ARMY AL&T
complex and challenging. Since the end of World War II, there have been nearly 130 studies of acquisition reform. Many very smart people have tried and met limited success, but that should not be a deterrent for us to continue to seek better ways to conduct our mission. We need to move forward and continue to improve our acquisition workforce, procurement and acquisition processes, and business operations. We must communicate with our industry partners in an open manner that clearly articulates our requirements and expectations and demonstrates our commitment to a program through stable funding. We must support the tough-minded approach to acquisition reform that has been set forth by Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) Robert M. Gates and Deputy SECDEF William J. Lynn III to make difficult strategic and programmatic decisions and provide disciplined and effective oversight. At each step of the process, we must allow for critical examination of our operations to identify strengths we can amplify and recognize weaknesses we can resolve. Only through this proactive thinking can we meet our objectives and realize the full potential of our vision of serving those who serve.
Edward M. Harrington Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Procurement)
• M918 Target Practice—to simulate the M430A1. • M433 HEDP Cartridge—for anti-armor and anti-personnel. • M583A1 White Star Parachute Cartridge—for illumination and signaling.
• M992 Infrared Illuminant Cartridge—to enhance nighttime operational capabilities.
• M585 White Star Cluster Cartridge—illumination and signaling round designed for less weight and bulk than comparable hand-held signals.
• M661 Green Star Parachute Cluster Cartridge—for illumina- tion and signaling.
• M662 Red Star Parachute Cartridge—for illumination and signaling.
Acquisition Milestones An integrated product team (IPT)—consisting of RICC; the U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command; the U.S. Army Research, Development, and Engineering Command; PEO Ammo; and PMO MAS—was formed in January 2008. The U.S. Army Sustainment Command’s (ASC’s) small business and legal offices provided matrix support. In July 2008, a Sources Sought Notice was issued on Army Single Face to Industry and Federal Business Opportunities. The IPT conducted an indus- try day and then issued a draft request for proposal (RFP) in March 2009. The formal RFP was issued in June 2009, evalu- ations were conducted from August 2009–January 2010, and awards were made in February 2010.
40mm Cartridge Family Systems Contract Awards Support Small Businesses
Julie A. Seaba and Jake M. Adrian
In February 2010, the U.S. Army Contracting Command-Rock Island Contracting Center (RICC) made two 100-percent small business set-aside contract awards with a total program ceiling of $3.8 billion. The awards were for the 40mm cartridge fam- ily systems on behalf of Program Executive Office Ammunition (PEO Ammo) and Project Management Office Maneuver Ammunition Systems (PMO MAS).
40mm Cartridge Family Systems The 40mm cartridge family systems is composed of many types of 40mm tactical and training ammunition supplied to the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy (USN), U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), U.S. Air Force (USAF), and foreign military sales. Some of the rounds include:
• M385A1 Practice Cartridge—only for practice and proof testing weapons.
• M430A1 High-Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) Cartridge— for anti-armor and anti-personnel.
M430A1 M918 M385A1 M781 M433 M583A1 M585 M661 M662 M992
The 40mm cartridge family systems tactical and training ammunition are sup- plied to the Army, USN, USMC, and USAF. (U.S. Army photo by Jack Crowley, PMO MAS.)
JULY –SEPTEMBER 2010 91
Acquisition Challenges The IPT faced many challenges during the acquisition. First, the estimated value of the acquisition required an Office of the Secretary of Defense Peer Review, a stringent cross-agency assessment of the acquisition from presolicitation to contract award. Second, the IPT had to develop and write custom con- tract language that required the contractors to procure and maintain the weapons used to test the rounds. Under prior 40mm cartridge family systems acquisitions, the weapons were provided as government-furnished equipment. Finally,
C O N T R A C T I N G C OMMU N I T Y H I G H L I G H T S
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