Request for Information (RFI) for Long Range Heavy Lift Unmanned Logistics Systems-Air (ULS-A)

Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted Jun 4, 2025

Solicitation number: N0042125RFPREQWPM2630309
Agency: Naval Air Systems Command Department of the Navy, Department of Defense
Responses due: Jun 24, 2025, 5:00 PM ET
Set-aside: No set-aside

Opportunity facts

NAICS code: 541715 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
PSC: AC13 National Defense R&D Services; Department Of Defense - Military; Experimental Development
Place of performance: Patuxent River, Maryland 20670, United States
Points of contact: Joseph Perriello joseph.c.perriello.civ@us.navy.mil

Raymond Cannon raymond.c.cannon2.civ@us.navy.mil

Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated Jun 27, 2025.

About this opportunity

Written by GovTribe AI · Jun 28, 2025

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), through the Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons, is conducting market research for a Long Range Heavy Lift Unmanned Logistics Systems-Air (ULS-A) to support United States Marine Corps cargo aerial delivery operations. The system must provide autonomous cargo delivery capabilities with a minimum payload of 1,300 pounds and a minimum combat radius of 100 nautical miles, capable of operating in various environments during day and night operations. Key requirements include autonomous launch and recovery from confined areas, a man-portable Ground Control Station, ruggedized design requiring minimal logistics and training support, and integration with the Marine Air-Ground Tablet (MAGTAB) using Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK) plug-in software. This Request for Information is strictly for market research purposes and requires responses limited to 20 pages submitted electronically. The response deadline is close of business on June 24, 2025, with no planned extensions.

This opportunity does not include any set-aside designations and is open to all qualified vendors. No current contractors or incumbents are identified in the solicitation documents. NAVAIR is considering awarding an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) under 10 U.S.C. 4022 in fiscal year 2026, though no specific budget ranges or award values are disclosed in the RFI. The system specifications call for a minimum cargo capacity of 1,300 pounds with a 100 nautical mile operational range, emphasizing the need for innovative cargo handling solutions. Interested companies must demonstrate technical capabilities, experience with complex systems, subcontractor management abilities, and specific technical skills related to unmanned aerial systems development. The government emphasizes that no funds are available for response preparation and that failure to respond will not prevent future participation in ULS-A program competitions.

Notice text

5 versions

Update #5 · Latest · Jun 27, 2025

UPDATE [27 JUNE 2025]: The Government has determined to seek an Other Transaction (OT) prototype project pursuant to the authority at 10 USC 4022. A Statement of Need has been published to the Naval Aviation Systems Consortium (NASC) as of 27 June 2025. The Government intends to utilize the Other Transaction Authority (OTA) process through the NASC. All interested parties are advised to join the consortium through the following website: https://nascsolutions.tech/. All future communications regarding this requirement will be made via NASC.

DISCLAIMER

THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL; YET IS A MARKET RESEARCH TOOL TO DETERMINE POTENTIAL FIRMS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE SUPPLIES DESCRIBED HEREIN PRIOR TO AN ISSUANCE OF A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT OBLIGATED TO AND WILL NOT PAY FOR ANY INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM POTENTIAL SOURCES AS A RESULT OF THIS RFI. THIS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF ANY KIND. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT OR NON-FAR BASED AGREEMENT (E.G. OTHER TRANSACTION) AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY. FAILURE TO SUBMIT A RESPONSE WILL NOT PREVENT A COMPANY FROM PARTICIPATION IN ANY FUTURE COMPETETION RELATED TO THE UNMANNED LOGISTICS SYSTEMS-AIR (ULS-A) PROGRAM.

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons (PEO (U&W)), Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Office (PMA-263) at Patuxent River, MD is conducting market research to determine the amount of responsible sources that have the capability, experience, facilities, and potential solutions for a long range heavy lift cargo Unmanned Logistics Systems – Air (ULS-A) for use by the United States Marine Corps, capable of providing cargo aerial delivery resupply and distribution, for day and night operations in various environments. The potential solution should be ruggedized and ready to use as delivered, with minimal logistics and training support. The solution should provide real time logistics supply distribution with minimum payloads of 1,300 pounds and a minimum combat radius of 100 nautical miles (NM). The solution should be capable of autonomous launch from a small, confined area, and should be capable of an autonomous recovery within the same confined area as launch. A Ground Control Station (GCS) for the solution should be man-portable and consist of the necessary equipment to monitor the solution’s position and status, control its movement, and view its real time mission conditions and progress. Industry is highly encouraged to develop innovative and efficient cargo handling solutions.

NAVAIR is considering awarding an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA), pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 4022 “Authority of the Department of Defense to carry out certain prototype projects,” for ULS-A in FY2026.