Sentera (Or Equal) 6X Thermal Pro Sensor with Gimbal
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 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), is soliciting quotations for a Sentera (Or Equal) 6X Thermal Pro Sensor with Gimbal. This acquisition is a Total Small Business Set-Aside and will result in a Firm Fixed Price award. The sensor is intended for integration with a Freefly Astro Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) for precision agriculture research in Columbia, MO. Offers are due by May 11, 2026, at 4:00 PM CT.
Scope of Work
This opportunity requires the procurement of one (1) Sentera 6X Thermal Pro Sensor with Gimbal. The sensor must meet detailed technical specifications for a multi-sensor imaging payload, including:
- Image Sensors: Four 3.2MP multispectral sensors, one 20MP RGB sensor, and one FLIR Boson 640x512 LWIR radiometric thermal sensor, all with a 5 FPS sustained capture rate and synchronized image capture.
- Compatibility: Must be compatible with the Freefly Astro UAS and utilize the Smart Dovetail quick-release interface.
- Performance: Specific GSD, FOV, and spectral band requirements are detailed, along with requirements for radiometrically accurate thermal data and calibrated multispectral reflectance data.
- Other: 512GB internal SSD, USB-C, Gigabit Ethernet, weight not to exceed 525g (plus 58g for incident light sensor), NDAA-compliant, and field-deployable.
Offerors proposing "equal" products must provide descriptive literature, illustrations, or drawings to demonstrate compliance with all salient characteristics outlined in Attachment 2 – Specifications.
Contract & Timeline
- Contract Type: Request for Quotation (RFQ), Firm Fixed Price.
- Set-Aside: Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5).
- NAICS Code: 336413 (Aircraft Manufacturing), Small Business Size Standard: 1,250 employees.
- Period of Performance: May 18, 2026, to June 18, 2026.
- Delivery: Required within 30 days after award, F.O.B. Destination. Early deliveries are accepted.
- Offer Due Date: May 11, 2026, at 4:00 PM CT.
- Questions Due Date: May 6, 2026, at 12:00 PM CT.
- Published Date: April 30, 2026.
Submission & Evaluation
Offerors must submit pricing for all individual line items. Quotations will be evaluated on a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) basis. Technical capability will be rated as "acceptable" or "unacceptable," and past performance will be evaluated as "acceptable" or "neutral." Offers must remain firm for 90 calendar days from the offer due date. This solicitation incorporates provisions and clauses by reference; full text is available at www.acquisition.gov.
Contact Information
For questions, contact Melissa Santos at melissa.santos@usda.gov.