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Contracts awarded for new vest

The Army recently awarded contracts worth more than $167 million for the service’s newest body armor vest.

Specialty Defense of Dunmore, Pa., and Point Blank of Pompano Beach, Fla., were awarded the contracts Monday to make the Improved Outer Tactical Vest, a redesigned version of the Interceptor that offers design improvements including a quick release system, increased coverage, lighter weight, and better fit and comfort, according to a press release from Program Executive Office Soldier.

The Army will pay Specialty Defense $114,463,249 to make 155,000 vests. Point Blank’s contract calls for 75,000 vests at a cost of $52,725,000, PEO Soldier spokeswoman Debi Dawson said.

The IOTV is a result of research and development that began with a Body Armor Industry Day in spring 2006, the release stated. Seventeen vendors presented designs for improved body armor; six were selected to provide prototypes for a Soldier Protection Demonstration conducted in August 2006 at Fort Benning, Ga. Soldier feedback from the demonstration assisted with the development of the IOTV, the release stated.

“The vest epitomizes our continuous efforts to seek the next improvement and to provide our soldiers with the best body armor available,” PEO Soldier commander Brig. Gen. R. Mark Brown said in the release.

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