Presolicitation
Request for Information - Small Uncrewed Aerial System (sUAS) Capabilities
Department of Defense · Department of the Air Force
AI summaryThe Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) small uncrewed aerial system (sUAS) program office at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, is asking industry for information on five areas: hardware, software, communications, sensors and kinetics. These are being considered for five missions, such as long range and medium range One Way Attack (OWA), air interdiction, air launched effects, and medium range intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). SAM.gov lists the response due date as November 30, 2026, 6:00 PM Eastern; the Statements of Objectives (SOOs, which state goals rather than detailed tasks) are informational only. More in the summary
Market research, not a bid. Replying is free and tells Department of the Air Force who could do this work. Send a short reply to the contracting contact; no price is needed. See the contact
AI summary Beta
This summary may miss requirements: 2 of 7 attachments weren't read (Att 1 - Vendor Question Log.xlsx, Att 2 - Market Research Focus Questions - 2026.xlsx). Check the attachments on SAM.gov.
The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) small uncrewed aerial system (sUAS) program office at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, is asking industry for information on five areas: hardware, software, communications, sensors and kinetics. These are being considered for five missions, such as long range and medium range One Way Attack (OWA), air interdiction, air launched effects, and medium range intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). SAM.gov lists the response due date as November 30, 2026, 6:00 PM Eastern; the Statements of Objectives (SOOs, which state goals rather than detailed tasks) are informational only.
Who can bid
- All drones and critical drone components must comply with section 848 of the FY 2020 NDAA (Public Law 116-92)
- Domestically produced communications systems, sensors and kinetic solutions
- Compliance with applicable FAA regulations and safety standards, and with applicable security requirements
Things to watch (5)
From the version posted Oct 20, 2026.
- Serious: Drone parts must meet NDAA section 848. All drones and critical drone components must comply with section 848 of the FY 2020 NDAA, which can rule out suppliers using covered foreign parts.
- Worth checking: Two spreadsheets attached but not read. Att 1 Vendor Question Log and Att 2 Market Research Focus Questions are attached on SAM.gov but were not read; they may hold the response questions and format.
- Worth checking: Production-ready within 6 months of award. Systems must be production-ready within 6 months of contract award, which favors firms with mature products.
Show all 5Show fewer
- Worth checking: Kinetic payloads must meet safe and arm rules. The kinetics line asks for payloads that meet stringent Air Force safe and arm requirements, which adds weapons safety and export-control burdens.
- Minor: Information request only. The Statements of Objectives say they are for information and the Government may modify or cancel the effort at any time.
Read from the notice and 5 attachments. 2 of 7 not read. Show which files.
- Att 3 - SOO - RPRD Hardware.pdf (read)
- Att 4 - SOO - RPRD Software.pdf (read)
- Att 5 - SOO - RPRD Communications.pdf (read)
- Att 6 - SOO - RPRD Sensors.pdf (read)
- Att 7 - SOO - RPRD Kinetics.pdf (read)
- Att 1 - Vendor Question Log.xlsx: not read (the AI doesn't read this file type yet): open it on SAM.gov
- Att 2 - Market Research Focus Questions - 2026.xlsx: not read (the AI doesn't read this file type yet): open it on SAM.gov
Full summary
What they want
- Hardware: commercially or near-commercially available sUAS, including propulsion, in Group 1 (up to 20 pounds), Group 2 (20-55 pounds) and Group 3 (55-1,320 pounds)
- Software: mature, production-ready sUAS software for Group 2 and Group 3 platforms, with autonomy, command and control, and cybersecurity
- Communications: domestically produced data link and radio systems for Group 1, 2 and 3 sUAS
- Sensors: domestically produced sensor systems for Group 1, 2 and 3 sUAS
- Kinetics: domestically produced kinetic (weapon payload) solutions on sUAS, meeting Air Force safe and arm requirements
- Production-ready systems or software available within 6 months of contract award
- Compliance with section 848 of the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for all drones and critical drone components
- Security and anti-tamper protection, cybersecurity, sustainment, exportability and swarming autonomy as key performance parameters
- Place of performance
- Wright Patterson AFB, OH, USA (SAM.gov)
- Estimated value
- Not stated
- Offers due
- Nov 30, 2026, 6:00 PM Eastern
What to include when you submit
- Software: describe your technical approach and design, development and testing method, schedule and milestones, risk management plan, cybersecurity plan, sustainment plan, exportability plan and cost estimate
- Sensors: describe the proposed system and how it meets the key performance parameters (KPPs) and key system attributes (KSAs), a plan to reach production in 6 months, your experience, a preliminary cost estimate and any limitations
- Communications: describe innovative solutions that meet or exceed the desired outcomes and KPPs and KSAs
- Use the two attached spreadsheets, Att 1 Vendor Question Log and Att 2 Market Research Focus Questions, which were attached but not read here
Not in the notice text
- Att 1 - Vendor Question Log.xlsx and Att 2 - Market Research Focus Questions - 2026.xlsx are attached but not read; they may hold the response questions, so check them on SAM.gov.
- How to send a response (email address or portal) is not stated in the text read.
- The NAICS code is blank on SAM.gov, and no set-aside is used.
- Contract type, value and period of performance are not stated.
- Whether a solicitation will follow this request for information is not stated.
Eligibility and how to respond
- No set-aside. Any business can reply: this is market research, and no bid is being taken yet.
- To respond, send a short reply to the contracting contact near the top of this page. No price is needed.
Notice details
- Posted
- Oct 20, 2026
- Notice type
- Presolicitation
- Office
- FA8629 AFLCMC WISK Sof/PR, Wright Patterson AFB, OH
- Product/service code
- 1550 · Unmanned Aircraft
- Business type
- Aircraft, ship & vehicle parts (FedReady's grouping, from product/service code 1550)
- Attachments
Past awards and competition
Who has won work like this before, the likely incumbent, and what similar contracts paid, from USAspending.gov.
Before you respond
Terms on this notice: Solicitation
Full notice text from SAM.gov
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