no .45s! --------------------------------
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Posted on 08/25/2004 9:49:14 AM PDT by Mr. Mojo
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the award of two contracts today for handguns for all organizational elements within the department, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
SIGARMS Incorporated and Heckler & Koch, Incorporated each received a contract award with a maximum quantity of 65,000 pistols that may be purchased over the next five years. SIGARMS Incorporated, a small business located in Exeter, New Hampshire, received a $23.7 million contract for 9 x 19 mm and .40 caliber pistols. Heckler & Koch, a large business located in Sterling, Virginia, received a $26.2 million contract for 9 x 19 mm, .40, and .357 caliber pistols.
The two contracts will enable DHS personnel to acquire handguns in three popular law enforcement calibers and a variety of sizes. These contracts represent the results of the department’s Strategic Sourcing Program that is designed to optimize cross-departmental acquisitions through collaboration of agency technical and acquisition experts. The Weapons and Ammunition Commodity Council, part of the strategic sourcing program, identifies and consolidates emerging firearms and ammunition requirements for all Homeland Security components. As part of this effort, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released a Request for Proposals in February 2004 for the procurement of handguns. The ICE National Firearms and Tactical Training Unit led the ensuing evaluation.
“This type of multiple contract award will provide the government the flexibility it needs to enable the DHS entities to address their diverse operational missions, while still maximizing logistical efficiencies found through standardization,” said Thomas Trotto, Director of the ICE National Firearms and Tactical Training Unit.
The technical evaluation of the proposals included a comprehensive handgun test protocol involving a rigorous battery of environmental, reliability, durability, and other tests. Approximately three million rounds of ammunition were fired through 690 handguns of 46 different models during the testing, which took almost four months to complete. Aside from the actual live firing, additional testing was conducted through laboratory analysis and armory inspections. In all, each model was evaluated against more than 50 characteristics before arriving at a technical rating. This data was used in conjunction with past performance and pricing information to select the winning contractors.
The Homeland Security Weapons and Ammunition Commodity Council continues to analyze the department’s requirements for weapons, ammunition, and other officer safety products to identify additional strategic sourcing opportunities.
Interesting, I am trying to decide between getting either the HK USP40 or the Sig P226 myself.
I wonder what kind of Sigs they'll be getting? I like the P239 single stack, but I'll bet they're going for one of the double stack jobs.
I have a .40 Glock, and wouldn't trade it for anything.
Both are very well-built and reliable, but the Sig has a superior trigger, imo. ......and fits my medium-sized hands much better.
With the expiration of the magazine restrictions this September a P226 in 9mm starts to look very attractive.
I own a P226 9M and would highly recommend it.
no S&W? they caved, and got nuthin' ...
I considered getting a Sig P220 once but ended up getting a Kimber Custom .45. Hands down my favorite pistol. :)
no .45s! -------------------------------- To print out and wear as a Campaign Button, go HERE. Feel free to reuse this anywhere you wish...
I'd take a Sig GSR!
For the past six years, my Homeland Security pistol has beena SIG 229 in .40. Works every time, all the time.
Me too! Same feelings about the best handgun available.
I guess the other alternative is to not hire small-handed weenies. ;-)
i thought that SIG was the one with the .357... HK have one now too??? oh, yeah... HK all the way!!!
Kimber is a lil'outa my price range.
Interesting how they make an effort to make these look like US-based suppliers.
Really? I paid $750 for mine three years ago. The Sigs were in the same range at the time. What are they now? I haven't been to a gun show in a while.
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