My office awards munitions contracts to four companies

The U.S. Army awarded contracts valued at up to $500 million to four companies that will provide non-standard ammunition and mortar systems in support of U.S. military and allied collation partners on Aug. 4.

The U.S. Army Contracting Command-New Jersey awarded the five-year firm fixed price indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contracts to Chemring Military Products, Global Ordnance, Alliant Techsystems Operations LLC and Ukrainian Defense Consulting Ltd. USA on behalf of Product Director Non Standard Ammunition (NSA). PD NSA is part of the Program Executive Officer Ammunition.

"A multiple awards approach was the most efficient and flexible contract means for providing best value to procure non-standard ammo and mortars," said Lt. Col. Lawrence Dring, product manager NSA. "The Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracting method provides the flexibility to procure requirements, even for small quantities. Since this contract supports our allies and partners who train and fight Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and other enemies around the world, this is a critical element to supporting our acquisition strategy."

PD NSA assembled a team of senior acquisition specialists from Project Manager Maneuver Ammunition Systems, U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center and ACC-NJ to conduct a source selection board.

"Our goal is to provide reliable and safe ammunition that functions properly," said Dring whose office provides acquisition oversight for nonstandard munitions and mortar contracts, technical specifications, testing and delivery. "PD NSA decisions represents the best value for our military and allied partners."

Dring said that his office receives various requests for support from foreign military sales cases, army units requiring foreign munitions for training armies prior to deploying and for training the partner forces in support of U.S. Special Operations Command. With the recently awarded contract, meeting these requests will be filled through delivery orders competed amongst the four prime contractors based on cost and schedule, since many of these request could be urgent request requiring a fast turn-around.

"Our largest orders go to arming our allies to enable them to fight alongside U.S. forces and to better help them bring the fight to the enemy" said Dring. "These IDIQ contracts replace the expiring NSA Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA)."

The BOA is held by Chemring Military Products, Global Ordnance, Alliant Techsystems Operations LLC, Multinational Defense Services LLC, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, and Arma Global Corp.

The IDIQ contracting method was chosen over the BOA strictly to cut down the time it takes to get requirements on contract.

"The BOA was the better option at the time it was awarded, but in today's environment, the quick response time afforded by the IDIQ is a better tool to serve the end user," said Frank Altamura, Deputy PD NSA.

Since 2008, PD NSA has awarded over $1.3 Billion for munitions and mortar procurements.

The maximum value of the combined contracting effort is second among military non-DoD munitions contracts that have been awarded in the previous five years, according to Dring. Last year, PD NSA Office put $268 million on contract.

"Many new requirements are driving the growth of NSA as demonstrated in this contract award," said Dring. In the fall of 2017, the Army will stand up the first of its six security force assistance brigades who are solely dedicated to advising and assisting partner nations.

The U.S. Central Command will continue to support, train and equip the Iraqi, Afghanistan militaries and Afghanistan Police forces to help us fight in the Middle East.

"The need for non DoD standard ammunition and mortar weapon systems will not go away anytime soon, and these new IDIQ contracts are the right tools we need to support the counter ISIS and other requirements now and into the future as the U.S. military is increases partnerships with allied countries" said Dring.