ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. (April 16, 2015) -- The U.S. Army hosted a pre-solicitation day on April 16 to discuss its plans to procure next-generation Manpack Radios through full and open competition. The event was attended by 69 people, representing 10 companies.
The Program Executive Office for Command, Control and Communications-Tactical (PEO C3T), Product Manager Handheld, Manpack and Small-form Fit (PdM HMS) and the Army Contracting Command-Aberdeen Proving Ground (ACC-APG) hosted the event, which gave industry partners the opportunity to discuss the acquisition timeline and ask questions regarding the draft Request for Proposals (RFP) released April 3.
The Army will use information from the pre-solicitation day to prepare for the final RFP, which is scheduled for release during third quarter of Fiscal Year 2015. The Army plans to award a five-year base, plus a five-year option indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract to multiple vendors who meet the technical requirements. The Army will then conduct competitions for delivery orders among the qualified vendors. Vendors who do not meet the requirements will be off-ramped. The Non-Developmental Item acquisition strategy also includes on-ramp opportunities for vendors whose technologies mature after the initial competition and operational tests.
"Meeting with industry partners periodically enables us to share information and plan a path forward," said Lt. Col. Rayfus Gary, product manager for HMS. "We encourage participation from vendors so that we can continuously improve the Manpack Radio, since it is an integral part of the Army's tactical communications network."
The Army plans to procure 60 Manpack Radios from each vendor for Operational Tests (OT). Prior to OT, each vendor will provide 30 radios for Qualification Testing (QT) at no cost to the government. These radios will be returned to the vendors at the conclusion of the QT, which is planned for First Quarter Fiscal Year 2016. Full Rate Production is expected to begin in Fiscal Year 2017, and the Army has been authorized to purchase up to 60,296 radios.
Through Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP), the Army has already purchased 5,326 Manpack Radios, which have been fielded to seven Brigade Combat Teams (BCT) in the 10th Mountain (Light Infantry), 101st Airborne (Air Assault) and 82nd Airborne Divisions; these Soldiers have used the radios during training missions and while deployed to Afghanistan. The radio has also been evaluated by the 2nd BCT, 1st Armored Division during several Network Integration Evaluation exercises at Fort Bliss, Texas, and White Sands Missile Range, N.M.
The Manpack Radio is the Army's first networking radio that provides two channels for communication, serving as a critical bridge in the Army network connecting Soldiers at the company level and below with real-time voice and data. The Manpack Radio, which can be mounted inside tactical vehicles or carried dismounted, provides beyond line-of-sight connectivity through multiple waveforms, improving the ability for Soldiers to communicate despite obstacles such as buildings and difficult terrain.
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Army releases Manpack Radio draft RFP for competitive radio marketplace
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