Military

M915 Crew Protection Kit

On July 7, 1999 Simula Inc. was awarded a series of four contracts collectively valued at almost $1 million by the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) to recommend, design, test and introduce crew cab occupant safety enhancements into selected military tactical vehicles within the Army's fleet. Simula conducted a M915-class Truck Crew Protection Kit Package Assessment program that addresses collisions, rollover accidents and crew cab occupant safety of the U.S. Army's M915-class line-haul trucks. The purpose of this program was to assist the U.S. Army's efforts to improve occupant protection standards for future vehicle procurements. Simula Technologies' analysis will evaluate the use of various countermeasures such as air bags, advanced occupant restraints and inflatable restraint systems.

A partnership between the Tank-automotive and Armaments Command Ground Systems Industrial Enterprise and Armor Holdings Inc.'s Aerospace and Defense Group could result in more work for the GSIE's six facilities across the country. A basic ordering agreement between GSIE and Armor Holdings will allow the group to obtain products and services offered by GSIE industrial facilities under a single contract, rather then separate contracts for each project. The first order from Armor Holdings in July 2004 was for $4.4 million to produce steel panels for the Heavy Expanded Mobility Transport Truck, the Palletized Loading System, the Heavy Equipment Transporter and the M915 series of trucks.

Simula Inc., Phoenix, Ariz., was awarded on Sept. 22, 2004, a $7,590,120 modification to a firm-fixed-price contract for 240 M915 truck crew protection kits. Work will be performed in Phoenix, Ariz., and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2005. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This was a sole source contract initiated on March 23, 2004. The U.S. Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-04-C-0259).

FY 2004 Project 659 provides funds for the engineering development and prototype of the Crew Protection Kit for the M915 Family of Vehicles. The Crew Protection Kit will provide protection to the two-man crew against small arms, mines and artillery and is identified as a materiel requirement under an ORD for the Tactical Wheeled Vehicle Crew Protection Kit (CPK) dated 19 Jan 1996. This project supports the Legacy-to-Objective transition path of the Transformation Campaign Plan (TCP).