The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Associate Minister of National Defence and Minister of State (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency) (La Francophonie) and the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, today announced that the Government of Canada awarded a contract valued at $8.5 million to Peerless Garments, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, for the procurement of enhanced combat uniforms for the Canadian Forces (CF).
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The contract was awarded following a competitive procurement process and requires the supplier to use Canadian-made textiles and to manufacture the uniforms in Canada. The contract is expected to create 15 jobs in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
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The CF are fitted with the highly sophisticated Canadian Disruptive Pattern uniform which is scientifically designed and specifically adapted to the field environment. This uniform continues to serve CF members well in the conduct of their missions at home and abroad.
Substantial improvements to the current uniform have been proposed and analyzed by the CF. These improvements, in response to feedback from CF members who are wearing this uniform in the field, will enhance comfort and protection, while improving the fit of combat uniforms for maximum operational effectiveness.
Under this contract, Peerless Garments will produce approximately 45 000 trousers and jackets in the Canadian Disruptive Pattern Temperate Woodland pattern. The contract also includes three options for additional quantities of trousers and jackets in either the Canadian Disruptive Pattern Temperate Woodland or Canadian Disruptive Pattern Arid patterns, which could potentially bring the contract value up to $34 million.
Improvements have been made to 17 specific areas of the uniform. These improvements include the addition of a Mandarin-style collar, flat chest pockets, arms and pen pockets on the sleeves and legs, Velcro attachments on the sleeve and ankle cuffs, integrated kneepads, as well as the removal of drawstrings on the trousers. The enhanced combat uniform will be distributed to combat units first, and will, over time, be distributed to the entire CF.