FN M240L 7.62mm MMG (Medium Machine Gun): $12.5M for FN Manufacturing, a Lighter 7.62mm Machine Gun for U.S. Army Infantry Troops

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By David Crane
defrev (at) gmail (dot) com

November 1, 2009

DefenseReview recently mentioned the M240L 7.62mm Medium Machine Gun (Light) in our recent piece on Colt winning the latest M240B MMG contract. A U.S. Army “Sources Sought” notice/solicitation for the new M240L MMG/GPMG (Medium Machine Gun/General Purpose Machine Gun) went out on February 18, 2009. This is no doubt due to the fact that soldier want and need a significantly lighter-weight 7.62x51mm NATO (7.62mm NATO) machine gun that they can actually carry. You may have seen video footage and/or still photos of soldiers humping the 30+-pound M240B draped across their shoulders like Christ on the cross. Of course, a FN MK48 MOD 1 MMG comes in even lighter at 18.37 lbs, but carrying a 22.3-lb M240L on foot is certainly easier than carrying a 30+-lb M240B (on foot).

As it turns out, FN Manufacturing LLC, a division of FN Herstal, S.A., subsequently won the contract for the M240L on June 11, 2009 for $12,439,350.33, so the M20L MMG is now the FN M240L MMG.

Of course, FN’s $12.5M contract for the M240L is not quite at the same level as Colt Defense’s $126M contract for the Colt M240B, but it’s still $12.5M more than FN had before. And, really, who’s keepin’ score?

M240L 7.62mm Medium Machine Gun (Light) Specifications:

Operation: Gas-operated (full-auto)
Length: 48.5 inches (44.5 inches with
Short Barrel)
Weight: 22.3 pounds (22.3 lbs)
Caliber: 7.62mm NATO (7.62x51mm NATO)
Maximum effective range: 1,800
meters (Area Target)
Maximum range: 3,725 meters
Tracer burnout: 900 meters
Cyclic rate of fire (hydraulic buffer):
550-650 rounds per minute

Defense Review obtained the above M240L weapon specs from the
M240L MMG fact sheet (PDF format) issued by PEO Soldier in October 2009.

The following is a copy of the U.S. Army contract award for the FN M240L 7.62mm MMG/GPMG:

–M240L Machine Gun
Solicitation Number:
Agency: Department of the Army
Office: U. S. Army Materiel Command
Location: US Army, Army Contracting Command, Joint Munitions and Lethality (JM&L) Contracting Center

Original Synopsis
Jun 11, 2009
1:19 pm

Notice Type:
Award Notice

Contract Award Date:
June 11, 2009

Contract Award Number:
W15QKN-09-C-0108

Contract Award Dollar Amount:
12,439,350.33

Contractor Awardee:
F N MANUFACTURING LLC, 797 OLD CLEMSON RD, COLUMBIA, SC, 29229-4203

Synopsis:
Added: Jun 11, 2009 1:19 pm
No Description Provided

Additional Info:
US ARMY Contracting Command JM&L CC-Picatinny Procurement Network

Contracting Office Address:
US Army, Army Contracting Command, Joint Munitions and Lethality (JM&L) Contracting Center, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey 07806-5000

Point of Contact(s):
CATHERINE JOHN-ANGLE, Contract Specialist, (973)724-3386

CATHERINE JOHN-ANGLE
catherine.johnangle@us.army.mil

And, here’s a copy of the original U.S. Army Sources Sought Notice/solicitation for the M240L MMG:

–M240L Medium Machine Gun
Solicitation Number: W15QKN-09-X-0297
Agency: Department of the Army
Office: U. S. Army Materiel Command
Location: US Army, Army Contracting Command, Joint Munitions and Lethality (JM&L) Contracting Center

Original Synopsis
Feb 18, 2009
11:03 am

Solicitation Number:
W15QKN-09-X-0297

Notice Type:
Sources Sought

Synopsis:
Added: Feb 18, 2009 11:03 am
This notice is a Sources Sought announcement. There is no solicitation available at this time. The U.S. Army, Joint Munitions and Lethality Contracting Center, on behalf of the Product Manager, Crew Served Weaponsis conducting a market survey to identify potential sources for fabrication and delivery of a lightweight version of the existing M240B Machine Gun,herein referred to as the M240L Machine Gun (MG.) The overall effort is forfabrication, inspection testing and delivery of First Article weapon systemsand spare parts required to support Government testing; and fabrication anddelivery of production weapon systems and spare parts.The M240L Medium Machine Gun (MMG) is a gas-operated, air-cooled, belt-fed7.62mm weapon that fires NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) standardammunition from an open bolt position. It features a folding bipod, quickchange barrel assembly with integral carrying handle gas system, feed cover,bolt assembly (which allows closing of the cover regardless of bolt position),plastic buttstock, integral optical sight rail, and forward rails.

The M240Llightweight features are a titanium receiver, redesigned barrel assembly withrecontoured outer dimensions, titanium carrying handle, and lighter weight gashousing; and pistol grip/trigger frame assembly composed of a metal/polymerhybrid. The estimated quantity of M240L MMG that will be purchased is 12,788 over a 4 year period. All responding sources shall provide a summary of their Companys capabilities including organizations, name/address/point of contact identification, capabilities, a description of facilities/equipment, manufacturing process, inspection capability, personnel, past experience, and current production capacity per month and whether the company is a small or large business.

The Government expects that to be responsive to this requirement a contractor will need the capacity to manufacture M240L MediumMachine Guns.All responsible interested sources are encouraged to submit theircapabilities/qualification data in regard to the above no later than5 March 2009. All information is to be submitted at no cost or obligation tothe Government. Please include company name, address, telephone number,technical point of contact, and brochures/literature.

Firms interested in this acquisition should adequately describe theirexperience in manufacturing M240L Medium Machine Guns.This is a market survey for informational and planning purposes only.THIS IS NOT A SOLITICATION AND DOES NOT OBLIGATE THE GOVERNMENT TO ISSUEA SOLICITATION. Please be advised that the Government will not pay for anyinformation submitted under this announcement.

Any and all information andquestions should be emailed to the U.S. Catherine John-Angle atcatherine.johnangle@us.army.mil. Contact telephone number is 973-724-3841.

General Information:

Notice Type:
Sources Sought

Posted Date:
February 18, 2009

Response Date:
March 5, 2009

Archiving Policy:
Automatic, on specified date

Archive Date:
April 4, 2009

Original Set Aside:
N/A

Set Aside:
N/A

Classification Code:
10 — Weapons

Company Contact Info:

FN Manufacturing, LLC
797 Old Clemson Road
Columbia, SC 29229
Tel: (803)736-0522
Fax: (803)736-4169

Contact for M240 Family of Products:

Rick R.
Email: rickr@fnmfg.com

FNH USA – Military Operations
PO Box 896
Mc Lean, Virginia, 22101, USA
Tel.: 703-288-3500
Fax: 703-288-4505
Email: militaryinfo@fnhusa.com
Website: http://www.fnhusa.com/mil


Related Articles:

Colt Defense Wins $126 Million ($126M) Contract to Produce M240B 7.62mm Machine Gun for U.S. Army

FN M240L 7.62mm MMG (Medium Machine Gun): $12.5M for FN Manufacturing, a Lighter 7.62mm Machine Gun for U.S. Army Infantry Troops by

About David Crane

David Crane started publishing online in 2001. Since that time, governments, military organizations, Special Operators (i.e. professional trigger pullers), agencies, and civilian tactical shooters the world over have come to depend on Defense Review as the authoritative source of news and information on "the latest and greatest" in the field of military defense and tactical technology and hardware, including tactical firearms, ammunition, equipment, gear, and training.

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