![\"beretta](\"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/beretta-M9-300x211.jpg\")
<\/a><\/center><\/p>\nSomeone sent a link to Guns & Ammo<\/a> which reports that the Army is making moves to replace the M9 Beretta service handgun currently in use since it’s introduction in the mid-80s.<\/p>\n On June 17, the Army released a new draft solicitation on the Federal Business Opportunities website that laid out the service\u2019s plans to replace the M9 with the Modular Handgun System (MHS) by 2018. Army officials intend to begin the competition next year and eventually award a contract to a single gun manufacturer for 280,000 new pistols.<\/p>\n The new draft solicitation explains the Army\u2019s latest proposed competition schedule, procedures and requirements for the XM17 Modular Handgun System (MHS). These have all been modified following industry feedback and the decision of the Department of Defense (DOD) to allow the use of special purpose ammunition.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The solicitation offer isn’t specific as to what the Army wants in the end;<\/p>\n The MHS procurement is intended to be an open caliber competition, which means the choice of caliber is left to the discretion of the Offeror. Offerors are permitted to submit up to two (2) proposals configured to the specific caliber it chooses for evaluation. If an Offeror chooses to submit two (2) proposals, their submissions must all be chambered in a different cartridge of the Offeror’s choosing. In addition, each proposal must be submitted independently from each other.<\/p>\n Each proposal will consist of either a two (2) handgun solution (one full size and one compact), or one (1) handgun solution that meets requirements for both a full size and compact weapon, plus the following ammunition: ball, special purpose, dummy drilled inert (DDI) and blank, as well as, accessories as listed in Section L.4.1.5.2.3. Offerors will have 150 days from the issue date of this RFP to submit proposal requirements as described in section L of the RFP.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Army hopes to make a selection of the final product by 2017;<\/p>\n \u201cWhen all is said and done,\u201d Armstrong said, \u201cthe XM17 will provide Warfighters with greater accuracy, target acquisition, ergonomic design. The new handgun will also be more reliable, durable and easier to maintain.\u201d<\/p>\n Each vendor, or manufacturer, will be able to submit two separate handgun proposals with different calibers for testing.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n I suppose Colt will driving hard for the hoop since they filed for bankruptcy<\/a> earlier this week. The day they filed, they sent me an email advertising for some “Colt” T-shirts, I hope that’s not their plan to get out of their troubles. Maybe if they dropped the MSRP for their Marine Corps 1911 a few thousand bucks, that would help, more than becoming a t-shirt vendor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"