|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
According to DefenseLink.mil, nine companies bid on the original solicitation. So far, FN, Colt, and Bushmaster are known to have received contract awards stemming from the solicitation. I'd like to know whether or not TACOM's awards for 08D0119 and 08D0123 are related to the other three awards in-between, but TACOM doesn't have the particulars listed on their website.
The military is rightfully worried that their base of domestic small arms manufacturers is too small. This effects prices and supply. The original solicitation indicated that they wanted to make multiple awards, and set aside small portions of the overall quantity for this purpose.
So this award is related to industrial base issues? Makes sense, as Colt and FN seem to be meeting their delivery requirements.
If you check other TACOM solicitations, the Army has opened up bidding on M240 and M249 (complete weapons and parts) to Colt and General Dynamics (Saco) along with the obvious source FN. Colt has a contract from one of these solicitations, although I can't remember which part/assembly is involved.
In addition, within the last year, KAC's RAS/MWS components have been outsourced by TACOM to several different companies. In fact, one part of the solicitation that led to the recent M16A3 and M16A4 awards asked for quotes on producing/providing the M5 ARS for some of the M16A4 being ordered.
HHHMMMM This may explain why the gundealer in Charlotte told me recently that he was having a very hard time getting any type of AR rifle. I went in to buy a BM Shorty and thought the price was a little high. ($1019.00) That for the removable handle model. Of course that could just be a selling technique. I have only been to the one store. Now I am having second thoughts after reading the posts here, about BM.
Thanks for the information, Very helpful)
Since the government owns the M16 technical data package and acceptance is to MILSPEC I'm surprised more companies aren't bidding on making M16s.
Cerberus' purchase of Bushamster gives them an initial limited production base. I think if they really wanted to they could outsource production in-house to their other machine shops up to and including Chrysler. This is exactly what many companies did in WWII when guns were made by all kinds of unrelated companies (mortars by Whirlpool and GE, Grease Guns by GM Guide Lamp, 45s by Remington-Rand's typewriter division, etc.).
Interesting. So colts exclusive contract on the M4 is up in 09?
Bookmarks