Advanced Communications Experiment – Cross-border Autonomous Vehicle Session Persistence Experiment and Research

Request for Information (RFI)

This RFI is issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Procurement Operations (OPO) on behalf of the Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate, Office of Mission and Capability Support (MCS). It is solely for market research and planning purposes for the "Critical Infrastructure Security Resilience Research" program. DHS intends to use this RFI to identify participants for a multi-day experiment along the U.S.-Canada border in late fall 2026, focusing on the "Advanced Communications Experiment – Cross-border Autonomous Vehicle Session Persistence Experiment and Research (ACE-CASPER)". This RFI does not constitute a solicitation or commitment to contract, and DHS will not pay for any costs incurred in responding or participating.

The ACE-CASPER experiment aims to evaluate the operational readiness and technological capabilities of 5G Session Persistence and 5G connectivity with Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Autonomous Vehicles (AV) in a cross-border emergency scenario. The experiment will demonstrate:

• Secure, resilient 5G session persistence across U.S. and Canadian networks.
• Seamless command and control (C2) handoff and real-time data interoperability.
• Operational readiness validation for DHS and Canadian partners in cross-border coordination.
• Bi-national response coordination using enhanced, real-time situational awareness tools. The primary focus is validating reliable 5G connectivity, session persistence, and command-and-control performance, not autonomous decision-making.

No financial contracts will be awarded based on this RFI. Selected participants may be asked to sign a Limited Purpose Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (LP-CRADA).

• Responses must be submitted via email to NGFR@hq.dhs.gov by May 8, 2026, 5:00 p.m. EST.

• Submissions must complete the required information request in the attached RFI document and may include an optional 5-page whitepaper.

• Do not submit acquisition proposals; submit participation applications.

• Responses will be reviewed by Government technical experts.

• NAICS code: 541712 – Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology).

• Product Service Code: 1550 - "Unmanned Aircraft".

• Only U.S. or Canadian Government personnel will participate in the final selection process.

• The experiment will take place along the U.S.-Canada border.

• Information provided is subject to change and is not binding.

• Not responding to this RFI does not preclude future participation in a solicitation.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document outlines the 2026 Advanced Communications Experiment – Cross-border Autonomous Vehicle Session Persistence Experiment and Research (ACE-CASPER). The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), in collaboration with Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), is hosting this experiment to simulate a national emergency response scenario along the U.S.-Canada border. The primary objective is to evaluate the operational readiness and technological capabilities of 5G Session Persistence and 5G connectivity with Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Autonomous Vehicles (AV) in a cross-border emergency scenario. The experiment aims to demonstrate secure, resilient 5G connectivity, real-time situational awareness, and seamless interoperability between U.S. and Canadian networks. It is not a contract award, and no money will be exchanged; selected organizations will enter into a Limited Purpose Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (LP-CRADA).

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS):

• UAS platforms directly connected to 5G networks.
• Support for single-SIM or multi-SIM configurations.
• Live high-definition video feed.
• Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capability.
• Range up to 5 km (3 miles).
• Flight ceiling of 100 meters (330 feet).
• Beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) control.
• Payload delivery not to exceed 5 lbs.
• Key components: 5G modem (3GPP Release 18+ SA), airframe, propulsion, avionics, communication systems, and payload (e.g., cameras, sensors).
• Minimum 30 minutes of flight time, including cold weather.
• Command and Control (C2) capabilities for navigation, surveillance, and payload management.
• Detect and Avoid (DAA) system capabilities for hazard warnings and collision avoidance.
• FAA Part 107 and Part 135 certification for pilot operators.

Autonomous Vehicles (AV):

• Autonomous, semi-autonomous, or remotely supervised operation.
• 5G connectivity for command and control, session persistence, route coordination, and data sharing.
• Terrestrial coverage up to 5 kilometers (3 miles).
• Beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) control.
• Live high-definition video feeds.
• Key components: 5G modem (3GPP Release 18+ SA), AV frame, propulsion, avionics, communication systems, and payload.
• Battery life parameters related to distance and time.
• Command and Control (C2) capabilities for navigation, sensing, and payload operations.
• Detect and Avoid (DAA) alerting system.

General Requirements:

• Technology solutions must be integrated into a larger system of first responders and border technology.

• Hardware and/or software integration is required.

• Solutions should work with existing public safety infrastructure.

• This is not a contract award; no money will be exchanged.

• Participants will enter into a Limited Purpose Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (LP-CRADA).

• Submission Deadline: May 8, 2026, 5:00 p.m. EST.

• Submission Method: Email completed forms (Attachment 1) and optional 5-page whitepaper to NGFR@hq.dhs.gov.

• Prototype Availability: No later than May 29, 2026.

• Evaluation: Focus on organizations that complete the application and describe integration capabilities using open standards, and technology solutions compatible with existing infrastructure.

• Organizations with TRL 6+ technologies in UAS or AV.

• Key Dates: Prototype due May 29, 2026; Dry Run Late Fall 2026; Final Experiment November 2026.

• Participation offers an opportunity to showcase technology to DHS S&T, DRDC, and public safety stakeholders.

• Hardware and/or software integration is required.

• Collaboration on integration begins Spring 2026, with an integration test event in Late Fall 2026.

• Option to leave technology prototypes/licenses for extended evaluation (up to six months) after the experiment.

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document outlines the 2026 Advanced Communications Experiment Cross-border Autonomous Vehicle Session Persistence Experiment and Research (ACE-CASPER), hosted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) in collaboration with Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC). The experiment aims to evaluate the operational readiness and technological capabilities of 5G Session Persistence and 5G connectivity with Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Autonomous Vehicles (AV) in a cross-border emergency scenario. The primary objective is to demonstrate secure, resilient 5G connectivity, real-time situational awareness, and seamless interoperability between U.S. and Canadian networks. Autonomous decision-making or AI-driven navigation is not required; the focus is on validating 5G connectivity, session persistence, and command-and-control performance.

Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS):

• UAS platforms capable of connecting to 5G networks, supporting vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL).
• Support for single-SIM or multi-SIM configurations.
• Provide live high-definition video feed.
• Pilot operators must hold FAA Part 107 and Part 135 Certification.
• Range up to 5 km (3 miles), flight ceiling of 100 meters (330 feet).
• Beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) control.
• Payload delivery not to exceed 5 lbs.
• Key components: 5G modem (3GPP Release 18+ SA), airframe, propulsion, avionics, communication, and payload (e.g., EO/IR cameras, environmental sensors).
• Minimum 30 minutes flight duration preferred.
• Command and Control (C2) capabilities for navigation, surveillance, and payload operations.
• Detect and Avoid (DAA) system capabilities for collision avoidance.

Autonomous Vehicles (AV):

• Vehicles capable of autonomous, semi-autonomous, or remotely supervised operation, including BVLOS control.
• Use 5G for command and control, safe operations, session persistence, route coordination, alerting, and real-time data sharing.
• Provide live high-definition video feeds.
• Terrestrial coverage up to 5 kilometers (3 miles).
• Key components: 5G modem (3GPP Release 18+ SA), AV frame, propulsion, avionics, communication, and payload.
• Battery life parameters related to distance, time, and failover.
• Command and Control (C2) capabilities for navigation, sensing, and payload operations.
• Detect and Avoid (DAA) alerting system.

General Requirements:

• Technologies must be TRL 6+.

• Prototypes must be available no later than May 29, 2026.

• Participants must be willing to integrate their solutions with other technologies.

• Solutions should work with existing public safety infrastructure; replacement of large systems is not practical.

• This is NOT a contract award. Selected organizations will enter into a Limited Purpose Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (LP-CRADA) with the Government.

• No money will be exchanged.

• DHS S&T provides the test environment; organizations use it and share data.

• DHS will not be liable for damage to technology solutions.

• Submission Deadline: May 8, 2026, 5:00 p.m. EST.

• Submission Method: Email completed forms (Attachment 1) and optional 5-page whitepaper to NGFR@hq.dhs.gov.

• Subject Line: "(Org Name) Application – 2026 ACE-CASPER Experiment".

• Evaluation: Priority will be given to organizations that fully complete the application and describe integration capabilities using open standards, and to technology solutions that work with existing infrastructure.

• Organizations with TRL 6+ technologies in UAS or AV.

• No specific set-aside mentioned.

• Participation offers an opportunity to showcase technology to DHS S&T, DRDC, and public safety stakeholders.

• Key Dates: Prototype due May 29, 2026; Dry Run Late Fall 2026; Final Experiment November 2026.

• Collaboration on integration begins Spring 2026; integration test event in Late Fall 2026.

• Option to leave technology prototypes/licenses with first responders for up to six months post-experiment.

• Proprietary information must be clearly marked.

Request for Information (RFI)

This RFI is issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Procurement Operations (OPO) on behalf of the DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), Office of Mission and Capability Support (MCS). It is for market research and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation or commitment to contract. DHS intends to use this RFI to seek participants for a multi-day experiment along the U.S.-Canada border in late fall 2026, simulating a national emergency response scenario.

• Program Name: Critical Infrastructure Security Resilience Research

• Managing Program Office: Office of Mission and Capability Support (MCS)

• NAICS Codes: 541712 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences, except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)

• Product Service Codes: 1550 (Unmanned Aircraft)

• Objective: To evaluate the operational readiness and technological capabilities of 5G Session Persistence and 5G connectivity with Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Autonomous Vehicles (AV) in a cross-border emergency scenario.

• Demonstrations: The experiment will demonstrate secure, resilient 5G session persistence across U.S. and Canadian networks, seamless command and control (C2) handoff, real-time data interoperability, operational readiness validation for DHS and Canadian components, and bi-national response coordination.

• Focus: The primary focus is validating reliable 5G connectivity, session persistence, and command-and-control performance. Vehicle autonomy level is secondary.

• Submission Deadline: May 8, 2026, 5:00 p.m. EST.

• Submission Method: Email to NGFR@hq.dhs.gov.

• Content: Submit participation applications, including required information and an optional 5-page whitepaper. DO NOT SUBMIT PROPOSALS.

• Note: Submitting an application does not guarantee participation. Selected participants may be asked to sign a Limited Purpose Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (LP-CRADA).

• Responses will be reviewed by Government technical experts.

• The Government may meet with respondents but is not obligated to do so.

• Government support contractors may be involved in the evaluation process, requiring Non-Disclosure Agreements.

• This RFI is for information and planning only.

• DHS will not pay for any costs incurred in responding to this RFI or participating in events.

• Not responding does not preclude future participation if a solicitation is issued.

• Information provided is subject to change and is not binding.

Form / Attachment / Pricing Sheet

This document is the ACE-CASPER Submission Form, intended for organizations to provide detailed information about their capabilities and readiness for a potential opportunity. It serves as a structured way for bidders to present their technical solutions and organizational capacity to the government.

• Organization Information: Name, type, state/country of incorporation, parent corporation details, DUNS/Cage Code.
• Contact Information: Principal place of business, preferred contact, legal counsel details.
• Technology Solution Information: Details on capability gaps addressed (UAS, AV, 5G Core/RAN), integration commitment, prototype availability, system name/description, hardware/software, current and expected Technology Readiness Level (TRL), technical dependencies, interfaces, prior testing, performance metrics, organizational goals for participation (e.g., demonstrating technical readiness, gaining user feedback), and staff availability for various stages (integration test, dry run, final experiment, bi-weekly calls).
• Instructions: Submit completed forms to NGFR@hq.dhs.gov by May 8, 2026, 5:00 p.m. EST. An optional 5-page whitepaper can be attached. Proprietary information must be clearly marked.

This form is critical for bidders to detail their proposed solutions and organizational readiness. Completing this form accurately and thoroughly will be essential for demonstrating technical capabilities, commitment, and capacity to meet potential program requirements. The submission deadline and contact information are key logistical details for participation.