Army seeking proposals for next-generation targeting system prototypes

By Dan Schere / November 30, 2022 at 4:25 PM

The Army is asking industry to submit prototype proposals for the newest version of its Joint Effects Targeting System by early February.

The request for prototype proposals, posted last week, is the latest step the service has taken to solicit information from the private sector in developing the JETS II. The proposals are due Feb. 2.

The RPP states the Army intends to integrate a military code global positioning system receiver, and that it will handle call-for-fire missions for “coordinate seeking, laser guided and conventional munitions.”

JETS allows soldiers to “engage targets with precision munitions” in addressing a “high-priority capability gap for a lightweight, highly accurate targeting system,” according to the Army. The service included $10.3 million in its fiscal year 2023 budget request for JETS procurement, down from $62 million in FY-22.

The Army included $10.9 billion for JETS II research, development, test and evaluation for FY-23. According to budget documents, JETS II will be an “advanced, lighter weight precision targeting system” that will feature better targeting sensors, weigh less and use less power.

In June, the Army held an industry day in which the service presented information about the schedule and contracting efforts for JETS II, and for vendors to present their ideas.

The RPP states that prototype development will consist of up to two competitive other transaction authority agreements, meaning that they will not be contracts or grants. The OTA will be a cost-plus fixed-fee agreement and the performance period will be 30 months, according to the government.

A panel made up of government personnel, experts from Johns Hopkins University, CACI International and QinetiQ will evaluate the proposals, the RPP states.

Reviews of the proposals are scheduled to begin on Feb. 3, with a projected award date of May 24.

After the prototyping phase is complete for JETS II, the Army will select one vendor for low-rate initial production, the RPP states.

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