Autonomous Aerial Delivery Development and Modernization

SYNOPSIS: This Sources Sought Announcement is to assist the US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command - Soldier Center (DEVCOM-SC) to identify potential sources to provide solutions for Aerial Delivery capability enhancements specifically designed for contested environment use-cases. The Government requests responders submit a Broad Other Transaction Authority Announcement (BOTAA) preproposal as outlined in DEVCOM-SC BOTAA 22-01 located at: https://sam.gov/opp/126eaf3a78d847f69b7c94b606877f92/view. Please refer to Topic Area of Interest - A. SOLDIER SUSTAINMENT DIRECTORATE (SSD) starting on page 19. Submit the BOTAA preproposal to: ekaterina.s.kuhlwein.civ@army.mil and jean.m.trumpis.civ@army.mil by 28 January 2025 by 1700 EST. Objective: DEVCOM-SC is seeking information on technologies or capabilities to enhance autonomous Aerial Delivery capabilities for upcoming development, fleet modernization, and technology maturation. Background: Several upcoming and ongoing autonomous aerial delivery systems require significant development, integration, and test efforts. Forthcoming efforts include software and hardware upgrades which allow new sensors, capability improvements, accommodate propulsion, and swap components for obsolescence. These efforts require hardware development, lab integration, and flight testing. Requirements: - Prototypes of aerial delivery system enhancements which reflect a potential production configuration - Flight testing of aerial delivery systems, system components, and subsystems - Environmental testing of aerial delivery hardware to include MIL-STD-461, explosive atmosphere, and rapid decompression - Hardware subject matter expert support at flight testing events - Upgrades to existing aerial delivery systems to accommodate new sensors and electronic hardware for enhanced capabilities Interested parties are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Announcement. THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY This Sources Sought Announcement is issued solely for information and planning purposes and to identify interested sources. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. No contract will be awarded from this announcement. This Sources Sought does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFP in the future. It is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. Further, unsolicited proposals will not be accepted. Funding is not available at this time. The United States Army has not made a commitment to procure any of the items/services discussed, and release of this Sources Sought Announcement should not be construed as such a commitment or as authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. Response to this Sources Sought Announcement is voluntary and no reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this and any follow-on information requests. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned. Not responding to this Sources Sought Announcement does not preclude participation in any future RFP if any is issued. If a solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the SAM.gov website. It is the responsibility of the potential responders to monitor this site for additional information pertaining to this subject. RESPONSES: Interested parties may identify their interest and capability by sending BOTAA preproposals regarding this requirement to DEVCOM-SC via e-mail ONLY to Project Officer ekaterina.s.kuhlwein.civ@army.mil and jean.m.trumpis.civ@army.mil no later than 28 January 2025 by 1700 EST. The U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative cost incurred in response to this Notice. All costs associated with responding to this Notice will be solely at the expense of the interested party. Please provide business size (indicate your socioeconomic status), applicable NAICS code, and CAGE code. QUESTIONS: Any questions for clarification may be emailed to Project Officer ekaterina.s.kuhlwein.civ@army.mil and jean.m.trumpis.civ@army.mil by 24 January 2025. Verbal questions will NOT be accepted. Questions shall NOT contain proprietary or classified information. An unattributed list of questions and answers will be published at the same web location of this Sources Sought Announcement. ** Amendment 1 ** Intent is to procure this effort under DEVCOM-SC BOTAA 22-01.