Tethered Drones for BIA OJS MMU

The Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services Missing and Murdered Unit is seeking four complete tethered drone systems through Request for Proposal 140A1625Q0053. The procurement requires sophisticated unmanned aircraft systems capable of tethered power and data operation with battery backup, deployment within 10 minutes, and operation at 150-200 feet altitude in winds up to 25 mph while supporting a 2 kg payload. Each system must include thermal infrared cameras, electro-optical cameras with 30x zoom capability, multi-axis gyro-stabilization, laser rangefinders, and ruggedized ground control stations with secure data transmission capabilities. The solicitation will use a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) evaluation method under a firm-fixed-price purchase order structure. Proposals are due by August 14, 2025, at 11:00 AM EDT, with delivery anticipated within 45 days after contract award.

This opportunity is set aside 100% for Indian Small Business Economic Enterprises (ISBEEs) under NAICS code 334511 with a small business size standard of 1,350 employees, requiring offerors to meet strict Buy Indian Act compliance requirements throughout the contract term. The four tethered drone systems will be delivered to regional offices located in Billings, Montana; Rapid City, South Dakota; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Muskogee, Oklahoma. Each system must include comprehensive on-site training for up to four users per location and come with a one-year warranty, with optional five-year extended warranty pricing that may be included but will not impact the award decision. The systems must meet rigorous environmental standards including IP54/IP55 weatherproofing and ruggedized construction suitable for field operations in challenging environments. No incumbent contractors or specific budget ranges are identified in the solicitation documents.