Special Operations.Com

Light and Medium Machine Guns

U.S. Army Special Forces on patrol.

M60 - The M60 Series 7.62mm Machine Gun has been the U.S. Army's general purpose medium machine gun since the late 1950s.The M60 fires standard NATO 7.62mm ammunition and is used as a general support crew-served weapon. It has a removable barrel which can be easily changed to prevent overheating. The weapon has an integral, folding bipod and canalso be mounted on a folding tripod. The M60 Series is being replaced by the M240B 7.62mm medium machine gun.

M60 - From Navy SEALs.Com

The following is a current request from SOCOM, shown here as an example of the procurement requirements for the new LMG:

N00164-99-R-0041 – LIGHTWEIGHT MACHINE GUNS – FSC 10 - SIC 3484

Anticipated Issue Date: 7OCT99 Anticipated Closing Date: 29NOV99

This procurement is intended to obtain commercially available/non-developmental item (NDI) 5.56mm Lightweight Machine Guns (LMG) for use by the United States Special Operations Command. Each LMG shall be supplied with the following ancillary equipment: sling, bipod, blank firing adapter, a spare barrel, cleaning kit, and operator's manual. Critical characteristics of the LMG are that it shall weigh no more than 13 pounds and be no longer than 44 inches in length. The LMG shall be constructed of corrosion resistant materials that are abrasion, impact and battlefield chemical resistant. All external and visible surfaces shall be coated with a dull, non-reflective coating. The LMG shall have a cyclic firing rate of 500-750 rounds per minute. The LMG shall have a MIL-STD 1913 rail on its upper receiver for mounting optics. The LMG shall also have a MIL-STD 1913 rail system with a minimum of three rail interfaces for mounting/interface with the accessories of the SOPMOD M4 Accessory Kit. The LMG shall be belt fed using standard DoD 5.56mm ammunition with no provision for an attachable/ detachable box magazine. The LMG receiver shall have a minimum service life of 50,000 rounds and the barrel shall have a minimum service live of 10,000 rounds. The LMG shall have a mean-rounds per stoppage of at least 1,800 rounds. The LMG shall support currently fielded day and night optics for target acquisition. The minimum requirement is an adjustable or graduated peep type sight similar to the sight currently fielded on the M4A1 Carbine. The safety shall be ambidextrous, easy to operate under all environmental conditions, and shall be capable of being checked by sight or touch. Collapsible butt stocks are desirable but not essential. The Government intends to issue a draft specification on or about 28MAY99 to all vendors responding to this announcement. Vendor responses to the draft specification will be required by no later than 25JUN99. It is anticipated that the actual solicitation will be issued on or about 7OCT99. The contract type will be a Firm-Fixed price Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ). The minimum quantity is 425/ea LMGs with a maximum quantity of 2,000/ea LMGs, which may be ordered over the five-year life of the contract. There is a requirement of 10/ea first article units that are part of the 425/ea minimum quantity. The contract is F.O.B. Destination. For the minimum quantity, delivery of the 10/ea is required 120 days after the effective date of the contract (DAC) and 415/ea are required beginning 270 DAC at a rate of 100 to 115 per month until complete. Any subsequent delivery orders will order between 10/ea and 1,000/ea with a maximum monthly delivery rate of 250/ea. The solicitation will require delivery of 3/ea product samples along with a concise technical proposal by the closing date of the proposal. The solicitation will be evaluated on a best value basis and the Government will reserve the right to award to other than the lowest priced offeror and other than the highest technically rated offeror. The product samples need not meet the specification in its entirety, but must meet the minimum requirements specified in the solicitation to be given further consideration for award. The technical proposal shall address any differences between the product samples and the production units. The Government can not guarantee the condition of the product samples after testing. All responsible sources may submit a proposal, which shall be considered by the agency. Requests for the draft specification and subsequent solicitation shall be made to the following: pfender_j@crane.navy.mil or via facsimile to the attention of Mr. John Pfender at (812) 854-5095, desk phone is 812-854-5198. Mailing address is: NAVSURFWARCENDIV Crane, Mr. John Pfender, Code 1162NH Bldg 2521, 300 Highway 361, Crane, IN 47522-5001.