NDAA-compliant blue list compatible UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System)

The USDA Agricultural Research Service’s Cropping Systems Research Laboratory is seeking to acquire an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) that complies with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and is compatible with the designated blue list. The UAS must be capable of capturing high-resolution RGB and thermal imagery to support the plant stress and germplasm development unit’s research activities. The solicitation is a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 334511, which covers navigational, measuring, electromedical, and control instruments manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 1,350 employees. This opportunity invites all responsible small business concerns to submit quotations for consideration. The place of performance is in Lubbock, Texas, while the agency office handling the procurement is located in Beltsville, Maryland. The response deadline is June 17, 2026. Interested parties can contact Katelyn Nelson at the USDA for further information and can access the full solicitation details through the provided government procurement workspace link. Detailed requirements and salient characteristics of the UAS begin on page 16 of the solicitation documentation.