Description
Organization: MARCORSYSCOM
Team Name: Interim Fast Attack Vehicle Team
Related Acquisition Topic(s): Acquisition Practices Streamlining, Commercial Practices, Commercial and Non Developmental Items (CANDI), Contract Logistics Support (CLS), Cycle Time Reduction (CTR), Integrated Product Teams (IPT), Partnering
Description:
In May of 1999, the Marine Corps identified a rapid fielding requirement to resolve Fast Attack Vehicle (FAV) maneuver deficiencies associated with operational Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (MEU(SOC)), real world missions in the littorals. Potential Marine Corps deployment to the former Yugoslavia and significant lessons learned by Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL) efforts led to Marine Corps Senior Leadership direction for immediate acquisition of a new system.
The Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command published a formal Statement of Need (SON) letter for an Interim Fast Attack Vehicle (IFAV) on 25 May 1999 to provide an interim replacement capability for the MEU(SOC) aging M-151 Jeep, Fast Attack Vehicles (FAVs). The M-151 was last procured by the Marine Corps in the mid-1970s and was modified for its current MEU(SOC) role in 1988. Direct Fleet Marine Force (FMF) feedback and MCWL experimentation results identified significant operational deficiencies on the M151 FAV legacy system. With issue of the SON, the IFAV program was established to replace sixty (60) M-151 FAVs throughout the Marine Corps.
Replacement of the M-151 FAV focused on a smart rapid acquisition to provide an affordable, high quality, capable materiel solution for Marine Corps warfighters. The IFAV stated requirements included key performance characteristics for diesel power (JP-8/4/5) and the need for helo transportability at a minimum in a CH53E transport helicopter. IFAV also required a capability for mounting the M-2/Mk-19/M240G weapon systems to include a mission desired payload (including crew and weapons) of 3000 lbs.
The Commander MARCORSYSCOM gathered key advisors and provided program guidance and intent. He established a direct reporting Project Manager and established an Overarching Integrated Program Team (OIPT) to assess the acquisition and make recommendations on Key Performance Parameters and contracting strategy. Making maximum use of Best Commercial/NDI procurement practices, the OIPT developed, recommended, and refined a "Streamlined Commercial Acquisition Strategy." A rapid comparison of available commercial and military products was assessed to determine available technology, quality, support, and price. Key Performance Parameters and requirements were harmonized with requirements indicated by the SON. The team quickly prepared and published a Commerce Business Daily (CBD) announcement with characteristics and support requirements. As a result, Submission No. 339484 was posted within 10 days of the signing of the SON, for a full and open commercial competitive Firm Fixed Price contract, combined announcement/solicitation, for Sixty Two (62), Interim Fast Attack Vehicles.
In the three weeks available for proposals from contractrors, a Source Selection Evaluation Team (SSET) was established, and a Source Selection Plan was drafted and approved. The SSET met and considered proposals from 5 offerors. After two weeks, using collaborative and logical decision software, the selection team completed technical and cost evaluation, and made a selection recommendation to the Milestone Decision Authority (MDA). A contract for the Interim Fast Attack Vehicle (IFAV) was awarded to Advanced Vehicle Systems, Inc., of Washington DC, for a commercially modified version of the DaimlerChrysler (Mercedes) MB290 GT long bed version or "Gelundesvagon". The Mercedes MB290 GT is a world-class, high quality; four wheel drive off-road vehicle.
The procured "IFAV" (a modified MB290 GT) is a high mobility tactical weapons platform. It is internally/externally transportable by the CH-53E helicopter, and has mobility comparable or superior to Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) maneuver elements. IFAV offers integrated floor ballistic protection from grenades and anti-personnel mines. As a result of high program emphasis on acquisition reform and FAR Part 2 simplified acquisition contracting provisions, exceptionally improved capability and quality were obtained at much lower cost than originally envisioned. As added value to Marine Operational Forces, initial provisioning, Contractor Logistics and Contractor Training Support were included in the solicitation requirements. After Contract Award to AVS, Inc., for "best value" (best technical and lowest cost), unsuccessful offerers were debriefed within five days of announcing award and no protests were lodged. The entire contracting process took less than 60 days from receipt of the IFAV requirement to award.
Key to overall program success has been early strategic teaming between the program office, the awarded contractor (AVS, Inc.), support contractors (Sverdrup/MKI), the Marine Corps Weapons Systems Managers (Code 835 Albany), and Marine Operational Forces (I, II, and III MEF). New contractor logistics and training support concepts were rapidly implemented through close coordination between the program office, the contractor and the logistics support establishment. This strategic teaming up-front and early, allowed significant ongoing commercial modifications to more readily meet user needs. More than 450 new parts were incorporated by Advanced Vehicle Systems Inc. and DaimlerChrysler to ensure Marine Corps operational requirements, such as fording and rollover safety, were met. In spite of the interim nature of the program, all new parts and the IFAV itself are being assigned National Stock Numbers (NSNs) to provide a seamless repair parts ordering capability for operational units. Full logistics integration with traditional support systems is being implemented concurrently with production, fielding, training and testing. AVS, Inc., supported at the highest levels by DaimlerChrysler, produced and delivered all 62 vehicles, with modifications, from the production facility in Graz, Austria, to Marine Expeditionary Forces (MEFs) around the world. The entire procurement and fielding effort took less than 7 months from requirement generation to ensuring that the IFAV was provided to the using units with full spectrum support.
To meet real world operational deployment requirements as well as the required production schedule, the contractor assisted the government in provisioning parts at an accelerated pace. AVS Inc. established a 1-800 support line and an interactive Website to track all support and to proved a database for Total Ownership Cost metric collection and follow-on analysis. The rapidity of this fielding effort is considered a new Marine Corps benchmark for non-wartime procurement. AVS Inc. and DaimlerChrysler efforts to elevate prioritization of IFAV production were significant, considering the low quantity and value of the Marine Corps procurement relative to the preferred customer base.
In addition to vehicle production, AVS Inc. played a key role in many program aspects. AVS Inc. developed a new 360-degree weapons mount for the IFAV. They participated and supported the Marine Corps in obtaining critical engineering data for safety, weapons firing, and helo transportability certification testing. AVS Inc was allowed to participate and observe government safety testing and they provided invaluable support with weapons shoots and helo fit checks.
A New Equipment Training and fielding Team (NETT), comprised of government, support contractor, and using unit representatives, were flown to Austria for world class factory training. This team was used as a combination NETT and parts/tools Integrated Product Team (IPT). As training progressed, experienced mechanics were at the factory identifying needed parts blocks and special tools. Personnel from the Automotive Branch, Code 835, MARCORSYSCOM, Albany were an integral part of the NETT, along with experienced senior leadership from the Fleet. The rapport and knowledge developed during this one-time training aided in the fielding process immeasurably, and vastly shortened the number of IPT meetings and time necessary to generate required fielding information.
The logistics suppport network established for this program has mirrored the requirements for much larger fielding efforts.The website and toll-free number established to facilitate CLS, along with the logisitcs challenges faced and met, will facilitate future Marine Corps fielding efforts. Fielding occurred for this program from November through December 1999 and strong contact with the end users has been maintained throughout. In many ways, the speed of this program has assisted in keeping the knowledge base high among all involved. Customer satisfaction has been exceptionally high, both with the quality of information flow (both ways) and the operating characteristics of the vehicle and weapon system platform provided. Parts and tools were procured as an option for each MEF to jump-start their logistics support process. Significant value has been provided to our users through reliance upon prime contractor professionals and the manufacturers world wide parts distribution system.
Testing of critical safety and transportation issues were accomplished concurrently with the procurement. Consideration of Gelundesvagon's successful employment by North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) units over the past 20 years and its commercially demonstrated Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard attributes, allowed the Program Manager to accept reasonable risk in fielding and allowed the program to move forward quickly without compromise of safety. The ability to accept commercially available and NATO documentation, and the rapid coordination of testing at Aberdeen Proving grounds and with NAVAIR on critical safety, weapons, and CH53E certification areas, significantly contributed to the speed and success of the program.
The IFAV has gone to the Marine Expeditionary Units. These units are on call to perform a range of national defense missions for supported warfighting CINCs. As such, the IFAV will be used in both warfighter and peacekeeper scenarios. Obtained more quickly than any previous combat vehicle in the Corps, the IFAV program addressed the full spectrum of the Defense Systems Acquisition Management Process, condensing all acquisition actions of typically five or more years into the span of six months. Using acquisition reform, the Marine Corps procured and fully fielded a quality commercial based tactical vehicle at a price 33% lower than originally envisioned, with full logistic support. The IFAV program has provided valuable lessons for follow-on programs and set new standards for rapid streamlined commercial procurement of tactical vehicles and acquisition reform that will carry the Marine Corps into the 21st century.
