WARFIGHTER ALWAYS

The Nation’s Combat Logistics Support Agency

Established 1961

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

DLA

DLA Clothing & Textiles 

Ballistic Helmets

Jennifer Scarpello 

IST Chief 

Safety Gear Team 

November 17, 2022
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 22 - $66.2M

• FY 21 - $67.7M

• FY 20 - $82.0M

• FY 19 - $79.0M
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS

Open Procurements 

• Enhanced Combat Helmet (ECH) - Full & Open 4-year 

Tier Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract 

– under evaluation; Projected award approximately 

January 2023

• ACH Suspension Pad Sets - Mandatory Source w/ Ability 

One – IDIQ contract Base + 4 twelve month options - Projected award Mid-November 2022

• Cover, Helmet ACH – Mandatory Source w/ Ability One – Five (5) Year Tier Contract – Projected award 

approximately March 2023 

• Integrated Helmet Protection System (IHPS) Helmet 

Cover – Mandatory Source w/ Ability One – IDIQ Three 

(3) Year Tier Contract – Projected award approximately 

January 2023
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS

Upcoming Opportunities 

• Advanced Combat Vehicle Crewman’s Helmet (ACVC-H) Liner – Full & Open – Fixed Quantity (15,000 units) – Solicitation 

April 2023 

• Integrated Head Protection System (IHPS) Modular Helmet 

Next Generation – Full & Open - Solicitation Issue 2Q2023 

• Integrated Head Protection System (IHPS) Night Vision 

Bracket & Rail Assembly – Full & Open – Solicitation Issue 

2Q2023

• Improved Retention System (IRS) for ACH – Mandatory 

Source w/ Ability One - Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity 

(IDIQ) Three (3) Year Tier Contract – Solicitation Issue 

November 2022 

• IRS for Enhanced Combat Helmet (ECH) – Mandatory Source 

w/ Ability One – IDIQ Three (3) Year Tier Contract – Solicitation 

Issue November 2022
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS

Safety Team Points of Contact 

• Michael Medora: Division Chief 

– michael.medora@dla.mil

– 215-737-3274

• Jennifer Scarpello: IST Supervisor

– Jennifer.scarpello@dla.mil

– 215-737-3164

• 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 215-737-0636 
WARFIGHTER ALWAYS WARFIGHTER ALWAYS

? ? ?

? ? ?

Questions

? ? ?
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

Controlled by: PEO SOLDIER

CUI Category: OPSEC

Distribution Statement B

Limited Dissemination Control: FEDCON

POC: Alex De Groot, 703-919-2161

16-17 November 2022

CUI

CUI
 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

CUI
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

CUI
The Next Generation 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

• Weight adjustments to ‘normalize’ areal density by 

size

• No-Hole design: retention system and NVD bracket 

mounted without the use of a through hole.

• Compatible with the PM SMS universal Helmet 

Mount Assembly (uHMA)

• Finished helmet consists of:

o Helmet shell

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

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

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

o Non-Powered, no-hole NVD Bracket PVS-7/14 Compatible 

o Left and Right Rail 

NG IHPS Product Overview 

CUI
Timeline:

• 1QFY23: Publish NG IHPS Full & Open Contract Solicitation

• 2QFY22: Deadline for Industry Proposals

• 3QFY23: Contract Award (minimum FAT)

• 1QFY24: First Article Test (FAT) samples due to Aberdeen Test Center (ATC)

• 3QFY24: First lot due to Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA)

Solicitation Parameters:

• Submitted proposals will be paper based only (no 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:

o Test data recommended but not required (no proof of design 

maturity without test data)

o Technology readiness levels

o Production capabilities

o Quality Management

NG IHPS Solicitation Overview 

CUI
• Only Vendors who pass FAT will be considered for Delivery Orders

• Vendors who fail FAT are allowed to re-FAT

o 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

CUI
IHPS and NG IHPS Requirements Comparison

Requirement IHPS NG IHPS

Weight Same Updated in new PD

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) 

CUI
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 Commend (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

CUI
Design Overview:

• Same design as the current IHPS mandible 

and visor 

• Compatible with the PM SMS universal 

Helmet Mount Assembly (uHMA)

• Visor consists of:

o One size fits all IHPS and NG IHPS helmets

o Visor Frame

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

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

• Mandible consists of:

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

o Attaches to IHPS and NG IHPS Rails

o Interoperable with IHPS Visor

Visor and Mandible 

Product Overview

CUI
Timeline:

• 2QFY23: Publish Mandible and Visor F&O Contact Solicitation

• 2QFY23: Deadline for Industry Proposals 

• 4QFY23: Contract Award (minimum FAT)

• 1QFY24: FAT samples due to ATC

• 3QFY24: 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

CUI
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

Mandible and Visor Technical 

Requirements (Summary) 

CUI
LTC Stephen Miller

Product Manager, Solider Protective Equipment

(703) 704-9321

stephen.e.miller.mil@army.mil

Ms. Sarah Coleman

Deputy Product Manager, Solider Protective Equipment t

(703) 704-0711

sarah.w.coleman.civ@army.mil

Team Chiefs Project Officers Assistant Product Managers

Mr. Benny Shepard

Project Officer

Body Armor

Office (703) 704-9476

E-mail: benny.j.shepard.civ@army.mil

Mr. Kyle Miller

Project Officer

Head Protection/Bomb Suit

Office (703) 704-1887

E-mail: kyle.h.miller.civ@army.mil

CPT John Davis

APM Bomb Suit

Office (703) 414-9333

E-mail: john.h.davis.mil@army.mil

CPT Brad McPherson

APM Head Protection

Office (703) 615-5706

E-mail: brad.m.mcpherson.mil@army.mil

CPT Kim Pierre-Zamora

APM Body Armor

Office (703) 704-4318

E-mail: kim.t.pierre-zamora.mil@army.mil

Mr. Jakob Hopping

Chief, Systems Engineering

Office (703) 704-4187

E-mail: jakob.a.hopping.civ@army.mil

Dr. Stephen Tedeschi

Chief, Quality Assurance

Office (703) 704-9326

E-mail: stephen.t.tedeschi.civ@army.mil

Mr. James Mentel

Chief, Operations & Plans

Office (703) 704-4672

E-mail: james.e.mentel.civ@army.mil

PdM SPE Points of Contact

CUI