Schumer: Multi-Vendor Selection Strategy Helps Companies Like Rochester's Harris Compete For High-Level DOD Contract, On A Level Playing Field

Statement

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced the Department of Defense (DOD) would soon be closing the window for companies to apply for the $12.7 billion multi-vendor Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) "Manpack" radio contract on October 2nd. Once the application period has concluded, top DOD officials will consider the companies that have applied to produce the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) Manpack radios. This program in conjunction with the JTRS "Rifleman" radios, recently procured through a separate $3.9 billion contract awarded jointly to companies Harris Corporation and Thales Communications in April, will be the next-generation radios for our deployed to troops. The Manpack contract is estimated to be worth $12.7 billion over five years, with the potential for a 5-year extension. Schumer previously urged the DOD in letters and in a 2013 personal call to former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to consider changing the DoD's then-plan to sole-source both the Rifleman and Manpack procurements to a single vendor and instead use this multi-vendor selection process for both radios in order to ensure competition to produce the best radios for the military. Understanding the benefits of competition, the DOD heeded Schumer's call and announced it would reverse it's then single-vendor draft acquisition strategy and instead allow. Schumer said this paved the way for companies like Rochester's Harris Radio to not only compete and win the 5-year JTRS Rifleman contract in April, but to enable Harris to apply and potentially be selected for this massive JTRS Manpack contract. This multi-vendor bid strategy ensured a level-playing field for companies like Harris.

"With the application window closing on October 2, I am confident the DOD's multi-vendor selection process will ensure incredibly high-skilled, companies similar to Harris Radio in Rochester have the opportunity to compete on a level playing field and potentially be selected for this billion dollar contract. I was pleased the DOD heeded my call to eliminate the single-vendor procurement process and allow healthy competition between applicants that enabled Harris to first win a $3.9 billion contract in April and now to compete for this $12.7 billion dollar contract," said Schumer. "Over the past two years I have worked with top DOD officials, including former Secretary Hagel, to ensure this critical contract would be awarded fairly, so we can provide the top-notch equipment our dedicated men and women serving overseas need and deserve."

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