Call for Solutions for Platoon Level SUAS

Call Number W58RGZ-26-S-C001-0002 Uncrewed Aircraft System Marketplace Commercial Solutions Opening W58RGZ-26-S-C001

Call for Solution Title Platoon Level Small Uncrewed Aircraft System (SUAS)

Requiring Activity Capability Program Executive for Aviation

Issued By U.S. Army Contracting Command – Redstone Arsenal (ACC-RSA)

Whitepaper Submission Due Date/Time*

Initial Cut-off: 15 May 2026 Subsequent submissions will be evaluated on a continuous rolling basis.

Point of Contacts for Submission

Procurement Contracting Officer:

Michelle Hurt, ACC-RSA

CCAM-AVC-D

Contract Specialist Benjamin May, ACC-RSA

CCAM-AVC-D

USARMY Redstone Arsenal ACC Mailbox ACC-RSA-UAS-Marketplace usarmy.redstone.acc.mbx.acc-rsa-uas-marketplace@army.mil

UAS Marketplace uasmarketplace@army.mil

Please advise the Procurement Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist as soon as possible via the email above if your organization intends to submit a response to this Call for Solutions.

Please submit your Initial Acceptance Packet (IAP) in accordance with UAS Marketplace CSO or visit https://uasmarketplace.army.mil/. If you have already initiated and submitted your IAP with the UAS Marketplace team, please contact the Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist to notify them that your package is already submitted.

mailto:usarmy.redstone.acc.mbx.acc-rsa-uas-marketplace@army.mil mailto:uasmarketplace@army.mil

1. BACKGROUND

The U.S. Army Contracting Command – Redstone Arsenal (ACC-RSA) is issuing this Call for Solutions (abbreviated “C4S” hereafter) against Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) W58RGZ-26-S-C001 under the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 3458. This Call will competitively acquire and/or onboard innovative commercial, Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the Platoon Level SUAS classification. The Government reserves the right to alter or cancel this call at any time.

The purpose of this effort is to increase current capabilities in the field, advance the Army’s requirements and accelerate the integration of cutting-edge SUAS technologies while driving cost efficiencies. This effort aligns with the Department of War's (DoW) strategic objective of achieving Drone Dominance. Through this Call, the Army ensures that industry remains informed of its changing needs, fostering ongoing investment and innovation in sUAS technologies to address future opportunities.

This Call will assess viable Platoon Level SUAS candidates through a capability demonstration and Manufacturing Readiness Assessment (MRA) in support of the Army Maneuver Elements.

All viable responses will be considered for the UAS Marketplace Storefront onboarding upon completion of the IAP. Additional information may be requested at a future date to support UAS Marketplace inclusion.

Each offeror shall explain how their system meets the minimum set of requirements from Attachment 2. If these requirements cannot be met, the offeror shall provide a trade-off analysis with justification and assumptions for each trade that includes cost, schedule and performance impacts.

This C4S will enable PM UAS to identify a limited number of specific platoon level UAS solutions, solely for this call. Identified solutions will be leveraged to meet priority Army fielding such as Transformation in Contact (TiC) or operational mission needs. Additional requirements will require a new C4S which may be issued at any time and would necessitate separate flyoffs and procurements.

All procurements associated with this C4S will be initiated based on specific mission requirements and the availability of funds. PM UAS intends to procure systems from multiple offerors through this C4S. Purchase quantities will vary; it is the intent of PM UAS to procure bulk quantities when feasible, no minimum or maximum purchase quantities are guaranteed.

2. PROBLEM STATEMENT

The character and pace of modern warfare are being redefined by the rapid proliferation and innovation of UAS. Our near-peer competitors are deploying these capabilities with a speed and scale that directly threatens our technological advantage at the tactical edge. Recent Department of War (DoW) guidance directs a shift to a wartime footing, demanding the acceleration of acquisition timelines while scaling the industrial base to meet this evolving threat.

To address this urgent need, the Army must rapidly identify, assess, and procure innovative, commercially available UAS that are ready to field now. This Call seeks to fill critical UAS capability gaps at the Platoon Level by leveraging the commercial UAS market's strength and innovation. The objective is to pivot from traditional, lengthy development cycles and onboard mature, effective, and immediately available solutions into the UAS Marketplace. This approach empowers the warfighter with the cutting-edge capability required to dominate the modern battlefield and restore decisive advantage.

3. TECHNICAL ATTRIBUTES

The Capability Portfolio Executive, Aviation PM UAS, seeks information on production ready Platoon Level SUAS. The system’s baseline mission characteristics will be a rapidly deployable, VTOL UAS that executes and supports autonomous reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition missions with capabilities to execute target identification and communications relay in dynamic radio spectrum environments. The system configuration shall weigh less than 19 lbs., including two modular mission capable VTOL air vehicles with an Electro-Optical /Infrared camera, one ground control station and ancillary equipment capable of operations in day, night and adverse heavy precipitation weather conditions. Ancillary equipment is defined as batteries, cables, initial spare parts, operator/maintenance manuals, and packaging. Dynamic mission changes require a system with a common payload interface to rapidly remove and reinstall additional vehicle mission payloads. To meet the demands of this environment, the Army needs uncrewed systems that enable rapid innovation and evolution, backed by a mature production capacity.

To operate Platoon Level SUAS systems effectively in diverse and austere environments, operators require an adaptive, universal 110/220-volt battery charger to ensure interoperability with external electrical systems.

Managing the trade-off between battery performance and longevity is a critical factor in optimizing system and payload performance across various operational envelopes. This includes balancing battery performance in cold weather operations against longevity and reusability in temperate environments. For optimal battery and platform performance, the incorporation of an intelligent battery management system (BMS) into the UAS battery pack is highly encouraged.

To facilitate charging and maintenance, UAS battery packs shall be removable from the platform. The UAS shall use standard military batteries listed within MIL-STD 3078 to ensure the interoperability of batteries across systems within the Army. Offeror-supplied chargers shall accept input power from 12 or 28 VDC and 120/240 VAC 50/60 Hz sources. When a charge controller or battery management system is not included in the battery pack architecture, a charge controller shall be contained within the charger’s architecture.

Expeditionary missions have demonstrated reconfigurable rucksack man-portable systems are necessary for flexible and adaptive unit operations. System employment requires durable transport and operational configurations to include rapid reconfiguration from transport-to-flight ready configuration.

The system shall ensure network interoperability enabling a seamless transition from closed to open network architectures. The system shall share full-motion video, and position location information with command and control (C2). Additionally, the system's ground controller shall provide full interoperability with the Tactical Assault Kit and Net Warrior Control systems. Any dynamic system data links must be compatible with worldwide available data link spectrums.

This network integration is critical to enable effective targeting and operational employment of the Army’s Purpose Built Attritable System and other platforms.

The desired Platoon Level SUAS capabilities and characteristics are listed below and in the attached Minimum/Desired Characteristics (Attachment 2). These capabilities and characteristics are required in the offerors’ responses and will be verified during the capability demonstration. It is critical that the Call responses accurately reflect performance and associated assumptions.

A detailed description of the required and desired technical attributes for the UAS solutions is provided in the Statement of Objectives (SOO), included as Attachment 1 to this Call. Offerors must refer to the SOO for a comprehensive understanding of the Government's objectives. In general, the Government is seeking innovative, commercially available Platoon Level VTOL UAS that are production-ready and capable of performing Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition missions. Solutions will be evaluated based on the criteria outlined in the SOO, including core platform capabilities, payload modularity, security, and overall operational effectiveness.

4. System Request

The PM UAS will assess offeror responses to identify currently available SUAS solutions and may invite select offerors to demonstrate capabilities through flight operations. The offeror response assessment period will be conducted over the course of up to three (3) weeks.

Submissions shall be based on current manufacturing, production and system technical performance capabilities. Offeror demonstrations will include the full range of system capabilities. Responses shall include the following information:

1. Provide compliance report or certification from a 3rd party independent assessor and status of 2020 NDAA Sec 848, 2023 NDAA Sec 817, and cyber assessments as available.

2. System cost, segregated by air vehicle, ground control station, software licensing, mission specific payloads, ancillary equipment, training, technical manual, repair procedures, and

12 months of system support. Provide unit costs calculation assumptions (e.g., description of system, estimated production quantity).

3. Detailed description of the modular payload sensor performance. Sensor performance details must include day/night/weather capability, video resolution, field of view, data bandwidth requirements and data storage characteristics. Sensor performance criteria will be based on identification of a man-sized target under day and nighttime conditions.

4. Detailed description of all payload’s performance characteristics; interface description of system generated payload output format (e.g. full motion, cursor on target, precision targeting information).

5. Detailed description of air vehicle performance characteristics such as air vehicle dimensions, weight, range, endurance, operating altitude, battery specification, launch method, wind/gust limits, hot/cold temperature range, Ingress Protection (IP) ratings (dust/liquids), precipitation limits while operating (e.g. in/hr.), and maximum horizontal speed. Performance shall be captured for max weight, combination of center of gravity range limitations, or any proposed specific configuration to meet requirements.

6. Detailed description of the system and ground control solution including size/weight, battery specification, sensor and air vehicle control functions, hot/cold temperature range, IP ratings (dust/liquids), wired/wireless networking options, range of operation, display size/resolution/brightness, ability to operate in direct sunlight and night conditions, ability to operate the system in cold weather.

7. Description of the integration approach for mission planning and OEM control software compatibility. The system shall be interoperable with the Integrated Tactical Network via Android Tactical Assault Kit.

8. Technical specifications for both C2 and network data link radios. Specification shall include data link waveform, frequencies, transmission range, and resiliency (hardening and encryption) details.

9. Technical navigation specifications capabilities to include but not limited to; Global Positioning System (commercial or military), terrain-based, visual based, and/or inertial navigation solutions.

10. Any Target Detection and Recognition or Target Recognition capabilities.

11. Current Manufacturing Readiness Levels (MRL) of the system including current production rate, lead time required for delivery, maximum production capacity, and ramp up time to meet maximum capacity.

12. Description of existing supply chain ability to support potential system level production rates and associated ramp-ups. For components/suppliers that represent the highest risk, provide risk mitigation, opportunities and issues.

13. System security considerations and accreditation for transmitting classified data.

14. Description of support strategy for repair capabilities, right to repair, right to modify, data rights and strategy to reduce field level troubleshooting and return to service time.

15. Proposed training strategy.

16. Completed Platoon Level SUAS Call Minimum Characteristics (Attachment 2).

17. Description of integration with Common Lethality Integration Kit (CLIK), if applicable (Attachment 3).

5. EVALUATION

Assessment of viable Platoon level SUAS will be conducted through a multi-phased evaluation.

Whitepaper submissions will be evaluated for completeness and against basic evaluation criteria as noted in Section 4, the Statement of Objectives (Attachment 1) and IAW Minimum Characteristics (Attachment 2). Upon completion of a Whitepaper assessment, vetted offerors may be requested to demonstrate system performance at a flight demonstration event. Systems assessed beyond the flight demonstration will be further screened through a Manufacturing Readiness Assessment (MRA) prior to any determinations for suitability as a Platoon level

SUAS.

5.1 Evaluation Criteria:

The evaluation criteria are outlined below in order of merit:

• System Performance: Aligned with system characteristics (Attachment 2), system performance will be evaluated through the White Paper Assessment and Flight Demonstrations as detailed in sections 5.3 and 5.4, respectively. This criterion is critical to ensure the system meets operational requirements and mission objectives.

• Manufacturing Readiness: Scalable production capabilities will be assessed through a Manufacturing Readiness Assessment (MRA) as described in section 5.5. This criterion ensures the system can be produced efficiently and reliably at scale to meet operational demands.

• System Pricing: Pricing will be evaluated through the White Paper Assessment as noted in Section 5.3.

5.2 Instructions for White Paper Submission:

Clearly mark all proprietary information. Do not include classified documents in your response. Please be advised, all information submitted in response to the Call becomes the property of the Government. The Government will handle all "proprietary" marked information accordingly. The Government may utilize non-Government personnel (support contractors) to review responses to this Call. Markings on the submissions in response to this Call shall reflect the information that is releasable to DoD support contractors solely for the purposes stated and shall include all applicable technologies identified herein.

The Government will only accept information readable by Microsoft (MS) Word 365, MS Excel 365, and compatible versions, or Adobe Acrobat and shall have proper markings (No CLASSIFIED information). Submit all responses via email to the contracting specialist point of contact listed below.

5.3 White Paper Evaluation:

White paper evaluations will consist of a diverse team of subject matter experts.

• White paper evaluations will be assessed against the evaluation criteria listed in section 5.1.

• If a submission is determined to meet the minimum SUAS capabilities and characteristics, then the offeror will be notified and should expect to advance to the flight demonstration phase.

• If a submission is determined to NOT meet the minimum SUAS capabilities and characteristics or is otherwise not a viable SUAS solution, the offeror will be notified.

5.4 Flight Demonstration Evaluation

The demonstration will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis against the key performance parameters and mission scenarios defined by the Government as identified in Attachment 1.

This will be a Government Operated – Contractor Demonstrated event. To facilitate this, the Government will provide a Demonstration Coordination Packet to offerors a minimum of two weeks prior to the demonstration window once their whitepaper submission is deemed viable by the Government evaluation team. This packet will provide comprehensive guidance for the event and will include the following components:

• Test Range and Demonstration Information: Details on the designated test range location, logistical and site access instructions. The Government will include range-specific safety protocols and any operational constraints. Operators will be provided local area orientation in a Demonstration Coordination Packet. The offeror will provide a short brief responding to and detailing NDAA and cybersecurity compliance, Cost-effectiveness and scalable production, performance in austere, RF-contested, and all-weather environments. This will be followed by a short Q&A on the day of the offeror’s demonstration.

• Flight Cards: A detailed plan, developed by the Government, will provide a mission scenario and criteria for conducting the demonstration. Ground assessments involving weight and measurements will occur concurrently with flight card execution. The Government will consider offeror-proposed modifications to the flight cards on a case-by-case basis. An offeror-proposed modification to the flight card may be added, however the Government will not remove any capability assessments from the flight card. Any changes are subject to Government review and approval.

• Frequency Allocation: A detailed description of the process for managing spectrum and the information required to operate at given frequencies.

• Offeror Attendance: To ensure a safe and efficient demonstration, attendance will be limited to five personnel. The Government will coordinate with the offeror to finalize the number of attendees prior to the event and submit the Visitor Access Request (VAR).

• Flight Demonstration Readiness Review: Prior to the scheduled demonstration, the Government will conduct a readiness review with the offeror. This mandatory review will serve as a final check to ensure all logistical, technical, and safety requirements are met before the offeror and government teams travel for the event.

• The flight demonstration will encompass pre-flight, flight card review and the opportunity to showcase any additional capabilities. Offerors must provide a system Bill of Materials (BOM) that details the manufacturing country of origin for each component. Additionally, please bring the Operators Manual, Software Version Description, cost breakout and Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIG) scans in support of the Authority to Operate. STIG scan viewing tools can be found at https://www.cyber.mil/stigs/srg-stig-tools.

5.5 Manufacturing Readiness Assessment

The Manufacturing Readiness Assessment will evaluate the maturity of the offerors’ manufacturing processes, technologies, and capabilities to ensure the offeror is ready to support production. MRL 8 (low-rate production) to MRL 10 (full-rate production) is desired.

If an offeror is selected to advance, a Government team will travel to the production facility to verify MRL. The purpose of the visit will include, but not limited to:

• Assess MRL

• Assess Technology Maturity

• Evaluate Production Process

• Review Manufacturing Plans

• Examine Materials and Supply Chain

• Evaluate Production Facilities and Equipment

• Assess Workforce and Training

• Review Quality Management Systems

• Conduct Risk Assessment

6. AWARD INFORMATION

6.1 Award Eligibility

This Call is issued under the authority of CSO procedures detailed within the UAS Marketplace CSO W58RGZ-26-S-C001, found at https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/f71bdf94c86846379f21abc2d73a7b54/view.

In accordance with 10 US Code 3458, use of a CSO is considered a competitive procedure.

Complete and submit Attachment 2 along with a white paper addressing your proposed solution.

The whitepaper should not exceed 10 pages with 12pt Arial font for the text. The Government will not review responses exceeding this limit. Responses to this Call shall not exceed total email file size of 10MB. Please include a separate cover page listing.

6.2 Offeror Eligibility Requirements for Award

To be eligible for an award, offerors must meet the following requirements:

• Fully compliant with Section 848 of the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2020, which prohibits the procurement and use of UAS, and their critical flight components manufactured in covered foreign countries, including the People's Republic of China. Offerors must be prepared to provide a complete BOM and support supply chain verification activities to prove compliance.

• Possess a Unique Entity ID and have an active and approved registration in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov).

• Possess an approved Commercial and Government Entity code.

• Possess a current NIST SP 800-171 DoD assessment completed and posted in the Supplier Performance Risk System in accordance with DFARS 252.204-7019.

• Meet all cybersecurity requirements stipulated in this solicitation, which may include a specific Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification level and compliance specified in the resulting award or orders in accordance with DFARS Clause 252.204-7012 for the protection of Controlled Unclassified Information.

• Disclose any actual or potential Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCIs) to the Contracting Officer.

• Be registered in the prescribed government invoicing system (e.g., Wide Area Workflow).

6.3 Government Rights and Disclaimers

• Decision: The Government reserves the right to make multiple awards, a single award, or no award as a result of this Call.

• Binding Authority: Only a warranted Contracting or Agreements Officer has the authority to enter, modify, or execute a binding instrument on behalf of the Government.

• Cancellation: The Government reserves the right to cancel this Call, either before or after the closing date. If the Call is canceled, the Government has no obligation to reimburse an offeror for any proposal preparation costs.

• Standard Terms: The terms and conditions of any resulting award will be based on FAR Part 12. Offerors are encouraged to review FAR 52.212-4 and 52.212-5.

6.4 Submission Updates and Revisions.

Offerors are responsible for maintaining a current, complete, and accurate submission package.

Throughout the open period of this CSO, offerors may submit revised documentation to update their submission to correct inadvertent errors or address feedback from the Government. The formal acceptance of any updates into the official evaluation package remains the sole discretion of the Government. All evaluations will be based on the latest submission officially accepted by the Government.

7. SOLUTION NOTES

In addition to the general guidelines included in the CSO, the following guidelines apply to this Call.

• Offerors are responsible for monitoring SAM.gov for any amendments to this solicitation.

• The Solution Brief must identify any intellectual property involved and associated restrictions on the Government’s use of that intellectual property.

• The Government reserves the right to tailor the evaluation phases based on an offeror's prior engagement with DoD entities.

8. GENERAL INFORMATION AND QUESTIONS

Questions are to be sent only to the Procurement Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist.

The following shall be utilized in the email subject line: Call for Solution – W58RGZ-26-S-C001- 0002 (reference the section area). Material questions and answers will be published on www.sam.gov.

9. CONTACT INFORMATION

Procurement Contracting Officer:

Michelle S. Hurt mailto:usarmy.redstone.acc.mbx.acc-rsa-uas-marketplace@army.mil

Contract Specialist:

Benjamin R. May

10. ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST (OCI)

The Offeror shall perform an OCI analysis and submit the results of that analysis in addition to the IAP submission. Specifically, the Offeror shall analyze the details of the Call and the implementation of their proposed Solution for actual or potential OCI situations associated with the performance of the Offeror, or any of the Offeror’s proposed teammates or subcontractors.

The Offeror shall describe in detail the methodology used to identify actual or potential OCI issues. The level of detail for OCI analysis may not be the same for all Offerors. If no conflicts are identified, a risk mitigation plan is not required; however, a description of the analysis methodology, and an affirming statement that no conflicts are identified shall be included.

If the Offeror identifies any actual or potential OCIs with respect to the performance of the Offeror or the Offeror’s subcontractors or teammates, the contractor shall provide an OCI Mitigation Plan to be incorporated as an attachment to any resulting contract or agreement. Any proposed avoidance or mitigation techniques shall be consistent with FAR 9.5 and the most recent decisions of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

11. NON-GOVERNMENT ADVISORS

Offerors are advised that non-Government personnel may be used to assist in the evaluations for this Call. Non-Government advisors will be bound by appropriate non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) with the Government to protect proprietary and competition-sensitive information. By submitting a response to this CSO, the offeror acknowledges this process and waives all claims against the Government for any disclosures of proprietary information by non-Government https://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sam.gov personnel. If an offeror executes a direct NDA with the non-Government advisors, a copy of the signed agreement must be included with their submission.

12. ATTACHMENTS

Attachment 1. Statement of Objectives Attachment 2. System Characteristics Attachment 3. CLIK Interface Control Document