Picatinny Common Lethality Integration Kit (CLIK) Industry Day Sources Sought Notice

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE FOR THE PICATINNY COMMON LETHALITY INTEGRATION KIT (CLIK) INDUSTRY DAY INTRODUCTION The United States (U.S.) Army Contracting Command-New Jersey (ACC-NJ), Picatinny Arsenal, NJ 07806-5000, on behalf of U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Armaments Center (AC), located at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, is issuing this Sources Sought Notice (SSN) as a means of conducting Market Research to identify potential sources having an interest in supporting the Picatinny Common Lethality Integration Kit (CLIK) specification for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). The results of this Market Research will contribute to determining the scope of further development and the potential development partners. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding submissions. PROGRAM BACKGROUND The rapid proliferation of UAS presents challenges in quickly and effectively integrating diverse payloads for a variety of missions. DEVCOM AC is developing the Picatinny CLIK to address this challenge by creating a platform-agnostic interface for integrating UAS modular lethal and non-lethal payloads. Picatinny CLIK will standardize the platform and payload interface by defining physical, electrical, communication, and critical safety architecture, enabling rapid capability deployment by reducing cost and schedule for integration. The Government is seeking information to assess the feasibility of integrating Picatinny CLIK with existing and emerging UAS platforms and payloads. Accelerating the Picatinny CLIK to industry, standardizing interfaces for lethality, will increase availability of modular payloads and effects to the Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) soldiers. Picatinny CLIK is expected to transition to Project Manager Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (PM UAS) and PM Close Combat Systems (PM CCS) as the interface standard for integrating PM UAS procured small UAS platforms and PM CCS procured Lethal & Protective Payloads. TIMELINE DEVCOM AC has extensive experience providing cutting edge lethal capabilities to the warfighter through joint U.S. Government agency collaboration to inform requirements development for the future fight utilizing UAS organically. DEVCOM AC has a strong Science and Technology (S&T) presence in the domain of lethal systems, with previous efforts providing lethal component and system capabilities for small UAS. The Lethal UAS thrust area canvasses the breadth and depth of weapon and munition expertise to develop capabilities for Solider Experimentation: DEVCOM AC accelerated Lethal UAS efforts starting in 2022 for Short Range Reconnaissance small UAS. Army Futures Command has released several Directed Requirements for Lethal Unmanned Systems since December 2022. The Company Small UAS Directed Requirement requires modular mission payloads for small UAS. Market research of commercial small UAS with military utility revealed significant differences in integration between aircraft, controls, and associated payloads. DEVCOM AC, in conjunction with the Maneuver Capabilities Development and Integration Directorate (MCDID) Robotics Requirements Division (RRD) refined lethal requirements for Short, Medium and Long-Range Reconnaissance (SRR, MRR, and LRR) platforms. The Picatinny CLIK introduces a common physical interface for modular payloads and an open and scalable lethality architecture for safety and fire control. DEVCOM AC has engaged with Government and Industry to define the Picatinny CLIK interface and interoperability procedure. DEVCOM AC is now prepared to host an Industry Day to further explain utility and integration the Picatinny CLIK. REQUIRED CAPABILITIES To support the development of a common interface standard for integrating modular lethal payloads onto UAS, we are seeking information on current and emerging technologies in the following areas: modular physical interfaces (mechanical, electrical) communication protocols (data transfer, command & control) safety features interoperability Responses should address anticipated challenges and solutions related to achieving seamless and reliable integration of lethal payloads onto a variety of UAS platforms, including relevant technologies or expertise with payload interfaces. PURPOSE The rapid iteration and proliferation of UAS technology presents challenges in quickly and effectively integrating new payloads. This Sources Sought Notice and the accompanying Industry Day are designed to gather information on industry approaches to achieving interoperability between UAS platforms and modular lethal and non-lethal payloads. We are particularly interested in understanding existing and emerging standards, interface technologies, and safety considerations relevant to the Picatinny CLIK. INDUSTRY DAY #1 DEVCOM AC is hosting an in-person one day Industry Day event on 29 July 2025 covering the Picatinny CLIK specification and Lethal UAS technologies. Key stakeholders for Picatinny CLIK will be in attendance from the Government. DAY 1: The morning will consist of presentations by Picatinny CLIK Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) detailing the different aspects of the interface as well as design considerations for platforms and payloads. PM representatives are expected to brief on CLIK strategy. The afternoon will shift to a panel discussion with Government SMEs to respond to Industry questions on the current approach, as well as the benefits of creating a Platform-Payload interface specification. No competition-sensitive or vendor proprietary information and data will be released, though questions of a general nature the Government overlooked in its Industry Day presentation may be shared with all industry participants. All company information will be treated confidentially. The Government will not entertain contractor non-disclosure agreements (NDA). Industry is cordially invited to attend the Picatinny CLIK Industry Day #1 to be held: Day 1 - 29 JULY 2025: 0830 to 1130 Eastern Standard Time with check-in to begin at 0800. Location: Picatinny Arsenal (Building # to be provided) 1300 to ~1600 Eastern Standard Time Location: Picatinny Arsenal (Building # to be provided) EVENT ADMINISTRATIVE NOTES Please refrain from bringing large hardware. REGISTRATION Companies interested in attending Industry Day #1 must complete the following: Picatinny CLIK Industry Day Registration. Company Overview/Product Sheet (Maximum 2 pages, 12-point font, 3-4 pictures) Complete registration form for all participants and send Company Overviews to the Registration Point of Contact (POC), Mr. Nicholas Lacko at email: nicholas.e.lacko.civ@army.mil with the Subject Line - Response to Picatinny CLIK Industry Day #1, Company Name. Attendee substitutions will be permitted if advance notice and all required documentation is provided at least seven days before Industry Day #1. All other substitutions are prohibited. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted. Additional Requirement for Non-US/ Foreign Contractors: Non-US and Foreign Contractors are invited to participate and attend the event. A Letter of Request is required from non-U.S./ Foreign Contractors for in-person attendance. The Letter of Request and all supporting information must be submitted on company letterhead (Example - Attachment 3) to the attention of the DEVCOM AC Foreign Disclosure Office (FDO) POCs at usarmy.pica.devcom-ac.list.g2-foreign-disclosure@army.mil. Letters of Request may be submitted securely through DoD Safe Access File Exchange (SAFE) website at https://safe.apps.mil.To submit via DoD SAFE, Contractors will have to first obtain a drop-off request from the Government. DoD SAFE proposal drop off link requests for the Letter of Request are due to usarmy.pica.devcom-ac.list.g2-foreign-disclosure@army.mil by 29 June 2025. Failure to submit the requested information in time, may result in denial of entry onto Picatinny Arsenal. PRE-INDUSTRY DAY QUESTIONS Pre-Industry Day questions can be submitted in advance (before the registration cut-off) of the event. Questions and answers (Q&A) will be presented and addressed with other companies present, in an open forum during the general Q&A session. All information discussed at Industry Day will be unclassified. Please submit questions with your registration form, if you have already submitted the form please send them by 21 July 2025 by 5 p.m. Eastern Time to the Registration Point of Contact (POC), Mr. Nicholas Lacko at email: nicholas.e.lacko.civ@army.mil. ELIGIBILITY The applicable NAICS code for this requirement is 332994 with a Small Business Size Standard of 1000. The Product Service Code (PSC) is 1095. Contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database by accessing the SAM web site at http://www.sam.gov to be eligible for contract award. DISCLAIMER This Sources Sought Notice is for Informational Purposes Only. This is not a Request For Proposal (RFP) to be submitted. It does not constitute a solicitation and shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government. Responses in any form are not offers and the Government is under no obligation to award a contract as a result of this announcement. In accordance with FAR 52.215-3 request for information or solicitation for planning purposes, the Government will not pay for any costs incurred as a result of this special notice, to include any costs associated with attending the Industry Day #1 as well as any costs associated with a cancellation of this event for any reason, including but not limited to funding constraints. All information submitted in response to this special notice, or the Industry Day, shall be provided at no cost or obligation by the Government. The Government is not obligated to notify respondents of any results of the Industry Day #1. Any information submitted by respondents to this technical description is strictly voluntary and any documentation provided to the Government will not be returned.