Joint Unmanned Systems Testing in Collaborative Environments (JUSTICE) Project

The Office of Procurement Operations (OPO) on behalf of the Office of Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) hereby issues this notice of intent to award a sole source procurement. DHS OPO intends to solicit and award a sole source contract to Mississippi State University ASSURE Research and Development Corporation located at 100 Research Blvd Ste 105, Starkville, MS 39759. This is a notice of intent to solicit and award a sole source contract under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 - Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Summary of the requirement Background The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) increasingly requires dominant and persistent air domain capabilities to successfully accomplish its mission in land, maritime and cyber environments. Small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS), sUAS sensors, networked data systems, and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are rapidly becoming more prevalent as tools for homeland security operations. Deployment of sUAS is a cost-effective approach to remote collection of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance across larger, more geographically complex swaths of the homeland. DHS is committed to using cutting-edge technologies and scientific talent in its endeavor to make America safer. The DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is the Department's primary research and development arm. S&T provides federal, state and local officials with the technology and capabilities to protect the homeland. To further expand the benefits of sUAS technologies, the S&T Office of Mission and Capability Support (MCS) Air, Land, and Port of Entry (ALPOE) Program is funding efforts to develop improved sUAS capabilities that will enhance DHS Components mission performance. The Joint Unmanned Systems Testing in Collaborative Environments (JUSTICE) Project requires support services and range facility access to advance new sUAS platforms and sensor technologies that are integrated into homeland security enterprise (HSE) operators capabilities nationwide to enhance intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, search and rescue, emergency response, fire management, law enforcement, and border security missions. This project seeks to fulfill DHS's cross-Component sUAS needs by expanding the scope of the predecessor project during its work through fiscal year (FY) 2027. Scope The scope includes technical expertise in research, development, and test & evaluation (RDT&E) methodologies for the advancement of DHS air, land, maritime, and cyber sUAS capabilities. The contractor will need to meet the following minimum capabilities: Contractor shall have Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Certificate of Authorization (COA)-authorized U.S. domestic airspace which permits large (>55lb) UAS flight operations up to aircraft operational altitude including a runway of at least 5,500 sufficient to safely accommodate all variety of Group 3 - 4 UAS platforms Contractor shall have subject matter expertise and experience in the following areas: weather/maritime; flight regulation/guidance standards; guidance for autonomous systems; command, control & communications; detect and avoid (sensors); cybersecurity. Contractor has access within 30 days of award to the following Government test ranges: Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center (CSJFTC) with the authority to operate specialized exercises at the U.S. Army National Guard's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Center (UASFC) Singing River Island with the authority to operate specialized exercises with direct launch-and-recover access to the Gulf of Mexico by air and water, direct-water access with docks and ramps that support small boats to large ships, and existing U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) presence. Singing River Island with the authority to operate specialized exercises with existing water, rail, and air infrastructure, restricted airspace (designated for UAS use), and - Federal City test constructs. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) John C. Stennis Space Center. Contractor has cybersecurity vulnerability assessment capabilities. Contractor has expertise and experience in cybersecurity vulnerability assessment methods for the purposes of test and evaluations and development of government cybersecurity standards of sUAS systems. Topics of domain expertise include, but are not limited to: firmware analysis, firmware extraction, and commercial based technology exploitation. Contractor has expertise and experience in developing test and evaluation methodologies for sUAS and sUAS technologies. Contractor is able to avoid or mitigate conflicts of interest in conducting research and evaluations activities caused by involvement with and benefit from commercial and non-governmental sUAS product development or other commercial partnerships or investments. Contractor has expertise and experience in developing test and evaluation methodologies for sUAS and sUAS technologies as it relates to the HSE. Contractor currently has FAA Part 107 certified UAS pilots that can fly fixed wing and rotary wing platforms. Contractor has the ability to closely collaborate with the FAA UAS Center of Excellence. Place of Performance: The primary place of performance will be at Mississippi State University, Camp Shelby, Singing River Naval Station, and NASA Stennis Space Center, and other facilities designated by DHS S&T. Period of Performance: 60 months after date of award. Market research was performed and supports the sole source determination. A determination by the Government not to compete based upon responses to this notice is solely at the discretion of the Government. This is a notice of the intent to award a sole source contract. It is published for informational purposes only and not a request for competitive proposals. Therefore, no solicitation document exists for this requirement. Any firm believing that they can fulfill the requirement may be considered by the agency. Interested parties may identify their interest and capabilities in response to this synopsis. All questions and/or comments regarding this notice shall be addressed in writing to the Contracting Officer, Carolyn.Lethert@hq.dhs.gov or Contract Specialist Jennifer.Koons@hq.dhs.gov by July 11, 2022 by 10:00 AM Eastern. Questions by phone will not be considered.