Unmanned Aerial Systems Trials for Release of Sterile Insect Technique Navel Orangeworm

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS-PPQ) is conducting a sole-source evaluation through a Total Small Business Set-Aside to assess the viability of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) for releasing sterile Navel Orangeworm (NOW) moths as part of its Sterile Insect Technique program. The current fixed-wing aircraft method has proven ineffective, with recapture rates below 0.1 percent, while manual releases in Arizona have demonstrated significantly higher success, indicating that the issue lies in delivery methodology rather than insect quality. The initiative aims to determine whether UAS-based releases can offer improved operational efficiency, cost savings, and resilience, particularly in light of diminishing pilot availability and growing stakeholder interest in emerging technologies. The contractor will conduct eight UAS release events within an 840-acre pistachio orchard test site in Bowie, Arizona, between July 1 and October 17, 2026, with operations limited to Saturdays between noon and midnight, and no earlier than dusk. APHIS will supply the sterile moths and coordinate site access, while the contractor is solely responsible for providing all UAS equipment, release mechanisms, personnel, insurance, and compliance with FAA Part 107, NDAA Section 848, the American Security Drone Act, and USDA Directive DR3465-002. The contractor must submit two final deliverables: a comprehensive UAS Contractor Diagnostic Report detailing operational parameters such as flight altitude, speed, release rate, execution time per event, and recommendations for improvement, and supporting documentation listing APHIS-PPQ as the customer, names of personnel involved, dates of operations, and UAS models used. Payment is contingent upon full compliance with all requirements and timely submission of these deliverables. No pricing information or estimated contract value is disclosed, reflecting the evaluation’s exploratory nature. The effort is not competitive, and the procurement falls under FAR 19.5 as a Total Small Business Set-Aside, restricted to eligible small businesses with a size standard of 500 employees under NAICS code 115112. The contractor must assume full responsibility for equipment handling, biosecurity, safety, liability, and regulatory compliance, including maintaining minimum $1 million general liability insurance, and is accountable for any damage caused by negligence. All communication and approvals must flow through Todd K. Bierl as the contracting officer and Dr. Michael Garvey as the