As is customary at least since the days of the M14/M16 controversy, there is some confusion in the US Army when it comes to small arms procurement. A few days ago we told you about the Sub Compact Weapons (actually, submachine guns) program issued by the US Army Contracting Command-New Jersey: "A new submachine gun for the US Army". On July 2nd a further notice announced that the program is cancelled, or at least paused because “the Government is in the process of establishing new requirements for the Sub Compact Weapon Program and will announce the changes on fbo.gov within the next two weeks.”
But on the same day, July 2nd, the same US Army Contracting Command-New Jersey announced that it intends “to solicit, negotiate, and award a sole source contract to SIG Sauer (…) for the purchase and delivery of the commercially available various SIG Sauer Systems (firearms), namely the SP2022, MPX, and the MCX along with silencers and associated accessories to include magazines and spare parts.”
Undisclosed destination and indefinite quantity
The US Army Contracting Command goes on to say that “the contemplated effort will be a Firm Fixed Priced (FFP) Purchase Order to be completed once the kits are delivered 14 days after award. SIG Sauer was the only company identified through market research that could provide the necessary various SIG Sauer Systems (firearms).”
The order is unrelated to the Sub Compact Weapon Program mentioned at the beginning. Anyway, the weapons mentioned are rather disparate and different, going from a polymer-framed 9mm pistol (the SP2022) to a modular assault rifle/carbine (the MCX) through a submachine gun (the MPX). Silencers should be the SRD9 pistol model. Quantities also are indefinite – from 500 to 5000 and depending on the weapon. Lastly, it’s not even been disclosed what these non-standard weapons will be used for or for which units.
At the end of the day, let’s wait and see what comes of it. We will keep you informed of developments
07.18.2019
