1550--Veteran pursuing FAA UAS drone pilot licensing

The Department of Veterans Affairs is procuring drone equipment to support a Chapter 31 Veteran pursuing FAA UAS drone pilot licensing through solicitation number 36C10D25Q0127. The procurement requires a comprehensive drone system package including 13 specific items such as the Astro Max NDAA/Blue drone system, batteries, chargers, travel case, spare parts, camera lens, thermal and laser range finder upgrades, RTK GPS ground station, and optional FPV system, with all equipment required to be Freefly brand only. Vendors must submit quotes in three volumes: Technical (5-page limit), Price (with detailed Excel pricing), and Solicitation Documents, all due by 10:00 AM EDT on July 31, 2025. The evaluation will consider Technical and Price factors as equally important, with Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses receiving a 10% price evaluation advantage and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses receiving a 5% advantage. The contract performance period is scheduled from August 5, 2025 to October 5, 2025, and all quotes must be submitted via email to carol.roth@va.gov.

This procurement is designated as a 100% small business set-aside, specifically targeting small business vendors for the drone equipment acquisition. The equipment list specifies quantities of 1-6 units per line item across the 13 required drone-related components, representing a complete professional-grade drone system package. No incumbent contractors or current service providers are identified in the solicitation documents, and no specific award values or budget ranges are disclosed in the available materials. The solicitation includes a Questions and Answers document that confirms the equipment list quantities are correct and clarifies that no training services from the original equipment manufacturer or vendor are included in the procurement scope. The VA has issued an amendment to publish additional Q&A responses, maintaining all other terms and conditions unchanged while providing further clarification to potential offerors.