The Nation’s Combat Logistics Support Agency Established 1961

WARFIGHTER ALWAYS

DLA Clothing & Textiles 

Ballistic Helmets

Raymond Jacquette 

IST Supervisor, Safety Team 

Nov 18, 2021
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS

Product Line Overview

• Safety Team Stats

– Overall manage approx. 900 different items

– Items include:

• Ballistic Helmets and components (Retention Systems, Pad 

(Suspension) Systems, Covers)

• Flyers Helmets and components (Visors, Chin Straps, ...)

• Anti-G Garments

• Anti-Exposure Garments

– Sales

• FY 21 - $67.7M

• FY 20 - $82.0M

• FY 19 - $79.0M

• FY 18 - $79.1M
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS

Open Procurements

• ACH Gen II – under evaluation. Project award of Group 1 

in Dec 2021, Group 2 approximately May 2022.

• ACVC – under evaluation. Project award Dec 2021

• ACH Suspension Pad Sets (mandatory source / Ability 

One)
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS

Upcoming Opportunities

• ACH Covers (OCP) – (Mandatory Source / Ability One)

– Proposed issue 2nd Qtr FY ’22

• ECH Helmets – Full and Open.

– Proposed issue 2nd Qtr FT ‘22

• IHPS

– Covers (Mandatory Source / Ability One)

– Helmets

– Other Components (Side Rails / Shield / Mandible)
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS

Team POCs

• Michael Medora: Division Chief 

– michael.medora@dla.mil

– 215-737-3274

• Ray Jacquette: IST Supervisor

– raymond.jacquette@dla.mil

– 215-737-8079

• Dan Price: Contracting Officer

– daniel.price@dla.mil

– 215-737-8101

• Contract Specialists:

– Mara Cremen: mara.cremen@dla.mil 215-737-8094

– Lisa Pizzo: lisa.pizzo@dla.mil 215-737-8076 

– Bob Rounay: robert.rounay@dla.mil 215-737-7123

– Ed Klos: edward.klos@dla.mil 215-737-8105

– David Falkowski: david.falkowski@dla.mil 215-737-5395 

– Rabah Yisrael: rabahben.yisrael@dla.mil
Product Manager 

Soldier Protective Equipment

LTC Stephen Miller 

Product Manager

Soldier ProtectiveEquipment

Sarah Coleman

Deputy ProductManager

Soldier ProtectiveEquipment

Product Manager Soldier Protective 

Equipment (PM SPE)

Joint Advanced Planning Brief to Industry 

Head Protection Session

Every Ounce Matters, Every Bullet Counts

18 Nov 21
 Opening Remarks

 Mission, Vision, and Priorities

 Next Generation Integrated Head Protection System (NG IHPS) 

 Product Overview

 Solicitation Timeline

 Solicitation Requirements

 Technical Requirements

 IHPS Visor and Mandible 

 Product Overview

 Solicitation Timeline

 Solicitation Requirements

 Technical Requirements

Agenda
Mission

To increase the Warfighter’s lethality and mobility by 

optimizing Soldier protection and effectively serving 

as the Lifecycle Manager for all personal protective

equipment

Vision

To continuously improve Soldier Survivability by delivering 

the right equipment, to the right Soldier, at the right time 

Principles

User Driven

Continuously Improved

Supportable Cradle to Grave

Timely

Fiscally Responsible

Priority 1 – Deliver Capability

 Right Soldier, right time, right 

place

• Support RFI

• Support delta fieldings as 

required – e.g. 82nd, SFAB

• Carry forward virtual 

operations lessons learned 

into routine practice

• Continue to work with 

Stakeholders to increase 

helmet level protection and 

reduce weight 

• Stakeholder relationships

Priority 2 – Personnel Care

 Build the team

• Encourage team members to 

pursue professional 

development opportunities

• Recognize, reward, and 

promote

• Continuously improve 

operational environment for 

teammates– encourage 

maximum leave, minimize 

early/late meetings, share the 

load wherever possible

Priority 3 – Improve and Innovate

 Continuous collaboration

• Pursue inter-service efforts

• Support Industry and S&T 

partners

• Seek and incorporate user 

feedback, both deliberately 

(HFEs) and though opportunity 

(Stakeholder engagement) 

Mission, Vision, and Priorities
The Next Generation Integrated Head Protection System (NG IHPS) Helmet is a 

program initiated by the Army and driven by advancements in ballistic material.

Design Overview:

• Same design as the currently procured IHPS 

helmet with increased ballistic protection

• No-Hole design: retention system and Night Vision 

Device (NVD) bracket mounted without the use of 

a through hole.

• Compatible with the Product Manager Soldier 

Maneuver Sensors (PdM SMS) Universal Helmet 

Mount Assembly (uHMA)

• Finished helmet consists of:

 Helmet shell

 Retention System (same as IHPS – Ability One mandate procurement)

 Suspension System (same as IHPS – Ability One mandate procurement)

 Cover (same as IHPS – Ability One mandate procurement)

 Non-Powered NVD Bracket PVS-7/14 Compatible 

 Left and Right Rail (same design as IHPS)

NG IHPS Product Overview
• Timeline:

 2QFY22: Publish NG IHPS Full and Open Contract Solicitation

 3QFY22: Deadline for Industry Proposals (45 days after solicitation)

 1QFY23: Contract award (minimum First Article Testing (FAT))

 3QFY23: FAT samples due to Aberdeen Test Center (ATC) (120 days 

after contract award)

 1QFY24: First lot due to Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA)

• Solicitation Parameters:

 Submitted proposals will be paper based only (no Production 

Demonstration Model (PDM) samples)

 Down-selection will be based on review of paper proposals and plant visits

 Vendors that demonstrate design and manufacturing maturity will have an 

advantage:

 Test data recommended but not required (no proof of design maturity 

without test data)

 Technology readiness levels

 Production capabilities

 Quality Management

NG IHPS Solicitation Overview
• Only Vendors who pass FAT will be considered for Delivery 

Orders

• Vendors who fail FAT are allowed to re-FAT

 Re-FAT test and sample costs are fully covered by respective 

Vendor

• Delivery Orders quantities will be based on availability of funding

• Delivery Orders will be competed via Fair Opportunity procedures 

to Vendors who pass FAT

• Vendors who pass a re-FAT will have the opportunity to compete 

for the next fair opportunity Delivery Order option

NG IHPS Delivery Orders Overview
IHPS and NG IHPS Requirements 

Requirement IHPS Comparison NG IHPS

Weight Same Same

Fragmentation Same Same

9mm RTP 1,400 fps Not Required

9mm BTD R/L/C: 17.1 mm

F/B: 26.5 Not Required

Threat M RTP Same Same

Threat P RTP (FAT/LAT) NA 2,400 fps at 0°, 20°, and 40°

obliquities

Threat P V50 (FAT) NA 0° Obliquity (based on funding)

V50 FRAG 2, 4, 16, 17, 64-grain Same

V50 FRAG High Speed (FAT) NA 17-grain (Reference Only)

V50 FRAG High Speed (LAT) NA 17-grain (compare against FAT)

Blunt Impact Same Same

NG IHPS Technical Requirements 

(Summary)
Process for new Retention and Suspension System Design Considerations

• New (proposed) design must provide benefit over current systems

 Increased protection

 Lower weight

 Increased comfort

 Lower cost

 No negative effect on helmet real-estate

• Interested vendors are responsible for acquiring helmets and performing FAT 

level testing at ATC 

• Demonstrate production relationship with Ability One

• Army Contracting Command (ACC) Contracts: Government will not procure 

directly from vendors; vendors need to establish a contractual relationship with 

helmet manufacturer(s)

• DLA Contracts: will establish fair opportunity procedures with competed delivery 

orders

NG IHPS Technical Requirements
• Design Overview:

 Same design as the current IHPS 

mandible and visor 

 Compatible with the PM SMS universal 

Helmet Mount Assembly (uHMA)

• Visor consists of:

 One size fits all IHPS and NG IHPS helmets

 Visor Frame

 NVD Mount (IHPS, NG IHPS and uHMA compatible)

 Lens (to meet requirements delineated in AR/PD 17-05)

• Mandible consists of:

 Two size compatible with (1) IHPS SM/MD/LG and (2) XL

 Attaches to IHPS and NG IHPS Rails

 Interoperable with IHPS Visor

Visor and Mandible 

Product Overview 
• Timeline:

 2QFY22: Publish Mandible and Visor F&O contact solicitation

 3QFY22: Deadline for Industry proposals 

 1QFY23: Contract award (minimum FAT)

 2QFY23: FAT samples due to ATC

 3QFY23: First lot due to DCMA

• Solicitation Parameters:

 Vendors to provide test data from ATC as part of proposals

 Mandible: 17-gr V50, Blunt Impact, Area of Coverage

 Visor: 17-gr RTP, Blast Protection, Optical Requirements, Area of 

Coverage 

 Vendors to provide PDM samples to Program Office for evaluation as part of 

proposal

 Down-selection will be based on review of test data, PDM samples, and paper 

proposals (Quality Management Plans, Small Business Participation, Past 

Performance, and Price)

 Vendors can issue proposals for either mandible or visor, or both mandible and 

visor

Visor and Mandible 

Solicitation Overview
Component Requirement Requirement Definition

Mandible

Weight 1.05 lbs (all sizes)

Fragmentation (V50) 17-gr at 1,850 ft/sec (A, H, C, SW)

Blunt Impact 15 g max at 5 ft/sec (A, H, C)

Blunt Impact Deflection 1.0 inches max at 5 ft/sec (A, H, C)

Visor

Weight 0.45 lbs (visor), 0.25 lbs (sleeve)

Fragmentation (RTP) 17-gr at 580-590 ft/sec (A, H, C, SW)

Blast Protection 14 psi shock tube simulated

Optics

Distortion

Luminous transmittance

Ultraviolet absorption

Neutrality

Chromaticity

Visor and Mandible Technical 

Requirements (Summary)