DOTD IF1200 Hexacopter

Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is soliciting bids for a hexacopter unmanned aerial vehicle system under solicitation IF1200, with proposals due October 7, 2026. The procurement carries a 10% Louisiana-preference clause and a 5% U.S.-preference clause; vendors must submit completed preference forms prior to bid opening to claim either discount.

Bidders seeking Louisiana preference must demonstrate that their Louisiana workforce comprises a minimum of 50% Louisiana residents and identify specific Louisiana locations where the hexacopter is produced, manufactured, or assembled. The 10% Louisiana preference applies when the cost does not exceed non-Louisiana alternatives by more than 10%; when multiple bidders offer qualifying Louisiana products within that threshold, the lowest-priced Louisiana bidder is entitled to match the lowest overall bid price. Separately, bidders claiming a 5% U.S.-preference discount must certify that the hexacopter is manufactured in the United States, specify manufacturing or final-assembly locations, and confirm that the cost does not exceed non-U.S. alternatives by more than 5%. Under Louisiana Revised Statute 39:1604.7, a U.S.-manufactured hexacopter equal in quality to competing products qualifies for preference; when multiple bidders offer U.S.-manufactured products within the 5% threshold, the lowest such bidder is entitled to match the lowest bid price.

The scope includes a multi-rotor drone platform with specifications for flight endurance, payload capacity, camera systems, and software-integration capabilities to support DOTD infrastructure inspection, aerial survey, and data-collection operations. Evaluation will consider technical merit, system capabilities, support services, and cost. Failure to submit either completed preference form prior to bid opening forfeits preference consideration on that basis.