Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) Munition Payload Interface Solution - Sources Sought

Quick Summary

The U.S. Army Contracting Command – New Jersey (ACC-NJ), on behalf of the Office of the Project Manager, Close Combat Systems (PM CCS), is conducting market research to identify potential sources for Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) munition payload interface solutions. The Army seeks solutions compliant with, or enhanced variants of, the Picatinny Common Lethality Interface Kit (CLIK) Design Standard or the small Universal Payload Interface (sUPI). This effort aims to rapidly deploy low-cost, domestically produced UAS to achieve battlefield superiority. Responses are due March 2, 2026.

Purpose & Background

The U.S. Government is prioritizing the rapid deployment of UAS to enhance combat capabilities and provide lethal and protective capabilities to soldiers. This Sources Sought notice is for market research to inform potential future solicitations under Title 10 USC 4022 (prototype projects) and Title 10 USC 4023 (procurement for experimental purposes). Multiple awards may be pursued, and all small business set-aside categories will be considered.

Required Capabilities

The Army requires solutions that provide a common interface between UAS platforms and munition payloads. Key requirements include:

• CLIK Compliance: Solutions must be compliant with the Picatinny CLIK design standard, enabling rapid integration of payloads onto commercially available UAS platforms. CLIK aims for platform-agnostic payloads supporting diverse lethal and protective capabilities.
• sUPI Compliance: Solutions for smaller (Group 1 & 2) UAS platforms should be compliant with sUPI, which is tailored for these applications within the CLIK ecosystem.
• Technical Specifications: The CLIK and sUPI standards define scalable physical interfaces, power (e.g., 28V DC for CLIK; VBATT 13-25.2VDC, 3.3V, 5V, 7.4V, 12V for sUPI), data requirements (Ethernet, RS232, USB, GPIOs), and mechanical mounting patterns (e.g., 3x M3x0.5mm screws for sUPI).

Submission Requirements

Interested companies must submit a capabilities statement package (no more than ten 8.5 X 11 inch pages, 10-point font, bullet format) demonstrating their ability to provide the required products/systems. Submissions should include:

• Brief summary of company capabilities (facilities, personnel, technical/manufacturing).
• Description of experience with CLIK or CLIK alternatives.
• Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) prices for an approximate FY26 and/or FY27 production quantity of 1,000 units.
• Feedback/comments regarding the CLIK design standard.
• Organizational details (name, address, POCs, CAGE, UEI, business size, type of ownership).
• Identification of components/materials subject to price volatility or scarcity and mitigation strategies.

Contract & Timeline

• Type: Sources Sought (Market Research)
• NAICS: 336411 (Aircraft Manufacturing) with a 1,500 employee size standard
• PSC: 1550 (Drones)
• Set-Aside: All small business set-aside categories will be considered.
• Response Due: March 2, 2026, 12:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST)
• Published: January 29, 2026
• Industry Day: Planned for Summer 2026 to share a draft Request for Proposal (RFP); monitor SAM.gov for updates.

Additional Notes

This is for informational purposes only and is not a Request for Proposal (RFP). No commitment to award a contract is implied, and no funds are available for response preparation. Responses, including capabilities statements, must be submitted electronically to Contract Specialist Zachary Smith (zachary.m.smith112.civ@army.mil) and Contracting Officer Peter W. Gerhard (peter.w.gerhard.civ@army.mil). Questions should also include MAJ Jacob LaGue (jacob.a.lague.mil@army.mil). Attachments include the Picatinny CLIK Design Standard, sUPI Payload Brief, and sUPI Platform Brief.