R--Design and fabrication of drop release system.
Contract Overview
Solicitation details, issuing organization, response deadlines, documents, and interested companies for this government contract opportunity.
AI Contract Overview
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) plans to negotiate a purchase order with Drone Amplified, located in Lincoln, NE, for the design and fabrication of a pilot-controlled ejection system designed to release a scientific payload from an uncrewed aerial system (UAS) under emergency conditions. This system must seamlessly integrate with proprietary flight control software used on Department of the Interior-approved UAS, ensuring reliable interpretation of release commands without interfering with the aircraft’s flight control logic. Drone Amplified is identified as the sole source capable of providing this technology due to their exclusive access to and development authority over the necessary proprietary software, making the drop-release mechanism a critical flight system component that no other vendor can replicate or interface with safely. This notice of intent serves to comply with FAR Subpart 5.203 and is not a solicitation for competitive quotes, though capable parties may submit capability statements for consideration. The acquisition will be conducted under FAR Part 12, governing commercial products and services, with the relevant NAICS code 541490 for Other Specialized Design Services and a size standard of $13.5 million annually. Responses must be submitted electronically via email by June 22, 2026, with no hardcopy or SAM.gov submissions accepted. The contracting office overseeing this action is the Office of Acquisition Grants within the Department of the Interior, based in Sacramento, CA, with Tracy Huot as the primary point of contact.
General Info
Agency
NAICS
Place of Performance
CASet-Aside
Timeline
Response Deadline
Organization & Contact Information
Full Description
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), intends to negotiate a purchase order with Drone Amplified, Lincoln, NE for Design and fabrication of a pilot-controlled ejection system capable of releasing a scientific payload from an uncrewed aerial system (UAS) in emergency condition as described in the attached Statement of Work.
Award will be made in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation FAR Part 12 Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services. Drone Amplified is, to the USGS knowledge, the only source who can provide this as Drone Amplified is the sole vendor with access to, and development authority over, the proprietary flight control software used on Department of the Interiors approved Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS). The emergency drop-release mechanism must integrate seamlessly with hardware and software to ensure that all release commands are interpreted reliably and that no conflicts are introduced into the aircrafts flight control logic. Because the control software governs both piloted and autonomous flight modes, any hardware that interfaces with it becomes part of a flight critical system. No other vendor possesses the technical capability, proprietary interface access, or software level insight needed to design a drop-release device that will operate safely within this closed ecosystem.
The purpose of this notice is to satisfy the requirements of FAR Subpart 5.203. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes. However, all responsible parties may submit a capability statement by the closing date of this announcement which shall be considered by the agency. No solicitation will be issued. A determination not to compete this action based upon responses received is in the sole discretion of the Government.
The NAICS code for this action is 541490 Other Specialized Design Services, with the associated size standard of $13.5 million annually.
Responses or inquiries shall only be accepted through electronic mail addressed to tracy_huot@ios.doi.gov and must be uploaded and received in their entirety no later than 06/22/2026 1700 PD. Responses submitted by hardcopy or the SAM.gov portal shall not be accepted or considered.