Unmanned Logistics System - Air (ULS-A) Request for Prototype Proposals under GVS OTA

The U.S. Army Armament Research Development, and Engineering Center (ARDEC) intends to issue a Request for Prototype Proposal (RPP) for Autonomous Unmanned Logistics System (ULS-A) program of record under the Ground Vehicle Systems Other Transaction Agreement (GVS OTA), W15QKN-17-9-1025. The GVS OTA was awarded under the authority of 10 U.S.C. - 2371b, Section 815 of the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act, P.L 114-92. The Government is seeking development and demonstration of prototype autonomous Group 1,2, and 3 Unmanned Logistics System - Air (ULS-A) that weigh between 55 and 1320 pounds Gross Vehicle Take-Off Weight (GVTOW). The need for the system includes the ability to perform a logistics distribution mission at the tactical edge for resupplying forward deployed ground forces. The underpinning concept of operation for the mission is a request for supplies submitted by forward deployed forces through a common digital handheld device. The source of supply loads a ULS-A, then launches the aircraft to the location identified by the handheld and flies to the resupply location autonomously. The intent is to mature a concept using multiple prototype systems and integrate a Government owned autonomy package onboard the different platforms. This program will also prove out the feasibility of the governing structure of a future program of record where the platform providers integrate with a government provided autonomy and mission systems software package. The overall objective of this effort is to develop and demonstrate a platform agnostic ULS-A autonomy package that can be seamlessly integrated into various systems. The autonomy system should enable fully autonomous operations to include take off / landing designation, obstacle collision avoidance, operations in GPS-denied environments, and land near smoke/signal/beacon/waypoint. The software should be able to convey relevant statistics and data (such as mission progress, current position, total task time, health monitoring, etc.) back to the controller of the system. Follow-on Production: There will be no follow-on production contract/OTA as a result of this prototype effort. NOTE: This Special Notice is for informational purposes only. A prototype project will not be awarded in response to this announcement. The purpose of this announcement is to provide members of the National Advanced Mobility Consortium (NAMC), and industry in general, advanced notification of the Government's intent to release an RPP to the NAMC membership. The RPP will be issued to the NAMC's Administrative Agent, the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS), who will then issue the RPP to the NAMC. For information on the NAMC and/or how to become a member, visit the following website: http://defensemobility.org/.