Unmanned Common Controller (UCC) for the United States Marine Corps

SOL #: 243-26-012Sources Sought

Overview

Buyer

Dept Of Defense

Dept Of The Navy

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND

PATUXENT RIVER, MD, 20670-5000, United States

Place of Performance

St James, MD

NAICS

Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334220)

PSC

Drones (1550)

Set Aside

No set aside specified

Original Source

https://sam.gov/opp/31a2e7aa28094c1f803821e08f39e874/view

Timeline

Posted

Jan 22, 2026

Last Updated

Mar 2, 2026

Response Deadline

Mar 24, 2026, 3:59 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 Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), specifically PMA-263, is conducting a Sources Sought Notice (SSN) to gather information from industry regarding an Unmanned Common Controller (UCC) for the United States Marine Corps. This market research aims to identify technologies and potential partners for a portable, modular, open-architecture control system capable of operating multiple types of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Responses are due March 24, 2026.

Scope of Interest

The Marine Corps seeks UCC solutions that are:

Capable of controlling multiple UAS from different manufacturers with dissimilar architectures.
MOSA-compliant and leverage open standards (e.g., STANAG 4586, MAVLink).
Secure and cyber-resilient against electronic warfare.
Portable and ruggedized for dismounted Marines at the tactical edge.
Modular for field maintenance without OEM involvement.
Scalable to support AI/ML-enabled autonomy and future UAS.
Compliant with FY20 NDAA Section 848, FY23 NDAA Section 817, American Security Drone Act of 2023, and TAA requirements.

Key capabilities of interest include form factors, interoperability, MOSA implementation, user interface, communications, cybersecurity, AI/ML integration, maintainability, certifications, and production capacity.

Contract & Timeline

Type: Sources Sought / Market Research
Agency: Department of the Navy / NAVAIR
Purpose: To evaluate technology maturity, identify partners, and assess industry's ability to design, scale, and deliver UCC solutions.
Set-Aside: None specified (market research stage), but small businesses are encouraged to participate.
Response Due: March 24, 2026, by 3:59 AM EST.
Published: January 22, 2026.

Submission Requirements

Interested parties should submit a capability white paper, not exceeding ten (10) pages, via email to Mariah Williams (mariah.b.williams.civ@us.navy.mil) and Kristen Ferro (kristen.w.ferro.civ@us.navy.mil). The email subject line MUST be: [CONTRACTOR NAME] Sources Sought Response for sUAS (Notice 243-26-012, PMA-263). Submissions must include company details (UEI, CAGE, DUNS, address), point of contact, and business size classification. All materials must be UNCLASSIFIED and marked "For Official Use Only, Releasable to Government Agencies for Evaluation Purposes Only."