Unmanned Vehicles

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

To procure unmanned vehicles capable of operating remotely in the ocean environment, primarily for collecting ocean temperature and pressure data. The Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) mission set can benefit from optional sensor configurations.

• Provide unmanned vehicles with a minimum capability to collect ocean temperature and pressure data.

• Instruments must meet an eighteen-month shelf life standard before requiring battery pack replacement or sensor recalibration.

• Optional sensor configurations for conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD), transmissivity, bioluminescence, currents, and wave spectra are considered beneficial.

• Deployment capabilities must include vessel and air deployable options.

• Offerors must identify modularity of proposed instruments, deployment lifecycle, power system discharge rates, and any self-regenerative technology.

• Provide instrument encoders/decoders and technical documentation for data conversion.

• Include instrument data integration services (API development, data formatting scripts).

• Provide calibration services for all sensor packages.

• Provide maintenance services for the instrument body (battery replacement, module upgrades, preventive maintenance, minor repairs).

• Ensure all applicable software for data ingest and processing is provided.

• Provide technical support for integrating collected data into government real-time systems.

• Offer a warranty of up to one year prior to deployment and replacement of instruments that fail upon deployment.

• Provide storage specifications at shipment time and internationally approved shipping crates.

• Communication: Must use DISA-approved transmitters/receivers with government-specified encryption for non-public data.

• Air Deployment: Hardening variance from 500 to 10,000 feet, air speeds up to 500 mph, with survival of parachutes/coverings and full operational capability upon reaching the ocean surface.

• Vessel Deployment: Hardening variance from 1 to 60 feet, vessel speeds from 0 to 25 knots.

• Power System Longevity: 1 hour and above in system depletion rates.

• Power System Types: Alkaline or Lithium.

• Sensor Requirements: Must withstand ocean pressures exceeding the crush depth of the instrument body. Specific ranges and accuracies are defined for Conductivity, Temperature, and Pressure sensors. Other sensor types (Optical, Fluorometer, Radiance/Irradiance, Bioluminescence, Current, Wave Spectra, Acoustic, Echosounder) have specified or allowable detection specifications.

• Ordering Period: 24-month base contract.

• Delivery Dates: Specific delivery dates will be provided with each Delivery Order.

• Place of Performance: Implied to be global military locations for FOB destination requirements.

• Security: Classification is CUI. Compliance with 2 CFR Part 117, DoD Instruction 5200.48, and SECNAVINST 5510.36B is required. No access to U.S. Government IT systems is required.

• Data Ownership: All information and data are property of the government and must be protected from unauthorized release.

• Quality Assurance: Vendors must provide an organizational quality acceptance plan, annotating facility standards (e.g., ISO) if applicable.

• Marking & Labeling: MILSPEC LM_MIL-STD-129R_140218 standards apply for FOB destination requirements.

Request for Information (RFI) / Sources Sought Notice

This notice is for market research purposes to gather information and assess industry capabilities for unmanned vehicles that operate remotely in the ocean environment. It is not a solicitation for proposals, and no contract will be awarded from this announcement. The Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) requires these vehicles to support its mission.

• Unmanned vehicles capable of collecting ocean temperature and pressure data.

• All proposed instruments must meet an eighteen-month shelf life standard before requiring battery replacement or recalibration.

• Optional capabilities include sensors for conductivity, temperature, and depth (CTD), transmissivity, bioluminescence, currents, and wave spectra.

• Deployment capabilities must be vessel and air deployable.

• A draft Performance Work Statement (PWS) is provided with further details.

• If a contract results, it is anticipated to be a firm-fixed-price (FFP), single-award, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) type contract.

• The ordering period is estimated to commence around October 1, 2026, with a potential 24-month base contract.

• Interested parties should submit a capabilities statement addressing specific items.

• Responses are limited to 10 pages (12-point font).

• Submit via email to Katie.b.hildebrandt.civ@us.navy.mil and Stephanie.r.lent.civ@us.navy.mil by February 18, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. (EDT).

• Reference "N0018926UV" in responses.

• The NAICS code is anticipated to be 334511 (Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing) with a size standard of 1,350 employees.

• The anticipated Product Service Code (PSC) is 6605 (Navigational Instruments).

• The government is assessing acquisition strategy, including potential small business set-asides. Respondents should indicate if they can be a prime or subcontractor and address subcontracting plans if applicable, particularly concerning FAR clause 52.219-14.

1. Full business name, address, POC, phone, email.
2. Contractor and Government Entity (CAGE) code.
3. Business size category (Large, Small, 8(a), HUBZone, etc.).
4. Existing government contract vehicles (GSA, SeaPort-NxG).
5. Prime or subcontractor capability, including anticipated subcontracting percentages and business sizes.
6. Details on meeting FAR clause 52.219-14 if a small business set-aside is anticipated.
7. Contractor's ability to provide services per the SOW.
8. Estimated time to submit a proposal (technical, past performance, price).

• This is not a request for proposals. Respondents will not be notified of results.
• Information may be updated prior to an official solicitation.
• Proprietary information should be clearly marked.