W58RGZ_24_SS_SUAS FAQs.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 15 KB Posted
- Solicitation number
- W58RGZ-24-SS-SUAS
About this file
This document is a Sources Sought Notice for a federal contract opportunity for a Company Level Small Uncrewed Aircraft System (SUAS). The Department of the Army Materiel Command Contracting Command Redstone Arsenal is seeking information on commercially available, production-ready, affordable SUAS solutions that can be employed at the maneuver small unit level. The desired capabilities include aircraft under 55 lbs, soldier-portable operation, VTOL, 8-hour endurance over 24 hours, modular payloads, encrypted datalink, worldwide frequency capability, and all-weather operation. Respondents should provide details on system cost, sensor performance, air vehicle specs, ground control station, data link, and supply chain. The government may invite select vendors to demonstrate their capabilities. Responses are due by March 31, 2024 and the government will not accept unsolicited proposals or compensate vendors for their submissions.
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| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| W58RGZ_24_SS_SUAS FAQs.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| W58RGZ_24_SS_SUAS FAQs.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| W58RGZ_24_SS_SUAS FAQs.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet |
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Sheet1
| Date of Question | Vendor Question | Gov't Response/Date |
| 3/1/24 | Is this at all related to the US Army’s Long Range Reconnaissance requirement (Group 2 UAV); or is W58RGZ-24-SS-SUAS in relation to a separate Company level Group 1 UAV requirement? | The solicitation includes air vehicles inside the group 1 and group 2 domains, specifically less than 55 pounds. 3/4/2024 |
| 3/2/24 | This opportunity lists “Minimum mission coverage/endurance – 8 hours over 24-hour period” | |
| Does this mean that the UAS must be able to fly continuously for 8 hrs and be ready to fly again the next day, or does it mean that the UAS can make multiple flights as long as it is airborne for 8 hrs during a 24 hours period? For example, could the UAS perform qty 4 flights at 2 hrs each within a 24 hr period? | The solicitation entails a holistic solution capability and vendors will be expected to describe and potentially demonstrate a system that includes a minimum of 8 hours of coverage over of a 24-hour period. 3/4/2024 |
3/4/24 Are you able to confirm this requirement is not related to the PM UAS Long Range Requirement? The Company Level Small Uncrewed Aircraft System (SUAS) W58RGZ-24-SS-SUAS is not the Long Range Reconnaissance requirement nor the Company Level Group 1 UAV requirement. 3/4/2024
| 3/5/24 | Is it for Medium Range Reconnaissance (MRR)? | The Company Level Small Aircraft SSN will inform future Medium Range Reconnaissance requirements. The SSN entails a holistic solution capability and vendors will be expected to describe and potentially demonstrate a system that includes a minimum of 8 hours of coverage over of a 24-hour period. It is a system level parameter. |
| Regarding the requirement of "8 hours over a 24-hour period," could you please clarify if there is a minimum endurance per single flight, or if it is acceptable to achieve this through multiple flights (e.g., 4 flights of 2 hours each)? | ||
| Additionally, I would like to confirm if the 7 cubic ft limitation applies to the entire system when combined. |
3/5/24 We could propose performing qty 4 flights that are 2+ hrs each within a 24 hr period to meet the requirement? Yes. Vendors will be expected to describe and potentially demonstrate a system that provides a minimum of 8 hours of coverage over of a 24-hour period. 3/6/2024
3/7/24 Is this the same, and or a new variation of the LRR requirement that came out in 2022? The Company Level Small Uncrewed SSN identifies a distinct and separate system from the Long Range Reconnaissance system requirement. 3/7/2024
| 3/7/24 | Are you accepting submissions from component suppliers or only submissions by those vendors who can supply the complete system? | All submissions will be reviewed. 3/8/2024 |
| 3/8/24 | Will the ability to conduct “relief on station” by two or more aircraft be satisfactory to meet the USG desired capabilities? | The requirement states, “8 hours of endurance over a 24-hour period” and a system configuration defined as “a minimum of 2 air vehicles with modular mission payload capability, one Ground Control Station and ancillary equipment capable of operations in day, night and adverse weather conditions.” There is no “relief on station” criteria. 3/8/2024 |
| 3/11/24 | We assume the coverage includes changes of batteries throughout, is that correct? | The Government has defined the 8 hours over 24 hours coverage time frame as a system level characteristic and requests that industry provide the best solution to accomplish that capability. The Government has defined a lower level decomposition/allocation of effort to achieve coverage/endurance capabilities. 3/13/2024 |
| 3/11/24 | Is there a defined radio that is required to integrate within the ITN? | There is no defined radio solution to accomplish the communications relay, network, or internal systems data link capabilities. 3/13/2024 |
| 3/11/24 | What are the C2 protocol requirements or standards for Company Level sUAS? | The C2 protocol requirements or standards for Company Level sUAS are defined in RAS-A. 3/13/2024 |
| 3/11/24 | Would you provide documentation on the UVC operating system? Many sUAS use QGC on their controllers, is QGC required or desired? | The Govt requests the vendor provide their process and capability to adopt interoperability with the TAK, Net Warrior and UVC operating system. 3/13/2024 |
| 3/11/24 | What are the required feature and functions for the Net Warrior control? | Full Net Warrior interoperability 3/13/2024 |
| 3/11/24 | How many continuous hours / minutes of flight can our systems provide before the need to recharge or swap batteries? | The Company Leve Directed Requirement does not specify continuous hours or minutes of flight before a need to recharge. The intent of the notice is to review the full range of industry partners solutions. 3/11/2024 |
| 3/13/24 | What makes up the “system” to be Soldier Portable? In the Background paragraph, the system configuration is “two air vehicles with modular mission capability, one GCS and ancillary equipment”. Is all this equipment included in the Soldier Portable System, or is a different system subset satisfy the requirement (i.e. one aircraft, one GCS, one battery set, and one payload)? | The soldier portable parameter defines the maximum number of personnel required to transport the system in a tactical environment. The minimum system requirements are two air vehicles, one GCS and ancillary equipment necessary to perform system operations. 3/13/2024 |
| 3/13/24 | What “system” components are included in the tactical transport configuration? Similar idea as question for Capability 2, does all System configuration gear need to fit inside 7 cubic feet, or a system subset (i.e. each aircraft system can go in it’s own 7 cubic feet case)? | The 7 ft3 tactical transport configuration undefined, subject to the vendors solution, but volume is intended to contain the minimum necessary components to support a operate a fully functional system. 3/13/2024 |
| 3/13/24 | What level of identification and tracking? Does this ability need to be on the aircraft, or can it be performed on the GCS? | The Identification and tracking metrics are not defined. The identification and tracking process function host (aircraft vs GCS) is undefined. 3/13/2024 |
| 3/13/24 | Is there a specific band of radio frequency that is desired? Are you looking to be able to change frequency bands? What do you mean by “worldwide operational frequency capable”? | The systems specific frequencies are not defined but the systems data and communication link does include an agile capability and dynamic spectrum access management. Worldwide operational frequency capability refers to a frequency spectrum compatibility requirement with foreign country spectrum allocations. |
| 3/13/24 | What is meant by “All weather capable”? Is there a specific IP rating that is desired? What weather conditions are considered go/no-go? | All-weather capability is intended to support the user’s flight operations under maximum temperature and precipitation variations. There is not an IP metric or a go/no-go criteria. 3/13/2024 |
| 3/13/24 | We wanted to confirm whether commercial firms that produce ancillary equipment (e.g., chargers and power systems) are eligible to submit, or only firms that produce the entire system, including the UAV itself? | All vendor information will be reviewed and considered for the sources sought notifications. 3/15/2024 |
| 3/20/24 | Do you have a required format for the enhanced white paperor any associated products? | The format parameters are defined in the SSN section titled "Instructions for White Paper Submission". 3/21/2024 |
| 3/20/24 | Are you all willing to accept partial responses to your capability list? | All responses to the SSN will be reviewed and considered. 3/21/2024 |
| 3/20/24 | Would it be acceptable to provide data sheets as a separate attachment to our white paper response submission? | Responses to this Sources Sought are defined in the SSN section titled "Instructions for White Paper Submission". 3/21/2024 |
| 3/21/24 | Would PM UAS provide additional insight on the UVC mentioned ("11. Ground Controller Interoperability with Tactical Assault Kit (TAK), Net Warrior Control HHD, and Uncrewed Vehicle Control (UVC) operating system") ? | The SSN capability is intended to query commercial vendors about processes to adopt new software and establish external or ancillary system interoperabilities. 3/21/2024 |
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .