5-I.A.02 Limited Competition Justification Vesper UAV Bundle - Lowry update_Redacted (1).pdf

This is a Justification Review Document and Memorandum for Record supporting a sole-source procurement decision for the Vesper UAV Bundle by the National Guard Bureau.

The National Guard Bureau seeks to procure two Vantage Robotics Vesper small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) with Vision Ground Control Stations for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions requiring a highly portable, long-endurance, low-light capable, and secure platform. The estimated total price is redacted. The requirement is being pursued under 41 USC 1901 as implemented in FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) for single-source solicitation. The Contracting Officer is MSgt James Andres, and the procurement is categorized as a brand name request under O&M funding for air operations. The document asserts that the Vantage Robotics Vesper sUAS possesses unique features critical to mission success, including a specific combination of characteristics that limit availability to a single source. The Vesper was selected by the U.S. Army for the Common Hardware Systems-6 (CHS-6) contract and validated by the Defense Innovation Unit, making it the only currently available sUAS capable of meeting 284 ASOS operational needs. The justification emphasizes immediate interoperability requirements with existing AFSW units and notes that use of ATAK (Android Tactical Assault Kit) lowers familiarization requirements. The document indicates this requirement has not been previously procured. Market research was conducted to identify alternative sUAS platforms, with analysis focusing on comparable size, weight, endurance, low-light performance, security characteristics, and ATAK compatibility. While multiple sUAS options exist on the Blue UAS Cleared List, none offer the specific combination of features provided by the Vesper. Interest was received from Vantage Robotics with estimated pricing included in the market research. The contracting requirements include continued exploration of competition opportunities through investigation of software adaptations for native ATAK compatibility on alternative platforms and monitoring of industry developments for future sUAS alternatives.