New FBI 5.56 mm ammunition RFP

[DocGKR]

Other LE agencies might be interested in this open source, public RFP, as it provides a clear example of good testing procedures and performance requirements for LE 5.56 mm ammunition:

https://www.fbo.gov/download/75d/75d...750_FY2010.doc

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportun...=core&_cview=1

Note: Ignore documents dated earlier than the 07 May 2010 Amendment 2, as these previous postings contain errors that were corrected with the later amendment.

[ack495]

Wow, good stuff Doc, thanks. You know why they do it, but its still amazing to see how much detail goes into this type of operation.

I have been under the impression that the standard issue load for the FBI is the Winchester 60 gr Nosler partition JSP. Is Winchester's contract up or is the FBI looking for something better?

[DocGKR]

Contract is done.

[Firegardn77]

Does anyone know what the status is of this RFP is? It looked like the companies were still asking questions and clarifying things. Any idea how long it might be til we know who won the contract?

[DocGKR]

The FBI has completed their testing process and awarded a 5.56 mm ammunition contract for up to $97 million dollars. This award is now public information and appears unique in several ways. Besides being perhaps the largest ammunition contract in FBI history, it is also the first time the FBI has mandated a true 5.56 mm pressure loading, rather than the typical anemic .223 pressure loadings that have generally been marketed to LE agencies. The 5.56 mm load offers approximately an extra 200 fps--helping performance out of short barrel weapons and enhancing function when rifles are dirty or in dusty conditions. The new FBI contract also required that the ammunition be packaged on stripper clips to aid in more rapid loading of magazines. Finally, it is the first multi-award carbine ammo contract for the FBI--both Federal Cartridge and Winchester were judged to offer ammunition which met the contract criteria. Numerous other Federal LE agencies are authorized to purchase off this contract.

The 5.56 mm Federal 62 gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw (TBBC) bonded JSP load is XM556FBIT3.

The 5.56 mm Winchester 64 gr solid base bonded JSP is Q3313 on stripper clips/RA556B in 20 rd boxes.

Both of these loads are the best barrier blind 5.56 mm loads ever produced for LE use; they offer outstanding terminal performance, even after first defeating intermediate barriers like vehicle windshields.

[rushca01]

Where will this be available for purchase?

[funkra]

The FBI has completed their testing process and awarded a 5.56 mm ammunition contract for up to $97 million dollars. This award is now public information and appears unique in several ways. Besides being perhaps the largest ammunition contract in FBI history, it is also the first time the FBI has mandated a true 5.56 mm pressure loading, rather than the typical anemic .223 pressure loadings that have generally been marketed to LE agencies. The 5.56 mm load offers approximately an extra 200 fps--helping performance out of short barrel weapons and enhancing function when rifles are dirty or in dusty conditions. The new FBI contract also required that the ammunition be packaged on stripper clips to aid in more rapid loading of magazines. Finally, it is the first multi-award carbine ammo contract for the FBI--both Federal Cartridge and Winchester were judged to offer ammunition which met the contract criteria. Numerous other Federal LE agencies are authorized to purchase off this contract.

The 5.56 mm Federal 62 gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw (TBBC) bonded JSP load is XM556FBIT3.

The 5.56 mm Winchester 64 gr solid base bonded JSP is Q3313 on stripper clips/RA556B in 20 rd boxes.

Both of these loads are the best barrier blind 5.56 mm loads ever produced for LE use; they offer outstanding terminal performance, even after first defeating intermediate barriers like vehicle windshields.

Doc, love your posts. While I know the XM556FBIT3 is a better overall combat round than the SOST round, does the SOST Mk318 Mod 0 ammo outshine the XM556FBIT3 in any single category (range, accuracy, lethality, barrier blind, feeding, etc, Hague issues aside)? If not, is XM556FBIT3 worth the additional cost (surely twice the cost of SOST ammo, which I can get for .78/round). Thanks again.