Questions and Answers - Call 001.docx

Questions & Answers from Call 001 Question 1:

Is this a development program with a longer period of performance, or is this a procurement contract for an existing capability?

This is a procurement action to acquire existing, commercially available, or non-developmental capabilities. The Government will not fund any development, engineering, or integration efforts under this Call. Offerors should propose solutions that are at a high level of technical readiness.

Question 2:

What type of funding is available? What type of contract is this? (e.g., SBIR, OTA)

The Government intends to award one or more Firm-Fixed-Price contracts in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 12, Commercial Products and Commercial Services. This effort is funded with Procurement appropriations. This is not an Other Transaction (OT) or Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) action.

Question 3:

Can UAS software/component producers submit their own response to augment a UAS, or is it only permitted to apply as a complete system provider?

This CSO seeks complete and operable Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) that meet the requirements outlined in the solicitation. While innovative components are a key part of the solution, proposals will be evaluated on their ability to provide a fully functional system. Companies that provide components are encouraged to partner with system integrators to propose a complete solution.

Question 4:

We are wondering if the 20 lbs (total gross weight) is a hard requirement/disqualifier, i.e., if systems in the 25-35 lbs range would be automatically disqualified?

The performance objectives listed in the solicitation, including weight, represent the Government’s desired capabilities. Offerors are expected to address all requirements in their proposals. The Government will evaluate all submissions to determine the best value and overall merit of the proposed solution against the stated objectives. While proposals should aim to meet all desired specifications, the Government reserves the right to consider solutions that may not meet every single objective if the proposal presents a compelling overall value.

Question 5 “I would like to confirm for Call 001 that the government is only looking for full systems and not TRL-7 subsystem capabilities, such as an autonomous teaming capability, that in a government-owned MOSA architecture connects multiple systems together in an integrated control point for a pilot or operator.”

While the Government is highly interested in innovative, MOSA-aligned subsystem capabilities like advanced autonomous teaming software, proposals submitted to this Call must provide a fully functional end-to-end UAS solution. Offerors of advanced subsystems are encouraged to partner with one or more UAS hardware providers to propose an integrated, complete system that meets the requirements of the solicitation.