The U.S. Marine Corps is seeking bidders to supply it with bullet-resistant window panels for its recruiting centers nationwide.
The move comes after a July 2015 mass shooting terror attack in Chattanooga, Tenn., that left four Marines and one sailor dead.
“Since the attack in Chattanooga … the review and implementation of force protection measures has been an enduring endeavor for the Marine Corps, Department of Defense, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the other service branches,” Marine Corps Recruiting Command spokesman Jim Edwards told Military.com in an email.
Edwards said the cost is expected to be about $2 million for the window panels, which will go to roughly 1,500 recruiting centers.
The panels will be a step up from the bullet-proof glass used at many banks and credit unions, capable of withstanding several rifle shots.
The panels are not the only upgrades the recruiting centers will receive.
“The Marine Corps is pursuing numerous comprehensive lines of effort that will increasingly serve to protect our Marines in communities throughout the nation,” Edwards said. “The installation of bullet-resisting panels is just one of many efforts; other examples include upgrades to recruiting facility security, concealment, observation, communications, training, and egress options.”
The Marines posted the solicitation for the panels this month, and companies will have until Aug. 11 to submit proposals to complete the work. The panels will be installed nationwide before the end of 2019.
