US Customs & Border Protection Issues Solicitation for 9mm Handguns

us customs border protection tunnel — A border patrol agent inspects a water drainage tunnel that spans from Nogales, Ariz. into Mexico.

us customs border protection drug arrest — U.S. Border Patrol agent places a Mexican national under arrest for transporting drugs into the United States.

us customs border protection super bowl security — Robert Perez, director of New York area port operations and coordinator of CBP’s security support for Super Bowl XLVIII, discusses deployment of high-tech scanning equipment at the stadium.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has released a solicitation for a family of lightweight, striker fired, semi-auto 9mm duty pistols for its agents.

The solicitation says the pistols are to be full-size, mid-size and compact models, each with red inert and blue marking training variants. The pistols must include three backstraps or chassis sizes. In addition, the full and compact models should include an optics ready slide cut and cover plate. The slide cut is required to be compatible with the Leupold Delta Point Pro and Trijicon RMR, at a minimum. Meanwhile, all exposed parts should be in matte black or dark grey. The slide should also be available, as an option, in a tan color similar to flat dark earth, and a green color similar to ranger green.

Phase one testing includes a 10,000-round reliability/endurance test for the full-size and mid-size models. The first 4,000 rounds will be fired with a SureFire X300U-A weapon light attached to the pistol. The remaining 6,000 rounds will be fired without the weapon light. The compact pistol will be tested with 5,000 rounds of service ammunition, with no light affixed to the pistol. Testing will be done in 400 round cycles. Each cycle will last between 20 and 45 minutes. In addition, each cycle will alternate between Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P JHP ammo and Winchester Ranger 147gr JHP, with the first cycle being conducted with Winchester Ranger 147 gr. JHP. All testing will be done at the expense of the manufacturer at a certified NIJ (National Institute of Justice) test laboratory.

CPB is looking for a 10-year contract here, with an $85 million ceiling. Responses are due by Sept. 19, 2018 at 4 p.m. EST.

See more details below. To read the solicitation in full, visit fbo.gov.

Pistol No. 1

This pistol shall be designated as a “full size”, and shall include a full size frame and full size slide combination.

Height: shall not exceed 6.00 inches.
Width: shall not exceed 1.50 inches.
Length: shall not exceed 8.10”
Weight: shall not exceed 32 ounces
Barrel Length: shall be between 4.20” and 5.10”
Modularity: Compatibility with slide/barrel combination from pistol #2 without adversely affecting functionality and operations of the firearm is preferred but not required.

Pistol No. 2

This pistol shall be designated as a “mid-size”, and shall include a mid-size frame and mid-size slide combination.

Height: shall be between 4.75” and 5.60”
Width: shall not exceed 1.50 inches.
Length: shall not exceed 7.60”
Weight: shall not exceed 30 ounces
Barrel Length: shall be between 3.50” and 4.50”
Modularity: Compatibility with slide/barrel combination from pistol #1 without adversely affecting functionality and operations of the firearm is preferred but not required. Shall accept full size magazines (Pistol #1) without adversely affecting functionality and operation of the firearm.

Pistol No. 3

This pistol shall be designated as a “compact”, and shall include a compact frame and compact slide combination.

Height: shall be between 4.00” and 4.90”
Width: shall not exceed 1.50 inches.
Length: shall not exceed 7.00”
Weight: shall not exceed 28 ounces
Barrel Length: shall be between 3.00” and 3.80”
Modularity: Compatibility with slide/barrel combination from pistol #2 without adversely affecting functionality and operations of the firearm is preferred but not required. Shall accept full size and mid-size magazines (Pistol #1 and Pistol #2) without adversely affecting functionality and operation of the firearm.

Red Inert Training Pistol

Shall be available in all three pistol configurations (Pistol #1, Pistol #2, and Pistol #3). .
Must be non-firing training handgun with full articulation of, at minimum, trigger, slide, and magazine.
Shall not be capable of firing of live ammunition.
Capable of feeding/ejecting “dummy” rounds is preferred but not required.
Exterior of slide shall be clearly and permanently marked “FOR TRAINING USE ONLY”

Blue Marking Training Pistol

Shall be available in all three pistol configurations (Pistol #1, Pistol #2, and Pistol #3).
Must be capable of firing SIMUNITIONTM 9MM FX Marking cartridges.
Shall not be capable of feeding or firing of live ammunition.
Exterior of slide shall be clearly and permanently marked “FOR TRAINING USE ONLY”

Safety Devices

Shall not have a thumb, finger or grip-actuated safety device.
Must not have a thumb, finger or grip-actuated de-cocking device.
Shall not have a magazine disconnect which prevents the firearm from firing when the magazine is removed from the pistol.
Shall not have an integrated “lock-out” as a permanent part of the pistol.
May have integral trigger safety which is deactivated by the normal placement of the trigger finger on the trigger during firing.
Shall have internal safety device which prevents the forward movement of the firing pin/striker without articulation of the trigger.
Must have an internal safety which prevents the pistol from firing when dropped.
Shall have internal safety device which prevents the pistol from firing when out of battery. Upon returning into battery the pistol shall be capable of firing with only the manipulation of the trigger, even if the trigger was depressed while the pistol was out of battery.

Trigger

Pull: All pistols shall have trigger pulls that are consistent in weight and operations, with a maximum deviation of plus or minus one pound.
Weight: Shall be a Minimum of 4.5lbs and a Maximum of 8.0lbs
Length of Travel: Shall have an overall length of travel distance not to exceed 0.60 inches.
Reset: Shall have a re-set distance not to exceed 0.50 inches.
Adjustability: Manually adjustable triggers are not permitted.
Articulation: Shall have a single smooth and consistent mode of operation.
When the striker/firing pin is in the ready to fire position, the trigger shall return to the forward most position, if partially pressed and released (not fired).
Shall be designed to prevent a finger or gloved finger from binding or obstructing the articulation of the trigger. Glove shall be a shooting type, style or design.

Frame

Shall be the primary serialized component of the firearm. If a chassis style system is utilized, the chassis shall be the primary serialized component of the firearm.
Shall be constructed primarily of polymer type material.
Must be universal for a left or right handed shooter.
Shall be abrasion resistant.
Chassis style systems are permissible. If chassis system is utilized, all tools required to remove the chassis’ fire control group shall be provided to all participants of vendor provided armorer training courses.
Shall have an integrated cross slot type rail section, forward of the trigger guard, designed to accept and securely mount weapon mounted light systems. Pistols #1 and #2 shall be compatible at a minimum with Surefire X300 and Streamlight TLR-1 models without adversely affecting functionality.
Shall incorporate a beveled magazine well, with beveling on all inside edges at the entrance of the magazine well to aid in reloading. No more than 0.1” of standard magazine (not including floorplate) shall be visible on front and sides of firearm when fully seated in magwell.
Entire front edge of magazine well shall be equal in height from left to right corners.
An integrated permanent magazine well flare is preferred but not required. If a permanent flared magazine well is included, it may extend no more than 0.15” beyond the outside of the grip on each side.

Bore Axis

Shall be designed with a bore axis height of less than 1.75 inches.

Grip

Shall be aggressively textured to provide a positive non-slip surface when wet or dry.
Shall incorporate a removable back strap and/or chassis system multiple grip sizes to accommodate different hand sizes.
Back straps, if utilized, shall be available in a minimum of three sizes, and be included with each firearm.
For chassis system firearms, if removable back straps are not utilized, frames shall be available in a minimum three grip diameter sizes.
Back straps shall not be secured by screws.
The replaceable back strap and/or grip panels shall not require specialized or proprietary tools to replace and/or exchange.
The removal of the back strap and/or grip panels shall not prevent the pistol from firing.

Slide

Shall be designed with grasping grooves (i.e. slide serrations) on the rear grasping surface of the slide. This area is located on the right and left of the slide near the rearmost portion of the slide where readily accessible to the shooter. Rear grasping grooves shall measure at least 1.25” from front to back, and shall measure at least 75% of the overall height of the slide.
Grasping grooves shall also be located towards the muzzle of the pistol. This area is located on the right and left of the slide near the forward most portion of the slide where readily accessible to the shooter. Groove design shall be consistent in shape between front and rear serrations. Front groove shall cover at least 50% of surface area, and measure at least 50% of height and width as rear grooves.
Pistols #1 and #2 shall incorporate an optics ready slide cut and cover plate. Slide cut shall be compatible, at a minimum with Leupold Delta Point Pro and Trijicon RMR optics. Cover plate shall be consistent in design and dimension with the slide and stay secured. Cover plate shall not interfere with the rear sight and rear sight shall not be mounted to the cover plate.
Pistol shall be capable of full functionality with cover plate removed.
Slide must fully cover the barrel (with the exception of the chamber portion of the barrel) allowing for no more than 0.25” of the muzzle to be exposed.
Shall not be ported.
Shall not utilize a removable barrel bushing.
Must incorporate a dove tail slot for the mounting of a rear sight.
Must incorporate a dove tail or screw design to affix the front sight firmly to the slide.
Shall require the use of a sight tool to adjust the rear sight for windage.

Sights

Shall be a metallic, low profile, fixed, 3-dot night sight design.
Arrive from the vendor set at mechanical zero ±0.035 inches
Shall allow shooter to acquire the proper sight alignment rapidly. The proper alignment of the sights will be consistent with the “equal height, equal light” sight alignment.
Front sight shall be a single blade type which is capable of alignment within the rear sight notch and be of rectangular/square appearance to the shooter.
Rear sight shall have either a square or “U” shaped rear notch.
The rear sight shall be adjustable for windage within a dovetail or similar cut. These adjustments shall be made by the use of a sight adjustment tool specifically designed for sight adjustment. (e.g. sight pusher)
The front sight may be adjustable for windage. If adjustable, adjustments shall be made by the use of a sight adjustment tool.
Shall be elevation-adjustable by the replacement of the front or rear sight.
Shall be equipped with self-luminous capsules which allow the shooter to align the sights in low light conditions.
Must allow for a horizontal sight alignment of the three self-luminous capsules in a row.
The front sight shall contain one capsule and the rear sight shall contain two capsules which will align on the left and right of the front sight.
Shall contain tritium or an equivalent self-luminous material.
The luminous portion of the sights may not be visible from the muzzle end of the pistol.
The luminous capsule of the front sight shall have a larger, brightly colored outline visible to the shooter.
Shall have a minimum service life of 10 years from the date of government acceptance, and shall be impervious to damage by commonly available gun cleaning solvents and lubricants.
Shall be Trijicon HD or equal.

Barrel

Shall meet dimensional tolerances as specified by SAAMI for 9mm Luger. 4.1.16.2 Shall have a corrosion resistant bore and exterior finish.
Must be matte black or dark grey in color.
Shall not be ported.
If allowed by law, should NOT be marked with any serial number.

Magazine

Gun #1 shall hold a minimum of 16 cartridges.
Pistol #2 shall hold a minimum of 14 cartridges.
Pistol #3 shall hold a minimum of 10 cartridges.
Shall be matte black or grey in color
All components shall be rust and corrosion resistant.
Shall have a minimum of one witness hole for every five rounds, as well as a hole corresponding with the maximum capacity. It is preferred that witness holes exist for every round.