Today, the U.S. Army issued the formal request for proposal for the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle detailed design and prototype build and test phases, phases 3 and 4 of the five-phase OMFV program. The RFP implements the strategic vision for OMFV, refines performance characteristics and places emphasis on digital engineering to allow for rapid integration for the insertion of future technologies.
"Through close collaboration with industry and feedback from our Soldiers, we are driving a process that will bring today’s most advanced technology into the OMFV and, through the use of a Modular Open System Architecture, allow tomorrow’s technology to be incorporated into OMFV when the time is right. OMFV will bring a transformational change to how our ABCTs fight in the future, bringing more lethality to the battlefield and reducing risk for our most valuable asset, our fighting women and men," said Maj. Gen. Ross Coffman, director of the Next Generation Combat Vehicles Cross Functional Team.
The Army continues to reiterate its commitment to adopting digital engineering best practices through the use of Models Based Systems Engineering and agile software development.
"The adoption of these principles are key enablers to support the rapid integration, testing, and fielding of future technologies," said Brig. Gen. Glenn Dean, the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology)’s program executive officer for Ground Combat Systems. "OMFV is the U.S. Army’s first ground combat vehicle designed using modern digital engineering tools and techniques."
During the next two phases, the Army will conduct activities to mature OMFV designs and will verify prototype performance during test activities, to include a Limited User Test.
Written proposals are due 120 days after the release of the RFP, and it is anticipated to result in the award of up to three contracts in 3rd quarter fiscal year 2023 under a full and open competition. Vendors will be required to deliver up to 11 prototype vehicles, as well as two Ballistic Hulls and Turrets, Armor Coupons, and digital engineering data.
"The overarching five-phase strategy for the OMFV program remains unchanged," said Dean. "We continue to focus on encouraging innovation, maximizing competition throughout the entire program, and producing a transformational infantry fighting vehicle that will dominate maneuver in multi-domain operations."
In July 2021, the Army awarded five concept design phase contracts for phase 2 with performance through December 2022. Following phase 3 and 4, the Army intends to hold a limited competition leading to down-select to one vendor at Milestone C for Low Rate Initial Production near the end of fiscal year 2027, with first unit equipped in fiscal year 2029.
The formal RFP for the OMFV detailed design and prototype build and test phases can be found at: https://sam.gov/opp/dbe15261d59e457da0ffc72cfeb3bd77/view.
For more information, please contact: Ms. Ashley John at ashley.f.john.civ@army.mil or at (586) 405-5570.
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