AOI CUAS Detection.docx

UNCLASSIFIED

Area of Interest (AoI): Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Detection Agency: Department of the Army Program: Vehicle Protection Systems (VPS)

1.0 General Information

1.1 Introduction

VEHICLE PROTECTION SYSTEMS (VPS): The VPS mission is to advance and deploy vehicle force protection capabilities that give Soldiers confidence to act boldly and return home safely.

The VPS Product Office seeks innovative commercial solutions that advance counter-drone technology for sensing detection, recognition, and tracking. As the Army addresses the growing pacing threats posed by small unmanned aerial systems both domestically and abroad, the integration of various sensor systems will enable layered formation protections for basic defense and effectiveness of the ground combat vehicle against enemy drones.

Interested parties are highly encouraged to visit the Government Point of Entry (www.sam.gov) to review the Army Contracting Command-Detroit Arsenal (ACC-DTA) Ground Maneuver Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) special posting W912CH-26-S-0001 at ACC-DTA Ground Maneuver Commercial Solutions opening (CSO) for complete details on the submission and evaluation process.

This CSO AoI seeks to solicit innovative solutions that meet the objectives detailed in Section 1.3. The term “innovative” is defined as any technology, process, or method, including research and development, that is new as of the date of proposal submission, or any new application of an existing technology, process, or method as of the proposal date.

The Contracting/Agreements Officer is not obligated to extend a request for Commercial Solution Proposal or make an award as a result of this CSO AoI; all awards/agreements are subject to the availability of funds and successful negotiations.

This CSO AoI is not an authorization to begin performance, and in no way obligates the Government for any costs incurred by the Offeror associated with developing a response. Prior to commencement of any activities associated with performance under this CSO AoI, the Government will issue a written directive or contractual document signed by the Contracting/Agreements Officer with appropriate consideration established. The Government reserves the right to modify the requirements of this CSO AoI.

The authority to issue this CSO AoI is derived from W912CH-26-S-0001, dated 08 January 2026. The CSO authority is 10 U.S.C. § 3458 – Authority to acquire innovative commercial products and commercial services using general solicitation competitive procedures/ DFARS 212.70 – Defense Commercial Solutions Opening.

1.2 Phase 1: Content of Solution Brief

The written solution brief shall address the following:

Vendors are required to submit CSO Phase 1 solution briefs in accordance with ACC-DTA Ground Maneuver CSO, W912CH-26-S-0001, Section 3.2.1.

Describe your technology and its relevance to Section 1.3 below.

1.3 AoI Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Detection

The Army is actively pursuing commercial technology to detect and recognize hostile UAS to enable the ground vehicle formation to counter the threat of Group 1 and Group 2 drone-based attacks. All solutions must operate in a ground vehicle environment, to include on-the-move (OTM) operation.

Counter UAS capabilities of particular interest include one or more of the following technologies:

1) Sensing, including, but not limited to, electro-optical / infrared (EO/IR) sensors, active and passive radar systems, acoustic detectors, electromagnetic emission (EME) sensors, multi-modal systems, and other novel detectors.

2) Software, integrated with or complementary to the sensor, that transforms the raw signals into actionable information, by executing one or more of the actions in the kill chain to include: detecting, recognizing, identifying, and tracking UAS in real time.

Sensor technology solutions are required to be interoperable with the Vehicle Base Kit (VBK) (functionality formerly known as the Modular Active Protection System (APS) Controller (MAC)) and Modular APS Framework (MAF).

2.0 Demonstration Requirements

Vendors whose white papers are selected will be invited to come to the Phase II demonstration event to showcase their sensors.

General Overview: The Product Manager (PdM) VPS office will conduct a sensor evaluation in the Spring of 2027. The intent of the event is to evaluate the performance of candidate sensor technologies that demonstrate promising capability to recognize group 1 and group 2 UAS threats. The PdM VPS office, via this CSO, requests feedback regarding availability of sensor systems during this timeframe along with a completed PdM VPS Sensor CSO Questionnaire.

3.0 Submission Instructions

Vendors are required to submit CSO Phase 1 solution briefs, including a ROM, in accordance with ACC-DTA Ground Maneuver CSO, W912CH-26-S-0001, Section 3.2. In addition to submission of the solution brief, each vendor is required to submit Attachment: PdM VPS_Sensor CSO Questionnaire that is attached to this AOI.

Submissions shall identify any restrictions on the Government’s rights (e.g. data rights) in using/disclosing/reproducing/modifying technical data, computer software, and non-technical data (e.g. business/financial/administrative data) involved in the effort.

AoI Open Period:

Priority submission date for this AoI and Solution Briefs is 09 November 2026 at 4:00pm ET.

Solution briefs received after the specified due date and time may be discarded and may not be considered for participation in the Spring 2027 sensor evaluation event.

This AoI will remain open for rolling submissions

Points of Contact (PoC) Solution briefs/questionnaires and any questions should be submitted to the following PoCs:

Contract Specialist: Lauren Wagner, lauren.e.wagner10.civ@army.mil Contracting Officer: Jennifer Harris, jennifer.l.harris194.civ@army.mil

UNCLASSIFIED

Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release. OPSEC-2026-473