Request for Information (RFI) / Containerized Payload Capabilities

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Containerized Payload Capabilities 

1. PURPOSE

The Department of the Navy (DON), Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Robotic and Autonomous Systems (DRPM RAS), is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) to conduct market research regarding containerized payload capabilities.  

The purpose of this RFI is to:

1. Identify the realm of the possible for containerized payload capabilities that will provide operational utility to the Fleet; and
2. Characterize the physical, electrical, data, communications, thermal, and other interfaces required by those capabilities to inform future approaches for simplifying payload integration across Naval afloat / ashore enterprise. 

The Government is intentionally not prescribing specific payload capabilities or detailed performance requirements through this RFI. DRPM RAS seeks industry’s perspective on what is possible, including capabilities the Government may not currently be considering.

The Government is interested in existing products, adaptations of existing technologies, and technically feasible concepts that could be demonstrated, produced affordably, and delivered at scale on an accelerated timeline.

Information obtained through this RFI will inform Fleet engagement, budgeting, experimentation, demonstrations, prize challenges, prototyping efforts, follow-on market research, requirements development, and potential future acquisition activities.

2. BACKGROUND

Robotic and autonomous systems have the potential to increase the reach, persistence, capacity, and distribution of naval capabilities while reducing risk to personnel and high-value platforms. The Department of the Navy is pursuing opportunities to accelerate the development, integration, acquisition, and fielding of RAS capabilities responsive to Fleet operational needs.

A key opportunity is the ability to rapidly add, exchange, and scale mission capabilities without requiring each payload to be designed around a single purpose-built platform. Containerized payloads may provide a means to separate mission capability from the underlying host platform, enabling the DON to more rapidly integrate new technologies, interchange capabilities among suitable platforms, and increase operational capacity through distributed employment at scale.

DRPM RAS is therefore seeking industry’s perspective on the breadth of capabilities that could be delivered in a containerized form factor. The Government seeks to understand not only what is commercially or operationally available today, but also what could reasonably be adapted, developed, or demonstrated on an accelerated timeline.

The Government also seeks to better understand the host-platform interfaces and services required to support a broad range of containerized capabilities. Understanding common requirements for power, data, communications, thermal management, mechanical interfaces, and other services—as well as existing commercial, maritime, and military interface standards—may enable the Government to simplify future integration and reduce platform-specific engineering.

DRPM RAS intends to use the information received to develop a broad portfolio of potential capabilities for consideration by Fleet stakeholders. Fleet interest may subsequently inform more focused technical exchanges, RFIs, demonstrations, prototyping activities, requirements development, and acquisition efforts.

Of particular interest are capabilities that can be produced affordably and at scale on an accelerated timeline, with the objective of enabling delivery of meaningful quantities.

3. DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS / GUARDRAILS

The Government is particularly interested in containerized payload concepts that, to the greatest extent practicable:

• Utilize a standard 20-foot and/or 40-foot ISO container form factor;
• Are platform agnostic, minimizing platform-specific integration and enabling employment from multiple suitable host platforms;
• Support remote operation and Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA)/open interfaces, as applicable;
• Are capable of being produced affordably and employed at scale; and
• Are available today or could reasonably be demonstrated, produced, and delivered on an accelerated timeline.

These characteristics are intended to guide, rather than unnecessarily constrain, industry responses. Respondents should not exclude a potentially valuable capability solely because it does not meet every desired characteristic. Significant deviations, limitations, or host-platform dependencies should instead be identified in the response.

The maritime operating environment (afloat and ashore) should be considered the baseline for proposed concepts and interfaces.

4. INFORMATION REQUESTED

Respondents are invited to identify one or more containerized payload capability concepts that could provide operational value to the Fleet.

The Government encourages respondents to submit multiple concepts and prioritizes breadth of relevant ideas over detailed engineering descriptions at this stage.

For each capability concept, provide the following information:

4.1 Capability / Operational Effect

Briefly describe:

• The proposed capability;
• The operational effect or mission function it enables; and
• How the capability could provide value when employed from a robotic, autonomous, or other maritime platform or shore site. 

Respondents are specifically encouraged to identify capabilities that the Government may not currently be considering.

Concepts are not limited to currently fielded products. Respondents may identify existing capabilities, adaptations of existing technologies, developmental capabilities, or technically feasible concepts that could reasonably be matured within the Government’s desired timeframe.

4.2 Host-Platform Interfaces / Umbilicals

Identify the interfaces and services required from the host platform to operate the proposed capability.

As applicable, provide:

• Electrical power: AC/DC, voltage, phase/frequency, continuous and peak power requirements;
• Data: required interfaces/protocols, approximate bandwidth, and physical medium such as copper or fiber;
• Communications/RF: external antenna, RF, SATCOM, PNT/GPS, or other connectivity requirements;
• Thermal management: ventilation, cooling, chilled water, or other heat-rejection requirements;
• Mechanical/physical interfaces: mounting or other significant physical integration requirements;
• Grounding and bonding requirements;
• Other services: fuel, fluids, compressed air, seawater, drainage, exhaust, or other external services, as applicable; and
• Any additional connection or equipment external to the container required for operation of the capability.

Where applicable, identify existing commercial, maritime, military, or other industry-standard connectors, interfaces, protocols, or specifications currently used or recommended for these connections.

Respondents are encouraged to identify interface approaches that minimize host-platform modification and facilitate rapid installation, removal, replacement, and interchange of containerized payloads in a maritime environment.

4.3 Maturity / Availability

Identify whether the capability:

• Is available or demonstrable today;
• Requires adaptation or integration of existing technology; or
• Requires additional development.

Provide the earliest date at which a representative capability could be demonstrated and, if different, the earliest date at which production units could reasonably begin delivery.

Detailed Technology Readiness Level documentation is not requested.

4.4 Container / Physical Footprint

Identify whether the capability can reasonably be accommodated within a standard:

• 20-foot ISO container;
• 40-foot ISO container

Identify significant external components, topside equipment, or other installation requirements, if applicable.

Approximate payload weight and significant size/weight limitations should be provided if known.

4.5 Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) Cost

Provide a Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) cost for the proposed capability for Government planning and budgeting purposes.

Respondents may identify significant assumptions affecting ROM estimates.

Detailed certified cost or pricing data is not requested.

4.6 Production Capacity / Ramp-Up

Describe the respondent’s ability to produce the proposed capability at scale.

5. RESPONSE FORMAT

The Government’s objective is to obtain a broad range of capability ideas and associated planning information rather than lengthy technical proposals.

Respondents may submit multiple capability concepts. Responses may be provided using tables, capability cards, slides, or another concise format that efficiently communicates the requested information.

For each proposed capability, respondents should provide, at minimum:

Capability / Operational Effect | Interfaces / Umbilicals | Maturity / Availability | Container Size | ROM Cost | Production Capacity 

Respondents are encouraged to prioritize breadth of capability concepts over extensive technical detail.  Note: emails exceeding 20MB in size (to include attachments) may be rejected by the Government’s email servers.

Responses should not exceed 5 pages/slides, excluding a cover page and optional supporting information.

Respondents should provide:

• Company/organization name;
• Business size/status, if applicable;
• CAGE Code and Unique Entity ID, if applicable;
• Primary point of contact;
• Email address and telephone number; and
• Identification of relevant partners or teaming organizations, if applicable.

6. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

Responses shall be submitted electronically no later than 9/25/2026 at 5:00 PM PDT to contact@example.gov and:

CAPT Samuel Hallock
DRPM RAS

contact@example.gov

The email subject line should read:

“DRPM RAS Containerized Payload RFI”

Questions regarding this RFI shall be submitted in writing to CAPT Samuel Hallock at contact@example.gov no later than 9/17/2026 at 5:00 PM PDT.  The Government reserves the right to review and consider submitted questions but is under no legal or administrative obligation to provide responses, answers, or clarifications to questions submitted regarding this RFI.

All responses shall be UNCLASSIFIED. Respondents shall not submit classified information in response to this RFI.

Respondents should clearly mark proprietary, confidential commercial, or competition-sensitive information contained within their responses. Components that are marked proprietary must be accompanied by a reason for the markings.

Proprietary information, if any, should be minimized and must be clearly marked. To aid the Government, please segregate proprietary information. Please be advised that all submissions become Government property and will not be returned. If any respondent does not currently have a Proprietary Data Protection Agreement (PDPA) that would permit the DRPM RAS support contractors listed below to review white papers submitted in response to this RFI, the respondent is requested to sign PDPAs with these support contractors for this purpose. The following is a list of support contractor Points of Contacts who will review the responses.

• Booz Allen Hamilton
  • Kimberly Stanford, contact@example.gov
  • Nina Taylor, contact@example.gov

7. DISCLAIMER

This RFI is issued solely for information, market research, and planning purposes. It does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), Request for Quotation (RFQ), Invitation for Bid (IFB), solicitation, or promise to issue a future solicitation.

The Government does not presently intend to award a contract on the basis of this RFI and is not requesting proposals. Responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract.

This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any supply or service. The Government will not pay for information submitted in response to this RFI or reimburse respondents for costs incurred in preparing or submitting a response.

Information obtained through this RFI may be used by the Government for market research, planning, budgeting, requirements development, acquisition strategy development, experimentation, prototyping, or other Government purposes, subject to applicable protections for properly marked proprietary information.

Participation in this RFI is voluntary and is not required to participate in any potential future solicitation or acquisition activity. Failure to respond to this RFI will not preclude participation in any future acquisition, if conducted.

The Government may contact respondents for clarification or additional information regarding their submissions. Any future acquisition activity resulting from this market research will be conducted in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies.