Drone, Camera, and Training Package for MSU College of Ag

Montana State University (MSU) is seeking a comprehensive drone, camera, and training package for its College of Agriculture through an Invitation for Bid (MSU-IFB-2025-0715) released on May 1, 2025. The procurement involves three complete drone packages, each requiring a quadcopter drone with specific technical specifications, including Green Listed UAS status, two batteries, an integrated multispectral and thermal camera, and a rugged transport case. The drone package must feature an integrated Remote ID, controller, 40-minute flight time with 20% battery reserve, water/weather resistance, a payload capacity of 6 lbs or greater, and a total weight not exceeding 20 lbs including batteries. The camera system must provide detailed multispectral and thermal capabilities for agricultural research, covering Green, Red, Red Edge, NIR, and RGB channels. The solicitation requires vendors to submit a written narrative explaining how their proposed products meet or exceed the specified requirements, with bids opening on 5/1/2025 at 8:00 AM MDT and closing on 5/15/2025 at 2:00 PM MDT. A critical component of the procurement is a one or two-day on-site training program in Bozeman, MT, targeting approximately 10 students, staff, and professionals, with a requested delivery timeline of 15 days after award.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention set-aside designations or restrictions for specific types of organizations. Payment terms are established as 0% 0, Net 30, with transactions conducted in US Dollars. Vendors must provide comprehensive documentation demonstrating their product's compliance with the technical specifications, with MSU reserving the right to deem responses non-responsive if product information is merely attached without a detailed explanatory narrative. While the exact budget range is not specified in the available documentation, the procurement involves three complete drone packages with integrated camera systems and comprehensive training, suggesting a potentially significant investment. The university seeks a vendor capable of providing high-performance drone technology specifically tailored for agricultural research applications, with a strong emphasis on technical capabilities, performance, and comprehensive training support. The solicitation implies a preference for vendors with expertise in agricultural drone technology and the ability to provide sophisticated multispectral and thermal imaging solutions for research purposes.