Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) Operations and Data Collection

The contract involves conducting FAA-compliant unmanned aircraft systems operations from moving vessels to capture high-resolution imagery of gray whales for scientific analysis of their health and behavior. All flights must adhere to federal aviation regulations and be meticulously planned to ensure safety, regulatory compliance, and optimal data collection under dynamic marine conditions. The operations require specialized equipment and trained personnel capable of safely launching and recovering drones in open water environments while navigating vessel movement, weather variability, and marine mammal proximity. Data collected through these airborne surveys must be securely transferred and stored to maintain integrity for scientific use, ensuring that imagery and associated metadata are protected from unauthorized access or loss. The work is classified under NAICS code 541370, indicating it falls within the scientific consulting services sector, and is issued as a subcontract by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under the U.S. Department of Commerce. Proposals must be submitted by the specified deadline in August 2026, with performance expected to occur in marine locations to be determined, requiring flexibility and adaptability in operational planning and execution.