Sources Sought Notice UAS Services_updated.docx

Sources Sought Notice

This Sources Sought Notice is not a Request for Proposal and does not constitute a commitment by the Government. The Government is currently conducting market research in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10, to identify potential sources to fulfill the requirement and gather information on current capabilities of businesses within the market. All information submitted in response to the Sources Sought Notice is voluntary and the Government will not pay for information requested nor will it compensate any respondent for any cost incurred in developing information provided to the Government. Proprietary information submitted should be marked appropriately. All submitted information shall remain with the U.S. Government and will not be returned.

The Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), Eastern Acquisition Division (EAD), and Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO), Uncrewed Systems Operation Center (UxSOC) requires Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Services.

The scope covers a broad range of UAS platforms, sensors, and data collection services. Missions will generally align with NOAA's broad mission focus areas and may include, but are not limited to:

· Living Marine Resource Surveys and Research: Including marine mammal and protected species observations, and fisheries stock assessments.

· Meteorological and Oceanographic Observations: Including air-sea interaction observations, atmospheric flux measurements, and long-range, mid- to high-altitude measurements for improved forecasting and climate research.

· Ocean Exploration and Characterization: Including harmful algal bloom characterization, ocean color mapping, and related satellite calibration / validation data collection.

· Land, Cryospheric, and Hydrographic Mapping: Including high-resolution shoreline verification and shallow water bathymetry to support nautical charting, coastal resilience, and habitat modeling, as well as mapping of other surface features where actionable information data would be useful.

· Other Priority Areas: As identified by Congress through the appropriations process

Response Requirements

Responses to this Sources Sought Notice shall submit a statement of capabilities, not to exceed 20 pages, encompassing the following information:

(1) Company Profile

a) Company Name;

b) Company Address;

c) Unique Entity Identifier (UEI);

d) North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code applicable and corresponding business size for the NAICS Code(s) indicated;

e) Applicable General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Supply Schedules (FSS) and Schedule Item Numbers (SIN) (include all that apply to this requirement);

f) Small Business Administration (SBA) certified small business concern status and/or socio-economic status (if applicable); and

g) Primary point of contact information and Secondary point of contact (Name, Title, Phone, and Email).

(2) General questions for all NOAA mission applications:

a) What types of UAS platforms does your company own and would have the ability to use for prospective NOAA missions (e.g., fixed wing, VTOL, hybrid VTOL-Fixed Wing, etc.)?

b) For each UAS platform owned and available for prospective NOAA missions, what level of endurance does each have (hours and/or minutes)?

(3) The Capability Demonstration shall provide a summary of capabilities that displays the ability to provide UAS Services for various projects and missions that will require specific measurements metrics for Atmospheric Data Services, Remote Sensing Services (Imagery/Lidar), Visual Data & Scientific Observation, Extreme Environments & Specialized Capabilities and Data Processing & Analytics.

Vendors shall answer the following questions under each area to demonstrate vendors capabilities:

1. Atmospheric Data Services: Collection of in-situ meteorological data (e.g., pressure, temperature, humidity, wind), aerosols, and trace gas sampling from the boundary layer to high altitudes.

a. What is the maximum altitude your UAS platforms can reach for in-situ meteorological data collection and trace gas sampling?

2. Remote Sensing Services (Imagery/Lidar): Collection of high-resolution RGB, Multispectral, Hyperspectral, Thermal Infrared (IR), and Lidar data for mapping, high-resolution land surface, and bathymetric data characterization.

a. Provide examples of high-resolution Lidar and hyperspectral data your systems have collected for bathymetric data characterization?

b. Provide examples and details about any high-resolution orthomosaic map data you have generated using aerial imagery collected from your UAS platforms.

c. What specific RGB, multispectral, and thermal infrared (IR) sensors do you typically use for high-resolution land surface mapping?

3. Visual Data & Scientific Observation: High-resolution video and optical imaging for biological classification (biota detection, quantification), ground truthing, and environmental monitoring. This includes integrated multi-sensor operations for chemical parameters (e.g., environmental DNA, dissolved oxygen, CO2, nutrients, methane, salinity) and physical parameters (e.g., temperature, pressure, currents, wave features, ocean energy).

a. How does your team handle the integrated operation of multiple sensors to simultaneously collect chemical parameters like eDNA and physical parameters like wave features?

b. What methodologies do you use for "ground truthing" when performing high-resolution video and optical imaging for biological classification?

4. Extreme Environments & Specialized Capabilities: Provision of specialized systems capable of operating in remote locations and extreme environments, including but not limited to Arctic conditions (high wind, freezing temperatures), within the eyewall of a tropical cyclone, or at very high altitudes.

a. Demonstrate your experience operating specialized UAS in extreme conditions, such as the eyewall of a tropical cyclone or freezing Arctic temperatures?

b. What specific technical modifications are made to your systems to ensure they remain operational in high-wind environments?

5. Data Processing & Analytics: Post-processing of raw data into derived products (e.g., orthomosaics, point clouds, classified detection data) and delivery of actionable scientific intelligence.

a. What is your workflow for post-processing raw data into complex derived products like orthomosaics and point clouds?

b. How do you ensure that all sensors are calibrated against references traceable to national or international standards following metrological best practices?

c. Describe the machine-to-machine services you use to allow NOAA to retrieve mission data in real-time?

(3) Missions may require that UAS be operated on specified courses, or to specific locations spanning the targeted domain of interest, which may include a broad range of altitudes over land, water, or ice, according to mission specific requirements. As applicable and feasible, chosen courses and locations may be adapted during the mission. All flight operations shall be conducted in strict accordance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and NOAA Administrative Orders. The Contractor is responsible for obtaining all necessary waivers, airspace authorizations, and spectrum frequency approvals required for performance. For missions requiring Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, the Contractor shall demonstrate compliance with FAA waivers and either possess Detect and Avoid (DAA) technologies or be able to implement other sufficient mitigation measures necessary to ensure safety in and outside of the National Airspace System (NAS), as applicable.

Based on the following, vendors shall answer the following questions:

1. Compliance & Regulations

· What specific experience does your team have in operating under FAA 14 CFR Part 107?

· Can you provide examples of Part 107 waivers or related Special Government Interest (SGI) authorizations, you have successfully obtained for similar missions?

2. Operational Capabilities

· How does your flight team handle real-time adaptations to mission courses and locations while in the field?

· What types of environments (land, water, or ice) is your UAS fleet currently cleared to operate over, and at what range of altitudes?

3. BVLOS & Safety

· For Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, what specific Detect and Avoid (DAA) technologies do your platforms utilize?

· If DAA technology is not present, what alternative mitigation measures do you implement to ensure safety both within and outside of the National Airspace System (NAS)?

4. Administrative Responsibility

· What is your process for securing spectrum frequency approvals and airspace authorizations for complex mission domains?

· Does your company currently hold any standing FAA waivers that would expedite the performance of these services?

Government Point of Contact

Company brochures will not be considered in lieu of a capability statement. Interested firms shall submit their statement of capabilities to Austin Salmon, Contract Specialist, at austin.salmon@noaa.gov and Jana Kolb, Contracting Officer, at Jana.Kolb@noaa.gov by no later than 12:00 PM ET on Friday, February 6, 2026. Any questions or responses regarding this notice must be submitted to Austin Salmon via the above email address provided. Information received in response to this notice will be considered solely to conduct informed decisions regarding the potential procurement strategy of this requirement. No telephone requests will be honored. Firms that are interested in subcontracting opportunities related to portions of this requirement should contact potential firms directly.

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