The Pentagon yesterday awarded more than $2.6 billion to four companies for an additional 3,126 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles to be manufactured and completed by end of July 2008.

International Military and Government LLC (IMG), was the big winner, capturing $1.183 billion firm-fixed-priced delivery order to purchase an additional 1,500 Category I (CAT I) MRAP Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) vehicles.

The largest single delivery order to date has been issued to International Military and Government LLC for 1,500 Category I vehicles, according to the Pentagon.

This order also includes sustainment items needed to support the vehicles in theater as well as several engineering change proposals to increase the vehicles’ capabilities. The CAT I is a MRAP vehicle used by the Marine Corps and other Joint Forces for convoy operations.

BAE SYSTEMS Land & Armaments, LP. Ground Systems Division was awarded $645 million for 600 Category II MRAP vehicles, engineering change proposals and vehicle sustainment Integrated Logistics Support (ILS).

Stewart & Stevenson was awarded $458 million for 668 CAT II MRAP vehicles with CAT I seating configuration, sustainment parts and engineering change proposals.

Force Protection Industries, Inc, was awarded $377 million for the purchase of 178 CAT I MRAP vehicles, 180 MRAP CAT II vehicles, including engineer change proposals and Integrated Logistic Support.

This contract award by the MRAP Vehicle Joint Program Office continues the rapid procurement and acquisition process for these life-saving vehicles with the release of four delivery orders resulting in a total of 11,941 vehicles in the life-saving fleet by mid-summer. The total approved acquisition objective for all services is 15,374, which includes vehicles produced for training and testing purposes.