Unmanned Aircraft

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is pursuing a sole-source procurement under FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures for the Skydio R10 drone from Atlantic Diving Supply, located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, as the sole authorized government reseller of this specific unmanned aircraft system. The acquisition is justified under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) as a brand-name requirement due to the Skydio R10's unique 360-degree AI-powered collision avoidance and fly-and-forget autonomous capabilities, which are not available from any other U.S.-based manufacturer and are critical for safe law enforcement operations in complex, obstructed environments. The estimated contract value is $158,340 under a firm-fixed-price purchase order, with delivery scheduled for August 30, 2026, at the contractor’s location. The procurement follows a non-competitive process based on a determination that no other sources can meet the essential technical and regulatory requirements, including compliance with the National Defense Authorization Act. The solicitation process is governed by FAR 5.207(c)(16)(ii), which allows potential vendors to submit a capability statement to demonstrate their ability to meet the requirement, though the DEA retains full discretion to proceed without competition regardless of responses. Submissions must be received electronically by May 22, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time through the designated contracting officer, Kenny J. Douangmala. No formal request for quotation has been issued, and the acquisition does not involve competitive evaluation factors, trade-off analyses, or line-item breakdowns. The NAICS code 336411 applies, and while no formal contract clauses, packaging specifications, inspection criteria, or payment details are provided in the notice, the contracting officer has certified the price as fair and reasonable. Atlantic Diving Supply is the only eligible vendor, and no small business set-asides or socioeconomic qualifications are applicable. The lack of detailed clauses or administrative provisions reflects the streamlined nature of the simplified acquisition process, with the sole source justification serving as the primary governing document.