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DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

AMERICA’S COMBAT LOGISTICS SUPPORT AGENCY

WARFIGHTER FIRST - PEOPLE & CULTURE - STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT - FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP - PROCESS EXCELLENCE

Hard/Soft Body Armor

Mark Twardziak

November 16, 2017
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2

Individual Equipment Team - Ballistic Items

Mark Twardziak, Individual Equipment IST Chief

Hard Body Armor Items

• Enhanced Small Arms Protective Inserts (ESAPI)

• Enhanced Side Ballistic Inserts (ESBI)

Soft Body Armor Items

• Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV) Generation IV

• Plate Carrier, Generation II

• IOTV Generation III Components & Conversion Kits

• Protective Undergarment (PUG)

• Family of Concealable Body Armor (FoCBA)
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Unique Procurement Requirements

Ballistic Items

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Section 814 

prohibits the use of reverse auction or low price technical acceptable 

source selection criteria 

Critical Safety Item (CSI) Performance Specification

 Engineering Support Activity (ESA) - Specifications & Quality Assurance

- Army (PM SPE) All Hard Armor and IOTV, FoCBA

- Marines (PdM ICE) Plate Carrier, PUG

 Withholding of Material Review Board (MRB)

 Technical Data Package (TDP) “contractor’s design”

 Subcontractor and Supplier Management Plan

 Production Process Package (PPP)

 Production Readiness Review (PRR) Audit

 First Article Testing & Lot Acceptance Testing - Aberdeen Test Center
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Hard Armor 

Fiscal Year 2018 Procurement Plans

 Solicitation SPE1C1-17-R-0114 for ESBI

 Issued 9/15/2017; Closes 11/27/2017

 Indefinite Quantity, 4 Year Contract Pending

 Single Curve Side Plate

 Three (3) Sizes; Small, Medium & Large
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Hard Armor 

Fiscal Year 2018 Procurement Plans

 ESAPI Solicitation Pending

 Market Research Issued 10/13/2017

 Potential for Split Award; Small Business Set-Aside

 Solicitation Planned for December 2017

 Indefinite Quantity, 4 Year Contract Pending

 Multi-Curved Torso Plate

 Five (5) Sizes; XS, S, M, L, XL

 Total Quantities

 Minimum 45,500 each

 Annual Estimated 182,000 each

 Annual Order Limitation 273,000 each
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Soft Armor

Fiscal Year 2018 Procurement Plans

 Solicitation SPE1C1-17-R-0102 for IOTV Gen III 

components & Conversion Kits

 Closed 8/29/2017

 Indefinite Quantity, 2 Year Contract Pending
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Soft Armor

Fiscal Year 2018 Procurement Plans

 Protective Undergarment (PUG)

 Market Survey Issued 10/5/2017

 Annual Estimated Quantity 82,490 each

 Solicitation Issuance Planned December

 Indefinite Quantity, 4 Year Contract (Initial Ordering 

Period 1 year, plus 3 Option Years

 Total Small Business Set-Aside

 Best Value, Trade-Off

• PDM/Ballistic/Weight Data (Pass/Fail) 

• Past Performance (Adjectival Rating)
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Soft Armor

Fiscal Year 2018 Procurement Plans 

 Family of Concealable Body Armor (FoCBA) 

 Market Research to be Issued 

 Solicitation Planned for January/February 2018

 Indefinite Quantity, 4 Year Contract Pending
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Procurement Team 

Division Support Individual Equipment IST

Maria Aguayo, Contracting Officer Mark Twardziak, Chief

(215) 737-5701 maria.aguayo@dla.mil (215) 737-5677 mark.twardziak@dla.mil

Ryan Perna, Contracting Officer Jennifer Scarpello, Contracting Officer

(215) 737-7197 ryan.perna@dla.mil (215) 737-3164 jennifer.scarpello@dla.mil

Michelle Falkowski, Acquisition Specialist Kathleen Logan, Acquisition Specialist

(215) 737-5479 michelle.falkowski@dla.mil (215) 737-2436 kathleen.logan@dla.mil

Catherine Dillon, Acquisition Specialist

(215) 737-2497 catherine.dillion@dla.mil

Kimberly Sabo, Acquisition Specialist

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

Aaron Jones, Acquisition Specialist

(215) 737-2283 aaron.jones@dla.mil

Donald Albanese, Acquisition Specialist

(215) 737-2418 donald.albanese@dla.mil
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DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

AMERICA’S COMBAT LOGISTICS SUPPORT AGENCY

WARFIGHTER FIRST - PEOPLE & CULTURE - STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT - FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP - PROCESS EXCELLENCE

Helmets

Raymond Jacquette

11/16/2017
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Safety Team

• Ground Troop (Ballistic) Helmets & 

Components, Flyers’ Helmets & 

Components, Anti-G & Anti-Exposure 

Garments, and AirSave & Flexible Body 

Armor Vests: 

– Manage approx. 830 items 

– Sales

• FY ‘17 $74.8M

• FY ’14 -’16 Avg. $64.0M
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Upcoming Opportunities

• ACVC Helmet (early CY 2018)

• ACH Gen II 

Short Term – initial orders off Army contract

Long Term (follow on) – DLA Sustainment 

contract (potentially late Spring / Summer 2018)

• LWMCH and/or ECH (TBD)

• Flexible Body Armor Shells (TBD)
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Request for Assistance

• ACVC Helmet Liner

– Future Consideration

– Comm Gear not included

– Alternate materials / design / commercial 

alternate?
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Points of Contact 

(all phone numbers are 1-215-737-xxxx)

• Ray Jacquette IST Chief

raymond.jacquette@dla.mil x8079 

• Dan Price Contracting Officer 

daniel.price@dla.mil x8101

• Mara Cremen Acquisition Specialist 

mara.cremen@dla.mil x8094

• Lisa Pizzo Acquisition Specialist 

lisa.pizzo@dla.mil x8076

• Bob Rounay Acquisition Specialist 

robert.rounay@dla.mil x7123

• Ed Klos Acquisition Specialist 

edward.klos@dla.mil x8105

• David Falkowski Acquisition Specialist Intern

david.falkowski@dla.mil x5395 
Product Manger

Soldier Protective Equipment

Product Manager

Soldier Protective Equipment

Our Strength and Purpose Our Strength and Purpose

Product Manager 

Soldier Protective System

Joint Advanced Planning Brief

for Industry

15 – 16 November 2017

LTC Ginger L. Whitehead

Product Manager

Soldier Protective Equipment

Cary V. Ferguson 

Deputy Product Manager 

Soldier Protective Equipment
Mission

16

To increase the Warfighter’s lethality and mobility by 

optimizing Soldier protection and effectively serving as the 

life cycle manager for all personal protective equipment.
SPE Areas of Responsibility 

(As of 04 Oct 2017)

Legacy Concealable 

Body Armor (CBA)

Enhanced Combat

Helmet (ECH)

Integrated Head Protection System 

(IHPS) 

Advanced Combat 

Helmet (ACH)

Military Combat Eye Protection (MCEP)

Transition Combat Eye Protection 

(TCEP)

Improved Outer 

Tactical Vest (IOTV)

Enhanced Side Ballistic 

Insert 

(ESBI) - VTP

X Side 

Ballistic Insert

(XSBI) - VTP

Pelvic Protection 

System

Family of Concealable 

Body Armor

(FoCBA)

Ultra Low Visibility 

CBA

X Small Arms

Protective Insert 

(XSAPI) - VTP

Enhanced Small Arms 

Protective Insert 

(ESAPI) - VTP

Advanced Combat Vehicle 

Crewman Helmet

(ACVCH)

Advanced Bomb Suit 

(ABS) ___________________________________________

Generation II ABS

(GEN II ABS) _____________________________________________

Soldier Plate 

Carrier System 

(SPCS)

Soldier Protection 

System (SPS)

Torso and Extremity 

Protection (TEP)

Next Generation ABS

(NGABS)

Advanced Combat 

Helmet GEN II

(ACH GEN II)

Concept
18

Description: The SPS integrates lighter hard armor plates, soft armor ballistics, 

pelvic protection, modular helmets, transition combat eyewear protection, and 

hearing protection. Each piece of equipment is designed to function and 

complement other parts of the system, yet function independently.

There are four major subsystems of SPS

1. Vital Torso Protection (VTP): The VTP system consists of hard armor torso and side 

plate inserts. 

2. Integrated Head Protection System (IHPS): The IHPS consists of the helmet, a 

ballistic applique, maxillofacial shield, night vision bracket, and hearing protection.

3. Transition Combat Eyewear Protection (TCEP): TCEP consists of ballistic protective 

eyewear capable of transitioning from light to dark and dark to light in ~ one second or 

less.

4. Torso and Extremity Protection (TEP): The TEP system provides scalable, soft armor 

protection and consists of the Modular Scalable Vest, the Ballistic Combat Shirt, the Blast 

Pelvic Protector, and the Weight Distribution System.

Soldier Protection System (SPS) 

Maxillofacial System

Ballistic Applique

Integrated Head Protection System 

(IHPS)

The SPS VTP (front and back hard body armor plates) 

will provide the same or better ballistic protection than 

the current baseline suite of torso (ESAPI and X-SAPI) 

plates. 

The SPS VTP (side hard body armor plates)

will provide the same or better ballistic protection than the 

current baseline suite of (ESBI and XSBI) side plates. 

Vital Torso Protection (VTP) 

Transition Combat Eyewear 

Protection (TCEP)

Torso and Extremity Protection (TEP)

(Concealable to Full Tactical Configurations)
19

Integrated Head Protection Systems (IHPS)

Description: A modular helmet system consisting of a retention 

system, suspension system, maxillofacial protective system, hearing 

protection, ballistic applique, and a night vision device bracket. 

Ballistic protection levels can be added or removed based on mission 

requirements. The IHPS provides improved fragmentation, ballistic, 

and blunt impact protection, while reducing the weight and improving 

the fit over the Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) and Enhanced 

Combat Helmet (ECH).

Capabilities: The IHPS provides small arms and fragmentary threat 

protection equal to the ECH and provides accelerative blunt impact 

protection equal to (T) or better than (O) the ACH and ECH. The 

IHPS mitigates temporary and prevents permanent hearing loss. 

Threshold weights for the standard dismounted configuration are 

5% lighter than the ACH or ECH. BFD performance is evaluated 

IAW DOT&E protocol. 

Proponent: MCoE

MDA: PEO Soldier 

Ballistic Applique Maxillofacial System

Production & Deployment Phase
20

Description: The TEP is an integrated modular soft armor 

ensemble that provides scalable soft armor protection from a 

concealable vest to a full up tactical vest with load management 

capability. The TEP system replaces the Improved Outer Tactical 

Vest (IOTV), the Soldier Plate Carrier System (SPCS), the 

Concealable Body Armor (CBA), the Ultra Low Visible CBA (ULV 

CBA), the Protective Outer Garment (POG), and the Protective 

Under Garment (PUG) while adding a Weight Distribution System 

capability. The TEP is comprised of the Modular Scalable Vest 

(MSV), the Ballistic Combat Shirt (BCS), the Blast Pelvic Protector 

(BPP), and the Battle Belt/WDS.

Capabilities: Lightweight, modular, scalable, and tailorable suite of 

protective equipment allowing Soldiers to select the personal 

protective equipment posture. Scalable system providing 

concealable, low profile, plate carrier, and full tactical configurations. 

The TEP has maintained the highest Soldier system rating while 

also achieving a 5 pound (26%) weight reduction, improved 

protection, and providing a load distribution system to manage 

residual weight.

Designs: Government Owned Design

Proponent: MCoE

MDA: PEO

Concealable to Full Tactical Configurations

Torso and Extremity Protection (TEP)

Production & Deployment Phase
21

 In support of Soldier Protection System (SPS) Torso and Extremity Protection (TEP), Product Manager Soldier Protective Equipment is 

looking at awarding the following contracts in FY18/FY19:

o Blast Pelvic Protector (BPP): 

• Current Indefinite Deliveries Indefinite Quantities (IDIQ) contracts expire in 4QFY18

• Three (3) to five (5) year IDIQ contract with multiple awards

• Government pattern for carrier, vendor provides Soft Armor Ballistic Insert (SABI)

• Best Value

o Battle Belt: 

• Battle Belt is a near term replacement to the Load Distribution System (LDS). The LDS requires additional technology 

development to gain user acceptance

• Three (3) to five (5) year IDIQ contract with multiple awards

• Government pattern for Battle Belt, vendor provides SABI

• Best Value

o Modular Scalable Vest (MSV) and Light Air Warrior Vest (LAWS) SABI: 

• Current MSV IDIQ contracts expire in 4QFY18 and LAWS IDIQ contracts expire in 1QFY19

• Provides SABI for MSV, Air Warrior vest, and USMC vest

• Three (3) to five (5) year IDIQ contract with multiple awards

• Government pattern, vendor provides SABI

• Best Value

o Modular Scalable Vest (MSV) and Light Air Warrior Vest (LAWS) Carrier: 

• Current MSV IDIQ contracts expire in 4QFY18 and LAWS IDIQ contracts expire in 1QFY19

• Provides Carriers for MSV, Air Warrior vest, and USMC vest

• Three (3) to five (5) year IDIQ contract with multiple awards

• Government pattern

• Best Value

Torso and Extremity Protection (TEP)

FY18 Contract Actions

Finalizing the Acquisition Strategy
22

Transition Combat Eye Protection (TCEP)

Description: Polycarbonate lens with transition laminate and 

plastic frame, polycarbonate clear lens, cleaning cloth, antiscratch and anti-fog solution/treatment, anti-reflective sleeve 

(goggles), and carrying case. 

Capabilities: Protective eyewear provides ballistic 

fragmentation protection and UV protection for both prescription 

and non prescription wearers. Eyewear is capable of adjusting 

to varying light conditions and transitions in ~ one second or 

less. Goggles also provide sand/wind/dust protection.

Proponent: MCoE 

MDA: PEO Soldier Military Variant 

Commercial Variant 

Production & Deployment Phase
23

Generation II Advanced Bomb Suit (GEN II ABS)

Description: The ABS GEN II will provide a 15% (11 lbs.) to 

40% (29 lbs.) weight reduction to the Explosive Ordinance 

Disposal (EOD) Technicians. The form, fit, and function will 

also be optimized by additional sizes. Additionally, an 

improved cooling system will be fielded with the GEN II. ABS 

GEN II will begin fielding in accordance with G3/5/7 priorities in

2Q-3QFY19 and immediately begin supporting all sustainment 

activities. The four year requirements contract will provide the 

best available Non-Developmental Item until the Next 

Generation Advanced Bomb Suit (NGABS) suit and helmet 

begins full rate production in FY22. The system is comprised 

of the jacket, trousers, blast shield, helmet, and cooling 

system.

Capabilities: Fragmentation, blast, impact, and flame 

protection.

Proponent: MSCoE

MDA: PEO Soldier
24

Concept

Description: NGABS will be a modular, scalable, and 

mission tailorable system providing significantly increased 

capabilities at a reduced weight. The system will provide 

Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Technicians with the 

ability to scale the level of protection and tailor the system 

for each mission. The system will add significant protection 

with new materials and a cooling system while realizing an 

overall weight savings. NGABS will also bring the ability for 

EOD Technicians to operate in low light level conditions with 

a Modular Sensor and Display. The program will offer 

substantially improved form and fit with additional sizing.

Capabilities: Modular, scalable, and mission tailorable 

system based on mission set and EOD Team Leader 

guidance. 10% weight reduction from Legacy system. 360 

degree fragmentation, blast, impact, flame, and ballistic 

protection. Low light level/night operation integrated 

capability. Modular cooling system.

Proponent: MSCoE

MDA: PEO Soldier

Next Generation Advanced Bomb Suit 

(NGABS)

Legacy System: 

• ABS and GEN II ABS

JCIDs Status:

• CDD: Approved Nov 2016

• MS-B: Feb 2018 (Estimated)

Issues/Challenges/Concerns:

 Legacy system is 16 years old and

was not designed for operations in

a combat environment.

 NGABS will have a supply code of 

class 7 vice class 2
25

LTC Ginger L. Whitehead

Product Manager Soldier Protective Equipment 

Comm (703) 704-9321

Email: ginger.l.whitehead.mil@mail.mil

Mr. Cary Ferguson

Deputy Product Manager

Comm (703) 704-0711

Email: cary.v.ferguson.civ@mail.mil

Project Officer & Assistant Product Managers (APM)

Jakob Hopping

Chief Systems Engineer 

Comm (703) 704- 4187

Email: jakob.a.hopping.civ@mail.mil 

Mr. Francis Hayden 

Chief of Operations and Plans

Comm (703) 704-4780 

Email: francis.a.hayden.civ@mail.mil

Command Group Directors

Ms. Sarah Morgan-Clyborne

Chief Quality Assurance

Comm (703) 704-3826

Email: sarah.a.morganclyborne.civ@mail.mil

PdM SPE Points of Contact 

CPT Alan Chartier

APM Head Protection

Comm (703) 704-9476

Email: alan.r.chartier.mil@mail.mil

MAJ John Mosby

APM Hard Armor

Comm (703) 704-4318

Email: john.d.mosby.mil@mail.mil

Adam Fournier Acting APM

Comm (703) 704-1417

Email: adam.j.fournier.civ@mail.mil

Neal Nguyen

Acting APM Soft Armor 

Comm (703) 704-3976

Email: neal.l.nguyen.civ@mail.mil

MAJ. Paul Janker 

APM Bomb Suit 

Comm (703) 704-2266

Email: paul.l.janker.mil@mail.mil

Francis Hayden

Acting APM Eyewear

Comm (703) 704-4780

Email: francis.a.hayden.civ@mail.mil

Bennie Shepard

Project Officer 

Head Protection / Bomb Suit / Eyewear

Comm (703) 704-9307

Email: benny.l.shepard.civ@mail.mil
26

Meeting the Warfighter’s Requirements 
For Official Use Only (FOUO) 27

Ground Combat Element 

Systems

Project Officer 

for

Individual Armor Team

PM Infantry Combat Equipment (PM ICE)

Cherelda Stephens

16 November 2017
For Official Use Only (FOUO) 28

Ground Combat Element 

Systems

Hard Armor/Soft Armor

►Research and Development

►Lighter plates

►Stand-alone plates

►Hard Armor Industry Day 28 Nov 2017 (tentative)

►Procurement 

►PC Gen III

►Improves mobility, weight, fit and function

►Up to 25% lighter, 1.5 inches shorter, contoured shoulders, 

removable low profile vest, integrated load bearing panel

►Presolicitation Notice release week of 13 Nov 2017

►Industry Day 29 Nov

►Solicitation release Jan/Feb 2018