ESBD_449788_1756393035461_SOL_EXH_F.4_Suppressor Testing Protocols 25R0022945.pdf

SUPPRESSOR TESTING PROTOCOLS 25R0022945

Each Bidder submitting a suppressor to the Texas Department of Public Safety will provide the following items for testing and consideration:

A. Three (3) suppressors with quick mounting systems B. All supporting documents required in Phase I

The items will be submitted to:

Texas Department of Public Safety Tactical Training Center – Firearms Training Unit

810 County Road 240 Florence, Texas 76527

The signed solicitation must be returned to DPS_Solicit_Response@dps.texas.gov by 9/26/2025. The three suppressors must be delivered on or before 10/27/2025.

Bidders must call SGT Travis Rhea, Firearms Training Unit at 512-424-0858 to make delivery arrangements.

The suppressors must be representative of current production suppressors that would be provided by the Bidder to the extent that the suppressors show no appreciable wear caused by polishing of parts not normally performed on production suppressors. The Texas Department of Public Safety reserves, at its sole discretion, the right to reject any suppressor submissions that have been prepared, modified, or otherwise altered for the testing process. The due date/time for submittal of these items is the same as that of the Bidder's written bid which is to be delivered to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The Contract Monitor must verify that the items were received in a timely manner to determine whether the Bidder is compliant with the IFB requirements.

It is the intent of these specifications to describe the minimum requirements for suppressors for rifles and the individual line items outlined in this document. The Texas Department of Public Safety intends to conduct tests of the suppressors in four phases.

Bidders must be prepared to present a shooting team, in person, to conduct the Endurance and Accuracy Tests under the supervision of the Texas Department of Public Safety Range Master or his designee. It is the Bidders’ responsibility to ensure that sufficient personnel are available to complete the Endurance Test during the time allotted. The Bidder’s designated representative mailto:DPS_Solicit_Response@dps.texas.gov will be contacted when the test process is to occur. Expenses for travel, lodging, meals, and incidental expenses for the shooting team and any additional representative(s) will be the responsibility of the Bidder’s. The shooting team will provide necessary personal safety equipment (such as eye and hearing protection), machine rest(s), spotting scope/binoculars and tools required for the suppressors.

The Texas Department of Public Safety does not assume responsibility for damage to the Bidder’s submitted items, equipment, or injury to members of the Bidder’s shooting team.

Bidders will execute a Release of Liability prior to commencement of the test procedure.

The testing team will consist of members of the Texas Department of Public Safety Firearms Training Unit (TXDPS FTU) and others selected to assist as necessary. The Firearms Training Unit reserves the authority to exclude or repeat any test.

Phase I Phase I will be conducted by members of the Firearms Training Unit.

Sections:

1. Examination and Verification of Manufacture’s Certifications

2. Comprehensive Inspection of the suppressor

3. Conditional

4. Sound Propagation Analysis

Any submission not conforming to the required specifications during this phase will be deemed unacceptable and will no longer be eligible for testing. Any failure will result in all three submissions being disqualified from testing.

Section 1: Examination and Verification of Manufacturer's Certifications

The documentation accompanying the Bidder’s submission must, at a minimum, include the following:

a) A user’s/owner’s manual,

b) All warranties applicable to the suppressor, including muzzle device,

c) All maintenance procedures, including cleaning, recommended parts replacement, and intervals thereof, and

d) Written certification that the samples meet all specifications set forth in the suppressor specifications attachment.

Section 2: Comprehensive Inspection of suppressors

All submissions will be inspected for conformity with specifications/salient characteristics by the Texas Department of Public Safety Firearms Training Unit and armorers.

Submissions not conforming to specification will be deemed not acceptable and will not be further tested. This evaluation will include sharp edges, burrs, overall machine work, damaged threads, missing parts, fit of suppressor to weapon. Unacceptable workmanship of Bidders’ submissions will result in rejection of the submission.

The suppressor will be function tested in the following manner:

a) Attaching and removing the suppressor from the muzzle device.

b) Verifying alignment with a straightness rod.

All suppressors and muzzle devices will be weighed as a pair. The average weight of the three pairs per submission will be recorded. The length and diameter of the suppressors will also be recorded and compared.

Section 3: Conditional

The three suppressors will be subjected to the following test and evaluations by the Department of Public Safety representatives.

All tests will be conducted with suppressor mounted to 12.5” barrel M4 (5.56mm). The rifle will be zeroed at 50 yards with the suppressor. The suppressor shall be capable of withstanding all below test events without interfering with operation. The suppressor and/or muzzle device shall not come loose.

The three suppressors will be subjected to the following tests and evaluations by the Department of Public Safety representatives:

Conditional Test 1: Impact Shift and Dispersion Test

After the suppressor and rifle combinations are zeroed, a ten (10) shot group will be fired and the results recorded. The suppressor will be removed and a second ten (10) shot group will be fired. The change in impact will be measured and recorded. The suppressor will be mounted back on the same rifle, and a third ten (10) shot group will be fired. This group will be recorded and compared to the first group.

This test will be repeated five (5) times.

Conditional Test 2: Extreme Temperature Test

The submitted suppressor mounted on a rifle, will be placed in a temperature chamber, and stabilized at a temperature of approximately minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit for a period of one hour.

After the rifle and suppressor are removed from the temperature chamber, the fit, straightness, and tightness of the suppressor will be verified. When the combination returns to room temperature, the fit and tightness will be checked again.

Conditional Test 3: Drop Test

A 30-round magazine loaded with practice ammunition (provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety) will be inserted into the rifle magazine well. The suppressor and rifle will be dropped onto a concrete surface from 60 inches. It will land directly on the suppressor, once, in each of the following positions: 1) Suppressor (muzzle) down, 2) on the right side, 3) on the left side. After each drop it will be noted if the suppressor or muzzle device is damaged or loose. At the conclusion of all drops, the fit, straightness, and tightness of the suppressor will be verified.

A ten-shot group will be fired from 50 yards to confirm baffle strikes or other notable issues.

There shall be no significant loss of zero or aim shift.

Conditional Test 4: Saltwater Immersion and Corrosion Test

The suppressor will be removed from the rifle and then immersed in a prepared saline solution for a period of 30 minutes at a depth three feet. The saline solution will be prepared in a container. The water will be dechlorinated with a commercially available chlorine neutralizer.

Synthetic "Instant Ocean" salt or a commercial equivalent will then be added to achieve a salinity adjusted to a specific gravity range of 1.020 to 1.023 as measured by a hydrometer. Tap water treated in this fashion contains every major, minor, and trace element found in natural salt water and can support marine fish and plant life.

The suppressor will then be removed from the saline solution and shaken for no longer than 15 seconds to drain as much water as possible.

After saltwater immersion, the suppressor being subjected to this test will be maintained in an environment between 68-78 degrees Fahrenheit, with a relative humidity between 30 and 50 percent for 24 hours. The suppressors will then be inspected for rust and/or corrosion.

At the conclusion of all phases of testing, the suppressors will be inspected for rust and/or corrosion again.

Section 4: Sound Propagation Analysis

All measurements taken in the below test will be documented first with no suppressor as a control to compare data collected.

Open Air:

10 shots fired with each submission and measured with a decibel instrument. The shots measurements will be taken in the following locations:

a) One meter right of the muzzle and 1.5 meters above the ground. The muzzle and instrument will be at least ten meters from other surfaces.

b) 0.15 meters to the right, 0.3 meters behind the ejection port, and 1.5 meters above the ground.

c) 20 meters down range of the muzzle, five meters to the right of the intended target, and 1.5 meters above the ground.

Confined Space:

10 shots fired with each submission and measured with a decibel instrument. The rifle will be fired from inside a structure. The shots measurements will be taken in the following locations:

a) One meter right of the muzzle and 1.5 meters above the ground.

b) 0.15 meters to the right, 0.3 meters behind the ejection port, and 1.5 meters above the ground.

Sound quality matrix:

A panel of 10 informed test subjects will be assembled to complete a sound quality analysis survey. During this process the board will be positioned in an array of locations in both open air and around reflective surfaces.

During this test, shots from each submission will be compared to the competitor submissions from each position. The panel members will be blind to the submissions and will individually report which shot they preferred. Each submission will be compared to all competitors submissions during this test and data will be compared.

Phase II Endurance/Functional Reliability Test Out of the top performers of Phase I, one of each Bidder’s suppressors will undergo the Endurance/Functional Reliability Test. Testing procedures are as follows:

c) The Bidder will supply 5,000 rounds of ammunition for this test. The ammunition required will be .223 Rem, Winchester 55 grain full metal jacket (USA223R1). The TXDPS FTU reserves the right to inspect and evaluate the ammunition and suppressor at any time.

d) The Bidder will provide a shooting team which is responsible for firing the

Endurance/Functional Reliability portion of the test. This portion of testing will be conducted in the presence of, and under supervision of the TXDPS FTU.

e) Each shooting team will be assigned a representative from TXDPS FTU. This representative will maintain a log of rounds fired and document any notable events.

1. The shooting team will zero, at 50 yards, the rifle with their respective suppressor prior to beginning the Endurance/Functional Reliability Test.

2. A baseline, ten-shot group will be fired at 50 yards.

3. The Endurance/Functional Reliability Test consists of 5,000 rounds in two sections.

4. The first 2,500 rounds must be fired within a scheduled morning and afternoon period. Failure to fire all rounds may result in disqualification. At the completion of 2,500 rounds a ten-shot group will be fired from 50 yards to confirm no significant loss of zero or aim shift.

5. Firing positions utilized by the shooters will be at the shooter's discretion. The chosen position shall not violate any Texas Department of Public Safety Range safety procedures or rules.

6. The second 2,500 rounds will be fired in the same method on the following day (subject to change based on TXDPS FTU scheduling).

Phase III Sustained Quality Assurance Testing:

1. The Bidder offering the Number 1 suppressor in Phase 3, will be instructed to provide ten

(10) suppressors and muzzle devices to the Firearms Training Unit for this phase testing. The three suppressors and muzzle devices used in testing will not be part of ten (10). The suppressors and muzzle devices will be utilized during Recruit and/or other training.

2. If the Number 1 ranked Bidder suppressors and/or muzzle devices are found to be inadequate due to having malfunctions and breakages during the normal functionality of this test, the Number 2 Bidder will be notified and instructed to provide ten (10) suppressors and/or muzzle devices and perform the same requirements outlined in item 1 above.

3. If the Number 1 & 2 ranked Bidder’s submissions are found to be inadequate due to having malfunctions and breakages during the normal functionality of this test, the TXDPS reserves the option to notify the Number 3 rank Bidder for testing.

Commented [AJ1]: Is this the highest ranking suppressor from phases 1 and 2?