USCG Robotics and Autonomous Systems Program Executive Office – Medium Range UAS

The U.S. Coast Guard Robotics and Autonomous Systems Program Executive Office is seeking industry input through a Request for Information to identify qualified contractors capable of providing Contractor-Owned, Contractor-Operated airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance services using Group 2 and Group 3 Unmanned Aircraft Systems across multiple cutter classes and shore-based locations in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic regions. This is a market research tool under FAR Subpart 15.101 and does not constitute a solicitation or binding commitment; no funds are available for response preparation, and the government reserves full discretion to proceed or not based on the information received. Responses must be submitted electronically by May 8, 2026, to cgras-info@uscg.mil, adhering to strict formatting rules including a 15-page limit excluding mandatory attachments that detail system performance specifications and verification matrices. All respondents must possess a current SAM Unique Entity Identifier and declare their size status under NAICS code 541370, with proprietary information requiring explicit marking and disposition instructions. The envisioned procurement structure is a single-award Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract with a potential ten-year life cycle, including a five-year base and a five-year option, to be implemented via a Basic Ordering Agreement. Technical requirements are stringent and comprehensive, mandating UAS platforms capable of operating in extreme environments including light icing, high winds, and wide temperature ranges, with minimum airspeeds of 50 KTAS and a service ceiling of 5,000 ft MSL. Systems must support EO/IR sensors meeting NIIRS 8.4 and 7.2 thresholds respectively, integrate with AIS and ADS-B, and employ AES-256 encryption and SAASM GPS under TEMPEST and MIL-STD-464C standards. Hardware must comply with UN/DOT 38.3 and NAVSEA certifications for lithium batteries, stored in vendor-supplied containers with thermal and shock mitigation, positioned outside the ship’s pressure hull. UAS paint must conform to MIL-STD-2161 for low-visibility counter-shading, and all operations must meet FAA Public Aircraft certification rules. Contractors must hold a SECRET facility security clearance, provide trained personnel with appropriate clearances, and ensure systems remain unclassified at all times. Installation, maintenance, launch, and recovery must occur within defined operational constraints, and equipment must be removable without permanent vessel modification. All submissions must be unclassified, formatted in Microsoft Office