WASHINGTON, D.C. – Winchester Ammunition was recently awarded a contract by the Immigration, Customs and Enforcement (ICE) division of the Department of Homeland Security to supply a maximum of 200 million, 40 cal. rounds over the next five years.
The load selected for this contract is a 135-grain, hollow point designed for the office of Field Operations of Customs and Border Protection. It will fall under the Winchester Ranger line.
Just a couple of questions:
Since ICE shows 19,000 employees, that’s over 10,500 rounds per employee. Over the 5 years of the contract that’s still 2,100 rounds of ammo per year for not only the field agents, but John Morton, his secretary, the mail boy, the lady behind the counter in the cafeteria . . . you get the idea. Unless Pat scored a reeeeally good new contract, that seems like a lot of ammo to me.
Now (at last) the questions. Is the purchase of that much ammo in the historical scheme of things a significant increase or is it a fairly typical purchase for them?
If atypical, would they be replacing depleted agency stores or building them up?
The U.S Coast Guard is also under DHS and they also use .40 caliber. In addition many entities purchase ammunition 5 years in advance. I know that the Coast Guard does this which is why they track usage and try and project ammunition expenditures and needs.
As stated before, ICE NFTTU is the procurement arm FOR ALL OF DHS!!! If it is a firearm, firearm accessory, or goes into a firearm, or protects from firearms, NFTTU buys it so that there is only one contracting unit.
The contract is also for up to 200 million rounds; it doesn’t mean they are buying that much.
