UAS BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT Solicitation Number: 697DCK-25-R-00278
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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office (AUS), has issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), Solicitation #697DCK-25-R-00278, seeking Whitepapers for the integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) into the National Airspace System (NAS). The BAA is open through September 30, 2028.
The latest activity is BAA Call 001A-2026, specifically for Whitepapers from respondents partnering with the two newly added UAS Test Sites: Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Emerging Aviation Technology Center and Indiana Economic Development Corporation.
Purpose & Scope
This BAA aims to advance the state-of-the-art and increase knowledge regarding technologies essential for safe UAS integration through experimentation. It follows a two-step process: Whitepaper submission, followed by a potential Request for Proposal (RFP) for selected projects. Whitepapers can be submitted at any time during the BAA's life or in response to specific calls.
Key Requirements
Respondents must submit Whitepapers (max 10 pages, excluding cover, LOA, ROM) demonstrating operational readiness and relevance to FAA's mission. A Letter of Attestation (LOA) from a partnering FAA UAS Test Site is mandatory. For Call 001A-2026, this partnership must be with either the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma or Indiana Economic Development Corporation Test Sites. Deliverables for awarded projects may include project briefings, schedules, test plans, reports, and reviews.
Contract Details
Awards will be cost-sharing contracts, with the FAA paying no more than 50% of the total work cost (minimum 1:1 cost-share requirement). Contracts will be cost-reimbursement. The anticipated funding for Call 001A-2026 is $2,666,666.00, subject to availability. Overall BAA funding of $12,000,000 is anticipated to be divided among designated UAS Test Sites, with the FAA's maximum cost share per test site recommended not to exceed $1,333,333. The anticipated award date for Call 001A-2026 is on or before September 30, 2026.
Submission & Evaluation
For Call 001A-2026:
- Questions Due: March 26, 2026, 3:00 pm EST
- Whitepapers Due: April 9, 2026, 3:00 pm EST Submissions and questions must be emailed to Scott.E.Raber@faa.gov. Whitepapers are evaluated based on applicability to FAA's mission, operational readiness, importance to agency programs, and funding availability.
Eligibility / Set-Aside
There is no set-aside for this opportunity. Eligibility for Call 001A-2026 is restricted to respondents partnering with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma or Indiana Economic Development Corporation Test Sites. Foreign entities are accepted unless on the Specially Designated Nationals List.
Notes
The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 extended the UAS Test Sites program and enabled the selection of additional test ranges. All flight testing must occur in partnership with and under the authorization of an FAA UAS Test Site.