sUAS QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - 5.7.2026.pdf

May 7, 2026 sUAS Questions and Answers

1. The SF1449 lists a period of performance of 1 June 2026 through 31 August 2026, while PWS

1.4.3.2.1 states ADVON dates will be provided during the Final Planning Meeting.

Can the Government provide the anticipated dates/duration for the Final Planning Meeting, ADVON/setup, and exercise execution?

-FPM has passed so no factor.

-AFSW ADVON: 26-29 May (26th is the travel day) -Main Body arrival: 29 May -Day 1 Plan/prep: 31 May -Execution 1-11 June -Overall Debrief/LL due: 12 June (Daily Debrief/LL due during AFSW CUB) -Telework is for any coordination required between the contractor and 194 ASOG prior to ADVON.

2. Does the Government expect the contractor team to be physically on site for the full period of performance, or only for required meetings, ADVON/setup, and the duration of exercise execution as described in PWS 1.4.12?

-1x Lead Facilitator/Key Personnel dates: Ready to work 27 May/ Final AFSW AAR 12 June.

-sUAS Operators need to be available for work starting 31 May – 11 June.

3. Are daily AFSW synchronization meetings required only during exercise execution, or throughout the full period of performance? May any planning/synchronization meetings be attended remotely?

Lead Facilitator/ Key Personnel as white cell required daily synch. Additionally, daily debrief/ instruction is required, however, if the Lead Facilitator has the chops to instruct our teams to help improve their survivability and provide Lessons Learned, the sUAS Operators themselves don’t necessarily need to. The key here is that 1-2 members of your team can, post VUL each day, walk through mission reconstruction with the sUAS Operators, show my guys what your operators were seeing, when they detected it, how they detected it, and to what level of Confidence, Accuracy, and Latency, and provide 1-2 key Focus Points based on that truth data, and walk my AFSW teams through Lessons Learned that will focus on how they were found/ detected, and how they can mitigate that to increase/ improve survivability against enemy sUAS.

4. Can the Government provide the anticipated number and approximate distance/location of forward operating locations referenced in PWS 1.4.3.2.2?

Yes, on contract award.

5. Since PWS 1.4.12 references JTR-authorized travel and contract funding limits, but the SF1449 appears to include one firm-fixed-price CLIN, should offerors include all anticipated travel, lodging, meals, and rental vehicle costs in the fixed price, or will the Government establish a separate travel CLIN or not-to-exceed amount?

Vendors can submit pricing however they like, but a breakdown must be shown and the quote must be the final price quote.

6. Will Government lodging, dining, or billeting be available or required, or should offerors price commercial lodging and M&IE using applicable JTR/GSA rates?

No. Contractor responsible for commercial lodging and meals at commercial rates.

7. Please confirm whether the Special Qualifications in PWS 1.4.7.1 apply to each of the three licensed sUAS operators identified in PWS 1.4.3.2.2 and 1.4.3.2.3. Must all three licensed sUAS operators have a minimum of 5 years of instructor experience as a Special Warfare instructor and JTAC Instructor, or may some qualifications be satisfied by the Lead Facilitator or contractor team collectively?

Yes, each sUAS Operator must individually meet the requirements listed under 1.4.7 and the lead facilitator must be a USAF WIC graduate.

8. If the special qualifications apply to all three operators, should resumes or qualification summaries be submitted with the quotation?

Qualification summaries to include Certificates/ diplomas with the quotation.

9. PWS 4.2 and 1.4.5.14 reference SECRET facility/personnel clearance requirements and a DD254. Must these requirements be satisfied at quote submission, at award, or before performance begins?

No factor. No access to classified areas is required.

10. Are the minimum eight sUAS required to be available throughout the full period of performance or only during ADVON/exercise execution? Does the Government anticipate simultaneous multi-location operations requiring all eight systems to operate concurrently?

-ADVON through execution -Yes, multiple teams within the AO require multi-location operations concurrently.

11. Does the Government require Blue UAS specifically, or is documented compliance with applicable FASC/ASDA/NDAA restrictions sufficient?

-ISR drones must be on the Blue UAS list, FPV drones have documentation showing NDAA/TAA compliance. Additionally, the ISR drone must be compatible with ATAK UAS Tool, and preferably run natively on the GCS.

12. What are the requirements for Past Performance (minimum/maximum number of references and relevancy criteria)?

See 1.4.7.2 - 1.4.7.4. Preference is experience working ANG/RTP exercises like or including Sentry North.

13. Reference PWS para 1.4.3 (Sentry North Exercise execution). Can the Government provide the planned exercise execution dates within the 1 June – 31 August 2026 Period of Performance, including ADVON (set-up) dates, primary execution dates, and tear-down/AAR dates?

Understanding exact dates is necessary for personnel and equipment scheduling.

-AFSW ADVON: 26-29 May (26th is the travel day)

-Main Body arrival: 29 May

-Day 1 Plan/prep: 31 May

-Execution 1-11 June

-Overall Debrief/LL due: 12 June (Daily Debrief/LL due during AFSW CUB)

-Telework is for any coordination required between the contractor and 194 ASOG prior to ADVON.

14. Reference PWS para 4.2 (SECRET facility clearance). The PWS states the contractor “shall possess or be eligible to receive and maintain a SECRET facility clearance.” Will the Government accept a contractor that is not currently FCL-cleared but can demonstrate active sponsorship and an in-process clearance application, or must the FCL be in-place at time of award?

-No access to classified areas or information is required. Contractor does not need a clearance.

15. Reference PWS para 4.2 (Contractor Security Clearance). The PWS states personnel “shall have been granted a SECRET security clearance.” Will the Government accept personnel holding interim SECRET clearances at the time of contract performance, or must final SECRET adjudication be complete?

-No access to classified areas or information is required. Contractor does not need a clearance.

16. Reference PWS para 1.4.3.2.2 (ADVON). The PWS specifies a 16-hour course with an additional 8 hours of practical exercises for four AFSW operators during ADVON. Will the Government provide the desired curriculum content and learning objectives, or is the contractor responsible for proposing curriculum?

-Curriculum must be provided by the contractor for the Blue listed UAS system they are bringing.

Preference is a system that has AFSOC A3OU Vendor approved IT on SUASMAN.

17. Reference PWS para 4.1 (CFP/M/E) and para 1.4.3.2.2 (ADVON). The PWS requires “a minimum of eight (8) sUAS.” Does the Government have a preferred sUAS Group classification (Group 1, 2, or 3 per DoD definitions), or is platform selection at contractor discretion based on operational scenario requirements?

-Group 1, ISR/ SRR sUAS. Preference placed on a system on the Blue UAS List.

18. Reference PWS para 1.4.3.2.2 (Red Cell sUAS adversary simulation). Does the Government have specific threat-platform fidelity requirements (e.g., NDAA Section 848 compliance, Blue UAS List inclusion, or specific adversary-platform emulation such as Group 3 Shahed-class)?

-If bringing a system to simulate red not on the Blue List, must show NDAA/ TAA compliance.

Preference is 5–10-inch FPV systems.

19. Reference PWS para 1.4.5.13 (OPSEC) and para 1.4.5.14 (Classified handling). Will the contract require any work performed at a classified level requiring SCIF or open-storage SECRET facilities at Volk Field CRTC or Hardwood Range, or will all classified handling occur in Government spaces?

-No

20. Reference PWS para 1.4.12 (Contractor Travel) and para 1.4.1.1 (Telework). What is the minimum required on-site presence within the 1 June – 31 August PoP? Specifically, can the Government clarify expected on-site days for: (a) Lead Facilitator; (b) sUAS operators; (c) maintenance/logistics personnel?

-1x Lead Facilitator/Key Personnel dates: Ready to work 27 May/ Final AFSW AAR 12 June.

-sUAS Operators need to be available for work starting 31 May – 11 June.

21. Reference solicitation evaluation criteria (FAR 52.212-2 Deviation). Will the Government evaluate Past Performance based on direct relevance to sUAS adversary simulation specifically, or will broader sUAS training, military training, or Red/Blue force exercise support also be considered relevant?

-See 1.4.7.2 - 1.4.7.4. Broader sUAS training specific to USAF TACP considered relevant and preferred, specifically experience working ANG/RTP exercises like or including Sentry North.

22.. Reference PWS para 5.1 and FAR 52.212-1. Are there page count or volume length limitations on the technical, past performance, or pricing sections of the quote that are not currently specified in the solicitation?

-No

23. Paragraph 1.4.3.2.3 Exercise Execution; states that the Hours of Operation shall be 0630 – 1900 local for the duration of the exercise. The Government may adjust the hours of service to meet mission requirements but under no circumstance shall the hours worked exceed 40 hours per week. The Government anticipates requiring one (1) Lead Facilitator and three (3) sUAS operators for the duration of the exercise.

-Correct

"To ensure uninterrupted sUAS operations and minimize downtime, the contractor shall maintain an adequate on-site supply of essential spare parts and maintenance equipment. This includes, but is not limited to, additional charging kits for the sUAS batteries, spare rotor blades, field maintenance kits, and current versions of firmware and software. Additionally, the contractor shall provide a minimum of two (2) additional sUAS batteries per sUAS to maximize operational endurance. The contractor shall possess the capability to perform routine maintenance and minor repairs on-site. The contractor will have the necessary experience with instructing UAS tools and Android Tactical Assault Kit (ATAK) to ensure all software and firmware are operating correctly. The level of on-site maintenance capability shall be sufficient to address common equipment malfunctions and ensure a minimum of eight (8) sUAS are always operational, thus meeting the Sentry North exercise objectives."

24. Can you clarify/ confirm the MTT staffing/ manning level that the contractor is required to deliver? It is clear that we are to provide one (1) Lead Facilitator and three (3) sUAS Operators (Total of 4 SMEs) With the additional requirement providing on-site maintenance support, is there a manning requirement for one (1) Maintainer and one (1) Supply/ Logistical SME, for a total of six (6) MTT members.

- Only listed manning is required. Maintenance, supply, and logistics personnel are excluded.

Systems requiring dedicated maintenance teams are out of scope.

25. Paragraph 4.2 Secret Facility Clearance: States the contractor shall possess or be eligible to receive and maintain a SECRET facility clearance from the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DSCA).

-Not required

26. If a contractor does not currently hold but is eligible to receive and maintain a SECRET Facility clearance, are they able to bid on this work as a prime contractor?

-No Factor, clearance not required.