Recommendation:
DESCRIPTION: The M917A3 22.5-ton Heavy Dump Truck (HDT) is a commercially based system used to load, transport, and dump payloads of sand and gravel aggregates, crushed rock, hot paving mixes, earth, clay, rubble, and large boulders at engineering and construction sites under worldwide climatic conditions in a military environment. The M917A3 is fielded to Brigade Engineer Battalions, Engineer Construction Companies, Vertical Construction Companies, Engineer Support Companies, Asphalt Detachments, Quarry Platoons, and training support centers. It supports construction and maintenance of main supply routes, logistical facilities, helipads, airfield, landing strips, motor pools and parking areas. The integrated armor requirement is compliant with the Tactical Wheeled Vehicle Long Term Armor Strategy (LTAS) Ballistic Specifications, v3.7, dated 19 Jan 06. The HDT is required to replace the F5070, M917 and M917A1 HDTs with the oldest fielded variants at 50 years of age. ISSUE JUSTIFICATION: The Army 20 Ton Dump Truck fleet is over-aged and in critical need of replacement and modernization. In an effort to modernize this fleet and satisfy worldwide mission needs, new M917A3 Dump Trucks are needed. The enhanced capabilities provided by the M917A3 Dump Trucks would enable ARNG Engineer units to better support Army across the full spectrum of operations and support the many state missions that require this type of engineer support. The Approved Acquisition Objective (AAO) is 1,246 vehicles. With only 87 vehicles funded in the POM there is an unfunded requirement of 1,159 HDTs. Over half the funded and unfunded requirements are in the Army National Guard and Army Reserve. Mack Defense LLC, Allentown, Pennsylvania, was awarded a $296,403,688 firm-fixed-price contract for Heavy Dump Truck M917A3. The contract is a Single-Source Award, Firm-Fixed Price (FFP), Seven year (Five Base years and two Option years) Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) commercial contract for the production of a minimum quantity of five production verification Test (PVT) trucks and a maximum quantity of six hundred eighty three (683) each M917A3 Armor Capable and/or Armored HDTs, with an estimated completion date of May 18, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-18-D-0042). The FY2021 President’s Budget shows funding for only 87 HDTs between FY2019 & FY2025, far short of the 683 in the contract award, and only 7% of the AAO of 1,246. This program will require Congressional support in FY22-FY25. IMPACT OF FUNDING THE CAPABILITY: The ARNG has Engineer Combat Heavy Battalions, Engineer Support Companies, Engineer Combat Heavy Companies, Combat Support Companies, and Dump Truck companies require the M917A3 dump truck. Without these M917A3 22.5-ton dump trucks, Army National Guard units will continue operating with obsolete 20-ton dump trucks incapable of providing adequate combat support. Recommendation: FY2021 – Support FY21 President’s Budget request of $29.368M within Other Procurement, Army / BA 01: Tactical and Support Vehicles / BSA 10: Tactical Vehicles, Line #9, 5862D16001 / TRUCK, DUMP, 20T (CCE), to procure 61 M917A3 Heavy Dump Trucks for the Army, Army National Guard & Army Reserve. FY2022-2025 – Support funding of the remaining 596 HDTs under the existing contract (max quantity 683) for the US Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve.