US Secret Service Seeking New Multi-Caliber Sniper Rifles

The US Secret Service has released a Request For Proposals (RFP) hinting at a search for a new ‘Precision Bolt Action Rifle System’. The search for new rifles comes just 10 days after the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump.

The RFP was posted by the Department of Homeland Security, on behalf of the US Secret Service, on 19 July, with the period for submissions running until 14 August. The RFP is seeking 30 complete rifles with suppressors. Contractors can submit a maximum of 2 different model rifles for appraisal.

As noted in our breakdown of Secret Service weapons deployed at Butler, Pa., the US Secret Service Counter-Sniper teams use Remington 700 long actions in Accuracy International AX chassis systems.

The RFP explains that the submitted rifles much be new, not refurbished weapons and that the weapon is to be ‘multi-caliber’:

“The United State Secret Services (USSS) has a requirement for a multi-caliber rifle, for use in all environmental conditions. The weapon shall be commercially available and in serial production. All weapons procured under this contract shall be of new manufacture. Rebuilt, overhauled, remanufactured, or "seconds" shall not be accepted.”

Testing will be conducted with four rifles from each submission. The samples submitted must be multi-caliber capable but set-up in the 300 Winchester Magnum. The solicitation notice goes on to say:

“One of the samples must be in the left-handed configuration. One (1).308 Winchester and one (1) 300 Norma Magnum barrels, bolts/bolt heads and two (2) magazines per caliber shall be provided for feed and function testing only. All solicitation sample packaging and documentation sent with the samples shall be clearly identified with the Contractor's name and solicitation number.”

Following pre-award testing and after a rifle system is down selected then the weapons will be subjected to further post-ward first article testing with the “first ten (10) rifles (eight (8) right hand and two (2) left hand) that are delivered”

The multi-caliber rifles must be no heavier (unloaded and without accessories) than 16 lbs, have a 24 to 27 inch long barrel, be capable of 1 MOA and be able to chamber 300 Winchester magnum, 300 Norma Magnum, 300 Precision Rifle Cartridge and .308 Winchester and be available in left and right handed configurations. The solicitation notice also states that “the offeror(s) must be the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the receiver and bolt assembly.“

Interestingly, the Secret Service has stipulated that the rifles must be compatible with the Thunder Beast Arms Magnus-SR 30 and the Thunder Beast Arms Ultra 9. The solicitation explains:

“The rifle shall be supplied with a Thunder Beast Arms Magnus-SR 30 caliber Suppressor, with secondary retention non-timed brake (SR NTB). If the rifle fails utilizing the requested suppressor a Thunder Beast Arms Ultra 9 shall be installed and tested. If the rifle fails with the Ultra 9 then the submission will be eliminated.“

The rifles will be tested over three phases and judged on reliability, accuracy and endurance testing as well as end user/armorer evaluation, past performance and price.