An Analysis of the United States Marine Corps Family of Ballistic Protective Systems Acquisition Strategy

Abstract

Recent congressional and media inquiries have highlighted questions regarding the protection provided to today's Marine Corps. The purpose of this research is to analyze the current Family of Ballistic Protective Systems (FBPS) Acquisition Strategy of the United States Marine Corps. The FBPS consists of individual protective items such as ballistic vests, individual armor plating, helmets, and eye and ear protection. Currently, the Marine Corps adheres to the (Department of Defense) DoD policy to use one-year appropriations to finance the procurement and sustainment of these items. Critics of the policy believe a separate three-year appropriation specific to the acquisition of these individual components better serves the customer and the acquisition process delineated in the DoD Instructions. The research examines current government regulations, policy environment, and acquisition precedents. Additionally, the research compares a previous FBPS acquisition to a theoretical procurement under three-year appropriations. The research demonstrates that the three-year obligation period of procurement funding better serves the acquisition process. Furthermore, three-year appropriations provide a better value for the Marine Corps in terms of cost savings and a better product. Finally, the research provides specific recommendations for the Marine Corps in the area of future procurements in the FBPS.