RFI** 56 SFS Counter-sUAS Capability - BRAND NAME - DroneShield

The 56th Contracting Squadron of the Department of the Air Force Air Education and Training Command is conducting a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit market research for a counter-unmanned aircraft system (Counter-sUAS) capability, specifically the DroneShield RfPatrol Immediate Response Kit (NSN: 5865-66-025-4740). The procurement seeks a completely passive, Software Defined Radio (SDR)-based RF detection system capable of identifying and classifying drone command and control signals, custom protocols, Remote ID signals, and video transmissions from over 150 common drone models. Key requirements include a handheld detector weighing no more than 1.2 kg with initial detection within 5 seconds, frequency monitoring from 400 MHz to 6000 MHz, a minimum 10-hour battery life using NATO-standard rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, MIL-STD-810G/H and IP67 certifications, and output data compatible with third-party government battle management systems via gRPC, JSON, and Cursor on Target XML formats. Interested vendors must submit responses electronically to Rachel Tilley at rachel.tilley.1@us.af.mil by Friday, April 17, 2026, at 10:00 AM Pacific Time, providing company information, business size classification, applicable small business certifications, and the number of calendar days required to respond to a future RFP. This RFI is issued for planning and market research purposes only and does not obligate the government to issue a solicitation or award a contract.

This opportunity is designated as a Total Small Business set-aside, restricting eligibility to qualified small business firms, including those certified under SBA 8(a), Service Disabled Veteran Owned, HubZone, or other applicable small business programs. No specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the pre-solicitation notice, and no incumbent contractors are identified. The salient characteristics document specifies that the "Immediate Response Kit" must include two NATO-standard batteries, a battery charger, vehicle-mount antenna kit, MOLLE-compatible carry pouch, RF and data cables, and AC/DC power adapters, delivered in a rugged IP67-rated hard-shell case with custom foam inserts. The system must be Trade Agreements Act (TAA) and Berry Amendment compliant and include a three-year subscription for quarterly software and firmware updates to the drone signature library. While no specific procurement quantity is stated in the RFI, the focus on a single identified brand-name product with "or equal" alternatives suggests the government is preparing for a focused competitive procurement following this market research phase.