Companies successfully challenge $237M Army award to Amentum
Gettyimages.com/Zhanna Danilova
By
Nick Wakeman
The Army backs away from its award for protective equipment following a pair of protests, so the branch can re-evaluate proposals and make a new award decision.
Two companies are back in the running for a $237.1 million Army task order to improve protective equipment worn by soldiers.
Mag Aerospace and DCS Corp. went to the Government Accountability Office in August after Amentum won the Product Manager Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment task order. The goal is to support soldiers in all environments and improve survivability, protection, mobility and sustainability.
DCS is the incumbent on the existing contract. MAG and DCS argued that the Army misevaluated proposals and reached an incorrect best-value tradeoff decision.
In its corrective action, the Army said it will re-evaluate proposals and make a new award decision.
The task order was competed under the RS3 vehicle. The winner will provide engineering, quality assurance and test support, acquisition support, business management support, logistics and fielding support, operations support, and administrative support.
Equipment being studied includes boots, combat uniforms and the Ghillie suit accessory kit.
A Ghillie suit is camouflage that snipers often wear. The accessory kit can include items such as netting, straps, face paint and attachment hardware a soldier can use to customize their suit to different environments.
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