PM UAS - Short/Vertical Takeoff and Landing (S/VTOL)

The U.S. Army Materiel Command Contracting Command Rock Island Arsenal, in partnership with One Nation Innovation, is conducting a Request for Information (RFI) for the Group 4+ UAS | Short/Vertical Takeoff and Landing (S/VTOL) Challenge to solicit industry engagement on advanced unmanned aircraft systems for Multi-Domain Operations. The Army seeks to identify runway-independent Group 4+ UAS platforms capable of supporting Division-echelon operations with capabilities in Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA), Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), enhanced lethality, and autonomous operations in challenging environments. Respondents must submit white papers not exceeding 8 pages by January 8, 2026, at 5:00 PM CST detailing their S/VTOL platform capabilities across six primary areas: Air-Vehicle/Platform, Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) integration, Sensors, Autonomy, Onboard Mission Software Architecture, and Cybersecurity. A critical qualification requirement is that vendors must demonstrate Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 2 to access the full desired characteristics documentation. The challenge aims to collect technological solutions addressing the Army's operational needs across three timeframes: immediate (1-year), near-term (3-year), and long-term (post-2030) capabilities for Large-Scale Combat Operations.

This solicitation operates with no set-aside designations and carries no identified incumbent contractors or award values. The RFI does not specify a predetermined budget range or contract award value, as the primary objective is information gathering and capability assessment rather than a binding procurement action. No specific quantity of systems or definitive service timeline is outlined; instead, the focus remains on understanding industry's technological viability and capacity to integrate Government Furnished Equipment components. Submissions must be made through the Marketplace platform at https://marketplace.gocolosseum.org/, and the place of performance is identified as Columbia, SC 29212, USA. As this is a collaborative engagement effort, the Army intends to use collected information to inform future acquisition strategies and guide industry development of S/VTOL platforms aligned with Army operational requirements.