MSA Secures $15.1 Million in Contracts for Ballistic Helmets
Award Ensures Continued Production of Helmets at MSA
PITTSBURGH, March 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MSA (NYSE: MSA) announced today that it has secured three contracts valued at $15.1 million to produce ballistic helmets for the U.S. military. Two of these awards represent follow-on purchases of ballistic helmets under a five-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract with the U.S. Army that calls for the production of approximately 880,000 helmets. Concurrent with this award, MSA also received a contract to meet additional ballistic helmet needs within the Department of Defense.
With the two Army awards, MSA is among a select group of suppliers contracted to deliver helmets under the second year buy of the ID/IQ contract. The split of awards among multiple suppliers has been an element of the military's purchasing strategy since the helmet bid was issued in 2004. MSA is currently completing production of more than 120,000 ballistic helmets under the terms of the first-year award, which was issued in August 2005.
"We're very pleased to be able to continue serving our armed forces in this capacity and proud to be a key supplier of equipment that's helping safeguard the lives of our fighting men and women in uniform," said John T. Ryan III, MSA chairman and CEO.
While helmet production quantities associated with the latest Army "big bid" award are less than those required in the first year of the contract, Mr. Ryan noted that the need for ballistic helmets in the military extends beyond the existing Army contract.
"Regarding the Army's five-year ID/IQ contract, we have known for some time that production requirements would eventually lessen as large shipments of helmets have been rapidly deployed to soldiers in various operational theaters," Mr. Ryan said. "The production levels associated with this latest award simply reflect the Army's current demand. However, as we are seeing with the awarding of other contracts, additional ballistic helmet opportunities within the military do exist and MSA is well positioned to meet those needs."
MSA's ballistic helmet for the Army, known as the Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH), incorporates a new, lightweight design that offers soldiers advanced ballistic protection with greater comfort, stability and situational awareness. Since adopted by the Army as the standard of issue, the ACH has been credited with saving several lives in military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Established in 1914, MSA is a global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of sophisticated safety products that protect people's health and safety. Sophisticated safety products typically integrate any combination of electronics, mechanical systems and advanced materials to protect users against hazardous or life-threatening situations. The company's comprehensive line of products is used by workers around the world in the fire service, homeland security, construction and other industries, as well as the military. Principal products include self-contained breathing apparatus, gas masks, gas detection instruments, head protection, respirators and thermal imaging cameras. The company also provides a broad range of consumer and contractor safety products through retail channels. These products are marketed and sold under the MSA Safety Works brand. MSA has annual sales of approximately $914 million, manufacturing operations throughout the United States and Europe, and more than 30 international locations. Additional information is available on the company's Web site at www.msanet.com.
SOURCE Mine Safety Appliances Company
CONTACT: Mark Deasy of MSA, +1-412-967-3357
