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W58RGZ-26-S-C001-006
Response Deadline
Aug 28, 2026, 10:00 PM(CDT)24 days
Eligibility
Contract Type
Solicitation
1. BACKGROUND
The U.S. Army Contracting Command – Redstone Arsenal (ACC-RSA) is issuing this Call for Solutions (abbreviated “C4S” hereafter) against Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) W58RGZ-26-S-C001-006 under the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 3458. This C4S will competitively acquire innovative commercial, Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) for the Battalion Reconnaissance UAS effort described below. The Government reserves the right to alter or cancel this call at any time.
The purpose of this effort is to provide Battalion Commanders and their organizations with an organic Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA) capability. This effort aligns with the Army's modernization priorities to operate in Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) and the Department of War's (DoW) strategic objective of achieving Drone Dominance. Through this C4S, the Army ensures that industry remains informed of its changing needs, fostering ongoing investment and innovation in UAS technologies to address future opportunities.
This C4S will assess National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) compliant and viable Battalion Reconnaissance UAS candidates through a capability demonstration and Manufacturing Readiness Assessment (MRA) in support of the Army Maneuver Elements.
The Government reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to select multiple solutions, a single solution, or make no award at all as a result of this evaluation. Should the Government elect to select multiple solutions, Offerors are advised that an award does not constitute a commitment to procure any specific quantity of systems. There is no guaranteed minimum order quantity for any selected vendor. The actual number of systems procured from any awardee will be driven by evolving Army mission needs, fielding schedules, and the availability of funds.
Each Offeror shall explain how their system meets the minimum set of requirements from Attachment 2, System Characteristics.
All procurements will be initiated by Project Manager (PM) UAS and/or Army end-users based on their specific mission requirements and the availability of funds.
2. PROBLEM STATEMENT
The character and pace of modern warfare are being redefined by the rapid proliferation and innovation of UAS. Our near-peer competitors are deploying these capabilities with a speed and scale that directly threatens our technological advantage at the tactical edge. Recent DoW guidance directs a shift to a wartime footing, demanding the acceleration of acquisition timelines and scale the industrial base to meet this evolving threat.
The Battalion Reconnaissance UAS system is a critical solution to close maneuver battalions' operational reconnaissance and security gaps, which severely limits a commander’s situational awareness, decision space, freedom of maneuver, and tempo during Cross Domain Maneuver Operations.
To address this urgent need, the Army must rapidly identify, assess, and procure innovative, readily available UAS that are ready to field now. This C4S seeks to fill critical UAS capability gaps at the Battalion Level. The objective is to move away from traditional, lengthy development cycles and onboard mature, effective, and immediately procurable solutions into the UAS Marketplace. This approach will empower the warfighter with the cutting-edge capability required to dominate the modern battlefield and restore decisive advantage.
3. TECHNICAL ATTRIBUTES
This C4S is for a production-ready Battalion Reconnaissance UAS. The desired platform must be a rapidly deployable VTOL system capable of autonomous reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, and identification. A critical secondary function is the ability to provide communications relay in dynamic radio spectrum environments.
The system configuration shall be a VTOL UAS, not to exceed a Max Gross Takeoff Weight (MGTOW) of 55lbs and include two modular mission capable VTOL air vehicles with an Electro-Optical /Infrared (EO/IR) camera and laser pointer, two ground control stations and ancillary equipment capable of operations in day, night and adverse weather conditions. Ancillary equipment is defined as batteries, cables, initial spare parts, operator/maintenance manuals, and packaging. Dynamic mission changes require a system with a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) and a common payload interface to rapidly remove and install air vehicle mission payloads.
The desired Battalion Reconnaissance UAS capabilities and characteristics are listed below and in the attached required System Characteristics (Attachment 2). These capabilities and characteristics are required in the Offerors’ responses and will be verified during the capability demonstration. It is critical that whitepaper submissions accurately reflect performance and associated assumptions.
A detailed description of the required and desired technical attributes for the UAS solutions is provided in the Statement of Objectives (SOO), included as Attachment 1 to this C4S.
4. System Request
The PM UAS will assess Offeror responses to identify current, readily available, Battalion Reconnaissance UAS solutions and may invite select Offerors to demonstrate capabilities through flight operations. Submissions shall be based on current manufacturing, production and system technical performance capabilities. Offeror demonstrations will include the full range of system capabilities. Responses shall include the following information:
5. EVALUATION
Assessment of viable Battalion Reconnaissance UAS systems will be conducted through a three-factor evaluation.
5.1 Evaluation Approach and Relative Importance
The relative importance of the non-price factors is as follows:
Factor 1, Technical Solution is equal in importance to Factor 2, Production Capability. Factor 4, Drone Dominance Program Supply Chain Framework Compliance, will be weighed as equal importance as Factors 1 and 2.
The Government will use a best-value tradeoff process to determine the solution that is most advantageous to the Government. All non-price evaluation factors, when combined, are more important than Price. This may result in an award to a higher-rated, higher-priced Offeror if the technical and/or production merits of the higher-priced solution warrant the additional price.
5.2 Evaluation Factors and Scoring
Factor 1 – Technical Solution: The whitepaper will be evaluated on its ability to meet or exceed the 19 system characteristics detailed in Attachment 2, System Characteristics. Offeror’s must meet 16 of 19 system characteristics to be rated “Acceptable.” 55lbs MGTOW is NOT a criterion that can be bypassed to be “Acceptable.” Technical solutions MUST be 55lbs MGTOW.
The technical assessment will consist of a whitepaper evaluation for all Offerors. Based on this evaluation, select Offerors whose submissions are deemed “Acceptable” or higher may be invited to a subsequent Government-operated, Offeror-supported flight demonstration to validate their proposed technical solutions.
This factor assesses the Offeror’s technical solution and the associated risk of unsuccessful performance. The Offerors will receive a combined technical/risk rating.
Scoring Citeria for Whitepaper Evaluation
Scoring Criteria for Flight Demonstration
This evaluation will be based on the Offeror's ability to successfully demonstrate the capabilities of their system against the specifications in Attachment 2, System Characteristics.
An overall Technical and Risk rating of Outstanding, Good, Acceptable, or Unacceptable will be assigned to each Offeror. This final rating will be based on a combined assessment of the initial Whitepaper Evaluation and the subsequent Flight Demonstration, which serves to verify the proposed capabilities. If the Government elects to not conduct flight demonstrations, it reserves the right to finalize scoring based on the whitepaper evaluations. Additionally, the Government reserves the right to evaluate whitepaper submissions to C4S W58RGZ-26-S-C001-006 against this C4S.
Flight Demonstration Details: If conducted, the following process will be used for the flight demonstration.
Factor 2 – Production Capability: The whitepaper will be evaluated on the Offeror's ability to meet the minimum production rate of 13 systems every 30 days. To be rated “Acceptable,” the whitepaper must credibly document the capability to meet this minimum rate. Higher ratings may be assigned to Offerors that document a significant and verifiable ability to scale production beyond this minimum. Offerors are encouraged to submit max production capacity capabilities if beyond 13 systems every 30 days.
This evaluation will result in a single, combined production and risk score, assessing the Government's confidence in the Offeror's ability to successfully perform.
Scoring Criteria for Production Capability
NOTE: The Government reserves the right to conduct a Manufacturing Readiness Assessment (MRA) for Offeror’s that are selected for award. An MRA will only be conducted if determined necessary by the Government. It is not part of the scoring criteria for Factor 2. However, if an anticipated awardee fails the MRA, the Government may move to the next highest rated Offeror. An MRA may consist of the following:
Factor 3 – Price:
Adjectival ratings will not be used for Offeror’s price submissions.
The proposed price submitted by the Offeror will be evaluated to determine if it is reasonable. The Government will determine price reasonableness based on adequate price competition. The evaluation will consist of a comparison of proposed prices to ensure the final agreed-to price reflects current market conditions. Offerors are notified that the Government may require additional data other than certified cost or pricing data if competition is found to be inadequate.
Factor 4 – Drone Dominance Program Supply Chain Framework Compliance
The proposed submission in response to Attachment 3 will be evaluated on the Offeror's compliance with the Drone Dominance Program Supply Chain Framework (DDPSCF). This assessment will evaluate the Offeror's current compliance and the credibility of their plan to meet future phase requirements, ensuring alignment with the strategic goal of a secure domestic industrial base. This factor is of equal importance to Factor 1 (Technical Solution) and Factor 2 (Production Capability).
Scoring Criteria for Supply Chain Security:
6. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:
7. AWARD INFORMATION
7.1 Award Eligibility
This C4S is issued under the authority of CSO procedures detailed within the UAS Marketplace Commercial Solutions Opening W58RGZ-26-S-C001-006, found at https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/a48d3898b0ad4f78bf0b301f31bada82/view.
In accordance with 10 US Code 3458, use of a CSO is considered a competitive procedure.
If your solution meets 16 of 19 capabilities listed in Attachment 2, please submit a whitepaper addressing your proposed solution to the requested capabilities (whitepaper should not exceed 14 pages, 12-point Arial font). The Government will not review responses exceeding this limit. Responses to this C4S shall not exceed total email file size of 10MB. Please include a separate cover page listing.
7.2 Offeror Eligibility Requirements for Award
To be eligible for an award, Offerors must meet the following requirements:
7.3 Government Rights and Disclaimers
7.4 Submission Updates and Revisions.
Offerors are responsible for maintaining a current, complete, and accurate submission package. Throughout the open period of this C4S, Offerors may submit revised documentation to update their submission to correct inadvertent errors or address feedback from the Government. The formal acceptance of any updates into the official evaluation package remains at the sole discretion of the Government. All evaluations will be based on the latest submission officially accepted by the Government.
8. GENERAL INFORMATION AND QUESTIONS
Questions are to be sent only to the Procurement Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist. The following shall be utilized in the email subject line: Call for Solution – W58RGZ-26-S-C001-006 (reference the section area). Material questions and answers will be published on www.sam.gov.
9. CONTACT INFORMATION
Procurement Contracting Officer:
Michelle Hurt
usarmy.redstone.acc.mbx.acc-rsa-uas-marketplace@army.mil
Contract Specialist:
Samuel Mason
usarmy.redstone.acc.mbx.acc-rsa-uas-marketplace@army.mil
10. ORGANIZATIONAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST (OCI)
The Offeror shall submit a comprehensive OCI analysis alongside the white paper submission. This analysis must evaluate the proposed Solution and its implementation to identify any actual or potential OCI involving the Offeror, its teammates, or its subcontractors. The scope of this evaluation includes all past, current, or pending contracts and agreements with any federal agency or external entity. The Offeror shall describe, in detail, the methodology used to identify actual or potential OCI issues. The level of detail for OCI analysis may not be the same for all Offerors. If no conflicts are identified, a risk mitigation plan is not required; however, a description of the analysis methodology, and an affirming statement that no conflicts are identified shall be included.
If the Offeror identifies any actual or potential OCIs with respect to the performance of the Offeror or the Offeror’s subcontractors or teammates, the Offeror shall provide an OCI Mitigation Plan to be incorporated as an attachment to any resulting contract or agreement. Any proposed avoidance or mitigation techniques shall be consistent with FAR 9.5 and the most recent decisions of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
11. NON-GOVERNMENT ADVISORS
Offerors are advised that non-Government personnel may be used to assist in the evaluations for this C4S. Non-Government advisors will be bound by appropriate Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) with the Government to protect proprietary and competition-sensitive information. By submitting a response to this C4S, the Offeror acknowledges this process and waives any and all claims against the Government for any disclosures of proprietary information by non-Government personnel. If an Offeror executes a direct NDA with the non-Government advisors, a copy of the signed agreement must be included with their submission.
12. ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 - Statement of Objectives
Attachment 2 - System Characteristics
Attachment 3 – Drone Dominance Program Supply Chai
Michelle Hurt
Samuel Mason
DEPT OF DEFENSE
DEPT OF THE ARMY
AMC
ACC
ACC-CTRS
ACC RSA
W6QK ACC-RSA
W6QK ACC-RSA
AMCOM CONTRACTING CENTER AIR
SPARKMAN CIR BLDG 5303
REDSTONE ARSENAL, AL, 35898-0000
NAICS
Aircraft Manufacturing
PSC
UNMANNED AIRCRAFT