Industry Questions and Answers W911RX26QA037.docx

Industry Questions and Answers ( Drone Build Kit)

W911RX26QA037

1.Question: 1. Nonmanufacturer Rule Applicability. Per 13 CFR 121.406(c), the Nonmanufacturer Rule and Limitations on Subcontracting do not apply to small business set-aside acquisitions valued between the micro-purchase threshold and the Simplified Acquisition Threshold. This solicitation incorporates FAR 52.219-14 (Limitations on Subcontracting) in the clauses by reference. Please confirm whether the Nonmanufacturer Rule applies to this acquisition, and if so, whether an SBA class waiver applicable to FPV uncrewed aircraft systems under NAICS 336411 has been identified.

Answer: Noted: The Army Contract Writing System (ACWS) currently incorporates FAR 52.219-14 (Limitations on Subcontracting) as a mandatory warning clause by default. This automatic inclusion is a known system artifact. Although the solicitation incorporates FAR 52.219-14 by reference, 13 CFR 125.6(a) and 13 CFR 121.406(c) clarify that these limitations DO NOT apply to small business set-asides (total or partial) valued at or below the SAT. There is an identified class waiver for NAICS 336411 (Aircraft Manufacturing) as of 12/15 2024, 69 Fed reg. 75102 but not for Drone Build kits. An amendment will be issued with the answers to industry questions after 19 May 2026.

2. Question: Per-Kit Component Quantities. Attachment 1, Section 4 specifies "sufficient quantities to support the assembly of 15 complete FPV drone systems" but does not specify the per-kit quantity for several components. Please confirm the quantity required per kit for each of the following: goggles, controller (transceiver) with matching transceiver module, FPV receiver module, goggle omnidirectional antenna, goggle directional patch antenna, video transmitter antenna, 6S 6000 mAh LiPo battery, clockwise propellers, and counterclockwise propellers.

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3. Question: Frame and Motor Specification. Attachment 1, Section 2.4 specifies the frame as "Compatibility: 3115-class motors and 1050-size propellers," while the Motors line specifies "Size: 3112, KV Rating: 900 KV." Please clarify whether 3115 or 3112 is the controlling motor specification, or whether 3112 motors mounted in a 3115-compatible frame satisfy both requirements.

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3a. Question: If 3112 / 900KV is the controlling specification, will an offer be deemed technically acceptable when paired with a 10-inch carbon-fiber frame whose stated motor compatibility is "3115-class," given that 3112 motors will physically mount and operate on most 3115-compatible mounting patterns?

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4. Question: Source Authority Across Component Categories. The Department of Defense Blue UAS Cleared list provides coverage for complete uncrewed aircraft systems and selected airborne payload components, but does not currently include the FPV goggle category, ground-side control link hardware (controllers, transmitter modules, FPV receivers), or goggle antennas. Please confirm the Government's source authority standard for this acquisition: specifically, whether Blue UAS Cleared status is the controlling authority for components where Blue UAS coverage is available (such as the camera, video transmitter, and GPS module), and whether NDAA Section 848 and Section 1260H compliance, supported by manufacturer documentation of country of origin and supply chain, is sufficient for component categories where no Blue UAS Cleared option exists (FPV goggles, control link hardware, and goggle antennas).

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5. Question: Section 2.4 (Airframe and Propulsion System) specifies motors with a size of 3112, while the frame compatibility requirement in the same section specifies compatibility with "3115-class motors." These are distinct stator dimensions — 3112 refers to a 31mm diameter, 12mm stator height, while 3115 refers to a 31mm diameter, 15mm stator height — and they are not interchangeable. Could you please confirm which motor size (3112 or 3115) is the intended Government requirement?

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6. Question: are you sure you don't want the supplier to include an assembly manual of some sort, firmware/software load, betflight parameters etc? Building a drone is one thing - making sure it is built correctly in the right order and setting it up to fly is another thing entirely in my experience. I did not see any mention of what tools the students will have but I assume they will be able to solder, charge batteries.

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7. Question: please confirm that motors/batteries and other pass through items do not need NDAA compliance, similar to how it was for phase 1 of Drone dominance Answer:

8. Question: Kit or built? After reviewing the documentation wording points to the ask being solely build kits? I just wanted to verify that we are not required to build the drones, simply provide the entire BOM for someone else to be able to build the drones?

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9.Question: Battery exact required While the request asks for 6000mah 6s batteries, we have a surplus of 6500 6s batteries, which were chosen specifically for weight savings. So they are lighter than most 6000mah batteries but have more mah. Is the requested battery mah exact?, or a minimum requirement and we can use our 6500mah 6s batteries we have in stock as they are superior to most other 6000mah batteries.

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10. Question: Ground-Side Quantity Per Kit. Attachment 1 does not specify per-kit quantities for goggles , transmitter/controller or LiPo chargers. Please confirm whether each kit shall include one (1) of each, or whether shared classroom quantities are acceptable. Additionally, please confirm the required number of 6S 6000 mAh LiPo batteries per kit.

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11. Question: Control Link Protocol. requires the transmitter module, FPV receiver, and transceiver module to share a common protocol but does not specify one. Please confirm if Crossfire is acceptable.

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12. Question: Video Transmission Format: Acceptability of NDAA-Compliant Digital Equivalents (Sections 2.2, 2.5). The Technical Specification requires "Format: Analog video reception" for the goggles (Section 2.2) and "Format: Analog transmission" for the VTX (Section 2.5). The NDAA-compliant FPV component ecosystem has substantially migrated to digital video standards (e.g., HDZero, Walksnail Avatar), and the universe of NDAA / Section 889-compliant analog goggle and VTX SKUs is significantly narrower than for digital equivalents. We seek confirmation that analog is a hard requirement, so that all offerors are evaluated on the same basis under the LPTA construct.

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12a. Question: Is analog video reception / transmission a hard, non-waivable salient characteristic, or will the Government accept an NDAA-compliant digital video system (e.g., HDZero, Walksnail) as a functional equivalent provided all other specifications (5.8 GHz operating band, NDAA / Section 889 compliance, and integration with the FPV system architecture) are met?

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12b. Question: If digital alternatives are acceptable, will an offer pairing a digital VTX with a digital goggle of the same protocol be evaluated equivalently to an offer pairing analog VTX with analog goggles, or will the Government require any additional documentation / justification?

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13. Question: Are the 15 kits required fully assembled (RTF) or as component kits with assembly instructions?

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14. Question: Are there any flight performance requirements (flight time, range, airspeed, altitude) for the completed system?

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15. Question: Are there manufacturing standards or material certifications required for the frame and propellers beyond general NDAA compliance?

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16. Question: Are component or system-level certifications required (e.g., FAA Remote ID documentation, Blue UAS Framework listing, battery transport certs)?

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17. Question: Are there incumbent contracts or prior solicitations for similar FPV kits available for reference?

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