IAR contract winners announced

AR/M4 AR General Discussion
1

FN, Colt and HK are getting a taste…

Once again, it proves you dont have a prayer if you arent part of the cartel…

http://www.defenselink.mil/contracts/contract.aspx?contractid=3928

FN Herstal, S.A., Herstal, Belgium, is being awarded a five year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract with possible delivery orders up to $27,900,000 for the production, delivery, and associated support of the Marine Corps’ Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR). The IAR will be a light weight, magazine fed, 5.56 mm weapon which will enhance the automatic rifleman’s maneuverability and displacement speed while providing the ability to suppress or destroy not only area targets, but point targets as well. The IAR is planned to replace the M249 Squad Automatic Weapons (SAW) currently employed by automatic riflemen within Infantry and Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Battalions. Although four contracts will be made initially, delivery orders will be awarded for samples. First Article, spare/repair parts, and various support services; and, eventually one of the four contractors may be awarded delivery orders for up to 6,500 IARs. FN Herstal’s production facility is in Herstal, Belgium. Delivery of contract line items will be as stated on applicable delivery orders. Contractfunds will be obligated in multiple delivery orders. This contract was competitively procured. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (M67854-09-D-1037).

Heckler and Koch Defense, Inc., Ashburn, Va., is being awarded a five year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract with possible delivery orders up to $23,600,000 for the production, delivery, and associated support of the Marine Corps’ Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR). The IAR will be a light weight, magazine fed, 5.56 mm weapon which will enhance the automatic rifleman’s maneuverability and displacement speed while providing the ability to suppress or destroy not only area targets, but point targets as well. The IAR is planned to replace the M249 Squad Automatic Weapons (SAW) currently employed by automatic riflemen within Infantry and Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Battalions. Although four contracts will be made initially, delivery orders will be awarded for samples. First Article, spare/repair parts, and various support services; and, eventually one of the four contractors may be awarded delivery orders for up to 6,500 IARs. Work will be performed in Oberndorf, Germany. Delivery of contract line items will be as stated on applicable delivery orders. Contractfunds will be obligated in multiple delivery orders. This contract was competitively procured. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (M67854-09-D-1038).

Colt Defense, Inc., West Hartford, Conn., is being awarded a five year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract with possible delivery orders up to $14,000,000 for the production, delivery, and associated support of the Marine Corps’ Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR). The IAR will be a light weight, magazine fed, 5.56 mm weapon which will enhance the automatic rifleman’s maneuverability and displacement speed while providing the ability to suppress or destroy not only area targets, but point targets as well. The IAR is planned to replace the M249 Squad Automatic Weapons (SAW) currently employed by automatic riflemen within Infantry and Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Battalions. Although four contracts will be made initially, delivery orders will be awarded for samples, First Article, spare/repair parts, and various support services; and, eventually one of the four contractors may be awarded delivery orders for up to 6,500 IARs. Colt’s production facility is in West Hartford, Conn. Work will be performed in West Hartford, Conn. Delivery of contract line items will be as stated on applicable delivery orders. Contractfunds will be obligated in multiple delivery orders. This contract was competitively procured. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (RFP M67854-08-R-1000, proposal 6940, contract number M67854-09-D-1035).

    [b] Colt Defense, Inc., West Hartford, Conn[/b]., is being awarded a five year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract with possible delivery orders up to $14,000,000 for the production, delivery, and associated support of the Marine Corps’ Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR). The IAR will be a light weight, magazine fed, 5.56 mm weapon which will enhance the automatic rifleman’s maneuverability and displacement speed while providing the ability to suppress or destroy not only area targets, but point targets as well. The IAR is planned to replace the M249 Squad Automatic Weapons (SAW) currently employed by automatic riflemen within Infantry and Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Battalions. Although four contracts will be made initially, delivery orders will be awarded for samples, First Article, spare/repair parts, and various support services; and, eventually one of the four contractors may be awarded delivery orders for up to 6,500 IARs. Colt’s production facility is in West Hartford, Conn. Work will be performed in West Hartford, Conn. Delivery of contract line items will be as stated on applicable delivery orders. Contractfunds will be obligated in multiple delivery orders. This contract was competitively procured.  The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (RFP M67854-08-R-1000, proposal 6940H, and contract number M67854-09-D-1036).
2

Interesting.

It seems to me that after a fair competition in which numerous manufacturers were represented the cream rose to the top.

Congratulations to FN, HK, and Colt for a job well done.

3

Does anyone have pictures of these so called IAR’s?

4

That is a ridiculous statement.
Unless you were involved in the selection and personally observed unethical behavior by either all three manufacturers or the SYSCOM selection personnel you are in absolutely no position to throw that kind of statement around.

5

Of the three winners, I think the Colt was the weakest of the three. Its design seems to be the least improved. On the other hand, the Marine Corps bears responsibility for the specifications it requested. I’m no fan of an Automatic Rifle without the ability to change barrels at the user level. I also wondered if the specified an improved high capacity feed device other than the standard 30 rd mag. I’ve heard the Beta mag. has its problems. I do have to admit that I don’t know all the necessary specifics involved. Too bad LMT didn’t submit a rifle with its piston monolithic upper. The best mag fed LMG to date is still the Bren.

6

Did I say anything about “unethical behavior”? Why would you even inject that in the conversation.

But to pretend as if the odds aren’t stacked against companies that aren’t FN/Colt/HK is absolutely ridiculous, for whatever reason. Only once in recent memory can I recall a small American firm winning a military solicitation and that’s Robinson with the SPR-V.

So yeah, it’s a fact, the odds of someone not part of the cartel winning a military solicitation is pretty damn slim. Saying so is not a suggestion of “unethical behavior” or impropriety either so watch where you fling the half baked accusations. I am in fact a fan of HK, Colt, and FN products, but it is what it is when it comes to military contracts, and it’s a safe bet who the winners will be long before a formal decision is made.

7

I agree, these companies are top notch. They may not always have reputation for civilian sales, but their quality and production capabilities at the military level are among the highest.

8

I have no contempt regarding your statement however, I am curios to know who isn’t in the cartel and why they should be?
Again…I’m just wondering…

9

this is the Colt prototype… I dont know if the final IAR looks like this

10

The FDE gun is the Colt IAR


Looks like the barrel can be quick change via a single bolt ala Robarms XCR.


Vltor e-Mod was the only collapsible stock that passed the Marine’s drop test.


11

This thread is getting a little testy. One has to understand that the Military is very conservative when it comes to small arms. For better or worst, if it weren’t for Gen. LeMay and Sec. Def. MacNamara the M16 and 5.56mm would never had been adopted. For any small company to make a serious contention in these trials would be a real shocker. This is the same bureaucracy that chose the M14 over the FN FAL and AR10. The one that chose to develop the M60 instead of choosing the FN MAG58(M240) and MG3(updated MG42). Colt makes a quality product, but I’m disappointed about the teething problems with the M4. Colt had experience with the carbine length gas system going back to the XM177/CAR 15. The extraction problems with the M4 were identical to the extraction problems early M16s experiences with Ball propellant. The fact that Colt submitted the M4 to the Military without thoroughly torture testing and having the previous knowledge borders on criminal. Colt and the Army continue to argue over who is responsible for the debacle. By the way, 30 years later the M60 is finally replaced by the M240(FN MAG 58) at the infantry level.

12

That’s a silly statement made by someone who clearly doesn’t have a lot of first hand experience with large military weapons procurements.

Smaller, newer, emerging companies aren’t winning huge contracts like this for reasons like:

[ul][li] No track record (past performance is a major part of most evaluations)
[/li][li] Inability to meet production rate demands
[/li][li] Less mature systems
[/li][li] Lack of ISO certification
[/li][li] Inability to provide worldwide customer service functions
[/li][li] Insufficient staff to provide necessary training, etc.
[/li][li] Inability to compete on price due to less efficient/smaller manufacturing capabilities
[/li][li] Not performing as well during testing[/ul]
[/li]
That last one is sort of important, btw.

Unless you can point to some hard data showing that a different company outshone FN, Colt, and HK during the IAR tests then I’d respectfully suggest you tone down your vitriol.

Just because some folks on the internet think some little company makes a better toaster doesn’t mean that company’s toaster really is more suitable for broad spectrum military deployment, nor does it mean that company is prepared to deliver and service half a million toasters to the military.

13

“Vitriol”? No. Ironic? Yes.

Ironic because you used a lot of words to say the exact same thing I said in one sentence. Unless your list suggests otherwise…

[ul][li] No track record (past performance is a major part of most evaluations)
[/li]> [li] Inability to meet production rate demands
[/li]> [li] Less mature systems
[/li]> [li] Lack of ISO certification
[/li]> [li] Inability to provide worldwide customer service functions
[/li]> [li] Insufficient staff to provide necessary training, etc.
[/li]> [li] Inability to compete on price due to less efficient/smaller manufacturing capabilities
[/li]> [li] Not performing as well during testing[/ul][/li]

14

Cartel:

[ul]
[li]A combination of independent business organizations formed to regulate production, pricing, and marketing of goods by the members.
[/li]> [li]An official agreement between governments at war, especially one concerning the exchange of prisoners.
[/li]> [li]A group of parties, factions, or nations united in a common cause; a bloc.
[/li]> [/ul]

I hardly think the three still standing are working together. Just a WAG though on my part.

As has been stated previously, the players still involved have demonstarted competency in a number of areas greater than engineering and design. The governemnt looks at all the capabilities needed to support production and logistics support as well.

15

How do these threads always turn into pissing contests when the XCR get’s left out?
Is Robinson actually complaining about being left out?

16

So these IARs are just M16s with a piston and the ability to operate from an open bolt?

Why not just dust off some BARs?

If it only takes 30rnd mags, those gunners are goint to be great mag change artists.

17

I believe they want a smaller cheaper automatic weapon. The price of a para-SAW is insane.
Hopefully this contract would inspire a drum mag that’s actually reliable (wishful thinking).

18

variable – If you can’t understand that your choice of words in the opening post was inflammatory, that’s on you. Given the response it received, you may want to consider that what you thought you were saying isn’t what was communicated to your audience.

It certainly came across to me – and clearly others – that you were implying something underhanded, unethical, or otherwise inappropriate in the procurement process.

19

Roger that, I’m just trying to figure out who got screwed???
I mean, if you didn’t submit a product (or did that didn’t follow the contract specs), how are small companies getting left out?

20

It would seem that a small, startup company that truly had an innovative design worthy of consideration would be better off licensing the design to a larger, more established outfit. That way at least you get your foot in the door, although some proprietary rights might have to be surrendered.