Pentagon intends to purchase pre-production vehicles as part of Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) program, according to the federal business opportunities website.

The OMFV is a new combat vehicle that will provide Armor Brigade Combat Teams (ABCTs) a mobile, purpose built manned platform that will maneuver Soldiers to a point of positional advantage to engage in close combat. It will deliver decisive lethality and Soldiers to the battlefield during the execution of combined arms maneuver.

“The Government intends to award up to two Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA) Rapid Prototyping (RP) contracts. The MTA RP will be a Firm-Fixed Price contract with a base award that may include multiple options,” said in report.

Pentagon plans to procure 14 pre-production vehicles (per contractor), two Ballistic Hull and Turrets (per contractor), armor coupons, and logistics products. There are no small business set-asides planned for this solicitation.

Also added that the proposals will be due approximately 180 days after the requests for proposals is released. Contract award is targeted for the 2nd quarter of the fiscal year (FY) 2020.

One of the U.S. Army’s top research centers has already achieved considerable success in developing a prototype of the next-generation combat vehicle.

Some sources claimed that the United States Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) are now nearing production of demonstrator of new robotic vehicle build onto a surrogate platform.