Low-Cost Ground and Airborne Technologies to Detect, Classify, Track, and Defeat UAS-borne Threats, Request for Information
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Department of the Army is issuing a Request for Information (RFI) for Low-Cost Ground and Airborne Technologies to detect, classify, track, and defeat Unmanned Aerial System (UAS)-borne threats. This RFI seeks industry partners for innovative sensing and effector solutions suitable for immediate integration into a layered counter-UAS System-of-Systems. Responses are due March 25, 2026.
Purpose & Scope
The U.S. Government, specifically the Army Research Laboratory, is conducting market research to identify potential responsible offerors capable of providing modular, inexpensive technologies for counter-UAS operations. This RFI is not a request for competitive proposals but serves to gather capability statements from offerors who believe they can meet the stated requirements. The information gathered will help determine future acquisition strategies.
Required Technologies
The RFI focuses on two main areas:
- Sensing Solutions: Must detect, classify, and track Group 1 to Group 3 UAS. Solutions should be mature, modular, low Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP), battery-powered, and low-cost (under $3K per module in quantities of 10K+). Documented physical and electrical interfaces are required for integration. Solutions can be ground-based or suitable for Class 1 UAS platforms.
- Effector Solutions: Must disable or destroy UAS-borne threats. This can include non-kinetic soft-kill (disable, disrupt, confuse) or kinetic hard-kill (destroy) methods. Multi-kill solutions are preferred but not mandatory. Solutions can be ground-based, battery-powered (preferred), or a fully integrated counter-UAS drone with a documented wireless interface. They must also be low-cost (under $4K in quantities of 10K+).
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Request for Information (RFI) / Special Notice
- NAICS Code: 541715 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences)
- Set-Aside: None specified (NA)
- Response Due: March 25, 2026
- Published: February 23, 2026
- Place of Performance: US Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground, Adelphi, MD.
Submission & Contact
Interested parties should submit capability statements, proposals, or quotations by the response date. A determination not to compete the proposed requirement based on RFI responses is solely at the Government's discretion.
- Responses to: Kelly Bennett,
kelly.w.bennett.civ@army.mil - Primary Point of Contact: Swati Jain,
swati.jain2.civ@army.mil,520-672-9619