The Air Force Research Laboratory
(AFRL), Information Directorate, in Rome, N.Y., has a requirement to
provide a focused yet flexible, rapid, agile contracting vehicle
between the AFRL, its products centers, and the operational community
to support rapid research, development, prototyping, demonstration,
evaluation, and transition of Counter small Unmanned Aircraft System
(C-sUAS) capabilities.
“These capabilities are to be used in
combating Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) small Unmanned Aircraft
Systems—and others leveraging COTS technology—presently being
used by our adversaries in asymmetric warfare against U.S. military
personnel and materiel,” the Air Force said in contract documents
released in December. “Emphasis will be placed on: a) development
of technology capability solutions that address specific user
requirements; b) delivery of prototype technologies for evaluation
and feedback in the context of the user’s operational environment;
c) provision of a mechanism for user acquisition of limited product
quantities required for operational introduction of technologies.
Anticipated deliverables include software, hardware, technical
documentation and technical reports.”
The government anticipates a single
award Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity research and
development contract with Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee Completion Task Orders,
an ordering period of 72 months, and a maximum ordering amount of
approximately $490 million.
“In order to meet the users’
critical schedule to combat the UAS threat, and due to the required
synchronicity and top level systems engineering between both the new
capabilities to be developed and changes to fielded software
baseline, this IDIQ is intended to be a single award,” the Air
Force said in response to questions from contractors interested in
bidding on the contract. The government anticipates a contract award
in September.
