Drones for Aerial Monitoring System

The Department of Commerce, through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, is soliciting the procurement of two heavy-lift unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to support the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences. These systems are required to carry a government-furnished Rohde and Schwarz AMS Aerial Monitoring System payload for radio frequency spectrum measurement missions, including interference hunting and antenna verification. The UAS must be exclusively electric-powered, provide a minimum sustained hover capacity of 8 kg to support a 5 kg payload, and maintain a minimum hover endurance of 25 minutes. Technical requirements include the ability to perform stable 360-degree azimuth rotations at a rate not exceeding 10 degrees per second, stability in winds up to 20 knots, and compliance with FAA Part 107 and FCC Part 15 regulations. The systems must also feature redundant flight control architecture, such as dual IMU or GNSS, to ensure safety. This is a small business set-aside solicitation that will result in a firm-fixed-price purchase order awarded via the Lowest Priced Technically Acceptable process. Offerors must be authorized resellers, distributors, or partners of record for the provided equipment. Deliveries are expected within 60 days after receipt of order, shipped FOB-Destination to Boulder, Colorado. The government requires a technical quotation and a price quotation by September 21, 2026. Payment is contingent upon a 14-day inspection and verification period following delivery to ensure all items comply with the specified technical standards. While the Freefly Systems Alta X and Alta X2 are noted as Blue UAS List approved platforms with existing certified brackets, equivalent products may be proposed if they meet all salient characteristics.