Request for Information (RFI) for Long Range Heavy Lift Unmanned Logistics Systems-Air (ULS-A)

UPDATE [27 JUNE 2025]: The Government has determined to seek an Other Transaction (OT) prototype project pursuant to the authority at 10 USC 4022. A Statement of Need has been published to the Naval Aviation Systems Consortium (NASC) as of 27 June 2025. The Government intends to utilize the Other Transaction Authority (OTA) process through the NASC. All interested parties are advised to join the consortium through the following website: https://nascsolutions.tech/. All future communications regarding this requirement will be made via NASC.

DISCLAIMER

THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL; YET IS A MARKET RESEARCH TOOL TO DETERMINE POTENTIAL FIRMS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE SUPPLIES DESCRIBED HEREIN PRIOR TO AN ISSUANCE OF A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT OBLIGATED TO AND WILL NOT PAY FOR ANY INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM POTENTIAL SOURCES AS A RESULT OF THIS RFI. THIS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF ANY KIND. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT OR NON-FAR BASED AGREEMENT (E.G. OTHER TRANSACTION) AS A RESULT OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY. FAILURE TO SUBMIT A RESPONSE WILL NOT PREVENT A COMPANY FROM PARTICIPATION IN ANY FUTURE COMPETETION RELATED TO THE UNMANNED LOGISTICS SYSTEMS-AIR (ULS-A) PROGRAM.

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aviation and Strike Weapons (PEO (U&W)), Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Office (PMA-263) at Patuxent River, MD is conducting market research to determine the amount of responsible sources that have the capability, experience, facilities, and potential solutions for a long range heavy lift cargo Unmanned Logistics Systems Air (ULS-A) for use by the United States Marine Corps, capable of providing cargo aerial delivery resupply and distribution, for day and night operations in various environments. The potential solution should be ruggedized and ready to use as delivered, with minimal logistics and training support. The solution should provide real time logistics supply distribution with minimum payloads of 1,300 pounds and a minimum combat radius of 100 nautical miles (NM). The solution should be capable of autonomous launch from a small, confined area, and should be capable of an autonomous recovery within the same confined area as launch. A Ground Control Station (GCS) for the solution should be man-portable and consist of the necessary equipment to monitor the solution's position and status, control its movement, and view its real time mission conditions and progress. Industry is highly encouraged to develop innovative and efficient cargo handling solutions.

NAVAIR is considering awarding an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA), pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 4022 Authority of the Department of Defense to carry out certain prototype projects, for ULS-A in FY2026.

PLEASE SEE ATTACHMENT 1 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION RELATING TO THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION.

AMENDMENT 01: Attachment 1 updated to correct response close date to align with SAM.Gov posting.

AMENDMENT 02: Attachment 2 added to provide answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs).

AMENDMENT 03: Attachment 2 updated with additional questions and answers.