Indeed.
In the USAF budget, http://www.saffm.hq.af.mil/Budget/Air-Force-Presidents-Budget-FY17/, in the USAF Weapons volume, http://www.saffm.hq.af.mil/Portals/84/documents/FY17/AFD-160208-046.pdf?ver=2016-08-24-102038-590, there is no PGU-46/B listed.
There are multiple other listings for various other ammunition, but not the round mentioned in the article.
However, there is a statement in a couple of places in the USAF Weapons volume that states: “Air Force procures [other PGU rounds] through the Single Manager for Conventional Ammunition (SMCA), Department of the Army.”
Weird. I need to look into this a little more.
Regarding not a competitive bid, the solicitation document makes clear: “There are currently no other known sources to provide the PGU-46B as a Non-Traced ammunition.”
This makes the acquisition sole-source. Much like buying additional F-16’s, there is only one maker of that jet, ergo, sole-source procurement.
hey thanks. It looks like the army gets to call the shots for its own needs ?