145th Sources Sought/RFI Request

Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted

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Solicitation number
W50S87-25-Q-5006
Agency
Responses due
Set-aside
No set-aside

Opportunity facts

NAICS code
336411 Aircraft Manufacturing
Place of performance
North Carolina 28208, United States

Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .

About this opportunity

The North Carolina Army National Guard is conducting a sources sought market survey for the procurement of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) through a future firm-fixed price contract. The agency seeks to acquire two categories of drone systems: three mid-range sUAS systems capable of 60+ minute flight times with optical and thermal sensors, and four short-range sUAS systems with 25-minute minimum flight time and high-resolution cameras with thermal capabilities. All systems must comply with Defense Innovation Unit Blue UAS list requirements or NDAA compliance standards, maintain maximum gross takeoff weights of 4 pounds, and include comprehensive support equipment, batteries, and transport cases. The procurement will also include instructor-led training sessions and additional batteries beyond standard factory provisions. Interested vendors must submit responses by July 18, 2025, at 3:00 PM EST, including a positive statement of intent to bid as prime contractor and a completed Sources Sought Information Request Form, with submissions limited to five typed pages.

This opportunity carries no set-aside designation, though the agency emphasizes interest in small business participation and may open the solicitation as unrestricted if insufficient small business competition exists. No incumbent contractors or current service providers are identified in the notice, and no specific budget ranges or award values are disclosed. The procurement encompasses a total of seven drone systems (three mid-range and four short-range), 27 additional batteries beyond standard factory allocations, two instructor-led training sessions for eight total operators, and all necessary ancillary equipment for fully operational transportable systems. The timeline indicates this is a preliminary planning phase with the actual solicitation contingent upon funding availability, and responses to this sources sought notice will not be reimbursed by the government.

Notice text

This is a sources sought announcement; a market survey for information only to be used for preliminary planning purposes.  The purpose of this synopsis is to gain knowledge of potential sources for this project including interested small business sources.  This notice is for planning purposes only.  No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this notice or any follow up information requests.  All interested parties should respond.

THIS NOT A SOLICITATION ANOUNCEMENT.

The 145th Contracting Office intends to issue a solicitation and award a firm-fixed price contract to purchase Small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) for short range and mid-range drones if funding become available.  The Blue UAS Cleared list is required for this submittal and the following description:

Mid-range sUAS System

(3) sUAS systems with following essential characteristics:

DNAA compliant, so must be on the sUAS System should be on the Defense Innovation Unit approved Blue UAS list

Radio must be encrypted, such as AES 128/256

Maximum Gross takeoff weight of up to 4 pounds

Ability to hover in place

Ability to remain airborne without battery change for more than 60 minutes at cruise speed

Includes flight planning (ie mission planning) software specific for aerial mapping

Must include optical and thermal sensors

Ability to operate in wind speeds up to 35 miles per hour

Must include all necessary equipment for a fully operating transportable system, such as controller, batteries and chargers, hard case, etc.  Should also include any/all factory provided interchangeable payloads if available.

(9) additional batteries for the above sUAS systems, above and beyond what are normally supplied from the factory system/kit

(2) Sessions of live instructor led operator training, having instructor travel to North Carolina for local instruction.  Each session should train 4 operators.

Short Range sUAS System

(4) sUAS systems with following essential characteristics:

NDAA compliant, so must be on the Defense Innovation Unit Blue UAS list or a successfully waivered system

Maximum Gross takeoff weight of up to 4 pounds

Ability to hover in place

Must include or be compatible with flight planning (ie mission planning) software specific for aerial mapping, such as Pix4dCapture

Ability to operate on 2.4Ghz or 1.8Ghz frequency to comply with spectrum management requirements and allow for use on and off DoD installations worldwide

Minimum camera resolution of 20 megapixels, minimum 32x zoom to allow for accuracy and timely acquisition of images for mapping or building inspections

Must include a thermal/IR camera to be used for building inspection

Minimum flight time of 25 mins on a single battery

Must include drone and all ancillary components for a fully functioning system, to include at least 3 batteries, battery charger, ground control station, etc as well as a hard case to protect and transport all components listed.  Transport case must fall within dimensions for carry-on luggage on standard commercial airlines.

(18) additional batteries for the sUAS system above and beyond what are normally supplied with the factory system/kit

All interested concerns will provide this office, in writing, the following information no later than Wednesday 18 July 2025, 3:00 pm EST.  This information shall not exceed five (5) typed pages and must include the following:

(1) Positive statement of intent to bid as a prime contractor;

(2) Completed and signed Source Sought Information Request Form;

In the event a sufficient number of small business contractors are not available for adequate competition for this project, it may be advertised as unrestricted.  Information shall be provided via email to: Capt Scott Thomas at Scott.Thomas.53@us.af.mil or SMSgt Bryant Alexander at Bryant.Alexander@us.af.mil.  Include the following in the subject line: Sources Sought W50S87-25-Q-5006.  Facsimile responses will NOT be honored.

Files

File Type Posted
Sources_Sought_Information_Request_Form 1.pdf PDF

Notice history

Notice Type Posted
245th S-Team sUAS Drone Latest solicitation Solicitation
This notice Original Pre-Solicitation

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