Sustainment Aerial Delivery Equipment -Sling Load (SADE-SL) Low-Cost Cargo Net

Agency: Department of the Army

Office: Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground Natick Division

Location: Natick, MA

Program Office: Product Manager Force Sustainment Systems (PdM-FSS)

RPP Number: W911QY-26-R-SADESL

Date Issued: 12 March 2026

Proposals Due: 24 March 2026 NLT 1400 EDT

Objective

This competitive Request for Project Proposal (RPP) is issued to request formal competitive pre-proposals in the form of white papers in accordance with Section III, B, 1 of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center (DEVCOM SC) Broad Other Transaction Authority Announcement (BOTAA) 22-01 competitive announcement and is being issued for planning purposes to execute a formal agreement under 10 USC 4022(b), Other Transaction Authority (OTA) for the prototype project described below.. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to award an agreement, nor will the Government pay for the information solicited. Product Manager Force Sustainment Systems (PdM FSS) is seeking information on the capabilities and willingness of private entities to develop a design for Low-Cost 5000-pound and 10,000-pound Helicopter Cargo Nets that will support a prototype project, as defined on page 5 of the BOTAA.

Background

The Government is looking for a low-cost replacement of the current 5000-pound and 10,000-pound Cargo Nets or components of the Cargo Net system. The DoD uses Cargo Nets as a means of transporting equipment around the battlefield faster than traditional ground transport and without the need for large fixed-wing transport aircraft.

Requirements

The purpose of this RPP is to request pre-proposals to conduct preliminary design for a Low-cost Cargo Net capability. The preliminary design may be based on reusing, modifying, or enhancing existing designs.

The pre-proposals shall address the full requirements of this RPP:

Develop a Low-Cost Cargo Net Prototype

• Must be able to support the suspended weight capability in the standard system categories of 5,000 and 10,000 pound capacity at a 35% (T) and 75% or more (O) reduction of individual item cost compared to the current nylon cargo nets (T= threshold/ minimum a requirement needs to meet to be acceptable. O=This refers to an objective or best-case value for a requirement)
• The SADE‑SL shall not increase current sling‑load rigging time by more than 25% (T) and should ideally reduce rigging time by 25% or more (O).
• SADE-SL shall allow for ease of rigging for future variants of payloads with minimal redesign, test and certification, as well as reduce impacts on the environment. The payload compartment must provide quick release latching mechanisms for efficient unloading
• SADE-SL shall be compatible with current Army rotary wing aircraft that include the UH-60 and CH-47 (T) and compatible with other military and civilian rotary wing aircraft to include the CH-46, CH-53 and CV-22, Future Vertical Lift (FVL) medium and heavy lift aircraft
• SADE-SL shall be compatible to standard or recently developed sling load and airdrop components to the maximum extent possible
• The SADE-SL components shall be capable of operation and storage in all of the following climatic categories; Basic, Hot and Cold as current sling load and aerial delivery equipment/systems (T=O). Function in Basic, Hot and Cold conditions in accordance with MIL-STD-810G. These variables will be hot, basic, cold, ranges as low as -60o F (objective) to +145o F and high-altitude pressure standards characteristic of worldwide operations, as described in AR 70-38, dated 15 Sep 1979.
• It will operate within all terrain types (desert, mountain, jungle, and water/maritime), and during inclement weather, to include precipitation, air carrier Instrument Meteorological (IMC) conditions and maritime/salt fog conditions.
• As required by the Government, compliance may be verified at a Government approved facility in accordance with MIL-STD-810G, Method 500.4 (Low Pressure/High Altitude, and Rapid Decompression), Method 501.4 (High Temperature), Method 502.4 (Low Temperature), Method 505.5 (Solar Radiation – Sunshine Procedures 1,2), Method 506.4 (Rain Drip), Method 507.4 (Humidity), Method 508.4 (Fungus), Method 509.4 (Salt Fog), Method 510.4 (Blowing Dust), Method 510.4 (Blowing Sand), Method 511.4 (Explosive Atmosphere), Method 514.5 (UH-60, CH-47, C-130, C-17 and Loose Cargo Vibration).
• Capable of adaptation to other US forces for strategic, operational, and tactical military operations. Shall be designed to promote ease of operation and maintenance by the 5th percentile female through the 95th percentile male Soldier/Marine/Airman as described in MIL-STD-1472G while wearing the field duty uniform, cold weather uniform, and chemical protective uniform.
• Must demonstrate suitability in conditions where the user wears cold weather gloves. The system shall be capable of being transported by highway, rail, marine, and air modes, world-wide. The applicable transportability criteria are set forth in MIL-STD-1366E.

Full specifications and requirements are established in the attached Statement of Work (SOW).