Update: The U.S. has announced three more manufacturers in the running for its sub compact weapon.
ORIGINAL STORY
Last month, the U.S. Army issued a RFI for a new Sub Compact Weapon. Naturally, speculation was rampant about which companies were in the running to get the contract. We now have a better idea, as the service just announced it intends on awarding a sole source contract to 10 different manufacturers for commercially available off-the-shelf Sub Compact Weapons.
The notice defines the Sub Compact Weapon as a “highly concealable” system that can engage threats with “a high volume of lethal and accurate fires at close range with minimal collateral damage.” In terms of specifics, we know the service is looking for a select-fire 9x19mm weapon with a MIL-STD-1913 rail.
You may be asking yourself why the Army wants a new subgun. The notice breaks it down thusly:
The acquisition of the SCW is essential in meeting the agency’s requirement to support Product Manager, Individual Weapons mission to assess commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) SCWs in order to fill a capability gap in lethality and concealability. The SCW are being procured for further evaluation and testing. This evaluation will help to inform current capabilities for the Capability Production Document for the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence. Currently, Personal Security Detail (PSD) military personnel utilize pistols and rifles, however, there is an operational need for additional concealability and lethality. Failure to provide the selected SCW for assessment and evaluation will leave PSD military personnel with a capability gap which can result in increased war fighter casualties and jeopardize the success of the U.S. mission.
The Army says that in addition to the Sub Compact Weapon itself, it wants the magazines, cleaning kits, suppressors, specialized tool kits, spare parts, slings, carrying cases and manuals that go along with it.
Without further ado, here are the 10 companies getting a sole source contract for the Sub Compact Weapon, along with the model made by the company and the dollar amount of the contract. The anticipated award date is July 2018.
Army Sub Compact Weapon Contenders
Award Number: W15QKN-18-P-0034
Awardee: Colt’s Manufacturing Company LLC for CM9MM-9H-M5A, Colt Modular 9mm Sub Compact Weapon
Amount: $22,000Award Number: W15QKN-18-P-0037
Awardee: Beretta USA Corporation for Beretta PMX Sub Compact Weapon
Amount: $16,000Award Number: W15QKN-18-P-0038
Awardee: CMMG, Inc. for CMMG Ultra PDW Sub Compact Weapon
Amount: $8,500Award Number: W15QKN-18-P-0039
Awardee: CZ-USA for CZ Scorpion EVO 3 A1 Submachinegun
Amount: $14,490Award Number: W15QKN-18-P-0040
Awardee: Lewis Machine & Tool Company for MARS-L9 Compact Suppressed Weapon
Amount: $21,900Award Number: W15QKN-18-P-0041
Awardee: PTR Industries, Inc. for PTR 9CS Sub Compact Weapon
Amount: $12,060Award Number: W15QKN-18-P-0042
Awardee: Quarter Circle 10 LLC 5.5 CLT and 5.5 QV5 Sub Compact Weapon
Amount: $24,070Award Number: W15QKN-18-P-0043
Awardee: SIG SAUER, Inc. for SIG SAUER MPX Sub Compact Weapon
Amount: $20,160Award Number: W15QKN-18-P-0044
Awardee: Trident Rifles, LLC for B&T MP9 Machine Guns
Amount: $36,000Award Number: W15QKN-18-P-0045
Awardee: Zenith Firearms for Z-5RS, Z-5P and Z-5K Sub Compact Weapons
Amount: $39,060
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