What this opportunity is
The Department of Defense is seeking to purchase a commercial-off-the-shelf Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) package for the 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office in Fort Stewart, GA. This small business set-aside opportunity is ideal for vendors capable of providing a secure, modular tactical drone and associated equipment that meets specific performance characteristics, including a minimum flight endurance of 40 minutes. As this is a solicitation notice, interested small businesses should prepare to submit proposals rather than simply track the opportunity.
Analysis by Mindy, grounded in the SAM.gov notice.
Description
Salient Characteristics / Purchase
Description
Requirement Title: Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) and Support Equipment
User Agency: 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) Public Affairs Office (PAO), Fort Stewart,
GA
Solicitation Type: Brand Name or Equal
Target Platform: S2P2 (Short Range Reconnaissance / Blue UAS Contracting
Platform)
1. Scope of Requirement
The 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) Public Affairs Office (PAO) requires the
procurement of one (1) commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) Unmanned Aircraft System
(UAS) package. The system must consist of a secure, modular tactical drone, a multi-
band controller, operational batteries, and a dual-charging station.
This equipment will be utilized to capture high-resolution aerial imagery, thermal
signatures, and optical documentation during daytime and nighttime military
training exercises, ceremonies, and tactical readiness operations.
2. Brand Name or Equal Reference
The specifications below are based on the Skydio X10D (Modular Configuration).
Alternate products proposed by vendors must meet or exceed the salient physical,
functional, and performance characteristics outlined below.
Requested Baseline Configuration:
Item # Part Number Description /
Nomenclature
Qty
-- 1 of 4 --
0001 DR4DVHB3I0A1000NA Skydio X10D
Vehicle Only
Solution (Multi-
Band, IR) NA
Must include: 1x
Multi-Band
vehicle, 3-year
perpetual/non-
transferable
Autonomy
software
subscription, and
3 years of
maintenance and
support.
1
0002 DR4DCTR300A0000NA Skydio X10D
Controller Only
(Multi-Band) NA
Must include: 1x
Multi-Band
Enterprise
Controller.
1
0003 DR4ACCBAT Skydio Battery
(150W) for X10
Must include: 2x
individual 150W
intelligent flight
batteries.
2
0004 DR4ACCCHRG2230NA Skydio Dual
Charger for X10
with 230W Wall
Adapter
Assembly, NA
Must include: 1x
dual-bay battery
1
-- 2 of 4 --
charger, 1x 230W
wall adapter, and
1x power cord.
3. Minimum Salient Characteristics (Technical &
Performance Requirements)
Any "or equal" system proposed by vendors must meet or exceed the following
minimum characteristics:
A. Physical & Flight Performance
• Flight Endurance: Must support a continuous flight time of at least 40 minutes
on a single fully charged battery under standard operating conditions.
• Modular Architecture: The system must utilize a modular, a-la-carte design
where the aircraft body, controller, batteries, and charging hubs are sourced as
discrete, replaceable line items (not bound exclusively to pre-packaged bundles)
to support long-term maintenance and unit-level configuration flexibility.
• Weight & Portability: Must be a man-packable, lightweight, rapid-deployment
tactical UAS capable of being unpacked and launched by a single operator in
under 3 minutes.
B. Sensor & Payload Capabilities
The UAS must feature an integrated, stabilized multi-sensor gimbal payload
containing the following physical sensors:
• Telephoto Sensor: Minimum 48MP resolution optical sensor with at least 16x
zoom capability for high-detail imagery from stand-off distances.
• Wide-Angle Sensor: Minimum 50MP resolution optical sensor to capture high-
resolution wide-angle situational awareness and documentation.
• Infrared (IR) / Thermal Sensor: Integrated radiometric thermal sensor with a
minimum resolution of 640x512 pixels (Teledyne FLIR Boson+ class or
equivalent) to support thermal imaging, search-and-rescue, and night
operations.
C. Communication & Range
• Operational Range: Must maintain a reliable, high-definition video link and
control range of up to 12 km line-of-sight.
-- 3 of 4 --
• Frequency Band: Must support secure multi-band wireless communications to
prevent interference and ensure robust connectivity across operational
environments.
D. Navigation, Autonomy & Safety
• Obstacle Avoidance: Must feature a 360-degree, continuous, computer-vision-
based obstacle avoidance system active during both day and night operations.
• GPS-Denied Navigation: Must possess visual-inertial odometry capabilities
allowing the aircraft to navigate, hover steadily, and return home autonomously
in GPS-denied, degraded, or jammed environments.
• Tracking and Autonomy: Must feature AI-driven autonomous tracking
capabilities, allowing the drone to safely track and document subjects
(personnel or vehicles) without active pilot steering inputs.
E. Security, Cyber, & Regulatory Compliance (MANDATORY)
• Blue UAS Status: The proposed system model must be actively listed on the
Department of Defense (DoD) Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) Blue UAS
Cleared List at the time of proposal submission. No exceptions.
• NDAA Compliance: Must be fully compliant with Section 848 of the National
Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY20 and the American Security Drone
Act (ASDA) of 2023. The UAS and its components must not contain parts or
software sourced from prohibited foreign entities.
• Data Security: The aircraft must feature robust onboard cybersecurity
protections, including encrypted storage and secure data transmission protocols.
4. Logistics, Support & Delivery
• Software Maintenance: Must include a minimum of three (3) years of software
support, security updates, and autonomy system licensing (perpetual and non-
transferable) from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM).
• Shipping & Delivery: All items must be shipped securely to Fort Stewart, GA
31314. Shipping terms must be FOB Destination.
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Source: SAM.gov, as posted. Verify the current solicitation before responding.