Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) for the United States Marine Corps

SOL #: 243-25-157Sources Sought

Overview

Buyer

PATUXENT RIVER, MD, 20670-5000, United States

Place of Performance

Place of performance not available

NAICS

Aircraft Manufacturing (336411)

PSC

Drones (1550)

Set Aside

No set aside specified

Timeline

1
Posted
Dec 18, 2025
2
Last Updated
Jan 13, 2026
3
Response Deadline
Feb 17, 2026, 4:59 AM

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 Navy, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), PMA-263 is conducting market research through a Sources Sought Notice to identify commercially available, low-cost, high-volume Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) with First Person View (FPV) capabilities for the United States Marine Corps. The goal is to assess industry's ability to meet production demands of thousands of units. Responses are due February 17, 2026.

Purpose & Scope

This market research aims to evaluate sUAS candidates focusing on rapid reconfigurability and modular payload capabilities to support primary missions of Reconnaissance Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA), secondary communications relay, and enhanced lethal payload delivery/electronic support. Key requirements include compliance with 2020 NDAA Section 848, 2023 NDAA Section 817, and the American Security Drone Act of 2023, or a demonstrated path to compliance. The Marine Corps seeks systems where air vehicles cost less than $4,000 and can be modified and repaired by Marines without vendor involvement.

Key Requirements

  • System Type: Commercially available, low-cost, high-volume sUAS (COTS or commercially viable configurations).
  • Compliance: NDAA 2020 Sec 848, 2023 Sec 817, ASDA 2023 (2024 NDAA Sec 1821) or credible path.
  • Cost: Total system cost (air vehicle, GCS, comms, goggles, batteries, charger) with air vehicles under $4,000.
  • Production Capacity: Initial delivery by April 2026, scaling to 5,000 units within 6 months and 10,000 units within 12 months.
  • Modularity & Repair: Ability for Marines to modify with third-party payloads/munitions and perform repairs independently.
  • Technical Specifications: Detailed information requested on MGTOW, payload, speeds, altitude, endurance, range, dimensions, Modular Open System Architecture (MOSA), Autonomy, AI/ML capabilities, ATAK compatibility, sensor specifications, lethality, operational availability, maintainability, and certifications.

Submission Details

Interested vendors must submit a completed response template, a Bill of Materials (BOM) using the provided template, and a capability white paper (not exceeding five pages, appendices allowed). Submissions must be emailed to hannah.s.cha.civ@us.navy.mil and kristen.w.ferro.civ@us.navy.mil with the subject line: "[CONTRACTOR NAME] Sources Sought Response for sUAS (Notice 243-25-157, PMA-263)". Responses should include company details, POC, and business size/type. All submissions must be marked "For Official Use Only, Releasable to Government Agencies for Evaluation Purposes Only."

Timeline

  • Response Due: February 17, 2026, 04:59 PM EST
  • Published: January 13, 2026

Additional Notes

This is a market research tool; it is not a Request for Proposal and does not obligate the Government to award a contract. Failure to respond will not prevent participation in future competitions. Foreign manufacturers may be eligible if they demonstrate a path to NDAA compliance or participate as a subcontractor to a U.S.-based prime.

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Versions

Version 7
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Posted: Jan 13, 2026
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Version 6
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Posted: Jan 6, 2026
Version 4
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Posted: Dec 29, 2025
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Version 3
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Posted: Dec 29, 2025
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Version 2
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Posted: Dec 23, 2025
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Version 1
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Posted: Dec 18, 2025
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