Group 3 UAS for the Drone Marketplace

1. Background

The U.S. Army Contracting Command – Redstone Arsenal (ACC-RSA) is issuing this Call for Solutions against Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) W58RGZ-26-S-C001 under the authority of 10 U.S.C. § 3458. This Call will competitively acquire and onboard innovative commercial Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the Group 3 classification onto the Drone Marketplace.

A Group 3 UAS is defined by the Department of Defense as an aircraft that weighs between 55 pounds and 1,320 pounds (maximum gross takeoff weight), operates at altitudes up to 18,000 feet above mean sea level, and typically flies at speeds less than 250 knots.

This is intended to be an open and enduring call to continuously survey and onboard new technology for a period not to exceed five (5) years. The Government reserves the right to alter or cancel this call at any time.

The UAS Marketplace is a strategic initiative designed to scale the industrial base and accelerate the delivery of UAS capabilities by empowering Soldiers with the freedom to choose the equipment that best meets their mission needs. This approach marks a significant pivot from traditional acquisition models to a dynamic, free-market concept.

The primary goal of this Call is to identify and assess innovative Group 3 UAS solutions for placement on the UAS Marketplace. The process is designed to evaluate systems and onboard them to the UAS Marketplace, culminating in one of two levels of procurement readiness: Provisional or Cleared.

It is critical for all offerors to understand that this Call’s primary purpose is to establish a pool of qualified vendors available for purchase on the UAS Marketplace. The onboarding process and establishment of a Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) does not constitute a production contract or guarantee any future orders. All procurement will be initiated by PM UAS and/or U.S. 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 Department of War (DoW) guidance directs a shift to a wartime footing, demanding that we accelerate acquisition timelines and scale the industrial base to meet this evolving threat. The current acquisition process is not structured to keep pace, creating a critical capability gap and putting Soldiers at risk against a technologically adaptive adversary.

To address this urgent need, the Army must rapidly identify, assess, and procure innovative, commercially available Group 3 UAS that are ready to field now. This Call seeks to fill critical UAS capability gaps by leveraging the commercial drone market’s dynamism and innovation. 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 our decisive advantage.

3. Technical Attributes

A detailed description of the required and desired technical attributes for the UAS solutions is provided in the SOO, included as Attachment 1 to this Call. Offerors must refer to the SOO for a comprehensive understanding of the Government’s technical objectives. In general, the Government is seeking innovative, commercially available Group 3 UAS platforms that are production-ready or at least a least a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 7 and capable of performing missions such as Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA), electronic warfare, communications relay, and cargo delivery. The Government will accept submissions for solutions with a TRL of less than 7 with a demonstrated plan to achieve TRL 7. The Government may request to include lower TRL systems in demonstration, exercise, or other testing events to assist industry achieving a higher TRL.

4. Award Information

4.1 Authority and Instrument Award

This Call is issued under the authority of Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) procedures detailed within the Uncrewed Aircraft System Marketplace Commercial Solutions Opening W58RGZ-26-S-C001, found at SAM.gov Opportunity Link

In accordance with 10 US Code 3458, use of a CSO is considered a competitive procedure. The Government intends to establish one or more Firm-Fixed-Price BOAs as a result of this Call. A BOA is not a contract and does not obligate any funds or guarantee any future orders. It is a written instrument of understanding that establishes the terms and conditions for potential future orders. All orders placed against the BOA are subject to the availability of funds. While the BOA will be the primary acquisition vehicle, procurements resulting from this Call may be made through various…