D.1 SOW Clay Pigeon Kits and sUAS Level II Licenses - Final.pdf

Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Build and Training Program

Statement of Work (SOW)

1.0 Scope

The Contractor shall deliver a comprehensive, 10-day Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Training Program designed around building, automating, and operating sUAS to rapidly equip United States Marines with the skills necessary to construct, operate, maintain, and instruct others on Group 1–2 sUAS platforms. These platforms shall be compatible with open-source flight control firmware supporting GPS waypoint navigation, autonomous flight modes, and modular component integration, to include First Person Video (FPV) capability.

This initiative directly supports the Marine Corps’ operational readiness by enabling personnel with limited technical backgrounds to rapidly achieve proficiency in sUAS assembly and deployment within a condensed timeframe. The program accelerates force-wide capability to both leverage and counter adversarial drone technologies in dynamic operational environments.

The Contractor shall furnish expendable student kits and instructor materials for each training iteration, ensuring hands-on learning. Instructor materials shall include lesson plans and media, designed for instruction by Marines.

Additionally, the Contractor shall provide a renewable or perpetual license for instructional content to support sustained unit-level training beyond the initial engagement. All training materials and delivery methods must demonstrate adaptability to evolving threat landscapes, regulatory frameworks, and mission-specific requirements across domestic and expeditionary theaters.

2.0 BACKGROUND (Refined)

The proliferation of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) by state and non-state actors presents a rapidly intensifying threat to Homeland security, forward-deployed Marine units, and allied forces. Adversaries increasingly employ sUAS for intelligence collection, precision targeting, and kinetic operations, necessitating an agile and scalable countermeasure strategy.

In alignment with the Secretary of Defense’s directive to ensure U.S. dominance in unmanned systems as a cornerstone of battlefield superiority, this training program advances the Marine Corps’ capacity to maintain technological and tactical overmatch. The initiative supports the strategic imperative to “own the drone battlespace” by cultivating a cadre of Marines capable of building, operating, and instructing on advanced sUAS platforms.

This acquisition directly contributes to the Marine Corps’ Force Improvement and Readiness (FIAR) objectives by fielding a proven train-the-trainer curriculum centered on the Clay Pigeon sUAS—a modular, expendable drone system optimized for rapid assembly and deployment. The program integrates First-Person View (FPV) and GPS-enabled autonomous flight capabilities to simulate realistic operational scenarios, enhancing unit-level preparedness and tactical flexibility.

By institutionalizing sUAS proficiency across the force, this training effort serves as a force multiplier—enabling autonomous adaptation to emerging threats and reinforcing the Marine Corps’ strategic posture in contested environments.

3.0 REQUIREMENTS

3.1 CLASS STRUCTURE AND DELIVERY

• The Contractor shall provide all necessary instructional materials to enable Marine personnel to conduct 10-day training courses. Each course shall be delivered by two Marine instructors to a cohort of 10 students, maintaining a 1:5 instructor-to-student ratio to ensure effective supervision, tailored instruction, and mission-focused learning.

• Each student shall construct and operate two Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) during the course:

o One sUAS shall be assembled following Marine instructor-led demonstration as a guided practical exercise.

o One sUAS shall be built independently by the student as a final practical examination to validate proficiency.

• The Contractor shall provide expendable materials and tools sufficient for one-time use per class. All components, tools, and consumables shall be new and shall not be reused across training iterations.

• Each instructor shall be issued a complete set of materials and tools to build and operate one demonstration sUAS per class.

• Training shall be delivered in a “train-the-trainer” format by Marines, equipping students with the skills and instructional resources necessary to conduct follow-on training within their units.

• All build stations, operating equipment, and instructional materials shall remain with the receiving unit upon completion of training to support continued sustainment and iterative learning under the terms of the provided license.

3.2 TRAINING MATERIALS LICENSE

• The Contractor shall furnish a renewable or perpetual license granting full access to all instructional content, including but not limited to:

o Detailed build procedures o Presentation slide decks and lesson plans o Technical diagrams (e.g., wiring schematics, mechanical exploded views) in formats conducive to instructional use

• The license shall permit authorized personnel to adapt and modify instructional materials to meet evolving training needs, provided original source attribution is maintained.

• For renewable licenses, the Contractor shall provide periodic updates and technical support throughout the license term to ensure instructional content remains current and operationally relevant.

• Receiving units shall retain the option to request Contractor-provided follow-on training or technical assistance on an as-needed basis.

3.3 TECHNICAL TRAINING CONTENT

All instruction shall focus exclusively on the construction, configuration, and operation of Ardupilot firmware sUAS platforms. Training shall include, at a minimum, the following subject areas:

3.3.1 Unmanned Systems Design

The Contractor shall provide instruction on foundational and advanced principles of unmanned systems design, including:

• Payload integration strategies and operational considerations

• Airframe design methodologies and material selection criteria

• Propulsion system fundamentals and performance characteristics

• Energy storage technologies with emphasis on battery safety protocols

• Battery specifications and capacity calculations, including comparative analysis of Li-ion 18650 vs. 21700 cells and LiPo configurations

• Propeller selection and its impact on thrust, efficiency, and flight dynamics

• Overview of Flight Controllers (FC), firmware architecture, and compatibility with Ardupilot

• Safe operation and configuration of battery charging systems

• Installation, calibration, and troubleshooting of Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs)

• Optimization of endurance, payload mass, and lift capacity for mission-specific performance

• Comprehensive system integration and tuning to meet operational requirements

3.3.2 sUAS Build Procedures

The Contractor shall design instruction materials that focus on hands-on instruction in the assembly, configuration, and validation of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS), covering:

• Frame assembly and motor mounting techniques

• Power system wiring and ESC integration

• Installation and connection of Flight Controllers and Video Transmitters (VTX)

• Receiver antenna placement and radio protocol configuration

• Radio programming procedures, including USB receiver setup and alternative flashing methods (e.g., Wi-

Fi)

• Transceiver configuration and signal verification

• Firmware flashing and utilization of mission planning software

• Development and deployment of custom firmware builds using Ardupilot

• Setup and parameter tuning of Ground Control Stations (e.g., QGroundControl, Mission Planner)

• Sensor calibration procedures for GPS, radio, power modules, and motor systems

• First-Person View (FPV) system setup, including goggles, On-Screen Display (OSD) configuration, and telemetry integration

• Execution of preflight checklists and mission planning workflows

• Payload integration techniques for droppers, grippers, and peripheral sensors (e.g., airspeed, barometer, RTK GPS, rangefinders, stall indicators, LIDAR)

• Installation, calibration, and troubleshooting of optical flow sensors

• Radio frequency management, including antenna classification, gain, polarization, and repair best practices

3.4 MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

The Contractor shall furnish all materials and equipment necessary to support training delivery and student proficiency, including:

• Complete student kits containing expendable components aligned with the validated parts list

• Kits shall be fully compatible with Ardupilot and capable of safe GPS-enabled flight at speeds up to approximately 50 mph

• Kits shall support FPV flight capability to enhance realism and operational training value

• Kits shall be configurable to comply with regional frequency regulations and legal requirements, with substitution of components as necessary

• Materials shall be provided to support a minimum of nine (9) training iterations, including instructor demonstration kits

• Stand-alone or personal laptops shall be provided or specified, preloaded with open-source configuration software, ensuring a 1:1 student-to-laptop ratio o Examples: ArduPilot Configurator, QGroundControl, Mission Planner, STM32CubeProgrammer, ExpressLRSConfigurator o Laptops must support USB connectivity and Wi-Fi access

4.0 DELIVERABLES

The Contractor shall provide the following deliverables:

• Individual student kits comprising of complete components for (2) sUAS per student and (1) instructor demonstration sUAS per class, all necessary tools and operating equipment for each student and instructor, packaged as a “Class Kit” to support instruction for 10 students and 2 instructors.

• Editable instructor guides and lesson plans to support instructional continuity and adaptation, covering the topics identified in Sections 3.3.1 and 3.3.2, spaced out over 10 days.

• Licensed training media package including slides, build guides, and diagrams, with usage rights as specified in Section 3.2

• Technical support and content updates for licensed materials during the contract term, if a renewable license is awarded

5.0 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

Requirement Performance Metric Acceptable Quality Level (AQL)

Class Size and Structure Each class shall consist of 10 students and 2 instructors 100% compliance per training iteration

Build and Flight Proficiency

Each student shall build and successfully operate 2 sUAS Minimum 90% student pass rate per class

Material Expendability All materials shall be single-use and not reused between classes

Zero reuse; 100% compliance with expendability requirement

Instructional Content Coverage

Full curriculum delivered as specified in Section 3 100% topic coverage

Delivery of Kits Kits delivered to training site prior to class start date 100% on-time delivery

6.0 CONTRACTOR-FURNISHED MATERIALS (CFM)

The Contractor shall furnish all materials, equipment, and personnel necessary to execute the training program, including:

• Complete student kits, tools, expendable materials, and instructor demonstration aids

• Licensed training media and instructional content in editable formats (e.g., Excel, PDF, PowerPoint, Word)

• Removable media preloaded with open-source configuration software, including but not limited to:

o Ardupilot Configurator o QGroundControl o Mission Planner o STM32CubeProgrammer o ExpressLRSConfigurator

7.0 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• The Contractor shall coordinate final delivery schedules with the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) no later than 30 calendar days prior to each class start date to ensure staged support.

• The Contractor shall ensure all kits and materials comply with applicable export/import regulations and regional frequency laws at least 30 calendar days prior to training iteration.

• The Contractor shall maintain confidentiality of proprietary materials and adhere to all United States Marine Corps (USMC) intellectual property restrictions.

8.0 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

• Government representatives shall inspect all delivered to verify compliance with contract specifications.

9.0 POINTS OF CONTACT

• Contracting Officer Representative (COR): To Be Provided at Time of Award

• Technical Point of Contact: To Be Provided at Time of Award

10.0 CONTINGENCY AND RISK MANAGEMENT

• Contractor shall provide a contingency plan addressing potential disruptions (e.g., supply delays, environmental factors)

• Plan shall include mitigation strategies and communication protocols with the COR

11.0 SUSTAINMENT SUPPORT

• Contractor shall offer optional sustainment services for 12 months post-training, including:

o Refresher training o Remote technical assistance o Curriculum updates

12.0 CYBERSECURITY COMPLIANCE

• All storage devices, instructional files, and software shall comply with applicable DoD cybersecurity standards

• No PII or sensitive data shall be stored or transmitted without Government approval

13.0 PACKAGING AND LOGISTICS

• Kits shall be securely packaged and labeled by class iteration

• Contractor shall provide tracking information to COR at least 7 calendar days prior to delivery