Request for Information AMC SUAS Manufacturing Advisory Assistant.pdf

Request for Information – Small Uncrewed Aircraft System (SUAS) Manufacturing Advisory Assistant

INTRODUCTION

Army Materiel Command (AMC) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to conduct market research and identify interested, knowledgeable sources capable of supporting the establishment of SUAS component manufacturing facilities at one or more locations within AMCs Depots and/or Arsenals collectively referred to as “Government Site”.

AMC seeks a technical development firm with expertise in advanced manufacturing, digital integration, and cybersecurity compliance. In coordination with the Government Site, the firm will be responsible for delivering a fully operational factory, including facility design, equipment selection and installation, and process engineering optimized for scalable, high-volume production—targeting 120,000 units by 2026 and up to 1,000,000 units by 2030. The firm must also support the creation and implementation of a workforce training program to ensure the skills needed for advanced manufacturing and digital operations, resulting in validated, fully functional SUAS subcomponents.

A key requirement is the integration of robust cybersecurity measures throughout the facility’s design, construction, and operation, in alignment with Department of Defense standards including Risk Management Framework (RMF), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)-Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification to ensure secure data handling and system protection. The government will lead and maintain primary responsibility for implementing and managing these protections, including compliance with the RMF (DoDI 8510.01), and applying security controls per NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-53 and Federal Information Processing Standard 199.

Systems handling Controlled Unclassified Information and other sensitive data will be government-managed and authorized through the official Authorization to Operate process.

The manufacturing and digital innovation partner is responsible for designing, building, and outfitting the facility in full alignment with DoD cybersecurity standards. All systems, platforms, and technologies delivered or integrated must comply with applicable requirements, including Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement 252.204-7012, NIST SP 800-171, and CMMC Level 2 or higher.

While the government will lead RMF execution and system accreditation, the partner must actively support this posture by applying secure-by-design principles, following Zero Trust Architecture where appropriate, and ensuring the secure handling of government-furnished information and technology. Integrated systems must not introduce vulnerabilities or compromise the facility’s ability to operate securely within the DoD cybersecurity framework.

This collaborative approach enables the facility to achieve its mission-critical SUAS production targets while maintaining the cybersecurity standards vital to national defense.

The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement, if a requirement materializes. Based on the responses to this request for information/market research, this requirement may be set aside for small businesses (in full or in part) or procured through full and open competition. Multiple awards may be made. All small business set-aside categories will be considered. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding submissions.

DISCLAIMER

THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) TO BE SUBMITTED. IT DOES

NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A

COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT

OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A

CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE

AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS

ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO

THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND

This Request for Information (RFI) notice is issued to conduct market research to identify qualified sources capable of providing consulting services for the design, setup, and optimization of a new manufacturing facility within the Army Materiel Command (AMC) enterprise encompassing Depots and/or Arsenals collectively referred to as “Government Sites”. The Government Sites will focus on the mass production of critical components for Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (SUAS), including airframes, circuit card assemblies, wiring harnesses, motors, antennas, batteries, Ground Control Stations, Pilot Interface Controller, and Head Mounted Display. AMC’s goal is to establish a resilient, digitally advanced, and secure manufacturing capability, scaling to 120,000 SUAS units per year by 2027, with planning considerations for future expansion to 1,000,000 units annually. Responses will be used to inform the development of a future solicitation.

REQUIRED CAPABILITIES

The Government seeks to establish a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for producing high-quality components for Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (SUAS), with a target output of 120,000 units by the end of 2026 and scalable capacity up to

1,000,000 units by 2030. Production will occur at Government Sites across the Continental United States (CONUS), covering components such as airframes, circuit card assemblies, wiring harnesses, motors, antennas, batteries, Ground Control Stations, Pilot Interface Controllers, and Head Mounted Displays—requiring an industrial machine shop environment. This Request for Information aims to identify advanced technologies capable of supporting this effort, with a focus on digital manufacturing, operational efficiency, and cybersecurity resilience.

Initial deliverables include a detailed facility layout, a complete equipment list with cost estimates, identified supplier, lead time and a preliminary cybersecurity assessment of all proposed manufacturing systems.

The firm must be able to perform facility planning and renovation, acquisition and installation of capital equipment, integration of cybersecurity measures aligned with DoD standards including Risk Management Framework (RMF), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)-Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, and development of a workforce training program. Key outcomes include a fully operational factory, a scalable process blueprint leveraging digital manufacturing tools, and a final validation report confirming system performance and compliance with quality and security standards. Successful execution will require expertise in project management, facility setup, enterprise systems integration, procurement, building supply chain resiliency, materials management, process engineering, digital manufacturing, quality control, and a pilot build to validate performance against Overall Equipment Effectiveness targets. The solution must incorporate secure-by-design principles, follow Zero Trust Architecture, and ensure secure handling of government-furnished information to maintain compliance within the DoD cybersecurity framework.

Non-Developmental Item (NDI). For the purposes of this RFI, NDIs are not applicable.

This RFI seeks consultant services and specialized expertise to support the establishment of a Small Uncrewed Aircraft System (SUAS) component manufacturing facility; it does not solicit the provision of a pre-existing product or a product requiring only minor modifications. We are requesting information regarding capabilities and approaches to services, not the delivery of an item.

Qualification. Prospective consultants or consulting firms must be qualified to establish a state-of-the-art SUAS component manufacturing facility capable of producing 120,000 units annually by 2027, with scalability to 1,000,000 units by 2030. Candidates must demonstrate prior experience in Department of Defense contracting, specifically in facility construction or major equipment procurement.

Army Materiel Command (AMC) seeks a multidisciplinary team with expertise in:

• Project management and lean manufacturing

• Advanced manufacturing engineering

• Systems engineering and enterprise software integration to include but not limited to Enterprise Resource Planning, Manufacturing Execution System, Product Lifecycle Management

• Data analytics and supply chain management

The ideal vendor will have a proven track record of scaling high-tech manufacturing operations and delivering fully operational facilities, including:

• Facility design, equipment acquisition and integration

• Cybersecurity compliance aligned with DoD standards

• Scalable process development using digital manufacturing tools

A team-based approach, led by an experienced project manager, is essential to manage the complexity of this initiative and ensure compliance with rigorous quality and security requirements. Responses must include clear evidence of qualifications.

Maintenance, Inspection and Repair. AMC requires the future SUAS manufacturing facility to minimize organizational-level maintenance and inspection by prioritizing equipment with robust design, automated self-diagnostics, and remote monitoring capabilities. Modular systems and standardized components should enable fast repairs and part replacements, including in deployed settings. To ensure long-term operational readiness and reduce downtime, the facility must include comprehensive documentation, training materials, and readily available spare parts. A detailed preventative maintenance schedule and plan is a required component of the final deliverable.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Any resulting contract is anticipated to have a security classification level of Unclassified. Any resulting contract shall be compliant with the specialty metals restriction of the Berry Amendment (10 U.S.C. 2533a and 2533b) in accordance with DFARS clauses 252.225-7008 and 252.225-7009.

ELIGIBILITY

The applicable NAICS code for this requirement is 541330. The Product Service Code (PSC) is R499.

SUBMISSION DETAILS

Interested businesses should submit a brief capabilities statement package (no more than ten 8.5 X 11- inch pages, font no smaller than 10 point) demonstrating ability to provide the products/systems listed in this Technical Description.

Documentation should be in bullet format. No phone or email solicitations with regards to the status of the RFP will be accepted prior to its release.

Your response to this RFI, including any capabilities statement, shall be electronically submitted to the SUAS Project Manager, Christopher Volch and Lead Mechanical Engineer, Nicholas Paras, in either Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF), via email christopher.k.volch.civ@army.mil and nicholas.m.paras.civ@army.mil no later than 4:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on 01 October 2025 and reference this synopsis number in subject line of e-mail and on all enclosed documents. Information and materials submitted in response to this request WILL NOT be returned. DO NOT SUBMIT CLASSIFIED MATERIAL.

If your organization has the potential capacity to provide the required products/systems, please provide the following information: 1) Organization name, address, primary points of contact (POCs) and their email address, FAX, Web site address, telephone number, and type of ownership for the organization; and 2) Tailored capability statements addressing the requirements of this notice, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, organizations should address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements.

All data received in response to this RFI that is marked or designated as corporate or proprietary will be fully protected from any release outside the Government.