Individual 

Equipment, 

Body Armor 

& Load 

Bearing 

Items
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS

The Nation’s Combat Logistics Support Agency

Established 1961

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

DLA

62

DLA 

Clothing & Textiles 

Body Armor & 

Loadbearing 

Equipment Items

Catherine Dillon

IST Chief, Individual Equipment

November 2023
As of November 03, 2023 WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS 63

Product Line Overview

Ground Troops Body Armor

• USMC Plate Carrier Generation 

III

• Modular Scalable Vest 

• Ballistic Combat Shirt

• Legacy Enhanced Small Arms 

Protective Inserts (ESAPI) and 

Enhanced Side Ballistic Inserts 

(ESBI)

• Vital Torso Protection (VTP) 

ESAPI and ESBI

• USMC ESAPI and Lightweight 

Plates

Load Carrying Equipment

• Modular Lightweight Loadbearing 

Equipment (MOLLE)

• USMC Pack System

Miscellaneous Items

• Various bags

• Hammocks

• Canteens

• Trunks

• Belts
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS 64

Obligations

Fiscal Year 2023 Funding Actions

• Planned - $450,367,841

• Actual - $ 479,641,446 

Fiscal Year 2024 Funding Action Plan

• Total Funding Action Plan - $302,445,982
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS 65

Open Procurements

First Quarter FY 2024 Awards

• MOLLE Components – 23-R-0003 

• Insect Net Protector* – 23-R-0097

Third Quarter FY 2024 Awards

• Hydration Bladders* –24-R-0003

• Hydration Carrier* – 23-R-0113

• Hydration System* –24-R-0009 

• Barracks Bag* - 24-R-TBD – Closes 

December 2023

• Modular Scalable Vest – 23-R-0061 

Fourth Quarter FY 2024 Awards

• USMC Lightweight Plates – 23-R-0078 –

Closes November 29th

• USMC Main Pack Liner – 24-R-0014 –

Closes November 24th

*Indicates an item produced under 

the AbilityOne Program. 

Second Quarter FY 2024 Awards

• Laundry Bag* – 23-R-0099

• Shower Pail Collapsible – 23-R-0010

• Whistle Ball* – 23-R-0131 

• USMC Plate Carrier – 21-R-0049

• Two Quart Canteen* – 23-R-0115 

• MOLLE 4000* - 23-R-0014 & -0019
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS

Changes in Procurement Strategies 

for Body Armor

• Contract minimums will be a separate contract line item number (CLIN) for 

first article testing. Offered pricing shall include the cost of the samples to be 

tested and the testing cost. 

• Ordering/Periods of Performance:

– First Article Period: This period will begin at contract award through first 

article approval. Solicitations will provide an estimated timeline of the 

FAT process and once FAT is approved a modification will be issued to 

list the dates of each of the ordering periods. 

– Ordering Periods: Ordering periods for quantity beyond FAT/contract 

minimum will begin at first article approval. Typically, there will be three 

(3) ordering/tiered price periods and each will be 12 months in duration. 

– The total length of the resultant contracts will not exceed five (5) years. 

As of November 03, 2023 66
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS 67

Upcoming Opportunities

ESAPI

• Made in accordance with CO-PD-04-19 revision J, 

amendment 3, dated July 24, 2020 

• Solicitation: SPE1C1-24-R-0010 – estimated issuance: 

February 2024

• Two (2) award lots:

• Lot 1: 100% Total Small Business Set Aside

• Lot 2: Unrestricted with a 10% HUBZone Price 

Evaluation Factor

• Best value tradeoff procedures with past performance

• Points of Contract – Kimberly Sabo & Michelle Falkowski
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS 68

Upcoming Opportunities

ESAPI Quantities

Min. Qty AEQ Max. Qty Monthly 

Capacity

Lot 1 FAT Samples 48,533 182,400 6,400

Lot 2 FAT Samples 48,533 182,400 6,400
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS 69

Upcoming Opportunities

VTP – ESAPI and ESBI

• Made in accordance with AR/PD 13-01 revision G dated 

October 17, 2022

• Solicitation: TBD – estimated issuance: March 2024 

• Four (4) award lots:

• Lot 1 / ESAPI: 100% Total Small Business Set Aside

• Lot 2 / ESAPI: Unrestricted with a 10% HUBZone Price 

Evaluation Factor

• Lot 3 / ESBI: 100% Total Small Business Set Aside

• Lot 4 / ESBI: Unrestricted with a 10% HUBZone Price 

Evaluation Factor

• Best value tradeoff with passing ballistic and non-ballistic tests 

and past performance

• Points of Contract – Jessica Reilly & Maria Aguayo 
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS 70

Upcoming Opportunities

VTP – ESAPI and ESBI

Min. Qty AEQ Max. Qty

Lot #1 - ESAPI FAT Samples 40,000 150,400

Lot #2 - ESAPI FAT Samples 40,000 150,400

Lot #3 – ESBI FAT Samples 32,000 121,600

Lot #4 – ESBI FAT Samples 32,000 121,600
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS 71

Upcoming Opportunities

Ballistic Combat Shirts (Universal and 

Female)

• Made in accordance with AR/PD 15-06 Revision E & first time 

buy for DLA-TS

• Solicitation number: TBD – estimated issuance: March 2024

• Set aside type and the use of procurement note DTS01 

Material Costs Economic Price Adjustment will be determined 

by market research 

• Best value tradeoff procedures with passing ballistic and non- ballistic tests, product demonstration models, and Past 

performance – performance confidence assessment as 

evaluation factors.

• Points of Contract – Alex Salim & Michelle Falkowski
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS 72

Upcoming Opportunities

Ballistic Combat Shirts (Universal and Female)

Min. Qty AEQ Max. Qty

Universal Base Shirt Assemblies FAT Samples 204,800 768,000

Universal Deltoid Assemblies FAT Samples 137,600 516,000

Female Base Shirt Assemblies FAT Samples 51,200 192,000

Female Deltoid Assemblies FAT Samples 34,400 129,000

The Government reserves the right to order any combination of universal or 

female items within these stated quantities.
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS 73

Upcoming Opportunities

Blast Pelvic Protector

• Made in accordance with AR/PD 15-04 Revision E dated 

TBD

• Army will supply request package for this item and it will 

be a first time buy for DLA-TS

• Set aside type and the use of procurement note DTS01 

Material Costs Economic Price Adjustment will be 

determined by market research 

• Best value tradeoff procedures with PDMs and past 

performance – performance confidence assessment. 

• Point of Contract – Catherine Dillon
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS

Upcoming Opportunities

Canteen Cup

• Made in accordance with MIL-C-43761 revision C dated 

March 25, 1998

• A purchase exception was granted by the AbilityOne

Commission to purchase 112,000 cups competitively

• The solicitation will be issued in December 2023 on an 

unrestricted basis

• Lowest price technically acceptable approach with 

specification sheets and certificates of conformance

• Point of Contract – Kimberly Sabo and Maria Aguayo

As of November 03, 2023 74
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS 75

Upcoming Opportunities

MOLLE 4000

• Made in accordance with CO-PD-02-02 Revision P dated May 2023

• Solicitation number: SPE1C1-23-R-0065 – estimated issuance: 

December 2023

• Four (4) award lots:

• Lots 1 and 2: Unrestricted with a 10% HUBZone Price Evaluation 

Factor

• Lot 3: 100% Total Small Business Set Aside

• Lot 4: 100% HUBZone Set Aside

• Best value tradeoff procedures with PDMs & past performance 

• Tiered priced contract with 36-month ordering period – each tier is 12 

months 

• Uses procurement note DTS01 Material Costs Economic Price 

Adjustment

• Points of Contract – Michelle Falkowski and Maria Aguayo 
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS 76

Upcoming Opportunities

MOLLE 4000 Quantities

Min. Qty AEQ Max. Qty

Lot 1 32,000 88,000 650,295

Lot 2 32,000 88,000 650,295

Lot 3 16,000 44,000 165,000

Lot 4 16,000 44,000 165,000
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS 77

Upcoming Opportunities

Large Rucksack and Components

• Made in accordance with purchase description YAGC 89-4A 

dated September 21, 2011

• Solicitation number: TBD – estimated issuance: February 2024 

• The load lifter attachment straps & enhanced frame shoulder 

straps are mandatory sourced items under the AbilityOne Program and the awardee must purchase these items 

accordingly 

• Set aside type and the use of procurement note DTS01 Material 

Costs Economic Price Adjustment will be determined by market 

research 

• Best value tradeoff procedures with PDMs & past performance 

• Tiered priced contract with 36-month ordering period – each tier 

is 12 months 

• Points of Contact – Kimberly Sabo & Michelle Falkowski
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS 78

Upcoming Opportunities

Large Rucksack and Components Quantities

Min. Qty AEQ Max. Qty Monthly 

Capacity*

MOLLE Large Field Pack Set 3,750 15,000 56,250 1,600

Rucksack, Large Field Pack 2,000 8,000 30,000 850

Sustainment Pouch 0 1,500 5,625 175

MOLLE Pack Frame 0 4,000 15,000 500

Molded Waist Belt 0 1,500 5,625 175

Buckle, Male, Shoulder Suspension 0 1,500 5,625 175

Large Ruck Flap 0 1,500 5,625 175

* The monthly capacity is the minimum the Government will require; however, if 

your company can exceed this quantity, please state so in your market research 

response.
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS 79

Upcoming Opportunities

USMC Dump Pouch

• Made in accordance with GL-PD-12-03 dated February 23, 

2012

• Solicitation number: TBD – estimated issuance: February 2024

• Set aside type and the use of procurement note DTS01 

Material Costs Economic Price Adjustment will be determined 

by market research

• Lowest price technically acceptable approach with PDMs

• Tiered priced contract with 36-month ordering period – each 

tier is 12 months 

• Minimum quantity: 2,325 each / AEQ: 9,3000 each / Maximum 

quantity: 41,850

• Points of Contract – David Falkowski & Jessica Reilly
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS 80

Team POCs

Division Support

Michael Medora, Division Chief

(215) 737-3274

michael.medora@dla.mil

Maria Aguayo, Contracting Officer 

(215) 737-5701

maria.aguayo@dla.mil 

Michelle Falkowski, Contracting Officer 

(215) 737-5479

michelle.falkowski@dla.mil

Jessica Reilly, Contacting Officer

(215) 737-0879

jessica.reilly@dla.mil

 

Individual Equipment IST

Catherine Dillon, Supervisory Integrated Acquisition 

Specialist/Contracting Officer

(215) 737-2497 / Catherine.Dillon@dla.mil

David Falkowski, Acquisition Specialist

(215) 737- 5395 / David.Falkowski@dla.mil 

Casandra Rogers, Acquisition Specialist

(215) 737- 3012 / Casandra.rogers@dla.mil

Kimberly Sabo, Acquisition Specialist

(215) 737-7006 / kimberly.sabo@dla.mil

Alex Salim, Acquisition Specialist

(215) 737-5112 / alex.salim@dla.mil

Ronald Thomas, Acquisition Specialist

(215) 737-2291 / Ronald.thomas@dla.mil

Kiaralis Velez-Santiago 

215-737-TBD / kiaralis.velezsantiago@dla.mil
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS 81
Product Manager 

Soldier Protective Equipment

LTC Kenneth Elgort

Product Manager

Soldier ProtectiveEquipment

Sarah Coleman

Deputy ProductManager

Soldier ProtectiveEquipment

Product Manager Soldier Protective Equipment 

(PdM SPE)

Joint Advanced Planning Brief to Industry 

Body Armor Session

Every Ounce Matters, Every Bullet Counts

15-16 November 2023
83

Agenda

 Opening Remarks

 Mission, Vision, and Priorities

 Vital Torso Protection (VTP) Purchase Description (PD) 

Development Overview

 VTP Plate Testing Overview

 X-Variant Discussion

Please Note Change of Address:

Product Manager Soldier Protective Equipment (PdM SPE)

10125 Kingman Road, Bldg 317

Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5862
84

Mission, Vision, and Priorities

Mission

To increase Warfighter lethality, survivability, and 

mobility by delivering cutting edge Soldier protective 

equipment

Vision

To continuously optimize Soldier protective 

equipment based on operational threats and deliver 

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

time

Principles

Understand user needs

Have a plan/roadmap

Be responsive 

Simplicity matters

Data supported decisions

Fiscally Responsible

Priority 2 – Deliver Capability

 Right Soldier, right time, right 

place

• Support fieldings and RFI

• Maintain industrial base

• Understand supply chain risks

• Pursue flexible contract options

• Stay current on operating 

environment and threats

 

Priority 1 – People & Networks

 Build the team internally and 

externally 

• Balance workload

• Recognize, reward, and promote

• Build predictability into the 

workplace 

• Work across PM lines / integrate 

early 

• Nurture stakeholder relationships

Priority 3 – Improve & Innovate

 Continuous optimization

• Transparency with roadmap

• Track Industry and S&T 

advancements to better manage 

technology transition 

• Seek and incorporate User feedback

• Pursue inter-service efforts and 

collaboration 
FOUO

Body Armor Team

Product Manager Soldier ProtectiveEquipment 

Every Ounce Matters, Every Bullet Counts

APM: MAJ Pierre-Zamora 

Program Executive Office Soldier 

peosoldier.army.mil
Pre-Decisional

Soldier Protection System (SPS)

86
Pre-Decisional

87

Body Armor

Torso Extremity Protection (TEP)

Modular Scalable Vest (MSV)

Blast Pelvic Protector (BPP)

Female Ballistic Combat Shirt

(FBCS)

Female/Small Stature Specific Adjustments

 Female Ballistic Combat Shirt (FBCS)

• Five (5) sizes for female Soldiers: XS, SM, 

MED, LG,XL

• Shorter arm lengths

• Hair bun cut-out in the back of the collar

• Flared sweep at hips and to prevent the shirt 

from riding up

Modular Scalable Vest

(MSV)

Ballistic Combat Shirt (BCS)

 Modular Scalable Vest (MSV) – Unisex 

• System is modular enabling the operator to wear components together as a system or each 

component separately

• 8 Sizes: Extra Small Short (XS-S), Extra Small (XS), Small Short (SS), Small Long (SL), Small 

(S), Medium (M), Large (L), Extra Large (XL)

• Sized to fit virtually all Soldiers

• Customizable from a concealable carrier to full Assault profile

• Accepts soft armor and Shooter Cut ballistic plates

 Ballistic Combat Shirt (BCS)

• Provides ballistic fragmentation protection and flame-resistant protection to the Soldier

• Multi-fabric design using three separate flame-resistant cloths for the main outer garment 

construction; one for the deltoid, yoke, and collar, and two for the sleeve components 

• There are five standard unisex and five standard female sizes (XS, SM, MED, LG,XL)

 Blast Pelvic Protector (BPP) – Unisex 

• Six (6) core sizes (XS, SM, MD, LG, XL, XXL) available

 Modular Scalable Vest (MSV) – Unisex 

• Three (3) expanded sizes for female and 

small statured Soldiers are Small-Long, 

Small-Short, and X-Small-Short

• Two (2) expanded size plate carriers 

(6x6, 6x8) to accommodate female 

and small statured Soldiers currently

available

TEP and VTP Goals:

 Development of a light ballistic plate technology that matches or exceeds the current 

performance thresholds

 Establish production of hard and soft armor systems for small stature Soldiers

 Investigate improved soft armor material solutions aimed increasing mobility, flexibility and 

weight reduction

Torso Extremity Protection 

(TEP)
Pre-Decisional

88

 Continued work with industry to refine the Improved Geometry (Shooter’s 

Cut) Enhanced Small Arms Protective Insert (ESAPI)

 Because of the success of industry and technology to meet or 

exceed our current threshold (7%), the Value Adjusted Total 

Evaluated (Unit) Price (VATEP) ceiling will increase for future fair 

opportunities to further incentivize weight savings.

 Fielding priority Close Combat Soldiers in accordance with HQDA

 Plan is to transition VTP to DLA for sustainment in the next fiscal 

year

 All future sustainment contracts will be modified to reflect the 

Shooter’s Cut design

 Intent is to place X variants into a contingency stock

 The Army is reevaluating the X-Variant requirements

Vital Torso Protection (VTP) Plate Update
Pre-Decisional

89

1: Increase statistical significance of testing on behalf of the Soldier 

2: Improve operational relevancy of testing on behalf of the Soldier

3: Improve alignment to directed requirements on behalf of all partners

4: Improve usability on behalf of our industry partners and everyday users 

VTP PD Update Goals
MODULAR LIGHTWEIGHT LOAD-CARRYING EQUIPMENT 

(MOLLE)

16 November 2023 Every Ounce Matters, 

Every Bullet Counts

Blaise Liess

Assistant Product Manager, SCIE

blaise.p.liess.civ@army.mil

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED
Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment 

(MOLLE) Close Combat Sets

91

Description: 

 The MOLLE Close Combat Rifleman set consists of:

• Modular Belt System (1)

• Single Mag Pouch (3)

• Double Mag Pouch (2)

• Dump Pouch (1)

 The MOLLE Close Combat Automatic Weapon Set consists of:

• Modular Belt System (1)

• Fifty Round Pouch (2)

• One Hundred Round Pouch (3)

• Dump Pouch (1)

 Note: These two new sets of the MOLLE system are not replacing any 

existing MOLLE sets. They satisfy a new need of the user community.

 Transition to Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support (DLA-TS) is 

expected in early FY24

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED
MOLLE M320 Grenade Launch Holster 

92

Description: 

 A simple/low profile textile carrying device for the M320 Grenade 

Launcher 

Current Status: 

 Test items are currently being evaluated.

Future Contracts: 

 FY24 could bring solicitation for production quantities

 Small business set aside is anticipated 

 Estimated contract quantity is 14,000/ea.

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED
MOLLE 4000 Frame Material

93

Additional Sources Sought for Resin

 Polymer Material Requirements:

1) Injection Molded Thermoplastic

2) Ultra-violet (UV) Stabilized

3) Impact Modified Polymer

4) Chemical Resistant to DEET, lube/oil/petroleum/gun cleaning solvents

5) Environmental Temperature Range: -40F to 160F

6) Specific Gravity NTE 1.25 (ASTM D 792), 1.21 (ASTM D 792)

7) Flex Modulus 1.2 mm/min,50 mm span: 2290 MPa (ASTM D 790)- yes, 2290 MPa 

(ASTM D 790)

8) Tensile Strain, brk/Type I/50 mm/min (ASTM D 638): 145%- yes, 147% (ASTM D 638)

9) Must display ductile failure properties when pierced by a high-speed projectile 

without evidence of propagating fractures or fragmentation

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED
MOLLE Knit Material

94

Additional Sources Sought for Knit Material Used in MOLLE Molded 

Rucksack Belts

 Knit Material Requirements:

• Tan 499, 7.6 oz/ly, nylon (ASTM D4966, medium wear minimal WT loss 

at 160,000 cycles) for lamination to 2 lb. cross-linked polyethylene.

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED
Questions

6