The Department of Homeland Security’s United States Secret Service Has released a Request for Proposals solicitation for a new 5.56x45mm carbine.

The Secret Service are offering a five year Indefinite Quantity/Indefinite Delivery (IQ/ID) contract, this however, has a lifetime quantity ceiling of 3,900 rifles with a guarantee of a minimum order of 500 rifles. The individual order quantity during the IQ/ID will be 25 rifles while the maximum will be 1,000 rifles

The Secret Service’s Counter Assault Team (CAT) and the Emergency Response Team (ERT) are both currently issued the Knight’s Armament Company 5.56x45mm SR-16E3 CQB.

Knight’s Armament SR-16E3 CQB MOD 2 (KAC)

The solicitation posted on fbo.gov on 12 October gives quite a bit of detail about what the Secret Service are looking for. The new rifle must be no heavier than 7.5lb, have a 10-12 inch long barrel and be no longer than 34 inches in length with stock fully extended.

The specification allows entries of both direct-impingement and piston gas-operated systems. This leaves the way open for a submission from SIG Sauer of a variant of their gas-operated, piston driven MCX. Similarly, H&K could submit their HK146 A5, with an 11 inch barrel, which weighs 6.9lbs. Other likely submissions might come from Knight’s Armament potentially offering the SR-16E3 MOD 2, Daniel Defense with their Mk18 or SIG Sauer with the SIG516PDW.

The solicitation also requires the barrel life of at least 15,000 rounds, the rifle must  also be 1/2×28 threaded to accept a suppressor. The new rifle must be select fire but burst settings are not acceptable. The weapon’s controls must be fully ambidextrous, with a standard rotary fire selector. The two-stage trigger must have a pull of between 4 to 6.5lbs. The forend must be modular, free-floating and have no less than 9 inches of rail-space and must be able to attach 1913 Picatinny rail segments.

Manufacturers interested have until 1st December to enter their submissions.