FRA Enterprise Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Delivery Model Validation

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is conducting market research to evaluate delivery models for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) capabilities through a Request for Information (RFI) due by 5:00 PM EST on April 8, 2026. The FRA seeks qualified vendors to provide information regarding UAS platforms (both purchasing and leasing options), sensors, payload options, software solutions, data processing services, and overall system capabilities to support potential operational uses including railroad grade crossing inspections, accident investigations, infrastructure assessments, and trespassing detection. The RFI is designed to inform acquisition planning, lifecycle cost modeling, and determine the most effective operational approach for establishing a national FRA UAS capability. Vendors must demonstrate compliance with Section 848 of the FY2020 NDAA, Section 817 of the FY2023 NDAA, the American Security Drone Act of 2023, and FAR 52.240-1 prohibitions on foreign entities. Responses must not exceed 8 pages of text (excluding graphics, tables, and pricing templates), formatted in Times New Roman 12-point font, and must be submitted to kerianne.gallagher@dot.gov with the subject line "RFI #693JJ6FRAUAS and FRA Enterprise UAS Delivery Model Validation."

This RFI is for market research purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation or commitment to award a contract, with no set-aside designation applicable. The FRA is evaluating three primary delivery models: Government-Owned/Government-Operated (GOGO), Contractor-Owned/Contractor-Operated (COCO), and Hybrid (Contractor-Owned/Government-Operated or COGO), and vendors should provide comparative assessments including operational control, staffing requirements, scalability, and lifecycle cost drivers. Vendors must submit Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) pricing estimates for three utilization levels—low utilization (10-25 missions per week), medium utilization (25-75 missions per week), and high utilization (75-150 missions per week)—with approximately 25 derailment response events annually. Technical requirements specify a VTOL UAS platform with 30-60 minutes endurance, autonomous flight capability with obstacle avoidance, operation up to 10 kilometers beyond visual line of sight, and multiple sensor payloads including high-resolution optical cameras, LiDAR/3D mapping, and thermal imaging. A pilot phase of approximately six months may precede full 5-year program implementation, with all collected imagery, metadata, and geospatial products becoming Federal Government property subject to 3-5 year data retention requirements.