmets including the ACH, and in January 2008 they received a $95 million contract for the USAF’s Modular Aircrew Common Helmets (MACH) worn by pilots. MSA North American is another ACH manufacturer, who almost certainly competed for this current contract.

UPDATE: The US Army recalls over 34,000 of Gentex’s helmets, and the matter finds itself entangled in the affairs of Gentex’s lobbying firm, which closed in March 2009 after an FBI investigation into illegal campaign contributions. Read “PMA Group: A Look Inside the Earmark Game” for more.

USMC Replenishes M72A7 LAW Stocks, Orders 7,750

LAW M72: A4, A5, A6/7

Nov 17/08: Nammo Talley Defense, Inc. in Mesa, AZ received a $15.5 million firm-fixed-price contract for 7,750 LAW M72A7 portable rockets from Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, VA, in order to replenish stockpiles. Work will be performed in Mesa, AZ (70%); Camden, MS (16%); and Davidsville, PA (14%), and is expected to be complete by April 2011. Since Nammo Talley is the only LAW manufacturer, this contract was not competitively procured, but was sole source announced via the US Navy’s Electronic Commerce Office (M67854-09-C-1003).

“Israel: LAW on Order” explains the tactical tradeoffs involved in carrying LAW rockets vs. other portable anti-armor weapons. The M72A7 is well adapted to firing on enemy buildings and strongpoints, and has become the standard LAW order in the modern age. LAW rockets are also offered in M72A4 enhanced penetration and M72A5 penetration warheads, but the M72A7 has an insensitive warhead for greater safety, and an enhanced blast effect that makes it especially useful once it penetrates a building. This redesigned version of the LAW rocket has restarted production and returned to American military service in the last couple of years.