International Wins $413M Marine Corps Contract For 755 Additional MRAP Vehicles
Press Release
INTERNATIONAL WINS $413M MARINE CORPS CONTRACT FOR 755 ADDITIONAL MRAP VEHICLES
International Military and Government, LLC (IMG) has been awarded a $413 million contract by the U.S. Marine Corps to build an additional 755 mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles at its West Point facility, federal lawmakers said Friday.
U.S. Rep. Roger Wicker and Sens. Thad Cochran and Trent Lott said the contract is IMG's third procurement in less than two months to produce the armored vehicles designed to increase survivability and mobility of troops operating in combat environments. The vehicles offer troops increased protection from improvised explosive devices, rocket-propelled grenades, and small arms fire.
The company received a $623 million contract in May to build 1,200 MRAP vehicles at the Mississippi plant. In June, IMG won a second contract for $8.4 million to build 16 more vehicles to be used by the Marine Corps and other joint forces in convoy operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Work on all three contracts is expected to be completed by February 2008.
"The Pentagon has assigned a high priority to ramping up production of MRAPs and getting them into the field as soon as possible," Rep. Wicker said. "International is playing a critical role in that objective."
Sen. Lott said, "Our state's Congressional delegation has worked aggressively to promote the Golden Triangle and help offset the recent closure of the Sara Lee meat processing plant. This partnership between a Mississippi company and a very reputable global vehicle manufacturer will not only have good implications for our state, more importantly it will provide our military with a vehicle better able to withstand roadside bombs and other explosives. With every expansion of this contract, Mississippi further solidifies its status as a vehicle manufacturing center, and it paves the way for even more skilled manufacturing jobs to come here."
Sen. Cochran said, "I am very pleased the Department of Defense has again recognized the quality of the workforce in West Point. This area of our state continues to demonstrate leadership as Mississippi continues to attract quality business. This contract will help protect U.S. troops as well as provide our workforce at home with good job opportunities."
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